Chapter 9

Isabella

I agreed to fight with that girl because I was fed up with the superiority that the gang had and, the way they saw others as less than them made me want to give them what they deserved.

And also, because you let yourself get beaten out of idiocy.

At least I was hoping to get something good out of my outburst.

I wasn't one to look for trouble, but I also wouldn't stand idly by if they were looking for me, and I knew that was bound to happen sooner or later, having stood up to Dylan as I did.

What if that girl kicked your ass?

It was possible, but as a coward, I wasn't going to stay.

I walked determined to the ring after reassuring Jane a little, and I was very intrigued that she felt so guilty about everything. Still, I had to understand that it wasn't like that, not everything was her fault, and some things had to happen, because of her or because destiny wanted it, or at least that's what dad said: the things that have to be, will be with or without anyone's help.

I saw Evan walking to meet me, and even though he belonged to the same gang as LuzBel, something told me he disagreed with that, and I understood why it was those looks he gave them all.

"You don't have to do this, Isa," he pointed out, coming to me.

"Yes, I do, and I want to," I assured.

"Please don't." I was surprised by the pleading in his voice.

"You care about me?" I questioned, causing him to look at me indignantly.

"Of course, I do! You don't have to doubt it," he asserted, and I noted the sincerity in his words.

Without thinking, I kissed his cheek in a reflex action that managed to stun him.

"Don't." I removed my sweater and handed it to him. His eyes grew extra wide as he saw me only in a top. "I know how to defend myself, Evan," I continued on my way but stopped when he grabbed my waist.

"Tess knows what she's doing, and she's very well trained. I don't want her to hurt you, Isa," he insisted.

"Have a little faith in me," I suggested and continued on my way without waiting for a response.

Out of the corner of my eye and trying not to let LuzBel notice, I caught him staring at me, amazed that I had accepted that challenge and annoyed at who knew why.

I went up to the ring and saw the fun in the girl that I already knew her name was Tess, she also got rid of her sweater and put on a black top as if it was a uniform for both of us since we were dressed almost the same or as if it was fate that we were facing each other. For the same reason, we arrived prepared for an event like that. Lucas helped me put on my gloves and gave us some indications, which I sensed that the redhead already knew; I took combat position, and Tess did the same.

With her right hand, she invited me to attack first and smiled arrogantly. At that moment, I thought that she was just a show-off with whom I would have fun putting her in her place. I did the same as her, inciting her to attack me first, and she obeyed quickly, like a good girl, so her first attack came, and I dodged it perfectly. The girl noticed my movement and recognized it.

"This will be fun," she inquired. I didn't respond.

Of course, it would be, and the fun was going to be mine.

That time I was the one who attacked and managed to punch her in the shoulder. I knew I had surprised her and deduced that her patience was exhausted when she threw a perfect kick that, with full intention, I let hit the side of my abdomen, and before her leg went away, I grabbed it and made her fall to the ground still with her leg in my hand. I smiled at her in the same way she did so much before and offered to help her up, but as expected, she refused and stood up on her own; that pride of hers was all too familiar.

Tess had already gotten angry, and that was one of the biggest mistakes she made. She thought better of her attacks, and although she managed to hit some of them, she wasn't doing it the way I expected, and my moves were better.

Satisfied with me and what I had already shown her, I decided to get ready to deliver the final blow to put an end to that stupidity, hoping that she and all the Grigori idiots would realize that it was better not to mess with me.

And while you were at it, you wanted to show off to the storm-eyed demon.

A storm is what he was going to have in his life if they kept fucking with me.

As Tess kept wanting to punch me, she got careless, and I took the opportunity to stick her right in the nose. She recoiled and put her hand there, realizing that blood was coming out of one of her nostrils.

Everyone screamed in euphoria, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw Dylan curse at what he was seeing.

Ha! Yeah, asshole, you messed with the wrong girl.

"I think I've had enough," I zoned out and turned to leave the ring.

We were both tired, and from experience, I knew Tess would no longer recover quickly.

The lesson was over.

I looked at everyone, surprised as soon as I turned around and some scared of what they saw behind my back. Dylan was smiling wickedly, and I realized it was a mistake to turn my back on the girl when she was already very frustrated and angry. I turned around again and found her with a beautiful knife in her hands. She smiled wickedly at me, but that didn't scare me, and before she could react, I pounced on her, and with a hand-to-hand strike, I made her loosen the weapon and took hold of her at the same time I hit the back of her knee with my foot, making her fall to the ground immediately.

Did you think it would be easy, Fire Girl?

My chest was rising and falling from exhaustion and hers as well. Everyone shouted again in euphoria, and I was still there, alert for any movement from Tess. I stepped back a little with the knife in my hand, giving her space to stand up. This time, I didn't see anger in her but surprise.

She really was crazy.

Very much in agreement with you on that one.

"What you just did, I have only seen it in one person," she started to speak, gaining my attention. I was between surprised and skeptical, "and according to what I realized being in Tokyo, only one girl has managed to master the technique of master Baek Cho." My eyes opened wider at the mention of my teacher, and my mind flew for a few seconds to the memories I kept of my training with him. "I never met her, but there is a lot of talk about her at his academy." I smiled sideways as I deduced everything. "Are you the American Girl?" I laughed again at the nickname my teacher gave me.

"Learning is a treasure," I began to say, remembering each day of training we would start with that mantra, and I saw her smile at that moment with sincerity.

"May it follow its owner everywhere," she finished for me, Master Baek Cho's motto.

"The world is too small," I murmured as I realized I was in front of another of the master's students.

"I always wanted to meet you and thought I would never make it. And circumstances have led me not only to meet you but also to fight you," she exclaimed proudly, and it made me feel too good about her attitude. "Fuck, girl! I swear I want to hug you," she confessed, and with my gaze, I asked her not to because that was a part of my life I was hoping to keep a secret.

Your whole life had to be kept secret, pal.

Right.

"I hope you will keep my secret," I asked, and she nodded with a curtsy, to which I immediately responded.

"I'll be a grave," she assured, and I offered her my hand, then she did take it, and we gave each other a light squeeze as I handed back the beautiful knife I took from her earlier.

"It's good to find a companion away from Tokyo," I commented sincerely, and before she could respond, Dylan interrupted.

"We need to get out of here, Tess." She gave him a puzzled look but obeyed him immediately.

Before I got out of the ring, I heard desperate screams followed by gunshots. I became alert and immediately looked for Jane. Still, I couldn't find her and started to worry, Evan was nowhere to be found either, and although I knew I shouldn't worry about him, I couldn't help but look for him with my gaze.

Didn't they have everything under control?

I asked myself the same question.

I managed to see him running into Lucas's mansion, and I was relieved to know that he was okay. Everyone was screaming, and I began to despair at not finding my friend. However, my heart raced when I saw how Jacob was taking her inside against her will, Jane was squirming, and I got scared when I sensed her danger, I ran in her direction and, although they were a long way away, I did not give up and kept looking for her.

Boy was that girl not only frightened but also very unlucky.

I ignored the sarcasm of my conscience.

When I got inside the mansion, I lost sight of them, and I got too frustrated, I heard a pleading scream, and I recognized it was hers, I ran in the direction of the sound, but I didn't see anyone.

Damn it!

"Were you looking for someone?" asked Dylan from behind me. I turned quickly and glared at him.

"Where's Jane?" I demanded to know with my voice full of anger.

"And you think I'm going to answer that?" he questioned with his unbearable arrogance.

"Damn it, Dylan, don't drain my patience and tell me where she is?" I demanded, causing him to let out a laugh full of mockery.

"If you had more respect for your superiors, I'd gladly tell you," he sneered, causing anger to run through me, aroused by his stupid words.

"You son of a bitch! If you don't tell me nicely, I'll get it out of you the hard way!" I threatened, getting him angry and his mocking laughter erased.

For arguing with that idiot, I didn't notice when Jacob reached behind me and pinned my arms with his. It wouldn't have been hard for me to get him off me. However, I held back when I heard what he said.

"I will take you to your friend, but I have to take my precautions," I said nothing and just walked beside him after he released me from his grip.

We made our way to a very remote part of the mansion and then down some steps until we reached a large hall. Everything there was dark. There were lights, but they softly illuminated the whole room, making it look a bit spooky. In the distance, I heard sobbing and voices that got louder and louder as we got closer.

I stiffened when I saw Jane. She was sitting and tied in a chair with her hands behind her back.

I was too scared to discover my friend in that situation, and I felt very guilty because I knew it was because of me that she was in that situation. In those moments, I regretted not having paid attention to her that day in the cafeteria and provoking my anger outbursts to affect her. I tried to run and help her, but I couldn't because fucking Dylan stopped me by grabbing my arms and pulling them back, his grip was made at my elbows, and I knew he was using more force than necessary with every intention of hurting me.

"You fucking coward, let go of me!" I hissed.

"No, baby, you'll see the show from here," he whispered in my ear, sending shivers down my spine from the disgust I felt towards him.

I turned my gaze to the front again, feeling terrible that I couldn't do anything for my friend. She looked helpless and terrified, crying her eyes out, and the sobs wouldn't let her breathe properly.

Calm down, my friend. I thought, wishing I had psychic powers and connected mentally with her, I would never forgive myself for getting her into all that.

"You knew better than to play with me, Little Scaredy," I heard that voice addressing her.

It was LuzBel, the boy who was beginning to be like a pain in the ass to my life. He stood in front of her with that terrifying and emotionless look that was capable of making even his creator, the devil, shit himself.

"You didn't comply, and today you're going to pay," he threatened, making Jane cry even more.

Jesus, why did she have to be such a crybaby?

"Give me one more chance," she pleaded between hesitations, making me cringe.

I knew this girl was hiding something.

And I had to find out what it was.

"I don't give second chances, and yet I gave your brother one because I trusted you, but I see I was wrong," he replied with a devilish grin. "Elsa, take care of her," he ordered the girl who acted as his shadow. She approached with a gun in her hand.

I squirmed even more in Dylan's arms, wanting to come to my friend's rescue.

"Don't you dare lay a hand on her, you fucking bitch!" I screamed, and everyone turned their attention on me. My friend looked at me with embarrassment and LuzBel with a sly smile. "You'll regret your whole fucking life if you touch a single hair on her," I threatened, and Elsa just watched me with disrespect and contempt, enjoying that moment and thinking she was better than me.

We were no better than anyone else, but we were no match for each other either.

"Your friend owes me a lot, and the deadline is over," LuzBel spat towards me, "I gave her two options, and she couldn't handle either, right Evan?" he asked, looking in a direction, I followed his gaze and met Evan.

He, too, looked at me with embarrassment, and it was better than he did because of that betrayal. I was hardly going to forgive him. I barely knew him, but I hated that he had just used me. I was stupid to think of him as different from the others.

"No one plays with me, Isabella White," LuzBel saying my name the way he did, made me afraid, and I thought he was giving a clear warning to me. "Whoever does it to me pays for it," he finished, making a current cold crawl down my back.

What the hell? You hadn't done anything to him!

Defending myself was my biggest offense towards him, and I hated macho guys like that guy.

"Are you capable of killing her?" I asked and immediately felt stupid to see his cocky smile again as if being the way provoked him too much pride.

Of course, Darkness was capable and proud of being the way he was.

And it was showing it.

"Nobody makes fun of me, and I'm even capable of burning someone alive if I'm provoked," he clarified with too much confidence, making me even more afraid, but I didn't show it.

"What did you do to him?" I questioned my friend, trying to understand the reason why he was such a jerk to her. However, Jane wasn't able to answer because of embarrassment.

"Better ask her, what didn't she do?" advised Dylan behind my back, managing to make me lose the thread, as I didn't understand shit.

"Her brother betrayed me and stole," LuzBel began to explain, "she offered to pay and didn't comply. I gave her another option, and she couldn't handle it either. Elsa, continue with what I ordered you to do," he finished looking at his girlfriend. I became alert again.

"No!" I yelled as I saw Elsa hit Jane with the gun, causing blood to come out of the corner of her lips.

I delivered a hard blow to Dylan's foot, and as he cringed in pain, I let my head go hard backward, landing on his nose and immediately letting go. I took advantage of that and turned around to knee him in his balls, getting him to fall to the ground writhing in pain and cursing myself, I ran to the front, and Jacob stepped in my way.

"Stay out of it!" I demanded and saw him look at me with something I failed to identify in his eyes. He raised his hands and stepped aside.

I kept running and arrived just in time as Elsa loaded the gun and aimed at Jane's head. With a single blow to the hand, I disarmed her. With a substantial impact on the ankle, I destabilized her and hit her in the chest so that she fell hard to the ground, groaning as the air left her lungs.

"You fucking coward! Don't attack when someone can't defend themselves," I spat with hatred and pointed the same gun straight at her head that she earlier pointed at Jane.

I heard everyone as they loaded their guns, and I realized that they were aiming at me. Even Evan, who I saw, did it with difficulty, but he did it all the same, and I felt stupid and awful.

And there went the pretty boy illusion.

"You know, guys?" I heard a voice and recognized it as Tess's. "If Isabella wanted to, she would have disarmed you all by now," she assured, making them look at her in disbelief, "what she did with me in the ring is nothing compared to what she's actually capable of doing." I thought she was absolutely right. I could do more than that, but not without putting Jane at risk. I saw her emerge from the darkness, and she smiled at me. "It's obvious she doesn't want to attack you," she added.

And I did want to, but with Jane there, I couldn't.

"Tell me how much Jane owes you, and I'll pay you," I proposed looking straight into LuzBel's eyes. I was still pointing at Elsa. "I can get out of here," I assured, "but I'm not stupid, and I know I won't get my friend out unscathed."

"You are smart," he spoke, "however, I no longer believe in anyone offering to pay someone else's debts," he added, referring to Jane. "Either she complies, or she dies."

"I'm nobody, and being who you are, you should know the people you're going to negotiate with better," I wryly remarked, something that didn't please him at all. I forced myself to calm down, knowing that provoking him would get me nowhere. "I'll do whatever you want, but don't mess with her," I demanded. "Don't take it out on someone who obviously doesn't know how to defend herself."

"Are you willing to do as I wish?" he questioned, almost challenging me, lowering his gun and getting the others to do so. Elsa attempted to get up. However, in one swift movement, I knocked her back down. "Let her go!" he ordered, and that only made me want to grind his little girlfriend's face into a pulp.

"I really enjoy seeing how this coward can't handle me, but she does dare to mess with someone when they can't defend themselves," I replied, smiling in the same way he did as our gazes connected.

"Answer my question. Are you willing to do anything to save your friend's life?" he repeated.

The fucker was taking advantage of the situation.

You should have thought before answering that, Isa, otherwise you were just going to fuck it up.

Asked my conscience, but I didn't have time to think.

"Don't do it, Isa," Evan pleaded, and I immediately glared at him for tricking me into thinking he cared. "Everything I said before was truthful, don't look at me like that," he asked as if he had read my thoughts, though it was no use anymore because I didn't believe him.

"Evan is right, don't do it, Isa," Jane spoke for the first time, looking me in the face. "Not for me. It's not worth it."

See, even they agreed with me.

"For me, it is worth it. You're my friend," I answered truthfully, "so my answer is yes, I'm up for anything," I blurted out confident and against what my conscience, Jane or Evan, said.

I lowered the gun I was pointing at Elsa, and LuzBel smiled triumphantly after my answer. It was as if he had been waiting for that moment.

"You will work for my organization," he reported confidently, that I hadn't expected, "and you will be at my command. You will be just another minion." My jaw tensed at the glee I discovered in his words.

Son of a bitch.

Fuck! I could work for him, but I would never be his subject.

"Don't push it, asshole," I spat angrily. "I won't be anyone's minion, least of all yours."

"It's either that or get your friend out of here stuffed in a black bag." His warning was cold and sure. I was aware he wasn't lying, "It's your call. So, what do you say, White, do you accept?"

You saw what you were getting into by speaking before you thought.

I could see it, damn right I could, but I couldn't leave Jane alone on that.

It was times like that when I understood that thing they said about it being better not to feel anything for anyone because the slightest sympathy could turn into your Achilles' heel. And that day, there, in front of a beautiful but imbecile demon and his gang. Seeing my new friend helpless in that chair, I understood that I let LuzBel discover my Achilles' heel.

And I had a feeling that this was the beginning of something I could not avoid.

_______________________________________

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