CHAPTER 3 PART 2 - The Fighter and The Lover
âThat's enoughâ Eve said. She flexed her fist open and closed to get a feel for the wrap. âMy fingers will drop off if you make it any tighterâ.
âIt's about right, thenâ, Gau affirmed.
He let go of Eve's hand and sat back on the creaky wooden bench opposite her. The room was stuffy and smelled of sweat. A single fan spun ineffectually on the ceiling.
Gau stared at her for a moment and then took a sip from his water bottle. âToo bad for himâ he murmured, with a hint of strong self-deprecation. After witnessing his confident victory in the ring, Eve had not expected him to seem so despondent.
âMay I ask you something?â she said, trying not to seem put off. âI was wondering...how your situation came about.â
Gau flung his water bottle into his bag and stood up.
âIf you live through this fight, we'll have time to talk about it thenâ he said, and walked out of the room with a casual wave of his hand. Eve was a little startled. She sat still for a few moments, and then a rush of excitement built up inside her. She clenched her fists. Okay, she thought to herself. We'll talk later.
***
Jackson led Talon and Alice up a flight of stairs towards the back of the hospital. To Talon's surprise, the further from the arena they went, the nicer the building became. There was no chipped paint or harsh, blinking lights. The corridors were narrow but nicely decorated and warmly lit, and a sweet fragrance hung in the air. Talon held Alice's hand as they followed Jackson, their footsteps muted by the thick, red carpet. The ostentatious design caused the young prince to feel pangs of nostalgia. They reached a large wooden door at the end of the hallway. Jackson knocked firmly then eased the door open. They stepped through into an ornately decorated and softly lit room. Amid luxurious wooden furniture and an abundance of mirrors, a strikingly beautiful lady in a delicate black dress lay reclined on a leather sofa, her silky, reddish-brown hair falling in graceful waves over her shoulder. Alice let out a small gasp of delight.
Jackson opened his mouth to speak, but the lady raised her hand in objection. âPleaseâ she said, in a mature, breathy voice. âI can introduce myselfâ.
âAlright thenâ Jackson grinned, masking his humiliation. âI'll see you after the fightâ. He grabbed Talon by the shoulder and pulled him towards the door. âHey!â Talon growled in protest. Jackson slapped him firmly on the back. âYour sister's in good hands, kid. Now come on, you and I have the hottest seats in the arena.â He threw his arm around the dissenting boy and led him down the corridor, the door swinging shut behind them.
The lady sat upright and beckoned to Alice, who trotted over to the large sofa and pre-emptively plopped herself onto the seat, her tiny legs dangling above the floor. Resting her chin on her slender hand, the lady smiled sweetly. âMy name is Scarlett. What is your name?â
âAliceâ, came the plucky reply. âThis is Plato.â The stuffed bear's globular black eyes leered up at her. âIt's very nice to meet you, Alice and Plato. Would either of you like a chocolate?â She gestured to the black and gold tray on the side table. Alice shook her head, as did Plato. âYou needn't be shyâ Scarlett prompted her. âWhy don't you tell me why you're here? I'd love to knowâ.
âWe're going to find the lost crown in the sunken cityâ Alice said, staring at the bear as she wobbled his head back and forth. The lady was dumbstruck for a moment. âI see! I've heard the tale, but I did not know such a thing really existed. You and your brother are going together, is that right?â
âYesâ replied Alice. âAnd our driver, Eve. Also Doctor Zenith. And the fighter, Gau.â Scarlettâs sweet smile dropped. âHe hasn't said so yet, but he'll come.â
âOh really...that many people?â Scarlett inquired faintly. âBut there's only one crown...if one of you uses it, will its power not be spent?â
Alice turned her head to face Scarlett directly.
âClarity of mind is not a finite resource; rather, it is the absence of confusion, the removal of distractions which obscure one's true nature and purpose. Therefore the crown cannot be depleted. Its effect lies in the heart of the wearer.â
She resumed her indecipherable exchange with Plato, leaving the stunned Scarlett to ponder her words.
âGoodnessâ she finally said after a few moments of silence. âYou're a clever little girl, Alice. Twice as clever as I was at your age. In fact...â she continued with a hint of sadness, â...twice as clever as I ever was.â
The sweet smile slowly returned to her face. âAnd you're such a pretty little girl, too.â
Alice turned to her again.
âYou're pretty too. My mother was the prettiest woman ever, and you're pretty like herâ The small girl clasped her arms around Scarlett's waist and hugged her tightly. She lady chucked softly and returned the embrace, and for a while they sat there in an moment of unexpected peace.
***
At the seating area, Talon sat awkwardly next to Jackson, surrounded by his usual band of affiliates. The new addition was causing an atmosphere of general confusion and discomfort which only Jackson himself seemed to be ignoring.
The spotlights came on as Eve stepped into the ring. In a tank top and arm bandages she looked nothing like her usual, sophisticated self. However, despite her wiry frame, she strode forward with confidence. âNot badâ Jackson snickered. âToo bad she's about to get all messed up.â Talon ignored the jeers of the crowd and kept his eyes fixed on the ring.
Next, Eve's opponent entered. Talon struggled to recall when he had seen her face before. Then he remembered; it was the female guard from the town hall. Her dark hair was pulled back into a thick plait and her round shoulders and chiselled stomach left no doubt as to her physical capabilities. Jackson grinned at Talon, who to his dismay seemed unperturbed.
The two fighters approached the centre of the ring to bump fists. âHello again, lovelyâ the woman shouted to Eve over the din. âThought I'd see you here again, maybe just for a drink or two.â She winked suggestively. âBut what can you do, eh?â
The bell sounded and the stocky woman began to bounce on her toes. Eve stepped gracefully around the ring, keeping pace. The guard attacked first, with a series of jabs which Eve deflected competently. The attack did not relent, and Eve found herself being pushed into a corner. She nimbly circled out, back into the center of the ring. The size difference between the two combatants was hard to ignore, and at this rate it seemed just a matter of time before Eve was caught. âI bet she's not so cocky nowâ Jackson shouted down Talon's ear. The prince did not flinch.
Eve came under attack again, this time escaping the corner just barely, the guard's right hook grazing her ear. The crowd booed in disapproval of this game of cat and mouse. âFinish it already!â Jackson shouted into the ring. The female guard shuffled towards Eve with another barrage, then crouched down in a flash and surged forward into Eve's waist, taking her clean off the ground and down onto the canvas. The crowd cheered. Pinning Eve down with her body weight, the guard bludgeoned her forearms. It seemed only a matter of time before they would give way, leaving her face exposed to the punishment.
Then, out of nowhere, Eve's left hand suddenly sprung up and trapped the woman's fist. Raising her hips to disrupt her attacker's balance, Eve slipped her legs free and in one fluid motion, executed a text-book arm bar. Realising her mistake, the guard tried to yank her muscular arm free, but Eve, like a hungry python, tightened her grip further. In desperation, the woman, with her arm still trapped, used her supreme strength to lift Eve off the ground fully, and slam her back down onto the canvas. Eve spluttered, but scrunching her face in determination, held on until at last, feeling her arm about to snap, the red-faced victim tapped in surrender. The crowd were on their feet. All except Jackson, who sat back in his seat, pale-faced. Sensing the lapse in Jackson's concentration, Talon sprang from his seat and climbed into the ring. Amid the uproar he slowly assisted Eve to her feet and towards the infirmary. There, Gau and Zenith were waiting.
The doctor set about tending to Eve's injuries. âI took the liberty of explaining the situation to Gau. He confided in me that based on the outcome of your fight, he would decide whether to join us on our mission.â
Eve and Talon looked up at Gau in anticipation. At that moment Jackson came storming through the door.
âEnough of this crapâ he wheezed. âYou twoâ he waved his hand wildly at Eve and Gau. âIn the ring. Now.â
Gau glanced casually at Zenith, who was calmly applying ice to Eve's forearm. âWell,â Jackson continued, âwhat are you waiting for? Think you can handle the champion?â He ruffled Gau's hair aggressively.
âThat's quite enoughâ said a voice behind him. Jackson turned to see Scarlett's shapely figure in the doorway, her hands resting on Alice's shoulders. âYou shut upâ said Jackson, waving her away.
âNoâ she snapped back at him. âGau wants to leave this place...and so do I.â
Jackson let out a tired laugh. âSo. This is what I get as thanks. From you...â he jabbed his finger towards Gau's face, âwho I brought in from the street....and you!â He spun around, this time pointing his finger at Scarlett. âI brought you in from worse than the street. And this is how you thank me. To abandon me and go frolicking around with some stuck up kid and his idiot sister?â Scarlet slapped his hand away. âShe's anything but an idiot, I'll have you know. She just knows when to be quiet and when to speak. Thanks to her, I know now that I've been quiet for too long.â
Jackson sneered at Talon. âWhy did you come here kid. Just to take everything I have and leave me here alone?â
âNoâ, said Talon. âI'm not taking anything. I'm giving something...a choice.â
Jackson looked around the small, crowded room, and let out a long sigh. Then he swept his hair back under his hat and forced a smile. âWell nowâ, he said. âWhat kind of man would I be if I let my girlfriend and my best friend head off on a perilous journey without me to protect them?â Scarlett rolled her eyes. âSorry Docâ Jackson tipped his hat to Zenith. âI'll be going with themâ.
Zenith adjusted his spectacles. âWell then, that all worked out rather nicely.â He reached behind his mothers photograph to the back of the corner table, and flicked a switch. A crack opened in the back wall of the room. Zenith pushed it revealing a hidden doorway. âWe're leaving now.â
âWhat?!â Jackson blurted out. âYou too?! Wait...what about all my...I mean, her stuff?â He gestured emphatically towards Scarlett. âI don't need itâ she said defiantly, and led Alice out through the hidden doorway into the back alley. Jackson shook his head in disbelief. âWell I guess I have no choice...but to turn you all in.â
The room fell silent.
âI'm jokingâ said Jackson. âAfter the day I've had, I had to ruffle your feathers somehow, give me a break.â He followed after Scarlett.
Eve breathed a sigh of relief. âWill you be okay?â Zenith asked. She stood up without answering, and grabbed her trench coat from the hanger. âLet's just goâ she said. âAgreedâ Zenith replied, and ushered Eve and Talon out through the door. He glanced at the photograph on the table, and then stepping outside, pulled the secret door tightly shut.















