Chapter 8B
Ariel rushed out of her room and went straight for the elevators. She thought about what she’d ask him. For starters, why he did what he did. Ariel’s fists tightened as she punched in the top-floor button. Once out of the elevator, Ariel hobbled to the storage room and up the stairs to the rooftop.
There, she found him. He was standing with arms resting on the ledge as he faced the Virtus City landscape. The smoky clouds drifted in the sky as the golden sunlight faded into the horizon. And around them were the five other buildings like a polydactyl hand, with equidistant fingers curving inwards. These were massive tines to the crown, the Zeda arena.
She hadn’t talked with her brother in a while. So now, they’d really talk. She’d finally get into his head. Perhaps manipulate something she’d discover from him. That’s if she’d be able to get him to open up.
She strolled forward. “Demetrius,” she called, and he glanced her way before returning to face the city in front of him.
“We haven’t talked in months,” he said, standing straight. “And all I had to do was fight you at Gladius to get your attention.”
“So that’s why you did it? To talk to me? My dreams are about to fall away from me because you’re getting lonely? Is that it?”
“I did it to save you from yourself. I told you that already. You’ve become so absorbed in this blademaster nonsense that nothing else seems to matter. It’s just a game, Ariel.”
“It’s not just a game, and you know it.”
“Yeah,” Demetrius chuckled, returning his eyes to the sky. “A résumé enhancer.”
The gust brushed his short hair. He seemed much more intimidating now. She could still picture that snarl, those dark brown eyes, as he pushed his sword into her thigh.
“It’s more than that, and I don’t appreciate how lightly you’re taking this game.” Ariel pressed both hands on the top of the ledge. “People get hurt in these games. The danger is what draws the attention of the evaluators. The situations that the Virtus Guard and the Virtus Force often find themselves in are very much real and dangerous. This prepares me for that.”
“Speaking of evaluators,” Demetrius continued, “I’ve always hated how much you worship Etta Kelari.”
“I do not worship her,” Ariel folded her hands. “I look up to her.”
Her brother shook his head. “Sure. So, what do you want to talk about? The game? It happened.”
“I’m not mad,” said Ariel. “I’m just wondering. Why now?” Moving closer to him, she said, “I’m fighting good players—Pedro and Angie and Derrick—strong players who have me preoccupied. I couldn’t possibly have seen you coming.” She squeezed her fist. “Edna and Toby, Demetrius; they will decide whom they want to challenge, and if I’m not good enough, they won’t…”
“They’re not the only blademasters, you know.”
“But they’re the only ones that will challenge me.” Ariel turned to the ghostly light on the horizon. She reflected their mother’s features: curly, black hair fluttering against the wind, skimming her cheeks until she tucked it away behind her ears. “I don’t even know how you got so good,” she said, attempting to hide the pain in her voice, “how you could control the Vox suit so efficiently.”
“Beginner’s luck, I guess,” he said, smiling.
“No, don’t give me that,” she answered quietly, and, leaving one hand on the ledge, faced him. “You’ve just made my life worse. I hope you know that.”
“Ariel… I don’t care. I don’t. You’ve treated me like a stranger, so don’t expect me to now start acting like your brother. It’s what, a year now since you cut me out of your life? I’m fighting you on this. I’ll make your Gladius life hell. I’ll only get better. And I’ll be waiting for your next challenge. Perhaps, in the next month, you can feel what I’ve felt in the last year.”
She was stunned. Swallowing. Holding back tears that were ready to give way. He turned back to the city again. There was a silence between them now, but the city hummed in the distance. She observed him. He was hurt. Beyond hurt even. Something seemed to have snapped. She’d been ignoring him. She’d hated the weight of an overbearing brother. Mom said this. Mom said that. As if she’d forgotten. But she’d gone to the extreme. She’d completely cut him out. And yet, he’d found a way to cut a place for himself right back in her life.
“I will become the next champion,” said Demetrius, resting his interlocked fingers atop the ledge.
“Who’s making you do this?” Ariel asked.
Ignoring her, he continued, “…the next Blademaster.”
“Was it Edna?” Ariel insisted. “Toby?”
“…And I’d say I’ve gotten a good start. With my performance in your game, I’m pretty sure I’ve disrupted your expected blademaster challenge. It’s going to come my way. Just you wait.”
“I don’t think so.” She shook her head. “No, no. Not happening. You want to step into my world. I’ll crush you.”
“You own Gladius?” He chuckled. “You’re not even a blademaster yet. Don’t get ahead of yourself.” He moved his hands into his pockets. “The scariest thing for you right now is the possibility that I might be better than you at Gladius.”
She was speechless. He was right, though she refused to even consider it. She was no longer sure about herself. She was no longer sure if anything would change when the doctor would have cleared her to return to training.
“You’re injured, Aer, but I’m still training. I’m getting stronger. And you’re not.”
Her heartbeat went haywire. Fear burned inside her as her lungs heated up. Was he right? Was she losing this? No, he’s playing mind games again.
“You have a Vex in you!” said Ariel, panting, understanding that she’d disobeyed Cassandra. Afraid that it had come to this. Afraid to dwell on it. Demetrius looked confused, so she explained. “You’re doping, Demetrius, with some illegal Vox derivative to enhance your abilities. You’re a cheater.”