I looked around and all of Hemlock’s crew and they were all smiling as they watched like they knew she was going to win. I didn’t like that look, but I couldn’t tell what I was missing. What gave her the obvious edge?
I started to focus on the fight, but instead of keeping my eyes on Emerald, I watched Hemlock. It was fascinating to see Emerald’s expert execution of different styles going against Hemlock’s wild fighting style. It was almost like she didn’t know what she was doing until she did it.
Emerald did a spin kick that was pointed at her face, but Hemlock twisted just in time and it hit her shoulder, a massive decrease in what the original blow was going to do. Hemlock countered with a knee kick, but Emerald backed up one step and missed getting hit.
“Well, greeny, you’re pretty good.”
Emerald narrowed her eyes, not talking back as she was also trying to figure her out.
“Don’t talk much? That’s ok. I can do the talking for both of us.” She cackled as she wildly swung her sword back and forth at her. Emerald took a few steps back before she looked over her shoulder, seeing she was getting close to the edge.
Emerald tucked and rolled to the right, using the sword against the ground to slow her roll so that she could turn on her side and kick out at her legs. Hemlock slammed her sword into the ground, blocking her kick, but Emerald was ready for that. She stepped up the sword and snapped out a kick to her chin from her other foot.
Hemlock’s head snapped back, finally taking a real blow from Emerald, and I heard Zayden’s large exhale next to me. I elbowed him, not taking my eyes off the fight. “Have faith in our girl, man.”
I could see him face me through my peripherals, grinning, as he teased, “Oh, so she’s our girl, now?”
I kicked at his knee and he cried out as he dropped like a sack of potatoes. I looked down at him and glared. “That’s not what I meant and you know it.”
He opened his mouth to say something when we heard people cheering on the other side. Zayden popped up, eyes glued to the scene in front of us as Emerald was suddenly in a chokehold on the ground, their swords laying to the side and Hemlock grinning like a ghoul, her teeth stained red from Emerald’s foot kick.
“Shit!” Zayden said in a panic, but I knew better.
“Don’t worry. She knows how to get out.” Confidence lined my voice as I knew first hand she could handle herself.
Emerald looked like she was having a hard time, but I saw a twinkle in her eye as she looked at me. Like she remembered the last time she was in the position. I wanted to yell at her to get her head out of the clouds and back at the fight. She stopped me by winking at me, before she bent her bottom leg up to meet her butt and then pushed down her heel into Hemlocks thigh.
Hemlock let go with a cry, and Emerald scrambled up to where the swords laid. Hemlock recovered sooner than she expected and tackled her to the ground again.
Hemlock started to rain down punches from above, hitting all the spots that had vital organs while Emerald used her arms to block her face. “You didn’t think a few hits would take me down, did you!?” Emerald was blocking most of the punches, just waiting for the best time to strike.
Hemlock snagged a sword and lifted it high with both her hands, her eyes flashing with victory, “Now, normally I would stop here, but I have a feeling you are going to need a very vivid reminder of who’s in charge, greeny. But don’t worry, I like you, so I won’t let it hurt too much.”
Emerald moved her arms from her face with a smirk before she surged upward and hit the bottom hilt of the sword with her palm and out of Hemlock’s grasp.
Quickly, Emerald threw Hemlock onto her back on the ground, shoving her face to the side into the dirt with one hand as she skillfully moved her legs around her body and tightened them like a boa.
Hemlock was struggling to get out of Emerald’s grip, but it was no use. Our assassin was strong, not even straining, as she kept a hold tight on her.
Hemlock pulled out a last move and screamed as she pushed all her weight to the side and rolled both of them until Emerald was on her back, her legs still wrapped around Hemlock, but this time Hemlock was on top.
“You don’t think I would make it that easy for you, would you?!” Hemlock taunted as she circled her grip around Emerald’s throat and squeezed.
I made a step towards them, not liking the blood lust in Hemlock’s eyes as she kept tightening her hands, Emerald’s face turning colors as she just held onto Hemlock’s wrists. I felt an arrow at the back of my neck.
“I wouldn’t if I were you.” It was the bowman.
I nodded my head to the fight, “Thought it wasn’t to the death?” My tone even as I was keeping my ear out for any distress signal from Emerald.
“Hemlock does what Hemlock does. Back out of the circle. Now.” His voice told me he was two seconds from shooting me, so I stepped back.
I looked at Rykon and Zayden, both of them looking pissed, not liking what was happening in front of us either. When I looked back at Emerald, she looked unphased by the whole situation, determination to win settling in her eyes.
“Why are you not begging for your life?” Hemlock yelled in Emerald's face, but all she did was smirk. “Beg!”
Suddenly, Emerald tightened her hold on Hemlock’s wrists and twisted with all her might. Hemlock’s face pinched in pain as she let go of her throat before Emerald broke both of her wrists. Emerald unwrapped her legs, kicked Hemlock backwards, grabbed a sword and stood up. She snached Hemlock by the hair and twisted her head back until her neck was exposed and the flash of steel settled on her throat.
“I never beg.” Emerald looked down at Hemlock, not in anger or triumph, just in hard, cold knowledge that she was always going to win this fight. Hemlock looked up at her for a second in awe before she did her crazy laugh again. Emerald squeezed her hair tighter, pressing firmer into her throat to let her know this was not a joke. She bent close to her ear as she asked, “So, when do we leave?”
