Chapter 13
"Don't you think it's a bit late for that right now? I'm kinda in the middle of a fight" Derrick said, flashing his knife
"You can't fight with a knife why I fight without a weapon " Lucas said
"Are you saying that you surrender" Derrick asked, sneering
"No, I'm saying that you need to lose the knife," Lucas said.
"I can see that you're afraid. Well, I'm going to fight with the knife and that's final" Derrick said
Lucas was trying to quiet down his wolf. It was still in the fighting mode and wasn't ready to stop just yet.
"Derrick, be reasonable. Let's just have a wolf fight. It's only fair" Lucas said
"If life was fair, I would be the next Alpha king of the Lucent pack. But guess what, life isn't fair. And right now, I'm fighting for what rightfully belongs to me. Thanks for your offer anyways. I still can't believe you traded the throne for a girl" Derrick said and laughed sinisterly
"You will never be the Alpha of the Lucent pack " Lucas said, stressing every word.
"It will never happen. That would be over my dead body" Lucas said.
Derrick glared at him and Lucas could see his eyes turn red. He gripped his knife tighter and started to advance toward Lucas
"Over your dead body, huh. So I guess you will have to die then" he said and swung his knife at Lucas but Lucas jumped back just in time to miss the knife by an inch. He didn't know what to do, Derrick was moving towards him aggressively and he was holding a knife. What was he to do now? Suddenly, Lucas sighted a stick on the floor carved on one end like an arrow. He picked it up and held it pointed to Derrick
"Well, I guess you're armed for the fight now " Derrick said derisively
"You know I don't want to be. You still have a chance to lose the knife and we can have a fair fight" Lucas said but Lucas wielded his knife and pointed it towards Lucas.
The knife was long and Lucas knows that Derrick had had that knife since he was twelve. He always kept it well sharpened. Lucas could not count the number of times he had seen Derrick sitting on the hearth and sharpening his knife. If he was to be honest, he was a little afraid. Derrick was holding a sharpened knife and all he had was a stick. He knew that Derrick wasn't going to back down and so he might as well look for a way to deal with the situation.
Lucas held tight to his stick as if he was about to throw it and Derrick wielded his knife this way and that. They both faced each other squarely. Derrick was the first to attack. He moved towards Lucas with his knife In his grip. Lucas moved backwards when he made a slash at him and then he held his stick horizontally to block the second slash and Derrick cut the stick straight in the middle into two pieces. Lucas jumped back.
He was now holding two sticks in his hand. He suddenly realized the gravity of the situation he was in. Derrick glared at him and licked his lips. There was a death stare in his eyes. Lucas was suddenly hit with the realization that Derrick wanted to kill him. It was in the way he held the knife and the way the veins stood in his temples. It was in the slow purposeful strides he was taking. His eyes were glazed over as if he was possessed by a demon.
Lucas moved backwards, his wolf's survival instinct was awakened inside of him. He reminded himself that he had to win this fight by all means. Kayla's life depended on his winning this fight. The welfare of his people depended on his winning this fight. He had too much to lose if he should lose. He had to fight like his life depended on it. He tightened his hands on his stick and made sure the stick with the sharp edge was facing forward towards Derrick.
Derrick advanced towards him, his knife flashing in the moonlight. He increased his pace suddenly and was soon rushing towards Lucas with his knife. Lucas held out his stick ready to stick it into Derrick. But Derrick was faster. He was soon upon Lucas and before Lucas could move out of the way, he jabbed him in the shoulder with the knife and Lucas screamed out in pain. He felt the warm blood running down his arms. Derrick tried to stab him again but Lucas dodge and stabbed Derrick on his side with the sharp end of his stick.
Derrick moved backwards clutching his side. Lucas held his stick out. He was still bleeding from his shoulder and he placed his left hand on it to try and apply some pressure. Derrick strengthened up and took a stance as if about to attack Lucas again. But this time Lucas was prepared. He reminded himself about why he could not afford to lose the fight. And so although his shoulder was bleeding profusely, he took a stance himself and faced Derrick.
Derrick attacked him again and attempted to slash him with the knife but Lucas bent down and gripped Derrick's wrist. He twisted his hands back and the knife fell off. Lucas picked it up quickly and disposed of the stick that wasn't sharp. Derrick was now without a weapon and Lucas saw the panic that crossed his eyes as he held the knife upright. He had never held Derrick's knife before. Derrick had never let him touch it.
He waited for Derrick to take action. For him to say that he surrendered so the fight would be over but Derrick stood his ground. Lucas's shoulder was hurting badly and he was conscious of the blood still pouring out of it. His wolf was so pissed it was threatening to burst forth from him.
Lucas held the knife straight and prepared to attack Derrick. He planned the move in his mind before he moved. He leaned forward and hit Derrick on the head with the hilt of the knife. Derrick came down and Lucas stood over him with the knife in his hands. His eyes blazed angrily as he prepared to drive the knife into Derrick's neck except he didn't really want to kill him.
He held the knife over him and Derrick lay on the floor in fear.
"Do you surrender?" Lucas asked, still holding the knife over him. Derrick said nothing
"Surrender now and I will spare your life. You've already lost" Lucas said to him and when he didn't say anything, Lucas made a motion as if to jab the knife in Derrick's neck
"Fine, I surrender," Derrick said quickly. Lucas brought his hand down and lifted himself from on top of Derrick. He really needed to see the pack healer, it had been such a bloody fight. He was really glad that he had won. He didn't know what he would have done with himself if he had lost.
"Remember the deal we had" Lucas said
"Stay away from the girl" He added
Derrick got up from the ground and dusted himself up. He didn't give Lucas a reply and Lucas was afraid that he wouldn't keep his promise.
"Can I have my knife back?' Derrick asked him. He was obviously so angry. He should even be happy that Lucas was nothing like him. If Derrick had won the fight, he would have made sure that everyone heard about it by now.
Lucas wasn't sure if giving him the knife was a good idea. What if he used it against him? The knife was the reason he had won and he was afraid that Derrick was going to use it against him.
Lucas was badly hurt. More hurt than Derrick for sure and he was afraid that he won't be able to stand against Derrick considering his condition. But it was Derrick's knife and he should give it back to him. Lucas held the knife tighter in his hands. He didn't trust Derrick. He had never trusted him.what if he gave him the knife and he lodged it into his chest. He could kill him with the knife. Lucas was powerless before him right now. He was still trying to stop his shoulder from bleeding and he was already starting to feel weak from losing so much blood. He wished that Derrick would help him get to the pack healer.
Derrick advanced towards him
"Keep away" Lucas said, his voice quivering
Derrick stared straight at him, unsmiling
"You've won, Lucas. Give me my knife and I'll leave in peace" Derrick said softly
"I'll give you when we get to the palace," Lucas said.
"Don't let me take it from you by force" Derrick threatened. He looked at Lucas shoulder "you're bleeding, you don't have much time" Derrick said
Lucas clenched his shoulder tighter. It was true that he was bleeding and he didn't have much time. He didn't want to pass out in front of Derrick. That would leave him too vulnerable to someone like Derrick which was something he couldn't risk.
"Alright" Lucas said "I'm going to give you the knife and once I do, you're going to walk away" Lucas said
Derrick smiled
"Sure" he said and stretched out his hand
Lucas handed the knife over to him. Derrick looked the knife over in his hand and then held it tight. He held it up above Lucas's head.