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“I was being sarcastic.” I reach for the trident, but pause before touching it. “I’m sorry.” Then I grab it, expecting it to shock me.

It doesn’t.

Earwig swishes over, holding her spear like a warrior. She glares at Halen. “Move aside, unless you want this in your chest.”

Anger surges through me. The trident vibrates and a rainbow of colors runs up and down it, starting at my palms. “Don’t threaten her.”

Earwig’s brows draw together. “Then she better get out of our arena!”

“This gym is now an arena?”

She moves her head from side to side. “You’d better believe it.”

Halen whispers to me, “Your trident is more powerful than her spear. Remember that.” Then she joins the others by the doorway.

Mr. Brant stands between us. “I’m going to count to three, then the sparring begins. All rules of engagement must be followed. Understood?”

My mouth falls open. “I don’t even know what the rules of engagement are!”

Earwig’s mouth twists. “Isn’t that too bad?”

I turn to Mr. Brant. “Mind going over the rules for me?”

“Can’t. That’s one of the rules.”

“Fine.” I grit my teeth. What’s the worst that could happen?

Mr. Brant raises a hand. “One …”

I grip the trident so tight it hurts.

“Two …”

I hold my breath. Earwig narrows her eyes.

“Three!” Mr. Brant scurries away to the wall.

Earwig charges at me, her spear aiming right for my chest.

I’m so not ready for this. I jump to the side, and she barrels past me.

She would have actually jammed that thing into me! She’d have killed me! If I had any doubts about her trying to kill me that first night, they’re gone now. She was definitely trying to kill me then—and now.

The trident vibrates in my grasp. I spin around just as my enemy nearly rams in to me, and I leap out of the way again.

Earwig sneers. “You call this sparring? You’re avoiding. Running. Scared.” She lunges for me.

By instinct, I bring the trident in front of me. Her spear crashes into it. She jolts backward. Her face reddens and her mouth forms a straight line. She lunges for me again.

I move forward toward her, the trident at my side. Everything seems to move in slow motion. As she nears, I lower the prongs so they’re aiming for her.

She doesn’t leap out of the way as I’d expect. Not like Mr. Brant had. It doesn’t faze her. She keeps rushing at me. Her weapon digs into my arm. Searing pain shoots out from it, running up and down. I gasp, and she slices through the skin on my other arm. Shoves me down.

The trident flies from my grasp, going clear across the gym. Earwig pins me against the wall. “I win. I’ll always win. Don’t forget that.”

Anger runs through me, burning in my gut. Trident or no trident, I’m not done with her. She isn’t going to beat me. She didn’t win when she left me for dead, and she isn’t going to overpower me now either. I wrap my fingers around her wrists and shove her away.

“That’s what you think!” I race over to my weapon.