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CHAPTERTWENTY-EIGHT

Ophilia

"Ophilia...Did you hear me?"

She raised her eyes to meet Zachary's. Her gaze burned into his as she gave him a timid little smile. "I'm sorry, what was that?"

"I said the sunset is beautiful, isn't it?"

Her eyes shot over to the large wall of glass that stretched across the back of the room. Beyond a set of glass doors was a wide balcony, and beyond that was the cityscape followed by the sun drifting below the horizon.

"Yes...it's nice," she said, meaning it only a little. The red ball of light hurt her eyes even when she wasn't directly looking at it.

Her gaze drifted a little lower, to the roof of the arena below. Capura's penthouse towered over it several levels above. Just a few levels above Sal's apartment and several more above where she and Xeda had stayed. If the elevators weren't being monitored, it would only take her less than twenty seconds to make it to the ground floor. If she could reach the stairs, it would likely take fifteen minutes tops if she took two steps at a time.

"How's your steak? Not too well done I hope?" he asked as he took a bite of his own.

She looked down at her plate, only a bite or two taken from the slab of meat before her. "It's fine," she said. The sleek black table they sat at was filled with food. Bowls of soup, vegetables and bread. She looked at it all but didn't touch.

He watched her as he swallowed. "You must be hungry. Here, I’ll help you fill up." He started to rise from his seat.

"I'm fine. I'm not very hungry."

He sank back in his seat, then reclined, a small smirk growing on his face. He knew she was hungry. They hadn't given her anything since she had been brought up to the penthouse. Only just an hour ago did Zachary unlock the door and let her out of the room they had thrown her in, smiling at her and asking her to join him for dinner as if nothing was amiss. As if he hadn't heard her screaming and pounding at her door for hours.

He also offered her a new uniform, black with orange and violet. She changed into it only because her old uniform had been ripped in several places when she tried to fight the grip of Capura's—i.e. Kaxek’s—men. After she'd changed, she met Zachary in the dining room where he told her they were having steak.

She didn't give a fuck what they were having or about him wanting to play nice. But she knew trying to run wasn't an option right now either. Men stood by the entrance, and the one time the door did open, she saw, through the foyer, the elevator being guarded too.

"I know you’re nervous for the next game," Zachary replied. "I am too."

She tapped her fork against the edge of the plate. Of course they hadn't given her a steak knife. But Zachary had one. If she could somehow get to it...

"Kaxek has decided to give Xeda one more chance. He's letting him into the final game."

Ophilia glared back at him. "We both know he's in no condition yet to fight."

His brows rose. "Kaxek took damage too. Perhaps it's only fair."

Ophilia looked back at her hands, one clenching the fork, the other in a fist, her nails digging into her skin. "Kaxek wants to see him dead...he doesn't want to play fair. He just wants to show he's better."

"You don't know that."

"If he really wanted to have an equal fight, he'd let Xeda try again next season..." She hated the idea of him going back to Sal's, enduring the torture they would put him through. But he would still have a chance to win come next season and gain his freedom then. If he were to fight now, he could die. And she knew they knew that.

They wanted her to watch. To see him suffer before Kaxek made the final blow.

Zachary shook his head. "Kaxek has been more than fair. Xeda was allowed treatment despite certain rules. They both have been weakened. But they both can still fight. And the games must go on. Sal has been told and understands this. And so will you."

She let her fork clatter to her plate. "Let me see him then. He still needs me, and he can't get a new trainer this late on."

Zachary sighed. "Afraid not."

"This is bending of the rules, and you know it. Just so Kaxek can have his way."

Zachary smiled. "Do you really think you can do any more for him than you already have? A few words of encouragement will hardly be enough to give him an edge." Zachary leaned forward, clasping his hands together. "Let it go, Ophilia. Let him go. He will fight and he will try. If anything, Kaxek will show him mercy by killing him swiftly. Then everyone can see who the true victor is, and it can be done and over with."

"And then what?" Ophilia said as her throat began to tighten. "Why am I even here?"