When we got to the field, Madelyn was already there fighting invisible enemies. I had to admit, shewas GOOD. I suddenly felt less confident in my abilities. Ben sensed my hesitation."Hey, your gonna be fine. I've seen you fight. You've got this." He says and squeezes my hand. Isqueeze it back before pulling away and taking a deep breath. I warm up a bit and I get slightlyconcerned at the fact that it was harder to swing it. I summed up all my strength and readied myself.Madelyn had stopped and smiled at me. I calculated all her weak points and her strengths and madea chart in my mind next to mine. She clearly was the more experienced fighter, but she seemed morecomfortable with a bow than a sword. Nevertheless, she handled it like a master. I checked mymental chart. My odds didn't look good. I looked at her one more time before getting into my stance.Ben looked at me and smiled encouragingly. I felt better about my feelings for him. Now that we hadgotten everything out in the open it made it easier. I nodded to him and centered myself."Lets go!" Madelyn says and runs at me. I run to meet her and sparks fly when our blades meet. Ididn't realize how strong she was till she pushed me back and I had to quickly go on the defensiveso I didn't get cut to pieces. No death blows obviously but small nicks were fine. Madelyn explainedthat they would magically heal after a short time so we didn't have to worry. Alright brain, back to the
fight. I think. She was quick to, it took most of my concertration to keep my footing and parry thestrikes. I had no openings to strike back and flip the battle. I was trying to keep my cool at the sametime. I had fought battles before where I had trouble at the start but I hadn't fought someone likeMadelyn before. I had already recieved many cuts when Madelyn pulled away and looked at me."Would you like me to slow down?" She asks. I debated it. It would make it easier but I felt like thatwas like giving in. And Baxter's don't give in."Thank you but its fine." I tell her. She nods and begins again. It made me frustrated that I couldn'tscore a hit but I would not back down. I was the Granddaughter of Athena and Apollo, daughter ofLura and Devin Baxter, sister of Greyson Baxter and Erebus Shan, and I would not back down. I keptrepeating that to myself as I fought and felt myself getting stronger and faster. Madelyn's facescrunched in concertation but I could see she was loving it. I guess I was too. I realized I was fightingback, that I had actually gotten the upperhand. I quenched the overconfidence that was starting tocreep in because I knew it would make it worse for me. I enter a sort of limbo, I was totallyconcentrated on the fight but also fighting on autopilot as well. I saw weaknesses I hadn't seenbefore, noticed in detail how her muscles were slowing and her blows with less power. I took theoppertunity and launched a set of new strikes. She struggled a little bit to fight back and I had her onthe defensive now. I felt her getting tired and after one parry she even staggered a little. I saw it andtook the moment to strike hard and it landed true, throwing her sword out of her hands and acrossthe field. She looked shocked. I lowered my sword and suddenly felt exhausted. I staggered myselfand dropped my sword."Woah woah woah, I got you." She says and steadies me."Thanks, I think I went a little too much." I tell her and she helps me sit down."Nah, you were very impressive. And that glow thingy? That's cool. Not many people have bestedme so you should feel good about yourself." She says cheerily."wait, I was glowing?!" I ask her."Yeah, it was like golden and silver at the same time. Kind of reminded me of my Dad's glow." Shesays, a bit confused at my confusion. I DID THE GLOW AGAIN? BUT HOW??!! I think in my mind.Ben ran over and picked me up."That. was. AWESOME!! You didn't tell me you had mastered your powers! That's great news!" Hesays and sets me down. I was a little dizzy but I smiled."I didn't know I was glowing. I guess it just flipped on." I tell him with a smile. He kissed me."Still, that was incredible. I told you that you could do it." He says and I kiss him back."Ewww, get a room you two." Madelyn says and we both pull away with red cheeks."S-Sorry Madelyn." I tell her and she just laughs."No hard feelings but Lola's gonna laugh harder than I am when she finds out about you two." Shesays."She already has." Lola says and we both whip around to see her walking toward us with the biggest smirk on her face. I was pretty sure my face couldn't get redder before but now it was a wholedifferent shade of dark red."oh, Lola! Hi! Um, I was going to tell you but-" I stutter."Save it girl. I figured all along. Your not very subtle. And you definitly aren't either Wolf Boy." Shesays and Ben looks at the ground, trying to hide his red cheeks."Anyway, I saw the fight. pretty impressive. And now that you can use your power thingie, we mightbe able to beat the Evil One." She says and I feel everything drain out of me and the creepysensation of something powerful coming wash over me. I grip my head and back away."RUN! GET OUT OF HERE!! NOW!!" I yell and double over. Madelyn looked confused but Ben andLola paled. Ben grabbed Lola and Madelyn and dragged them away from me. I tried to resist and
fight the feeling but it was no use. I felt EO laughing and I paled when Ben ran back over to me."Audrey! Fight him!! You can beat him!" He says and grips my shoulders. I look into his eyes but aiwasn't the one who made them. It was like my conciousness was in a cage but I could seeeverything. I felt myself smile and knew with a sickening horror what was next. A cold crude daggerformed in my hand and I yelled in my mind to no anvil for him to run and move out of the way but itwas too late. I/EO stabbed him with the dagger in the side and he doubled over, clutching his side."Fools. You think you can beat me? It will only make it sweeter when I crush you. There is no hope,especially for the one I now possess." I say and stand up. Lola screamed Ben's name and Madelynwatched with horror etched on her face. I/EO looked at Ben who was laying there, blood staining hisshirt."I'll let you go this time, because I need this one to free me. But next time I won't be so merciful." EOsays and leaves as quickly as he came. And he took everything I had with him. I collapsed next toBen and passed out.