CHAPTER 27

                                    

                                          
Misaki 
"Well well, look who decided to show," I quietly spoke, strolling up to a pair who watched the arena from the shadows on the top balcony. They turned to me; a woman with a familiar face and cold pink eyes, and a man with a dark presence. "You shouldn't be here." 
"Now, that's no way to greet your mother, Misaki." Hana replied with an oily smile forming on her pink lips. She pivoted, placing a hand on her husband's arm. "You remember Takeshi, don't you?" 
My eyes shifted from my mom to the man who I was forced to call my stepfather. I furrowed my brows, feeling the fire under my skin start to tease into a slow burn. I didn't respond. Just stared. Takeshi's eyes softened and an arrogant smile pulled at the corners of his mouth. He took a step forward; he was dressed in a charcoal suit, hints of emerald tucked in as details. He was tall and bulkier than I remembered. It hadn't even been that long. 
"You cut your hair," he extended his arm to brush the hair out of my face but I stepped back from his touch. My wings began to twitch and I fanned my feathers in defense. His arm dropped to his side and his gaze hardened. "Relax. We're not here for trouble. And we're not here for you. " 
My eyes darted to the edge of the balcony, the sun beaming on the very edge. Below, the second event was ending. Kai wasn't among them. I looked back at my mom and Takeshi. "She won't want to see you." 
"Good." Hana walked towards me, her face only inches from mine. I raised my chin and widened my eyes against hers, holding her cold stare. "We're not here to see Kai, we're here to watch and have a good time."
I shook my head, my thoughts spinning as her words entangled to endless suspicions that arose in my mind. I didn't want to know what they were up to. So I didn't ask. "I'm only going to say this once, you need to leave." 
My mom's eyes narrowed and her mouth slightly parted. She cocked her head to one side as she tried to get in my face. "Or what?" 
I clenched my jaw, my teeth slamming together as I held my ground. Staring at her, I felt an overwhelming evil swarm me. Her eyes held the power themselves. It was almost compelling. 
"There are over a hundred heroes in this stadium," I raised my voice with every word, my wings outstretching. "I don't think you want to find out." 
She held my glare for a moment, her pupils shrinking with rage. We stood still in our stances until she thrust her hand towards my chest with her fingertips liquefied red. Her hand retreated just as quickly when my chest was engulfed by white flames, making a sizzling noise when her flesh and blood came into contact. Her face contorted with pain and she pivoted away from me. 
I frowned at her. "Blood burns." 
"Enough—" Takeshi's voice cut through our tension, his deep voice making both of our heads turn. When my eyes met his, my chest instantly tightened and my throat went hollow. I'm not afraid of a lot of things and I'm not easily shaken, but the horrific look in that man's eyes made me weak in the knees. I suddenly felt my palms get sweaty and my heart drop to my stomach. It had been a minute since I found myself afraid of him. "No more games, Misaki. Stop toying with the enemy." 
I glanced at my mom before stepping back, my eyes falling to the floor. For some reason, I felt obligated to obey. While my head hung low and my heart raced a beat faster than usual, the approaching footsteps of both Hana and Takeshi made goosebumps form on my skin. Takeshi's shiny black shoes came into view and then suddenly stopped beside me. 
"Remember our deal, Haneda." His warm breath pressed on my cheek as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. I held still, waiting for them to pass and disappear. Before I knew it, his shiny black shoes were no longer in my view and the only thing I could hear were their footsteps echoing in the distance. When I felt it was safe, I whipped around to follow them with my eyes, but they were already gone.