Broken Birds

Chapter Five - Privacy

Sara's POV:

The next morning I woke up earlier than usual and quickly pulled on my training gear. I silently walked down the hall until I found Nyssa's door. I knocked against it, waiting for her to answer. She pulled open the door and tugged my arm till I was inside. She quickly whispered "Sara you cannot be seen knocking on my door this early in the morning. You are our captive, I am the heir to the demon." I smiled "what are you saying? You're too good to be friends with me?" She glared at me "that is not my opinion, but the opinion of others." I nodded in understanding.

I glanced down realising she was only wearing training pants and a black bra. "Nyssa, your wound, it's gone?" I asked with shock. She looked down at her abdomen, "Sara, once you become a member of the league you will understand everything, until then, you must remain in confusion." She pulled a t-shirt over her head and picked up her armour. She silently buckled it on, placing her flowing cape on her back. She picked up her bow and turned to me, "are you ready to train?" I nodded.

We walked towards the training room in a comfortable silence. Once we entered she sat on the floor, crossing her legs, "before we train Sara, I must alert you of some unfortunate news." I quietly sat in front of her, waiting for her to continue. She pulled out a small dagger, examining it, she quietly mumbled "if you cannot fight within a week, my father has ordered for your demise." I pulled the dagger from her hands and glared at her, "I can't fight in a week, Nyssa, I need more time." She shook her head "please try Sara, I do not wish to kill you."

I angrily stood up, picking up my bo-staff. "Get me more time Nyssa," I yelled at her. She swiftly got up trying to take the bo-staff off me, but I quickly stepped back, swinging it towards her. She pulled out her own and defended herself as I furiously attempted to attack her from every angle. After a minute of fighting she stepped back and watched me carefully. "Sara, you are improving, you must maintain the posture I taught you." I altered my stance and lunged towards her again.

She smiled and effortlessly fought back. I angrily screamed "how could you let your father do this to me." She continued to defend all my attacks, "control your movements, Sara," she yelled over the sounds of our staffs hitting. "Nyssa, how could you let this happen," I swiftly changed my movement at the last second and hit her in the stomach. She stepped back, her eyes wide, "knowing ones opponent is crucial in battle, you changed your footwork, the element of surprise is your ally." I crossed my arms "no element of surprise is going to make me good enough by the end of the week." I threw my staff to the floor and sat down.

Nyssa cautiously moved towards me. I began to sob into my hands. "Sara, do not be concerned, you are improving immensely, everyday, I have faith in your capabilities." She wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close. I leant my head against her collarbone and continued to sob. "I miss my family and my home."

She smiled down at me and kissed my head. "I remember the day I saw you. My father had the blade of his sword pointed at your throat. He treated you like a broken bird. Many in that position would beg for a swift death, but you laughed. All I crave is to hear you laugh once more." I quickly leant in and kissed Nyssa.

She turned so she could face me and continued to kiss me, gently and tentative. She quickly pulled back as the door swung open. A man dressed in black walked in, his eyes widened as he had realised what occurred. He quickly turned his heel to walk out the door but Nyssa was faster. She sprinted to him, jumping up and wrapping a leg around his throat, tackling him to the ground. He fell with a loud thud and attempted to fight back, but Nyssa reached for her dagger and slit his throat before he could.

I shakily stood up, "why would you do that?" I asked trying to control my breath. Her dark, cold eyes looked up at mine, she quietly breathed "he would have told Ra's Al Ghul of our kiss." I walked towards the dying man "why would you kill him for that?" She wiped her blade on the mans dark clothing and mumbled "because I fear my fathers temper in such untraditional matters."

I nodded in understanding. She sighed "I shall walk you back to your living quarters, then speak to my father of the death of Al Munqidh." She grabbed my arm and pulled me towards the door, I darkly looked behind at the fallen man, then continued to follow Nyssa.

She brought me to my room and began to shut the door. I quickly pulled it back open, "Nyssa we still need to talk about what happened between us." She looked down at the floor "there is nothing to discuss, Sara." I don't know why but I felt disappointed. I let Nyssa leave and closed the door.

Was I attracted to her? It just doesn't make sense, I've never liked a girl in this way. But Nyssa is different, I feel connected to her. But I also feel attracted to her. Maybe she kissed me back out of pity, I mean I am probably going to die soon. Or maybe she won't talk about it because of her father. Ra's Al Ghul doesn't seem very open minded.

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Nyssa's POV:

I walked towards the throne room, seeking a hearing from my father. Upon entering he was ordering for Sarab, one of his assassins, to behead a spy. I walked towards the throne and knelt on one knee, bending my head downwards. "Rise my heir," he said. I silently stood and waited for his permission to talk. He nodded and watched me carefully with his cold eyes. I cautiously stated "Al Munqidh requested a duel to the death with me, in order to claim my title as heir to the demon."

My father picked up his sword and walked towards the spy who knelt before him and swiftly thrusted the blade into his chest. I calmed my shudder, I could not show fear, I am the daughter of the demon. Ra's Al Ghul turned towards me "I assume you eliminated your opponent, my daughter." I nodded then turned my head to face the floor.

He walked towards his throne and sat down, ordering Sarab to clean the sword. "You are dismissed, Nyssa." I turned on my heel and started to walk out until I heard him speak again "my heir, your student must be ready within two days, I have not forgotten your promise." A chill ran down my spine as I whispered "yes father" and I quickly walked out of the room.

I continued to walk until I reached Sara's door and knocked. She angrily swung the door open. "How could you be gone that long, you're avoiding me, just because you don't want to talk about what happened," she yelled. I glanced down the hallway to ensure no one was watching as I gently pushed her back and closed the door behind us. "Sara, that is not why I was gone, I had to speak to my father," I assured her.

She crossed her arms and glared at me, "you're just like him, no wonder your his heir, someone gets close to you and you shut them out." Her sharp words hurt me as I sat on the small couch in the corner of the room. I looked up at her "I do not fear love, I long for the day I find my beloved." She sat across from me and continued to watch me.

I carefully whispered "I am sorry for allowing you to kiss me, to be honest I did not know you were attracted to women." She flinched and said "I don't like girls." I tilted my head "where I come from you do not kiss those you are not attracted to." She stood up and angrily paced around the room "well you kissed me back." I crossed my arms and glared at her "what I did is irrelevant, I do not wish to hurt you." She stormed towards me "so you kissed me back out of pity?" I quickly stood up preparing to defend myself if necessary, "no that is not what I meant."

She looked up at me and yelled "then why would you kiss me back?" I turned my head and looked down at the floor, I felt a warmth spread across my cheeks as I whispered "because I wanted to." Sara placed her hand against my cheek and forced me to look at her. She murmured "Nyssa I don't know if I like girls or not, but I think I like you. I just don't know how to decide."

I looked into her bright blue eyes and felt myself getting lost in them. I slowly leant forward and kissed her softly. Sara pulled back with wide eyes, "Nyssa, I..." She then quickly leant forward and began to kiss me again.