Mr. Arrogant

Arriving at the playground, Ava saw Prince Neville and Princess Aurora opposite one another. Princess Aurora had changed into a smart, fitted training wear and had made her red hair into a tight ponytail. Neville also was looking in full battle mode. None of them seemed to notice Ava's arrival.

"That was a close one" Aurora admitted taking a glance at the silver sword which had gotten stuck on the wall.

Neville withdrew the sword telepathically from the already slit wooden wall and held it on his hands.

"That won't happen again" Neville said. "I underestimated your reflexes"

"Oh, really. You thought it would be like the days we were younger_" she stood uprightly.

Cling! Neville's quick sword came in contact with Aurora's who defended well with hers.

"I wasn't ready" She deadpanned holding her sword firmly.

Neville smiled striking the sword harder "You don't expect me to play fair, don't you?"

Aurora was trying hard to keep her defence, her brother was far stronger than she remembered. Neville moved forward using the sword skillfully and watched his sister move backward. Aurora broke a sweat.

 Meanwhile, Ava was enjoying the fight really well. She watched the way Neville skillfully used his sword even with one hand and was quite impressed.

Neville still hadn't broken through Aurora's defence, he was not surprised because he knew how good she was-even if he was better anyways.

Suddenly, Aurora's hand suddenly swerved to one side making her lose balance and Neville gave one final strike.

"I won" Neville said calmly.

"No you didn't! You used magic, that's cheating!" Aurora pouted

Ava looked at the both of them. They looked so cute, it was hard for anyone to believe that Aurora was the older one. Neville still had his arrogance on, tsk! She wondered if he had ever considered trying to be humble for once.

"Did I tell you I'll play fair?" Neville teased

"I want a rematch" Aurora stood and arranged her hair.

"No way! I won that's all" Neville slipped the sword in the pocket. "So, now you agree that I'm better than you?"

"Never! Maybe in magic but not sword fighting!"

"Oh really_" Neville's words were cut short as soon as his eyes met Ava's.

"Oh" Aurora walked towards Ava who was a bit jerky as she itched her hair. "Ava's here"

"Yeah I was just_"

"Your assignment, did you do it?" he asked straight-faced. She so much hated the way he always interrupted her words every time.

"I'll be back, for a rematch!" Princess Aurora said as she left the place figuring that it was needed. Neville simply nodded at her words then turned back to Ava.

She walked inside the training ground and to the large mosaic. Sighed and said loudly, the number she had repeated several times in her head.

"Eight hundred and seventy five"

Neville raised a brow walking towards her.

"That's the number, eight hundred and seventy five" Ava turned to him "am I correct?" She said her eyes shining with enthusiasm.

"Did you count them? All of them?" Neville asked.

"But you weren't interested in knowing how I got the answer earlier, so why do you want to know now?" Ava questioned.

"I'm the one supposed to ask you questions, don't try to question me" he said coldly, Ava sneered.

"Yes, I counted them" Ava deadpanned.

He looked at her and smirked. God! She was so naïve and innocent.

"Look at those tiles again, all of them" he said and watched as she obeyed.

"To use magic, you have to know how to concentrate. To use your focus and empty your mind. Look again, focus on the tiles and tell me what you see"

Ava looked at the large artwork, her eyes keenly at each and every detail.

"I see nothing" She turned to him.

He went behind her and put his strong hands on her shoulders.

"Look" He said whispered and she tried harder this time, looking at the mosaic all at once.

Nothing.

In an instant, she felt her shoulders vibrate and a sudden feeling flashed through her head. Her eyes dilated and she couldn't help but to wrinkle her forehead at the unexpected impression. And then she looked at the tiles, all of them at once.

But as soon as the feeling came, it was gone.

"So tell me now, how many are there?" Neville's voice behind her jolted her from her reverie.

"Eight hundred and seventy six" She whispered and turned to him "What exactly did you do to me?"

"I just indulged you with my powers, so that you could see what I see" Neville said "You didn't have to count. Besides, your answer was wrong"

Ava nodded, betrayed.

"So I lose this one" She said carelessly. "Let's try the next"

"Didn't you remember the deal? If you fail any of my tests, you're going back from where you came"

..........

Asher looked at the cup of coffee till it turned cold. His mind constantly deviating to Ava, where was she? Was she safe?

 A young lady dressed in a black and white uniform who was one of the housemaids walked to him.

"Sir Asher" She said calmly.

He stared at the coffee, completely oblivious that she was there because of the thoughts that bothered him.

"Sir?" She said louder and he awoke from his contemplation.

"Oh, is it time for you to close?" He said quickly.

"Yes sir" She replied

"Okay, you don't have to come tomorrow. I'll not be around, I've told the others"

"Okay sir" She sighed and turned to go and then paused "Sir?"

Asher raised his head to answer.

"Please take care of yourself" She said and he nodded, giving a reassuring smile.

Then he watched her leave.

Pin-drop silence filled the air. The one that was never experienced when Ava was here.

Knock knock. He heard someone pound the door

Asher stood up nursing the thought that he was not expecting any visitor. And then opened the door.

"Good evening Asher Anderson" Said a man dressed in a black hooded coat.

"Good evening, how may I_"

A sudden flash of pain interrupted his speech. Sending shivers down his entire brain. The stranger watched as he fell in agony and then, saw nothing but darkness.

"Your hiding time is over"