Is this destiny?

"Next is Elder Milan!", JoAnna announced her next victim who was about to lose his position. She enjoyed this, knowing that big changes are about to happen in the Lebedev family thanks to her concoctions. She is awesome!

Elder Milan was confident. In his mind, he practiced his answers in advance, to reveal a bit of his misdeeds, but not too much to warrant any punishment. He planned for everything, except for the truth serum which made his whole world collapse within minutes.

One by one, Elders and assistants took turns talking to JoAnna. The people who spoke with JoAnna included Elder Milena (aka Stella) and her assistant Oleg (aka Owen), as well as Zack and his assistant Masika, but without the truth serum.

In the end, Elder Gavril, Elder Bozidar, and Elder Milan stood with their assistants facing options to fight or to step down from their positions obediently while others were cleared as people who are acting in the best interests of the Lebedev organization.

Elder Gavril led his group of six men to discuss something in hushed voices and a minute later, they all turned to look at Sarah.

As the Grand Elder of the Lebedev family, Sarah stood up and faced six men.

"Did you decide if you are going to fight for your right to stay in your current position?"

Elder Gavril spoke for himself and the other five. "Yes."

"And? What is your decision?"

"We will fight.", Elder Gavril said while giving Sarah a knowing look.

Elder Gavril looked at Sarah with a hint of smugness which told her that he is up to something.

The three Elders and their assistants discussed their current situation, and they don't have anything to lose. After this video feed which showed them admitting to their treachery like fools, no one will side with them. With things as they are, it seems that they will need to face Sarah in the arena to fight.

Individually, neither of them is eager to cross fists with Sarah, but if all six of them attack her, she is bound to get an injury or two. Who knows? Maybe some of them will win.

They agreed that whoever wins will help others regain their original positions. They don't really trust each other, but it's the most they have at this time, as they are all in the same pickle jar.

Sarah wondered, why is Elder Gavril smiling smugly at her? Does he think that she will be their opponent?

Sarah knows that they look down on her because she is young enough to be their daughter, and because she is a female. Even if she can fight them off with her fists, they are confident that she is a silly girl who can be easily tricked. Too bad for them that she has no intention of playing.

She did her best to keep her poker face from cracking into a smile as she spoke.

"As the Grand Elder, I approve your request for settling this with a fight where the winner is decided in a fight without weapons when one can't fight anymore or admits a defeat. However, I don't think that it's fair for six of you to fight on the same day against Zack."

"Zack?", Elder Gavril asked with a frown while looking at Zack who was letting go of Masika (aka his assistant) in order to stand up.

Zack is taller and more muscular than Sarah. Definitely intimidating.

They thought that Sarah might be a troublesome opponent, but Zack seems to be worse. Actually, Zack seems to be dangerous as he is a buff man in his late twenties.

Sarah smiled, revealing her teeth. "Yes, Zack. All of you violated the communication protocols of the Lebedev family, which means that you stepped into his territory. Since it's not fair for him to have six fights in one night, and we don't want to drag this, I decided to give you options."

Sarah looked toward the audience seated in the arena and shouted: "If any of you wants to accept a challenge from the Elder or his assistant for a fight without weapons, please come down!"

Kids from the Cliffside Villa were quick to come down and line up. Aaron, Noah, Igor, and a few others were first from the Army of Chaos to step into the fighting area, and many others joined.

"OK! OK! Stop! STOP!", JoAnna shouted while waving her arms wildly. "That's plenty! We need only six!"

Sophia laughed at JoAnna's silly antics while pulling Felix back to sit. Where is he going? There is no way she is letting him go there and fight!

The ones who were not in the arena yet, went back to their seats, but whoever managed to touch the ground of the fighting area was not willing to leave.

Stella looked at all the people with a smile on her face, proud to see that so many people are loyal to Sarah. She did great.

Sarah exhaled helplessly at the sight of more than fifty people who did their best to squeeze into lines in the limited space, without toppling the chairs or the recording equipment, while giving space to the people who are already there. She was glad to see that everyone is eager to step up. 

Sarah turned to the six men who were facing the possibility of losing their positions to see them staring at the sight in front of them.

"Pick one. Anyone will do. If you defeat your opponent, you get to stay.", Sarah said and stepped to the side, only to be pulled down by Aiden to sit on a chair next to him.

Three elders and their assistants scanned the crowd. It was a variety of options, males, and females, from teenagers to grownups. If they pick a girl, it might appear they are bullying the weak. Youngsters won't be a better choice either. And picking a bulky man in his thirties does not look good. What to do?

Elder Gavril got an idea. "Grand Elder Sarah, what if more than one of us picks the same person?"

Sarah thought for a second. "The first fight will happen. No one will refuse you. However, if my soldier gets picked for a second round, he has the right to decline and you will need to pick another one."

Elder Gavril narrowed his eyes. "Can we pick anyone?"

Sarah confirmed. "Yes. Anyone who is here in the fighting area."

"Except for Sarah! She was captured and she needs to rest.", Aiden said sternly. There is no way he will let her fight, but he didn't want to say that she is pregnant.

Elder Gavril nodded in agreement. He would not pick Sarah anyway. He turned to his companions and they started talking in whispers.

About thirty seconds later, the whispering-six faced Sarah with determined gazes.

"You said we can pick anyone. Right?", Elder Gavril wanted to verify.

Sarah nodded in confirmation while leaning lazily on Aiden as his arms rested around her, his forearms pressed gently on her lower abdomen as he embraced both Sarah and their baby.

Elder Gavril lifted his hand and pointed at Sarah which made Aiden frown.

"Didn't you hear me say that she won't fight?", Aiden growled while tightening his hold on Sarah, as if he was afraid that she will leap to her feet and accept the challenge.

Elder Gavril smirked. "I am not pointing at her, but at you."

Aiden's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "What?"

Elder Gavril's smile widened. "You heard me."

Elder Gavril was confident in his idea. He never saw Aiden do anything useful other than go around hugging Sarah and playing with the dogs. And if Aiden is any good, they would not end up captured at the base of the Voronins. On top of that, Elder Gavril remembers clearly that when Sarah showed up at the main base of the Lebedev family to claim the position of the Elder and then Grand Elder, it was so that she can rescue Aiden (Elder Gavril was there to witness the operation).

Everything points to the fact that the young man (aka Aiden) is obviously useless and her weakness, and as such, he is an easy target, Gavril thought. Aiden is perfect, not a female, not too young, and… weak.

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