Chapter 15
The Cruel Irony
Spectators tore through the entrance. The arena was filled to its maximum capacity and guards, a brigade of them including the prince's men, were stationed in all exits and entrances.
My blood was racing. Golden flyers scattered the floor.
My heart felt cold and my face was devoid of emotion.
Arena warriors like myself stood on our own personal balconies, spectating the first performance.
I barely ever spent time here, I was always preparing, doing, moving, working.
Now I'm here. Left with no performance. Glaring daggers at the sprawled prince and it was as if he felt it, his head casually turned to our direction.
The arena warriors beside me tensed and gave a bow. Ruby coloured eyes bored into mine.
He had his father's eyes...
I bit my tongue to feel some kind of sensation. My body felt as if it were going into shock. Darkness swarmed inside me and the little girl in my mind whimpered. I suffocated her, until she was subdued.
Fala and Dritan sat side by side in padded chairs next to the prince’s balcony. I felt Ezra behind me before he spoke. "Everything happens for a reason."
"Not unless I take charge of what's needed," I mutter, staring at the shadowed pathway that the Adonis brothers should step through at any moment.
"They're goddess blessed. They might stand a chance." The golden paint on Ezra's body twinkled from the lantern lights and fire pitchers on the walls. The gold on his face made the blue in his eyes look paler. Rhey swirled around his neck. Catching some golden paint onto his blue-black scales.
"I'm the only one who has ever killed a cliftolight. It was not an easy task." My heart thumped harder.
"For everyone's sake, Morana. Let's hope they can. We as warriors can't interfere with the fight unless they are dead. It’s arena—"
I cut him off abruptly, fuming. "Arena code. Yes. Only unless they ask for help."
I want Klarc to beg.
I frowned at my sudden thoughts, clenching my fists and breathing slowly.
"Mortals. They die. They're fated to. All eventually have to die." A velvet soothing voice caressed my mind. Its shadows swarming near my heart. My ribcage a gate they want to pass.
"No," I whispered.
Ezra looked down at me questioningly. He must have thought I was going mad. The drums began in a thunderous loud beat, silencing spectators. Dritan, in all his power, stood from his seat and acknowledged his people.
Fala played with the material on her chair, looking flawless.
"I'd like to give a special welcome to His Highness, Prince Adrion of Apollo. Thank you for gracing us with your presence.” He looked towards prince.
“Many of you are well accustomed to the amazing arena shows Miss Fala has brought to everyone.
Now, today is the day, even royalty, spectates the wonders of her talented goddess blessed warriors.
Tonight we witness glory!" Everyone cheered and roared in excitement.
Dritan gave an almost forced smile to the whole arena and sat down beside Fala.
They spoke to each other subtly, I noticed them.
Always.
They were planning something; I just didn't know what.
Loud laughter suddenly came from a familiar voice. Tello. Our arena's announcer and speaker.
"Thank you, my Lord, for hosting us on this very beautiful night.
And a big welcome to our Apollon beauties!
Might I just say, Your Highness, you are absolutely breathtaking.
" Tello charmingly boasted his flattery.
The crowd went wild. The prince gave a nod to acknowledge him.
Tello did a grand gesture towards all the arena warriors.
I crossed my arms, and the golden sleeve of my tunic shone when my cloak shifted.
"Our majestical goddess blessed are here to entertain and amaze you all." Tello gave the signal for the drapes to open and for the gates to be unlocked.
"Our first act will be the most dangerous and frightening of all.
It will be man against monster! Goddess blessed against demon creatures of the night!
Not only are these men goddess blessed, but they are also Lord Dritan's personal warriors!
One of which, will be chosen by the prince himself, to stand by his side and follow the road to light.
" Tello's voice boomed through the arena and spectators seemed more excited than before.
The prince didn't look too pleased with Tello’s announcement. To be entirely honest, if I were Tello, I would have spoken the truth about how the Apollon Prince needed a guardian, someone to protect his royal ass.
"The Adonis brothers!" Tello announced and ended with a gracious bow.
Gasps and whispers were heard from the crowd of spectators.
Braze stepped out into the arena light first, making his rounds in a circle.
Everyone went wild. Forgetting about the danger to come.
Valin stepped out next, gripping his sword tight.
Then Klarc stepped out. I grit my teeth and held my breath.
It was rather unfortunate that the brothers looked pleasant, they wore their signature armour.
Golden bracelets strapped to the muscular arms to honour the prince, and the grey on their kilts that outlined a silver dragon to represent Lord Dritan.
Klarc lifted his arms in the air and boasted. "Let them out! Tonight, my brothers and I will have our taste of victory! Free the cliftolights!" Klarc roared in excitement. The crowd gasped again, but with all the confidence Klarc showed, wonder and delight rose.
I met Fala's gaze briefly. Her hand made a gesture, a forward movement with a turn of her wrist. It almost looked like a 'calm down' gesture. Yet I understood her crystal clear. It was a sign to be prepared, to stand by. I moved my cloak briefly, to show her my blades stored in place.
A breath. A single breath left a little boy's mouth who sat next to his mother in the arena. From one single breath, another came. Steam, from the cold.
They were here.
"Yes. We are." I could hear it croon in my ear.
The flames from the torches went out and the lanterns flickered, the only source of light.
The red eyes opposite me shone, the prince looked intrigued rather than scared.
Dezimus stood above the entrance in a secure balcony.
He held a large blade in his hand and cut through the rope, taking the key that hung around his necklace off his neck and opened the chains.
The cliftolights were loose with nothing stopping them.
It was so quiet.
More lanterns went out, chains rattled and a gust of screeching wind swept past everyone.
The little boy sitting with his mother choked on a gasp.
His mother gave him a reassuring smile and rubbed his back.
The Adonis brothers stood back to back. Their swords drawn out and for a second all was calm.
The arena was soon covered in darkness, the only light shone from the moonlit balconies and exits. A creak came from the corner of the pit, followed by a rattle of chains. Valin, with all his might. Swung his blade.
The goddess blessed men stood together. These men were no doubt stronger than ordinary men, I've seen Braze take down eight burly men at once. I've seen Valin knock down a whole tree. And I've seen Klarc rattle the ground with the force of his training.
But they would never be enough to take down three cliftolights.
A whip-like sound went through the air, and Braze, the eldest brother gasped as he was pulled from under his feet and dragged into the darkest end of the arena.
"No!" Valin shouted. Going after his brother, fear and determination spread along his face.
Braze's grunts and shouts could be heard around the arena.
Klarc still had the excited blood thirsty look on his face.
Sword slashes were heard, and then a sickening crack along with a grunted scream echoed.
It was so sharp and piercing that no one could have mistaken it for anything else but Braze's last scream as he was collected for the afterlife of Riaan.
A few of the lanterns flickered back on. Enough light to see Braze's body held up against a wall by long spiked claws. Another lantern flickered back on. And at last.
You could see its face, snarling and dripping with blood.
Ear deafening screeches that shook the arena echoed from the creatures, horrified screams came from spectators as Braze's body had its organs drop to the floor.
The cliftolight grinned, looking in my direction and sniffed. I gripped my fire blade tighter.
"Shit," Ezra muttered.
Klarc's eyes widened, he froze, looking at the creature and then his brother's lifeless body.
"Call on for help," one of the arena attendants shouted to Klarc. If he called on for help, I'd be allowed to interject.
"No! I'll avenge my brother's death! Valin! To my side now!" Klarc's crazed eyes looked for his youngest brother.
"Valin?" Klarc called.
Spectators were silent, afraid they'd be next, my eyes searched the crowd for Red and Kya. And I spotted them, on the third row from the front, their faces terrified.
"Come on!" Klarc urged the screeching creatures who had just gone silent again.
They were hunting...
And Klarc was their next prey.
It seemed so odd that the cliftolight I had faced in Abdera didn't show this level of intelligence that the cliftolights showed to the brothers here. They were calculating, moving together in a pack.
"Valin, where are you!" Klarc was aggravated now.
Something was thrown into the air.
It hit Klarc with such force that he was thrown aback. It was Valin.
Valin's lifeless body had been thrown on Klarc, the both of them hit the ground with an impact that echoed.
Klarc coughed from the breath knocked out of him.
He pushed his brother's body off and looked to see if Valin was still breathing, only to notice Valin’s eyes were torn out from his body along with his poor soft-spoken heart.
His brothers were gone. The screeches and snarling started again.
It was bone chilling. Arena warriors had stepped back now, not willing to offer help in exchange for their own death.
The little boy who sat with his mother shouted to Klarc, "Call on for help! !"
The cliftolight who stared at Klarc, fisted and dropped Valin's heart to the ground. Klarc looked in my direction.
"You prideful fool," I muttered.
The prince's red eyes were trained on me, noticing Klarc’s gaze.
I turned to Klarc, urging him to call for help. But he uttered no words. He seemed to accept his fate. I bit my cheek and looked to Fala, she gave a slight nod. Dritan noticed and with reluctance, also gave me the go-ahead. I was about to go against arena laws.
The shadows in my body slammed into my rib cage, begging to be let out. Whispers flooded my mind. And power surged in me.
"Morana... come. Join us. Help us end him, lady death."
I heard the cliftolights in my mind before I could make my fall to the arena pit, landing with practised form, my fist stabilising me. I twirled my fire blade and swung.
"Fire," I breathed.
Flames grew and sparked with tempting power.