Chapter 18 Thayla
Thayla
I try to avoid the puddles of blood, yet the crimson mud clings to my shoes.
I never turned back forward after watching that man get his neck snapped, but at some point, the bodies of those killed were cleaned up.
The evidence of their deaths is still everywhere, though.
The salty tang of blood coats the air. It seeps into the back of my throat with every deep breath I take.
Energy flows through the center in a mix of the crowd’s bloodthirsty anticipation and our opponents’ desperate desire to set their powers free.
I scan the beings, watching as they froth at the mouth for more bloodshed. It’s a stark reminder that this isn’t a cute little event like we’d host in Oddian where the kids would gather and play games in the empty fields after a harvest. These aren’t supportive parents cheering them on.
These are ruthless beings who’ve been sent to this secret part of our realm for crimes committed. The worst of the worst sit in the stands, calling for death but also cheering for freedom for someone who has no business being released into the region.
They chant Dimitri’s name with sickening enthusiasm.
No part of them cares that he murdered an entire family because he was caught cheating and his woman wanted to leave him.
It’s as though they don’t believe those lives he took then, or those he’s taken to get this close to freedom, matter.
That woman’s life matters, though.
My glare finally catches on the god in charge.
The God of Judgment sits on a throne with the best view of us below him. Long white hair disappears down his broad shoulders, but that color doesn’t define his youth. His amber skin is smooth, unblemished. His piercing marigold eyes are as sharp as daggers.
Like every powerful god I’ve met, there’s a grace about him but also superiority.
A coin of some kind tumbles through his fingers in precise, coordinated rotations. He doesn’t watch it to make sure it doesn’t fall. He keeps his eyes trained on us.
“Hellveilious!” A voice to the right of the God of Judgment shouts, gaining my attention. “We have a very special treat for you tonight. Our reigning champions return with only one fight left before they find their freedom.”
The sand that’s lucky enough to still be dry ripples from the thundering crowd. Their roar is powerful enough to shake the walls around them. The quakes vibrate through my bones, rattling my heart around in my ribcage.
Gods.
No wonder the fighting is so savage. Despite not wanting to be here in this situation, I can’t help but be swept up in this energy.
My chest pounds with anticipation and readiness. Not to take a life, probably multiple, but to do everything I have to, to survive.
We will survive until they get here.
I pull on my soul harder.
The strained teether continues to both search and go crazy inside of my chest. Each moment that passes has it growing more restless, fearful, and desperate.
“I present to you, our leading victors.”
One by one, Dimitri’s team starts being announced and true panic sets in as the names continue to grow closer to ours.
“V.”
I don’t allow a second to pass.
“V!”
“Thank the Valories. They’re on their way, Thayla girl. They feel you and know where you are. Keep pulling.”
“Oh gods.”
A choked sob actually breaks free and both Yemi and Sevryn take a subtle step closer to me. I swallow it down as much as I can as relief and hope attempt to take over. I can’t allow that just yet.
“What part of Hellveilious are you in?”
“The Judgment Rings. Like literally in them, V. Our fight is about to start.”
A strangled hoot filters through my mind, and I almost scream when it goes silent again. My fists clench at my sides as I give it another second before I lose my fucking mind.
“Listen to me, Thayla, Hellveilious has different levels to it, and you’re on the lowest. Creed knows where you are, but there’re protections around it that keep beings from starshooting to avoid the ability to escape.
He can explain more at another time. Just know they’re making their way to you as fast as they can. ”
“How long, V? I’m not kidding, this man is literally like three names from announcing my team. Which, by the way, only consist of me, Yemi, and one other man.”
He goes silent once more and the only thing that keeps me calm is knowing that he’s relaying my messages to the guys now. A weird sense of acceptance mixes in with my panic.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind they’re going to make it to me, but they aren’t going to make it before the first sword is swung.
“Minutes. Nothing and no one will stand in their way to reach you.”
I try to swallow, but my mouth is drier than powder. “V…”
“Everything’s going to be okay.”
“I don’t feel my power even though I’ve crossed the weird blocking barrier. There’s no tingling, numbness, nothing. I’m going to have to do this powerless.”
“You are never powerless, Thayla Godrun. Keep pulling them to you. Pull as hard as you can. Search inside of yourself. Don’t let me be a distraction for you, but know I am here with you every moment and every step. Focus on what’s in front of you and on your Valtrue.”
“Our public enemy number one.”
I startle as the voice shouts his next announcement and the crowd boos. I send V what I hope is appreciation through my mind and not pure dread.
“Traitor to his name, son of the God of Pain, Sevryn. His team consists of two new additions serving life sentences, and what a treat they are. This is a Hellveilious first and most likely last. Sisters, Thayla and Yemi Menace. It would seem they’ve lived up to their namesake.”
The crowd roars in laughter. Yemi and I step forward together, sharing glances that are as confused as they are pissed.
Who the fuck would lie about our relationship and give us a fake last name such as that?
Sevryn’s eyebrows are bunched together as he observes us. Yemi gives him a quick jerk of her head although it’s hard to tell from how violently she’s shaking.
I slide closer to her, lowering my voice as the announcer continues to spout off taurnshit. “It’s okay. They’re almost here.”
“Oh, thank fuck,” she chokes out.
“As a special treat to you all, the God of Judgment is allowing you to pick up your weapons now as you proceed to your sides.”
Sevryn’s head pivots toward the God of Judgment, who smugly smirks and nods at him. I pull my shoulders back as he grips Yemi by the elbow and marches over to two discarded swords.
There’s one a few feet to my left and the moment my fingers wrap around it, my body goes cold.
My thumb smears the blood on the handle, and the sticky texture has my throat catching fire.
“Come over here, Thayla,” Sevryn orders darkly and I shake my head to clear my thoughts.
With every step, I scan the crowd booing us on my entire miserable march to their side.
Their hatred for us is solely because of association with Sevryn. They may hate him for whatever it was the announcer meant, but I find myself gaining a little respect that I don’t want to have toward him.
It takes courage to go against everything you’ve been raised to know. I’m not saying that’s what he did—fuck if I know—but if I’m correct in assuming the announcer means he betrayed his father, then in my eyes, he’s on our side of this fight.
In here and out there.
“Before we begin, we have two more surprises for you. First”—an elated smile splits the announcer’s face as he holds his hand out toward us—“the son of the God of Pain’s do not kill order has been lifted.”
Holy fuck.
Nearly every being in the crowd jumps to their feet, cheering and pointing. Dimitri’s laugh cuts through all the noise as he holds his stomach, aiming his sword at us.
Sevryn doesn’t move. He stays staring ahead as his face falls, but mine heats at least ten degrees.
This is fucked. It’s so wrong.
All of this is wrong.
“Your second surprise.” The deafening noise simmers down as the announcer raises his hand. “Sudden death!”
A wave of power blasts through the center. Right before my eyes, piles of weapons form at the thresholds of the awaiting arches.
“You bastard. I’ll kill you for this,” Dimitri shouts at the God of Judgment, who’s falling apart in a fit of laughter.
“Fuck. Move, we have to get away from the edge,” Sevryn demands, then takes off, dragging Yemi behind him.
“What does this—”
I cut Yemi off as my feet pound beside hers. “They’re all about to attack us. Is this a last man standing kind of thing?”
“That’s exactly what it is.”
“Don’t deviate from the plan. They’re almost here. Stay close, Yemi.”
Sevryn spins to face me, angrier than a pissed off taurn. “Stop living in a fantasy and filling her head with na?ve fucking hope. No one is fucking coming.”
“Keep talking to me like that, you dickhead, and we’re going to leave your ass here when they get here.”
He doesn’t respond. His eyes widen, and his arm shoots out beside my head. I spin on instinct, dropping low and readying my sword.
The individual, who obviously has a domain under the God of Endurance to be able to catch up to us that quickly, is convulsing on the ground.
Sevryn’s eyes swirl as he holds his hand out as though the man’s throat is clutched between his fingers. With a vicious grunt, he slams his fists closed and the man stops moving.
He peers down at my crouched position. “You were planning on taking me with you?”
I tighten my lips, stand, and cast my eyes to Yemi. I really hadn’t thought about it at all until the words came out of his mouth. Now that it’s out there, though, I can’t see us leaving him behind if he survives.
“Live long enough for me to be able to say I was right, and you were wrong, and we’ll see.”
“Thayla!”
I don’t have time to react to Yemi’s warning, but I don’t have to.
She raises her hand and lets out a scream paired with a burst of power. There’s nothing to see, yet the man rushing toward me hits an invisible wall and crumbles to the ground.
My mouth gapes as I peer at her heaving chest.
Fuck, the fast ones are coming out first.