He couldn't help the instinct to sit up and clutch at his throat in pain. I took advantage and swiped one of my arms over my eyes, trying to get the blood out of the way. When I looked down, I noticed that he’d left his family jewels open again.
The evil bitch within rose up. I made one hand into a fist and covered it with my other hand to make one giant fist. Then I swung as hard as I could at his dick.
He let out a little small, high-pitched cry and doubled over, clutching at his willy. Someone in the crowd grunted in pain for him as I also heard some painful gasps, but I didn’t pay attention to it. I wanted to win, and I was pissed. I took a breath and scrambled back up. I didn't pay attention to the mob this time. I’d made that mistake once, and it had almost lost me the win. I was a quick learner and made adjustments on the fly.
He got up, his dark livid liquid eyes flashing, and smiled like a bloody savage. Literally. He didn’t need to say any words as he slowly got up, not taking his eyes off me, like he was giving me a warning. If I were any other being, I would be afraid of that look. It was terrifying. But I was Lillian fucking Darkstar, and I cowered for no being. I was scared of nothing in this world. Well… I mean… I really didn't like spiders. I just didn't get why Pop Pop had made them look and act the way they did. It was disgusting.
I tilted my head to the side and lifted my hand to give him the come-get-me sign. He cracked his neck in that jerky weird way that Japanese horror movies use, and a shiver ran down my spine. Oh no. I’d woken the beast.
He circled the edge of the cage, and I followed him, making sure he was always in front of me. With the way he was gazing at me, I did not want to take my eyes off him. One second, he was in front of me, and the next, he was beside me, picking me up and throwing me across the cage. I was so shocked that I didn't feel his body slam me into the ground.
I cried out in painful surprise at the assault. Dick! I was going to get him back for that one.
I swung my elbows back and hit his sides, aiming for the kidneys. Suddenly his magic burst forward, demanding that I let it in, that I take what it was offering.
So I did.
Lightning burst into my veins, crackling beneath my skin and urging me to use it. I surged with this power, twisting underneath him into a face-to-face position. I tucked my legs in against his stomach and pushed with all my might. His eyes bugged out as he flew in the air above me, and I rolled away from him.
I liked this power. As we kept fighting, I started to pull more and more from his magic. It filled me with its delicious brutality. And the more I took, the more he seemed to like it. Blow for blow, blocking and kicking, we played this dance, this power game, until I had enough and hooked my foot underneath him, pulling his leg out from under him.
He landed on the ground like a cat, and I went to kick his other leg, but he lifted it up like a dog going pee and snapped out a kick that got me. I staggered back as the kick connected with my stomach, but quickly got back into the fight as soon as he stood up.
Both of us were heaving, tired of doing fancy moves and attempting clever strategies. We started to hit each other with our fists wherever we could. If I landed a hit, I got a boost of his yummy, violent power, and if he got a hit in, a tint of blue for the sin power of Pride started to leak out from him and settle onto my skin.
I could tell he was enjoying himself. He laughed, grinning like a loon every time one of us got a hit in.
“Don’t you think this is fun, goddess? I have not had fun like this in a very, very long time. I don’t want to give it up.”
I thought it was a weird thing to say, so I called out as I dodged his last attack, “Why would you need to give it up?”
Something like regret passed over his face before it settled into determination.
“I have to, for myself and my brothers,” he whispered so low that I almost didn't hear him.
Before I was able to volley a question about that, pain gripped his expression, then he dove for me, looping his arms around my waist, taking me down, but it wasn’t to the mat. It was into a rolling somersault that did no damage, but effectively moved me wherever he wanted me to be. Mid-roll, I felt him reach for his pocket, and the next thing I knew, I felt a shimmer behind my back. His arms started to loosen, like he was going to let me go.
My instincts kicked in, and I shot as much strength power into my arms and legs as I clung to the edges of whatever he was trying to force me through. I felt a familiar heat at my back, and I knew. He was trying to force me to go to Hell, just like Con had.
I quickly materialized a small dagger into my hand and punctured his side to get his attention away from me. Then I wrapped my legs around him and kicked off the ground to the side, using a ton of my power strength to turn us both around. We both tumbled through the portal, but the tides were turned as I gripped the edge of the portal, effectively making him the one gripping my leg, dangling above one of the volcano pits in Hell that looked especially deep this afternoon.
I looked down at the man clinging to my legs as I dangled from the edge of the portal. I felt the portal shift, and my gaze snapped up. The portal started to close, forcing me to make a decision quickly. I looked back down at the same time that he looked up.
“I will never go back.” The finality and venom in my voice vibrated through the hot air, and he shuddered at the words. I lifted my free foot and kicked him in the face. He let go of my leg and started to free fall into Hell. The crazy bastard started laughing.
“I will find you again, little goddess, and when I do, we will run Hell together.”
He turned around mid-air to watch as he descended down the volcano.
Not wanting to be caught on this side of the portal, I heaved myself up with the rest of the strength power I had and pulled through right before it closed on me.
True fear started to register as my body shook forcefully. That was too close for comfort. I almost had to go back there, face everything and everyone I left behind. I started to heave, my breath coming out fast and unstable as panic started to rise deep inside of my chest. I had to keep reminding myself that I was here in the human realm, not in Hell, until my heart settled down into a normal pace.
I stayed down on the mat as I heard an explosion of voices and sounds around me. Some asked if War had cheated and should be hunted down and eliminated. I would clear that up soon and tell them to let it go since he was rotting in Hell right now, but my mind snagged on one word.
War… so that was his name.
It seemed fitting for a man like him, and I cracked a small smile. I may be mad at the man, may not understand what he was doing and why he was doing it, but something inside of me called to him. His power still swirled inside of me, laughing at the turn of events. I had no doubt that he would find me again. If anyone could, it would be him.
