"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 largeblade 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 ofRiaan.
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.
