CLOSED

[Fortune86]

"Good morning" replied Eli to Cassandra.

 

She had shuffled into the room as though she hadn't wanted to be noticed, and Eli could blame her. Her eyes were red and puffy and her make up was a mess. She had probably been crying. Eli half felt like doing so himself.

 

Moments later Vex appeared and grabbed a bowl of porridge before sitting down nearby. When he asked if Eli knew what was going to happen that morning Eli wondered why he simply hadn't checked the list himself. It was still on the hatch shelf where he had left it.

 

"Kanya, Ethril, Lydia and myself" he explained quietly. "But it's not a death match."

 

That didn't mean someone couldn't still die though.

[Ethril Dragon]

Ethril woke up stiff. She was used to a large bed where she could stretch out her wings while she slept. As it was she woke up with one wing against the wall and the other falling over the edge of the bed and draped on the floor. Ethril let out a groan and sat up, her wings folding against her back as she did so. She looked down at her pile of clothes before sighing and picking up her shirt and pants. She really hoped they would at least provide a change of clothes; especially if hers got ripped up.

 

Once that was done Ethril looked around the room. She stuffed her bag under the bed before leaving the small room. Might as well get the day done and over with, and some food would definitely make her mood better. At the moment she felt like ripping someone's head off because of the entire situation.

 

Just before entering the common room, Ethril paused to listen to what little conversation there was. She heard her own name with several others. This was it, her first day of fighting. She felt dread in the pit of her stomach as she went into the common room and took the bowl of porridge that was slid out to her. She wrinkled her nose at it for a moment before taking a seat anywhere to eat.

 

 

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya gave a big yawn as she stretched in her bed. She didn’t have a really good sleep due to her memories of the previous day. Sitting upright she took notice of the room, it wasn’t hers which meant this isn’t a dream after all. Sighing she finally lifted herself and stepped out of the cell. Looking down the hallway she could see some people in the common room and in the other direction she could see the still closed arena doors.

 

Please not again she thought to herself as she started to walk towards the common room. Kanya didn’t pay attention to who was in the room as she walked towards the hatch. As she waited for her food she took notice of a piece of paper on the counter. Kanya hesitated for a few seconds before she finally picked it up, opened it and read its contents. Her heart ached as saw her name written in black with others. Slightly shaking she placed the piece of paper back on the counter, taking her porridge she went and took a seat a bit further away from the rest.

 

“What does the black mean?” she asked looking at her porridge while she stirred it.

[Fortune86]

"August said it was a normal match, didn't he?" said Siren walking into the room. "I guess that means they don't want anyone dead yet."

 

She wandered over to the hatch and picked up her own bowl of porridge when it slid out. Siren wrinkled her nose at it but walked away to find a seat.

 

"So who's on the list?"

[Ethril Dragon]

"I'm one of them." Ethril said with a sigh as she finished her porridge. She hadn't looked at the list, but she'd heard her name. She would rather not know who her other opponents were actually. If she did then she would have time to feel bad about having to fight them. As it was she was already a bit shaky about having to fight. She knew self defense and that was it! She was planning on going to college to become a teacher! Just because she had powers and extra appendages did not mean she knew how to or liked to fight.

 

Ethril took her empty bowl back to the hidden person and slipped it through. With that done she went over to the door leading out into the arena and leaned against the wall next to it. Might as well be one of the first people out. She'd take any advantage she could take.

[Fortune86]

As Eli at the last spoonful of porridge he looked up around the common room. Lydia had yet to make an appearance. Was she still asleep? If the previous day had been any indication, the arena doors would be opening soon. If she got left behind...

 

Shaking his head to clear it of that horrible thought Eli stood up and walked over to the hatch. He placed his bowl down on the shelf and watched as it was quickly snatched away. Taking a deep breath he walked to the corridor and approached cell 11.

 

"Lydia?" he called as he knocked on the door.

[Rarek]

Cassandra spent a good portion of time waiting by Andromeda's bedside with her food, waiting for the girl to wake up. She still looked like hell, and she hadn't moved a muscle. Cassandra sat waiting amongst the glowing stones, staring at Andromeda while holding the food in her lap. The minute she would wake up, she would be there with food.

 

Then, the stones stopped glowing unexpectedly. At first, Cassandra got a bit of hope. She finished healing, she's going to wake up! Her brighter eyes were transfixed on Andromeda, waiting for her to move. But none came. Slowly, her excitedness faded into horror, and then to panic. She looked so damaged still, why wasn't she being healed?

 

"No...no, no no no! It can't happen, no! Andromeda!" She was screaming by the end, tears beginning to flow. She threw herself over her body and buried her face into it. "What's happening? Why'd it stop? She can't be gone, she's too strong!"

 

She cried hard into the still body of her roommate, the first friendly face she met.

 

(Andromeda isn't dead. If one checked, she would have a faint heartbeat.)

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya slowly ate her porridge scared to think of their battle in the arena. She wondered if this bad man wanted her really dead early, seeing that they place her to fight again. She also wondered about the others powers. She didn’t really pay attention to Eli or Lydia on what they could do. It was all a mystery to her but hopefully nobody would get hurt badly or so she prayed.

[Chicogal]

Maria had woken up, stretching in a leisurely manner. She yawned and then sat up, frowning. Oh. So this place hadn't been a dream. Rubbing at an eye, she stood up and wandered through, into the main room again. "Where can we get some food?" she asked the room, a hand on her stomach. She was pretty hungry.

[Fortune86]

Eli heard someone crying in cell seven, but as he turned to look towards the door it turned to screams. He glanced back at Lydia's door before walking down the corridor to investigate. Cell seven was Andromeda and Cassandra, wasn't it?

 

He gently pushed open the door and looked inside. Cassandra was holding onto Andromeda and sobbing hard. For a moment Eli just stood there taking in the sight.

 

"What's wrong? What has happened?"

 

[Rarek]

Cassandra was so startled by Eli that she nearly jumped out of her skin. Her eyes were frantic and frightened as she looked at Eli, shivering as she pointed a quivering hand at the stones. "Th...they've stopped working, a..and she still looks like this. That couldn't mean..." She covered her face as she started to cry again, looking with panic and worry at her roommate.

 

Andromeda still had not moved. Her eyes were sunken and her skin looked to be drawn back slightly over her bones. No audible breathing could be heard, but a very faint heartbeat could be missed if not checked carefully. By all rights, Andromeda looked like she was dead.

 

(I took the fact that the stones only heal wounds. She used a lot of energy and therefore would take on the appearance of being underfed. Only food will change that)

Edited July 3, 2013 by Rarek

[Fortune86]

Eli gently pushed past Cassandra and kneeled by Andromeda's side. He looked down at her for a moment then slid two fingers down by her neck. It took a moment, but he found the pulse he was looking for.

 

"She's alive" he said turning to Cassandra. "But very weak. She used up a lot of energy yesterday. It's a mercy she wasn't called upon this morning."

 

He stood up when he heard the arena doors start to grind open. He had no choice but to leave now. Staring down at Andromeda he spoke to her cellmate.

 

"Go and get some porridge from the hatch, if it hasn't stop serving already. See if you can get some food into her. I'll come back after the match."

 

Eli put what he hoped was a comforting hand on Cassandra's shoulder and then left the cell. Taking a deep breath he began to walked towards the arena. What he saw beyond the doors surprised him.

 

Standing on the threshold he looked out at a misty forrest. The sweetness of the purple blooms that waved slightly in the breeze could be smelled even from where he stood. It was all so pretty. It was hard to believe it was to be a battle ground.

 

((Arena))

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya still played with her food, stirring it slowly with her spoon. She looked up and heard a voice she didn’t recognize. To her surprise it was someone new. She must have been to distracted by yesterday to even notice it.

 

“There is a hatch over there that pushes out food.” Kanya replied before returning her attention to the bowl. At that moment she heard the arena doors open and her stomach turned into a knot. Slowly she stood up and placed her half eat bowl near the hatch only to watch it disappear again.

 

As she stood still for a few seconds she took a deep breath and walked towards the doors. Is this how my rest of my life going to be? she thought to herself as she walked down the corridor. Reaching the doors her depression subsided as she took in what the arena was now.

 

“It’s so pretty.” She spoke looking in awe.

[Fortune86]

Eli looked to his left as Kanya approached the doors. She too was entranced by the beauty of what lay before them. However, they could not allow themselves to forget what it was for.

 

"Kanya" he said in a soft but urgent whisper. "This battle might not be a death match, but we still have to fight seriously. If we hold back or go easy on one another, they'll punish us. Promise me that you'll fight like you mean it. Like your life is at stake."

 

He looked out at the forrest and the sweet smelling flowers.

 

"Because it is."

[Ethril Dragon]

Ethril's ear twitched at the sound of the arena doors opening. She waited until several of the others had already gone out into the arena before turning and heading out herself. Maybe if we do well enough, they'll let us go? she thought hopefully as she looked over at Eli and Kanya. Her eyes softened and her wings sank down some. She wasn't a fighter though...she didn't like to hurt others at all.

 

"If you go down...I'll heal you at the end ok?" Ethril looked over at Kanya with half closed eyes. "Push yourself until it hurts. That way it'll be real. When your knees give out from adrenaline crash, go down and stay down." That was the only advice she could give the other prisoner. It was all Ethril knew from her own few experiences from fighting.

 

With that Ethril strode out into the field where the flowers were, her tail slowly swishing back and forth behind her. It felt wonderful to have grass and plants under her paws again. She hated walking on stone, it just didn't have the softness or give that dirt and plants did. Ethril stretched her wings out to their fullest extend and pumped them a few times to make sure her muscles were warmed up. Now all she had to do was wait for the fight to start.

[DragonSpirit009]

“Bu… bu…” Where the only words that Kanya could say. She didn’t want to fight them and how is she supposed to mean it. She barely knew who the new girl was but she seemed sort of relaxed to Kanya.

 

“Don’t kill me.” Kanya whispered as she embraced Eli. She was starting to see him as a brother and know they had to fight, seriously at it as well.

[Shadowwolflegend]

Samael sighed crossing his arms in front of his chest as he sat on the floor. He didn't get much sleep at all during the night feeling his ribs slowly move back into place was always a painful experience. The demon was at least thankful that his cell mate didn't feel like talking to him before going to sleep. Speaking of his cell mate she was still sleeping and from what he heard she is suppose to be in the arena next and the doors were opening. Getting up slowly the demon walked over to the bed and gently shook Lydia on the shoulder. "Time to rise little bird because you are going to miss the worm."

 

----

 

Lydia was peacefully sleeping dreaming about being home laughing with her father and going shopping with her mother at the market. Suddenly she was being shaken and bolted upright gasping in surprise. "Don't you ever do that again." She states swinging an arm trying to punch the person who woke her up.

 

--

 

"I'm sorry but the doors to the arena are open and you the last one to go through them." He states simply watching as Lydia rushes quickly out of the bed and flings open the door before running down the hall tripping a few times before finally entering the arena. The demon simply chuckles and shakes his head before walking out to the common room, grabbing a bowl of porridge from the hatch and leaning against the wall while eating.

 

----

The poor blind young woman ran out not even noticing the sounds and feelings or smells of the arena until she collapsed upon her knees breathing heavily. "sorry that I'm late... overslept." She says between breaths before taking a deep breath and smiling. "This arena is calming and smells nice too." She says out loud and does a little click seeing that the arena is made of trees and flowers. "So what are going to do in here this isn't a death match right?" She asks tilting her head.

[Fortune86]

"I won't" said Eli. "Just you try and do the same."

 

He gave Kanya a smile when she hugged him, but inside he felt sick. He would have no option but to fight and reveal his powers in this battle. How would Kanya, or anyone else for that matter, react when they discovered what he was? His father's words came back to him, how people would hate and fear him. How could they not? His magic was the deepest and darkest there was. No one would be be able to understand.

 

Lydia ran past him and Kanya and joined Ethril outside in the arena. She turned and asked for reassurance that this was not a death match.

 

"No" he said softly. "It's just an ordinary battle. Well...as ordinary as it can be anyway."

 

With one last glance at Kanya he took a deep breath, his lungs filling with the sweet perfume of the flowers, and stepped out into the battlefield. A moment later he vanished.

 

Eli wasn't truely gone, just invisible. With the grace and silence of a deer avoiding wolves Eli moved deeper into the trees. Hiding behind them he could avoid Lydia's clicks and the smell of the flowers would mask his own scent. Those weren't the only things in his favour. He could feel them, just below the soft earth, all of them. He had sensed them the moment he had stepped into the arena.

 

It looked like the odds had been stacked, either that or the Sorceress had chosen a battlefield where he would be forced to reveal his power. He couldn't just run and hide amongst the trees, or surrender and accept a peaceful defeat. No, he would have to fight this time.

 

He just hoped he could keep his promise to Kanya.

 

~~~

 

Zygard leaned forward in his seat from the box. Normally Eli would be just as invisible to him as any other, but the Sorceress had come up with a spell that allowed them to watch the boy's movements. How would the others react? With fear? Hatred? Anger? That would be a show in its own.

[Chicogal]

Maria nodded at the instructions. "Thank you." She went to the batch and got a bowl with a spoon. She plopped down in a chair and began to spoon the food into her mouth. Porridge was not her favourite breakfast, but she was staving. Her cold blue eyes followed the movements of the people going out. To fight. She was glad it wasn't her; she'd like to see how those people fared before doing anything herself.

[DragonSpirit009]

After letting go of Eli, Kanya stood in silence for a few seconds before she followed him in. She stopped in her tracks after he had disappeared in front of her while caused her to be a bit more alarmed.

 

For some reason didn’t set up her barrier just yet, mostly because she thought the would protect her more. Walking deeper in to the forrest Kanya to feel something eerie crawling up her spine as the darkness started to engulf her.

[Chicogal]

Alia stirred in her bed. She was most definitely not an early riser. More like a late one. Grumbling softly into her pillow, she finally found the energy to pull herself up. Her dress torn, hair a mess, she looked a bit of a sight. Getting out of bed, she sort of slunk to the showers, and had a shower. Coming out with wet hair, towel around her shoulders, she glanced about. Maybe someone had a brush...

[Ethril Dragon]

Ethril turned to look at the others as they finally started to make their moves in the arena. Her brow arched when Eli vanished, but she didn't care. That just told her one thing she had to expect. Even invisible things could be blinded by a strong flash of light after all. From what she had learned from past encounters with people with powers, most required a certain amount of focus. Being blinded tended to distract people.

 

She waited a moment before deciding what to do. She rather enjoyed the feeling of grass and dirt under her paws. With a sigh though, she focused on the battle at hand. Ethril wouldn't go near the trees. Trees meant low light and that would be a disadvantage for her. If she transformed, she wouldn't fit between the trees. There was also the possibility that there might not be enough light streaming through the branches. With the fog already covering the area, light would be a bit of an issue if she didn't have the right amount of focus.

 

Ethril spread her wings open and looked up at the sky over the arena. 'Best to scout the area quickly.' she thought before taking several running strides and jumping into the air. With a strong downward thrust of her wings, she lifted up into the air. A few more lifted her higher and higher until she was above the trees.

[Rarek]

Cassandra gave a huge sigh of relief as she felt Andromeda's pulse for herself. She thanked Eli and wished him luck as he went out into the arena. She went on the assumption that neither she nor Andromeda were required in this event, a minor miracle to say the least.

 

After Eli had left, Cassandra made sure she checked Andromeda's pulse every couple of minutes. It stayed very faint but consistent, which was both worrying and reassuring. She managed to get some food into Andromeda by placing it in her mouth and gently stroking her neck, a trick she learned a long time ago when she had to have someone swallow medicine. Once a decent portion was eaten by her, she finished the rest of the bowl herself. After a final stable pulse check, she brought the empty bowl back into the common room, secretly wishing nobody was there to see the mess she was in, or they just took no notice. She looked even more disastrous after the further crying she had done.

[Fortune86]

Eli watched Ethril take to what she probably thought was the safety of the air. Eli understood that due to the size of her wings she probably didn't want to hinder herself by delving into the tree line, but as the forest filled the entire arena, she didn't leave herself too much room to move in. She wouldn't be able to stay up there forever.

 

He turned his attention back to the two girls left on the ground. He couldn't see them from where he stood, but he knew they were still about. Finding a quiet spot to concentrate he closed his eyes and reached straight out with his right arm, like he was trying to take hold of something in front of him. He then pulled his arm up and held it for a moment.

 

At first nothing happened, but then a low rumbling beneath the ground be felt and heard. Seconds later, they appeared.

 

Arms burst through the ground several metres around Eli, all of them in various states of decay, some barely more than bone. The arms were followed by heads and torsos and several dozen corpes pulled themselves out of the earth, scattering flower petals everywhere. Eli opened his eyes and surveyed his army. Many of them were long dead, but others looked quite fresh. Nearly all of them were covered in bloody stains on what remained of their clothes. It wasn't hard to guess how these people had died. As a vampire's meal.

 

About half of them wore simple or ordinary clothing, probably taken from the villages and small towns that had the unfortunate fate of being within Zygard's domain. Others stood out far more, such as nun's robes, american military uniforms and in one sad example, a pre-schooler's smock.

 

Still invisible Eli walked over to the lone child and gently touched them on the forehead his finger. The corpse collasped, the magic animating it removed. Eli did not wish to desecrate the poor thing further by forcing it to do battle for him.

 

Looking back at where he guessed Kanya and Lydia still were, Eli flung out an arm in their direction. Instantly his army began to march towards them. They would be upon them in moments.

 

((Note: Eli's 'zombies' aren't like what you would find in movies like Resident Evil. Shooting them in the head won't disable them, just make them headless. As they are animated by necromancy they will keep going even if reduced to just a limb. They need to be destroyed completely to be defeated.

 

Even though they can't use any magic or powers they had in life, the zombies are a lot faster and stronger because they no longer feel pain. Think Pirate's of the Carribean without the sentience.))

[DragonSpirit009]

Kanya slowly kept walking further into the forrest when something caught her attention. The sound of silence was broken with some sort of stampeding sound started to echo towards her.

 

“What was that?” She asked to herself looking around her. The fog seemed to be moving around her but she still couldn’t make out what it was. Turning around ever so slowly and trying see Kanya heard a strange noise behind. Her heart was thumping like mad but she was too scared to turn around and look what it was.

Suddenly something grabbed her shoulder which caused her to jump and look behind her. There in front of her stood a horrifying man whose flesh smelled rotten and looked half decade. Kanya screamed for her life trying to step backwards but the zombie grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her closer. Still screaming Kanya focused on burning the thing in her black flames thinking that it will completely destroy it. The flames started to devour the zombie but its grip didn’t let go, in fact the grip on her wrist was getting stronger and stronger and it stood still before her.

 

Crying and screaming out load Kanya couldn’t understand why the creature didn’t get incinerated when she suddenly heard something snap. The zombie had broken her wrist and Kanya was crying from the pain. She could see more and more of the zombie’s marching towards her but she was to afraid.

 

“White. Black.” She moaned.