by Cheree Alsop
I rose and walked the seven feet to the far wall. The line of light that came through the side of the door fell a foot short of the ceiling which brushed the top of my head if I stood on my tiptoes. My wingspan full out was roughly eight feet, and my wings ached to stretch to their full length. I put a hand on the cold brick wall and debated my response to their scheme.
The solitary confinement cell was too small to be an efficient training room, but I had to make it work. The Blood Match was in less than a month, but I could lose a great deal of muscle and strength by then, especially on my current diet and if I stopped training completely. I put my back to the wall and surveyed my dark cell.
The camera was in its usual place behind thick glass in a corner where the ceiling met the wall. I put a hand on the glass, picturing Brie's face, the worry in her eyes, the pain in her smile, pain I had caused because I loved her.
“I love you, Brie,” I whispered. “Trust me. Everything is going to be okay.”
I tore a piece of the worn sheet that served as my only blanket and forced it between the caulked edge and the glass. It would keep Brie and the others from seeing me, which I regretted, but it would also prevent the guards from watching me train. It wouldn’t be long before they realized I had caught on to their little plan, but I would do what I could in the meantime.
I had little to work with. There was no bed. The sheet wadded in the corner made up my sleeping quarters. I had a bucket for water, a bucket for waste, and the dim light that came through one side of the heavy metal door for nine hours a day from the hallway beyond. After that, it was the pitch black of a cave deep in the earth. I could prop the flap over the door slot open for a bit more light during the day, but it only made a slight difference.
I sat in the middle of the floor and turned to face one of the corners so that I could stretch my wings. It was the only way I had found where I could draw them out to their full length, and it felt good to stretch them after such a long confinement. I then proceeded to map out an exercise program that would keep my muscles from weakening.
The walls were just wide enough that, stretched out, I could put my feet on one side and use my hands on the other side to lift myself off the floor. I got to where I could move myself all the way up the wall to the ceiling and back down, and then I learned to do it with my back to the floor. I did hundreds of crunches, pushups, sit-ups, stretches, and yoga exercises to keep my body limber, then I turned to cardiovascular training.
I created an intensive workout of hand-to-hand combat techniques and kickboxing mixed with Chinese scrapping. The result was a rigorous fighting workout that honed my skills in close combat.
I had always excelled at weapons arts, leaving close defense to basic wrestling and kickboxing moves. With the limits of the confined space and the lack of distractions, I practiced each day until I reached the point where I would be more lethal at a close encounter than long range.
I spent a lot of time visualizing fights, thrusts, blocks, attacks, and countering them until the motions became instinctive and my body reacted fluidly to every encounter I could imagine. My goal wasn’t to kill, just to defend in a way that I could wear them out, protect myself, and hopefully make them look stupid in the process. I just hoped it was enough.
The guards came irregularly to pull me out to the blood room for beatings. The sensitivity my eyes formed to the light in the rooms outside my dark cell alarmed me, but I didn’t know what to do to counterbalance it. That would have to be a bridge I crossed when I came to it. They took the cloth down from the camera the first few times they came into my cell, then gave up. I assumed they decided that whatever I was doing wasn’t worth worrying over, and they would be rid of me soon enough.
Chapter Nineteen
The last beating was different. They avoided my head and wings and instead focused on my ribs and stomach until I felt the ribs give under their gauntleted knuckles and organs bruise until I worried that they wouldn’t function correctly afterwards. When they finally released the chains that bound my wrists above my head, I fell to the floor in a daze of pain. I didn’t realize until they dragged me into the cage that today was the Blood Match.
A guard grabbed my hair and yanked my head painfully back. “Now be sure to put on a good show. We don’t want you dying without a fight.” He gave a cruel laugh and spit on my face before releasing me. I crashed back to the cage floor and lay there trying to gather my strength. A few minutes later, guards entered the cage with the armor I would wear for the fight. They strapped it on while others held whips and spears ready in case I put up a struggle; then they backed away without a word and left me in the small, empty gray room in silence.
I fought back an ironic chuckle. The guards didn’t even bother with the pretense that this fight was for honor. After our brief jaunt of freedom, we all knew the fights were for a television show. I couldn’t decide if it was good or bad that the guards gave up the lie. I shook my head and tried to focus past the pain of my beating.
This was it. I didn’t know what to expect up there, only that it would be different than any other Blood Match. Most states had gambling halls that had been legalized for the Arena battles. No doubt they were filled to the brim today.
I took several slow breaths to clear the fog from the throbbing pain of my broken ribs and aching stomach, then pushed myself to my feet to survey my armor in the hopes that the guards hadn’t found yet another way to sabotage me.
The armor was light and looked more intimidating than it was functional. Deep etches outlined feathers in the light silver that barely covered my chest, ending at the bottom edge of my rib cage and leaving my stomach bare. Gauntlets ran from the middle of my forearm to my fingers, ending in clawed tips like eagle talons that would protect my fingers but left me free to use my sword.
The armor that covered my wings to the joint and my back was also etched with feathers burnished light and dark silver. The mask that had been fastened on fit well and didn’t obscure my vision.
In all, the thin armor would do little more than protect me from glancing blows, but at least it was something. I had to give the Arena credit for making us look more like animals than humans, something definitely in their favor if they wished to continue the battles. An echo of my instructors’ words from when I was young repeated in my head.
“The Arena is sacred. You fight for much more than honor, you fight for your place in the heavens. An honorable death is the only way to ensure that you live beyond the Arena walls. Do your duty to all of us and wear your mask with pride. The Arena sands are sacred; covering your face is a sign of respect for the honor you have been given.”
The gong rang, tearing my thoughts back to the present and signaling the start of the match. The door to my cage opened, revealing a short, steep walk to a hatch that opened slowly, giving access to the Arena above. I gritted my teeth and pushed my pain to the back of my mind. There would be no time for weakness when I reached the square of light.
I rose slowly to the top and squinted in the suddenly bright light. It took a few seconds of precious time for my eyes to adjust to the light of the Arena. I crouched low expecting an attack, but was surprised when my vision cleared enough for me to make out David, Goliath, and another Galdoni I had sparred with a few times. I wasn’t sure what he called himself. The Academy name VZ790 came to mind from our encounters.
Goliath and David hurried to my side.
“Kale! It’s so good to see you! We thought you were dead!” David said excitedly.
I gave them a relieved smile even though it was hidden behind my mask. “I thought the same about you. Looks like we get to enjoy this together.”
David’s eyes creased with humor behind his mask at the sarcasm in my words, which surprised me. As my eyes adjusted, I got a better look at him. He appeared stronger, wirier. He walked with the lethal grace of a hunting cat instead of the gangly youth amble I remembered. “You’ve been training hard,” I surmised.
He nodded. “Fig
hting to not fight,” he whispered with a wink.
By this time, Goliath and the other Galdoni had reached us. Goliath looked me over. I stood casually in an effort to hide my bruises, but his brow furrowed. “You’re not in any shape to fight.”
I shrugged and shook out my wings, enjoying the added space. “Not like we have much choice, is there?”
A rare smile touched his eyes. “No, I guess not.” He backed off a few paces into a defensive position, but I caught his bass chuckle as he settled himself.
“Where do you suppose they are?” David asked, only the slight tremor in his voice giving away his fear. His eyes, the only thing I could see behind a hunting cat mask, darted from side to side. I glanced in his armor and saw the reflection of my own mask; I had to fight back a grim smile. A falcon’s sleek head, smooth brow, and wickedly curved beak glittered in the light; with my armor, it looked especially intimidating.
I glanced around the Arena. “Don’t know,” I responded. I studied what I could see of the walls. The Arena had been overhauled. Pillars of stone rose in varying places around the floor, giving ample room for the other Galdoni to hide. The ground had been filled with hard sand that slowed our movements. It would be easier to fight in the air, which I assumed was the intention.
“Looks like they’re trying something different,” VZ790 said from my left. “We’ve never been in groups before, and weaponless.”
I nodded to indicate the three of us. “They’re trying to eliminate us as a threat. How about you?”
He stared at me, the astonishment of my bland statement bright in his eyes. “Are you ready to die then?”
I shook my head. “I’m ready to give them a fight they’ll remember.”
He studied the pillars around us for a moment, then nodded. “I stir up a little mutiny, I get thrown in here with the ringleader.” He took a step back and offered me his hand. “I’m Varo. Nice to have the pleasure of creating trouble with you.”
I laughed and shook his hand. “Kale, but I guess you already knew that.”
He nodded and repositioned himself a few paces from my back. Goliath and David followed our lead. Each paced a few yards to our left so we could defend each other.
“Here they come,” Goliath said.
My stomach soured. At least they could try to make it look like a fair fight to the viewers. Four Galdoni, led by one of Blade’s closest followers, appeared on the pillars above us. They held serrated swords that glittered in the Arena light. Each of the Galdoni wore dark blue armor and reptilian masks covered in lethal spikes along every edge, uniting them as a team.
“Weapons!” David shouted.
I glanced over and saw four short swords rise from the sand. “I’ll get them,” Varo said. He ran toward them and ducked just in time to avoid a diving attack from the Galdoni closest to him. Varo grabbed up the swords, blocked with one, and tossed the others in our direction.
I caught one out of the air and turned in time to parry an attack from the lead Galdoni. The other two followed close behind him, obviously under orders to finish me off before I could cause any trouble.
“Missed me?” I growled with a taunting grin at the first Galdoni.
His eyes widened and he lunged at me again, aiming for my heart. I parried his sword aside, rolled backward, and kicked the legs out from one of the other Galdoni. When he fell to his back, I jumped up and knocked him on the head with the hilt of my sword. He collapsed unconscious on the ground.
“Don’t worry, he’ll survive,” I said as much to anger their leader as to update the viewers. I wondered if the Academy had time to cut that out before it was broadcasted, and fought back a triumphant smile. This was going to be fun, or at least as fun as a battle for one’s life could be.
David ducked a Galdoni’s sword, then Goliath picked the attacker up from behind and threw him into one of the pillars. The pillar broke with the force of his throw and crumbled to the ground. The Galdoni fell to the sand and groaned, curling up around what I guessed to be very broken ribs despite the armor.
“Not dead,” Goliath grunted. He flashed me a mischievous look and turned away to find another attacker.
I parried the leader’s next swing and stepped toward him. He countered my blow and thrust again. I slashed the blade aside and stepped closer. His eyes widened and he stumbled backward, his blade swinging wildly. I parried again and twisted my sword so the hilt caught the serrated edge of his blade and threw it.
“You should probably keep a tighter hold on that next time,” I recommended. He looked around wildly for another weapon in time to see Varo efficiently dispatch the last Galdoni using a sleeper hold.
“Feeling outnumbered?” I asked in a false sweet tone.
He growled and was about to dive at me when a sound above us caught my attention. I glanced up. Eight more Galdoni warriors, this time armed to the teeth with swords, knives, and maces, glowered down at us from the pillars.
“Look out,” I shouted to my companions. The Galdoni glided down, weapons out and ready to use.
Nine to four, that sounded more like the Academy seeking revenge. I searched for an advantage while the Galdoni I had been fighting rolled back and grabbed a pair of knives from one of the new attackers.
“To the air,” I shouted. I pushed my wings down hard and rose above the stone pillars. The other three followed close behind, swords in hand. We flew to the top of the Arena dome. Air currents rose in a way that allowed us to glide and watch what was going on below.
“Now what?” Varo asked. Blood streamed down his mask from a gash along his hairline. He wiped the blood away in annoyed gesture.
“We keep it up. Eventually, they’ll run out of Galdoni who’ll fight us, then they’ll have to send in the guards. I’m hoping the public will see through that.”
Goliath nodded next to me. His mask was crooked and a bruise already swelled his left eye mostly shut.
A glance at David showed his red hair ruffled and dirt streaking his cat mask, but he was otherwise unharmed. He watched me expectantly. Below, the Galdoni were rising into the air in a tight battle formation.
“Well,” I said with more enthusiasm than I felt, “Let’s show them what we can do.”
I folded my wings and dove.
Even though we were in the midst of a battle, I couldn’t ignore the thrill of the air rushing past my face and ruffling through my feathers; my wings, held tight to my sides in the dive, felt stronger than ever. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as the battle fury filled me. I fought back a laugh and spun to the left to avoid a knife that flew through the air. I used my wings to propel back to the right and angle above the nine Galdoni. A glimmer of grim blood lust filled me when I recognized Blade in his tell-tale gold dragon armor, a sword in each hand.
I spun to the left just in time to avoid his swords, then held out my arms before I reached the two Galdoni below him. The power of my dive knocked the wind from them as I forced them to the ground. They didn’t have time to get their wings out to slow our decent. I opened my own a second before we hit, and lifted off to watch them thud to the dirt. A quick fly over showed them to be moving, slowly, but still alive.
“Two more down, but not dead,” I shouted to the sky. Distracted, I barely heard the rush of wind that warned of an attack from above. I wheeled to the right, but not before one of Blade’s swords grazed my back just below my armor. A cry escaped my lips and I felt the blood begin to trickle down.
“We won’t be so kind to you,” Blade taunted as he passed.
He turned a few yards away and came back, but I was ready this time and parried the blow with my sword. I rolled to the left, losing some altitude and giving him a perceived advantage. He took the bait and dove at me, using his height to aim for my wings.
I closed them the second before his blade would have severed my left one. He turned, off balance. I opened my wings and closed them to gain momentum, then slammed into his chest with my shoulder. He let go of his swords with the force
of the blow; they fell toward the ground. Blade held onto me, too close for me to use my own sword. I tried to push him off so I could open my wings, but his arms trapped them to my body.
We plummeted to the Arena floor. It was obvious he planned to do what I had done to the other Galdoni. In desperation, I dropped my sword and reached up, grabbing both of his wings at the joints before he could open them and escape. His eyes widened and I felt a brief surge of satisfaction at the surprise on his face.
I heaved around to the right just before we hit the ground. The force turned us enough so that we both hit the sand on our sides. The blow knocked us apart. I struggled to catch my breath. Pulling in a ragged gasp, I glanced around for a weapon, sure he would be doing the same.
There were two more Galdoni close by on the ground. I didn’t think they were dead, but couldn’t stop to be sure. Overhead, Goliath and Varo battled four attackers in ruthless, headlong rushes. I struggled to my feet and looked around for David.
The young red-head stood a few pillars away, his back to me as he grappled with an armed Galdoni. David blocked the Galdoni’s downward slice and punched him in the ribs. He then grabbed his attacker’s knife hand and tried to pry the weapon away.
At the sound of a footstep on sand behind me, I rolled to the left and came up in a fighting stance.
“Look sharp,” Blade growled with a wicked taunt. He threw a knife at my chest and I dodged to the left. My foot slipped on the sand and I stumbled. A thud followed by sharp pain laced outward from my thigh. I glanced down at the knife hilt that protruded.
“Too slow,” Blade mocked. He tossed up another knife and caught it by the tip. “Let’s see if we can’t hit the other one, too.”
I dove under the knife. It passed millimeters from my ear before I bowled Blade over. He kicked out and sent me over his body and into a pillar. I stood up and shook my head to clear the haze from my eyes, but Blade was already in front of me. He picked me up bodily and tried to back me into the pillar again, but I head butted him in the nose while simultaneously driving my knee into his groin. He dropped to his knees, a hand on each injured area.
