by R C Knight
“You guys feeling a little horn-y?” Cain egged them on.
Zane couldn’t help but grin as Cain and Abel casually taunted their new opponents. He could feel the power of these demons radiating in the air around them. They were more powerful than the ones they had fought before. And their combined power was leagues beyond the power of the Kybus. “Take them fast,” Zane muttered to Cain and Abel. “Don’t waste your strength.”
They nodded as they split up, Cain going to one side and Abel to the other. Zane remained in the middle. Cheers of excitement erupted from the crowd as they prepared to battle. Moreno stepped forward, his arms held out wide, as if beckoning them to charge him. “This is my domain,” his deep voice rumbled around them as a dark cloud enveloped the arena.
Zane’s heart began to pound as moans of pain from Cain and Abel surrounded him. He lost all sense of his surroundings; he couldn’t even see his damn sword he held in front of him. The blackness surrounded him, causing him to lose all reasoning. He began to swing his sword around him, hoping it would disperse this darkness. Nothing worked, he couldn’t even see the light of the setting sun.
“What kind of fucking magick is this?” Cain’s voice echoed from the distance. He groaned as he was assaulted by another round of punches. When they stopped, he violently swung his ax around him, trying to make contact with something, anything. “He’s fucking hitting me so I should be able to hit him, or at least hear him.” He grunted as another round of punches assaulted his abdomen. He could hear Abel and Zane’s grunts in the distance as they endured the same torment. Each blow was powerful, and he knew they would break his bones if he didn’t recoil and absorb them.
~~~~
Ryder couldn’t believe what was happening. What kind of magick are they using? he wondered as he stared down at the arena, which was completely enveloped in a cloud of darkness. He could hear their men taking a beating and he could sense their pain and frustration. If this is how powerful one of them is, what about the other two?
“What’s going on?” Kai’s voice echoed through his mind.
Ryder looked over at the Red Horseman, his skeletal face was filled with frustration, but his red eyes were filled with excitement and something else that he couldn’t identify. Did he plan this?
“What the fuck is going on Ryder!” Kai screamed in his mind, jolting him back to the battle.
“Something’s not right here,” he responded calmly. “Our time frame has moved up. Get the weapons ready.”
“Alright,” Kai responded wearily. “It’s going to take me a few to get everything ready on my end.”
“Just do it quickly. I don’t know how much longer we have.”
“Got it.”
~~~~
Cain’s frustration continued to grow as each blow landed, his anger coursing through his veins. “That’s enough,” he growled as he dropped his axe, his fists clenched by his side. His muscles began to bulge, he groaned with pain as his skin tore apart. Horns grew from his head as his eyes turned blood red, his hatred burning from the inside out. Fangs elongated from his mouth, reaching past his chin as venom began to drip from their tips. He let out a guttural scream, releasing his pent-up anger and frustration. He began to suck in all the air, pulling the black clouds into his gut.
Zane and Abel watched in awe as the black cloud retreated from them and towards Cain. “Die a thousand deaths in the bottomless pit of Beelzebub’s stomach!” Cain exclaimed as the last of the black cloud entered his stomach. He coughed as he fell to the ground, his body crumpling in on itself, returning to his original form.
“Damnit,” Zane muttered. “Looks like it’s just me and you now.” He shouted at Abel. Machado and Andrade stood motionless; their faces filled with shock. Zane took advantage of their lapse in concentration and willed his power into his speed, appearing before the demons in the blink of an eye. He was promptly blocked by the trident, followed by an ax attempting to split him in two. He rolled to the side, barely dodging the attack. The ax swung past him, its blade splitting the ground for several yards.
“I’m impressed boy, your team is truly strong.” Machado spoke, his voice deep. “You have skill. But you lack the power.”
Zane jumped back, attempting to regroup with Abel. His breathing was heavy and labored, his muscles ached with every move. I haven’t been fighting that long. He thought as he looked over at Abel. He was down on one knee, his body covered in strange black symbols. Zane glanced over at Cain, his body motionless on the ground, the same black symbols covered him.
“Feeling unnaturally fatigued?” Andrade chuckled darkly.
He looked down, his eyes landing on the black symbols wrapping around his arms. “Fuck,” he grunted as he looked over at Machado and Andrade. “We’ve been cursed.”
“That, my friend, is Moreno’s parting gift. That curse will continue to drain your strength.” Andrade smiled as panic flashed through Zane’s eyes. “The only cure… is death.”
Zane struggled to regain his posture, the sweat dripping down his body. Just focus. He moaned as his vision began to blur. Focus on your magick. He couldn’t concentrate, his legs began to tremble under his weight. Andrade’s dark laughter filled his ears. Okay, let’s try the corruption. His eyes flickered black, but he couldn’t maintain it. He saw Machado approaching, his ax raised for the attack. He used the last of his strength to raise his sword and block the blow. Machado’s attack flung him into the wall of the arena. The crowd fell silent, their eyes widened with disbelief.
“How.” Murmurs spread through the crowd as they watched the champions of the Awá tribe being kicked around like rag dolls.
“What the hell is taking so long?” Ryder urgently connected to Kai. “If you wait any longer everyone will be dead!”
Chapter Forty-Seven
Earth
The light of the setting sun fell across the arena as Abel knelt on the ground; dropping his daggers on the sand next to him. He struggled to breath, every breathe felt as if he was being stabbed in the chest. This isn’t good, he thought as he watched Zane get flung across the arena, his body hit the wall and crumpled to the ground. He looked over at Cain, his body motionless, too weak to even lift his head. I need to do something. He grunted with frustration as he glared at his brother. We are twins. Raphael always said we were equal in strength, yet he always saves the day and I just get in the way.
He placed his hands together and scrunched his eyes closed. “Release!” he shouted, waiting as nothing happened. “Release! Release!” His voice cracked as his mind filled with despair. Sweat dripped into his eyes and down his face, soaking the sand around him. “I need power,” he cried as his hands dropped to his side, exhaustion taking over. No! He screamed in his mind as his vision began to flicker out. I will be useful! I will save them! The arena around him began to spin, his vision narrowing as the darkness threatened to consume him. “Release…” he muttered as he fell to the ground.
“Come on Kai,” Ryder urged as his heart pounded in his chest. Zane, Cain, and Abel were all on the ground, struggling to move.
“Alright,” Kai’s voice echoed through his mind, “focus on the transfer.”
“Got it.” He tried to calm his mind as he strengthened the connection with Kai. A loud explosion filled the air, the seat underneath Ryder shook from the force.
“What was that?” Kai asked.
“I don’t know,” Ryder responded with frustration. “Just concentrate on the transfer.” He saw steam rising from the arena as he closed his eyes to focus.
The crowd gasped as a creature began to rise in the arena, its white hair flowed to the ground. Steam billowed around its gray skin. It cried out in pain; its bone-chilling scream echoed through the Colosseum. The creature’s blood red eyes searched the arena, black blood streaming down its face.
Spectators in the crowd fell to their knees, covering their ears with their hands as the air exploded around them. The creature turned, releasing magick attacks at everything it sa
w. It was acting like a cornered animal, lashing out at everything in its sight. It continued to shriek in pain, its cries bringing more members of the crowd to their knees.
Machado glanced nervously at Andrade as they charged towards this new threat, the air exploding around them as they ran. “Why isn’t it hitting us?” Machado shouted over the explosion.
“I don’t know,” Andrade responded as he stopped in his tracks. They looked around the arena, circles of magick had formed around Zane and Cain. The magick exploded around them, leaving craters where their bodies had once been. Cries of agony echoed through the smoke as darkness once again enveloped the arena.
“What the fuck is this?” Andrade hissed as he turned. “Machado?” He couldn’t see a thing, silence enveloped him as the darkness settled in.
“You’ll die by my hands.” Zane’s voice echoed around him; he spun frantically, his yellow eyes straining to see through the darkness. A shiver crawled up his spine as he felt the air move next to him. He turned but was once again met with only darkness.
“Where the hell is he?” His voice rose with fear as his body began to tremble. He blindly stepped forward, waving his arms in front of him, trying to make contact with something. A sharp pain tore across his throat, a gargled scream escaped his lips as he fell to the ground.
“Andrade!” Machado shouted into the darkness; his only response was the deafening silence. He shuffled forward, moving slowly with his ax at the ready. “Andrade! Where are you?” He couldn’t hear a thing, not even his footsteps as he walked. Suddenly, he ran into something. “Andrade,” he whimpered as his body began to tremble.
“Are demons afraid of the dark” Zane’s voice surrounded him. Machado frantically swung his ax, but all it met was empty space.
“Where are you?” he shouted as he spun around, swinging his ax wildly.
“Closer.” Machado stepped to the side, his heart pounding in his chest. “Found me,” Zane muttered into his ear as he grabbed his throat and tore it apart.
The darkness retreated from the arena, flowing back inside Zane’s shadow. The crowd gasped as their eyes landed on the lifeless bodies of Machado and Andrade. Zane looked up at the gray demon, a smile on his face. “It’s about damn time you nutted up. How about doing it before we’re almost dead next time?”
“The fucking cuck grew some balls!” Cain chuckled as his eyes darkened and his skin began to crack, revealing the corded muscle beneath. Smoke began to billow from his body as his teeth sharpened into fangs. “What’s next you fuckers!” he shouted up at the Red Horseman as he made his way next to Zane.
The Red Horseman stood up; flames began to surround his skeletal form as he stared down at them. “Your abilities are unlike any we have seen before.” His raspy voice echoed through the silent Colosseum. “Which is odd, since I have hand-picked every ability that has been given to my children. Since you are not one of my children, I cannot reward you as the strongest champions of my Colosseum. But…” He paused, the flames around him growing. “I can feel your contempt for me. I can sense your desires. You think you can kill me?” He chuckled darkly; his red eyes filled with hatred. “Not a chance. But before I kill you.” He nodded at his six Elites. “I want some more entertainment.”
The Elites jumped from the viewing area, landing in the arena in front of them. The Red Horseman eyed the crowd, their faces were filled with a mixture of confusion and bloodlust. “Tonight!” he shouted. “The Apocalypse Saints will burn!” He motioned at the crowd, watching with pleasure as the half-breed demons raised up, their cheers of excitement filling the air.
Zane sighed as thousands of demons and half-breeds stormed into the arena, surrounding them. “You guys ready for this?” he muttered at Cain and Abel as the formed a small circle, each of them focusing on one section of the arena. A sigh of relief escaped his lips as Raphael’s sword plunged into the ground before him. Cain and Abel caught their weapons in midair. Zane grabbed the hilt of his sword, pulling it out of the ground with ease. He casually swung it onto his shoulder, as he examined the growing horde in front of them. “We are no saints,” he shouted as he swung his blade in front of him with such force that the air in front of him ripped through the horde of demons, cutting some of them in half. “But I will gladly send all you fuckers back to Hell.”
Ryder landed next to him, his light green eyes assessing the situation. “Maybe this isn’t the time to be shit talking,” he muttered.
“Oh Ryder, you have no taste for dramatic effect.” Abel spoke, his voice sending shivers up his spine.
Explosions sounded around them as bursts of holy light filled the darkening sky. “There.” Ryder smiled as he pointed upwards, the arrows of holy light decimating the city around them. “I would consider that dramatic.”
Chapter Forty-Eight
Earth
The stars were starting to appear in the darkening sky. Bishop and Aria sat near some bushes, watching the spire and the path leading up to it. There hadn’t been any movement within the spire or the surrounding area. Aria sighed wearily as she tapped her fingers on her lap. “What the fuck is that?” Bishop’s voice echoed through the silence around them. She stood up, the explosions of holy light illuminating her face.
“Looks like we’re fighting tonight.” She smiled as she turned towards the spire.
“Good. I’m tired of waiting,” Bishop muttered as he stood up next to her. They reached into the bushes and pulled out their weapons. Aria strapped her daggers to her thighs as he clasped his belt around his waist. His eyes darkened as he stared up at the spire, the explosions of holy light reflecting off the black stone. They walked past the broken statue of Christ, making their way to the giant stone door. Aria looked up at him, his eyes were dull and lifeless, his face shallow. “I can’t wait to kill every demon in this damn spire,” he growled, his voice low and raspy. They reached the door, he grabbed the handle and pulled. Nothing happened.
“Let me see.” Aria pushed his hand away as she examined the door. She rested her left hand on its solid surface and closed her eyes, focusing her energy into her palm. A soft, white glow began to form around her hand. “Get ready,” she muttered as the light surrounding her hand grew brighter. A smile formed on her face as the door began to glow red, heat enveloped them as it started to melt. An opening appeared in the middle of the door, the red-hot material streaming down the door and onto the path. Bishop lunged forward, ducking his head low as he jumped through the opening and into the spire. “Damnit,” Aria muttered as she followed him.
They entered a narrow hallway; the entire building had been constructed with the same black stone. Torches lined the hall, their red and yellow flames dancing against the darkness. Bishop pulled out his sword, holding it in front of him with anticipation. “Fucking pussies!” he shouted, his voice echoing down the empty corridor. “Come out and fight me!”
Aria sighed wearily as she pulled out her daggers. They continued down the hall. “Relax,” she muttered. “I’m sure you’ll get the fight you are craving.” Their footsteps echoed around them. The crackling of the fire the only other sound. “I don’t like this,” she muttered, eyeing each empty archway they passed.
“Yea,” Bishop responded. “This is too easy.” They reached the end of the hallway and turned right. It led into an open room, just as empty as the rest of them. A massive staircase appeared before them, spiraling upwards beyond their sight. You’re in danger here. Raphael’s voice echoed through her mind. She stopped, her eyes searching the empty room. She focused on the black stones, their presence nagging at something in her mind.
The red light of the moon reflected off the black stone floor. The stars shimmered brightly above her. Raphael was chained to a stone table, bright red blood running onto the ground.
“It can’t be,” she mumbled as she shook her head.
“What is it?” Bishop had stopped next to her, his eyes constantly searching for an enemy.
“Nothing.” She grabbed the hilts of her
daggers and pulled them from their sheaths, a sigh of relief escaping her lips. “Let’s keep going.” She continued to the stairs, her mind urging her to leave and not look back. She paused on the landing for the next floor, her eyes scanning the empty corridor.
“This feels like a trap,” Bishop muttered; his fist clenched tightly around the hilt of the sword.
“Yea,” she replied as she continued up the stairs. “And it’s time to spring it.” She smiled as she twirled her daggers, her body humming with anticipation for the fight to come.
~~~~
“Archers, stay on the ships,” Kai commanded as they made land and dropped the gangway onto the shore. “Keira.” He glanced over at her, watching as she released another round of arrows into the city, the explosions of holy light illuminating the night. “You’re in charge. Make sure you keep their attention.” She nodded; her blue eyes filled with anticipation for the fight.
“Nikolai.” He smiled as Nikolai stepped forward, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. “Let’s teach these demons a lesson.” He nodded as his lips curved up into a smile. A group of fifty men and women gathered behind them, their bodies tensed and ready. They made their way down the gangway and onto the beach. The red light of the moon made the white sand of the beach look as if it had been bathed in blood. The sounds of battle from the arena filled the air.
“Alright.” Kai stopped on the beach, waiting as Riley arrived with his group from the second ship.
“Let’s get this fuck fest over with.” Riley sighed as he pulled out his daggers and twirled them in his hands.
“Can’t wait.” Kai smiled. “We are going to make our way to the Colosseum, move quietly, kill any demons you cross. We don’t want them to know we got off the ships. Got it?” They nodded. “Good. Let’s go.” He turned from the group and made his way up the beach to the city, his eyes locked on the Colosseum.
~~~~
Zane, Ryder, Cain, and Abel formed a small circle, watching as the horde of demons and half-breeds closed in on them. The six Elites stood in the distance, watching and waiting. Ryder slammed his sword into the ground, sending spikes of earth out in front of them, piercing those in its wake.