Page 29 of Of Gods and Pain

Two males in light leathers are pummeling each other; the shorter one is missing a tooth and might have a dislocated shoulder. The other’s left eye is swollen shut, but he continues to dodge hits. He laughs when he lands a blow to his opponent’s temple, effectively knocking him out, and the crowd’s cheering reaches deafening levels.

“Why are they doing this?” I whisper to myself, not meaning to say it out loud.

“They’re training, my sweet.” I jolt at Andras’s hot breath in my ear.

“This is how they train? How is nearly killing each other training them to do anything?” He doesn’t answer, but steps into the open circle with his hands clasped behind his back. The soldier still standing bows and heads for the crowd, while two others step forward to drag the unconscious soldier somewhere out of sight.

“You’ve all had your fun; but, how would you like a little more?” They cheer and Andras extends a hand towards me, leaving me no choice but to move forward and take it. “As you know, Anellah is a goddess. She is one of the finest, most talented warriors I have ever seen.” I look over at him, trying to gauge his expression. “But she has been…indisposed for some time and therefore has significantly weakened.”

I stare at the ground, feeling hundreds of eyes burrowing their way under my skin. Is he seriously going to fight me right now? I could barely hold my own against him before, so there’s no chance of a good outcome for me here.

“So, I thought it might be entertaining to watch this beautiful goddess,” he yanks me into his side with an arm over my shoulders, “and Imogen spar. She has never been trained to fight, so the playing field should be even between the two.”

I watch as the crowd parts, revealing a sneering witch dressed in black leathers. Her focus is only on me, not even acknowledging the prince as she steps up to us. Andras said I should’ve eaten more, but I’m glad I didn’t; it would be all over the ground right about now.

“You know the rules, Imogen. No magic,” Andras states firmly, letting me go and stepping away.

“Don’t worry, my love. I’ve wanted to snap this dramatic bitch in half for years…I won’t need magic for that.” Her slimy voice coats any reservations I had about this; I don’t care how weak I am, I’m goi—

Did she say my love? Interesting.

“You may begin,” my captor announces. The witch and I circle each other, and I take the moment to gather everything that I can. If my muscles won’t save me, maybe words will. She’s pissed, that much is clear. She doesn’t just look like she’s angry with me. No, her eyes are fuming with raw hatred, as if my very existence is the greatest offense in all of history.

She knows Andras fucks me, and must know that I sleep in his bed. I can use that. She definitely does not have adequate control of her emotions, so it won’t be hard to get under her skin and cause her to fuck something up.

I tune out everything else, seeing and hearing only the creature in front of me.

“So, Imogen, are you going to make the first move, or shall I?” I try to keep my voice bored. “Or, wait, do you prefer to be called Sarah? Or decrepit witch? Or, perhaps, Andras’s side piece?”

That does it.

She launches herself at me with a snarl, swinging her fist towards my jaw. I duck out of the way and watch her stumble, nearly tripping over her own feet but catching herself in time. She swings around to glare at me, and I swear I see fire in her eyes.

She points a long finger at me, and I smirk. “You stupid whore! If you would’ve just taken those fucking pills, we wouldn’t be cursed with your presence!” She fakes right and kicks hard into my other side. I wince at the pain but hold myself up and watch her movements. “You’d still be in that disgusting apartment, with your stupid fucking cat, and still have no idea that any of this existed! But no…you just had to come fuck with the rest of us, didn’t you?”

I catch her next kick, managing to twist her around until she rolls on the floor. Fuck, I’m so much weaker than I thought. That took way too much effort.

“And miss the opportunity of sparring with you?” I cackle and circle her again. “No, I’m glad I didn’t take whatever those were. Because I wouldn’t be here, riding the most delicious cock. Every. Single. Night.” She roars, and my eyes widen at her increased speed and determination.

She might just kill me.

I might just let her.

We’re quiet for several minutes as we try to dodge the other and get a hit of our own in. She gets me good in the jaw at one point and I feel blood leaking from the corner of my mouth, sliding down my sweat-slicked skin. I don’t feel the pain, though. I feel nothing inside except my harrowing need to suck the life from her stringy veins.

My fist finds the base of her throat and she doubles over, clutching at nothing as she attempts to get air back into her lungs. I swipe my wrist over my jaw and stretch my neck out, trying to prepare for another round. I don’t know how much more I have in me before my body gives out.

“Give it up, Imogen. We both know I’m better than you in every way. You won’t win this war.” She peers up at me through her wet lashes, fury swimming from the depths of her core.

“You will never be good enough for him,” she spits, standing to her full height. “He’s. Mine!” her voice squeaks, while still trying to overcome the damage I caused to her airway.

“Oh, yeah?” I taunt, giving her my most wicked smile. “Then why am I the one in his bed? Why is it me he wants as his queen? He fucks you when he’s bored, and I’m not available. You’re nothing but a warm hole to keep his attention for a few minutes.” I walk forward, making my way to her front. I stop when our chests are nearly touching and lean into her, so she’s the only one who hears my next words. “The sooner you learn that, the sooner you can stop making such a fool of yourself over a washed-up, ex-god, whose only promising quality is the flesh between his legs. And even then…I’ve had bett—” she knees me in the abdomen before I can finish my sentence.

Tackling me to the ground, she sits on my pelvis and starts hammering my ribs. Pain bleeds into my core, and I attempt to block her punches, but it’s not working. I see Andras out of the corner of my eye and remember what he said before this fight: Anellah is a goddess.

I’m a fucking goddess, and I’m about to let this disgusting witch beat me? Not a chance.

Using the adrenaline spearing my blood to my advantage, I knock my elbow into her chin and push her to the ground next to me. I straddle her hips and see red as I relentlessly throw my fist into her cheek. Her efforts to stop me become weaker as she swells and blood leaks from every opening on her face. I’m almost convinced nothing will be able to stop me until her brain matter is draining onto the floor, but then I see her laughing and pause.

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