Page 52 of Eternal Sacrifice
“Tonight’s tournament will be held with four elimination rounds. All fights will be full-powered matches with a time limit of ten minutes. Points will be awarded for damage done. However, mortal wounds are not allowed during this round.”
The fire around the perimeter pulled apart to create holes, and eight demons entered. They paired off and headed to different sections of the arena. The floor shifted beneath them, sending sand cascading over the sides as quadrants of different heights determined the boundaries of each fight.
Jasper pulled his phone from his pants pocket, swiping through it until he pulled up an app and gave the phone to me. It showed me each level of the arena. From there, I could pull up the stats on each of the fighters.
“We will have to add ways for demons to bet on the fights, but otherwise, this is amazing,” Jasper said, and I assumed he was talking to the other guys.
I was busy looking through the fighters, caught in the thrill of the atmosphere. The first time I had come to the arena was to watch Jasper and Jax fight over me against my wishes. This, however, felt like a sporting event. And now that I understood how durable demons were and their need for outlets like this, I could sit back and enjoy the bloodshed.
“Fight!” Amira’s voice came through the speakers at the same time a timer appeared on Jasper’s phone. It counted down each second while points climbed with each strike of the fighters.
It was easier to understand what was happening by looking at the screen, but watching the fight was far more exciting. I handed Jasper his phone and then leaned forward to get a better look at the display of power. Fireballs, arcs of lightning, balls of water, and other aspects of the elements flung through the air below me. The demons blasted everything they had at one another, charging forward with both power and weapons.
I was familiar with hunting with my demons and even Ryan’s pack at this point, but I had never seen demons fight like this before. They advanced toward their opponents, singularly focused and ready to give everything. There was no fear or hesitation. Even when they were hit with massive blasts, they continued forward without pause.
“I would feel bad for anyone that thought they could take on an army of demons,”I said to the guys.
“They need some training still, Princess.”
I looked over at Jasper and raised my eyebrow. “Do you really think one of the other realms could amass an army big enough to take on Hell and all its demons?”
“No,” Jasper said with a smile. “I’m just saying they can use some training, and they will get it. They will be powerful enough to defend our realm and conquer another if needed.”
I blinked rapidly, settling back into my chair while I tried to figure out why Jasper thought we would need to take over another realm. I looked back at the arena. Nearly half the time was still left. The uneasy feelings I had from Jasper’s comments melted away as I got sucked back into the energy of the crowd.
Jasper was just caught up in the rush.
Jax
JusticeandJacewerethe true masterminds of the changes in the arena. They bounced ideas off each other like film directors looking to make the next most outrageous show. Their imagination seemed to be the only limit, and both had vivid ones regarding ways to hurt others. I left the building and set planning to them while I conferred with the spell weavers to get their support.
But now that I witnessed their madness come to life, I was as mesmerized as Mor. The attending demons shouted, uniting in opposition. It’s funny how a little bit of fighting can pull the masses together. All the commoners needed was something to focus their anger on.
After the first four victors were announced, the floor shifted elevations to flatten out while the boards sifted through the sand. All the blood, spit, and other fluids spilled during the fight clumped together as the arena acted like a self-cleaning litter box. It was effective and more than a little disturbing.
“That was my idea,” Justice announced, like it wasn’t obvious.
The area was reset, and another set of fighters emerged through partings in the barrier flames. They moved into position, and the floor shifted into place again. Then Amira announced the start of the second match. It began with the same enthusiasm as the first, the competitors clashing against one another in a desperate frenzy.
Whenever a demon was knocked into the sand, they stood back up. They stood, and then they charged once more.
Always get back up. Never surrender. Never stop fighting to come home.
I turned to watch Mor’s expressions rather than the rest of the round. Her eyes widened as the rest of the crowd roared. I saw a smile twitch at the edge of her lips. She was enjoying every second of this.
I almost surrendered to the darkness when Lilith stabbed me. If it wasn’t for Mor’s voice calling out to me, I would have let my life slip from me after spending so much time worried about the prophecy. The moment had felt like an inevitability.
I had forgotten to fight like a demon.
The experience had given me the same things the demons fighting below in the sand were now remembering. It was a reminder we all needed.
The crowd cheered, and Mor’s hand came up to cover her mouth as it flew open. She laughed next, an unexpected bubble replacing her shock. Her hands came together as she clapped and yelled encouragement to the fighters.
A feeling of peace washed over me, and I realized for the first time in my life it wasn’t coming from an outside force to manipulate my emotions. It came from within me. My gaze slid past Mor’s face to where Jasper and Justice were seated on their thrones. Jasper held a broad smile, phone in hand, as he flicked between the screen and the live performance. He loved to let his war roam free during fights in the arena. It helped the fighters pull from the deepest wells of their power.
And it helped him to chill the fuck out for a while.
Justice, technically, wasn’t sitting in his chair. His feet were on the seat, balancing on the tips of his toes while he squatted. His face was animated with every act of violence. Even Justice would sleep quieter after an exhausting day at the arena. Too many intense emotions were running around, and he would need time to recover.
