Page 17 of The Lost Siren

“Anyone who wishes to spend the evening with the female will first brave the Skolex!”

There was a terrible roar, and out of one of the stone tunnels burst a large, writhing white worm. It roared its defiance at the Drakens watching, displaying four rows of massive teeth. It was easily the size of a quarter of the arena, and there were cries of dismay from those watching.

“What thefuck…”

Benedict pushed himself up from his throne, fury emanating from every muscle.

“I take it this challenge is a surprise?” I asked, not expecting an answer. He slid into his Draken form, and I ducked as his wings flared in annoyance.

“Where do you evengeta... what did he call it?”

“Skolex; deep from the rivers east of here. Carnivorous, chaotic white energy.”

“White energy?”

An irritated growl rumbled in his chest. I stood, unable to take my eyes off the savage monster, which had begun throwing itself against the stone walls to try and reach the Drakens in the bleachers. Unsurprisingly, no one had yet volunteered to fight it.

“You can’t claim I’m a stupid human when you won’t help educate me.” Benedict hissed at me, torn between wanting to fling himself at the beast and proving me right.

“All magicks in the universe are either black or white. Drakens are one of the few neutral species that practice both in moderation.”

The Skolex roared again, and the stone walls shook.

“Wouldn’t white energy be good, and black bad? That thing looks prettybadto me!”

Benedict grabbed the edge of the stone balcony, and I noted how it crumpled slightly under his grip. Five Drakens stood and flew down to the pit. Benedict cursed.

“White is chaotic; uncontrollable, it reflects everything back out at the world. White power, or magick as humans say, relies on the pain and suffering of others. Black is the absorption of everything. The power comes from the caster’s own pain and suffering. Get it? Drakens are grey, thisfucking thingis white. Now, if you promise to stay put, I’m going to kill it.”

Before I could say anything to protest, he leapt from the balcony and landed on all fours in the sandy pit. D’Arcy’s eyes flashed in annoyance at the interruption, but I couldn’t help but notice the look of immense relief on the faces of the five Drakens in the pit.

“The goal is toreplenishour species, not kill more of us off.”

Benedict’s voice rang clearly throughout the arena. D’Arcy stood his ground.

“She isonefemale, and we have too many males as it is. This ensures only thestrongestwill take her.” Well,someoneapparently didn’t approve of Kieran and Ronan.

Benedict and I snarled at him in unison, and it might have been humorous if we both weren’t so angry.Breeding cow.I shook my head, unwilling to linger on it. Benedict’s eyes glowed in the dimness, his claws and wings flared in a defensive position. The Skolex turned, smelling fresh meat within reach. Benedict addressed the other Drakens one last time.

“You’re determined to try?”

One of the five Drakens bowed, backing away and going back to his seat. The other three remained, not blanching. Benedict growled.

“Fine.”

He pumped his wings twice and sat on the wall opposite the Skolex. D’Arcy laughed, clapping his hands once. The Skolex lunged, and the three Drakens scattered. Two dove left, but one wasn’t quick enough. The Skolex swallowed him whole, not even leaving him time to scream. The cracking sounds as teeth crunched both echoed through the stone walls. The remaining two Drakens looked at each other with regret. The one immediately flew out of the ring, and the other fainted. Benedict growled.

The Skolex twisted, sensing a target with more fight in it. Benedict stood on the wall just as the great beast thrust forward. Benedict raised his hands, freezing the monster in place. It roared against him, and cuts and welts erupted over Benedict’s body as he struggled to hold it in place. With a yell he made a twisting motion with his hand, and a loud crack pierced the air. Blood dripped down Benedict’s nose as the Skolex fell, paralyzed. He wiped his hand across his face and waved to the crowd. Blood from various lacerations ran down his skin in tiny rivulets.

“Finish it.”

Paralyzed as it was, the Drakens didn’t hesitate to swarm the Skolex, clawing and slashing at it with swords and blades until it looked like a giant pin cushion. I looked away; my eyes glued on Benedict. He beat his powerful wings, propelling his body into the air and gliding back to the balcony. He slumped heavily against the wall, then glared at me as if it weremyfault he’d had to fight a monster.

“You act like that washard.”I joked lightly, though more to relax the lingering tension than to make him angry. He was usually quick with his retorts, but he only managed to give me a rude hand gesture.

I didn’t look back at the pit; I could hear the other Drakens screaming their victory, so I certainly didn’t need to see it. It was sostupid, soinfantile. They wouldn’t be anywhere near it without Benedict, would they? This had to be the black magick he spoke of; magick thattookfrom you.

I approached him cautiously, but he had nothing to say as I helped haul him up. His blood was dark, and I caught shimmers of deep indigo as it caught the torchlight.

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