The whole pyramid was tense, the news of the gravely ill king rapidly going around every corners and every ears.
Some said he had been bitten by a strange bug or a snake, but whatever the cause it all led to the same ending; king Hades was slowly dying.
He asked for his two children to come to his death bed, in dire need to speak about their future.
The chamber was dark and isolated, bringing more intimacy to this small family.
Aliana couldn't help but kneel to her father's side, softly crying as she held his hand, while Jarod prefered to stay slightly apart, a stern look on his face.
The king's speech was raspy and often cut with coughs:
"My children …. I have brought you here for these are my last moments in this world. … Ever since your mother died after Jarod's birth I have never ceased to look out for you both as you are my blood, my legacy."
Hades winced in pain, tightening his grip on Aliana's hand. He next frowned, fighting against what was trying to kill him.
"But now I need to declare who will take my place upon the throne, and for that I can't make up my mind. … As the oldest, Aliana should be the rightful owner, but Jarod also proved himself worthy, both in strength and blood. As a guerrero de las almas and to his close connection to Zotz, he seems like the best choice…"
"Father, didn't Jarod want to become a priest?" asked the female.
"Stop it, Aliana, you don't know what you're talking about," harshly cut the brother.
She was confused: "B-but you kept talking about it for years…"
"I do not give a damn about your choices," intervened the father. "I decided you will both fight for my position."
The two others now looked at Hades, surprise showing on their faces.
"… Fight? What do you mean, father?" questioned Jarod.
"It's an old tradition I even took part of when I was around your ages. When my father was dying, he demanded for me and my two other siblings to fight to death. He wanted to know who would be strong enough to take his place. … I killed them without any hesitation in an organized tournament."
"You never told us you had siblings…," softly spoke Aliana.
The king's gaze became absent for some seconds, as if remembering ghosts from the past.
"Since I can't decide who would be worthy enough, I demand blood be spilled in my glory; as my last wish."
The daughter suddenly backed away, fear in her eyes.
"You can't ask this! We are your children! Why would we need to kill one another to prove our strength?"
"If you believe you are strong enough, you shouldn't be scared, Aliana."
"This is not about if I'm strong or not! I won't battle against Jarod, he's my brother. I do not wish his death as you shouldn't wish for one of us to die."
"Are you afraid to face me?" asked Jarod with malice.
The female glared at her younger brother, clearly not amused by the situation.
"We both have a family," she snarled. "I don't want my daughter to live without a mother as you surely wish for your son not to grow without a father. … Think also of Lluvia. And me, what would happen to Moses? He's not a Vampyrum…"
The tall male couldn't answer as he was cut by the king's coughs, bringing the children's attention back to him.
"You will battle, either you like it or not. I don't know how long I have left to live, but the confrontation will take place in two days. If I ever happen to die before the event, Voxzaco will tend to it and I know he will follow my orders fully. … You cannot escape your fate, children."
Flora, three years old, was hanging to a branch with her two years old cousin, Goth. Both kids were observing the creatures down below, minding their own lives. Sometimes the bats loved to throw some seeds or small berries to them, hiding while retaining their laughter, taking great pleasure in disturbing the others.
But this time, the female was having less fun than usual, remembering what her mother had told her the previous night.
"Hey Goth, what do you think about the upcoming battle?" she began, her mood dropping.
The young one threw a seed to a monkey passing by, snickering as it hit him right on the head.
"What are you talking about?" questioned the male, looking at his target running away, a smile still on his lips.
Flora raised a brow, confused.
"… The battle against your dad and my mom for the throne. … Haven't Jarod told you about that? It's tomorrow!"
The young prince frowned, looking at his cousin: "What is this nonsense? Why would they fight? Our parents usually get along well."
"That's what I thought, but it seems grand-father Hades asked for that to happen. He says he can't decide on who will be the one to succeed him. … Can you imagine? One of them will soon die!"
Goth lightly snarled: "You're surely lying."
"No, you tonto! My mother told me so, so it must be true. … If you don't believe, why don't you ask your dad? I'm sure he won't hide it if you ask."
"… But why wouldn't he tell me about it though?"
Flora shrugged: "Maybe he's scared. Maybe he doesn't want to scare you."
The male falsely laughed, a slight look of annoyance on his face.
"I'm not scared. I know my father would kick anyone's butt."
The young princess punched her cousin's shoulder, growling: "Jerk!"
She flew off without adding a word, clearly hurt by Goth's lack of sympathy.
The prince, on his part, mostly felt unsure, wondering if it was all but a bad joke. He took flight in turn, going to the pyramid with haste.
He found Jarod in the royal chamber, as usual. The giant was studying some symbols on the stone table, probably more interested about Zotz than anything else around him.
Young Goth approached him in silence, slightly tugging on his father's wing when he got to his side. The giant glanced at the source, finding his son in a thoughtful state. He puffed, looking back at the table.
"Go see your mother if you have any problems, I'm busy," he mumbled.
"… Actually I really need to speak with you."
Jarod stopped, turning back to the young one with curiosity.
That was a first.
"… Be quick."
Goth's ears lowered.
"Flora told me aunt Aliana and you will fight tomorrow for the crown. … Is that true? Will one of you truly have to kill the other?"
The father started a low chuckle, patting his son's head.
"Oh, don't worry, child, it will be done fast. You won't lose me, if that's what you're scared about."
"But what about Flora? How can you kill her mom, your sister! There has to be another way."
"Enough," scolded Jarod. "My father's wishes will be executed and that is all. You should be proud, my son, as you will soon become the next in line to rule."
"… How can you be so confident?" wondered Goth with small desperation.
The large one's attention was brought back to the stone table, leaving both hands on it for support.
"Zotz gave me strength and I know he will help and support me for this battle. Your aunt is a weak bat filled with love and compassion … I know she won't be able to kill me, as for me I won't hesitate." He grinned. "… I will have all the power and all will finally bow down to me."
The event began when the sun was shining high and bright in the sky. Many bats were assembled around a small arena arranged the night before.
King Hades had been taken out of his bed with the help of several servants and nurses, still strong enough to look at the battle. Around him were the other members of the royal family, to his right Flora and her father Moses – a large fruit bat who easily stood out from the crowd. And to his left Goth and Lluvia.
When it was time, Voxzaco began to speak at the king's place, the ill one too sick to speak (or he would have started coughing for a long time).
"Citizens! It is with great pleasure that I announce the start of this glorious combat opposing princess Aliana and prince Jarod. Per king Hades' request, this event will decide who will take his place on the throne. The only way to win is to kill the enemy, proving both strength and will. … May the best bat win!"
Acclamations rose, the royal children soon appearing on the stage. Both were wearing war apparels; Aliana featuring bright Ara feathers around her neck, blue and yellow paint decorating some of her face's features. Jarod, for his case, prefered to wear small bones, red lines harshly painted around his eyes.
The siblings were walking in circle, ready to jump at any moment. The tension could be felt, the air filled with rage and animosity. Although she was frowning, Aliana still pleaded her brother: "Jarod, we don't have to do this! There has to be another way. Let us stop this nonsense…"
"I will crush you!" roared the male as he lunged towards his sister.
He was aiming for her neck, his jaw unfortunately grasping air as the female moved her head to his right side, biting his ear. She also clawed his left ear, leaving holes on each sides. Jarod howled, backing up as he moved hands to his wounds. Aliana didn't wait, tackling the other to the ground, trying to maintain him. Her strength proved to be useless when the prince simply pushed her away like she weighed nothing, rapidly going to her, grasping her head and smashing it to the ground several times.
"You worthless bitch! That's the last time you hurt me ever again!" he growled.
Aliana was screaming and crying, demanding for Jarod to stop.
Another voice rose, this time in the crowd. It was Moses, screaming at both Jarod and king Hades to cease this massacre. But guards soon came to held him down, forcing him to stay put and watch the scene.
Aliana was finally freed from her brother's grasp, crawling away, her whole face red with blood.
She couldn't stop crying, looking at the other.
"… Jarod, what is WRONG with you? Where is the little brother I used to love? Where is the bat who once cared for others?"
The prince slapped her, his fangs showing.
"He is DEAD. I am no longer weak, Aliana! I am stronger than everyone. I was chosen by Zotz to bring out his words and wishes. I was born to rule everyone!"
The princess jumped back on him, snarling as she began to claw his face with fury. They both rolled on the ground, attacking eachothers without any rest. Cheers were roaring from the crowd, some even claiming the name of either Jarod or Aliana as their champion.
Moses was now hiding Flora in his wings, clearly forbidding her to look at this horrible act. Goth eyes were glued on the battle, both amazed and terrified in front of such ferocity. And Lluvia, on her part, was stoic, disgusted by such a barbaric act. She sure wished for Aliana to win, but knew her husband's strength was too high for such an exploit…
Jarod was furious. All he thought now was to kill this pesky female once and for all.
He broke one of her arms, a howling sound of horror escaping Aliana's mouth. The prince next got again to her neck, this time successfully plunging his fangs into it. He could taste her blood, which maddened him even more. The princess was trying to push him away with her feet and still working arm, until the male backed away a little, suddenly ripping a hole in her chest, taking her heart out with a loud crush of bones.
The crowd fell into silence, Jarod standing up with the bloody organ in his hand. He extended his wing up in the air, roaring: "I offer this heart to my one and only god, Cama Zotz, but also to my father, king Hades. May he deem me worthy to succeed him or I'd better kill myself."
His face had a grave look, still panting from the combat.
The only sound that could be now heard were the cries of Moses, calling him a monster and a barbarian.
Hades slowly, and hardly, got up from his sitting place, soon bowing.
"Long live king Jarod," he declared.
Many bats followed his lead, bowing in turn.
Never did the giant felt more powerful in his entire life.
Hades died the next day. Many said he was probably keeping up his strength in order to watch the combat, but Jarod knew that Zotz probably kept him alive so he could watch his son's ascension to glory.
Jarod's first orders were simple, Moses and Flora were now banished from the pyramid. He didn't want to face anything related to his now dead sister and, frankly, he couldn't bare to stare at that stupid fruit bat anymore.
He was now in full control, something he longed for a very long time.
He was no longer the runt, the weak one. He was the king; powerful and grand.
No one could stop him on his way to glory.
