Chapter X

POV: Fàté

Oh Jai! You made a mistake on this one, you hot-head! She had to have a death wish if she wanted to fight the Arbiter. Yet she walked through the mass, chin held high in her arrogant act. She about ripped the Energy Sword's handle from the Elite presenting it to her. It flared to life in her grip. A boy who was standing too close jumped back to as he almost was her first victim. She stared at it for a moment, the light given off it reflecting on her eyes that seemed to have been pooled straight from the depths of the cold, dark space. She looked wild—possessed, if you will—as she stared at the alien weapon. That look she had made me shudder. She was poised to kill, and would gladly do that to anyone in her way.

She turned on her heel and marched towards her self-brought doom. "Either she gets killed by the Arbiter or the other Elites if she somehow kills him."

A voice perked up form my pocket, "I bet she loses some hair."

I looked down. "Hmm, I bet she hits her head."

Muffin giggled, "We're losing our minds, aren't we?"

"I'm not going to state the obvious."

Jai had made her way to the state, still standing tall. The strongest Elite with two swords versus a bloodthirsty human girl with only one. This wasn't going to end well. Nope, not at all. The Arbiter glared at the red-headed girl, growling, "Ready to face defeat, impudent human?"

Her back was turned to me, but her voice said it all. It was caked in pure bloodlust. "Sure about that?"

In a flash, the Arbiter rushed her, one sword poised to strike. Jai rolled left, popping back onto her feet and was facing him in a flash. She was quick. Very quick. She made a jab with her sword, but the Arbiter intercepted in and used brute force to throw her across the platform. She slammed on her back, but didn't waste a second to catch her breath. She rolled over her head and came back onto her feet. She was. . .good. But the Arbiter was known as being beyond great. He rounded on her, seething with anger. He must being thinking how much of a fool he looked up here. And I would admit he did look horrible getting beaten by a girl human. You'd think anyone could become the Arbiter. He sliced with his right arm, his other sword ready to burn her when she went that way. But she surprised us all. She dropped to her knees and slid under the sword, her serious face illuminated by the light emanating from it. Her empty hand planted on the ground when she made it in the clear to give her leverage so she could pull her legs out from under her. By now the Arbiter was seriously mad. Yep, she wasn't going to get out of here alive. He went after her again, but she was ready and waiting. Her right foot slid forward while her left stayed locked. She thrust her sword forward, going to intercept her opponent's. She had placed it perfectly. It was he either let go of the handle or he'd lose his hand. He yanked her arm back just in time for her to miss it, but she still got his sword. It was flung off the stage and into the crowd, almost killing another Elite.

She then pivoted away so she could jump out of his reach. She was coiled, like a snake about to strike. Poisonous, dreadfully poisonous. In a desperate last attempt to kill her, the Arbiter chunked his last sword at her. It soared towards her while time seemed to slow down. Tick. . .tock. . .tick. . .tock. . .

Jai fell to the ground, her hair fanning out above her. The sword kept on coming, going straight through part of her hair and searing a cut into her left arm. She collapsed to the ground, head slamming on the platform. The flying sword impaled into a Grunt's face, coming out its back. Her teeth were clenched as she tried to ignore the pain. She slowly stood up and faced the Arbiter, still holding her sword.

"Human," the Arbiter questioned, "you fight well for one of your species. You'll make a fine warrior. As a reward for doing so well, you can volunteer another human to fight."

That eerie feeling. . .like I was having a precognition feeling about what was going to happen. She turned around and pointed straight at me, those black void eyes piercing my soul. "Her, Fàté, the girl with the white and black hair."

Well there goes my life.