Ch. 37 I smell a G-O-D!
The next night after Eric and I "danced" till we couldn't any longer, we slept soundly of course until the next night. I put on a tank top with thick straps and a pair of stretchy black workout pants with my Nike tennis shoes before going over to the fire. I tried to remain calm sitting in the chair while Eric went to take a shower. My thoughts still couldn't settle down though no matter how hard I'd try. Tonight was the night when I would fight Max and Caine. I had no idea how this whole shindig was supposed to go down and I wondered how far the counsel leaders were willing to let this go. Max said it wasn't a fight to the death…but still.
I thought back to when Caine came up to me and said that he hoped I'd survive. It gave me chills of pure fear and anxiety inside my whole body causing my insides to clench together. I tried to shake it off but the feeling lingered while I stared at the fire.
As my eyes adjusted to the heat and the flickering colors I started to reach out to it. Closer and closer my hand came to the flame and then just as I wanted to touch it I stopped and flipped my hand so it was palm up. While continuing to stare at the fire I wanted it to jump into my hand to hold. The longer I willed it to come to me, no sooner did a ball of fire, no bigger than the size of a baseball break apart from its roaring substance and float its way to my hand. I stared mystified but remained calm as the ball of fire levitated itself above my palm not even a centimeter above my skin. I could feel the flames lick my soft flesh but it didn't burn, it kind of tickled slightly.
"Violet!" Eric called to me from the bathroom and I instantly shot out of my seat and looked my way towards the bathroom door that was slightly ajar.
"Yes?" I asked and began to panic because I had a fireball in my hand.
"Are you ok? You were feeling very humanly anxious and worried a few minutes ago and then you seem sedated, and now you seem to be feeling panic…"
The vampire hat hit my emotions right on the nose thanks to our little soul blood bond. I totally forgot to block him off. Crap…
"Uh-" I paused trying stalling to think of what to say and tossed the fire ball back into the fireplace where it joined the roaring flame.
Eric came out with nothing but a towel around his waist but his hair was already combed back. "Are you ok?" Ok now he was more than a little worried…about my sanity. My Viking honestly was scared shitless for me with the fights coming up and he was just hoping I could keep it together.
I smiled bright but nervous. "I need to go see Max. I'll- I got to go!" And I was out the door and down the hall before another word was spoken.
While looking for Max I made sure to block my mind off completely from Eric. Somehow deep inside, my self-conscious was telling me to not tell him about my little fire ball experience. However I did feel that I needed to tell Max and stat!
Max where are you?
I called for him through our bond and he answered me instantly.
I'm in the room just three doors ahead of you to the left. What's the matter?
We need to talk right now, and I mean NOW.
When I found the door I wasted no time in opening it. Max was putting a small black book back on the huge book shelf that extended all the way to the ceiling. I took a second to look around and saw the room looked a lot like the Gryffindor common room from Harry Potter.
"What is it that you wanted to talk about?" Max asked me and brought me back to the important topic at hand.
I stuck out the hand that held the fire ball not five minutes ago and explained what happened. "How do you think I did that?"
Max gave a huge sigh of relief and picked me up while twirling me in the air. I thought I might become sick. "Do you know what this means?"
"Uh no that's why I asked you!" I exclaimed and finally got Max to set me down while I tried to stand up straight.
My friend pumped a fist in the air and then came up to me again and gripped my shoulders. "You have gotten your power! You can wield fire!"
"I'm guessing that's a really good thing."
"You have no idea! It's one of the strongest things to be able to control! Let's see it! Since you have already touched it, you should be able to manifest it."
I felt blank. "How am I supposed to do that?"
"Take a deep breath and focus. Think about the fire consuming you but not burning you."
I felt a little stupid and embarrassed as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. As I let the air out I started to focus how the flames would consume me but not burn me. Over and over again I strained all my focus onto letting the fire come out and soon the air around me started to feel heavier. Thick.
I opened my eyes and saw flames appearing from the depths of my skin rise and lick my flesh all over but not burn. What a relief! I so didn't want to be a human torch and die!
"Wow," Was all Max could say as I looked up at him. I gave him a "what" look and he told me to come over to the mirror that I hadn't noticed was right next to the book case.
"Holy…shit…" Was all I could say as I looked at myself in the mirror. Flames covered my body head to toe as I stood their shocked at myself. Strangely the fire made me look more beautiful and I smiled. This was who I was, and it made me feel strong.
"I think you'll do plenty good in the fights." Max admitted and stood behind me but still gave me distance because I could tell he wasn't sure if he was going to get burned or not. "But, you shouldn't reveal that power unless you have to Violet. The less who know right now, the better. It's a key secret weapon in this war I think."
Max was right, we needed all the advantage we could get.
Suddenly there was a nock at the door and I some how flicked my flames to off and looked normal again.
Max ushered me to stay put and went to see who it was. He opened the door and a young man stood there in a plain white t-shirt, black slacks, and a nice pair of black dress shoes.
"My master, wishes to request Miss Knight to a game of chess before the fights," the young man said. When I really looked at his face I realized he couldn't have been anymore older than me. What is with young kids being around all these old vampires?
It was my turn to speak. "Who would your master be?"
The young man's face straightened up as he said, "Caine."
I scoffed lightly. "Tell your master, I decline."
The young man's eyes widened in shock for a few seconds before he reclaimed his composure, bowed, and left without another word.
"I have a feeling that doesn't happen often," I spoke and bit my lip before smiling.
Max gave me a "duh" look. "Try never."
"There's a first for everything. Big bad vampire or not."
After a few more minutes with Max I decided I better get back to my room and see Eric before the fights. I just wanted him to hold me, give me a kiss, and tell me I was going to make it through this. Of course my little hopes and dreams were smooshed when Caine stopped right in front of me in the hall. Damn.
He didn't look mad, but I felt he was somewhat perplexed. Confused even.
"You declined my invitation." Duh.
"Yes I did now if you will excuse me," I said politely and tried to maneuver my way around him but he caught my arm and brought me back.
I clenched my teeth but none the less put a smile on my face. "Why?"
"Because I wasn't interested." You would think he would get the obvious.
"No one has ever refused me." Again with being domineering.
I gracefully took his hand that was still attached to my arm and grasped it and yanked it off. Caine was actually surprised that I could take his hand off me but masked his disbelief in a second. "First time for everything, now excuse me."
Again I tried to move and he zipped in front of me. This time his eyes were a tad angry and he was feeling excited. Oh great… "Are you ready?"
I didn't give him an answer, instead I gave Caine a quizzical look before asking, "Are you?" And then I walked away. He was trying to get under my skin but I wasn't going to crumble that easily, I couldn't afford to.
Just as I was about to reach the hallway where Eric was still in the bedroom but Pam zipped right up to me causing me to swear fairly loud.
"Sorry, but I am supposed to bring you to the arena now." She looked sad telling me this and I tried to protest. I hadn't gotten to Eric yet. He hadn't given me a hug or a kiss or anything.
After objecting many more times I went with Pam and opened my mind up to Eric again.
Eric?
My love! I hate it when you do that! It is not wise to block me out in these times of uncertainty! Where are you?
The fights will be starting. Pam got me and is bringing me to the a-
But I stopped my sentence as I looked to see the huge gladiator stadium in front of me. It could have come right out of the roman time period for all I knew. Was it really that old?
Violet! I'm being escorted now to the arena. I don't think I'll be able to see you before you go out. Are you ok?
What a dumb question I thought and rolled my eyes while Pam and I finally reached the arena. It wasn't as big as the one in Rome I think, but it was still huge. A guard told Pam she could no longer escort me and to go find her master. Oh speaking of, I totally had forgotten I was talking to him.
Do you want me to lie to you or no?
I never want you to lie to me.
Then no, I'm not ok. I feel like I'm going to shit myself.
Seriously?
You would think after a thousand years Eric would sometimes get common saying when one was expressing how scared they were.
It's a figure of speech! But yes I am really scared Eric.
You will make it through this. I have seen you grow to a strong woman Violet and I am very proud to be your soul blood bonded. I love you.
I wanted to cry right then but I held my tears in while the guard escorted me inside the stadium. It looked like I thought it would. The walls were stone and dusk layered the floor. It was cold and I shivered while the guard led me to a room where bars were the only thing between me and the inside of the arena. It was exactly like a gladiator arena from what I could see, because the guard held me back a little so the crowd couldn't see me yet. There were a lot of people filing in and a few glowy orbs were in each corner of the arena at the ceiling where the night sky showed. I counted at least twenty five rows for people to sit and it was packed, not one seat was open.
My eyes darted back and forth trying to take in the whole place. Torches were lit all along the walls, it was dry dirt on the ground, there was a wall of at least eight feet all around before the rows of seats started and that was made of stone too. Durable, I thought and tried picturing myself as a gladiator. In truth I loved the movie Gladiator with Russell Crowe, it was one of my favorites and now I was really going to have to fight like one.
I tried to scan the crowd for Eric and Pam but I still couldn't see them and I had put the block up for the bond to try and have a clear head through this whole thing.
The sound of chatter from everyone talking echoed through the stadium. I wasn't sure if it was of excitement but I guessed it was. To me is seemed any vampire liked at least a little blood shed and this was a sure special event that would give it.
"Quiet!" Someone shouted and instantly the chatter died. I strained my neck and saw above, just like where a Caesar would sit the whole counsel did. The one who spoke was one of the counsel men I had talked to before. His hair was dark but with streaks of grey, his face looked about forty, and all the counsel were wearing black robes with some sort of crest on the right side. It was too small to make out but I thought I saw a rose or some sort of dark flower. All aboard to Hogwarts we go!
The counsel man scanned the crowd to make sure everyone was taking this seriously and then continued. "The first to fight will me the demigod Maximus and the demigod Violet Knight." He stopped and nodded in my direction because the bars separating me and the outside lifted up. I didn't need to get the 'ok' from the guard to know it was time to walk out onto the battle field.
All eyes were on me as I came on and then straight across on the opposite side I saw Maximus enter shirtless from behind bars just like I had. His face looked serious but sad.
Violet.
Yeah Max?
There is something I want to tell you.
He sounded unsure and that made me start to be more nervous than I already was.
W-what is it?
I-
"Before the first challenge takes place both demigods need to wear the bands of truth!" Boomed the counsel man from above and Max didn't say another word. He just left me hanging while a woman with dark hair, white skin, tall in stature, and wearing a charcoal grey business suit came to us holding a old wooden box with swirl carvings all over it. When she opened it, it looked like two silver one inch tall, but kind of thick bracelets lay inside. They had no cool design on them but were just plain. The box was more pretty then them.
I guess it was a good thing I was wearing a tank top with thick straps because she unhooked one bracelet and snapped it around at the top part of my arm. Well great my arm felt a little more heavy. Then she went to Max's arm and did the same thing.
"This will ensure the fight it fair and one of them doesn't throw the match." The woman said and I nodded.
So that's what the dude meant by the bands of truth…
After that the woman walked away and Max and I were signaled to fight. We both nodded to each other and I put my walls up so we couldn't communicate at all mentally.
I took a step back and got into my stance. Max did the same but what I didn't expect was when Max let his wings come out. He looked beautiful but dangerous.
Shit.
Max lunged at me and I dived just in time but came face to face with the dry dusty dirt. I scrambled to get up and turned around to block Max's fist heading towards my face. His eyes showed relief but he was still coming at me full force. I couldn't do anything as he kicked me sending me in the air and landing a few yards away. The wind totally was knocked out of my chest as I lay there coughing.
I couldn't get up in time and the counsel man who talked before said, "Round one goes to Maximus!"
NO! Damn it! Get up Violet! Get up!
Slowly I got up and got in my stance again and looked at Maximus straight in the eyes. He wasn't enjoying this anymore than I was but he had to continue.
When he came at me again I punched him in the face sending him back ten feet. He flipped back up and the both of us collided. I was the first to spill his blood once I kicked him in the face and the crowd finally broke their silence. Hundreds of vampires and who knew what other creatures out there were now yelling like crazy fans at a pro wrestling match.
I turned my attention back to Max once I shoved him off of me and he spat out blood onto the ground. I thought it was gross but hey you would too.
This time it was me who advanced first and I managed to get him on the ground and pinned so he couldn't move. It was a real struggle because of his wings, and that's when I heard the second round went to me. I was so relieved but pushed it aside as Max and I had to go at it again.
Max didn't give ease at all to me and I did the same for him. Two minutes into the third round I was sporting a bloody lip, I'm sure a mild concussion of some sort, and a nice gash on my arm. Oh yeah, I was a bloody mess.
Again I got Max off of me and heaved him a good twenty feet so I could ketch my breath. He didn't give me long and again we were at it like a couple of kung fu masters with a twist of street smarts.
Then will all my might I could muster I whirled back my fist and lunged it into Max's gut. He flew backwards until he hit the stone wall and crumpled to the floor like a piece of laundry. I ran over just in time as he started to get up and pounded on him again and again until he hit the ground and didn't bother to get up anymore.
"The challenge is won by Violet Knight!" The counsel man announced and I knelt down next to Max and started to silently cry.
"Are you ok? Please be ok!" I blubbered so only he could hear me.
"Violet I am so proud of you," Max smiled with blood dripping down his mouth. I wiped it away and didn't feel very proud at all. I felt horrible and wanted nothing more than a nice hot bath and to apologize to Max until I was blue in the face!
Paramedics came by the next minute and took Max away. At least he can walk, I thought.
The second he was out of sight I was seized by a huge guard. "What is this? Hey!" I yelled and thrashed trying my best to get free but he had my arms behind my back in seconds. With one hand he held my wrists while reaching behind him and pulling out an old pair of handcuffs. They looked as if they came from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies, like the old English ones.
I struggled some more before the guard shoved me forward causing me to land on my knees.
"The next challenge will be Violet Knight against Caine!" I looked up to see the counsel man announce and again the whole stadium went quiet.
I watched as Caine came out where Max had come out before and he too was shirtless but had a pair of dark jeans on. He moved forward and I struggled to get up.
"The fight will be to the death!"
My eyes shot open in shock as I looked at the counsel who gave no signs of mercy for me.
I'm not supposed to die! Eric! Eric!
I called to him over and over again but I got no answer!
Eric's P.O.V.
Pam was sitting right next to me and soon Max came partly bandaged and fully clothed and sat next to Pam. The fight with Violet and Max was hard and I was more than overjoyed that she won. Still I could tell she was hurt and I wanted nothing more than to heal her, but I couldn't.
"The fight will be to the death!" The counsel man announced and myself, Pam, and Max shot up out of our seats.
This can't be happening! Violet! Violet!
Again and again I tried calling to her but she never responded. I looked at her as she stood up and looked scared for her life. The fights had to stop, there was a huge possibility she wouldn't win against Caine this way. He was too old and strong for her!
"Eric this wasn't supposed to happen!" Max exclaimed and I stared at him.
"What do we do? We can't let her die!" Pam cried out.
"Begin!" And the fight between my love and Caine started before my eyes.
Violet's P.O.V.
"What is this G.I. Jane?" I yelled while Caine made his way towards me. Honestly this wasn't fair! "How come you aren't tied up huh?"
In all truth I was trying to buy myself sometime and Caine knew that. He lightly smiled and then all fun and games were gone. He became a warrior and smashed his fist right into the left side of my jaw.
Blood spurted out and I heard a awful cracking sound along with the crowd going crazy again.
Caine let me get up so I was standing but just knocked me down again by kneeing me in the stomach.
Over and over I took beating after beating. My body was screaming at me from the inside and out and I let a small tear roll down my bloody face. While I winced from my salty tear rolling down my multiple time split lip I got up and actually dodged Caine this time. He hit the stone wall and a slight cheer came from the crowd. Maybe more were on my side than I thought?
The ancient vampire whirled around angry that I slipped past him and roared while he flung himself at me. I managed to dodge him again. Once more Caine hurled himself at me but I managed to kick him in the gut sending him back. He staggered but recovered fast.
Caine was really pissed at me now because his eyes actually turned blood red and his fangs shot out.
Oh fuck…
I couldn't dodge the full force attack of his fists this time or his full on kick into my gut again. The power from his attack sent me straight back hitting the wall and I crumpled to the ground in a heap.
I laid there on the ground doing nothing but trying to breath straight. Blood trickled from the side of my head and ran down my nose while the left side of my face laid against the dirt. The dust moved a little from my breaths and I saw a sword was tossed to Caine.
I don't want to die, I don't want to die, I don't want to die.
It's true your life flashes before your eyes when you're near death. I saw flashes from my parents dieing to Godric, to the first time I ever met Eric and how scared I was. That one made me laugh because despite him being a thousand year old lethal badass, he was quite the teddy bear. Well at least to me…
Then I saw my birthday with Pam and Eric and the night Eric made me really his. It made me shed another tear and just when I thought it was over my dream of Eric being human and telling our beautiful son to say hi to me, his mom…
Then an image of Eris came to me. She was laughing like a wild woman because I was going to die.
It was all too much and I started to go numb while out of the corner of my eye I saw Caine pick up the sword and make his way over to me.
I gazed up at the crowd. No longer could I hear anything but I finally spotted Eric and Pam. They looked scared for me. A bloody tear shed from Pam's eye while Eric gripped the rail in front of him. It snapped and I mouthed 'I love you' to him. He shook his head and mouthed 'no'. I closed my eyes once before opening them again to see Max next to Pam. He looked at me long and hard and nodded at me. I knew what he wanted me to do, what I need to do, but I didn't know if I had enough energy in me to bring it out.
As I closed my eyes I searched every little spark in me and willed it to come alive, to let the fire out. Please!
I could tell Caine was only about ten feet away from me now, but I started to feel different. Strong. I opened my eyes and slowly but surely stood up. Electricity flowed through my veins and I snapped the old shackles apart breaking my arms free. Caine's eyes widened and the fire finally started from my hands and worked its way all over my body. I was like the human torch from Fantastic Four. I wasn't going to die tonight by a long shot.
I saw Caine grip the sword tight and came at me but I dodged the blade and punched him in the face while kneeing him in the stomach. His face was partly burnt and the smell of burnt flesh wafted through the air.
"Hurts huh?" I asked while he fell back and coughed up some blood.
"Not as much as this will."
He jumped up and tried to cut me with the sword again but I was too fast. Before he could think to strike again I went at him with all my might. Caine was too slow now and I yanked the sword from his grasps. He tried to stand up but I sent him back down to the dirt with another blow. The ancient vampire laid sprawled on the ground bloodied, battered, and scorched in some places. I pointed the tip of the sword to his throat.
Caine must have had so swallow some blood because his Adams apple bobbed and the crowd cheered. They wanted more blood and I grew pissed to high hell.
I whirled around in a circle and yelled, "Is this enough proof for you? Huh? Am I worthy enough for you now?"
Caine didn't make a noise when I looked back down at him. He was expecting me to kill him but instead I lifted the tip of the sword away from him and threw the sword at the counsel. It went straight into the wall next to the counsel man who has talked before, just missing his head by an inch. The rest of the counsel looked shocked and I closed my eyes wishing I could be anywhere but there. The next thing I knew I heard a little 'pop' and when I opened my eyes I was standing in a very nice hotel lobby.
Max's P.O.V.
Pam, Eric, myself and everyone else in the arena stood shocked at the events that just took place. Thankfully Violet had won but after she threw the sword at the counsel and just vanished! None of us knew where and everyone else was talking hurriedly and panicking.
"Max where is she? I can't get in touch with her!" Eric bellowed at me and I reached out to Violet. After a few minutes I came up empty but froze. Something else was here, something powerful and dangerous. It wasn't Eris but-
"Max what is it?" Pam snapped and erased the bloody tears from her porcelain face.
I sniffed the air to get a better reading and stood erect. "I smell a god."
Eric looked bewildered. "A god? Another one? Which one?"
"Come on we got to get out of here."
They followed me out and we ended up in the ballroom where the counsel apparently tagged along.
"Ok Max who was it you thought you smelled?" Pam asked and looked around.
"I think it was-" I was just about to say the name when a loud crack erupted through the air.
"Where is my daughter?"
The voice was melodic but stern and we all turned around to face Athena. She was in a white Grecian dress with only one strap on one shoulder and the same leather strap like sandals since the last time I saw her which was a thousand years ago.
I bowed in front of her to the ground. "Athena."
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Eric confused and worried as all get out while Pam said, "What the fuck?"
"Rise Maximus," Athena's powerful voice commanded and I did as she said.
"Eric, Pam, this is Athena, Goddess of-" But again I was interrupted by the counsel.
They marched their way over and demanded who she was. When Athena didn't answer but just stared at them did a brave, but foolish counsel woman by the name of Anna Rosa demanded, "Who are you?"
Oh shit! I really wouldn't have done that.
Athena's expression grew cold and I motioned for Eric and Pam to back up a few feet. They looked confused but caught on as the sky erupted in thunder and lightning outside.
"Watch it little girl. Do you have any idea who I am?" Athena's voice could have demolished an army just by its tone and suddenly Anna Rosa was on the ground clutching her head and creaming.
The rest of the counsel backed away in fear and then Athena let Anna Rosa go. I have only seen Athena do that on one other person or creature before and last time she didn't stop. Let's just say I was glad I didn't have to do the clean up…
Athena directed her attention to the rest of the counsel as Anna Rosa crawled her way back to her group like a groveling dog. "I am Athena, daughter of Zeus, Goddess of Wisdom and War, and you will respect me!"
It was kind of cool seeing the "all high and mighty" counsel bow down to the magnanimous goddess. Eric, Pam, and I got kind of a sick kick out of it.
"Maximus," Athena spoke softly while taking the two strides towards me. "Where is my daughter?"