Here's the next chapter. Thanks to the many people that put this story in alert and favorite!
The next day, Trevor managed to get me to the arena to get some training done. The thought of Luke being a stuck up jerk fueled my need to actually learn how to fight with a sword.
In less than an hour I got Trevor knocked on the ground his sword all the way across the arena and his right arm bleeding slightly. That went well, all I did was rely on some weird instinct that kept his blade away from me, and the need to get this over with.
"Pretty good. I think you can last a while out there." Trevor said whipping sweat from his brows.
"Oh give me a break Trev! Stop thinking so negative. The guy is a complete jerk! Who frickin cares if I don't beat him, all I want is to at least have the satisfaction of proving that he isn't as awesome as he thinks"
"Whatever floats your boat sis." He said patting my back.
Rolling my eyes we headed over to our dorm room to cool off.
All I wanted was a bit of peace and quiet in the room before I actually have to go out and fight Luke. But nooo, Alissia had to bring over some of her friends to start fussing and pestering me.
"Scarlet, you need to know something." Alissia whispered while a few of her friends left. Nodding at her she continued, "Luke… isn't… you know… normal."
"Oh I already know. His ego is seriously too big." I responded.
Alissia laughed lightly and went back to being serious again, "No, I'm serious Scarlet. He's uh… different."
"What do you mean? Stop speaking in weird cryptic messages, it's confusing me!"
"He's… invincible." She whispered.
"What?" I asked dumbly, staring at Alissia.
"Well, no one ever tells us, but some people that actually survive him say that nothing can hurt him physically. We don't actually talk about it a lot, just in case he hears us, you know." She whispered faster.
Shaking my head I smirk. No one can be invincible, not even the titans or the gods. Call me stubborn, but seriously, how can he be invincible! It's not possible, as far as I learned about all this greek mythology stuff, it just isn't possible.
Boy, was I wrong.
..........
Luke was waiting in the middle of the arena when I entered. A huge crowd of people waited on the bleachers on one side. I noticed four of them stood off to the side with a stretcher and what looked like medical equipment. I gulp, I'm not going to be the one on that stretcher I thought.
Luke banged his armor with his shield hand and yelled to the crowd. They yelled back and started clapping in a rhythmic way, while chanting "Fight. Fight. Fight."
Now, I can't say I was scared, because I was. But the chanting and clapping was disgusting me. This guy was a total jerk if he actually thought that no one can beat him. Maybe I can… or can't, but someone out there should be able to beat him; I'd just be another one trying.
"Look, since you're a girl, I'll take it easy." Luke yelled at me from across the arena.
I scowled, drawing my sword and got in a ready position.
A man with a loud speaker stood up and announced the fight. He looked at me with a sad face as he dropped a white flag. Wow, fights here are really serious.
Luke charged at me.
As crazy as it sounds I quickly prayed to my father and all the titans I knew so far in classes. I felt weird praying to someone I never knew, but I needed all the luck I could get.
Suddenly, something clicked in my head, and everything became more defined. Clearer, as if I could see every move he was about to make. I felt powerful and it made me excited. Maybe praying did pay off.
He raised his sword and bought it down with lightning speed, a blow that would have automatically struck me unconscious if I didn't have this weird impulse.
I stepped sideways and ducked as the sword swung around me. Holding out my shield I took in blow after blow, until the shield was badly dented and I decided to throw it aside.
Sidestepping another blow, I parried and bought my blade to his neck. I slashed at him, but surprise overwhelmed me as my blade bounced off his skin.
I backed away in shock and he took the chance to grab my free arm and twist it back. I felt pain surge from it as I heard a crack and I cried out, dropping to my knees.
He towered over me, ready to take the last blow that would render me unconscious. But as I looked into his cold eyes I noticed a hint of pity and taking one last desperate chance, I lunged at him. I knocked him to the ground and in surprise he let go of his sword and I kicked it away.
My arm was hurting badly, but I put all my weigh down on him as I bought my sword up to his neck. The crowd grew silent, holding their breaths as they waited for the next move.
Usually this signifies that the person will die soon, or the game is over. But noooo, Luke had other plans. He just smiled up at me and whispered soothingly, "Go on, try to kill me"
My breath hitched at his voice and I grew disoriented as my hand holding the sword to his throat trembled. Why is this happening? No one ever makes me feel uneasy like this.
Looking at his eyes one more time I noticed something I never expected. In that one brief glance, I knew all about Luke. I saw the fear and hatred he held. Him alone in the world, no one that really loved him, no one that cared about him. He was left all alone. Loosing everyone that he cared about. He wasn't always this mean, this was all just a mask.
In that instant, I felt sorry for him. He was hiding who he really is. All this tough act... isn't him. Hey, you can't blame a guy for trying to survive around here and get some reputation.
I slowly withdrew my sword and got off him. He stared at me in disbelief as I turned around to leave the arena. The air around us was silent as people watched in anticipation at what was going to happen next.
No matter how much of a jerk Luke was, that was only part of him. The only part he showed to the world. I couldn't bear hurting someone as alone as he was. I'm not that kind of person.
I heard his choked voice, "Where do you think your going? We're not finished yet!"
Not looking back I responded, "I think we both know this fight is over. Besides it isn't fair. You're invincible."
People gaped at me as I left the arena. Obviously they haven't seen the likes of me around here. I still couldn't believe I saw the real Luke. The one that no one ever sees in him.
Walking out of those gates I headed to the infirmary building and wobbled my way to the check up rooms.
People took a look at my broken swollen arm and started whispering to their neighbors. Why are people like that!? Seriously! They don't have the right to do that. I passed a guy with an amputated arm and heard his whispering, "Isn't she the one that was fighting with Luke?"
The guy beside him nodded in wonder whispering back, "Look at that! She isn't even dead! Must be pretty skilled to survive him."
There it was again, Luke this, Luke that. That guy seriously needed someone to keep him down to earth. All traces of pity for Luke, left my mind and i whirled to the guy saying, "I can hear you, ya know!"
The guy held up his trembling hands as I continued to walk up to the front desk. The nurse gave my arm a look and started writing on a clipboard. After a while she looked up and said, "Luke?"
"Yeah." I replied through gritted teeth.
She sighed loudly and started writing more. Then it dawned on me, Luke probably picked more fights around here in a day than anyone else did in their lifetime. Yep, no more pity left for him. Looking at the nurse I asked, "How many injured from Luke?"
She looked up with sad hazel eyes and responded, "More than you can think. Some died right here, horrible to look at, I tell you. That boy would loose half our army before we even get to fighting with those demigods."
Clenching my fingers together I bit my lip so I wouldn't start ranting. This had to stop.
"What is wrong with that guy." I whispered quickly to myself.
The nurse must have heard because she answered, "You didn't know? He's invincible. Went right in that river Styx if I recall."
I stared at her in shock. No one ever told me he was invincible, ever. Why didn't anyone warn me? Oh wait. Alissia did, I mentally slapped myself for forgetting so easily.
"Now follow me Miss Kieffer. We'll get your arm fixed." She was probably expecting me here after the fight. Then in a low whisper that I could barely hear she said, "And thank goodness he didn't damage you too much."
..........
A few stitches and bones being pulled and moved back to places, I was out of there. My right arm was in a sling and I was chewing on a small ambrosia square. I stepped out the doors of the building and started walking to the dorm rooms.
Kids glared at me and some of them even started clapping. I just stalked away not giving them a second glance.
Entering my dorm, I noticed Alissia on her bunk. She was reading a magazine. I went over and towered over her.
She slowly put the magazine down and looked at my arm in the sling. She looked into my eyes and I could tell she was giving me an I-told-you-so look.
Sighing I sat down beside her and said, "I'm sorry Lissia, I… didn't believe you until I was actually out there and it was too late."
She nodded in understanding and put an arm around me, "It's fine. I'm just glad he didn't hurt you that much."
We talked for a while until she had to go off to titan mythology classes. That left me alone for two hours before dinner.
Having nothing better to do, I walked around aimlessly through the numerous hallways with other titan names on them. I stopped at a doorway marked 'Prometheus' and remembered that girl named Silva.
I didn't notice how long I stood out that door, thinking weather to knock or just leave, until someone opened it and came out. She had short black wispy hair and armor over her orange jumpsuit. She looked me over once and nodded before she pushed past me going down the left hallway.
Sighing I gave up and headed to the main 'courtyard', as Trevor likes to call it.
The gleaming silver doors slid open as I came closer. But as I took a step out, a hand grabbed the collar of my jumpsuit and whirled me around flinging me to the wall.
"Hey! What the hell!" I yelled in annoyance. Looking at the person, surprise and pure hatred overwhelmed me as I stared at Luke's cold blue eyes.
"Do you know how bad you made me look out there?!" He said through gritted teeth.
"Wow. Like I care." I replied rolling my eyes. I was going to slip past him when he blocked my way again. "What do you want!?"
"A rematch. This time, you can't back out of."
"Wow, big deal retard. You know you are so full of yourself, you think you're all awesome. Well, I got something to tell you!" I jabbed him on the chest in emphasis, "You're not awesome, you're not special. You injure people like their just bugs to step on!"
Surprise appeared on his face before a cloud of anger came back, "Watch your mouth Scarlet…"
"No! You watch it!" I said stamping a foot on the ground, "I have some seriously R rated language here, but you don't deserve my time, if all you do is bully people around. Grow up, Luke."
"Excuse me!?" He said offended.
"You're excused." I said coolly, shoving him hard and walked calmly out the doors.
That ends this chapter. Oh look, it is longer! (yay) =D So yeah, bit of a twist here. I have a pretty good idea where this story is going to go soon... very soon... ;)
Anyways, Peace Out!