A/N: This is the same competition that got Imniar mad with Kelkiar because he thought Kelkiar was cheating. Read and review!!

Chapter 1- The Competition, pt. 1: The Joust

To the Reptilians, the annual Tests of Strength were a time filled with nonstop competition and squabbling.

To the Reptilian royal family and the competing noble class, it looked like a piece of cake.

A cake filled with human blood, of course.

"This should be interesting," Kelkiar muttered as he and Imniar took their places at the beginning of the forest. They were standing by the nearby Lake of Screams, waiting for Niarchos to fire the arrow that would start the games.

"Why is that?" Kysandior asked.

"Because," Neijior said, smirking. "Niarchos is going to do anything he can to allow Imniar to win. I can feel it."

"What if you're wrong, grasshopper?" Kysandior asked.

"I don't feel wrong," Neijior said.

"Shut up over there!" Niarchos hissed at them.

"Fuck you, Niarchos," Neijior spat. "Just fire the freaking arrow already."

"I'll deal with you after," Niarchos growled, signaling for the arrow to be fired.

"Deal with me now, why don't you? I dare you," Neijior hissed.

"And me," Kysandior said.

"Hell to the no. You're a waste of Reptilian skin, Kysandior. I don't know why they have you anyway," Niarchos said.

"And what are you? A saint?" Kysandior asked, snickering.

"As a matter of fact, yes I am," Niarchos said.

"Bullshit," Neijior said, leaping onto Niarchos.

Both Kelkiar and Imniar turned around to find their brothers fighting. "Stop that!" they both shouted.

"No!" Neijior shouted. "He shouldn't have said that."

"What the hell did he even say?" Imniar asked.

"I said that I was a saint," Niarchos hissed. "And he needs to know how to take a god freaking joke."

"That was no joke," Kysandior hissed back. "That sounded like an insult."

"It wasn't," Niarchos argued.

"Anyway," Kysandior cut in. "Start the games, Niarchos."

"Of course," Niarchos sneered. "The first part of this competition will be the joust. Whoever keeps their balance on the beams in the trees above the south gate wins."

"And whoever loses," Kysandior interrupted, "will deal with me."

"That I will make sure not to do," Kelkiar said, laughing.

"Not if I can help it," Imniar grumbled.

"Yeah, sure," Neijior snickered.

"Anyway," Niarchos shouted. "Imniar, Kelkiar, take your places."

Imniar leapt into the trees, Kelkiar following suit. "Start this part now!" Imniar growled. "I want to beat his face into the dirt."

"With pleasure, my brother," Niarchos grinned as he tossed the competitors their weapons. "You can start now."

"This will be a piece of cake," Kysandior said.

"I agree," Neijior said.

Niarchos watched his brother swing his staff at Kelkiar. "Try to catch up, bitch," he snickered as Kelkiar dodged the attack Imniar launched at him.

"Come on, Kelkiar," Kysandior shouted. "Show him who's boss."

That was all Kelkiar needed to hear. He brought his staff across Imniar's back, causing him to topple over.

"Is that all you got?" Imniar growled, lunging for Kelkiar's feet.

"Dodge that, big brother!" Neijior yelled.

"Hah! Missed!" Kelkiar laughed, landing a back flip onto another beam as he dodged the attack. "Care to try that again?"

Imniar was slowly losing his patience. "I'll get you, you know," he hissed.

"Sure you will," Kelkiar snickered.

Imniar leapt onto the beam that Kelkiar was standing on. "I will," he replied, aiming for Kelkiar's feet again.

"This is getting hopeless," Kysandior laughed. "Looks like your brother is going to lose this one," he murmured.

Niarchos was getting infuriated. "Kill him!" he ordered. "Break his face, Imicha."

Imniar stiffened at the sound of his nickname, which meant business when Niarchos said it.

"My pleasure, Niacha," he smirked, his eyes changing from ice blue to black. He aimed for Kelkiar's stomach, landing a blow at his side. "Take that, bitch," he growled.

Kelkiar began to lose his footing, but that wasn't stopping him from beating Imniar. He used one end of his staff to knock Imniar off the beams and onto the ground below.

"Yes!" Neijior and Kysandior shouted. "Take that, Niarchos."

Niarchos was furious, but had no choice in the matter of declaring Kelkiar the winner of the jousting match. "The winner—Kelkiar," he groaned, rolling his eyes.

"Hah! Take that, bitch," Kelkiar said, laughing as he landed feet first onto the ground.

"So what? He'll get you in the next round," Niarchos growled.

"Really—I would LOVE to see that," Kysandior said, a smirk on his face.

"Next round? How about I get him now?" Imniar said, drawing his sword.

"Hey!" Niarchos shouted. "Put that back. Before you hurt one of the servants, at least."

"How about not?" Imniar said, stabbing one of his brother's servants.

"Damn you, Imicha," Niarchos swore. "That was one of my best servants."

"Well, serves you right for tempting me, fucker," Imniar smirked.

"I am so going to murder you for that," Niarchos replied.

Kysandior was beginning to get frustrated. "Can we move on? Imniar, I am sorry you lost...NOT," he said, snickering.

"Fuck you, Kysandior. And you too, Kelkiar," Imniar said, pushing through the crowd.

Niarchos cleared his throat. "The next event will be tomorrow. That is, if Kelkiar lives through the night," he added.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Kelkiar growled. "It's you and your brother who should fear that you may not live to see the next day."

"This part of the competition has ended. I don't see why we're still here arguing," Kysandior said. "Let's go, you two," he said, dragging Kelkiar and Neijior behind him.

"Yeah, you better run, bitches," Niarchos said, carrying his wounded servant as he was turning to leave.

"Who're you calling a bitch, bitch?" Neijior asked, taking a flying leap onto Niarchos.

"Um, I think that would be you," Imniar said, a laugh escaping his lips. "And get off my brother!" he shouted, kicking Neijior in the stomach.

"Oh, that's it," Kelkiar said, punching Imniar in the face. "That's for messing with my brother."

"Stop this shit now," Kysandior raged. "Or ALL four of you are in the dungeons tonight."

"They need to be," Kelkiar said. "They started it."

"You will too—if you don't stop arguing," Kysandior said.

"Okay," Neijior said. "I think I'm done," he said as he struggled to get up.

"I am too," Kelkiar said. "Till tomorrow, Imniar."

"Likewise," Imniar sneered. "Let's go, Niacha."

"Until tomorrow then," Niarchos muttered.

Everyone turned to head in the direction of their homes.

All except Niarchos and his maidservant—who was now fast asleep because of a healing spell Imniar placed on her, back to his lair. I have plans for you, my dear, he thought as he lay her onto the bed he kept there. He sat and watched as she slept.

"The things I want to do to you right now, sweetheart," he murmured.

Imniar walked into the lair. "What are you up to?" he questioned.

"What? Oh, nothing," Niarchos replied.

"Sure you weren't. Then why do you have Siraena here?" Imniar asked.

"I wanted to make sure she was okay," Niarchos answered.

"Hm, something's not right here," Imniar began, "but that's between you and her."

"Then leave it at that, and leave while you do that," Niarchos hissed.

"Just don't kill her yet," Imniar said.

"I'm not going to kill her, you idiot," Niarchos said. "Just play with her is all."

Imniar walked out of the lair, not wanting to fight with his brother. "Have fun," was all he could say.

"I will. Oh, trust me, I will," Niarchos replied, an evil smile on his face. Turning back to Siraena, he continued to watch her sleep. "When I'm done with you, I'm going to have so much fun torturing Kelkiar," he growled, laughing as he continued his plans to get rid of the royal brothers once and for all.