Hey yall! No I'm not southern, I just like saying the word. Haha…Welcome back to "Albion's New 'Hero'"! This time I took the story from a different angle! I hope you like it! Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: As always
Chapter 14: Watching Her
Everything was quiet. No animal called, no human spoke, and no monster growled. He seemed to have that effect when he made an appearance.
Jack of Blades had made his way back to the Witchwood Arena…fond memories came back to him as he strolled through the Hall of Heroes. The ancient being stopped before the statue of Scarlet Robe. Those golden irises scanned the well carved form that still stood even after hundreds of years. A soft snort echoed through the hall as he proceeded on.
When he entered the lobby no one was there. He came early enough to find a good hiding spot. A smirk etched itself onto his face. It would not be long now before the first warriors came in.
With that thought in mind he strolled off and claimed a room far from the others.
Night came and passed and soon he could already hear the crowd building. For once since a few hundred years he was rather amused. Despite his law of no fighting…at all, many still enjoyed to see one another beat the crap out of their enemy.
He could not blame them.
Taking a spot near his normal seat he kept himself hidden from the warriors in the ring but able to watch the blood bath below. His golden eyes narrowed when the announcer began to bring out fighters.
The first round hardly impressed him. Two scrawny men trying to make a name for themselves in this land that he claimed five hundred years ago. He only scoffed when the first round of Hobbes killed them. One chopped in half and the other with his head smashed in. Still a wonderful scene in his eyes.
Two medics came out and pulled the bodies away. Jack of Blades was hoping for someone better in the next round who could make it for more than a few boring minutes.
Again the announcer came back on and a better built man strolled out confident. He carried a war hammer. He hardly ever saw those in a place like this even when it was popular.
This round certainly was more amusing than the last one for him. It did take the man longer to take out his enemies than the ones before him. He sighed impatiently as round four came and one slip up caused the man his life. Those Hobbes chanted in victory as they poofed back into oblivion.
The fallen warrior was carried out like those before him.
"Aaannndd nooowww I introduce our first woman warrior! Saaabbbrrrreee!" Jack of Blades woke up immediately. His golden eyes shot down to the iron bars and watched as a young woman strolled to the middle of the Arena. The last time he heard that name…
Her grey cloak had its hood down revealing her masked face and pulled up hair. It was long, dark, and rather beautiful in his opinion. Age of youth makes everything beautiful and she was no different.
Jack scolded himself for thinking that way. She was a mortal bound to die here for disobeying his law though he had noticed that a few mortals seemed to be blessed with rather good looks. He still wondered what was behind that frowning mask. The man leaned forward.
He watched at the wasps buzzed about her. The first round was no problem, Sabre got through without a scratch. As for the second round, she started suffering minor injuries. The girl was decent, he would admit but she still was clumsy with a blade. Her wrist kept turning as she swung and her legs kept getting in the way of one another.
Sitting back and crossing his arms he gave her props. Not many were doing as well as her…or rather will do as well as her.
Looking at the woman closer Jack felt something familiar. Her hair just seemed…familiar.
"I've seen you before, haven't I Sabre?" His dark voice lost in the cheering of the crowd as Sabre killed off her twenty wasps. The tips of his metal clad fingers rapped against his mask thinking. Where was she familiar?
Sabre impressed him by using the Hobbe as leverage to jump. She immediately went to the annoying ones and it was obvious to him now that the young woman had experience with these beasts before.
Jack tried to see if her eyes would give away who she was but every time she was facing his direction the shadows kept her eyes concealed. Getting frustrated he watched as the fourth round came into play.
The young woman played off that she had a strong spirit but Jack of Blades could see past that ruse. Her body gave away her broken confidence. His eyes narrowed as her side was raked by an axe Hobbe.
She recovered and witted her way out of the round. Jack of Blades rose and began his advances towards the announcer.
It was time to meet this "Sabre".
When he strode past people they stopped and watched with fear and awe. Said announcer had started to announce the next round but the ancient being placed a metal hand on his shoulder. In mid sentence he stopped and turned around to metal and red.
"This shall be the secret round." The man slowly and hesitantly nodded.
"Hold on folks! There is a change in plans! To all that have been listening to those rumors, here's your answer! Here's our secret round! Ready…GO!" Good the man gave no room for backing down.
In a burst he disappeared from the crowd to floating before Sabre. Immediately Jack noticed her fear and terror. Two of the same but on different levels. She was afraid for her life but terrified of him.
Finally he caught her eyes, a pale green. Similar to…
Jack of Blades pulled out his wonderful sword that took the souls of his enemies five hundred years ago. That feat was something he was still proud of.
There was a light chinking coming from somewhere near and his eyes examined the girl. She was shaking and a sweat was getting thick on her pale soft skin marred by bruises, cuts, and blood. He chuckled and she flinched amusing him even more.
"What's the matter girl? You're shaking. Are you afraid?" She retreated lightly by gripping her blade tighter. To threaten her more he lowered his head to make his eyes glow brighter in darker shadows.
"You're not afraid; you're terrified. And guess what, there's no escape. The doors will not open if you try to run," his voice grew darker than normal and his eyes glowed brighter, "you're stuck with me."
At this point he knew that her fear kept the woman from thinking clearly and he was proved right when he took his first step. She flinched and raised her blade to him.
It would be no use as he used his Assassin's Rush. Their masks nearly touched and he heard a gasp before his blade slammed into her abdomen. Jack of Blades watched as the girl flew across arena, bouncing once only to land and skid on her now cut torso. She grunted as she rose back into a crouching position. He allowed her time to recover and she went to check her mask.
The mask was breaking off on the bottom left and it had a good crack across it. Sabre rose again grabbing her blade and barely missed the Blade of Eons. She stumbled and Jack allowed her to gain distance between them. When she felt safe from him Sabre stopped and he relaxed. The woman clutched her abdomen and charged at him.
He stepped to the side and watched her blade rush past. As soon as her foot hit the ground his blade was heading her way. His blade and her mask made contact when she had turned to him. Immediately the mask shattered, her hair fell loose, and the girl slid on the dirt.
The Blade of Eons dripped with blood as she came to a stop. She managed to prop herself up on her hands and knees panting heavily. A few tense moments pass and Sabre turned her head enough to glare at Jack of Blades. He smirked triumphantly finally seeing her face.
Sabre is the eldest daughter of Amber and James, Jet.
A small pool of blood was already built below her. His blade managed a cut diagonal on her face and it was bleeding badly. After surveying the scene before him, Jack of Blades stalked towards his kill.
His metal clad hand found her upper arm, now bare to the world, and jerked the girl up. Again his mask was in her face and his voice went low and quiet so that the world could not hear them.
"You are going to wish you stayed home like a good little girl. What I'm going to do to you is far more horrendous than any other man could ever do to you. I'm going to make you beg for mercy." Her mind immediately went to the gutter whether if that is what he was implying or not. He was furious that was obvious.
In the back of his mind he was lightly amused at her attempt to fight in the arena. With a small explosion one of his monster minions appeared with a shackle and chain. The clicked around her wrists and Jet watched as her Ruler gave one last glare before turning his back to her and began to walk off.
The minions followed suit jerking the chain to force Jet to walk. Jet hung her head in shame.