Just A Taste | BOOK 1 The Night Lords Series

41. Round Two

They were wraths born from war. As soon as Cassius gave the word, they were upon us like a pair of rabid dogs. Leon and I did our best to dodge but it was like they could read every move we decided to make before we made it and, eventually, we were stumbling right into their arms.

And they were not playing fair.

I yelped as the man picked me up and tossed me like a rag doll. I tumbled and rolled until I nearly hit the other throne but I managed to dig my nails into the dirt to stop myself. I glance back in fear at Lord Acheron who was leaning forward in his seat, his expression ravenous. Scrambling away, I look up and feel my heart take a nose-dive straight into my gut at the scary figure running right at me.

The man's bald head glistened with sweat and oil, his muscles flexing and bulging with every giant stride and I swear he alone was making the ground shake. I needed time to think! How was I supposed to defeat this 300-pound mountain of muscle alone?! I do the next best thing.

I run.

Rules out the window, I head straight for the marble walls surrounding the ring. They said nothing about restricting our battle area and I wasn't about to ask politely. With a quick prayer of hope that my oil wouldn't make it impossible for me to find a grip, I jump up and grab the stadium rail. My hand doesn't slip. No time to feel relieved, I pull myself up and over. The ones seated in this area gasped and moved away as I continued to climb higher, frantically glancing over my shoulder to see my pursuer leaping over the rail completely and landing with a loud bang. He charges after me.

My thigh muscles burned with the exertion of going straight up and I was starting to find it hard to breathe properly. The oil and adrenaline alone were the only things keeping me upright and I scanned my surroundings for anything that would help me.

The vampires and slaves that had scrambled out of range had left their drinks and snacks behind; glasses full of blood, a few human delicacies, and some platters piled with empty dishes. I spotted handbags and even a coat here and there. I grab a cup full of blood and turn just as the brute is reaching up for me from behind. I throw it hard. The glass shatters on his face and blood splatters everywhere; down his chin, neck, and over his chest. It took him off guard and he stumbles back, reaching up to wipe his eyes but he loses his footing when his foot slips on the step behind him. I watch him cry out as he falls to go toppling all the way back down where he crashes into the rails. He sits up, dazed. I knew he wouldn't stay that way forever but I'd take this chance. I look over at a silver platter.

They said no weapons. Would this count as a weapon?

A cry from down below has me whipping my head around to see Leon on his knees, his arm twisted at a very bad angle and being dragged towards Acheron.

I grab the platter and two glass plates. To hell with what they think. I had a partner to save.

Cassius

She was like a Greek champion, a daughter of Artemis, beautiful and daring. I watched her leap out of the stands to sprint towards Leon who struggled against the lady brute trying to pull him across the sand. With a war cry, Isabelle threw one of her glass plates and with her oil-powered body, the throw proved deadly.

It sliced through the woman's gut and she let go of Leon instantly. The wound wasn't deep but a good amount of blood began to spill from the large gash. She bared her teeth at Isabelle who stood ready for her. Her fair face carried no sign of fear or doubt. She held the silver platter up like a shield while her remaining glass dish hung loose in her other hand. Leon grit his teeth and with a defiant roar, popped his shoulder back into place. Getting to his feet, he and his partner faced their opponent, a picture of ferocity.