Invictus

Chapter 13

LYANNA

In the morning, we raided Denise's closet, I ended up in  black leather jeans and a graphic tee, my tattoos my accessory, April in a green dress, Liu had a skirt and a crop top, Denise in jeans and a blouse.

After school we trooped into the gym, the only deities present were Persephone, whose hair was a bright red, Hera who rammed her delicate hands into a punching bag, Artemis standing beside her reminding her about all the times Zeus had cheated on her with a mortal.

I shook my head, heading for the changing rooms. I locked eyes with Ares, who stared me down as I went. Tyger was talking to Liu, Denise and April stood by the treadmills with Khione.

When I returned, I joined the others in the straight line as Ares picked up assorted wooden weapons. We all got swords. Then he paired us up.

"Flame with Snowflake, Waterfall with Tyger, Earthquake with me"

He smiled at me and pulled out a legit sword, with a jewelled hilt and everything.

"This is battleground tact 101, first thing first, know your enemy" He stood, hand on the hilt "study his stance, anticipate his first strike and block."

Tyger was already taking Denise through the easy steps, Liu and April mirroring their moves. I turned the wooden sword in my hand. Strengthened my grip. In that moment, I remembered all fighting rules from all the movies I had seen

A sword is a deadly extension of your hand..
Never drop your sword..
Stick them with the pointy end..
Always stand to the right side of the enemy, except he's left handed.

Ares had his sword in his right hand, I shifted my weight to my left leg and placed my sword in front of me. He paid me no attention, just staying there and watching the others. Then he struck, as quick as lightning. I darted to his left and cut low, scratching his lower belly, the sword whizzed above my head as I ducked and rolled. 

I regained footing and we parried, high and low, blocking and striking. My sword arm was getting tired, the sword itself chipped in places. I stared at my hand. I control the earth, wood is from the earth.

When I looked up, his sword came hurtling at my chest, I ducked and swiped at his feet. He didn't even budge, the blade whipped across my upper arm and I felt it bleed. I saw the red seeping and I looked at my hand again.

Steel comes from the earth.   I felt the power surge from my foot, curling around my ankle up to my wrist. Warm and tingling. Ares was looking away.

The hilt turned first, to leather and steel, the word rippling into a dark shiny blade, light reflected off the edges. I ran up to Ares and took a cut to his shoulder. His eyes widened and he pushed me back, running towards me. If only he could go slower.

A surge was present, this time leaving my body, then Ares couldn't move. I just controlled gravity, sweet!

He couldn't budge, I smirked and left him in place. Walking to Hera for my wound. The others were on other equipment.

Tyger took my blade and held it up to the light. It glowed a bright rippled green. Light reflecting along its edge.

"Obsidian " Hera said, plucking the sword gingerly from Tyger and trying it's weight. "Dragon glass "

"Would help with an ice enemy " She continued, turning it into a dagger, the blade shrinking till it was as long as my hand, then into a pendant, the dark green a stone as big as a pigeon egg. The leather and steel becoming straps. It was a bracelet.

The girls looked at me with smiles on their faces.