Invictus

Chapter15

April

I can't do it, I stood in front of the gym for a while before I started walking home. A light rain started and I trudged in it, while ignoring all the other pedestrians that were standing in the shade giving me odd looks. I walked all the way home and I was dripping by the time I got to my front door, my toes squishing in my sneakers. I could feel the warmth at the other side of the door. Fireball.

I pushed the door open and he pounced on me. He was three times his size.

"Hey there, Fireball, did you miss me?"

Blue flames licked across my face and I smiled, burying my face in his orange flames. This is absurd, I'm hugging fire.

"You" came a voice " We need to talk"

I raised my head, "Hestia", Fireball leapt after her and I followed meekly.

She was accompanied by Artemis.

"I don't understand why you're having issues with the whole thing , and frankly I'm not in the mood to try and pry information out of you" She said, turning to Artemis.

"So we're going to cast a little spell on you" Artemis said "an improvement spell " She pulled out a vial with a clear liquid and a shot glass. She poured the liquid into the glass and looked at me.

"Burn it" Hestia commanded "now"

I looked at Artemis, who nodded. I reached for the glass and it caught flames.

"Take. Drink it" Hestia had pushed the glass into my hand and I upended it into my mouth. Fire searing the roof of my mouth and my throat.

It seemed to spread down to my chest, I could see it move in my veins, turning my skin dark here and there. I glanced at Fireball, he too was changing. He was blazing, dark tendrils of smoke from his tail. The tattoo had lengthened, it spanned my entire arm, bright blue at the wrist, oranges and reds and then black smoking tendrils towards my shoulder, just by bra strap.

When did I take that off?

I stared at my feet, my clothes turned to ashes, my bra soon to join them, my hair was everywhere, a bright carrot coloured cloud.

Then it stopped, I could feel the energy surging between my bones, Hestia was smiling.

"Now, tomorrow you shall have a parring match with Ares or Athena."

"Athena, she doesn't fight" I squeaked.

"That's what you mortals think" Hestia said "Ares is responsible for bloodshed and havoc, Athena is for the battleground tact and wisdom."

I nodded, transfixed as they faded out of vision. I looked at Fireball, who was thumping his tail against the coffee table.

"Let's go and eat" I said, and he followed me into the kitchen.

LYANNA

A warm wet lick on my face woke me up, alongside the hot breath and fur.

"Hey girl, I didn't see you when I came in last night. " I smile and rub my fingers behind her ears, she jumped off the bed and I sat up, rubbing my eyes and thinking of cake.

I stopped and looked at Khione, she was fully grown. White fur covered her left forelimb and back with red markings. She walked out of the room and I padded after her, the smell of bacon and eggs hit me.

Someone is in my kitchen.

A crowbar materialised in my hand and I swung in, stopped at the sight of the blonde almost baby blue hair.

"Hey Khione, good morning "

She turned as I turned the crowbar into dirt and emptied it into a vase.

"You have element training this morning " She said, putting the bacon on a plate with crossiants, a warm cup of tea by it. "Liu will be here any minute, eat up."

I reached for the remaining bacon, passed on to Khione, the four-legged one.

I have to rename you.

Liu pulled up and I waved goodbye, resolving to call the wolf, Durga, it's probably the Indian god of death or something.

April was at the gym with Denise, A fireball whizzed by me as Ares deflected it, April is fighting, interesting.

Denise was channeling a fluid into her mouth with her hands, Liu went for the weapons and I followed her.

She picked up a katana blade and I picked a bow and quiver.

Tyger was in the adjoining room setting up targets, he looked at us and straightened up.

"Switch weapons " She gave me her katana and I handed over the arrows.

She slung it over her shoulder, picked one, strung it and released, it was going by the target when the turned midair and went straight to the bulls eye.

I clapped and smiled, until Athena strolled in, a broadsword scraping the floorboards. I raised my sword and she ran at me. I ducked and rammed into her stomach, taking her down, I threw my sword and wrenched hers away, I pulled my arm back to punch her when she vanished, appearing behind me and grabbing me into a choke hold.

I slammed my elbow into her stomach, stumped the heel of my foot on her toes, her grip loosened, I turned and used my palm on her nose, hitting up, then I grabbed her arm and wrenched it behind her back, forcing her to her knees and jammed two of my fingers into the hollow spot between her shoulder blades.

She Screamed and writhed beneath me, tapping the floor three times.

Surrender.

She left the room scowling, while I lay on the floor breathing heavily. Ares came in and saw me.

"We need to work on your  endurance " He said, pulling me up.

He assumed a fighting stance and I raised my fists, still trying to catch my breath. We circled in on ourselves,   and he threw the first punch at my nose, I ducked and let an uppercut fly. He stumbled back, shaking his head and came right back at me. I threw a punch at his gut and he flicked my hand away as if nothing had just happened. He came in again and I jumped and kicked. My heel connecting with his chin. He groaned and looked at me. A smile crossed his face and he vanished. I crossed my arms midair in and but blocking gesture and swiveled about. Then I was pulled by my hair and thrown to the ground.

Invisible, he's invisible.

I lay there on the ground, looking at everyone who had gathered to watch.

I held my breath and listened, then I felt a puff of air behind me and I ducked, turning to sweep him off his feet with my leg.  A thump followed later and I jumped on the invisible God of war and pulled his leg backwards.

He groaned, showing himself. I smiled when he tapped the ground.