A Collection of Demons

A Blast from the Past

It was a beautiful day in Hell, the coliseum filled to the walls with people packed in like sardines to watch a day of combat. The coliseum itself was a structure of glory, built with old stone and weathered from time, busts of its greatest warriors rested in its grand halls, murals painted on the vast ceiling that stood above the heads of the people.

The crowd's cheers could be heard deep inside the gladiator's chambers, where Azrael sat, her mind cleared of all inhibitions as she prepared for another battle. She ran a hand through her pale hair, putting it up in a neat ponytail. She stepped slowly towards the mirror that rested in her chamber, her brow furrowing at the sight of the horns on her head, a reminder of her own mistakes.

She had fallen centuries before, but the wounds had yet to heal, even if the two scars on her back were the only physical remnant of her angelic birthright. The announcer's booming voice began to take over the crowd's cheers, that's when she knew it was her time. She walked slowly through the tunnel of the coliseum, her eyes locked at the other end where her opponent stood.

Her foe was tall and burly, a charcoal skinned creature with flowing white hair that reached down her back. She seemed to be a crowd favorite, the people chanting her name as she entered with a smirk. Azrael's eyes sharpened, she had one goal in this fight: to wipe the smirk off that demon's hideous face.

The announcer began his introduction of her, much to the crowd's dismay. Their cheers turned to jeers as she entered at the calling of her name, her footsteps indenting the sand, her eyes still locked at her opponent across from her. The two warriors met face to face in the center of the coliseum's arena, Azrael's foe staring down at her, that same smirk still etched between her lips.

"Well, well, well. The fallen angel graces us with her presence."

"If I were you, I wouldn't mock me."

"Oh, I'm so scared. Y'know, you're lucky this ain't a death march, or I wouldn't be so kind to you."

Azrael huffed, "Kind?"

"I haven't kicked the shit outta you yet. Though, that'll change soon. I'm not gonna let you embarrass me in front of the queen."

"Lucifer can suck her own tit for all I care. I only care about leaving you as no more than a bloody heap at my feet."

"Good luck with that, angel girl. Fight's about to start."

The pair stepped away from each other for a moment, before the sound of a horn echoed throughout the coliseum, the crowd's cheers growing louder as the gladiators circled one another like sharks in the sea, awaiting for the first sign of weakness from the other. The champion struck first, grabbing Azrael's abdomen in an attempt to slam her to the ground, the angel blocked it with a quick elbow to the shoulder, the demon backing off for a moment to recoup.

She tried again with a punch, another move that was blocked by the fallen angel, who responded with a hit of her own, which was blocked by the demon. Azrael took her own swing this time, landing it on her opponent's rib, knocking her back a step, giving the challenger an advantage. She took another shot, but her chance was short-lived, the champion hitting a swift knee straight to her gut.

As she reeled from the strike, the demon clocked her with a fist to the jaw, sending the fallen angel down to her knees. She managed to roll away before her opponent could do anything else, the sight of a throne catching her periphery, a figure sitting in it with her legs crossed. She couldn't make out a face, but she knew exactly who it was, her eyes becoming more aggressive as she stared down her opponent.

"The fight's just started, sweetheart." The demon taunted, "There's no reason to get angry now."

Azrael had enough already, she plowed towards the burly demon, but the champion expected her attack, throwing her over her shoulder. The fallen angel landed with a thud, quickly getting back on her feet to continue the fight. This time the champion made her move, swinging for the fences on a haymaker that missed, the challenger responding with one of her own.