The Heirs of Elysium

Chapter 21 - Heart torn asunder

Raphael's PoV

Flaming torches highlight the expectant faces of the spectators below and makes the cavernous domed copper ceiling glow. Meanwhile, inner flames lay close to the surface of the two contenders, the sweat evaporating as it beads against their skins.

From the raised pavilion, we have a bird's eye view of the fighting circle without any danger of the action spilling over. Already a table and several chairs lay smashed into kindling, while the ground sparkles with fragments of broken glass.

Up here, no expense has been spared in the celebration of the royal birthdays of Rina and Aurora. There has been an endless succession of gold dishes bearing delicacies from across the Elemental and Dragonite kingdoms and crystal glasses overflowing with the finest wines.

The slighter of the contenders sinks to his knees, desperation and exhaustion etched into his face. With a sword levelled at his neck, he turns a beseeching look to the young woman in white. For a moment, she holds his gaze and there is a flicker of sadness. Perhaps they were lovers, but if so, he was not strong enough to win her.

Then, she turns her head away from him, her past, and fixes her attention on the victor, on her future. Almost absentmindedly, the towering male kicks the loser, sending him sprawling, and without a backwards glance, strides towards his prize.

Lips locked, like air is a thing of the past, the pair embrace, their passion burning with a fierce intensity. A priestess in red, glides over to tend the fallen, the colour of her dress apt for this evening.

It is a barbaric mating driven by lust and survival of the strongest. I may be part Dragonite, but right now the elven half of me is recoiling in horror

"And now," Seraphina's voice rings out like a bell from below. "Lady Saira seeks a mate. Who will step forward?"

My heart stops, ripped asunder. Saira's gaze swings to mine, regret evident. Yet like the other maiden, she looks away, relegating me to her past.

Chaos erupts around our table, multiple voices shouting, and yet I hear not a word. The glass in my hand shatters, yet I feel not a thing.

"Al, you are bleeding." Eth's sharp elbow to my side jolts me out of a stunned stupor.

"I do not care for your opinions." Saira stands and shrugs off a blue and gold tunic to reveal a pure white dress beneath. "I am going down there."

"No!" a deep male voice thunders.

A huge figure rises, that of Rina's father Kai. Moving with surprising speed considering his size, he blocks the exit to the arena below with his bulk.

Undeterred, Saira marches up to him and commands, "Move."

"No," he growls in return.

Her hiss of breath lets me know just how angry she is.

Saira pulls a dagger from her boot and points it at his chest. "Get out of my way."

Kai raises one eyebrow and looks down at Saira, who is nearly two heads shorter than him. Ripping open his shirt, he exposes an acre of rippling muscle that could have been carved from granite.

"Do your worst," he says with half a sneer.

Saira presses the point into his flesh, allowing a little blood to well. Kai does not show any sign that he feels a thing and holds her gaze with an intense stare.

"Kai, darling, move will you?" Seraphina expertly slips into the pavilion. "What seems to be the problem?"

The queen's gaze flickers over the tableaux and she lets out a tinkling laugh.