The Legend of The Lightning Girl: A Red Queen Fanfiction

Chapter 15: Arena

I stand behind Cal as he lifts the sword. He eyes my assassin with furious vengeance.

"For the crime of attempting to assassinate Mare Calore, the wife of Norta's Protector, you are sentenced to death by decapitation. Do you have any final words?" Cal asked.

"The Red rats will be exterminated soon enough." The assassin said. He lowered his head to the block. Cal brought the sword down quickly. I heard it twang against the stone, and the head rolled into the basket.

"Throw him into the sea." I said, walking away. Shade began to cry, and I began to nurse him.

Later that day, I laid on a sofa with Shade between me and the back of the sofa. I kissed his cheek, which was pretty much his whole face. "One day, you will be bigger than me." I said. "But I will never stop protecting you."

Cal walked in. I sat up and brought the shoulder of my nightgown back up.

"You can lay back down, beautiful." He said, giving me a kiss. I did, leaning on the armrest. I brought Shade onto my chest.

"He drinks a lot. He's going to be as big as you, I imagine. Unfortunately for you, he is already far more handsome." I said.

"Thats good. If he's as clever as you, he'll have it all." He said, sitting on the sofa. I had to bend my legs to make room. He pulled my feet onto his lap and began to rub them.

"What a life we have." I looked around our massive house. "This room is bigger than the entire building I used to live in, back in the Stilts."

"Well, those buildings are getting bigger and better. We're working on supplying energy to everyone, as much as they need it. Same with drinkable water and essential foods. Beans, rice, meat, greens." He said.

"Thats good. Maybe next you can run for Leader. You would be damn good at it."

"Or you could." He suggested. "Julia did it. And you are far more famous, and very beloved. Not just by me." He said, bringing a foot of mine up to kiss it. I looked down and saw that Shade was asleep. I held up a hand, signaling quiet. I slowly got up and put Shade in his crib. I pulled Cal by his collar and we went into the bedroom.

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I walked out to the crib and collected Shade. He had started crying, only ten minutes after I set him down.

It was enough time, but still.

I took off his diaper and tossed it.

"You're stinky, little boy." I told him. "Very stinky. Time for a bath."

After Shade was clean and wrapped in a blanket, I went back into the bedroom. I set Shade on the bed and changed into a nice dress.

"First party since the wedding." Cal said, having just finished putting on his jacket. I went to straighten his tie.

"Yes, and now I have two little men to look after." I said. I gave him a kiss and picked up Shade.

"You'll manage." He said as we walked out.

"Oh, that was never a question." I put Shade in his cradle. It was a beautiful thing. Soft orange cushions sitting in a bronze basket. The handle was ornate and fine, with a smooth middle section for my hand. We headed to the ballroom.

I went to the treat table and picked up a powdered pastries.

"Those are good." A man next to me said.

"I don't doubt it." I replied, eating one with as much grace as I could muster. It was sweet, with apple filling. "I love apples." I said after swallowing.

"Is that your son?" He asked, pointing at the crib.

"Yes, he is. His name is Shade."

"Nice name. My daughter is named Olivia. Shes just out on the balcony. That reminds me, where are my manners? My name is Golkin Jeto." He stuck a hand out. I shook it. "Let me get Olivia." He said.

"Nonsense, I'll go out there to meet her." I said. "Clara?" I called her to me. "Hold Shade for me, darling. I'll be right back. I can't have him out in the cold, the poor boy will get sick." Clara nodded and took Shade back to where she sat, next to Diana. I walked out with Golkin.

"Whose child was that?" He asked.

"My brother's."

He opened the door and I walked out onto an empty balcony. I turned back to see him close the door behind us. Sparks lit up across my skin. "What are you doing?" I demand.

Something hit the back of my head and I fell to the ground, dazed. My sparks faltered.

"Justice." He said.

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I woke up in chains. Silent Stone. The walls around me, too. I looked out of thr bars. An arena.

"This again?" I complained to myself.

"Would you prefer a firing squad?" Golkin asked. I looked at him and his guards.

"How many Silents are out there?" I asked.

"Enough."

"My people will come for me. Even if I die, your little Silver Society will not last. And I swear, if you harm a hair on my son's head, I will decimate your entire House, Golkin Jeto." I said. "Not even smart enough to keep your house name away from me."

"Your time is up. Hope you got enough rest. Guards!"

I was dragged out into the arena. Cameras watched me. I saw myself on a monitor. My nice dress was torn, and I had blood in my hair. They unchained me and shoved me to the ground. I got back up and squared my shoulders. I tore the skirt off my dress. It wasn't exactly proper, but I need my legs free.

I found a rock and grabbed it. Decent size, with a sharp point.

"I will never kneel, Silver bastards!" I shouted.

"We are not the bastards, Mare Barrow! Your spawn is." Golkin said from his platform.

"My name is Mare Calore, and my son was born under a lawful mariage. Send your warriors. I can beat them, unless your warriors are useless without a Silent keeping me suppressed?" I challenged. I gestured to the two Silents in the stands on either side of the arena.

"You may have tricked a prince, but I am not as foolish or naive as he is. Your blood will spill here and now." He said.

A Strongarm entered the arena.

"You need a Strongarm to defeat a Red girl who just gave birth? How powerful you must be, Golkin Jeto!" I said the name loud for the cameras.

"I am powerful. Thats why he listens to my commands. Like this: Tear her left arm off!" The Strongarm charged at me. I tucked and rolled between his legs and pushed him over with his own momentum. He tumbled over the sand and got back up.

"The bigger you are, the harder you fall." I told him. He hit me with a backhanded slap, and I hit the ground hard. I spit out blood and got back up. He took a swing, but I rolled out of the way and pushed him again.

"Why fight? You can't win!" The Strongarm complained, getting back up.

"I have someone to live for."

He charged at me, spreading his arms wide. I wasn't fast enough. He pinned me to the ground and grabbed my left arm.

"Wait!" I cried out. He snapped my shoulder and tore my arm off of my body. I screamed in agony. He tossed it aside like nothing. "You're a coward." I said through sobs. He wrapped a hand around my neck.

"Break a rib." Jeto commanded. The Strongarm placed a thumb at my side and pushed, my rib snapping like a twig. My vision danced and I cried out in pain. I heard gunshots and shouting before I blacked out.