Talon's of Life & Death

27

*Trigger Warning: Explicit Language Used*

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"Like hell are you fighting her!" Nikos snaps at me after the others grabbed me and stormed me out of the arena.

I growl, his eyes flashing at that sudden act of defiance. Even I was surprised at myself. But I don't falter. "I have to do this!"

"Why?" He demands, his jaw clenched tightly.

I mimic the motion. "I don't need to explain—"

"You'll just give her what she wants, Sith." Sky remarks, his tone remarkably soft.

"You heard her in there, she wants to kill you." Nikos starts again.

"Not if I kill her!"

"Think of the repercussions," Mei speaks up, her tone surprisingly hard with me. "You are the Light Obscurian... our only hope in defeating Sephtis Trejo."

"Does it matter?" My voice almost breaks. "If I die, Sephtis won't return."

"Sith." Kessa steps forward, her eyes sad. "Nothing is going to happen to you—"

"You don't know that!" I yell at her, "None of you do! The last Light Obscurian did not succeed! And you knew her." I point at Mei and Adrian. Their expressions harden, and I knew I had hurt them. I falter, my vision flickering as I feel Pyro approach and the rush of the air against my back as he lands. "I'm sorry!" I shake my hand, completely distraught for some reason. "I don't know what's wrong with me..."

"There's nothing wrong with you, Sith." Nikos approaches, holding both of my arms gently.

"It's okay to worry." Sky agrees silently behind him.

"You can't let people like that win." Mei pipes up, her tone sympathetic.

"The council, Emris... they need you." Maddox agrees.

"I can't let other people pick my battles for me." I confess, my hands unsteady by my sides.

Pyro approaches carefully behind me, until I feel his large breath so close to my back. "You are no longer alone."

I close my eyes for a moment and turn to face my flame. "I know," I reach a hand to his face, my fingers skimming his rough scales.

"This just a way for Emris to prove her point, but she will not succeed. Whoever the Queen chooses, they will fight with honour. Something Emris does not have."

I smile at Kessa, gazing at the fury lining her very soul. "If anyone I care for is harmed, I won't hesitate."

Sky scoffs beside me, crossing his arms over his chest. "We wouldn't expect you to."

Mei beams, tapping his shoulder gently. "All of you get! Explore the tournament, there's games, not to mention all the food vendors—"

"Sold!" Maddox holds up his hands, looking at all of us with wide eyes. "I am starved!"

"Go on then," Adrian grunts.

"Maybe stay together?" Mei offers carefully as Kessa and Maddox start skipping ahead, I offer a swift goodbye to my flame as he cranes his head towards the sky, no longer interested in me.

Nikos walks beside me, a hesitant smile adjoins his features. "I know it would have been stupid to try and sway what you wanted, but if you had turned back around and went back into that arena to fight her... I wouldn't have stopped you. I would have joined you."