𝐀 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

𝟏𝟖

Arya

     I have gotten little to no sleep in the last few weeks, the Shadow Wraiths are working overtime at this point and I'm sure Amarantha isn't even paying them enough. Cruel cruel being who thinks she can break me down by using something remotely close to my mate's shadows. She pulled everything she could since I limited what she could do. Smart on her part. But I'm not sure how sane I'll be after enduring these Shadow Wraiths for two more months.

Today was our first task and the little sleep I've gotten has put a haze on my mind, smelling the faebane around me was certainly not helping either. But I've survived this long and I refuse to go down without a real fight.

The laughter and shouting got worse around me as Feyre and I were led to a massive arena. They've dropped Feyre off at the door on the other side of the arena while shoving me on the other end.

We're fighting creatures from the looks of it. The fighting arena was covered in a massive dome, to protect the audience watching. The only enjoyment some of these people have is probably the betting that I know is going around.

The waft of foul odour told me that underneath us was a massive den where these creatures lay and threw the bones of their food.

I eye all the tunnels around the arena and I squint my eyes seeing Feyre emerge from a door yards away from me. I looked up to the dome barrier and followed it down to see that there was a barrier separating half of the arena. Separating Feyre and I, once again.

Amarantha raised a hand and the crowd silenced. "Well Feyre," she then nods at me, "and Arya," I send her a bored look. "Your first tasks are here."

She turns back to Feyre, "Let us see how deep that human affection of yours runs. And you," Amarantha chuckles as she eyes me down. "Let's see how much you actually want to sacrifice for the whole of Prythian."

"Rhysand tells me that you're a huntress Feyre," Amarantha sends a cunning smile at the human before turning to me, her smirk growing. "And I remember who your mate is. So enjoy hunting and killing these."

"Release them," she ordered and I felt the ground move as I caught the face of the Middengard Wyrm on Feyre's side before another creature flying straight towards me caught my attention.

A loud explosion sounded through the dome as sprinkles of dust started raining down my arena.

Faebane.

I release my wings and slide into a tunnel just in time as the creature releases a breath of fire at me. I ran out the other end of the tunnel and got a glance at the creature hovering on top waiting for me.

A Chimera.

A fire-breathing female monster resembling a lion in the forepart, a goat in the middle, and a dragon behind.

How in the hell does Amarantha have access to all these old creatures that are supposed to be extinct.

Come on. Think.

I spent hours just reading about these old creatures, never understanding why I had to learn about something that was supposed to be extinct. And maybe that was the only thing I can thank my Father for. Forcing me to study them, day in and day out.

I kept weaving in and out of the tunnels trying to buy time as I thought about how to defeat the Chimera, although I couldn't move fast enough down here. Not when my wings are out and these tunnels barely allow me to fit with them.

That's it.

Above.

I continued weaving in and out as I heard Amarantha trying to coax Feyre out but I shook my head trying to focus on my own task. I trust Rhy's enough to help Feyre if truly needed.

I looked around the tunnel and picked up a long metal piece of junk before trying to break the thick pipe above me. I kept hammering it as hard as I could until it broke and water bursted out pushing me away. I push against the water and grab the fallen pipe.

"Come out, Arya," Amarantha calls out. "Look at that, Feyre killed the Wyrm. Now she's going to watch as the Chimera kills you too."

I let out a sigh of relief at Feyre's completion of task. Now I only have to worry about myself. I look up examining the tunnel around me, lead. Just what I need.

I walk out with the pipe in my hands. I zero in on the Chimera and I whistle to catch its attention. It flies towards me and stops close enough. The three bodies tilt their head at me before the dragon breathes in and lets out a fire.

"Arya!" I hear someone yell but I watch as the ball of fire gets closer and closer to me and in the last second I fly up. I hear the fire hit the tunnel I was previously in, melting the lead straight into the water.

I fly as quickly as I can furthest away from the now melting tunnel and within three seconds of the melted lead hitting the water, it exploded sending the Chimera flying against the dome.

I quickly fly back down and dip the other end of the pipe in my hands to the melted lead, once I get enough lead on the pipe I fly back up to let the lead harden a bit. The Chimera chases me around the arena for a bit, making me bank left and right to dodge the fireballs until I am sure the lead has hardened enough.

I fly up slightly hovering above the Chimera before I bank straight down towards it. It lets out a fire towards me as I get close and I use the lead end of the pipe to push the fire back into the dragon's mouth not caring about the burns on my hands.

I let out a battle cry as I pushed the pipe harder into the dragon's mouth. Effectively killing it moments later. The dragon's head slumps back and I take the knives I was hiding in my boots and throw one into the roaring lion's mouth, while I grab my second knife and stab the goat's eye.

The whole arena was silent as the Chimera fell and the ground shook when I landed right beside it. I close my eyes for a moment allowing myself to reach into the well of magic I've kept untouched. My eyes glowed purple when I opened them and made direct eye contact with Amaratha's black ones.

I sent her a cunning smile as I blasted the dome in an instant completely shattering it. Then I hurled the goat's head straight at her, having it land right at her feet, blood splattering all over her. The audience gasps in response.

I land beside Feyre in front of the throne.

"What a shame," I mock the queen. "After all the stops you pulled, I still killed your creature," I chuckle.

"Count your days and enjoy them while you still can Amarantha, because I know deep down, you know that you're going to lose. And I will stand above your broken body having the last laugh."

Without taking my eyes off her I send a ball of purple power to the Attor running towards me with a knife.

"You're a coward. Using all these creatures to fight this little battle because you know you can't go head to head with me," I laugh before gently taking Feyre's hand.

"We'll see you for our second task!"

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