Eclipse of the Moon

Chapter Thirteen

"This will surely be interesting," he assured from his throne, peering over to his side to see Astaroth watching down to the blistering sands below them. "I agree," she lied bitterly, but it was unnoticeable.

From what Cielast could see, the arena was the same as before, lava pits rimming the battlefield. The bleachers were surrounding them, with the roaring of clanking talons booming from every direction. Azure's throne was at the head of the arena, watching with a pleased expression on his face.

Above the arena were steel nets that draped above the bleachers, which were blocked by chains that rattled loudly. Their sounds were cut off from the cheering of dragons all around, who were clapping their talons together, pleased with another battle. There hadn't been one since the time Pyra had escaped from what it looked like.

Cielast was quite shocked, seeing as such an empty battlefield from before could hold as many dragons as it used to, and not just stay a wasteland forever when it was calm.

It was alien to her to not see Waves' soulless, dark eyes glittering with amusement as he glared down at the two battlers below. It was just Azure who seemingly appeared livelier than his uncle could be.

She was cramped in an even smaller cell than before, but it was safe... And by the looks Jade was giving her, Cielast didn't think she was too happy. She looked like a rabid dog just waiting to escape a cage, ready to tear up everything that was in its path. She gulped, this battle wasn't going to be like anything before... Killing the king's daughter... A princess.

In the corner of her eye, she could see Astaroth peering down onto the battlefield below, not looking very pleased with Azure. She grumbled with her arms crossed, only being civil to please him. He didn't notice her glares, and kept watching anxiously at a small copper dragon who rose from the sands.

"Hydrax..." Cielast whispered under her breath, as the little one twirled through the air graciously, his wings spread out as the scales on his wings shone brightly. "Ladies and gentledragons!" he announced cheerfully, "Welcome to yet another battle after a long time. This one is more special than the rest, though... We have two dragons from the same side of the war. Give it up for Cielast and Jade!" the crowd around them cheered loudly, tossing bits and pieces of gold which were hardly noticeable in the sands.

The rusty gates squeaked as they rose, inviting the two to come out and face each other. Cielast gulped, as Jade didn't look so friendly and seemed as though she might like killing her. They both crept into the battlefield silently, their wings bent down with a growl.

"Between these two lone survivors from Flarius' kingdom, princess Jade and honourable Cielast... Who will walk out alive and who will end up as hatchling food?" Hydrax asked the dragons daringly, which surely didn't help with Cielast's confidence.

Astaroth peered over at Azure who had a look on his face that read, "No one will walk out alive either way, though..." as he eyed both dragons down. They were approaching each other slowly, with Jade's back arched like a feline's.

It was at that time that the memories started to flood out of Cielast's mind like a river, Pyra's screams, the bones snapping, and the tears she had cried... They were all rising from the depths of her memories.

"Oh, and Hydrax, would you be kind as to announce who our two contestants are, and where they came from?" Azure asked, adding salt to Cielast's emotional wounds as she winced, glaring up at him from the corners of her eyes, as she then glanced back at the copper dragon who nodded.

"Heh, of course. Cielast here was the daughter of our escapist, Pyra, if you remember that she had to be caught and slaughtered after trying to break out. And Jade was the daughter of king Flarius, the dragon who took Waves down with him but he is surely dead now." He wasn't so sure about that last bit, was Flarius really dead or not?