12

seven

Spencer~Gemini

I've seen a lot of things. Who knew a teenage boy falling out of the ceiling would be the thing to faze me.

Ezra got up with Diana's help, grinning wildly while Chloe looked at him with disapproval. "Chase, take Pisces to the bathroom."

"And take these," Kaia handed Ezra a pair of leather gloves.

He glanced down at them. "What, is the bathroom key in these or something?" He started to shake the gloves violently.

"Careful!" Chloe rushed forward and grabbed the gloves. "You could damage the microchip inside."

"What?"

"Never mind. Just go." Chloe waved her hand at the door.

Ezra and Chase's absence left an odd silence in the room which was broken by Kaia sipping loudly on her drink.

"So," Djal shifted uncomfortably. "Now what?"

~~~

"Welcome to the Arena," Chloe spread her arms proudly as she lead us through a tunnel and into a place that was a spot on replica of the Roman Colosseum, except this one was more sleek,with marble and limestone walls and seats. Modern, with a dome glass ceiling that was tinted purple, it was decorated with the night sky's constellations. The Arena also reeked, of sweaty gym socks to be more precise.

"How prestigious," Rufino crinkled his nose.

Chloe shot a look at Rufino as Kaia took over,"The Arena is a place designed for physical training to prepare for battles. Here you can find an assortment of weapons to use as well as test dummies and battle simulations."

She strolled over to a marble door edged with a sword and shields emblem,"Through this door is the armory. All weapons were forged-"

I raised my hand. "Wait, we're using actual weapons? Isn't that like, really dangerous?"

"That's kinda the point, pun intended," Kaia laughed to herself.

"Bad puns aside," Chloe regained control again,"let's see what two of you twelve are made of. First match-up, Gemini and Libra."

~~~

Daniel and I were escorted into the armory by Chloe, leaving everyone else behind. Not that I minded. Daniel's cool; I met him back in the "Air House" with Chase, making our house the only one with all males. Apparently he's dating Aimee (aka Capricorn). Of course, that only reminded me of Olivia.

Kaia wasn't lying about the assortment of weapons. In boxes and hanging on the walls were swords, spears, axes, maces, bows, quivers of arrows, crossbows, etc. Everything in the Triplicity armory was enough to make any Game of Thrones character jealous.

"Look, man." Daniel casually picked up a golden sword by its hilt and studied it. "I really don't want to hurt you."

"Same here. Let's just make it look like we're trying hard while we're out there," I rummaged through a wooden box and pulled out a shotgun."What the f-"

"Oh hell no." Daniel look terrified as he sheathed the sword.

"Yeah, not really my style." I hastily put it back in the box and starting the poke around in the back of the room, where a rack of broadswords were.

"Hey." Daniel pulled a blinding white sword off a rack. He started to pretend he was actually fighting, thrusting and making swooshing sound with his mouth. "Not bad, huh?" He grinned at me.

I nodded approvingly. "It suits you."

"And," he said sing-song, "look." After he sheathed his sword, he picked up another with a black and gold filigree inlaid in the hilt. The blade was a mixture between violet and black creating a shadow-like aura around the sword.