Children of the Serpent

Chapter 5: Let the Battles Begin

So, This chapter..Has taken FOREVER to write. FOREVER. Here you see it, in it's unedited glory (glory, hah)! I'm getting back at it again, after a long, long time of Writers Block..Man, I hate writers block. I feel useless, and depressed, and just not happy! Whats that..Do I see..A spelling mistake! Gosh darnit! Oh well...

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Once again I woke to sunlight splashing across my face. Only today I hopped out of bed and over to my closet. I chose a short dress with a chocolate brown corest top with a pleated green skirt. I searchd through the racks of shoes and found a pair of black boots. This outfit was a little more my style, compared to the puffy dresses and heels I'd been wearing lately.

I found myself walking idly down the hallways, tracing my fingers across the walls. I neared the door to Pavlos shop and I realized where I had been headed all along. I pounded loudly on the door, a grin spread across my face. Pavlos opened the door and ushered me in without a word. 

"Pavlos I-" I started to ask him a question but he quickly shushed me. 

"Don't say a word Lux, I know why you're here, and I'm proud to say that it's ready already." Pavlos said excitedly, then walked off toward a tiny closet. 

"Ares! DOn't let her peek!" He called toward a small girl dressed in a sparkling, glittery blue dress. She danced toward me then stood on her tip toes and covwered my eyes with her tiny palms. 

"You're going to love it! We were up all night working on it." The girl whispered in an airy voice. 

"Okay! Uncover her eyes!" Pavlos shouted with glee and Ares tore her hands away from my face. Standing before me was a metal corset top with an intricate swirling design down the front. The front of it looked as though it were a heart, the bottom edge pointing out over what looked like strings of chain mail woven into a pair of tough looking brown pants. |I looked up at Pavlos then Ares in awe, they both stood before me grinning. I noticed Ares inch closer to Pavlos and him wrap an arm around her shoulders.

"It's amazing guys! Thank you so much. This will be perfect for battle." My eyes flicked between Pavlos and Ares and I realized the chemistry between them. Something sparkled in the song and I stared at Ares left hand. Tucked onto her ring finger was a glittering diamond ring."Are you, are you guys getting married?!" I squealed with delight. 

"Oh dear...I..We, yes. We are, but please, at at time like this such luxuries should not be encouraged. I don't want it to be a distraction." Ares fiddled with the ring and then took it off her finger and slid it into a desk drawer. 

"Oh but this is so exciting! Who proposed to who! WHen?!" I danced around the couple and watched Pavlos eyes widen. He was clearly not used to attention like this. I laughed and skipped out of the room. 

I spent a few minutes sparring with a practice dummy out on the field before I heard footsteps behind me. I turned and saw Alexander walking beside a beautiful young girl with blonde hair dyed black at the tips. She smiled up at him, and he down at her. 

"Lux" He called. "I have a new recruit for you!" Alexander pulled the girls hand so she stood in front of him, her dark bangs fell into her eyes, masking them. 

"Cyrene." She said, and stuck her hand out for me to shake, I ignored it and wrapped her in a hug. 

"Welcome Cyrene!" I gushed and headed off into the weapons shed to find her a sword. When I stepped out of the shed, I saw Cyrene looking at me, quizzically. 

"You're nervous, aren't you? Afraid that you;ll do something wrong, or let everyone down?" Cyrene asked, sadness clouding her eyes. 

"Uh..." I ahad no way to reply to that, it was as if Cyrene could peer into my sould and find my very feelings.