Blood Shed

Chapter 19 - Levana

I couldn't see Scarlett anymore. Sand covered the arena slowly settling. The cloud lowered revealing Scarlett standing tall panting. She looked shiny and shaky. I wondered what was wrong. The sand revealed the other girl. She was lying in the sand twitching uncontrollably. She slowly stood and staggered towards Scarlett growling, claws extended. She jumped and slashed Scarlett, but no mark was made. Scarlett didn't move. The girl tried again but her hands went right through Scarlett. She leapt at Scarlett but only jumped through her. A voice echoed from the other side of the arena.

"Looking for me?" Scarlett's voice boomed with confidence. "Let me guess, wondering what that is? Never seen a hologram before have you." The fake Scarlett shimmered and disappeared into thin air. "How do you like this power? A lot of questions I'm asking I know, but don't all answer at once." She grinned looking more alive than before. She jumped forwards and grabbed the woman's hands before the woman could slash Scarlett. Scarlett twisted her hands until a crack echoed through the arena. The woman's arms went limp and Scarlett wrapped her hands around the girl's throat. I saw a glimpse in Scarlett's eyes of guilt. She looked up at the Queen standing above her on a balcony and she nodded. Scarlett twisted quickly broke the neck of her opponent and dropped her to the floor. The crowd erupted in cheers at the death of another.

I wondered how these people could be so cruel. Maybe this wasn't the place for us after all. I leapt of out my seat forcing my wings to expand out and carry me down to the unsettled sand of the arena. "Scarlett, are you ok? She scratched you a lot didn't she. Whatever that thing is I'm sure that is not to be taken lightly." I gently touched my hand to her bleeding cheek. Pausing for a moment I looked into her eyes with my hand on her cheek and she stared back into my eyes. I felt like she was gazing into my soul looking at everything and judging me for every kill I've made. I felt butterflies cloud my stomach and cloud my judgment. I snapped back to reality when I heard everyone leaving the stands of the arena. I returned my gaze to her cheek. "It's deep. Come back to our place and I'll fix it up for you." I pulled my hand away and wiped the blood off on my shirt. I slowly stepped back staring at the ground. I glanced up at Scarlett then followed her gaze to the stands. Faolan sat impatiently waiting for her to go to him. He looked away tapping his foot on the ground trying to look everywhere but her. I felt a wave of sadness wash over me as I saw her stare at him with a look of lust in her eyes. A tear fell from my eye and moved down my cheek, falling to the sand below. I spread my wings wide and beat them hard. I shot into the grey, stormy sky above. I hovered in the air slowly twirling in the sky. I don't know why, but I burst into tears. Water covering my face and eyes going puffy and red, I buried my face into my palms. Thunder sounded, warning the Earth of the storm to come. I counted, 1... 2... 3... I searched the sky for lightning. 7...8... A bright white light zooming across the sky interrupted my thoughts. It drew my attention to the ground below lit up by orange light. I slowly flew closer inspecting the ground. There were soldiers walking in a large rectangle, about 30 or so. They held torches lit by flames (a bit old school if you ask me) and carried guns. Each soldier wore armour made of out metal. It surprised me that the lightning was not drawn to them. I heard more thunder as I flew closer and stopped in my tracks hopefully far away enough from the lightning. Seconds later the lightning went directly for the troop but diverted away and hit the ground at least 40 meters away. They continued to march, not flinching at the white light zapping the ground around them. Then I discovered something. Each had a red crest on the chest plate of their armour. It had two wings, however they were drooping instead of stretching out wide. I had seen this before, in the lab. Each soldier wore it. The crest symbolized containment of freedom. They were coming for Scarlett and I. Somehow they knew this is where we were. I turned around and flew as fast as I could through the warm, electrical air. Diving into the forest, I searched for our hut finally reaching it and breaking through the door. Scarlett stood in the staring at me with a shocked expression. It looked like she had been pacing, an expression of panic stared me down, but slowly turned to relief as she registered that I was back. She ran towards me and grabbed my arms.

"LEVANA! Where have you been? Eliza and I have been worried sick about you!" She squealed searching my eyes for answers.

"There is no time to explain. They are coming, the people from the lab. There is about 30 of them and they are wearing this weird armour. There was lightning outside and it went to hit them but then it suddenly changed directions." I tried to slowly pull her towards the door but she wouldn't budge.

"Levana, not that I care much for the people here, but if we leave all of them... they will die. Or worse, they could be captured. We have to warn," She was cut of by the Queen entering the hut.

"Warn who? Actually, I don't care much. I only give a crap about traitors. You see, I asked you to find Eliza and bring her to me. You said you couldn't find her, yet here she is, dawdling in your... hut." She wandered around the house while speaking gently touching the surfaces as she walked by.

"Listen-" I panicked trying to make up an excuse.

"Now, now. I don't need to hear your pitiful excuses. Arrest them." She pulled her hand away from the kitchen cupboard and dusted her hand off on her trousers, swiftly walking towards the balcony. The men that stood behind her marched towards us gripping our arms.

"WAIT! You're in trouble we can't tell you if you lock us away!" I tried to break out of their grip and turn towards the disappearing Queen. "Please, I know... We haven't really followed your rules but you need to hear me-" A sharp pain spread up the back of my head and I lost consciousness.