Hunter: Eclipse

Chapter 7

With my legs shaking, and arms feeling as though they were made out of bricks, the last zombie fell with a groan. I don't even know how many I had destroyed. My fingers felt numb and were unable to let the hilt of my sword go from where there were wrapped around it. The familiar feeling of pure exhaustion sunk in as I stood and watched the corpse vanish while taking in large, deep gulps of air.

"More." I gasped, turning to face as Hades as he appeared.

"I think you've punished yourself enough for one day."

I finally managed to get fingers loose, and cringed as I wiggled some life back into them. "It's training, not punishment. You offered to help me, so, we keep going."

"No." He said firmly. "You've had enough."

Rolling my shoulders, I watched as he turned to walk away.

"I'll tell you when I've had enough."

He paused, looking unimpressed as he faced me once more.

"You can hardly stand. This wasn't even training, and I let it go on for longer than I should have."

"Even in this state I can still take you on, I'm fine!" I protested, and his eyes widened slightly in disbelief. "Keep them coming."

Hades didn't move, but you could almost hear the gears in his head turning. Finally, he shook his head and took off his shirt. His shoes were next, and I wasn't quite sure where he was going with this. Dark denim hung off his hips as if they had been designed just for his figure and as he closed the distance between us a long golden pole appeared in his hands; the top separating into two like a pitchfork.

"What is that?" I nod towards his stick.

"It's a staff, Elise." He rolled his eyes, turning the fork bit towards me and poking it against my belly. The points were sharp, pinching my skin through the singlet I had on.

"Poseidon just called. He wants his trident back." I mock as I realise that maybe he took my earlier taunt seriously. Was he planning on fighting me now? Shit.

"Your ignorance is not amusing," he sighed. "Well, come on then. You think you can take me on? Prove it."

I couldn't, and that became beyond obvious in the first thirty seconds. My movements were slow and sluggish, the sword too heavy and my body unwilling to cooperate. He wasn't even trying, I knew it, and Hades knew that I did too. Seemingly set on taunting me, Hades danced around from place to place, poking that damn oversized fork all over with the gold slicing through my skin frequently to leave an assortment of scratches and a few deeper cuts.

I felt the rush of my power, a spark igniting and for a few minutes I thought I was going to make a comeback. Then it fizzled out, and I didn't even get a glow on my hands. Nothing. So, did I surrender like a sane person?

No.

Hades clearly had enough after about ten minutes, and while I managed to dodge two blows, I didn't move, even with my powers, fast enough, and his third kick hit me in the stomach which had me on my back. I wasn't getting up again after that, and as he came to stand over me, the staff was thrown down, so each point stuck into the ground either side of my neck. Even if I wanted to get up, I couldn't.

"Nice try. I really thought you were going to get me a couple of times there. I was worried. Shaking in my boots kind of stuff." He taunted.

"Ha. Ha."

It was all I could give him. My heart was racing to the point I was seeing stars, and as he backed off, I rolled to the side and threw up.

"Had enough now?"