twenty two

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Eddie had put on some of the silver Ponanian armor. It was made from an interesting material that was protective and seemed to be fireproof, but it was also light and easy to move around in.

"Damn, Eds, when you get out of there you should wear silver more often. It's definitely your color," came an obnoxious voice from behind him.

Eddie turned and smiled, seeing Richie approach the bars he was trapped behind. He would've panicked, but Cassie was with Richie, so he knew he wouldn't be freed.

Richie approached the bars, reaching through to try to hug Eddie. Even though there was unresolved tension between them, Eddie gratefully let Richie embrace him as well as he could with the bars in the way.

Eddie let out a dry sob without meaning to, feeling overwhelmed. He could be dead in a few hours for all he knew.

"Shh, it's okay, Eds. It's all gonna be okay," Richie whispered, running one of his hands through Eddie's hair.

"I'm not mad at you," Eddie said once he pulled away from the hug. He reached through the bars and grabbed Richie's hands in his. "I'm sorry I freaked out. I'm not mad and I really do care."

"It's okay, I know, Eddie. I guess I was afraid and-"

"Don't. We can have this conversation once I've survived this."

"What if you die?" Richie blurted out, unable to stop the words.

Eddie smiled softly. "I don't plan on dying, lucky for you. I'm smart, Rich. I can survive a dragon for an hour."

"What if you don't, though? I don't want to have to live without you, as weird as it may seem. I've only known you for a few weeks, but-"

Eddie pressed a kiss to Richie's lips, effectively cutting off his rambles. "It's okay. I'm going to be okay. After this we can talk."

Richie didn't want to believe him, but Cassie touched his arm and told him it was time to go. As they left the room, Richie looked back to see Eddie give him a reassuring smile.

"He'll be okay. He's strong, Cassie," Richie said, not really sure why he felt the need to say it.

"You're right, Richie. As long as he's not facing a Mocca, he should be okay."

•••

Bill and Ben were sitting in their cell, both stealing glances at the enemy across the room. He hadn't spoken or addressed them since Eddie left, but they could tell he was menacing and not someone they would get along with.

"What d-d-did you do t-to Eddie?" Bill asked, unable to stand not knowing. He had seen Eddie's pale face and Henry's venomous looks and knew that someone must've happened.

"Don't talk to me, you stuttering freak," Henry responded, looking up at the small window in his cell. "I don't answer to Lucantians."

"You're trapped here, same as us, so you may as well talk," Ben snapped, not pleased with the lack of cooperation.

"I think what I did to him is too dirty for your precious Lucantian ears to hear," Henry snarled, laying back on the bed in his cell. "Just know that I showed that slut his place."

Ben nearly vomited at the words and Bill inhaled sharply, feeling anger course through his veins.

"You're ev-evil. At l-l-least we know the r-rumors about Tenebris are t-true," Bill said, trying to keep from screaming at Henry.

"Same goes for you, Lucantian."

"What are you talking about?" Ben asked, and Henry scoffed.

"You're fucking pampered little whores who think you're above everyone else because you passed some brain test given to you when you were a day old. Know what happens to us? They thrown us in Tenebris, not even giving us a family. If you're lucky someone will take you in, but if you're not, you die. We work for everything we have. How many days in your life have you had to work?"

Ben and Bill exchanged eye contact. They hated Henry, but if what he said was true, they'd misheard a lot about Tenebris.

"Yeah, that's what I thought. Fuck off and leave me alone."

•••

Eddie sat in the preparation room, wondering about how he's survive.

Would the arena be a long plane where he'd have to survive by running? Would there be things to hide behind? The possibilities were endless.

Eddie just hoped that if he died, Richie wouldn't have to see it. Even though he had promised he'd survive, part of Eddie felt as though he wouldn't make it out alive.

The thought terrified him.

"No. As long as I'm not fighting a Mocca, I'll be okay," he thought, readjusting the armor on his shoulders.

A Mocca was among the most dangerous dragons. Black scales, venom in their fangs, dark eyes. They were the ones that Eddie had read about that gave him nightmares. During the war between Luceat and Tenebris that led to their great divide, the Tenebrians had nearly won because they rode those dragons into battle.

If the Lucantians hadn't chased the animals away, the war could have ended very differently.

Eddie was silently hoping that the dragon that attacked him got bored quickly and decided to leave him alone. Maybe he'd get lucky, but Eddie knew that was a long shot.

Two new guards came in to collect him, both looking extremely sorry for his current situation. It was no secret that sending anyone who was supposedly innocent to the Hourglass made them feel like shit.

Eddie ended up in a metal box, able to look out on the arena. It was sort of shaped like an hourglass, with a deep pit, large rocks all over. There were higher platforms formed from dirt and across the way, another metal box with a dragon obviously fighting to get out.

There were people above them, surrounding the metal cage that was at the top. A lot of them were cheering, and Eddie could see the throne where the king sat, his dragons by his side.

The obvious shaking of the dragon cage made Eddie tense up. He tried to calm his nerves as the opening to his own cage was opened, and he walked out.

Eddie braced himself as the dragon cage was opened, and his heart nearly stopped as the dragon burst out. The black scales shimmered in the sunlight, the animal snarling and snapping, trying to find its way out of the cage. It continued to growl when its yellow eyes found Eddie. It landed about thirty feet from him, slowly stalking forward.

Eddie glanced up and saw a large clock before catching Richie's eyes in the crowd.

He looked terrified.

"59 minutes," Eddie thought to himself as the dragon shot a burst of fire toward him. "I just have to last 59 minutes."

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