Allocate | Fated Four: Book 2

Chapter Five

*Rosalie*

The next morning I stood next to the lake with  Soren, Clarissa, and Ryder. Arrow, Nemesis, and Calix had gone out into the city, probably to track Eris.

My combat training would be starting today and Soren and Ryder would be teaching me how to fight without using my powers.

"Why do we have to learn hand to hand combat again?" I asked Clarissa. But Ryder answered instead.

"Because one day you may find yourself rendered powerless by a member of the pantheon," Ryder replied, "So you need to know how to fight. You'll both be sparring me."

"Isn't that a little unfair for you?" I asked.

"Please," Ryder scoffed, "Think of this as a practice run for Eris. She is a Goddess and you're both going to have to face her in battle."

"Yeah with two more people," I stated. Ryder rolled his eyes.

"Yes, Rose, but what happens if she knocks two or even three of your allies down?" Ryder asked, "You'll be left all alone and if she's rendered you powerless and you don't know how to fight then you'll be completely helpless against her. So learning hand to hand combat is necessary, unless of course you'd like to die?"

He walked away and I turned to Clarissa.

"Is he always such a joy to be around?" I asked sarcastically.

She sighed.

Ryder stood across the field from us and turned to us.

"Go ahead, try and knock me off my feet," he challenged.

Clarissa charged at him and gave him a round house kick to the face. He wasn't ready for it, and stumbled back from the impact. Ryder looked at us and I saw his eyes flash black.

He charged at us and I made to punch him, but he caught my hand and stopped me. Then he twisted my arm behind my back and shoved me into Clarissa, knocking us both to the ground.

"Clary, you at least stand a small chance of surviving without your powers, but Rose, you're a liability without your powers," Ryder told us, "And until you change that, you're going to be almost useless on the battlefield."

Ryder walked away and I growled.

"Ryder is such a jerk," I told Clarissa.

"He's not always like that," she assured me.

"He's got to be Atropos right? The jerk that cuts the threads," I replied.

Clarissa froze.

"Rose, you've got it all wrong," Clarissa told me, "Arrow is Atropos."

That surprised me. Arrow was really sweet and protective of those close to him. And now that I knew he was Atropos, his protective nature made a lot of sense. He didn't want to lose those close to him. But then that left Clotho and Lachesis, plus an unknown Fourth Fate. Which of the brothers were they?

If I remembered correctly, Lachesis was the second oldest Fate, so maybe Soren was Lachesis. Maybe he was responsible for measuring the life threads and giving and taking resources. Then again, the humans did get a lot of things wrong when it came to the Fates, so maybe Lachesis wasn't the second oldest Fate.

I was just speculating. I didn't know for sure if Soren was Lachesis. He didn't exactly make it clear who was who. I needed to learn more about them. Maybe then I'd be able to figure it out.

Soren approached us and sighed.

"Ryder, you're not being very kind," he told his younger brother.

"I'm not supposed to be," Ryder replied, "I'm trying to prepare them for Eris."