Ruination

Chapter 7: "I love the war paint"

KALI POV

I felt the rage pooling in the pit of my stomach threatening to explode, to rage out of control. I couldn't help but think about how much the six years had changed me. I had never been loyal to Octavia, our Blodreina...but I couldn't ever see myself defying her while we were down here. The people that wanted out, they needed hope, they needed death. The only hope I could offer them was to sway her choices. Octavia was impressionable, Gaia sowed the seeds of darkness in Octavia, but I was the one that watered them, no matter the distrust, I proved myself to be useful to her. 

I felt Gaia's gaze on me and I frowned, my eyes hardening as I watched the pit. It wasn't so long ago that I was in there, I remember the fear Atticus expressed upon seeing me in there. I had become twisted and been reborn, a demon worse than before. But I was also a mother now. I had the role of a lifetime.The cheers of the warriors around them echoing throughout the fighting pit caused my stomach to churn as I eyed Kane. 

To survive you had to be willing to kill. From the looks of it, they'd fight and die in the bunker. I wanted to feel the sun on my skin, to go anywhere I wanted and to see Bellatrix again. Of all the things I wanted, seeing my old friend again seemed as if it was the most unattainable of all of them. I doubt I would ever see her again, but I'd be dammed if I ever let her father die before she ever had the chance to know him.

"Each of these four combatants have committed crimes against Wonkru. They are our enemies—traitors to our people, traitors to our code of strength, unity and honour. But today one of you will be given a chance to once again be called brother or sister. However, first, you must survive. The only rule in this arena is, be the last." I scoffed at Gaia's empty words. She believed in justice, in the survival of our people but she hated her job. She hated what they had become. I know I did. I had become the very thing I had promised to never become again. "As always, as we invite death into this hall, we honour it." I looked around as everyone bowed their heads, ready to recite the prayed of Wonkru. "Omon gon oson." (All of me for all of us.)

"Omon gon oson." Everyone repeated. I refused to utter the empty prayers.

"Be the last." The people crowding the fighting pit began fighting, racing towards their weapons, I eyed Kane closely, watching as he fought for his life. What little of it was left. Everyone knew Kane didn't do it. Octavia knew it, but she wasn't the girl everyone once knew. She had become something else entirely, we all had to varying degrees. I had regressed. My frown deepened as I watched Kane beat the man's head in with a battle axe, his cries of anguish and pain echoing through the pit as everyone booed him.

"Soriyas." (Pathetic) I spat, watching the blood and brain matter seep onto the ground.

I glanced to my side, my eyes meeting Indra's momentarily, the loud blaring noise of the crowd cheering on Kane as he fought and killed the final opponent. I knew the look on his face, the hatred he felt for the blood he drew. While we were all Wonkru, no one could deny the roots they had to their clans. We were all still from our respective clans, no amount of laws could change that. "He's losing them." Indra warily pointed out to Octavia.