"I heard you scream," Tarek sat in the cell across from Aimi, a look of amusement on his face. He had been in the arena for less than a year, and his way of killing sickened her. He was always brought back covered in blood. Though it never seemed to be his.
"Honestly thought the famed Blue Demon kicked the bucket. Woulda been sad if you'd died to someone else."
Before the arena Tarek had been used as security for some nobleman, untill he'd killed him that was.
Aimi ignored his taunting, Instead focussing on her wounds. Fresh water and rags had been delivered to each of the fighters that morning.
"Your tattoos still look great. Glad the monster missed them?" Tarek was leaning on his cell door. Aimi hated that word. monster.
In the six (6) by six (6) square feet of the cells Tarek always slept curled up, never being able to stretch out while sleeping. But the ceiling was still far off for him. As it was for most of the monsters to make sure they couldn't (TW) /hang/ themselves.
Most cells were ten (10) feet tall and had pipes for water running threw them.
There where bathing areas, and a medical room after all. Just incase there was to much blood or one of the fighters got deathly sick.
Though the sponsors payed for those luxurious. And Aimi was positive she'd just lost her sponsors with that little stunt she'd pulled in the arena.
(Apologies for my absence!)
Malachi watched the lush mountainside roll by as he pondered his options. If he was really going to do this, he’d have to be extremely cautious about it, or else he was already dead.
The carriage he was sitting in held him and his mother on one side, and his sisters on the other. Queen Olympia’s expression was stormy, Zipporah looked like she wanted to break the tension but didn’t know what to say, and Adelaide followed Malachi’s example, staring out at the window, her eyes dull.
The queen sighed. “My son.”
He pulled himself out of his thoughts and turned to her.
“You have to go to the next one. I can’t keep doing this for you.”
Malachi blinked. “You mean me skipping the-“
“Yes,” she sighed again, exasperated. “I know you don’t like it, me and the girls don’t like it either but… it’s tradition. And combined with your previous absences, and the interruption you caused… I’m afraid your father will tip over the edge.”
Malachi briefly pondered the fact that they were talking about this, and not that someone, regardless that they were a monster, ripped their own throat out. Then again, Addy and Zora were right across from them. And he wasn’t about to tell his mother that.
“I-“ Anger and tiredness had made him momentarily speechless.
“I was scared, mother.” Everyone turned to Adelaide at the sound of her voice. “And when the monster screamed for Blue Demon to kill him? I was sick to my stomach. I wanted to leave so much. All Malachi did was fulfill my wish. Nothing else. Why is that so wrong?”
“It was dangerous. It will make us look weak. There will be rumors- and before you know it they will reach the ears of our enemies.” The queen snapped, surprisingly quick to respond. “We all must bear witness to the execution of these creatures, or else-“
“MOTHER.” Malachi had finally found his voice. “Drop it.” He gestured to Zipporah, who was looking at the floor, shuddering and sniffling.
Queen Olympia stared; it was her turn to be speechless. Malachi glared at her, then reached over and touched Zipporah’s knee, whispering words of comfort.
The rest of the ride was spent in silence.
(Don't worry about it! I haven't been on much either)
In all honesty Aimi hated her tattoos, she'd only excepted them because it meant sponsors. But that was the most her's had ever done for her- well also apples. Aimi loved apples.
The sun and the moon, other fighters had found some kind of pitiful meaning behind it. Aimi had always thought it was because her sponsor was drunk and couldn't think of anything else. She wouldn't have minded if they had been messed up.
Across the way Tarek continued to taunt her, but Aimi blocked him out. Her mind wandered to all the fights that would take place the next few days. All upintill she finally kicked the bucket.
Was it even worth it to fight anymore? She'd practically sentenced herself to death already. Her eyes slid to her "pet" rock. Something she'd had since before the arenas.
(TW) it was sharp enough- what was treading one death for another? At least then it would be on her terms. Aimi shook her head. She'd made a promise to her mom all those years ago. To survive untill they met again.
A sad smile crept onto her face, and before Aimi could stop herself, tears slipped out
of the corners of her eyes.
In another life perhaps.
