Ch. 12: Angelic Demon

Richie's eyes widened and his face turned ashen, "Corbin told you not go making trouble for yourself. He TOLD you not to show off! But NOOO - you just had to show your fancy little skills and now you're gonna get killed -" I placed my hand over his big mouth for him to keep quite. Richie was being too loud, and I was afraid it would catch someone's attention.

"That's enough, alright? I didn't show off and it is what it is. I can't help it that the troop I'm in is all new fighters, okay? The guard can tell when someone is experienced and when they don't know diddly-squat. I will just have to survive tomorrow and keep my head down in the process."

Richie's clear blue eyes welled with tears, "Ez, but what if-"

"No if's. No buts. I'm going to live. Trust me."

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That night after endless tossing and turning, I finally fell asleep. My dreams replayed the events of my past . . .

'I looked down and realized I was twelve years old again. I was kneeling in the mud as I wearily gazed around at the burning buildings while the ash fell like snow. Screams pierced the sky as women and children fled to the only building left standing; the brothel house. The little remaining men we had for defense scrambled to try to take down the enemy soldiers as blood and guts flew through the air. Among the screams and cries of agony, our small chant kept repeating, "We will not submit!" I tried to get back up from falling in the muck, when my arm was grabbed by Corbin. "You have to get inside! Go now!" He pushed me forward to the brothel as a small ball encased in flames came straight toward us. I flew forward from his momentum and covered my ears as a loud crash resounded behind me. Turning back, I saw Corbin lying under a heap of burning rubble with his legs nearly blown off. Screaming and crying I ran to him to smother the flames. He groaned in an almost delirious state as I looked around me helpless. At that moment, a young soldier appeared in front of me nearly five feet away. Silhouetted by the debris of burning wood and dead bodies, he appeared as an angelic demon sent to ruin the world. Beautiful pitch black hair cascaded well past his shoulders and piercing violet eyes held horrors of untold bloodshed. He was tall and broodingly handsome, which clashed greatly with the mud and blood covering his body. He was wearing a small crown atop his head while the rest of him was heavily clad in golden armor and a long sword graced his hand.

"Sire, the only ones left are the women and children." Another man ran forward and knelt at the feet of this adonis.

"Take the males, leave the women. Since they asked for this war, then they shall know the penalty of defeat." Before he turning around to leave, he looked me dead in the eyes. Inside those irises I saw power, intelligence, and an unbreakable will of determination. I had never felt hate in all my twelve years until I looked in his eyes. Anger welled within me as I burned daggers at this man. HE was the one who brought this devastation upon my people. HE was the one who ruined the brother within my arms, took our men and caused the downfall of our race. In that moment I knew if I ever saw him again, he would rue the day he tore my civilization apart.'

. . . I was sharply brought back to reality when I felt the presence of someone grasping at my waist. Momentarily confused to be twenty-two again within the barracks of our troop, I swung my fist only to be met with a hand halting my blow followed by a small chuckle.

"Easy boy, I promise I will be gentle. I just can't help but come to you tonight; you're pretty face is just too irresistible. Let us have a little fun before you meet your death in the arena tomorrow."

Leaning above me with a sick twisted smile was one of the older men in our troop. He happened to be one of the top ten and was pretty good at fighting. His burly hands and strong bulging muscles reached for me again so quickly that I nearly didn't escape fast enough as I rolled off the bed in a crouched fighting stance.

"Broxten." I spit his name in disgust, "I've told you before I don't do men." This guy had hit on me a few times the last couple weeks, but I never really thought he'd try to lay in my bed since I had made it clear I wasn't interested.

He tried to appear charming, but his nasty food encrusted teeth and perverted jeer just wouldn't allow it, "Ezran, you and I both know it may be your last time to feel the warmth of another body. Now I know it's not the same as dominating a women, so I tell you what - I'll allow you to be on top for just a little while, alright?"

He grabbed for me again, sure that I was wooed well enough. Nearly gagging from his stench, I reached forward to grab his manhood and gave it a sufficient twist as he coughed in pain, "This is as much pleasure as your gonna get from me, now go back to your bunk before I RIP IT OFF." With the last three words I squeezed even harder then pushed him away onto the floor.

Broxten cursed while clutching his private and rocking in a fetal position. He struggled to spit out that he would make me regret that when suddenly the watchman entered our rooms and informed us to get back to our bunks.

I laid back down and could hear Broxten cursing a few beds away while others were quietly snickering. I wasn't sure if tomorrow would have the ten of us working for or against each other, but either way I was going to have to watch my back.