Chapter Twenty-Two

Julius wakes up, his head spinning, and his body numb. He aches in his arms, tension as they are suspended upwards. His head is hanging, like he is sleeping upright. His head lifts, taking in the dark arena. He yanks on his hands, trying to free them from the restraints. He curses and looks up, seeing his hands pinned to the top. Julius looks around him again, becoming very aware to where he is.

The colosseum is very large, with a dome ceiling. Julius is in the middle, surrounded by balcony seats filled with impatient vampires. Some faces are filled with hatred, others snarling, and a very few that are passive. He searches the whole crowd, the ones he could see, but no friendly face. No one from the Outlaw Village. He breathes in sharply, the tangy sent of earth and dirt filling his senses. His knees are planted on dirt, that rubs his knees raw.

Directly in front of him, is a golden throne. It has aged with time, so it looks bronze and rusted. His father sits there, with his legs crossing over one another. His left arms dangling off the arm in a lazy position. Torches line the arena, lighting up the seats as much as possible. The flames flicker off the golden throne, making it look like it is blazing. A smirk crosses his father's face as their eyes meet. The flames flicker through his eyes like a wicked gleam.

His father pushes himself off the throne, letting his cape flow around him. He wore a black suit, with a white tie. His golden crown winks upon his head. Julius bares his teeth in a silent snarl. Drugged and tied up like a traitor. His father is playing by his own rules, no matter his own kin.

"Since our entertainment has awoke, time to begin," the king bellows, his voice echoing through the arena. A roar of escaped the crowd, many of them rallying up, "Eighty lashes to our traitor, and he will participate in the End Games."

Julius cranes his neck but couldn't land eyes on who is behind him. A feeling of an ice cube being slipped down his back. He feels eyes tracking down his back. His father turns, his cape like a red flag.

"So, let's begin. As Julius gets each whip, I will count. After I hit eighty, a ten-minute break and healing time will commence before the first End Game trial." He sits back on his throne, his ankles crossing as he leans back. His grey eyes seem to sparkle with excitement as he looks down upon his Heir. The arena seems to shake, as the crumbling columns shudder. Julius bites his lip and looks at the ground, concentrating whatever will he had to not scream.

A shuffle of feet scruff the ground behind him and he tenses. A choked laugh escapes his flogger as he witnesses the tensing. Julius breathes out, relaxing his muscles. A soft sigh as the whip is flexed in front of the crowd, playing with him.

A sharp sound as it slices through the air and strikes his back.

"One."

The crowd roars with approval. Julius feels the stickiness of blood drip down his back. He gasps, the pain flowing through his body. The sound of a crack echoes and he bites his lip to keep quiet.

"Two."

The arena is in an uproar, egging the flogger on as he gets ready to whip again. Julius hangs there, letting his body dangle. The dirt scrapes along his knees and the scent of blood makes his stomach grumble in hunger. The crack of the whip strikes.

"Three."

An hour or so passes, the pain brutal. He couldn't hear his father anymore to know what number he is on. He grits his teeth and waits for another hit. The whip cracks through the air, slicing into him.

"Seventy-two."

The pain is horrible. It is an electric shock that circulates through his body, frying his nerves. His back arches, blood already covering every single inch. His pants are soaked and his arms groan in protests as his body sways. He never lost consciousness. His father is smirking on his throne, his voice never wavering after each strike.

The resonating crack of the whip slashes against his back in a harsh stroke, earning a low groan from Julius. The crowd screams as the noise is heard. Nothing is right about this, this blood thirst for blood of another vampire. His head dips, black dots filling his sight. He shakes it off, eyeing the drenched dirt in front of him.

"Seventy-three."

The minutes pass the pain grows. Hot white pain explodes through his skull and he grips the chain his hands are pinned to. His father leans forward in his throne, malice dancing around his eyes. His fingers interlace in front of him as the flogger raises the whip. The crack makes Julius flinch and cry out as it over laces the other marks, diagonally down his back.

"Seventy-nine."

The whip cracks and he bit his lip harder, blood gushing in his mouth for the millionth time. His father glances around the arena, soaking in the chaos he has started. His lips quirk into a smirk as the crowd roars their thirst for more.

"Eighty."

Julius hangs limp on the chains, his body burning with pain. He couldn't move and yet, the ten minutes to compose himself are closing in. It wouldn't be enough, but it has to be. His flogger came around to undo his restraints and Julius caught the face. The General smiles, his eyes heating with excitement. Blood stains his hands and freckles his face. The last chain loosens around his wrists and he falls forwards, his numb arms hitting the crowd with a thump. He winces and find he couldn't stand up, the sudden movement of his arms stretching his back.

Soft hands touch his arms and his eyes flicker up, meeting those of the healer. The female smiles, her soft smile sends warmth through him. Whoever made them, whoever their master was, blessed this one. But even she would not be able to heal his whole back, not before the trial. Her eyes sparkle with sympathy as she helps him stand, her healing hand resting on his mangled back.

The healer guides him to a corner in the arena, with a small broken chair and a put together medical tray. Julius sits and she immediately grabs the cleaning wads, soaking them with some kind of ointment.

"Now that we had a share of bloodshed from the traitor, let us talk about the End Game," the moment the name escaped, the audience roared and stomped their feet. Traitors, thieves, soldiers and volunteers to join in the games. "The End Games has been canceled for three centuries, due to the king before me. He thought it was too cruel and inhuman to allow them to continue." Julius watches from his spot, his back screaming as the healer patches up his back. "I say, that is wrong. The vampires that are held in containment of the dungeons should fight for their life. I say we do a three-trial game, where there can only be one team of winners." The crowd loves the idea and the healer scoffs softly, while taping his bandages.

The king turns to his son, his eyes dark in the torch light. "My son and his friends," he said the word like a curse word, "will be one of the teams. No more pardoning, no more letting criminals off the hook just because they are part of the kingdom. So, the first trial starts in three minutes and this arena will be changed to the trial. The other five teams will be announced then." He claps his hands and the entire colosseum morphed.

Where the pole Julius was tied to, disappeared. Six holes were drilled into the earth, wide enough so someone can slip through the opening. The throne materializes in the balconies, surrounded by his people. Julius is still in the corner, the healer gone. Jacob and Davis are beside him. Jacob glances at him, his green eyes full of worry and anger. Davis clenches his jaw and watches everything unfolds.

Teams of three surround each of the openings, some of the teams are familiar to the three of them. The other teams are imprisoned because of Julius and his friends. He doesn't allow the information bother to him as he stands as much as his back would allow. His father grins at him, as if entertained by the way he held himself.

"The first trial is simple. The first three teams to pass into the exit and not die, passes to the second trial. This trial is in the underground and full of water. There are nasty surprises in the dark sea." The smug look intensifies as he sits back, his knees crossing over each other. His left eyebrow raises as he takes in the teams. "Ready. Set," his voice is soft, but loud in the quiet arena. "Go."

Julius takes off, his back stretching tight as his wounds burn. His team behind him as the hole gets closer. Two teams have already managed to jump in and without thinking, Julius slips through the opening. He fell through, his body slamming into freezing water that shocks him. His head goes under and he swims forward, a ripple cascading over him as another body jumps behind him.

The cave is filled with water, enough room at the top to breathe. Julius launches himself, his head breaking the surface. Air is not essential to vampires, but the water is dark enough that they couldn't see clearly. He turns as the other body drops. A dark cavern spans out in front of them, the only light source is the hole above them. A loud rumbling noise shakes the cave and the light fades until it disappears.

"Julius." Jacob hisses. Pain laces up his back, the water licking his wounds. He shakes his head, his jaw clenching.

"We got to go," the prince says in response, "we will be the targets because every team has someone we put in the dungeon.

Davis swims forward, going in the direction they dived in. "I can't see anything ahead, but we might as well follow this tunnel."

Julius nods, his head scraping the top. "Let's go." He dives under, the water rippling around him. His eyes adjust bit by bit enough to see a few feet in front of them. He swims forward and takes the lead. The water seems never ending, and the tunnel never seems to twist of turn.

Julius rears back, slamming into Davis. He curses, bubbles floating from his mouth. A few figures dart in between the dark of the water and where he could see. His head breaks the surface and every visual he has disappears. Davis and Jacob bob beside him, their eyes flickering around them.

"You saw them?" he asks. The other two nod and they sink below, their eyes darting around the water. Shrugging, Julius swims forward and brushes against a hard surface. He jerks his arm away and turns, coming face first with a corpse. A member of the team that was in front of them, one that jumped in first. His eyes are bulging, and his mouth is shaped in a scream. Julius cringes in disgust and floats back, taking his spot back with his team.

A loud, muffled bang echoes through the water and the three turn. Three figures swim to them, surrounding them. White glints of fangs reflect through the water and Julius feels adrenaline pump through his veins as they circle closer.

His back is numb, the cold water did that a while ago. But something hard crashes into his back and he lets out a strangled yelp, that allows bubbles to float. Jacob darts forward and slams a guy into the cavern wall, with a resounding thud. It resulted in a ripple in the water, mixed with blood. The vampire floats to the top, his neck at an odd angle.

Davis gets hit, blood pouring into the water around him. A glint of metal shines through the dark water, giving Julius enough visual to see where the target is. He lunges forward, the water slowing his movements, but he grabs the vampire by his torso and twists. A snap echo the depths and the male's body go in two different directions, blood staining the water. He lets his head break the surface, his eyes adjusting to the darkness again.

Julius feels something sharp plunge into his abdomen and he lets out a gurgling gasp. He looks down into the murky water and sees the water sloshing against a small sharp point. The blade slides back out and Jacob is already on the other vampire, a muffled sound of someone screaming.

Davis swims to him and holds his upright. The trial just started, and they are doomed. Julius feels as Davis guides them, but his eyes fade in and out. He realizes he is infected with Maldom all over again. The water cleans it, but the poison is still making its way through his body. Jacob is beside them, his eyes a dark green in the cavern, but he gives them a nod to indicate that the vampire is gone.

"We have to keep going," Julius says, his voice hoarse and exhaustion sets in, "We can make it. Two teams are down or at least, one is. That means only four other teams have made it further than us."

Jacob nods, but tears slid down his cheeks and Davis look even more grim. They start swimming, the wound in his abdomen sending pains throughout his body when he moves. He grunts and the tunnel opens up in a dome like room. Swords are hanging on the walls, and shields scattered around the cavern flood. Torches line the walls, illuminating the cavern. The water ends at the foot of a flight of steps, leading up to who knows where. A team of vampires are looting through the shields, dark grins plastered on their faces. It is just two, so the third is either looking someone else or at the bottom of the tunnel.

One of the vampires grab a dark red shield from the pile that matches his shirt, his face becoming visible. Julius sucks in a small breath and grabs Jacob's arms. He didn't this vampire with his team, but that just might be he was hidden from view. Elliot Lux is one of Jacob's younger brother, who has been a huge follower of the king's movement. He has been practicing the magic that belongs to the Magicians, so Julius decided to lie to his king, with his brother's help so he could never be part of the army his father is building.

The mission went south, and Elliot caught them, but the king took Julius's lie and ordered them to bring in Elliot for eternal in the dungeons for conspiring to overthrow the king. That was eight years ago, and Elliot hasn't been seen since that day. But he wore the same outfit and wore the same grin he does now.

His eyes flicker up in that moment and meet his brother's, green to green. A wicked gleam shines and he throws back his head, laughing. "My brother! How great of you to finally join us."

Jacob shoves off Julius's and swims to the land, where the team waits with swords and shields. Davis and he look at each other, before following. Eyeing the closest swords, Julius will have to be careful when they proceed.

Elliot watches them as they near, leaning on his sword. His teammate grins and continues looting through a pile, grabbing a long shield that has metal stubs embedded into the bottom and top, an extra layer of protection. His teammate is another one Julius put in the dungeon himself. Victor Hemming stares at them, a sadistic smile flickering across his face. Elliot gives him a sideways glance, a smile still on his face.

The ledge looms above them and they haul themselves onto the piece of land, under the watchful eye of Elliot and Victor. Elliot stands straighter, his sword swinging at his side. A small shield attached to his other arm. A small pointed sword dangles loosely in Victor's grip, a deadly grin directed at him.

Julius feels a sharp pain go through his body. He groans softly, clutching his abdomen. Blood gushes and he feels woozy. Elliot tilts his head and looks at the wound, anger snaking across his face.

"Seriously?" he snaps, "I ask them to do one thing and they stab the wrong one." His identical eyes mirroring Jacob's. "So, Victor, I guess this changes up the plan a little."

Victor shrugs, a dangerous gleam shining in his pale hazel eyes. "He dies. That is all that matters. Julius is mine to kill, but I can take out the other instead."

Jacob strides toward his brother and Elliot flicks his wrist, throwing him back into the water. Davis and Julius look wide eyed as Elliot chuckles. "Your father got persistent when he found out the reason behind you throwing me in the dungeon. I wasn't trying to overthrow him but add to his magicians. He began training me, when he heard you didn't come visit or send reporters to check in on me. I became one of his top, powerful magicians."

Victor shakes his head, a frown replacing his smirk. "Family isn't always blood, no matter which realm you find yourself in."

Jacob swims back to the shore and Julius steps in protectively in front of him. The younger brother snorts, waving his sword at him. He is thrown against a wall and held there by invisible restraints. "Why? I get why you hate us, but why do you worship him?"

Elliot turns to him, looking at him restrained to a wall. "He cares about his people. He hates that for a while, vampires were the weaker species. With him in control, we can be the top. Werewolves, our greatest enemies, can finally be discarded to the bottom. Vampires have always been the darkest creatures, the ones that need blood to survive."

Jacob inhales. "But he doesn't care about you. He cares about being the king of the realm, not helping vampires become the most dangerous race."

His brother shakes his head. "You wouldn't know. You only know what you have seen, what you believe you have experienced." He sighs, leveling his sword toward him. "I have to kill you and start the next phase of the plan. Julius cannot escape alive, and neither can his treasonous friends."

A small bolt of purple shoots from the tip of the sword and Victor lunges at Davis, his sword swinging. The bolt slams into Jacob but it stuns him for a few before letting him go. He gasps out and ducks as Elliot swings the sword. Julius flails against the clear bonds and he yells out curses at the men below.

Davis manages to grab a sword that skids away from the pile. He jabs at his opponent, drawing him back little by little. Jacob is managing to avoid the sword, but his luck will run out without having a weapon. In one maneuver, Elliot manages to slip behind Jacob and drive the sword downward. Julius screams a warning and his friend effectively turns in time, letting the sword stab air.

Elliot growls, sending a nasty glare to him and snaps his fingers. Julius opens his mouth and no words escape. He kicks his feet and clenches his jaw. He can only watch as the event unfold, and he feels powerless each step of the way.

Davis and Victor are hacking away at each other, the clanging of swords echoing the chamber. Victor's shield came up and forces Davis away. He looks frustrated and exhausted, the pains of fighting vampires taking its toll. Jacob breaks away from Elliot, darting to Davis, and yanking a sword off the rocks by his feet.

Elliot rises behind him and Julius thrashes on the wall, his mouth open. He tries to warn his friend, but he watches as his own brother jabs the sword down. Davis yells, but the sword punctures through his shoulder. Jacob screams, wrenching himself away. Elliot laughs, his insanity mixing with the scream of pain.

While Elliot is distracted by the blow he dealt, Jacob turns and lands a blow across his brother's chest. The blade cut through his shirt, blood soaking the fabric. Elliot stumbles and raises a hand to the cut, blood coating his fingertips. "Not possible."

Davis lands a blow, his sword slippery with blood. The sword hits the rock, where Victor's body was. Julius falls, landing below with a loud thud. He groans as pain radiates through his whole body. Biting his bottom lip, he sits up. Jacob and Davis standing in a pool of blood.

"They are gone, just like that?" Davis asks.

Jacob drops the sword and crosses his arms over his chest. "Magic. The magicians do it all the time, when the King calls for them. This time it seems like Elliot was in control."

"Is that even possible?" Julius asks, his eyes straying around them. He sees a hole in the wall, where light breaks through. "I think I see our way out."

Jacob follows his stare and nods, a frown wrinkling his face. "This is too easy. You are poisoned, but none of us are dead."

"None of us were supposed to survive, Elliot said that." Davis states, his frustration hitting all of them. "So, why did they leave just because Jacob cut his brother?"

Julius shrugs, the question hitting him as well. It was too easy and too quick, but they had to make it out before another team. The poison is slowly crawling through him. He jogs to the opening and climbs up the rusted ladder. Hundreds of voices chant as they climb and soon, the arena comes to view. Julius is the first out and turns in a slow circle.

Davis and Jacob join him, but he gapes at what he sees. The throne is in front of him, like it was when they jumped in the hole. Two other teams line beside the King. Elliot and Victor smirk at them, the cut across his chest healed. His father is talking to the other team and when the crowd began roaring, he turns.

Surprise glints as he cocks his hip to the side. He claps once, twice before making his way to them. Elliot and Victor look everywhere but the King as he gestures them to join the others. They began walking, and the water's disappearance causes Julius's wounds to ache. He flinches but lines up beside Elliot, a wall between the brothers.

The King snaps his hand and the holes are filled in. Whoever is left under, is now dead or dying. They can't suffocate, but without food, they wouldn't last for five weeks. "We have our winners of the first trial."

The crowd applauds and chants in appreciation. Julius meets his father's stare and straightens. "This is just the beginning."