Chapter 19

Belle was ready, she was. Any shaking or tremors of her hands could easily be explained by attributing everything to the emotions of elation for battle. She wasn't afraid. Out of all her competitors, she was the one with most battle knowledge. She had gone against Bathra and won. Who did people fear when going to war, her. That's who. And she wasn't lying, okay maybe she was. She might have talked a big game, but she was scared. Not just of what was to happen but the future. Fighting Nuala who had become so important to her brother would also be tough on her spirit. But it had to be done.

Frankly, Belle could care less about the reason they are all in this mess. She was happy that the gods were looking to rid themselves of humans. Sure, some of them were good and kind, a few had been friendly to her back when she used to serve them and go to war for them. But most would usually show their true colours when you least expect it. She had been burned, betrayed and tossed out like a rabid dog so many times that with the sweet aroma of freedom, she was grateful.

If she won, all she wanted was freedom from them, and she would completely cut off all contact with the humans. She wasn't as interested in wiping them off and starting again. All she really wanted was peace away from them and time properly spent with her brother.

Her brother Arthuila, the stronger of two. She was thrilled because of the time spent together, and he was all the more reason to want to win. Enough of the past and sappy thoughts, it was time for war, and whether they liked it or not, she was going to win.

The die had been cast.

Anthuina looked at everything she had, and she remembered everything she had lost. She had lost too much, and it seemed it was her fault. No matter how many times she had tried to tell herself that Laiithu was to blame, Anthuina would still go to bed crying. And ever since she found out the truth, all she had been doing was making up for lost times. She appeared every day and night to the mid-wives, expectant mothers and fathers. She helped with the proper formation of babies and everything her job initially entailed.

It was interesting, she had thought to get back into the swing of things. Nothing could stop her now, until when it was pronounced that she would fight. She had thought it was all over, but Kiluaroth had spoken, and as usual, his word was law.

If she won, Anthuina wondered what she would do. Definitely stay with the humans trying to atone for her sins but wouldn't make other gods remain if they didn't want too. Anthuina wasn't sure yet what she wanted, it wasn't best to think of things like that before a fight. All she could do was make a plan and hope that the match doesn't become physical because if it did, she would be the first one to die.

The die had been cast.

He had never thought of himself as suicidal but now, planning for a battle that he never wanted to be a part of, his first battle since Zadra died/ entered a comatose state. But Kiluaroth was tired. Leading the other gods was never a choice, he was just all that was left and a natural-born listener. It was so easy to sit and listen to other people pour out their frustrations and anguish. And Kiluaroth knew that if he won, the job would increase tenfold or maybe even more.

What more could he do than wish he was dead. It didn't make it easy when he thought of what would happen should he win. Kiluaroth didn't want to be near the humans, but he also didn't want to be near the other gods. He wanted to be alone, safe and somewhere else. But they would never allow him to abandon them, he would never let himself to do that either. It was such a problem.

Maybe, Kiluaroth would escape in the middle of it all, throw a carcass of what looked like him and disappear from everything, have peace that he never had but who knows. He was still unsure of what he had to do. Kiluaroth sighed as he left his domain, the war was all that was gone now.

The die had been cast.

Back to Nuala's P.O.V

Only three gods left before I can finally reclaim peace for my people and go home for the first time permanently. The joy that filled my heart could not be explained. I would see my parents, maybe siblings if I had any and get to live in harmony with people who looked and spoke like me. I could taste it on my tongue, everything I had been waiting for. And even when I thought of everything that came to making this dream of mine happen, my heart became sad. The gods had been through a lot, it wasn't only us that betrayed them but even one of them. They lost others in a bid to end it all, sever themselves from us.

I had thought a lot about what I would do, should I win. I hadn't discussed it with Arthy because I had been feeling a bit suspicious of him, which made no sense. But I kept my thoughts to myself this time. Maybe it would be better for all interested parties for both sides to not be involved with one another. Obviously, the gods who still craved human touch and interaction could afford to live with us, but those who wanted nothing to do could stay and not be called upon.

It was a wish of mine, for all gods and humans to live in peace and harmony but upon living with them and hearing their challenges, I can't force my wish upon those who don't want it. If I didn't want to be killed in my sleep, giving them a chance to choose would ultimately be better. Arthy stood by the opening, watching his sister with sadness all over his body. I was sure he wished she didn't have to do it, fight but she wanted too. She had even promised to come back to him with a smile.

It made me uncomfortable when I thought about potentially facing his sister at the end of everything. Arthy had been training me from the beginning, even before the fighting and I wondered sometimes. If by beginning a relationship with a sister, I was sure he hated, he would turn sides. He hadn't till now, but that was because there were other gods. Gods who could kill her themselves but if the two of us were in the ring, who would Arthy choose?

**need to rewrite this* One never knows who would win whenever you go to war. There were too many variables and invariables. A secret hidden in your opponent's mind, your people might betray you and so many forces could be against you. There would be a lot on your mind but all your mind should forever be focused on from the moment you step into the battle is 'hide, defeat and survive'. Belle knew this, she had been chanting this from the moment she woke up and now, standing before two unrecognizable piles of flesh that were previously her competitors, all she could think is 'I won'.

Unlike the other matches, three people entered the battle ring, each with what they want to accomplish, a reason why they should not die and a reason why they should come out victorious. They know what to prepare for, a woman whose life is dedicated to ending others, another whose dream and future ambition is to bring more humans to this world, and the last? No one knew his own, not even himself.

Anthuina, Belle and Kiluaroth each had never thought they would be the last ones standing between Nuala and her dream for a perfect today and tomorrow. There was no time for the exchange of pleasantries, the gods were not as focused on this match as they were on the one to happen after. If left to them, the two would occur on the same day. The match was to be as quick as possible but sadly it was the opposite.

And immediately the bell rung, they darted away from each other, eyes watching the other two, Kiluaroth tried to formulate a plan with how fast his eyes were moving. At this moment now, he didn't want to die, he wanted to live but the only way to live, was to have a good plan, a great plan in fact, one that takes into account your opponent's skills and fears. And as he was thinking, he settled at a corner, in plain sight, close to Anthuina who he could tell was hiding behind the bushes and Belle who for some strange reason he couldn't pinpoint.

Anthuina had hidden herself in the fake foliage provided on the field. She had opened a small section of it in order to look and observe but there was nothing much to see. She could see Kiluaroth just enough, he was closer than she had thought but she could not find Belle. Deciding to instead focus on him, she wondered what she could do to get closer without him noticing and inevitably kill him. Anthuina had realized that he hadn't fought with any god, his match with Zadra was canceled but even without field knowledge, he was powerful.

ANTHUINA'S P.O.V:

They were on his terrain; the ground would protect its master. Maybe, that was why he was fine being out there for everyone to see. I had to think carefully about what to do. So, I watched, planed and waited. We waited so much that time flew quickly and we spent over a day sitting where we were. As gods, there was really no need to sleep, it was easy to replenish our energies. He still sat where he was, I still hid and Belle was still nowhere to be found.

When a day became two, three and almost a week, the gods and Nuala began shouting at us to move or do something. I had grown tired and their voices served as an irritant which was why I moved out so quickly without watching my footing and without remembering that there was another god involved. And that was what caused me, my life. Belle had hidden traps everywhere. From the moment I took one foot out of what protected me, my leg was caught. This caused me to fall on the numerous traps which came seemingly out of the ground. I couldn't move without pressing a part of myself deeper in the sand and traps. Bear, dogs, deer's and many more animal traps and they were there. I looked at Kiluaroth, enraged that he had done nothing and he still wasn't looking at me. Infact he hadn't moved from that spot. He lay so lifeless that I thought he was dead. It was only when his body fell down and broke into tiny pieces fluttering in the wind that I realized with my final death that he too was gone. The only one left standing was Belle.