Opening up

Darla stared at the man before her. Did he know what he was saying, if he was lieing about this, then Selene herself would strike him dead.

But then, she put together all the things she had noticed. All she silently observed.

Like the time he had thought she was sleeping one night and tore open a portal. With. His. Hand. Not to mention his increased speed in combact. During training, he didn't fight like someone who has not had training, knowing her moves before she made them but tried to cover it with luck.

Who was he deceiving??

She had observed all this all along and waited for him to tell her himself....when he was ready but the moment she saw his eyes glowing the first time....and what is this about not getting drunk.

Daryn held his breath waiting for her to say something he held unto her hand on his face afraid she might pull away but she justs stared at him with those beautiful, beautiful eyes that looked into his soul.

"Darla....please say something. Anything."

Still she said nothing just stared.

"I'll understand if you are angry at me. I should have said something i know but, i didn't know how to tell you. When i discovered, i was still confused myself....."

"I'm not angry you didn't tell me.....in fact i had suspected after seeing your_abilities that honestly, you were not good at hiding"

Daryn's eyes widened. "How much did i give away?"

"Hmm...I'll say alot" she answered laughing.

"The first was when we trained for the first time. You predicted my attacks like it wasn't your first time in combact like i believed."

"That was obvious?"

"Yes. Though you concealed it better the other times we trained..but i still knew"

"Hmm."

"What i didn't expect though is your eyes glowing Daryn. I had not seen that before until recently,"

"True. Its an ability i just discovered and i can't control actually. It just_ happens."

"Ok. That explains why its not the same during the day"

They fell silent staring at each other for a minute.

"Tell me about Eric." Darla said suddenly.

Daryns brows furrowed. "What about him"

"How did you meet_ and don't tell me from the market."

"You already knew he was lying huh"

"Yes. Those hands are not the hands of a trader."

Daryn nodded thoughtful. "Yes his hands are indeed soft." He sighed. After thinking about everytime he tried to hide things from her, she just accepted without making a fuss waiting for him to tell her. She wouldn't act this foolish for anybody that he was sure of. Time he came clean.

"Eric is my friend. A really old friend. He is a champion...just as me. Along with me loosing my memories, my mother placed a curse on me to be always reborn after my death...so i never truely die. Eric doesn't know this"

"So you are Selene's champion huh?" Darla was smiling now.

"Not at the moment, I'm off duty.... But i have until the next full moon to leave"

The last part broke his heart. The smile on Darla's face even dropped replaced with shock then fear. "Why should you leave?" She asked in a hoarse voice chocked with emotion as she tried to hold back tears. Daryn had not seen this side of her before it was painful to see but it touched his heart to know she wanted him around.

"The tournaments are starting soon and as Selene's champion, i have to go and compete its my responsibility Darla."

Fear was written all over Darla's face. She felt as though someone had kicked her to the stomach.

The tournaments, everyone in Azra knew what the tournaments are. A series of events happening anywhere in particular as champions battle each other for dominance. To know which champion was the strongest or had the best blessings. Therefore exhaulting their respective god in the eyes of mortals.

The gods had organised the tournaments as games to entertain themselves but eventually it became an avenue to get devotees. Since the winner of the tournaments was seen in a new light by people and attracted them to the god of the champion that was able to make him invincible.

Normally this might seem not needed, but in a world governed by so many dieties, devotees are atimes needed. Not that all gods needed devotees flocking around them. Gods like Hades or Artemis do not usually participate since they see the attention as unnecessary nuisances.

Others like Demeter or Hestia just used their champions to help people as personal mediums. They never went for battles.

Artemis is a goddess of the hunt and among the moon deities but she is the most secluded. Preferring to be around the wild life, she had never paticipated once.

As for Hades mortals fear him and honestly; he didn't need them to love him either. He was a god of the underworld. The most revered and that was enough power and attention as it was....Until recently he found his own champion.

Gods with high stand and authority over the natural laws and balance of existence did not need the tournaments to gain glory from their devotees because they were seen as most important. So even if their champions won or not it did not matter.

The lesser deities were the ones that tried not to be forgotten by their devotees lest they loose their value and never worshipped as they loose their divinity.

At least, Selene wasn't a lesser goddess but the dangers to Daryn was still there. What if he died, then she would loose him while he would be reborn. She had just found her soul mate and she would loose him.

Darla turned away from Daryn but her head still on his arm using his arm as a pillow. She relaxed in his warmth as fear turned her insides.

Daryn hooked his arm around her waist and pulled her closer to his chest inhaling her scent.

"Darla, don't be scared. I'll be fine..."

"You don't know that Daryn." She said in a whisper. Daryn did not argue. He knew anything was possible. "I just discovered my soul mate and now...." she sucked in a quick breath then turned hastily to Daryn "I am coming with you"