1. Final Champions

This fucking prison.

Gods, but I was half fucking insane. Because now I not only had all that Marcus had told me to process, but also the knowledge that she had made a blood oath with my past self. Not that this part was exactly surprising. Because even without knowing who Ella was to me, I would have been possessive enough over her to know I would have done anything to ensure she couldn't escape me.

And escape me she most certainly would be trying to do.

She was trying to come home.

Something I knew my past self wouldn't have allowed. And I couldn't say that I fucking blamed him, as I would have done the same thing. Fuck, what was I saying, it was fucking me we were talking about, so of course I would do the same thing. Gods, but this was a cluster mind fuck! For starters, how I could I be jealous of my fucking self!? Sitting here right now wondering what the past me was doing with her… to her?

It was maddening, infuriating, and confusing as fuck! But then I knew myself. I knew how hard I fell for her the first time. Knew of the obsession that grew inside me. How hard I fell after only that first sight of her on my stage. And now I would bet my HellBeast's tail that the very same thing had happened. That she had danced just as she had done that night, and I would be lost in all the beauty that was her.

The most beautiful sight my stage had ever seen. Gods, but I could see it so clearly, like a bitter balm rubbed raw over my soul, knowing what the past's poor bastard version of me was going through. Had he been just as hypnotised as I had been? Had he lost his heart that day just like I had? Knowing myself, I would have fought against it for as long as possible before allowing it crack its way through my thick skin of denial.

Fuck, but I just hoped that I treated her right. That I didn't repeat my old mistakes and had gotten my head out of my stubborn ass quick enough. That I protected her regardless… that I did a better fucking job of it than in my own time.

"J?" My brother's voice penetrated my self-loathing long enough to answer him.

"When will I ever stop fucking up?" I admitted, trying to swallow the guilt like rocks were stuck in my throat.

"Brother, come on."

I shook my head at that, unable to stop from thinking back to every mistake I had ever made with her.

"I don't deserve her, Orth," I told him in return, unable to stop my head from falling forward between my arms that were resting on bent knees.

"Bullshit,"Orth said, making me shake my head and a tear escaped, dripping down my nose. Admittedly, not a feeling I had felt since the day she died in my arms.

"J, listen to me… Fucking look at me, brother," he demanded, making me suck in a heavy breath and look up, letting him see the pain there for himself. A sight I was not embarrassed to share, for only my regrets were left for me to be ashamed of.

"Right, you want the truth? Yeah, you fucked up…"

"Great pep talk, steroids," Marcus muttered, making Orth shoot him a ‘shut the fuck up' look, before carrying on.

"…But, J, you both did, and no doubt you both will again."

"She can't be blamed for this," I told him, making him scoff.

"The fuck she can't. Look, I love the girl like the sister I'm sure as shit she will become, but her decision making is lacking." I gritted my teeth at this and reminded him,

"She nearly died, Orth!"

"Yeah, she did, but it was her choice to push her body to that point. It was her choice to hide that shit from you. That, brother, is on her, not you." I shook my head again and told him,

"Yeah, but if I had taken your advice, if I had only gotten my head out my ass long enough to…"

"Fuck me, brother, but how long do you wanna torture yourself, huh? Lerna died through her own choices, just like Ella would have if you had let her." I growled at this.

"If she hadn't overheard the shit I was saying, all the fucking lies I was telling myself, then she…" Again, he was quick to interrupt me.

"What? Wouldn't have done stupid shit? No offence, it was bound to happen at some point, because the truth is, she was taking a risk every fucking day she didn't say shit about her illness. But that day she had a fucking choice, J, and her choosing wrongly… well, that isn't on you," he said, making me sigh back against the wall, scrub a hand down my now damp face, and say,

"I don't agree… I pushed her."

"Yeah, well, what happens when I push you? You come at me, throw shit my way. We fight, punch the crap out of each other, and move the fuck on." I frowned at that and asked,

"What's your point?"

"She could have barged her way in there and slapped the shit out of you. She could have pushed you, written on the fucking wall what a stupid asshole you are… my point is, she had a choice and just like you, she chose the wrong one." I released another sigh at that, knowing he was right. Essentially, we had both fucked up.

But it was what my brother said next that truly meant the most, and was the kind of truth that seeped in deep enough to finally take root and stay there.

"Now, I don't know if what Pencil Dick said was true, that it was always fated for Ella to go back in time or whether this was just another bad fucking decision made. My point is, life is a fight worth stepping in the ring for. You may take the hits, your footing may slip, and you may get knocked on your ass but, brother, you always get back up again…" His warm amber eyes flashed with meaning before he carried on.

"…You don't just stay down and let those hits keep coming. You fight for your life, just like you fight for the love you need to make you whole. That, brother, that is what you do. And I am sure as shit that regret doesn't make the fight easier to win." Like always, my brother knew exactly what to say and I took in each word like lifesaving medicine. But I was too choked up to do anything other than nod my head in agreement. However, Marcus was obviously feeling generous.

"Fuck me, Orth, but I think that's the smartest shit I ever heard come from your big head."

"Bigger the head, the bigger the brain, dick wad." I chuckled at that.

"Er, pretty sure the people of Mangbetu bind the heads of their babies to make them bigger and eventually, that shit causes brain damage," Marcus said, tapping a finger to his temple as their banter continued, and I knew this time this was for my benefit. A way to try and take my mind off shit. When the truth remained that nothing would.

"Regardless of big head or not, what Orth says is true. And as for Ella, she is a fighter, J, and will be one to the bitter end. She will never stop." I dragged a hand through my hair at this and told my best friend,

"Yeah, and when it comes to her, neither will I ever stop and that…" I paused long enough to sigh before admitting,

"…That is my biggest fear right now." My brother raised a brow, making me add, "I would never let her go, no matter what year it is." Orth shook his head a little before replying,

"Then let's hope history repeats itself." Now it was my turn to offer him a questioning look, making him elaborate.

"She escaped you once before." I released a heavy breath at that, knowing he was right.

"Cookie is smart, J, and besides, she has Fate on her side. I have no doubt she will make it home," Marcus added, making me snap,

"Yeah, and what if that fucker is there waiting for her when she gets there?!" Marcus started shaking his head at this before telling me,

"I wasn't talking about Canada, Evergreen, or even Devils… I was talking about you… you are her home now." I swallowed hard at this, hoping like holy fucking hell that he was right. Because even if I had to force my way into my own past and kick my own ass, I would find a fucking way! But before that could happen, I had a different thorn in my side that I needed to eradicate first, and the fucking thorn just showed up.

"Ah, isn't this just perfect, a sweet, little family reunion," Niniane said, clapping her very snappable hands together like this was the most fun the bitch had experienced in years. Seriously, how I could have been insane enough to even touch the bitch, still astounded my grogged, induced mind. Hmm, the word grogged, now I hadn't used that term for a long ass time and why now I wondered? Was it because I was trying to think back on what I was like in the past?

I knew it was early enough for shit to still be raw back then, being that it was only thirty years past since my turn and becoming the HellBeast King. Which also meant that my hatred for human life would have still been as fresh as three weeks past, not three decades.

And speaking of hatred…

"What the fuck do you want now, Niniane?"

"Don't you mean extendable lackey?" Orth added, making me chuckle, a sound that continued when Marcus said,

"Damn, I was going to go with ugly bitch, but yours is way better. What do you think, J?" Niniane's features twisted, giving even more strength to Marcus's insult. Which wasn't exactly surprising, seeing as her colossal ego wouldn't have been able to take it.

"Well, Geryon did make it quite clear that he didn't give a shit if I beheaded the skinny bitch, so yeah, both insults stand," I replied, smirking when Niniane's features distorted further into an affronted sneer.

"Oh, you think yourselves so clever," she replied in a disgusted tone, and I looked to my brother before saying,

"Um, I think I'm pretty smart, yeah… how about you, Orth, do you think I'm smart?"

"Oh, I don't know, you did have that one moment of stupidity a couple years back when you slept with that crazy ass bitch… erm, what was her name again?" Orth replied, making Marcus throw his hand up in the air like some kid in a classroom and said,

"Oh pick me, pick me… I know this one!" I chuckled at this as Niniane's eyes heated to a glowing green and I could see her start to lose her shit. It was like fucking child's play and way too easy, seeing as Niniane's downfall had and always would be her inflated ego… well, that was until the day I got the chance to kill her. Killing Niniane was the second day I was looking most forward to and dreaming of right now, naturally the first day being when I was reunited with my Chosen one once again.

"Laugh it up while you still have something to amuse you, for pretty soon, you four, will be in my arena and this time you face not living contenders, but that of my summoned souls!"

My eyes widened in shock. Seriously, the crazed bitch had obviously seriously lost it this time.

"So, you wish us to fight a battle we could never hope to win and die trying…? Great plan, very original," Marcus muttered with a roll of his eyes. However, her eyes were elsewhere, solely fixated on me as she continued to tell me of things to come.

"Oh yes, some of you will die, which is the plan. For his Lordship, well, this is just one of many ways in which he wishes to punish you. For what he intends for you is death by his hands in sight of his new queen." At this I lashed out at the bars, making them hiss angrily with power that invisibly burned. But it was fucking worth it just to see her take a cautioned step back, remembering what happened the last time she got too close.

"He will die fucking trying, and once his severed head is in my grasp, then we shall see who's fucking platter it ends up served on!" I growled Demonically, making the unmistakable fear in her eyes flash before she forced it back.

"I must confess, your confidence is appealing but then, it always was," she fucking purred, making me sneer at her,

"Yes, well let's see how fucking appealing it is to you, Niniane, when your head is also there served at my Queen's feet!"

She hissed at that, a grating sound that made me tense my jaw as it was like teeth chewing on a chalkboard.

"Then I will welcome the sight of his Lordship's punishment, for as you survive the fight, those you care for will not, and I am looking forward to watching as you try to save them all. That, and the new souls I am about to gain." Then she winked at Orth and smirked at Marcus. My brother snarled at her, showing her the growth of his fangs, while Marcus pretended his middle finger just popped up from winding an imaginary jack in the box.

She ignored both and walked away with one last thing to say thrown over her shoulder.

"Here's to the death of the final Champions of…"

"The Summoner Games."