4. The Arena

Facing the door now, I couldn't help but allow a slither of trepidation to seep in as I looked back toward where I knew the waterfall was, remembering what had happened the last time I rushed in and acted without thinking. Could I really afford something like that to happen again? Because, this time, I had been lucky, getting out of it relatively unscathed, although it was true that I didn't yet understand what ramifications there could be from grabbing the Summoner's Book of Souls. I didn't exactly feel different, but then I wasn't about to climb the highest balcony of doors to then jump off to see whether or not I could fly. Basically, if I had any superpowers, I wasn't yet in a position to find out what they were.

Although maybe I was, especially when I heard Jared's voice again,

"Ella… I'm so sorry… Goodbye, my love."

"Jared!" I shouted in panic and sure enough…

I turned the handle.

Of course, half of me had been expecting to just open the door and walk through the green mist, only to be rewarded with finding Jared right there on the other side. Or should I said hoping, because this was the happy ever after I was looking for after all this time apart. I wanted this to be the door to his actual cell and by me opening it now, he would have the ability to simply follow me back through into the Temple.

But in reality, this didn't happen. Of course it didn't! This was, after all, us I was talking about, and when had anything ever been that easy for us both? The answer to that was never. So therefore, I wasn't really surprised to find that this didn't happen and, instead, I found myself in what appeared to be an actual prison. One that I was shocked to say looked empty. And for the most part it was mostly nondescript in its appearance. Plain, pale walls looked tunneled from stone with obvious precision, given how smooth they were. This interruption in the carved rock was only broken up by the barred cells that looked to once be occupied, if the etched graffiti on the back walls was anything to go by.

A domed ceiling curved around and gave it the appearance of some futuristic space vessel I was exploring. One with recessed strips of light, where I could only just make out the flames flicking behind milky glass panels above. And that was it. It held no other distinguishable features. That fact alone made it quite creepy, regardless of not knowing exactly where I was.

But then I remembered once my mom and dad telling me about their trip to Italy, where they visited the Colosseum in Rome. They told me about the underground, a network known as the hypogeum. One that played an essential role in the Colosseum"s purpose of entertaining near eighty thousand bloodthirsty spectators. A place today that was open to visitors willing to pay the extra to see it. A hive of activity back in its glory days where fighting and spilling blood wasn't its only aim. Everything that could have been made into a spectacle seemingly was, including the thousands of animals that were used throughout its violent history.

This thought made me wonder if instead of just holding Jared prisoner, was she in fact using him for fighting? It would make sense considering both times I had seen her, she had appeared at Jared's fight club with the intention of picking up new contenders. Demonic beings she would eventually see beaten and available for her to add to her collection ready to be summoned.

Could she be using Jared like that now? Could she have her own fight club up above these cells? I mean, there were no windows, so I could certainly be underground. But then considering I really had no clue as to where I was exactly, then perhaps this was just nothing but speculation on my part.

Either way, for as far as I walked, all the cells looked empty, so unless there was like another prison block, then I really needed to try something else. So, I started to make my way toward the opposite direction and back to where the doorway had first led me into. It was like a labyrinth of endless tunnels and hallways that I knew eventually would have to lead me to where Jared was being kept. Because surely, it had to lead me fucking somewhere!

"Where are you, HellBeast?" I asked aloud, while reaching up and running my thumb across the wolf necklace I had finally gotten back. Then after picking yet another direction to try, it was as if the Fates were finally on my side because I suddenly heard the thundering of an audience. It was a sound that instantly made me freeze in my steps.

The moment I could detect where it was coming from, I started off running. Again, all the cells I passed were empty, but I couldn't help feeling a kind of buzz calling out to me. It was strange and hard to explain, but it was like a tugging on my soul. Something deep within me that was calling out and now guiding my steps.

I couldn't help but question if it wasn't the power of the book I had taken possession of back in the past? I knew the same power was freely flowing down in this place because I could feel it. I recognized it. But more than that…

It recognized me.

Like we were linked, and it was calling out to me. The feeling grew stronger the further around the prison I traveled. But then when the thundering in my heart started to beat to a quicker pulse, I knew the book was crying out for me. As if it was being abused and knew I was its savior. Or perhaps it was the souls that were all linked to it that did that. The ones that had their lives stripped bare and were forced to become nothing more than a malevolent puppet.

Well not for much longer.

Not if I had anything to do with it!

I ended up finding what I first thought was a dead-end because nothing but a wall of smooth, pale stone faced me. But then lines of glowing green lights appeared from behind it, as if the wall was becoming transparent, like clear water, rippling and unable to yet show the whole picture.

"What the…?" I muttered as I stepped closer, before placing my hand flat on the wall. Something that caused me to suck in a startled breath as I felt the rush of power flow pass into me. Like some kind of ghost had just floated right through my body and left behind the essence of magic.

Strong magic.

After that, the image no longer wavered but became a solid, clear picture of a door, one glowing green and urging me to enter. A large symbol appeared at the center, glowing brighter than the edges did, and I didn't know how I knew what I was looking at, but I did. I knew that it was a summoning circle and that the Demonic symbol at the center would change depending on which Demon you were trying to bring forth. The ancient runes on the outer ring told of the Summoner, markings given to each to distinguish their rank, how many souls collected and how many years they had held such status.

But how would I know this?

Right now I couldn't answer this internal question, only that I could once again assume that my connection with the book was why. It was also why after taking a cautious moment to listen to see if anyone would be behind it, I finally opened it, feeling the same veil of power flow through me once again. It was as if this was a door only ever intended to be used by one person.

A Summoner.

"Well okay then," I muttered to myself again, seeing as I now seemed to be one big walking, talking key. Which was why I quickly slipped inside and soon had to hide my gasp of horror the moment I saw what was happening… And what had no doubt become a daily nightmare for Jared to be forced to go through.

My instincts had been right…

This was an arena.

Only now it looked as if I had just caught the tail end of what that bitch, Niniane, had clearly planned to be the final act.

And it was worse than I could have ever imagined!

"Oh no," I whispered as I took in the impossible odds four men were being forced to battle against. Because there, in the centre of an army of souls, was a horned Demon I didn't know, but who he was with was what had my heart in my throat. Orthrus, Marcus, and Jared looked as if they had been fighting tirelessly for hours with no end in sight. Because I may not have been an expert on this whole Summoning business, but even I knew that these souls couldn't be killed.

Which was when my blood started to boil at just the thought of what the bitch had put them through and for how long. But my eyes focused on Jared, and I had to force myself to stay where I was and not just go running toward him!

I swear, my heart could barely take it. Just the thought of what he must have been put through all this time… I could see from the state of his clothes that he had just been tossed in a cell since the day I last saw him. And after seeing the cells for myself, I knew the conditions he had been forced to endure.

Which was why I could feel my fists clenching as my anger started building. But then I watched from behind a pillar, one covered in what looked like a thick, burnt vine that not long ago would have framed the walls of the whole arena with life. Although from the looks of some of those thorns, most of which were bigger than my legs, then I would say it wasn't the type of life you wanted anywhere near you. Making me wonder what had happened here to cause such destruction?

From where I was standing, I watched as the one responsible for it all made her way down from the platform she had been enjoying the show from. She had obviously used a door behind her as she disappeared for a few seconds before she then remerged from a portal she must have created. Just like I had previously seen her do on Jared's stage, making me wonder if I would have the ability to do this at some point.

Of course, I had no clue how any of this worked and, to be honest, I didn't exactly feel much different to how I did before I took hold of that book. Other than having this ‘feeling' that seemed to be trying to tug me closer to it, it was like I said before, it wasn't as if I felt like some damn superhero. Pity, but at the very least I knew that it had worked once, so in theory, if I could get close enough to the book a second time, then I should be able to take her power and with it, control over the souls she commanded.

Well, here was to wishful thinking, or this was going to be a pretty crappy rescue. Because there were only two ways this was going to play out, and I was going to either end up running into Jared's arms, or I would end up in some cell right next to him.

But then, on reflection, I didn't think the bitch would be kind enough to do that. Maybe stick my head on a spike right outside his bars, perhaps. Either way, I knew this was my one chance because if I didn't do something now, then I would be forced to watch as those I cared about fell in battle.

The moment she emerged, I watched as she started walking closer to the four men who were valiantly standing their ground, despite knowing what was coming. She started clapping, making me grit my teeth as even more anger coursed through me. A feeling that only managed to intensify that of the book because it seemed to be still trying to pull me closer. Something I could finally do now, seeing as Niniane wasn't worried about someone taking it from her.

Assumption was, after all, the mother bitch of all fuck ups.

Something my uncle always used to tell me… well, perhaps in not so many colourful words, but I preferred my version because it was most definitely more fitting right now.

At the very least, her ugly approach was making her army float back and giving the men some space. She looked like some evil bird queen, with her flowing gown covered in shimmering gasoline green feathers. It was a mermaid style, with the longer feathers saved for the bottom of her dress, making it flare out around the floor. The top section was covered in an intricate woven pattern of much smaller feathers, each fixed tight to her slim body before arching outwards over her breasts. This made it look like a green wave crashing up against the rocks with her body caught inside the swell.

As for the crowd, they all looked to be on tenterhooks, waiting for what was clearly going to be her last command, and whether or not what came with it would ultimately be…

Death.

It was, after all, the only reason they would come here. But as for me, it turned out there was far more than just the one person I had thought to save.

But now I could add revenge to my cause. Because the only death the audience would see this day was the Summoner bitch, because she was going down, or I would die trying!

She sauntered over to Jared, stopping with enough space between her and the book. I also noticed that she didn't get too close to Jared either, a man who looked furious and ready to break out of his skin if it meant a chance at killing her himself.

"How disappointing, as I can see now that you are determined to die right alongside them, which I'm afraid I just can't have," she said, after first motioning for the crowd to quieten and shaking her head, sighing as if this wasn't going to plan. Which made me wonder, what she was talking about? Did she not intend to kill Jared? Was this just all some sick form of punishment?

"Then quit these sick games of yours and send us back to our cells, or let us die as warriors, for I don't fucking care which!" Jared snarled back, making me take in a deep breath at the sound of his strong voice. One so full of purpose and resolve.

He took my breath away.

I saw Marcus mutter something, as well as the other Demon, who I had no idea the name of as I had never seen him before. However, the next voice echoing in the space wasn't that of my man. But the bitch who obviously wanted him for herself.

"No, I think not, but you are right, my plans will have to change," Niniane said, causing Jared to narrow his gaze at her before warning,

"I stand with them till the end, Niniane." And again, I couldn't have been prouder of the type of man that Jared was to his core. Because it was clear now that this was his punishment. To be forced to watch people he cared for as they fell, one by one, before being forced to become a part of her collection… the idea sickened me.

"Yes, but the end is when I say it is and as for you, well I am just afraid you will have to imagine how it ends for those you care for back in your prison cell," she replied, obviously knowing now that Jared wouldn't stop fighting, and nor would he stop trying to sacrifice himself.

So being forced back to his cell was only adding to his punishment as he roared out in undiluted fury,

"NO!" This was as I watched in horror as glowing green bars appeared from behind him before coiling around him like ghostly serpents. The sight had me quickly covering my mouth to stifle the gasp of shock. I swallowed a sob, forcing myself not to give myself away but fuck me, it was hard. I just wanted to go running to him! I just wanted to rip away each of the bars that bound him, hating to see him this way. Because I had never seen him look so helplessly angry before.

The way he shot panicked eyes to his brother who, in turn, closed his eyes as if ready to accept his fate. This before looking back to the bitch that had done this to him, as he issued one last threat,

"I swear it on my fucking soul, Niniane, I will fucking kill you!" To which she started laughing like some evil witch about to rub her hands together in some villainous way. She even dared to step closer, and I knew this was my chance to do the same toward the book. And with all eyes now on the scene playing out in front of them, I slipped by and even closer, doing so unnoticed.

"Oh yeah, you and whose army?" she asked mockingly, and this was when I finally hit my limit because I knew it was now or never!

"He doesn't need an army, bitch, he has me!" I shouted out, making sure she heard me. Which meant that when Niniane turned to face me and snarled, I knew that I had made a big enough statement. Now it was time to prove it with action and, holy fucking hell, I hoped to the Gods that this worked like last time.

But well, if I was going to go down, then I would go down as a bad ass bitch, which is why I threatened in a voice not even I recognized,

"Now let my HellBeast go!"

"Oh, I will let him go alright, but as for you, I think it's time you get a glimpse of my power," Niniane said arrogantly, before flinging her hand back and forcing the bars to drag Jared away, making his HellBeast side roar out in anger as he fought to try and get free. But then my eyes left his struggling form and turned back to the threat I now faced. Which meant that when I reached out with my hand hovering over the book, feeling its power hum like a drum beat against my palm, I told her,

"Why would I need that…? When you can just have a taste of mine!" I threatened before finally grabbing the Book of Souls and just like last time, the book responded.

Giving me enough cause to arrogantly tell her,

"Now it's my turn!"