Coliseum of the Dead

Azura

The hallway lit up as my feet hit the floor. I was in the North entrance tunnel to the 10th’s Coliseum of the Dead, a dark and dimly lit passageway that smelled of must and sweat. My father had chained my arms for this fight, a power move whether I won or lost. Thankfully, the chains were brittle and rusted from years of use, so they were nothing more than a prop for my performance.

My first galeiditara match was about to begin. My opponent? Analina’s father. 

I pressed my nails against the inside of my palms until I drew blood, preparing for the monster that was about to be unleashed, my true self. 

I used to be a surprise, a twisted party trick that my father would whip out at the galeiditaras. I used to turn heads, but now all I did was turn stomachs. I was a nightmare, haunting emperors and schoolchildren alike, leaving behind nothing but tears. I was Nyx, bringer of endless night. 

But I was also Azura, the eighth daughter of the 4th Emperor, broken but beautiful. I was someone’s sister, someone’s friend, and someone’s daughter. I had people who would cry if I died and people who would hug me if I survived. I had a home to go back to for once in my life. There’s just no time to die.

Alexei’s and my alter egos were my father’s biggest secrets. No one really knew Nyx and Icarus’s true names or origins, yet thousands would fight to learn them. We had left too many scars over the years to ever be forgiven, ones that my father hoped would stay forever bleeding.

The blood dripped down my chained arms as I inspected the cuts, letting the blood soak into the fabric. Blood was my lifeline, something no one could ever take away from me. With every passing second, my sleeves turned redder and redder, my power growing by the second. I slipped on my mask and pulled up my hood as I heard the applause of the crowd. I stretched my arms over my head, and the blood dripped down my face, turning my vision red. I was no more than a bull, poised to attack, bruised and bloody. The paper-thin cuts stung, but the pain was a welcome appetizer, preparing me for what was to come. 

Nyx had come out to play, hungry for blood and desperate for love. 

I walked into the light of the gaunt coliseum, my chains dragging behind me. I was the epitome of a fallen angel, forced to fight the battles of tyrants, chained for their amusement. The roars of the crowd were deafening. They chanted my name over and over again, excited for the show. I would give them a show, one they would never forget. I was the grandmaster, this coliseum my ring.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the honorable 10th Empire, boy do we have a galeiditara for you tonight! You know her. You fear her. I present to you the Monster of the 4th, Nyx!” the announcer said.

I took a deep breath, letting the moment soak in before I glanced at my opponents. The Duke sure enough had brought an army.

“And against our fearless Nyx, we have the Duke of the North. With him, he has brought his personal guard to defend his honor,” Personal guard, my ass. “Is this enough to take down the silent killer herself?”

This night would not be my last, but I would have to let the monster loose. I would have to let go of my safe place, my meadow, but just for tonight. I was not broken in my meadow, but my Nyx was different. My Nyx only desired pain, unable to think clearly. I grabbed my chains and snapped them, ready for the fight.

It was time to let go.

It was time to let-

Break them. 

Break the soldiers.

Paint the coliseum red.

I rushed towards the first soldier as the army started firing bullets. Little did they know, every bullet that hit me was making me stronger. This battle would be over sooner than I thought. They didn’t even think to bring burnbee bullets.

I pulled at the earth and stabbed through the first two lines of soldiers, my power rushing through me as the bullets tore up my skin. 

“Looks like the first line of defense for the Duke has fallen!” the announcer shouted, “But Nyx has taken a lot of bullets. Have we finally reached Nyx’s downfall?”

Of course not. My father had hurt me much more than this. This was but a flesh wound.

I glided up into the air, the wind blowing cold against my blood-soaked clothes. But, I was Nyx. I could feel no pain. I only felt the need for blood. 

I grabbed a lightning bolt from the sky and threw it at the next line of soldiers, incinerating them. Despite their large numbers, the Duke’s soldiers were lined up like lambs for slaughter. Easy pickings for someone 50 feet up in the sky. Another lightning bolt, and the second-to-last line of soldiers was vaporized. 

The last line of soldiers fled to the corners of the coliseum, leaving their duke ripe for the reaping. Luckily it wasn’t his turn to die yet. 

I landed on the ground and started my victory march. First step, and the earth rose up and stabbed a fleeing soldier. Second step, and a gust of wind pushed three soldiers into the spectator stands. Third step, and a lightning bolt fell from the sky and vaporized five soldiers. Last step, and the single remaining soldier collapsed. 

I was now standing in front of the filthy duke, the man who had ruined Analina’s childhood.

“You’re a-,” he choked out. “A monster.”

He deserved my worst. No sane human would dare hurt a nine-year-old.

I grabbed his chin and tilted it up so I could see his face. 

“You are the monster,” I hissed. “You have no morals. I do. We’re different.”

I looked into his eyes and grabbed his soul. Then, I slowly pulled at the strings, his life force draining out of his eyes in long, translucent strands. With every inch of soul I pulled out of him, his wrinkles grew deeper, his face aging in minutes. This was why they called me Nyx, bringer of death. 

The crowd only cheered more as his screams grew louder, his pain their source of joy. The silver threads of his life were piling at my feet, his memory disappearing with every passing second.

It wasn’t long before I came across the red string, the last piece of his soul. 

“Any last words?” I asked, not that he deserved them.

“You-,” His voice cracked. “You know I’m no better than your master. I’ve seen the scars on his youngest daughter. I swear, believe me. She is going to die soon if he con-”

I grabbed the red string and pulled as I hid away my true self, my Nyx, and drew up a facade of normalcy.

Darling, do you know what would happen if you were to run away? My addled mind brought up a memory I would never forget: my father’s first warning. Let me jog your memory, dearest. Tell me, do you remember where your lovely mother is? Because I do. Her head is in the special collections, dear. You can go see it right now if you need an example. Admission is always free to royalty.