The love for blood

In a world fueled by the resentment of everything humane, battle was a religion.

Kindness was a damnation and violence was glorious. 

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The rising sun was an explosion in the sky, splattering its orange hues across the horizon. 

He sat atop a raised golden stage, an offering to the gods, a deity.

The girl kneeling in front of me on the dusty sand, raised her head in utter challenge.

Defiance.

I yanked her hair upwards so that her placid face was pointed at the sky. She kept her eyes fixed on the smear of colour across the skyline, a sense of peacefulness resting on her bruised features, as a single tear rolled down her cheek.

I palmed my knife.

And as it slid softly across the girl's throat, her blood trickled out onto the ground, a shining ruby red that mirrored the dawning of the new day above her.

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“Again!” the commander's voice yelled across the training square.

The thump of my fists against the dummy, matching my heartbeat. Bruises had already formed on my knuckles and sticky dirt coated my muscled arms. Leaning against the stone railing above, the training Commander observed us, his face impassive but his icy blue eyes calculating.

I spied Ambillis across the courtyard. 

My twin sister who was all honey and curves contrasted to my snow and sharp angles. Sweat trickled down the sides of her face and her usually tidy brown hair had become tangled. Her strikes were precise and she held her form well. She was almost better than me.

Almost.

The commander dismissed us with a lazy wave of his hand and exhaustion hit me so thoroughly my legs threatened to buckle, but I forced myself to keep upright, chin lifted high. Never let them see you falter.

For here……

weakness was death.

The water was a blessing to my dry and ravaged throat, the cool marble of the water fountain soothing my steaming back.

“Delphina”

My head snapped up.  Ambillis’ blazing green eyes regarded me. “You look awful.” she laughed.

“Oh trust me, I feel like it” I huffed. For indeed in the fountain’s reflection, I could see that my usually vibrant blonde hair was matted and dull. 

“Give me some of that before you drink all of it” Ambillis teased, as she knocked me out of the way and scooped up a cup of chilled water. I watched her tan throat undulate as she gulped down the lifesaving liquid. “Those exercises killed me.” she grumbled, as she watched the others leave the training space. Looking into my face, a heavy weight seemed to fall upon her.“When is your next fight?” She asked.     

“Two days from now.” I responded as oily fear slithered a trail in my gut. 

“Shit.” Ambillis said, her expression going slack. “That soon?”

I nodded. Despite the fact my last fight was two weeks ago, he had seemed to have taken an unnerving liking to me. 

The Emperor.

We were the objects that fulfilled his violent delights. Forced to fight in his arena, he reveled in our misery, and laughed at our torment. He was a black hole that had sucked everything good, kind and loving in this world dry until there was nothing left but a hateful crowd that craved death. 

Ambillis’ face was pulled tight.

“Delphina I-”. 

The scream pierced the air like an arrow shooting through the night. Sharing a look of surprise, we bolted towards the source of the noise. However, we both halted in our steps when the origin of the scream came into view. A young girl, who didn’t look above the age of ten, was lying on the barren ground outside of the training pit, tears streaming down her muddy face. 

“Please, ple..ase.” she whimpered.

The guard holding the bloody whip painted the story clearly. 

“Lets go” I whispered to Ambillis, making to pull her away.

 She did not bulge. Her fierce gaze was fixated on the pool of red, dripping from the leather straps. 

Drip.

Drip.

Drip.

“Ambillis please”. I tried pulling her away again. She was going to get herself killed. 

Lips forming a thin line, she turned and pushed me away, walking back to the fountain.

I ran to catch up with her.

“Ambillis! What the hell-”

Spinning abruptly, she grabbed my shirt in her fist.

“I'm sick of pain, I’m sick of death.” she whispered  “What will happen when he puts both of us in the arena?” Her eyes were wide and a sort of wild frenzy filled her shaky voice.“Have you thought of that Delphina? Nothing will change if no one does anything and 

I’m sick. Of. being. Helpless.” 

It was as if seeing the young girl h

ad snapped the fraying rope that was barely holding her together.  “There is a fire coming sister, and you can either stand with me and watch while he burns” she seethed and leaned in, “or you can burn with him”. 

Her eyes simmered with challenge, fearlessness lining her beautiful features. Stalking off, she  left a trail of burning embers in her wake. 

But she seemed to have forgotten that for when fire burns, only ash and darkness follows. 

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Betray the Empire and abolish everything.

Or.

Betray my blood.

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The rising sun was an explosion in the sky, splattering its orange hues across the horizon. 

The Emperor sat atop a raised golden stage, an offering to the gods.

A diety. 

Amballis knelt in front of me on the dusty sand, her head raised in utter challenge.

Defiance.

I yanked her hair upwards so that her placid face was pointed at the sky. Ambillis kept her eyes on the smear of colour across the skyline, a sense of peacefulness resting on her bruised features, as a single tear rolled down her cheek. 

I palmed my knife.

And as it slid softly across my sister's throat, her blood trickled out onto the ground, a shining ruby red that mirrored the dawning of the new day above her.

Kindness was a damnation and violence was glorious.