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@kari-karast @nuetrobolt @anne-of-lothlorien @e-b-raulands @naiya-dyani @all-you-other-amazing-writers

Okay, finally! Sorry if I kept you waiting for a while, but with school and all, I’ve been a little busy. But anyway, Chapter 8 is out!

Also, side note: I know somewhere on this thread where I had talked about the theme being on the lines of “don’t let yourself get carried away from reality/stand firm in reality” something like that, but I believe I may have to change the theme. As I was writing this story, for some reason, that theme just didn’t seem to fit for what I had in mind. Anyway, just telling you so you knew.

Enjoy!

 

CHAPTER EIGHT:

The Nameless Daughters strode into the arena. The wind blew, casting sand into the air. From atop the stone walls about the arena, crowds chatted. Chloe shuddered and bit her lip, crossing her arms.

She glanced over her shoulder at the several figures. The majority of her opponents she deemed strangers, but a few struck her as familiar. She squinted, confused.

That strange ‘Bull-Man’ at Creation’s Day was there. Her friend, Sarah Janson, was there as well―not to mention Zoe!!!

Before Chloe and her sister were separated, they were very close to each other. However, her sister, from mere glance, changed much. She couldn’t help but notice that cunning glint in her eyes. And that aura of mystery about her.

The Nameless Daughters smirked in unison.

She recalled the nicknames she gave them… the black-haired girl was Red Lips, the blonde-haired girl was Stormy Girl, the red-haired girl was Little Trouble, and the brown-haired girl was Drama Queen.

Red Lips smirked, how Nicholas and all his related psychos expressed their satisfaction. “May I present unto you the Tournaments of Nicholasia. If the Great Beast Massacre failed to intrigue you, allow me to interest you in several, perhaps, unusual displays.”

“As for the fighters in the tournaments,” Little Trouble paused between her words, grinning, “I shall introduce you to them. Let me start with Chloe. The girl of a tragic tale, her family ripped apart. Oh, how so sad.”

Chloe lowered her eyes, swallowing hard. She balled her hands into fists. She didn’t look any of them in the eyes. There were several laughs, and much murmuring.

Little Trouble grinned. “Zoe, Chloe’s sister, also will be competing. If I am correct, Zoe is, like, mere seconds younger that her twin. Nevertheless, this alone will make for an interesting source of entertainment. Oh, and have I to mention Chloe’s friend, Sarah Janson, another fighter in the tournaments… rather unpredictable and odd that one is, am I right?”

Chloe sucked in a deep breath. Her fingers trembled. She glanced over her shoulder at her friend.

Sarah was pale as a ghost; and silent, her brow furrowed in thought.

Little Trouble cleared her throat. “The Bull-Man, or Mario Deontae his ‘real’ name is, will be competing too. Prepare to watch this beastly and insane fighter, folks.”

Chloe narrowed her eyes, fidgeting with her dress. She glimpsed up at the Bull-Man. He stood eerily calm, his eyes blank and unreadable.

“Lochlain Meredith is quite a fighter as well.” Little Trouble gestured to a man wearing a dark cloak. His dark-skinned face was lined with bright red war paint. His black hair was long and wild, his eyes dark and menacing.

“Aurelio Jaspal was born off the streets of a little village. At a young age, he earned a reputation as a reckless scavenger in the Kingdom of Arizokaland.” Little Trouble smirked, laying eyes upon a young white-haired man in dark blue clothing. A deep scar descended from one of his amber-glinting eye down across his face.

Chloe glanced downward and shuddered. She met her twin’s gaze. Her sister glanced away abruptly.

“As for the several other fighters,” Little Trouble paused between her words, “their names are…”

The Nameless Daughter pointed to a dwarf-like, short warrior. “Halian.” She eyed a tall lady dressed in vibrant colors, her hair dark as night. “Lady Vega.” She smirked, gesturing to the last of the fighters, an old beggar in simple brown rags. “And Griffin. But let not his old age deceive you. He has plenty of tricks up his sleeve. Now, there you have it; the fighters of this grand tournament!”

Chloe stared upward. The chain netting hung over the arena. The dark gate built into the stone wall. She shivered, blinking rapidly.

Stormy Girl smiled proudly. “The winner shall receive a grand prize: the privilege of leading Lord Nicholas’s army in battle. The rules are simple. Fight. Don’t die. Kill the beast. This little, violently entertaining, unique game is split up into a series of rounds. So, do be prepared. Oh and also, don’t lose your head while at it.”

Drama Queen giggled with a laugh. “The Tournaments of Nicholasia begin!”

And just like that, the Nameless Daughters paraded out of the arena. Chatting pleasantly all the while.

Chloe stiffened, tapping her foot. She swallowed hard, glancing about.

The stone gate opened.

A roar cracked the sky. But it was not a lion like before. No, not at all. Chloe straightened, craning her neck for a better view. Out of the shadows from within the gate, emerged a dragon.

She gasped. She narrowed her eyes, her brow scrunched up.

If she were correct, that was that same dragon on that card in The Monster King. It was slender and muscular, large enough to swallow one whole. Its eyes smoldered a cold blue, its scales blood red.

Lady Vega snorted and dashed to the weaponry box. “Well, imbeciles, don’t just stand there!”

She lifted a spear and a shield. Chloe gulped, rushing forth. She stumbled, but reached the weaponry box in no time. There were a lot of weapons… but no time was there to think about which one was her favorite, so she grabbed a random set of weapons: two swords, one gold and one silver.

Aurelio reached for a nicely polished, coppery dagger, but Zoe shoved him aside and snatched the possession for herself. The rest raced for the weaponry box, but Halian was not fast enough!

The dragon snarled, pinning the short man to the surface. A look of dread marked his face. With a burst of flames, Halian was nothing but a pile of ash.

The crowd chanted.

Chloe clapped a hand over her mouth. She gulped, her eyes darting back and forth. The crowd shouted “Death!” and “Fight!” and “Losers die, winners live!” and other horrible, awful words.

She looked up to the sky, her eyes damp and wide. She must do something. She must stop Nicholas.

The dragon roared, breathing flames through the air. Lady Vega guarded herself, raising her shield.

Griffin released an arrow as Lochlain snuck up on the beast with a morning star. Mario the Bull-Man approached, wielding a hammer. Aurelio and Sarah held swords and shields at the ready.

The crowd chanted. The dragon charged, yanking Lady Vega’s shield out of her grasp. It grabbed her and tossed her; she was flung helplessly through the air with an utterly shrill scream. Her body crashed against a stone wall, collapsing lifeless to the arena surface.

The dragon’s stare flickered to a stop, locking eyes with Chloe. She blinked, clenching shaking hands. The dragon inspected her, quite strangely.

But with a blow of his mighty hammer, Mario struck the dragon; resulting in permanent blindness in one of its eyes.  The dragon roared and shoved the Bull-Man off his feet.  Lochlain swung his morning star and whacked the vicious creature on its back.

The dragon let out a screech and flicked its tail, sending Lochlain headfirst into the sand. The beast snarled, fixing its gaze on Mario. He charged and swung his hammer.

The dragon dodged the blow, and clamped its mouth shut on the Bull-Man. Viciously, mercilessly, and callously.

The crowd chanted louder.

The dragon craned its neck and sniffed. It eyes gleamed, glancing Sarah Janson in the distance. She screamed, raising her shield as fire exploded in the air.

Chloe gasped, clutching the wall of the arena. It was cold and stony. A tear bounced off her cheek. She glanced downward. It was too much. The darkness. The bloodshed. The torture and pain.

Suddenly and once more, the dragon peered closely at Chloe, as if challenging her to a staring contest. She raised her swords and… well, dashed across the surface full speed! She rushed forth with all her might.

The dragon swirled through the air, its gigantic claws reaching out to her. Her heart raced. She darted to the side, escaping the monster’s evil grasp. It hissed, casting her a hateful glare.

Griffin sent an arrow whistling into the beast’s raised wings. The dragon snarled at Griffin, licking its teeth. He released another arrow, and another arrow. The dragon roared, charging the old beggar.

“Now, who do you think you are you? You disgusting pile of living flesh!”

The dragon staggered to a stop, craning around its long, slender neck. Venom glittered in its eyes.

Zoe admired the dagger in her hand. “Yeah, I’m talking to you, ugly thing.”

The dragon snarled.

“That’s right,” Zoe spoke, without a hint of fear. “You are very, very, very ugly.”

Chloe crossed her arms. She struggled recalling a moment when Zoe ever displayed such behavior. She changed so much over the years.

Griffin grumbled angrily, shooting the last arrow in his quiver. The dragon growled, casting a streak of fire at its enemy. The old beggar screamed as he was consumed in flames.

The roaring dragon leapt forth.

Chloe dug her fingernails into her palms, biting her lips.

Zoe snorted, a coppery dagger glinting in her grasp. The dragon lunged downward.

She sidestepped the reptilian foe, with her dagger piercing the dragon’s snout. The legendary enemy roared, breathing crimson flames. She drove a dagger to the roof of its mouth.

The dragon froze, sneering. Hatred and pain flashed in its contemptuous gaze.

Aurelio charged, slashing his blade through the air and striking the dragon. Lochlain whammed his morning star into its neck. Zoe flung a dagger into the center of its face. Blood sprinkled the ground. The dragon released an earsplitting cry, and collapsed.

Silence.

Chloe breathed heavily, her palms sweaty.

The crowd cheered. Zoe bowed to the audience. But Aurelio and Lochlain glowered sullenly, likely because Zoe was the actual slayer of the dragon.

Red Lips smirked, staring down upon Zoe from the arena wall. “Ah, such a beautiful surprise. I always knew you were the right one. Nicholas will be so pleased. You slew this frightening beast and―”

The dragon’s eyes blazed wide open.

In a single motion, the furious dragon smacked Zoe, Aurelio, and Lochlain aside with a blow of its ginormous wings.

“I apologize for this wrong assumption of mine.” Red Lips smirked coldly, completely indifferently. “The tournament is not over.”

The dragon roared. Suddenly, its gaze snapped toward Chloe. Looming over her, the dragon bared its wicked teeth, smoke swirling out of its nostrils.

Chloe glanced upon the swords in her hands. She gulped and sunk back. The dragon eyed her like a cat would a mouse. A peculiar mouse.

The monster lunged forward. Chloe scrambled to the side, dodging the fatal strike by mere inches. Adrenaline rushed through her veins. She swung her swords.

The dragon echoed a strange gurgling sound, mimicking mockery and laughter. It snapped its tail under her feet. She collapsed. The golden sword descended to the ground.

She raised the silver sword in a final defense. The dragon ripped the blade from her grasp. Pinning her into the sand, it met her stare unblinkingly. Its eyes flashed salty and blue, overflowing in mockery, contempt and… surprise, as if she were some lost prize to be claimed. She glimpsed the golden sword buried in the sand.

The dragon’s mouth hissed open, revealing rows and rows of sharp teeth. Fiery light illuminated the dragon’s throat. Heat and smoke clung to her like death. She gasped for breath, drowning in panic.

Chloe closed her eyes once more, a tear rolling down her cheeks. She was trapped. Horribly and miserably trapped. She would smolder in flames. Never to be seen again.

But Sarah Janson saved her life…

After all, as Little Trouble declared, she was rather unpredictable.

“Leave my friend alone!” Sarah shouted, driving the tip of her blade in the eye of the dragon.

The dragon roared in pain. Chloe rolled out of the beast’s grasp, lunging for the golden sword. But the dragon, sensing the loss of its prey, growled and charged her blindly. It bared needle-sharp teeth, flickering its forked tongue.

Chloe screamed, with her golden blade piercing the dragon between the eyes. The blind creature shoved her carelessly into the sand. But her sword remained sunken in its skull. The dragon moaned. And collapsed to the ground… dead. For real this time.

The crowd hushed to silence.

Chloe lowered her sword. She put a hand to her forehead, narrowing her eyes. One normal day, she was simply a normal girl. And, another day, she was fighting a dragon that shouldn’t even exist? What nightmare was this?

Her mind sank in an ocean of utter fear and confusion.

Aurelio and Lochlain glared. Zoe crossed her arms, scowling. Sarah breathed deeply, grasping her weapons firmly.

Red Lips smirked.

She clapped her hands. The other Nameless Daughters smirked, joining in, clapping their hands as well. Suddenly, the whole crowd was clapping their hands and cheering so dreadfully loud.

Chloe lowered her gaze, staring at the blood glinting on her blade. She sucked in a deep breath, and lifted her eyes to meet the sadistic crowd of twisted-minded people. She raised an eyebrow, her lips forming a thin line.

A spark of fury pricked her soul.

 

Sarah clutched the dungeon bars. She swallowed hard, shoving a wisp of hair out of her wide eyes. The dungeon was cold and dark. Despite the fiery light of the freaky, skull-shaped lanterns cast against the walls.

The moment Old Nicholas’s animals paraded into Eldymartt, her life changed from normal to horrific to downright bizarre.

She was baking apple pies, rearranging books at the library, socializing with random strangers. When out of nowhere, a stupid monkey messing around with explosive devices of some kind, sent the whole town to the ground in flames! And once the town was overrun, armed men searched the remains of Eldymartt… taking captive any survivors.

Sarah hugged herself tightly, shivering. She snuffled, her eyes puffy and red. She remembered well and distinctly the knight leading the men. A knight in dark armor. The one, in fact, who cast her into this very dungeon!

She clenched her fists. Sooner or later, she would escape this rotten cage.

She rubbed the grime off her face, sighing. Anyway, she was competing those dreaded tournaments!

However, when she realized that Chloe was to be in the tournaments, she was shocked… if she wasn’t already shocked enough. That dragon would have killed her friend!

That moment in time she would cease to forget.

She pinched herself, pushing the dreadful thoughts to the farthest, uttermost dark corners of her mind. She put a hand to her forehead. It had all happened so fast. Peace a moment, but then violence. Screams etched her mind in horror.

She sucked in a deep breath, blinking.

So much innocent souls lost. All as a result of her annoying neighbor, Nicholas. When she first laid eyes upon him, she came to a conclusion that Nicholas was a terrible, ugly person at heart. But what she did not know was that her neighbor was indeed a murderous, bloodthirsty tyrant.

Last time she was with Chloe before the tournaments, they were playing The Monster King at Eric Diego’s birthday party.

She laughed loudly. How she loved that game. However, there was something a little suspicious about it. She could not put her finger on why she felt that way, though. Also, the fact that a mythical fire-breathing dragon even existed was extremely confusing… She desperately hoped she never visited the mental asylum.

A voice thundered in the distance, “Get moving, you brainless imbecile! We’re about to miss the tournaments!”

“Really, Ichabod? Haw oblivious are you? The first tournament is over!” spoke another voice.

Sarah fingered her dress, listening silently. She peered through the dungeon bars, her brow crinkling. Sighing, she wiped at her eyes.

“You stinking rats! I, in my entire life, have never encountered anyone slower!” bellowed the voice belonging to Ichabod. “Now, get moving!”

A door slammed open. Several figures marched in, followed by a prisoner. They stomped forth, grim.

“Here we are,” grumbled a man with tattooed arms and long, wild hair… whom she recognized quite easily as Ichabod by his distinct voice.

Though the prisoner, she was startled to discover, was Eric Diego. She tilted her head, chewing her lips.

Ichabod rolled his eyes, snapping a threating finger at one of his men. “Throw this prisoner with the others. I’ve had enough of these rats for a day!”

“Fine, Ichabod.” The man rolled his eyes.

He stomped to an empty cell near Sarah’s. Yanking the door open, he shoved Eric into the dark cage. With a slam of the door, and a clink of the keys, he spat at the ground. Sarah craned her neck. Her nose crinkled in disgust.

Ichabod bowed mockingly. “Enjoy the luxury, rats.”

Without yet another word, the men stomped out of the room like little angry, unpredictable brats.

Sarah glanced at Eric, and glanced sourly at the dungeon bars. She breathed deeply, her brow crinkling. Clasping her palms together, she closed her eyes.

Suddenly, she grinned broadly.

A clever idea ignited her imagination.

 

Zoe entered the glass aquarium hall. Pretty fish darted around. Eels and sting rays sliced through the waters above. She trod past, head held high.

She eyed a yellow tang swimming about in the water of the glass ceiling. Below the glass floor swam dozens of bright orange goldfish. She strode to her room, clenching her fists. She hit the wall, startling a clownfish.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, her thoughts raced through her mind.

She was supposed to win that tournament. Not her inferior twin! And not just that tournament, but all the tournaments! Her nostrils flared. She gnashed her teeth, glancing down at her dagger, Vampire.  Her cheeks flushed red.

Despite her anger and disappointment, she was determined to be crowned winner of the Tournaments of Nicholasia. Nothing would stop her. Not even her ignorant sister.

She trod forth, blowing a wild tendril of hair out of her eyes. Interacting with her twin at Creation’s Day was strangely interesting. All she was required to do was smile, chat, hiding her true identity behind a fake, cheery mask.

In fact, it was ages since she and her sister actually interacted with each other… after all these many years. Not like she really cared, anyway.

She glanced down upon the glass floor. A dolphin and porpoise swum beneath her feet. She snorted in contempt, stomping forth. However, as she was arriving to her room, she staggered to an abrupt stop. A voice, without doubt that of Nicholas’s, spoke to another.

The voices were, she noticed quite clearly, echoing off the walls of another nearby glass hall.

Silently, she crept down the hall. Everywhere she looked, giant, pink jellyfish floated about the aquarium. She peered around a corner.

Nicholas stood upon a glass surface, entranced, as he gazed down upon dozens of pink jellyfish in a pool below. He scratched his chin, smirking.

She was planning on leaving, until she glimpsed the other figure standing in the room.

He was a stranger possessing a rather odd appearance, Zoe noticed, and wearing a golden crown. He also wore a great cloak, dark spikes protruding all over his scarlet armor. He was tall and strong, his eyes an unnatural green. His hair was so dark, but his skin was so pale. An aura of ancient magic surrounded him.

Suspiciously, she chose to eavesdrop on their secret conversation.

Nicholas crossed his arms, nice and cozy in his colorful polka dot robe. “We do have an agreement, do we not?”

The strange figure smiled. “Indeed, Lord Nicholas. Once the tournaments have ended, we shall have the answer to this mystery. One of the daughters shall be gifted with power and magic, choose the darkness, and wreck great destruction upon the land.” He paused, his expression darkening. “However, I would be more careful if I were you. Though Stephany is dead, she received a blessing that one of her daughters would fulfill the destiny she so desperately attempted.”

Zoe paused and narrowed her eyes.

“Nonsense!” Nicholas laughed. “I heard of this destiny. Despite that I have no idea what it is about. To be honest, I don’t even care. If you are wondering, yes, I spoke of this ‘destiny’ to Chloe, so…”

She frowned in silence. What destiny was this that was so important?

“You spoke to Chloe of this matter?” the strange figure questioned.

“Well, yes.” Nicholas smirked cruelly. “She deserves some clarity, doesn’t she, now? It’s only right that Chloe has knowledge that I, Nicholas, am indeed the slayer of her mother.”

Zoe glanced sharply at Nicholas. What? Just a minute! What was it that crafty serpent said? Did he really just say what I thought he said?

She blinked, confused. Her jaw tensed. She crossed her arms, pressing her lips into a thin line.

Nicholas murdered her mother?

The strange figure raised a curly eyebrow. “I see, Nicholas. Once you are sure whether it is Chloe or Zoe, take advantage of this opportunity. The time has come. You are of an important figure in this game of chess. For nations will bow to you, and your master, the Deceiver, shall indeed be proud of your success.”

“Your service shall be most valued. I look forward to meeting you again, Merubalos,” Nicholas paused between his words, “Merubalos de Albiro, the great and powerful Monster King.”

Zoe sneered. All this time―and she never knew Nicholas slew her mother? Besides, who was this freaky-looking ‘Monster King’ anyway?

“I look forward as well, Lord Nicholas Goldstone,” Merubalos replied. “Farewell.”

He disappeared in a swirl of crimson smoke. Nicholas smirked, whistling as he trod about the aquarium. Zoe tensed, raising an eyebrow.

She glared murderously, and glided down the hall.

She clawed at her hair. She shouted in rage, stomping on the glass floor. The salmon swimming about her darted away. She grew deadly silent, glowering at a sea turtle swimming peacefully about. Oh, how she wished to strangle that aquatic reptile! Her mind lay captured amidst a destructive web of thoughts.

Nicholas murdered her mother. She trusted him, befriended him, and served him. But how could he withhold such secrets from her? Even Grandpa Phoenix never would have been so dishonest.

“I can’t believe this,” her voice quivered in mild shock.

She grasped her dagger violently. Anger surged forth. She clasped a hand to her heart, burning in fury.

Nicholas betrayed her…

 

Chloe rubbed her temples. She buried her head in her pillow, sobbing. The dark of night swarmed her vision. Her dreams morphed into nightmares. Bizarre images fluttered through her sleepy mind. Images of dragons, of mythical figures, of realms beyond imagination…

She lay stranded amidst a lone scarlet hill. A musical sound blared. The Monster King formed out of thin air.

He smiled, spreading wide his palms to reveal an ancient stone. It was beautiful and perfectly round. And glinted in every single shade and color there was in the world.

“Chloe, do you know what this is?” spoke the Monster King. “It is a source of power, so named the Monster Stone. Come, child, look.”

He extended his hand. Chloe cleared her throat, inching a little forward. The Monster King smiled kindly, the stone sparkling in his palm. Its beauty whispered out to her, calling to her. She craned her neck, and reached forth a hand.

The Monster King clenched his fingers tight around the stone and pulled away. “Chloe, you may have this stone.” His eyes were stern. “But not quite yet. You have important choices to make… You must stand up for yourself. Stand up against Nicholas. Like your mother.”

“Like my mother?” she questioned, tilting her head.

“Yes,” he replied. “She sought to claim the Monster Stone. That she might use it for the good of the people and point them to their Creator. To fulfill a destiny. But she hadn’t the chance. Nicholas destroyed her.

“But it doesn’t end there. Ever since learning of you and your twin sister, Nicholas has been attempting to figure out which of you shall be blessed with glorious power and to be given the Monster Stone. He only plans on twisting that power to his will. He plots to take over the world, building armies and ginormous numbers of terrible beasts. He is quite an evil Shadow Reaper.”

Chloe glanced up at the clouds above, red as blood. The crimson sun glared down upon her.

Her brow furrowed. “Why are you telling me this? I barely even know you… whatever you are.”

“Because, daughter of Stephany, this is important,” the Monster King spoke. “Nicholas believes that the twin to be crowned winner in the tournaments is the one that shall be gifted. And he will use that peculiar gifted child, whether it be you or Zoe, to his advantage. This is a warning.”

A chill spiraled down her spine. “I-I don’t know what to do. I feel as if m-my life has been shattered into a thousand pieces. And that I can’t put them back together.”

The Monster King heaved a sigh. “Well, a little advice. One, don’t be so reckless―even though certain situations may perhaps be rather chaotic. And two, if I were you, I’d be polite and free Nicholas’s head of his shoulders.”

Chloe bolted upright, eyes wide and big.

“What a strange dream,” she whispered.

She had odd dreams in the past, but this was the second yet of the suspicious nightmares. First, the dream with Nicholas amidst a burning village; like an imbecile as he played with a game of cards upon a stone table. Now this!

The Monster King’s words rang clear and loud in her mind, “You have important choices to make…”

Choices? What choices? She blinked in frustration and collapsed, sinking into her bed. Tears streaked down her cheeks.

Fatigued, she drifted off into a drowsy, wearisome sleep.