CHAPTER 10

Alina was led out of the cage by two solemn looking guards. ‘When I take over this temple, all these guards will answer to me' she smiled at the thought. All she had to do was get rid of this Apollo and take her place of power. She couldn't wait. She was led into the temple courtyards. The space was set up like a gymnasium, clearly Apollo thought to make this a public execution. She quickly surveyed the grounds and was relieved to see no gallows for hanging or blacks for beheading. As she had predicted, the priest would want to make an example of her by combat. She looked up at some of the bigger rogue wolves she expected to fight. It wouldn't be an easy combat, but she was sure she was going to win. She needed the win more than any of them in the temple. Finally, the guards around her stopped and she stopped as well. They were standing in the centre of the court. She looked around her and saw that the seats had already filled up with all the other wolves of the temple. Good, they all will swear fealty to her right after this ceremony is over. 'The gods have decided your punishment Alina. A pity they weren't here to watch. You will be tried by combat. You will fight a wolf, any wolf here to the death. If you live, then your words are true and the gods aren't to be revered, but if you lose you will not only die here, you will face death one thousand times in the underworld. And trust me girl, the gods not only exist, but they are to be respected and feared" 'She stretched her arms against her bonds, 'I already told you, I don't plan on dying or losing a body part tonight. So if you are so kind as to untie me, let's get this show on the road." 'You seem so eager for the end, my dear. If death is what you wish you can tell me, one word and I can get a silver knife and have it all arranged." Her eyes flashed with anger. This big minx was toying with her. She held onto that anger, she would need it in the fight to come. She turned and addressed the crowd, 'Which one of you wants to face me then!" she shouted. 'I will," the voice came from behind her. She turned and saw Apollo's victorious smirk 'Scared yet?" ~ The sneaky bastard! When he came down to the courts in front of her, she saw that he was even bigger up close. Like that was even possible. No matter, now when she wins it will be an even bigger victory. The ropes that bound her hand were cut and her knife was handed to her. She would have preferred a bigger weapon, but this one would have to do. Apollo on the other hand was given a longsword. He looked at the weapon and then at her and seemed to reconsider, then he put the sword back in the scabbard and threw it far. The sneaky bastard. She took the cue and kept her knife in her belt as well, however, she didn't throw her weapon away. She wasn't going to give up her advantage that easily. As soon as she took up a fighting stance, Apollo rushed for her. She braced herself to block the blow that was coming straight for her face. Oof. Her breath was knocked out of her. He was strong, but that wasn't a surprise because his strength came from his size like her father. What surprised her was his speed, he was remarkably quick on his feet for one that big. This wasn't going to be an easy fight. She focused on dodging his blows and landing hers, but he seemed to not feel any of her hardest hits. Like his body was made of rock. She was still trying to wrap her head around that when his fist hit her squarely in the face. The pain gripped her entire body from head to toe, despite that it was just her eye that got hit. Her head swam, but she shook it quickly to clear it. She looked at his smiling face again, he was enjoying this. She took her knife out of her belt and took up a fighting stance once more. Unlike her father's parlour tricks, this wolf certainly had some magic working for him in this fight – fair or not, she was going to go in with all the help she could get. This time, she was the one who charged at him ~ Apollo laughed when the girl swung his knife at him. The tiny girl had no chance. She didn't know what she just got herself into. He had wanted to end the fight quickly, but he was sparring with her so much, he just might drag out this fight a lot longer. He saw her knife coming in the direction of his belly and he decided not to dodge it. The knife sliced clean and deep through his skin, but his blood did not spill. Then he watched her eyes widen as the wound began to close up on its own. He laughed, a loud racking laugh that shook his entire body. Now she understood what she just got herself into. ~ Drake watched the fight with growing distaste. The entire court had gotten quite right after they saw the wound close up. This won't do at all. He was going to help Alina win this fight. Everyone's attention was on the fight going on so no one noticed when he changed from man to mist. As black fog, he circled around her head to gain access to her thoughts. I'm going to kill this bastard. Good, she was still determined. He split his form and circled her two hands. The next swing she made with her knife cut his hand right off his arm. Gasps rang through the courtyard. ~ Alina didn't know where that strength had come from, but she wasn't going to waste time wondering. Without stopping, she kept slashing and swinging at the priest till his skin was torn and mottled. They had already started to heal piece by piece but it was so torn that some of them fell to the ground, torn beyond repair. He still didn't bleed, but he had patches of open skin at different parts of his body, not to mention a missing ear and right hand. Her lips twisted in a satisfied smirk 'Looks like you're the one losing body parts instead" She went to pick up his sword, pulled it out of his scabbard and raised it, fully intending to relieve him of his head. She swung 'WAIT!" Apollo shouted and raised his stump at her. She snickered, 'Is that stick supposed to stop me?" 'You don't have to kill me. I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement." 'I don't want anything from you. Except maybe your head" she swung again, but went widely off target and dug the sword deep into the sand-packed floor. 'Do you yield?" she asked him instead. He clenched his teeth. 'I yield" his voice was barely a whisper. 'Say it so they can hear you. Or else you actually will lose your head" 'I YIELD!" The noise from the crowd was deafening.