Kalika tossed herself around on her bed. She opened her eyes, seeing the stoney gray brick wall. She continued tossing and turning until she laid flat on her back, still unsatisfied with her position on the bed. The pain from the scratches and bruises she's gained through her training continued lingering. She briefly lifted her scratched and bruised arm weakly before setting it back down.
"Can't sleep?" Rakon asked.
Kalika peeked to find Rakon leaning on his back outside on the cell door. Despite the darkness, she could easily make out his red skin and horns.
"You again?" She rested her head back down. "What do you want this time?"
"Same as always. A nice chat. And perhaps a lot less insults and curses too." Rakon chuckled. He looked back to find Kalika now sitting in the corner of her bed, hugging her legs and giving a middle finger to him. Rakon could only smile in amusement.
Kalika slumped her head to the wall avoiding gazing upon the demon before her. After a few moments of being silent she finally spoke.
"So tomorrows the day, huh…"
"That, It is. It'll be your big day." Rakon answered.
"Will I have to fight unarmed against that general?"
Rakon snickered. "Of course not. How do you expect to kill Ek without your blood blade? Don't worry about a thing, I'll make sure to deliver it personally to you when the time comes."
Kalika hugged her leg more tightly. "O…ok…"
"Hmm. You look unconfident there, Kalika. Are you feeling squeamish? Or perhaps you don't feel adequate for the fight ahead."
"I… I feel just fine."
"Is that so… if that's the case, why is it that you keep hiding."
"I don't know what you mean…" Kalika kept staring blankly at the wall.
Rakon gave a piercing gaze at Kalika with a confident smile. "Surely you wouldn't think I haven't noticed Kalika. Your own doubts that are growing. Eating at you. Boiling within." Rakon turned away. "Heh. You're not doing yourself any favors."
"Tch. What would you know, Huh? Unlike you demons, humans can't even compare." She tensed up. Sinking her head back between her arms and legs. "You demons… You demons are just naturally more powerful than humans. You're faster, stronger, more magically adept." Kalika looked at her hands. "I… truly hate your kind."
Rakon could see clearly that Kalika was Sulking. "So you think you're too weak. A rich sentiment coming from a girl who's killed many of my kin and beasts in the arena."
"You're talking like I should remember."
"You may not. But I remember seeing you run circles around your opponent. How you would mercilessly cut their throats, spill their guts. It was a sight that made even your sister proud.
Kalika glared back up. "I-I'm not some killer."
Rakon smiled. "Oh but that's what you became. A cold hearted killer with your own selfish goals. It was truly fun seeing you deceive your so-called friends."
"Shut up."
"The same ones you backstabbed trying to escape."
"Shut up!"
"Just like that last escape attempt of yours, where you threw yourself back into your sister's arm." Rakon started to laugh.
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!!" Kalika was now shaking in rage.
Rakon paused for a moment. "Ah. You're right… You still remember that, don't you. Perhaps you reacted on instinct then, seeing Lillian, realizing the futility of escape… you were always quick witted when the need arose."
"How do you expect me to believe a word you say!??" Kalika found herself glaring at Rakon.
"You don't have to believe what I'm saying you don't want to. But at least know that it's not often that I sing the praises of others. You are a rare expectation, especially among humans."
Kalika slowly released her clenched fist, exhausted from being always angry at this demon. She sat herself back down on her bed, resting her head at the palm of her hands. "You don't make any sense…"
"Rakon… Why are you so obsessed with me?"
She hears Rakon chuckling to himself. He then turned to lean on his shoulder, looking at Kalika. "What a curious question to ask…"
To Kalika's shock, her chin was suddenly grabbed and lifted up to meet Rakons Gaze. "Why ask?"
Kalika jerked her chin out of his grasp "J-just tell me!"
"The reason is simple..." Rakon brushed the back of his hand across from the bottom of her cheek to the temple of her head. It sent shivers down her spine, and before she realized it, she found herself in darkness.
She awoke a moment later knowing what had happened. She looked up at Rakon who looked satisfied.
"It's because you're never dying and never aging, Like a portrait on the wall," Rakon said.
He lifts one of her arms to reveal that all the scratches and bruises have disappeared, aside from a few small bruises. "You may look like an angel, but secretly, you have the heart of a demon." Rakon started chuckling.
Feeling something wet on her arms, Kalika quickly retracted her hand away from Rakon's grasp. Drops of blood hit the floor and bed. Rakon looked at his hand to find it reverting back into blood. "Looks like I over did it again." He looked back at Kalika. "I'll be seeing you tomorrow, be sure to be ready by then."
Kalika witnessed the clone of Rakon become a simple puddle of blood on the ground, leaving her alone once more.
She looked at her now bloodied hand once more to find it shaking uncontrollably. Her breathing became much heavier as she tried to control herself.
"Ridiculous."
********
The day has come for the fight Kalika must be in. She finds that her hands are still shaking as the morning arrives. Rhonda arrives with a fresh pair of new clothes for Kalika. Soon Kalika found herself ready for the day ahead.
"Ready?" Tilus said.
Kalika looked to find that even Tilus came. Some of the demon guards also arrived.
********
"The Arena's closed off? Didn't they say they'd stopped with those arena fights a couple months ago?" a Prisoner inquired.
A couple of prisoners are outside of the prison arena entrance. The demon guards are maintaining their statue-like stance outside the doors to the arena.
"That's what I thought too. Maybe fixin something up."
"Perhaps…"
THe two prisoners were pushed out the way by General Ek, the acting Warden. "Arenas closed off! Now go!!"
"Tch. Hard ass."
The prisoners didn't argue as they quickly retreated away from the entrance.
"Seriously. I can't believe she's actually going through with this. What an idiot." Ek said.
The Guards step out of the way of Ek, allowing him to enter. Behind the door Rakon stood. Ek Scowled at Rakon.
"Remember Ek. His life hangs in the balance."
"Don't think you'll get away with this Rakon-"
"You mean your KING!" Rakon interrupted. Rakon stared down at Ek with a gaze that could intimidate a Giant.
Ek shook. "You're playing with fire, King. When Kalika's Sister comes back she's gonna rip you to shreds."
"That woman won't be an issue for me. You should be more concerned with your fight against Kalika. After all… what would happen to Kel if you were to lose?"
"You made your point already. Is she ready?"
Rakon looked behind himself. "Not quite yet, A few more minutes perhaps so she has everything in order.
********
Kalia is sitting inside of a large hall that connects to the Arena side doors. Tilus and Rhonda are with her. Tilus leans on the other side across from Rhonda and Kalika as Rhonda herself is trying to comfort Kalika.
Kalika is lost in thought as she's thinking about the night before when Rakon talked about her being a killer.
"Hey Tilus? What was I like during those past nine, ten years?"
"I thought you didn't want me to talk about it," Tilus said.
"Well I changed my mind. So I want to know a little bit more."
Tilus looked at Kalika curiously. "Alright."
Kalika Listened as Tilus talked about Prisoners she tricked, and of the men she killed in the arena she hated. He went on to even share the chaos she created when she killed the first warden. Kalika simply listened intently as Rhonda stood by to confirm some of the things that Tilus told her.
"And that's about all I know. From what I saw and heard." Tilus finally finished.
Kalika starts to laugh a little. " What a fantastical tale. But it doesn't sound unlike what I did in the past before being locked away. aside from the killing…"
Kalika avoided his gaze. She then felt a pat on her shoulder. she turned to see Rhonda with her fist pumped "T-that's not you now. Your much different from that. B-but whoever it is your up against... I know you can beat them!" Rhonda exclaimed.
This sentiment helped Kalika crack a smiled. "Thank you."
"Alright I think That's enough from the two of you." Rakon arrived with a rectangular box in hand.
Seeing this Kalika got off the floor. "It's about time. Do you have it?"
Rakon opens the box before them revealing Kalika's Dagger that seems to have been improved from the last time she saw it. She can sense a familiarity from it, there was no mistaking it.
"Good luck Kalika," Tilus said, leaving as Rhonda was given a small wave goodbye. They both disappear from Kalika sight.
Kalika grabbed the blade before feeling a scorching heat within her hand. She winced in pain.
"Is something wrong?" Rakon asked.
"N…No… I'm just fine."
"Well then, if you're ready just follow me." With a smile Rakon led the way for Kalika until they finally reached the arena. Rakon opened the caged door before her. She proceeded to walk through the door and into the Arena. In the center awaited Ek just stood firm and serious.
"Good luck." Rakon closed the door.
Kalika tried steadying her breathing. She looked around to find all of the seat's empty including the balcony. It became obvious that this match between her and Ek is private, only known to a few select people. Kalika looked up to find Rakon in the arena Balcony.
She ignored him, finally pacing herself to finally meet Ek at the center of the Arena face to face. A wave of nausea hit Kalika, she tried controlling her breathing, but it was becoming harder and harder as her head started to throb.
"What the heck is going on, what's this weird feeling?"
Ignoring the strange feelings she posed her dagger in front of her. Her hands tremble from the weight of having killed someone again. She could only remember one person she killed, btu that was only during a rigged match.
"You're better off just forfeiting. Save us both the trouble-"
"Shut up!" Kalika's eyes looked determined. Even Ek could tell this much.
"Fine. Have it your way. I could always use a little payback especially for this scar you left on my face." Ek stood tall with his arms crossed. He was much more serious.
Gripping her dagger more firmly, Kalika opts to make the first move to attack. She closed her eyes, praying for a miracle, only to find the recoil of her blade. She opened her eyes to find Ek still standing where he stood.
"Is that all?' Ek was unimpressed.
Gritting herself, Kalika attacks once again. This time with her eyes open. And like before, her attack bounced right off of him. Ek gazed more Seriously at Kalika.
"Why can't I cut him!?"
Ek Disappeared from Kalika's sight.
"What the- where'd he go!"
A pain ran through her chest and up to her neck. She quickly came to the realization that Ek landed a killing blow on her already. Blood curdled through her body, killing her.
It doesn't become long before she reawakens on the ground, this time with the blade in her hands becoming even hotter. Her body then moved on its own. A strike from Ek was blocked!
"Huh?" Kalika was confused.
Coming to her senses, she rolled out of the way of the attack, getting back to her feet. She quickly found herself on the defensive as she dodged attack after attack from Ek's blood blade, which was also a dagger. Eventually their blades clashed along one another, flashing sparks in the air.
Kalika found herself interlocked between parry and dodges with Ek. She could barely keep up with his speed, he was just too fast for her!
Their blades Clashed once more, this time Ek stopped right before her, calmly holding his dagger in one hand. However, Kalika used both hands, desperate to overcome this obstacle before her.
Ek gazed at Kalika Coldly. A flash of the same cold Gaze flashing through Kalika's mind but this time in the halls of the dungeon. This left Kalika in a state of confusion.
"Damn it, Kalika! You're just playing right into his hands!!" Ek exclaimed.
"Huh??"
"I DONT CARE ANYMORE!! I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS HELL!!" Kalika shouted.
she was pushed back with tremendous force, sliding along the dungeon floor. Kalika blinked to find herself back in the arena, some distance away from EK who posed himself, ready to attack again.