The Arena novel Chapter 8

I don’t know what the little Kestrel told Ishir, but whatever it was, it nearly cost her life. I’m not surprised by my boos, although if these guys were smart, they would have played me up so that their odds would have been better. There’s no way they are making money if I die tonight.

However, as the four of us take our stance, ready to fight, I know that none of us are dying tonight. However, everyone in this stadium will burn.

All afternoon, I’ve been soaking up the sun. I’ve been breathing in the fresh air, feeling my fire returning and burning in my gut. Unlike the others, I didn’t try to partially shift. If I had, everyone would have realized what I am. I saw Ishir watching me several times today. He knows my strength has returned. I’m not sure I can totally shift, but I can definitely breathe fire and burn these assholes alive.

When the doors open, I see Cedric head toward Zaiden as planned. Ishir heads straight toward me, and I run at him. I hope that Cedric will be okay, and Zaiden will follow the plan.

When Ishir grabs me, he begins spinning me. “Cedric has to open the gates on our side.” That’s all the notice I get as he tosses me toward the Commander. As I fly through the air, I can see that it takes the Commander a moment too long to realize his mistake. My eyes burn red, and I can feel the fire moving up from my stomach.

As the Commander’s eyes widen, I blow my fire over him and everyone in his box. I hear the screams of those around us as I make a point of swinging the torch into the fire that I started. It may sound sick, but I relish the sounds of the leaders of this hellhole burning alive.

I see Cedric and Zaiden working their way past the keepers to get to the underground. I take the opportunity to blow a stream of fire at the chiefs coming to try to restrain me.

I turn, standing in the fire, letting it rejuvenate me. I see Ishir tearing through the stadium, killing those that he comes into contact with. Keepers and chiefs are going after him. I see Cedric running across the arena. He makes eye contact and smiles at the fire going on around me. I watch as he goes underground before making my stand.

I take my claws, wrapping them around as many of the cages as possible before lifting up and yanking their anchors out of the ground. I fly them as far away as I dare before racing back to grab another group. I still haven’t seen Cedric.

On the third trip, Ishir, in his tiger form, comes racing into the gaping hole. As I watch, he shifts, grabbing a body on the ground before turning to me. “I got him. Go, get the last group, and get out of here. This place is about to collapse.”

He throws Cedric over his shoulder and shifts before racing back out. I grab the last of the cages, ripping them from their casings on the floor and flying them away from the arena. When I land, Ishir comes running over. He shifts again.

“Here, you take him and get out of here. They can’t see you. No one can know who you are. Go! I’ll find you.” He runs up my tail and onto my back, putting Cedric between my wings before running back down. I launch us into the air and watch as the arena implodes, collapsing in on itself. I can see Ishir helping the shifters out of the cages before I turn, flying us away from the fire and ash, which is all that remains of our personal hell.