Will I ever get out? Will I ever get the chance to see outside this world? When will I step foot out of this prison they call an arena? Will I ever look pretty again?

No, probably not. I'm the pride of the underworld of Howlan. They'll never let me leave.

"Ailith! You can see your daughter, but you're on after that. Got it?" one of the owners bangs on my doors. I look and see Caiden staring at me with a glare. I roll my eyes and stand up, chains clanking together.

"If you've done anything to her, I will slowly kill you." I spit at his feet, and he motions for her to come over. The door to my cell swings open and Meira runs in. She's clean and groomed. Her ears point through her thick brown curls, and it looks adorable. I smile and crouch down, opening my arms for a hug. She jumps into the hug and I hold her close.

"Mommy, I missed you!" She shouts, causing me to laugh.

"I missed you too, Meira. How is my wonderful daughter?" I watch her small mouth open for a response, but she's interrupted.

"Alright! Time's up. Ailith, you have to suit up." Caiden glares, and I nod. Meira hops out of my arms; I immediately wish she was back with me. We all leave the cell, and I'm led to the armory, given my costume. The armor that I wear is somewhat clean, and I put it all on. I buckle my belt around my top and slip on the shorts. The games are like a strip show when girls fight. It's sexualized, more for the men to love it. It's why we always have the best audience. Slaves rub oil all over my body, my skin shining.

Slaves of war or imprisoned criminals are trained to be fighters for entertainment. The life of a game fighter is harsh. Cells are our rooms, and blades and armor are all we know till our end is met. Not many have escaped the life of a fighter, and those that try are immediately killed. I've resided in this hellhole since I was nine, and I've hated it ever since.

I'm a slave to the blade.

"Ailith! My beautiful girl! She looks ready to go. We have to feed you more though. The food will fill her ass and tits in more. It'll give us more people, and that means more money."

"Veles, I want a cover for my top." My words slice through his rant about my body.

"Ailith, the buckled harness around ur torso is perfectly fine. You don't need a cover." This pervert of a man shakes his head at me.

I scowl at him, "First, stop staring, my eyes are up here. Second, get me a cover for this outrageous top. I'd rather not fight with my tits hanging out!" His hand whips at my cheek in retaliation. I laugh and spit out the blood.

"Since she demands one, get Ailith a cover. We better not lose any people because of this, girl!" With that, the owner of us all game fighters leaves the room. I sigh in relief and fit the cover under my buckled harness. My twin swords are on my belt, and the dagger around my wrist is locked on. I walk to the hall where my fight awaits me. Where my opponent will either die or kill me. The first option is most likely going to be the reality as I am undefeated.

"Are you ready for the fight?" I turn to see Kestrel Klayse smiling at me. He's the only friend I have here. His blue eyes stare, waiting for an answer because I, of course, was caught staring at him once again.

"I'm always fighting for my life, Kestrel. Why should this be any different?"

***

"A woman we all love. An undefeated warrior! Let us welcome to the arena.... Ailith!" The announcer's voice boomed throughout the stadium.

I slowly walked into the middle, cracking my knuckles. I roll my neck around, cracking that as well. Loose muscles always bring good performances for the audience. That's all that Veles wants. He wants money, and he always makes the most when I fight.

I study the girl in front of me. She looks thin, almost haunted. Her blonde hair is matted, and huge bags lay under her green eyes. Her body is thin, bones obvious where the skin is shown. I almost feel sorry for her. She carries a small sword and probably another knife in her boot as I do as well. My stormy eyes look into hers again, and I see her pain. She doesn't want this.

I mouth to the young girl, "I'll make it quick."

"Thank you, Ailith."

The horn blows, and we circle each other. Her arms wobble while holding her small sword, and I unsheathe my twin blades. Sadly, this won't be a difficult fight, but I promised this tortured girl a quick one. She will most likely die. I bet her master wanted to get rid of her. It was almost as if her life didn't matter to him which probably was the case. 

I stride up to her, and we swing our blades, starting the quick dance required in each show. She uses both hands to swing, and I easily block her light stabs. My leg then swipes under her feet, and she falls. I lean over her, and the crowd cheers loudly.

"Just kill me. I'd rather die than go back to him," her hoarse voice tells me. The crowd wants death anyways.

"Tu caelum, puer meus, promeres," I whisper before slitting her throat clean. By habit, I stand up and look at the crowd. People stand and clap, cheer, and shout at my victory. It wasn't even a good fight though. I roll my eyes and walk back to the gate.

Kestrel shakes his head, "Not thrilling enough?"

"Can't tell?"

"I've known you long enough to be able to tell."

I sighed, knowing he was right, "The girl asked to be killed. She looked like she was abused."

Kestrel nodded, and he readied to walk into the spotlight. He twirled his intricate long sword in his right hand and his ax in his left. Over the years of training, we've both picked up tricks with our weapons. While he scares the crowd with dangerous ruses containing his ax or sword, I amaze everyone with my acrobatic skill. We've become a dangerous duo, Kestrel and I.

"Ax boy, get your ass onto the stadium."

Kestrel rolls his eyes, but he listens to the order. I continue to walk back to the mess hall. No, I can't eat. Not after that poor girl being forced into this profession. Arena fighting isn't even a profession, it's a labor for people's selfish desires. No one signs up to fight for their life. Volunteering isn't heard of either. Every fighter, in that arena, is a slave.

I watch my friend dance with death in every step and slash he makes. As the fight continues, Kestrel's blood lust quickly rises. Duels, battles, anything gory causes his blood to sing. He enjoys the thrill, the glory, and the action it brings. He steps to the right, uppercutting with his sword, and the other fighter falls back. I can't see his face, but all I know is that the cut is significant in the two-person battle. Kestrel kicks him to the sand, and the particles clog up the wound. It won't matter for long; he kneels, picking up the helmet and tossing it across the arena.

I watch people gasp as Kestrel's hand grabs the other man's skull, wiping off all the sand.

The crowd cheers and yells, "Kill him!"

"Cut his head off!"

"Castrate his ass!" I chuckle at that one.

Kestrel looks to Veles, who is standing right next to me, and our master nods. The man's already limp body falls to the ground, and Kestrel picks up his ax, swings down, and kills his opponent. I watch the head roll and blood spurt out of his neck. My friend receives a standing ovation, and he gladly soaks in his once again deserved glory. I leave the arch, heading to find my daughter, my light.

***

"My best fighters!" Veles rests his arms around Kestrel's and I's shoulders, "You both did amazing!"

"How much money did you get?" I asked him, trying to sound the least bit interested. It worked. Veles quickly bored me in thirty seconds by talking about the coins clinging together in his pockets. I quickly left him to grab myself a drink.

All the other fighters gathered around Kestrel, and I watched him blabber about his most recent fight. All the young teenagers sat closest next to him, aspiring to the so famed warrior's skill. Some of the more seasoned arena fighters leave him, knowing it will be all exaggerated like usual. Kestrel would be a perfect actor. He enjoys the stories coming with victories.

"Mommy!" I turn and see my child running up to me. I immediately pick up my daughter, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hi, baby. How was your day?" I asked her sweetly.

"Fun! Veles gave me a wooden dagger today!" Her hand holds up a small dagger. Her doe eyes glimmer with excitement. She shouldn't be here. Meira does not need the danger of weapons in her life. She's two years old!

"Baby, where's Veles now?" I ask her, and she points across the dining hall. I set her down, letting her run immediately to Kestrel. Meira hops on his lap and listens to his glorified victory. I march over to Veles, not caring about the eyes on me now.

"Ailith! Did you get a drink?" Oblivious to my fury, Veles smiles at me endearingly. Does he not think what he did was wrong? Probably not.

"What the hell? Since when was giving a dagger to a two-year-old okay?" People including Veles gasp.

"She's going to be doing the same thing you are doing now, Alith!" He yells back.

"No! She will not be fighting her entire life!"

"Either she fights, or she entices. What will it be?"

I step very close to Veles, my fire encircling his neck, "If you give her to the brothel, I will make sure you're the one in that arena. I will have the crowd telling you how to torture yourself! I will make you kill yourself!" I let the fire go, burning his neck for a split second before it disappears.

My legs take me out of the hall, grabbing my daughter as I leave. My mind stays on one thought.

I need to leave.