The Night of The Necros: The Rise of The Queen

Chapter Eight Part One

The next day arrived and Arabella prepared for her match against Salvador. Nostace watched her prepare with an anxious look on her face. She worried that Arabella would be hurt like the last time. Arabella noticed the anxious look the little girl wore, as if she was a mother worrying over her child.

"What is it, Nostace?" Arabella asked.

"Nothing." She said with a sigh.

Arabella laughed and ruffled the little girl's hair. She knew that everyone was worried that she would be hurt. If she was being honest she was a little worried as well. Still she knew that there were going to be times where she wouldn't be prepared and she would be anxious about an upcoming match or battle. This was something that she would need to face head on. She had worked too hard to walk away because of fear.

Arabella went down the stairs with Nostace hot on her heels. The little girl followed her nearly everywhere she went now and Arabella was getting used to her presence. When she walked into the library she was greeted by Tamaki and Genova. They both looked at her anxiously.

"I know that the two of you don't like this." She said. "But can you please stop looking at me like you are going to my funeral? It makes me nervous."

"Sorry." Tamaki mumbled.

"Thank you." She said. "Now it's about time to head over there. I will see you there in a bit." She said as she opened the front door.

When she shut the door she heard a voice call out to her. She looked in the direction that it came from and nearly jumped out of her skin. Lisbell, the little girl working for the Council came skipping up to her. Arabella nearly ran back inside and locked all of the doors. She took a calming breath and smiled nervously at her.

"Arabella!" She waved. "I can't believe that someone challenged you to another match!" She said excitedly. "You know, we put off leaving so that we can see you fight again." She said.

"Really?" Arabella asked forcing a smile. "Well, I am glad that you and your people are staying to watch the match. You know I was worried about something."

"Whats that?" Lisbell asked.

"Well, the village that you are looking for is hard to find. I hope that you will be okay when you do go."

"We'll be fine. I have a friend that is staying there. Their parents were sending us letters on what the route to the village was like." She said.

Arabella's stomach flip flopped nervously. Now that she knew that the little girl was working with the Council she was surprisingly easy to read. She wasn't sure if this information was true or not but she would have to have Salvador look into it.

"I see then that's good." She said. "Well, I have to get to the arena. I will see you after. Then we can go look in on your father together."

"Okay!" She called waving.

Arabella made her way into the arena where Salvador was already there waiting for her as well as a large crowd. Michael, Horace, and the others were sitting nearby. The two bowed to each other and the match was called to a start. Arabella drew her swords and waited for Salvador to determine his move. Just like Arabella he sported a bow and arrows as well as a sword. Salvador drew his bow and arrow. He drew back on the string and lined up his shot. When he had was sure that his aim was true he let the arrow fly. With lightening fast reflexes Arabella batted the arrow away. Everyone held their breath as they waited for the next move. Salvador fired off two and then three arrows. Each one Arabella dodged or batted away. The arena was still as they gauged each other. When Salvador was satisfied he put his bow and arrow away and drew his sword. The real battle would now begin.

Salvador took a deep breath and griped the hilt of his sword. He exhaled and charged at her. Arabella gripped her swords and began to charge at him as well. When they clashed sparks flew as the blades pushed against each other. They jumped back gauging each other and charged again. Their swords danced and slashed through the air as they blocked each other blow for blow. Arabella jumped back realizing that she was getting no where with him. At this point it was a matter of who would tire who out first. Arabella sheathed her swords to everyone's surprise. She drew her bow and arrow. She drew back on the string as Salvador charged at her and fired off a succession of arrows, one after the other. Salvador dodged and blocked where he could but he found her pace to be taxing. His chest heaved with each breath he took. He knew that he was getting worn out. Soon he wouldn't have the stamina to keep up. He kept his sword in his right hand and held out his left hand. Arabella put her bow away and drew her swords. Salvador could feel the energy building in the palm of his hand. He took a deep breath and exhaled letting the energy that had built up lose on the arena. A giant wall of water bounded up and came rushing at her. Arabella cursed and dug both swords into the ground as the wall of water came crashing over her. When the water receded Arabella removed her swords from the ground and began to charged at Salvador. Everyone cheered as she raced towards him. Salvador's eyes lit up with excitement. Most people were normally washed away from an attack like that. As they continued to spar his excitement grew. He launched wind attacks at her as well as fire. Everyone watched with baited breath. They weren't sure what would happen next. Everyone of Salvador's magic attacks had been attacks that would fell even the most skilled opponent but Arabella managed to dodge or repel his attacks. No matter how he attacked her she managed to somehow come out ahead. While everyone thought the battle would conclude soon Salvador wanted to test her resourcefulness.

"I do hope that you do not mind these tests." He said.

"Not at all!" She said with sparkling eyes.

"Then lets see just how resourceful you can be." He said holding out his left hand.

Arabella waited to see what he would do next. He turned his hands facing palms up. To Arabella's surprise he didn't raise his hands and lift the land that she was standing on. Instead, he cupped his hands together and the ground beneath her began to curve upwards into the shape of a ball. Arabella looked around and decided that it was best to put her swords away. She began to run up the sides of the sphere. When she knew that she could go no further without falling down she took out two daggers and stuck them in the earth. Arabella began to climb up to the top of the ball where there was a hole just big enough for her to crawl through.

Salvador laughed when she emerged out of the top of the sphere in a matter of seconds of the sphere fully forming. Everyone who had thought that she had no hope of getting out of the sphere stood there staring at her in disbelief. Salvador nodded his head and extended his left hand. He could feel the energy build up and crackle as it pulsed down his arm and into the palm of his left hand. He knew that if she could manage to out maneuver him with this attack then he would have to comply with her request for help. Tamaki and Genova noticed that the atmosphere around the arena was crackling as if it had been electrified. Their eyes widened as they turned to look at each other.

"He wouldn't?" Tamaki began.

"No." Genova began but it was too late.

He raised his arm up into the air and let the energy release into the sky. Within seconds a giant bolt of lightening dropped from the sky to the ground. Arabella jumped back as the bolt came crashing down in front of her. She grabbed her daggers and threw them at the ground creating mini lightening rods. As she dodged the lightening she grabbed her bow and arrows and began to fire them at the ground in front of Salvador. Salvador chuckled as he realized that she was going to turn the ground around him into a lightening rod. With the arrows in the ground lightening began to strike where she had thrown her daggers and aimed her arrows. Still Arabella was not done. As the lightening fell faster and faster Arabella pulled out two more daggers. She climbed up the side of the sphere and threw them one after the other at Salvador. Just as she had hoped he deflected them into the air but the trap had been lain. When the lightening struck the daggers it was like a cage had been built of lightening. Salvador laughed when he realized the predicament he was in. He didn't know when she had done it but she had been laying a trap for him from the very start. When the lightening stopped he drew his sword. The last thing was to test his stamina against hers. They were both equally fast and as they battled head to head the crowd in the stadium cheered them on. The fight had been more exciting than they had expected. They didn't care who won as both fighters had fought equally well. Towards the end of the match Salvador and Arabella both stood on shaky legs. Sweat covered their brows. Arabella gripped her swords readying herself for one final clash. Salvador clutched his sword and lead the charge. Arabella followed and soon steel was upon steel. Sparks flew and Arabella pushed back his attack and quickly followed up with her own attack. Salvador tried to block her attack but couldn't find the strength. He dodged her quickly rolling away. Arabella charged towards him but her legs wobbled. Salvador tried to stand up but his legs shook and he found himself supporting himself on his sword. Their chests heaved raggedly.

"I...think..." Salvador began.

"It's...a draw..." Arabella finished.

Salvador nodded his head and they shook hands. A few people in the crowd complained about the tie but many people were satisfied with the fight. They had never witnessed anything like it before. Tamaki and the others came over to congratulate them on the match.

"Arabella," Michael began. "How did you manage that whole thing with the lightening?" He asked.

"Yeah! I gotta know too!" Horace said. "I have been trying to beat him for years. I don't think anyone has ever pulled that off before."

"No. I have got to say that was a first." Salvador said. "I have never been trapped by my own attack before."

"I guess it was just luck." Arabella said.

"Absolutely not!" Horace said. "That was ingenious!"

"Arabella!" Lisbell called.