Between the Shadows

Helpia's Colosseum

8

Damae

I look at Thorsen; if I didn’t know who he was, I would be terrified, but I do know who he is. I roll my eyes at him and turn away from the door looking at the back of the bar. The chatter in the bar remains quiet as Thorsen’s heavy footsteps pound through the bar, headed right for me. He pulls out the stool next to me, the wooden feet scraping against the floor.

“Fancy meeting you here, Danger.” He sits with his legs open, facing me. I don’t dare to turn and look at him, so I ignore him. I grab the cup of water the bartender placed in front of me and take a sip. The chatter in the pub seems to continue, and nobody is paying Thorsen any more attention. The bartender comes back behind the bar with my plate of food and slides it to me.

“Thank you,” I say giving him a smile. He nods at me and turns his attention to Thorsen.

“Anything for you, Prince Drake?” The old man lowers his head, waiting for Thorsen’s answer.

“Just a beer. Thanks.” I look up from my plate of food and look at Thorsen. How does the bartender know the Prince of Deddai, but not the Princess of Jalari.

“You look frustrated Danger.” He grabs the beer the bartender puts down and takes a swig. I look away from him and grab my fork to start eating the food my stomach is begging for. Just before I could stick a piece of juicy, beautifully cooked meat into my mouth, Thorsen grabs my wrist.

I turn to him, with murder in my eyes.

“Could you let me go. I am starving.” I tug my wrist from him, but he doesn’t let go.

“No.” He tightens his grip.

“No? I need to eat before these trials if I have any chance of surviving the first night. Let me go.” I say through my teeth.

“You don’t even know where we are going after this, do you?” He says, his voice is silky, seductive.

“And why would I?”

“Once we arrive at the Colossuem of Helpia, there is a feast thrown for the contestants of the trials. Eating before hand would be very disrespectful to Goddess Helpia. Do you want to disrespect a Goddess?” He says as he lets my wrist go. My mouth wide open, I drop my fork onto my plate.

“How was I supposed to know that?” I push my plate away from me, pull a few dollars from my bag, and leave them on the counter top. I stand up from the chair, my body positioned between Thorsen’s legs. I really should have gotten up on the other side.

“Why don’t you and I find some other place to be?” His smile seductive, but his eyes are playful. I roll my eyes at him, and walk away. That is exactly what he said to me at my castle just a week prior. I was tempted then, but not now. I need to focus on how I am going to survive from here on out. I pull the heavy wooden door open, the sun blinds me for a second as I walk out of the pub. I walk up to Luck, and lay my head onto his neck.

“I don’t know how I am going to do this Luck.” I pat his neck and start to untie his reins from the post.

“Danger.” Thorsen is standing right behind me, I don’t turn and give him my attention. “Danger, come on.”

“No. Thorsen, stop. Whatever this was.” I stick my finger into his chest. “It is done. We have no obligation to each other.” I take a deep breath and take a step back. “Stop calling me danger, and stop talking to me.” I turn away from him and start walking away with Luck, headed straight to the Colosseum.

……………………………………

I walk through the beautiful city, and I wish I could appreciate the sights more, but I feel like I just lost a part of me in some way. I hadn’t known Thorsen for very long, but he made me feel safe, calm, and strong just by looking at me with his grey, steely eyes. Before I know it, a large shadow blocks out the sun, I focus my thoughts, and there is a large white wall with beautiful white columns standing so tall I have to crank my neck all the way up to see where they end.

“Well, I guess we are here,” I say to Luck. I shake my head. “Now I am talking to a horse. Great.” I lead Luck down a large opening in the colosseum. The walls are decorated with paintings. Men and women fighting, magic expelling from people’s hands and blood, lots of blood. These must be past trials captured on these walls. I look at them in awe and nervousness. I am about to be in one of these paintings, maybe even one of the dead painted on this wall.

As I come closer to the end of the tunnel, I start to hear voices and laughter. Why is anyone laughing right now? We are about to be dead, and there can only be one winner. Yes, others may survive, but that would be a disgrace to their kingdom if you don’t fight, and if you survive but don’t win.

I emerge out of the tunnel into the large sandpit at the bottom of the Colosseum. The stands surround the entire sand pit, so everyone can see the demise of every contestant. Lovely. I take in the view of the empty stands.

“Princess Damae.” Someone calls from the middle of the pit. I look over, and Prince Tikes is waving at me.

“Prince Norman, hello.” I wave back.

“Please, call me Tikes.” His smile reaches his ears. I don’t know how he can be this happy. We are legit about to fight for our lives.

“Well, Tikes. It is nice to see you.” I give him a quick smile back.

“How was your trip here? Did you come alone, on horseback?” He looks at me, confused.

“It was…” I stumble on my words. “Yes, I rode my horse? Why is that weird?” I twist the reins between my fingers.

“Well, I had a carriage take me, did a whole parade through Hurstith.” His smile is less authentic.

“Oh, yeah, no. I left before anyone was awake in Jalari. I didn’t want all the sappy goodbyes.” I quickly say.

“I see.” He looks down at my clothes. I am sandy, dirty, and I am sure my hair doesn’t look any better. “I am glad you made it here safely. That is a dangerous trip through Jobus Desert.”

“Yeah, I-”

“I am still waiting for an apology for saving you, by the way.” Thorsen’s deep voice rumbles at my back. I ignore him, smile at Tikes, and walk away from them both.