CHAPTER 31 - Iron

Of all the buildings in New Burleigh, the Iron Games Arena was certainly amongst the largest and grandest. The Arena was built in the shape of a crown, and constructed from great slabs of stone hewn from the surrounding mountains and polished to a near mirror shine. High arches of smooth stone and hammered copper supported a great dome that dwarfed any nearby building.

Thousands of people packed the huge stone plaza that surrounded the Arena. Rich, poor, human, and pelt, all mingled as they made their way towards their respective entrances, an excited buzz almost tangible in the air.

But though the arena was indeed grand, if one looked closer, they would see the small imperfections. There was the odd crack in the stone, a split joint, or a missing rivet, the types of flaws one would expect in a structure far older than a mere five years.

"Hard to imagine these 'games' were illegal just eight years ago," Luke grumbled as the carriage approached the arena. Indeed, for many years the practice of fighting pelts had been illegal, with steep fines and punishments for anyone involved. But now the games were a favourite pastime across Halcyon, in arenas large and small. Even Lillyvale had plans to build an arena in the near future.

Eloise said nothing as she looked out of the window, her eyes sweeping the crowds as the carriage rolled past.

Azee too, only half-heard Luke's comment, her attention drawn to the crowd around her. Never before had she seen so many people of all different types walking together. Her ears perked up at the vast array of sounds and her nose twitched at the many scents.

After a few more moments, the carriage rolled to a stop in front of a small, yet elegant, gate on the southern side of the arena. Several order agents, as well as a troupe of militia soldiers, watched over the entrance, their uniforms and weapons proudly displayed and glinting in the sunset. A small crowd of curious onlookers had gathered just beyond a tall wrought iron fence, eager to see who of New Burleigh's elite would be attending.

The moment the carriage rolled to a stop, a valet stepped forward and opened the door. "Welcome sir, ma'am."

Luke responded with a curt nod and stepped out of the carriage, offering a hand to both Eloise and Azee as they stepped down.

"Stay close by," he called up to the carriage driver. "I don't expect that we will be here long."

"Aye, sir."

As Azee stepped out of the carriage and looked around, she noticed a small collection of statues that flanked the entrance. One of the larger statues caught her attention immediately.

"Luke, that's..."

"My father," Luke replied, glancing at the stone relief with distaste.

Azee stared wide-eyed at the statue, a shiver of fear running up her spine at the familiar face. "B-but why?"

"Because he donated some of the money that built this place."

"Looks like he did more than that," Eloise remarked, glancing at the plaque on the bottom as they strode past. "Says that he was here at the ground-breaking. 'In fond remembrance of the honourable Sir Edouard Windhill."

"This place was to be the crown jewel of his legacy." Luke's face darkened.

"And what a legacy." Eloise glanced at Luke. "No wonder you didn't want to come here."

"By the time I took over, it was too late to take it back." Luke jerked his head towards the entrance. "Come, let's get this over with."

Luke led Eloise and Azee up a small flight of marble stairs toward the entry gate. After handing their tickets over to the doorman, they stepped through a set of glass doors decorated with elegant golden trim, and into the entrance hall.

Azee barely had time to look around at the huge, cavernous space, before a voice called out to their left.

A young man in a tasteful usher's uniform approcahed them. "Excuse me sir! Are you Master Windhill?"

"Yes, what is it?" Luke asked as the usher skidded to a stop.

"I'm here to escort you to your box sir." The usher smiled and bowed. "Mister Colmstock informed us you would be attending this evening, and bids you a fond welcome sir. And may I just say, it is an honour to have you here again."

"Right. Well, lead on then. Come on Azee, we-" Luke paused. "Where did Eloise go?"

Azee looked around, but there was no sign of Eloise. Her eyes darted across the crowd, but she was nowhere to be found amongst the throng.

"Sir, is everything alright?"

"Hmm? Oh, yes, everything is fine." Luke nodded quickly. "One of my guests will be joining me a little later it seems."

"Of course sir. Now, if you will," the usher extended an arm, "Please sir, follow me."

With a final glance around for Eloise, Azee followed along behind Luke and the usher as he led them toward a series of strange-looking metal doors along one of the walls. They were rather wide and made of elegantly twisted iron. As Azee drew close she noted that the doors were in fact merely the front of a large metal cage.

"Here we are, sir." The usher pulled open the door to one of the cages and gestured for Luke and Azee to step inside.

Luke immediately stepped inside, but Azee paused, her feet refusing to follow her commands.

"Azee?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

"It's a cage..."

"Azee, it's just a lift. Don't worry, it can't hurt you." He extended a hand toward her. "Come on, it's alright."

With great hesitation, Azee took Luke's hand and stepped into the lift, her ears pressed flat against her head. She jumped and let out a quiet whine as the usher slid the door closed and locked it behind her. A bell rang as the usher pushed a button on the wall and stepped back.

"Enjoy the matches, sir."

Azee shivered in terror as, with a mechanical clatter, the elevator began to rise.

"Apparently these contraptions are rather popular in the larger cities." Luke mused as he glanced around. "I still prefer the stairs myself, but-" Luke paused, tilting his head as he noted Azee's distress. "Azee?"

"I'm f-fine." She whimpered, holding her arms tight.

"It's perfectly safe, you know."

Azee shivered again, "I can't... I hate cages."

For a moment the lift shuddered, clattering loudly. Instinctually Azee leaped at Luke and clutched him tightly.

Luke blinked in surprise, before letting out a quiet sigh and putting his arms around Azee.

"It's okay." He said, quietly stroking her back. "I've got you."

Azee's breathing grew faster and more desperate "I... I can't. I need to get out..."

Luke tightened his embrace, holding Azee against him. "Shhh.... It's not a cage, you're perfectly safe, I promise."

As she put her head against Luke's chest, she could hear his heartbeat, steady and strong. Her fear began to fade, a sense of calm washing over her as Luke held her in a familiar embrace.

"I'm still very mad at you." She grumbled, looking up at Luke.

"That's fine."

"I still think you are a colossal ass."

"Yep."

"I'm still not going to forgive you for selling Chara."

"I don't expect you to." Luke sighed heavily, resisting the urge to roll his eyes.

Luke held Azee tightly until the lift reached its destination. With a final stroke of Azee's cheek, Luke slid open the door and gestured for her to step out.

The room into which Azee stepped was a richly decorated lounge, with a large, well-stocked bar at the back of the room. A small congregation of elegantly dressed men and women milled about, the odd burst of laughter ringing out as they drank and talked amongst themselves. A pall of cigar smoke hung in the air, mixed with a melange of perfumes, and the scent of the flowers that filled the many vases scattered about. The front of the room was in fact a huge balcony that overlooked the whole of the arena. Off to one side, a small band played a merry tune.

The moment Luke and Azee stepped out of the lift, all eyes turned toward them. Immediately there rose a flurry of hushed whispering.

"It is Windhill!"

"I'd heard he never left his ranch."

"I heard he banished his own mother to the capital after his father died."

For a moment Azee was frozen in place, but with a gentle touch from Luke she stepped forward.

As they made their way into the lounge, Azee could see the inside of the arena through the large open space at the front of the box. The centre of the arena was a sand pit, several hundred feet across, surrounded by a high stone wall, marked with shield runes and various others that Azee couldn't identify. Within the pit itself were several large stone pillars. Dozens of rows of seats surrounded the pit on all sides, providing a full view of the spectacle. To Azee's eyes it seemed as if every last seat was filled, the crowd a subtly shifting, multicoloured mass.

The sight of the arena filled her with dread. For a moment she caught herself instinctively reaching out to take Luke's hand.

"Try and stay close to me," Luke whispered. "We'll be out of here before-"

"Luke? Is that Luke Windhill?!"

A portly man dressed in a white suit that was stretched over his bulging stomach stood from one of the luxurious sofas. "Mister Windhill, what a pleasure! I had heard that you would be attending this evening's events, but I hardly dared to hope!"

"Mister Colmstock," Luke replied with a smile as the man bustled up to him. "It's good to see you again."

"The pleasure is mine dear boy, all mine," Colmstock replied, seizing hold of Luke's hand and vigorously pumping it up and down. Releasing Luke, he turned to Azee. "And who is this vision of loveliness?"

Azee blinked in surprise and smiled nervously as Colmstolk took her hand and planted a kiss on her fingers.

"This is Azee, my personal attendant."

"A pleasure to meet you, my lady, I'm quite sure." Colmstolk looked up at Azee, something predatory in his eyes making her fur stand on end. "Please allow me to introduce myself, Briece Colmstock the Third, humble owner and proprietor of this arena, and the commissioner for the Iron Games in Burleigh County."

Forcing down her revulsion, Azee bowed her head. "A pleasure to meet you, sir."

"Indeed my dear. And may I say, you truly do look lovely."

"I th-thank you sir."

"Oh you're welcome, very welcome my dear. If there is anything you need at all, please don't hesitate to ask." Colmstock's smile widened, his teeth gleaming white as he noted the surprise in Azee's face at his cordiality. "There is no need to feel any fear, you'll find that we tend to leave the more... uncouth aspects of our society at the door. Here you will find only gentlemen and gentleladies."

"I... uh... thank you."

"Think nothing of it, dear girl."

As Azee fought the urge to pull her hand away, a second man emerged from the crowd and leaned close to Colmstock. "Sir, it is almost time, perhaps we should make final preparations for the match?"

"Of course, of course." Colmstock gestured at the bar. "Please, enjoy yourself my dear. Luke my boy, perhaps you would be so kind as to join me for a drink once I've seen to these minor details?"

"Of course, I'd be delighted."

"Wonderful, simply marvellous." Colmstock clapped his chubby hands together. "Well, time to give the rabble what they want."

As Colmstock bustled off, Luke took a deep breath, before leaning close to Azee. "Just stay out of the way and we'll be out of here as soon as Eloise has finished her business. No outbursts, you understand? And don't watch the match."

Azee bristled a little but nodded. "Fine."

"Why don't you go stand over with them," Luke nodded at a small group of pelts standing over by the bar. "And whatever you do, keep your cool. There are people here that even I can't protect you from."

'I don't need you to protect me!' The words that Azee desperately wished to say very nearly slipped from her mouth. Only the presence of those who almost certainly were connected to the Order stopped her.

"I understand." Azee hissed as angrily as she dared before she spun around and walked off toward the small group of other pelts.

Luke watched Azee go with a quiet sigh, before making his way toward the balcony.

As Azee made her way across the room, she couldn't help but overhear a conversation between one of the rich patrons and a canine server bearing a silver platter covered in multicoloured drinks.

"Do you have anything riding on this match?" The man asked, leaning forward to take his drink.

"Aye sir, I've got a couple meals riding on Cero to win in the first ten minutes."

"I'd be ready to go hungry then." The man chuckled. "Kard is a shoe-in."

"Meanin' no disrespect sir, but there is no way, no WAY that Cero doesn't take the match." The pelt replied, handing a drink to the man's lady companion. "Did you see what he did to that Lutrine last week? Crushed his skull with his bare hands!"

"Nonsense boy, Kard is too fast. Cero will never catch him."

"Speed is truly important sir, but all Cero has to do is get a hold of him once." The pelt gestured at himself. "I'm a canine, he's a canine, we can sense these things."

The man laughed out loud. "And Kard has already proven himself against Canines eight times, and Lord knows how much debris. Besides, if you're so confident, perhaps you should have a turn in the arena?"

The canine bowed his head. "No thank you, I'd rather do just about any job you can imagine rather than spend a second in the ring with either of those monsters."

"Well, then it's a good thing you mix a good cocktail."

"Thank you, sir."

As the two men chuckled, Azee couldn't help but shudder.

A lutrine standing against the bar caught Azee's eye. Judging by her large pointed ears, she had a great deal of feline blood in her, and her pitch-black fur was silky smooth and shone even in the subdued light of the lounge. She stood with a casual elegance against the bar, a delicate glass of pale liquid in her left hand. She wore a scarlet dress festooned with silver links, and the collar around her neck was gold, the control rune surrounded with shimmering red crystals.

"Hello," Azee said, smiling at the lutrine as she approached.

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The Lutrine tilted her head slightly, raising an eyebrow as she glanced at Azee. "Hello?"

"My name is Azee."

"Fascinating. What do you want?"

Azee blinked in surprise. "Uh... n-nothing. I just... wondered if you'd like to talk."

"Talk?" The lutrine scoffed. "I can't imagine you have anything interesting to say."

"I... well..."

"You came in with Windhill, didn't you? What, did he pull you out of some market so he didn't have to come alone?"

Azee was at a loss for words as the lutrine looked her up and down. "The rumours about Windhill being short of money must be true if you are the best he can do."

Anger flashed in Azee's eyes as her fur bristled. "What is your problem?"

"Aside from having my time wasted by some mongrel, nothing." The lutrine set down her glass and strode away towards a pair of other pelts standing at the far end of the bar.

"Don't mind her too much." A voice said from behind Azee. "Bianca is a bitch, even when she's not working."

Azee spun round and came face to face with a pair of pelts, one a vulpine with gorgeous blue-silver fur streaked with white, the other a feline female with stunningly bright copper orange fur and white hair.

"Uh... I..."

"Azee was it?"

"Y-yes."

"A pleasure." The vulpine put a hand on her chest. "My name is Iris." She gestured at the feline, "And this is my escort, Victoria."

"Nice to meet you." Azee bowed her head.

"Mmmmm. So, have you heard any tasty tidbits?"

"T-tidbits?"

"Well, you have those wonderful big ears, you must have heard something. Perhaps we can trade?"

"Trade?"

"Sure, nothing wrong with helping one another out, our masters are friends after all. What were you trying to get out of Bianca?"

Again Azee was completely confused. "I... Wh... what do you mean? I just wanted to talk."

"Wait... are you not... Oh my," Iris giggled. "Are you actually just here as a companion? Oh dear, how embarrassing."

"And here you thought Windhill was trying to be clever, bringing something like... this, here." Victoria snickered. "Guess what they say about him is true."

"Oh Victoria, hush," Iris scolded, though it was clear she was working hard to suppress a smile. "No need to be cruel to the outsider. Especially when she's so clearly out of place."

"What do you mean out of place?" Confusion mixed with anger as Azee glared first at Iris, then at Victoria. "What's happening here?"

"Well of course you're out of place, it's not as if this place is a barn in the middle of a swamp." With a small nod, Iris turned to leave. "Well, it was... nice to meet you, Azee."

Again Azee felt a flush of anger gathering in her chest. "Hey!" Her arm flashed out, but the instant before she touched Iris, Victoria grabbed hold of Azee's wrist and held it tight, her claws digging into Azee's flesh.

"Do not touch her, cur," Victoria growled, baring her teeth at Azee.

"Victoria, don't make a scene," Iris commanded, keeping her voice low enough that none of the humans noted what was going on. "Don't waste your energy."

With a low snarl, Victoria released Azee's arm.

"I don't understand, what is wrong with you?" Azee demanded. "We're both pelts."

"Both pelts?" Iris's eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

"That's right, so why are you acting like... like a human!"

"We may both have fur and tails, but I can trace my blood back more than ten generations. I'm the daughter of two diamond pedigree champions, born in one of the most prestigious breeding facilities in all of Halcyon, and I was bought and paid for before my mother was even born! But you? You are a canine mutt, a runt from the looks of it. You're a farm animal."

Azee took a step backward, words failing her.

"Windhill really must be losing whatever sense of shame he had if he thought that bringing you out looking like this was a good idea. Look at you, a collar made of leather? Are you a bloody hound? And that dress looks like it was made today." Iris's face twisted into a venomous sneer. "You're a disgrace, and you dare to call us the same?" With a final indignant sniff, Iris turned and marched off, Victoria staying close behind her.

Shaken and shivering, Azee dropped onto one of the stools.

As Azee sat in shock, the bartender approached and offered her a drink. "Shouldn't have said that, nothing annoys her kind more than being reminded that, underneath all that fancy breeding, she's just as much a slave as the rest of us."

Azee turned and stared at the drink. "Wh-what... I..."

"Here, looks like you could use this."

With numb and shaking hands, Azee picked up the glass, staring at the liquid within. Shakily she brought it to her lips and took a drink.

"T'ain't your fault." The bartender glanced around to make sure no one else was listening before leaning close to Azee. "The smooth skins only bring our kind here to try and eavesdrop on each other. They're hunting for gossip, nothing more."

"So... they're just being used."

"Well yeah." the Bartender shrugged as he handed Azee a second drink. "It's not like the humans care about any of us."

"Yeah," Azee grumbled, swallowing her second drink in a single gulp. "Only a fool would think that a human might actually care."

Beyond the lounge box, the roar of the crowd in the arena began to swell as great banners bearing the sigil of Halcyon were unfurled and billowed over the crowd.

***

Eloise glanced around as she stole silently down a narrow hallway that led into the bowels of the arena. The hallway curled around the perimeter of the Arena and was much taller than it was wide, the ceiling all but invisible in the darkness.

It hadn't taken much looking for Eloise to find the passage at the far end of the VIP entrance hall. The passage had clearly not been intended for patrons, as it had been marked with several dire warnings about what would happen if someone were to enter uninvited, as well as a pair of armed guards standing at the entrance. Thankfully, distracting and then sneaking past the two Order agents had only taken a meagre effort.

Through the metal and stone walls, Eloise could hear the sounds of the crowd, it filled the space like the hum of an engine on a ship.

"Dammit..." Eloise cursed to herself as her ears picked up the sound of footsteps up ahead of her.

Thinking fast, she tore off one of the sleeves of her dress and mussed up her hair. Looking suitably distressed, Eloise began running toward the source of the footsteps.

Within moments, an Order agent came into view. Immediately he raised his rifle and called out. "You, stop!"

"Oh please help me!" Eloise called out. "They're coming! They're right behind me!"

"This area is restricted!" As he took aim, the Agent noted Eloise's damaged clothes.

"Please, they're chasing me! Help me!" Eloise cried, her voice a trembling, terrified shriek, her face twisted in terror.

A moment's hesitation on the part of the guard was all Eloise needed. In an instant she pulled a knife, hidden in the back of her corset, and threw it at the agent. The blade struck the man in the throat and he toppled backward, gurgling for a moment before he lay still.

After checking for a moment to make sure that no one else had heard her, Eloise stepped forward, another knife in her hands as she checked to make sure the agent was truly dead. The man's eyes were wide and staring, his mouth open in surprise, but there was no movement from him.

As she drew closer, Eloise was surprised to note a badge attached to the man's jacket bearing the mark of Halcyon, but with a symbol beneath she recognized.

"The Order of the Crimson Gift? What are they doing here..."

Wasting no time, Eloise set about removing the man's clothes, then her own. She worked as fast as she could, cursing the complicated ties on her corset, before giving up and simply slicing it off.

"Dammit," She muttered to herself as she worked to squeeze into the man's pants. "You have, urmph, a more feminine figure than, gah, than I do!" The boots were also a challenge, though they were too big rather than too small. Thankfully the agent's shirt and jacket were more her size, if a little short.

As soon as she had finished replacing her clothes, Eloise dropped her dress in a heap. From a pocket within her undershirt, she pulled a small piece of red crystal.

"Sorry girls, it was a nice dress," Eloise muttered as she drew a rune on the agent's chest, then on the fabric of her dress. "But, to be fair, not that great for sneaking around."

As soon as the runes were complete, Eloise pressed the piece of red crystal against the centre of both and stepped back. The red colour drained from the crystal into the two runes, leaving it a pale grey colour. The runes she had drawn swiftly began to glow, dark red at first, then brighter and brighter until they were burning white, filling the hall with blinding light. Then, in a flash, both the dress and corpse were consumed in a burst of white flame. Seconds later, all that was left was a few wisps of ash floating in the air and a small scorch mark on the floor from the agent's blood.

Without any hesitation, Eloise turned and picked up the agent's rifle, before continuing on down the hallway.

***

Colmstock took a long deep breath, smoothing down his suit. From just beyond a curtain of rich crimson, he could hear the anticipation of the crowd growing with each passing moment.

"Can you feel it?" He purred, closing his eyes and raising his hands like a conductor. "They are all so hungry..."

Colmstock's aide nodded, and smiled to herself at the sheer joy her superior took in his job. "Yes sir."

"And what of doctor June, is she done yet?"

The aide nodded. "She and her team are ready sir."

"Well then, let's get to the feeding then, shall we?"

Taking a final, deep breath, Colmstock stepped forward, sweeping aside a bright red curtain and stepping out onto an ostentatious balcony that thrust out over the crown and the fighting pit. A shining golden podium sat in the centre of the balcony, a trio of huge microphones mounted to its top.

A cheer rose as Colmstock stepped out. While the crowd roared and celebrated, in the prison cells that ringed the fighting pit, many a heart skipped a beat in terror as their time drew near.

Stepping up to the podium, Colmstock paused for a moment, before calling out in a voice that thundered through the entire arena. "Citizens of Halcyon! I bid you welcome to the semi-final match of the Burleigh County division of the Iron Games!"

***

Up in the lounge, Colmstock's voice sent a chill down Azee's spine. She turned to stare down at the arena as all of the lights turned to focus on Colmstock.

"Best not to watch," The bartender whispered. "This match is gonna be bloody."

Azee heard the words but was unable to turn away.

***

Colmstock's eyes rolled back as his words created a fresh round of howling cheers and adulation from the crowd. By the Lord did he love his job, every moment of the crowd's adoration filled him with a joy like none other.

"Tonight, our main event shall be a match like none before, a battle between two ferocious warriors, first I give you, fresh from the savage lands of Plane Secundus, Cero!"

Fresh cries of excitement rang out as a thick-barred portcullis at one end of the fighting pit opened and a huge canine stepped out into the ring. His right hand was covered by an iron gauntlet, and in his left hand he carried a wooden club, no longer than his forearm, with a single metal spike a few inches long jutting out near the tip. Twisted, curling markings of red paint stained the dark grey fur on his chest and arms.

"He was once the warlord of his tribe," Colmstock continued, his voice echoing over the howling crowd. "A monster, a born killer, who took down three of our own soldiers before his capture! Now, with eighteen arena kills, he fights for all of you!"

As Colmstock spoke, Cero's gaze swept over the crowd, his lips curling back in a hateful snarl as he gripped his weapon tighter. It was clear that, given the chance, he'd kill every last one of them. A wide smile spread across Colmstock's face as Cero's insolence only heightened the crowd's excitement.

"And now, the butcher of Burleigh, the lightning lapine, Kard!"

Another portcullis at the opposite end of the pit opened and a Lapine stepped out. Like Cero, Kard bore a gauntlet on his left arm and carried a club in his right hand. Unlike Cero, however, Kard raised his arms to the crowd, grinning wide as they roared in excitement and adulation. He even began blowing kisses to the audience, proudly posing to show off his muscles.

"Yes, you know him well! With twenty-seven arena kills, this is one feral beast you should never take your eyes off! After suffering a nearly fatal loss one year ago, here he is again, ready to fight for all of you!"

Colmstock's grin widened. "The winner of this contest will proceed to the next round, to battle in the provincial championships! Pay close attention, for you all may be watching the future champion of all Halcyon!"

***

"How can they do this?" Azee shook her head slowly as she watched the two fighters slowly circle the perimeter of the ring. "Why?"

The bartender tilted his head as he busied himself with wiping down a glass. "The humans or the fighters?"

"Both..."

"Humans have always liked bloodshed. If they can't have war, they'll have the next best thing. As for the fighters, it's not like they have a choice."

"I know... but still."

***

Colmstock waited patiently as the two fighters circled one another, each sizing the other up. They wouldn't attack one another until he gave the signal, but the crowd didn't know that. He waited, feeling the anticipation build.

'And now, my sweet pets, for your feeding.'

As he spoke, Colmstock's voice shifted to a more sombre, almost ominous, tone, his grin fading. "It must be said, good citizens, that while we stand here, now, our great nation is under threat. We are beset by enemies, those who would seek to destroy our beloved Halcyon, those who wish to drag us down into degeneracy and damnation!"

The buzzing of the crowd changed, a sense of disquiet filling the air. Colmstock smiled, the crowd was his now, and he would play them like a fiddle.

"Yes... the hordes from the north that would rip us apart and take from us everything, if they were but given a chance! And so... as Halcyon has fought its way to the pinnacle of civilisation, so too must these fighters rise above the tide!"

At Colmstock's signal, entrances all around the fighting pit perimeter clattered open. A dozen pelts of all different kinds stepped into the pit, squinting as their eyes adjusted to the lights of the arena. The newcomers were scrawny, with ribs showing through their fur and gaunt faces. A few were armed with sticks, but most were empty-handed.

"Behold! The hordes, the unworthy, and the damned! These creatures stand between our champions and victory, the same way the unwashed and unholy stand against us!"

Kard and Cero looked at one another as they backed toward the centre of the fighting pit. Neither had been told about this little act, and both shot furious glances up at Colmstock.

But Colmstock couldn't have cared less. The crowd was roaring again, calling for blood. A rising chant emerged, started by Colmstocks agents within the crowd.

"Kill... Kill... Kill... Kill... KILL!"

"Prove you are worthy," Colmstock roared. "Rise above, or fall in disgrace! That is the true nature of the world!"

Reaching to his belt, Colmstock drew a shining silver pistol and raised it above his head. For one final moment, he closed his eyes and felt the cries of the crowd wash over him, before finally pulling the trigger.

As the sound of the pistol rang through the arena, the match began.

***

As quietly as she was able, Eloise snuck down a long staircase that dove deep into the rock below the arena. Her Crimson Gift disguise had worked thus far, allowing her to walk freely through the restricted areas without so much as a glance from her 'comrades'.

"What in damnation are they doing down here," she muttered to herself, glancing at the bundle of wires that rang along the tunnel wall.

As she descended, Eloise noticed that the air was swiftly growing colder, her breath billowing around her.

'It shouldn't be this cold, not even underground...'

Eloise's eyes widened as a shock of fear ran through her like an electric current. Memories long since buried began to surface once more. She'd felt this kind of cold before.

"No... no they can't be..."

Abandoning any pretence of stealth, Eloise took off down the stairs, leaping down two or three at a time.

"Please let me be wrong," she panted. "They can't be this stupid... not even them!"

After what felt like an eternity, though it couldn't have been longer than a minute, Eloise reached the bottom of the staircase and exploded out into a large cavern cut into the rock. She was going so fast that she nearly went tumbling over the edge of the narrow wooden platform that ringed the upper perimeter of the cavern.

The space was perhaps three stories deep, and well over one hundred feet wide, with a network of wooden scaffolding leading down to the floor. A huge apparatus of pipes and machines studded with large plates of catalyst crystal stretched from the roof to the bottom like a giant metallic stalactite. More strange machinery was spread about the cave floor, attended to by perhaps a dozen men and women in long white coats, as well as a handful of Order Agents. The whole space was illuminated by several large electric lights and a multitude of lanterns.

As she stared at the massive machine, Eloise caught sight of a familiar face amongst the engineers tending to the machinery. She was a woman, shorter than average, and despite her youthful face, her hair was a brilliant white.

At the sight of the woman, Eloise's teeth squeaked as she gritted them hard, her hands clenching so tight that her nails drew blood from her palms.

Retreating back into the shadows of the staircase, Eloise withdrew one of her pistols from the mechanism at her wrist. She fumbled around in her pockets for a few moments before withdrawing a small handful of bullets.

"Two... three... four..." She muttered as she sorted through the rounds, withdrawing four bullets that were stubbier than the others, and painted red, with small pieces of catalyst crystal embedded in the tips.

"Just four... Dammit." Eloise cursed as she loaded the four bullets into her gun, before locking it into place and sliding it back into her sleeve.

Turning back to the staircase, she drew her knife and began etching a series of runes into the walls and ceiling. As she worked, a groaning hum from the cavern made her spin around. The machine seemed to activate, the runes flickering to life, all glowing a deep crimson. All at once, the already cold air grew frigid.

Turning back to her task, Eloise began igniting the runes she had carved into the stone. Each began to glow, followed swiftly by the rock around them. With a sputtering 'phut', the wires along the wall burst into flames and melted away. Eloise stepped back as the rock grew hotter and hotter, the walls and ceiling sagging as they turned to magma. Within moments the stairway was completely blocked by a glowing, smouldering wall of rock.

With slow, deliberate rage, Eloise turned and started making her way down the scaffolding. Neither the agents, nor the engineers had noticed Eloise blocking off their escape, and certainly, none knew the mortal peril they were in.

The first agent Eloise came to didn't even know what had hit her as Eloise's blade sliced her throat. The agent toppled backward as Eloise simply strode past, not sparing her a second glance.

It wasn't until Eloise struck the second agent and killed him in much the same fashion as the first, that one of the agents patrolling the catwalk on the other side of the cavern noticed her.

"Intruder!" The agent shouted, raising her rifle and taking a shot at Eloise.

The bullet tore into a beam just behind Eloise, the crack of the gunshot echoing loudly in the cavern. Eloise spun, dropping to one knee, pausing for only a moment to activate the shield rune at her belt, before firing her own rifle at the attacking agent. Her first and second shots missed the agent by a hair, forcing her back.

As the agent ducked into cover she activated her own shield rune.

Turning, Eloise took aim at the four agents on the cave floor a story below her, all of whom were already making for cover. Eloise was able to hit one of the agents as he dove for cover behind a crate, striking him in the chest and sending him crashing to the floor where he lay still.

Another shot from the agent on the scaffold zipped by Eloise's head, close enough that it tore a hole in the brim of her hat. Eloise returned fire, but one of her bullets bounced harmlessly off one of the thick metal supports of the scaffold, behind which the agent had taken cover, while the second spattered against the agent's shield.

Eloise dropped to one knee, taking careful aim and firing, not at the agent, but at a lantern hanging on the wall behind her. The bullet smashed the lantern to smithereens, flammable oil spilling over the scaffold and the agent and igniting. In a matter of seconds, the agent was engulfed in flames, her arms thrashing wildly. The moment the agent staggered out from behind her cover, Eloise fired again, her shot striking the agent's shield with enough force that it knocked her off her balance and sent her tumbling off the scaffold to her death on the cavern floor.

The remaining agents on the cavern floor opened fire, their shots striking all around Eloise. Half a dozen bullets slammed into her shield, overwhelming it in moments. She let out a cry of agony as one struck her left leg, another her left shoulder.

As Eloise collapsed, one of the agents drew a bullet from a small pouch on his hip. The bullet was tipped with a piece of catalyst crystal with a green glowing rune on its tip.

"Breach round out!" the agent hollered as he loaded the bullet into his gun.

"No wait," the white-haired engineer called out, "If you damage-"

Ignoring the engineer's protests, the agent fired. The round left a green trail in the air as it streaked away from the gun and into a wooden beam just below the platform Eloise knelt upon. The moment the bullet touched the beam, it exploded with great force, blowing apart a section of the scaffolding and sending Eloise tumbling to the cavern floor amidst a cascade of wooden debris and dust.

"Hold!" the agent called out, gesturing for the others to stay in cover as he kept his aim on the spot where Eloise had fallen. His view was partially obscured by the dust, but through it, he was able to see movement as Eloise shakily got to her feet.

"Fire!"

A chorus of shots rang out as the three agents opened fire. Eloise's body jerked as several more shots tore into her, striking her in the stomach, chest, and neck. With a wheezing cough, she pitched forward and fell heavily to the floor, a pool of blood swiftly growing around her.

Cautiously, all three Agents stood up, keeping their weapons aimed at Eloise's body.

"Keep your shields up. Doc, are your people alright?" The lead agent called out, glancing over his shoulder at the white-haired woman.

"Yes, it would seem so." The woman looked back at the other men and women in white coats. "All of you, see to the equipment! Make sure nothing is dama-" The woman paused as a loud hissing sound rang out from Eloise.

Lightning bolts of red energy spiderwebbed out from Eloise, drawing her blood back into her body.

In a flash, Eloise looked up and raised an arm, one of her pistols sliding out of her sleeve and into her hand. Three shots in rapid succession rang out. The bullets left bright blue-green trails as they flew and tore through the Agent's shields, striking them dead.

Slowly, Eloise pulled herself to her feet, glaring at the white-haired woman. Her bones crackled as they knitted back together, her wounds swiftly healing to a chorus of horrified gasps from the watching engineers.

"I am very, very disappointed in you, June."

June's eyes widened. "Eloise? Wh- How are you here?"

"No, you don't get to ask questions," Eloise snarled, a red glow in her eyes as she glared at her former comrade. "But you will answer mine."

***

END OF CHAPTER 31