Flight Games

-SIXUS-

I had been sneaking to the Xeonada Empire every night for the past three months. Victim always packed the arena as they watched a female killing their own. She was good, I’ll give her that. But who the fuck was she? I hid in the shadows, and I masked my scent so they couldn’t smell the half-draconian coming off my body.

My name is King Sixus Westin. I’m twenty-two and I reign over the Kingdom of Eozadion. Prince Orion Aeon Dra had murdered my twin brother, Feron, in cold blood. My wife, Melfina, had embraced her villain era by going full dark and leaving with her brother back here. I haven’t seen or heard from her since.

“Tonight, you are in for a treat!” Orion shouts to the restless crowd. “For the last match, our very own Victim Commander will take on Hell’s Guardian to the death!”

The crowd cheered, and I couldn’t help but feel something crawling over my skin. A pit in my stomach set me on edge. I didn’t know why. It wasn’t as though I knew this chick.

There she stood in the arena wearing a pale blue and black corset dress, long matching blue boots that went up to her knees, long white gloves that came to her elbows, and a masquerade dragon mask with horns sticking out of it. Her hair was up in a unique style: two cat ear pigtails on either side of her head. She was short, Five-feet, slim but athletic body. She was drop dead gorgeous.

Standing opposite her, the Victim Commander pulled a sword he had strapped behind his back.

The sound of a horn signaled the start of the life-or-death match.

I would soon realize the cause of my apprehension regarding this woman.

-MELFINA-

The arena hosted its final match tonight. I had already killed every top Victim they had in their army. The final one… the Victim Commander himself. If I had won, he would have let me return home. If I lost… He kept me chained to him for the rest of my existence.

He held his sword out before him, and I pulled the Valistik sword out of the sheath and stood in a defensive stance. The commander used his vampire speed and brought his sword down towards my head.

I raised mine as the sound of metal clanking together sounded in the silent arena. I pushed his blade back and flipped over his head. I turned and kicked him hard in the back, sending him flying forward. He caught his balance by stabbing his blade deep into the sand. It slowed him down, and he turned, yanking it out before coming at me again.

I need to end this now! He had trained me well. So, well, in fact, our power was equal. We couldn’t kill the other because of the stupid stipulation he failed to inform me about until it was far too late to turn back. Tonight’s match wasn’t to the death. It was about sheer willpower and who was more dominant.

I bent down and scooped up a handful of sand and threw it into his eyes, causing him to snarl in surprise and drop his blade to the ground. I snatched it up and leapt on top of him, causing him to fall onto his back. I crossed both blades over his neck and pressed them firmly against his skin. Vampires got burned by the touch of silver. At least he did, anyway.

“Surrender!” I breathed. “Yield to me, Victim Commander!”

“You win!” he spat as he cleared the rest of the sand from his white eyes with red rings around the edges. “Now get your ass off me!”

I removed the blades and tossed him to the ground beside him as I scrambled to my feet. I slammed the Valistik sword into the sheath and caught my breath.

Slowly rising to his feet, he picked up his sword. With it put away, he walked over to me. In a victorious gesture, he raised my hand.

“Your winner,” Orion shouts. “Is the undefeated Hell’s Guardian!”

The crowd booed loudly as Timbrax dropped my arm. He glanced at me with a look of hell if I knew. I couldn’t read his ass. His constant scowling expression showed that he was always pissed off.

“You know he’s been here every night for the past three months watching you fight?”

Timbrax spoke in my mind.

“I know.”

I couldn’t hide the annoyance in my voice.

“Go talk to him,” Timbrax nudged his head towards Sixus without making it too obvious. “Your free to leave, by the way.” He added.

I turned and kicked off the ground. I flew to the metal speaker and landed in front of Sixus. He slowly formed an icicle in his fist as he turned to face me.

“Why have you been watching me, King Westin?” I spoke in a seductive voice.

“I’m looking for someone,” Sixus said in his scary Dragon Knight Commander voice as he met my gaze evenly. I cursed the dragon gods for making this man so fucking sexy. He wore his Dragon Knight uniform with his red mecha pilot boots. The high winds caused his luscious dark hair to tousle. Once again, I found myself irresistibly drawn to his piercing blue eyes. Damn him for being so fucking hot as sin! “This is our kingdom.”

“Your hot as fuck,” I laughed lightly as I took a step towards him. His body tensed as I stepped into his space. I softly brushed my finger against his chiseled jawline, then paused. I dropped my hand onto his chest and closed my eyes as I kissed him. For a moment, his body tensed up before he relaxed beneath me. He returned my kiss hungrily before he realized I wasn’t who he thought I was. He immediately broke it and growled as I opened my eyes. “I’m coming home with you.”

“In my bed, there will only be my wife,” Sixus smirked, until the smirk faded away. “You’re wasting my time.”

My anxiety eased knowing Sixus still loves me. I took a few steps back as my shadowy dragon wings exploded from behind my back. His eyes widened in shock as he took me in once more.

I turned and leaped off the metal beam. My wings caught the high winds as I started flying north. He removed his jacket and shirt as his white wings exploded out of his back. He too kicked off the metal beam, holding his clothing in one hand as he quickly caught up to me.

“Who are you?” he yelled over the roar of the wind.

“My name is Hell’s Guardian,” I replied, as I kept my gaze forward. “You won’t find Melfina back there.”

“Did that Victim Commander kill her?” he demanded.

“No,” I shook my head. “She’s alive.”

“Stop!” Sixus grabbed me by the right wrist and pulled me into his body as he held the icicle inches away from my throat. “Tell me where to find her!” With a flick of my left wrist, a pale blue flame materialized in my palm, causing me to smirk. I placed my hand near his as the ice melted instantly. I flicked my wrist, and the flame vanished. “Mel?”

Sixus released me, and I wrapped my arms around him. The outfit disappeared, and I wore the double-sided uniform with my scarlet mecha pilot boots. I passed out when he caught me, pulling me into his arms.

“Can you give me a ride home, Sixus?”

I conveyed my thoughts in his inner sight as I shut my eyes and sank into total darkness.

***

My eyes shot open, and I sat up as I tried to calm my racing heart. I quickly recognized the room as I observed my surroundings. Sixus and I were roommates last year, sharing a dorm room at the Abraxis Institute of Union. I lay in my bed. I threw off the hot blanket and leaped to my feet. The Valistik sword was laying across my wooden desk.

The doors slid open, and Sixus walked into the room. They closed behind him as he walked up to me. He placed his hands on my cheeks and gazed into my eyes. He was desperately looking for any signs of darkness. But there wasn’t much left. Thankfully.

I pulled the collar of his shirt and fiercely kissed him. He returned my kiss just as hungrily before I sensed danger approaching. I broke the kiss and turned around to find Timbrax standing on the balcony outside of the bedroom.

“You!” Sixus snarls as he shoved me protectively behind him. He formed an icicle in his fist and flipped it in his hand before tossing it towards Timbrax’s heart. He hit his target as dark blood seeped into his black T-shirt. “Die, you Victim piece of shit!”

Timbrax gazed down at it, then up at him with a cocky smirk on his handsome face. An orange flame ignited from his chest as the icicle melted into a puddle on the ground before him.

“Sixus,” I whispered as he slowly turned and gazed at me. His eyes widened in shock as a dark pool of blood stained my pale pink spaghetti strapped night shirt. “You can’t kill him.”

“Here,” Timbrax spoke in a calm voice as Sixus spun around and caught a sheath holding the Holistic sword in it. “Hurry and use it on her before she bleeds out!”

“You expect me to stab her?” Sixus threw him a confused look.

“Do it!” Timbrax ordered. “Or we’ll both die from blood loss!”

Sixus yanked the sword out and turned towards me. Without the slightest bit of hesitation, he stabbed me in the left thigh. A bright blue light flashed, temporarily blinding us before it dissipated.

Sixus lowered his right arm and gazed at me in stunned silence. My wound healed instantly. I felt a new bond forming between us. I was now bound to both men. And they were bound to me and to each other.

“Why can I feel your emotions, Mel?” Sixus asks in a quiet voice.

“The Holistic sword has chosen you as its next owner, Sixus,” Timbrax replies casually as he entered the room. “The Valistik sword chose Melfina, and both swords bound your souls together.”

“What?” Sixus threw him a confused look as he slammed the sword back into the sheath.

“If either of you gets hurt or dies,” Timbrax grunted. “You use the Holistic sword, and it will heal your wounds or revive the dead instantly.”

“Why the hell are you bound to us?” Sixus threw him a look.

“To keep you two alive,” Timbrax growled. “Victim won’t kill you if my soul is bound to both of yours.”

“This is a fucking nightmare,” Sixus snarled, as I felt the rage swelling within him. “How am I bound to a fucking alien?”

“Who said we were aliens?” Timbrax arched an eyebrow his way.

“The Xarvax were aliens,” Sixus retorted. “So, we just assumed that Victim are, too.”

“Of course you did,” Timbrax scoffed. “I’m a different breed from them, but… trust me, we aren’t aliens.”

“Then what are you?” Sixus challenged.

One word formed in my mind’s eye, and both men saw it.

“VAMPIRE!”

“No,” Sixus shook his head in utter disbelief. “Vampires do not exist on Tellus. They are myths.”

“Yet here I stand before you,” Timbrax popped his neck muscles. “I’m what you would call a Varacolaci from Earth.”

“He hasn’t drunk your blood, has he?” Sixus looked at me.

“No,” I shook my head. “He drinks blood from mouthguards prefilled with blood.”

“Really?” Sixus was surprised. “That’s… different?”

“I made a pact with Melfina,” Timbrax said. “If she beat me in the arena… she could return home, and I would become her personal guardian.”

“You let her whoop your ass in that arena on purpose,” Sixus spoke. “So she could come home to me.”

“I didn’t let her beat me,” Timbrax snarled as I felt the anger rising within his end of the bond. “She is my equal on the battlefield!”

“But in your case… you don’t see her, do you, Sixus?”

Timbrax challenged him.

Sixus snarled, and I quickly stepped between the two men, placing a hand on both of their chests. I felt the rage extinguish from both ends of the bond.

“I’m exhausted,” I spoke in a quiet voice. “You two can fight tomorrow… but no stabbing each other, cause we’ll all bleed to death.”

I lowered my hands, and I walked over to my bed. I lay down and got comfortable. I closed my eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep for the first time in three months.

I awoke the next morning and found Sixus lying beside me. I felt his hot skin against my back. He had been snoring as he was in a deep sleep. I carefully climbed across his body and stood on the floor. I used my newfound speed and took a quick shower, then got dressed. I quickly put my hair up in the cat ear pigtails hairstyle before picking up the sheath and clipping it to my pants.

I sensed danger quickly approaching, and I yanked the Valistik sword and spun around. I sliced an icicle in half as it split into two, falling on the ground before me.

“You got faster,” Sixus smirked. I could feel how impressed with me he was through his end of the bond. “How will you fare against the Dragon Knights waiting for you outside?”

“Firelash Power!” I yelled as I transformed into Hell’s Guardian. I moved past him and stepped out onto the balcony. I looked down and found the entire battalion of Dragon Knights standing on the grass, looking up at me. “Too easy.”

I leapt up onto the ledge and saw Radriarth waiting for me. I leapt onto his back and sat in the saddle. I slammed my boots into the footholds, and they clicked into place.

“You reek of vampire oracle!”

Radriarth spoke in my mind.

“Because for the past three months I’ve killed Victim in this outfit and with this sword and dagger! Now let’s move!”

I gripped the horn with my left hand, and he shot skywards in seconds and started flying.

“Whoever can bring me the oracle will get a weekend trip to visit their family!” Sixus shouted as he leapt onto Ivrem’s back. The Dragon Knights started leaping onto the backs of their guardians and flying after me.

“You prepared to lose, babe?” Sixus laughed cockily as he flew beside me on the right.

“You got jokes!” I shouted over the roar of the wind. I heard the roar of a dragon rapidly approaching me from my left. Timbrax’s emerald green Dragon Knight uniform surprised me. He, too, wore the scarlet mecha pilot boots to keep his ass in his seat. It was comical to see a vampire riding on the back of a dragon.

“Don’t look at me like that!” Timbrax hissed as he narrowed his eyes at me from behind his flying goggles. “The shit I put up with to protect your ass is humiliating!”

My intuition told me danger was approaching. Radriarth tilted to the right and spun over Sixus before straightening out. A loud explosion came from the west. Our heads turned, and my eyes widened in shock as I watched the Xeonada Empire explode. Again.

“No!” I screamed repeatedly in shock. My home was gone.

“Everyone back to the institute!” Sixus called over his shoulder. “We are under attack!”

“Our home is gone, oracle!”

Radriarth roared loudly, and the other guardians roared as we flew over the sea. I slammed the Valistik sword back into the sheath, and the outfit disappeared. I quickly popped open the satchel and placed my hand inside. I pulled out the flight goggles and carefully placed them over my hair, and drew them over my eyes.

“I’m sorry, Mel.”

I could feel the sorrow coming from Radriarth’s bond and from Sixus’ end of his bond. I had so many fucking bonds it was hard keeping track of who was who within my vessel.

The guardians all landed on the flight strip, and I removed the goggles, tossing them back into the bag before buttoning it. I unhooked my boots and stood. I leapt off Radriarth’s back and landed on my feet. He shot up into the sky and headed for the dragon sanctuary.

“What the fuck was that about, Brax?” I demanded as I stormed up to him as he approached me, with Sixus by his side. “You let Victim destroy my fucking HOME!”

“Excuse you?” Timbrax narrowed his eyes at me in annoyance. I could feel the rage coming from his end of the bond. “If you haven’t noticed, I’ve been by your side this entire time!”

“I’d stab you and let you bleed to death if your ass wasn’t bound to us!” I hissed. I turned and ran towards the institute.

I didn’t dare look back and see the burning inferno behind me.

***

I hid myself away for the rest of the day in the dragon sanctuary. I was throwing a purple ball across the room and Tandenth was playing fetch with me. I heard footsteps approaching, and I didn’t bother looking up. I knew who it was. They stopped beside me.

“You gonna sit in here all-night Mel?” Sixus inquired in a quiet voice. I shrugged my shoulder as Tandenth returned with the ball. She dropped it before me, wagging her long pink tail happily with her long tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth. Her bright purple eyes glowed in the dull florescent lighting. “Tandenth and I are leaving tonight to return to the castle.”

I slowly climbed to my feet as she transformed into her human form. Her long, dark hair was in two perfect pigtails on either side of her head. The six-year-old child had the same captivating blue eyes as Sixus.

“You have responsibilities to tend to.” I forced a sad smile. “Have a safe trip.” I knew he felt the disappointment mixed with pain coming from my end of the bond. He placed a hand on my shoulder, stopping me from moving.

“I know you’re hurting,” Sixus whispered. “Because I’m hurting alongside you, my love.”

“My love?”

Sixus choice of words confused me. But I felt the urning for me from his end of the bond. He still loves me.

“You are the love of my life,” Sixus gently placed his hand on my cheek and stroked it with his thumb. “It is about time I introduced you to your daughter.”

“Daughter?” I asked, my eyes widening in shock. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. With a gradual motion, I shifted my gaze and encountered Tandenth’s striking blue eyes. She was nervous as she gazed up at me. “Tandenth belongs to you?”

“Us,” Sixus corrected me, giving me a sad smile. “I’m sorry I hid her true identity from you, but… I had to know if you truly loved us both, and you clearly do.”

I stepped away from Sixus and took a couple of steps toward the little girl. I gently pulled her into my arms and broke down. She wrapped her arms around me, as did Sixus.

“I love you both so much! I’m so proud to be your mother, Tandenth!”

I felt the love we all felt for each other flowing powerfully through the bond.

Was I in shock?

Absolutely.

But this was the best surprise I could have ever received after the devastation of losing my kingdom all over again.

My little family was going to be okay.

A needle pricked the right side of my neck and injected a cold liquid into my body. Sixus snarled as they got between him and Tandenth. I was forcefully dragged away from them by firm hands, and then everything went dark.