As if the home team had scored a goal.
“If it makes you feel better,” Kerry muttered, “the neph signed up for it. He knew what he was getting into. And he died quick.”
“I suppose so,” I said in a voice I didn’t recognize. “Like a deer that got clobbered by a semi doing ninety.”
“Yep.” Then he made an explosion noise.
I cringed, but he didn’t notice. Instead, he let go of my elbow and strode up to a glassed-in counter.
Crouching down, I wrapped my arms around Rome’s neck and buried my face in his wrinkles.
He woofed softly.
“I know.” I hated that my voice quavered. “I know. I’ll be tough again in a second. That was awful.”
He woofed again.
“I can’t leave him now. I told him I had his back.” I rattled the charm bracelet on my wrist. “But if it looks likewe’regonna get exploded, I’m ’porting us all outta here, and to the devil with Kerry’s vendetta.”
#
Kerry
A rephaim named Rock was the official that night, and he ran the arena with an iron fist. When it was my turn, I stepped out into the firelit arena, unaware Mira and Rome had followed me.
“Who do you challenge, Harker?” Rock called from his umpire chair.
“I’ll take Og.”
The crowd stirred and a wave of muttering swept through the stands.
Yeah, the king of the rephaim ain’t called out too often.
A giant vaulted over the low wall that separated the combat space from the audience. He didn’t come alone. Two rephaim joined him, one on either side.
“Well, well, well. Kerry Harker.” Og traced a sharp fingernail from the edge of his mouth to his ear. “I told you if I saw you again, I’d make it a matched set, or don’t you remember?”
“I remember,” I growled.
Rock called for quiet as he went over the rules as he did before each contest.
“Participants, you have entered the contest of your own accord. No one leaves now until one side is dead. Anything within the arena may be used as a weapon. Harker, as the challenger, it is your privilege to signal the start.” Rock raised his voice to stir up his audience. “Rephaim versus nephilim, ladies and gentleman! May they entertain us well before they die!”
The people in the stands shrieked with excitement, and Og smirked at me.
“I see you still don’t fight your own battles.” I pointed to Droog and Greel.
“I’m just keeping the numbers even. Three on three is so much fairer than three on one.”
Three on three?
Turning, I saw Mira on my left and Rome on my right.
“What? No!” I snarled. “It was supposed to be just me!”
“I told you I got your back.” She didn’t seem fazed by my glare. “’Sides, it’s too late now. And just to be clear,everythinginside the circle is fair game?”
Og overheard her. He laughed as he slugged Greel in the chest and cuffed Droog’s shoulder.
