Almost before the match had even finished, before Chrysus had flown out over the pitch to announce the winner, Havier grabbed me under the elbow and began frog marching me away.

  “What are you-”

  “We need to get to Phonoi first,” he growled, half-dragging me out of the box and into the deserted hallways inside the arena. I heard Chrysus begin to announce that his champion was the victor. The crowd’s screams, somehow even more violent and blood thirsty than last time.

  “Why?”

  “Because now she is vulnerable and Chrysus knows that. Phonoi isn’t like the other gods, she respects power, craves revenge, but also isn’t ruled by her emotions. If we can offer her the option of an alliance before Chrysus convinces her to join him or be slaughtered, then we might just get her on our side.”

  I’d never seen Havier in this much of a rush before. He seemed panicked. For a man who didn’t really want to help me form these alliances in the first place, he was really getting into it now. His face was slightly red, eyes wild. There was more going on here. Something had him seriously spooked. This wasn’t just about helping me. He needed something. He was… scared.

  Barging past the elevator guards he placed a moist palm onto the mana reader and set the golden box in vertical motion. His eyes were focused, staring, and a slight twitch in his upper lip caught my eyes.

  “What is it?” I asked, staring forwards at my disjointed reflection in the shimmering, golden doors.

  “Nothing.”

  “Doesn’t look like nothing,” I replied. “Whatever it is, you might want to wipe it from your face before we meet Phonoi.”

  “Yes… thank you.”

  Steadily, he placed his palm on the elevator panel once more, bringing it to a halt, and began breathing deeply, eyes closed, hands crossed in front of him. The light inside the elevator flickered and my dragon’s eye stung as vibrant mana began circling around his still body. So many colours, more than I knew existed, began to swirl harmoniously around Havier. As he breathed, the colourful mana seemed to breathe with him, swelling and then constricting, perfectly in time with his deep, slow breaths.

  I was entranced. I’d never seen someone of his power level meditate before. It was… intoxicating. The sheer power he had over the natural mana. Every breath, every minor inflection or involuntary muscular spasm created a reaction from the vibrant hue which swirled and encased him.

  His eyes sprang open. Emotions controlled.

  “Apologies,” he said calmly, reactivating the elevator which lurched into motion with a dull hum. “It is unbecoming of someone of my station to practice public meditation but… thank you.”

  I nodded; words were not needed. Besides, I already had a pretty strong inclination as to what had spooked him. Chrysus didn’t want Havier to ascend. That was why he was sending assassins after him. Perhaps it had only just dawned on him how much danger he would be in if I failed my mission. Perhaps he needed my alliances to work more than I did.

  Inside Phonoi’s quarters it was eerily silent. Despite knowing that the crowd outside were cheering and screaming, the interior of her hall blocked out all sound. Through the open archway on the opposite side of the room, past her viewing chair, I could see the crowd hollering, yet I heard nothing.

  The walls were black, splashed with red paint – possibly blood. In the centre was a stand up, silver bathtub filled with bubbling crimson water. I was pretty certain that was blood, I could smell the iron tang. It was so pungent, hanging thickly in the air. I could practically taste it on my tongue like the haptic buzz you feel when licking a penny.

  Phonoi’s chair was empty. She must have left the arena viewing platform immediately. I wasn’t surprised. Turning to Havier I raised a single eyebrow and he nodded towards the tub. As if on cue, the blood-water seemed to rise, wrapping around a humanoid figure like a second skin or a silk blanket. As the figure rose, the liquid barrier couldn’t take the strain and popped, sloshing angrily back into the metal tub, tiny droplets littering the hard-wood floors and sizzling as they connected. The room felt fireplace-warm, perhaps an underfloor mana heating system?

  Her face was half covered by a bone-dry black veil, skin dripping with fresh blood, a demonic vitiligo. Phonoi slunk back, resting her head on the back of the tub, a towel underneath her neck, eyes appraising us.

  Why is she taking a bath with her clothes on? And how are they dry? Were the only thoughts that manifested in my head as I watched the strange scene unfold before me.

  “Can’t a girl get some peace? I am in mourning you know.” Her voice carried through the silence, a hollow reverb backing it with a slight echo. It shocked me more than her odd bathing ritual. She sounded… normal. Her voice was sweet and calm and nothing at all like what I expected a god of death to sound like. When she spoke, it was as if nothing else mattered. I felt comforted, like everything was going to be alright.

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  “I thought you believed that death was a mercy?” Havier responded.

  “Death is a mercy, but only for those fortunate enough to feel its warm embrace. It is a sadness for those of us left behind.”

  “True enough, I guess,” Havier shrugged. “In that case I’m sorry for your loss. Your champion put up a good fight.”

  “Thank you,” she nodded. “Now if that is all, kindly leave me. I have much to reflect on.”

  She sunk below the water so only her eyes were visible, they were covered by the veil, which was bone dry, but I could still see the faded shadow of them flickering as they watched Havier. She hadn’t spared me a single glance.

  “Pardon the intrusion,” I said, taking a step forward.

  “So, you are not mute after all,” she replied, allowing her lips to resurface but still refusing to look at me. “I was beginning to think you were just here for show, Champion of Diako.”

  “I am here to offer an alliance,” I said. Havier had told me that Phonoi liked people who cut to the chase and spoke confidently. She valued strength, and I had a sinking feeling that – not having fought in the arena yet – she wouldn’t see any in me. “I have heard that you believe in revenge. Chrysus’ champion slew your own and he plans to use this tournament as a staging ground to make himself king of the gods. We aim to stop him.”

  “You are correct; however, revenge is not warranted. My champion died honourably in single combat. To seek revenge would only sully her name. Surely even an outworlder like yourself can understand that.”

  For once I was speechless.

  She was so reasonable and not at all how Havier had described. He’d been a reliable source of intelligence thus far but my offer seemed to fall flat. I took a breath, closed my eyes and envisioned my cores for just a moment, centring myself.

  “I didn’t mean to off-”

  “Phonoi, we need to talk.”

  A commanding voice rang out around the silent room. My dragon’s eye lit up, watching as the mana turned dark, rushing towards the archway at the back. Following it with my eyes, I found Diako standing at the edge of the room. It was the first time I’d seen him since the start of the tournament. He’d barely moved a muscle when watching the fights, practically invisible.

  I guess he is the god of shadows for a reason.

  “Leave me be, Acyls, you old prune,” Phonoi sighed, an air of disdain on the tip of her tongue.

  “Why must you insist on using my mortal name?”

  “Because I don’t have any respect for you or the way in which you gained your power. Have I been unclear about this in the centuries we’ve known each other? You are a spineless coward Acyls and the less time I have to suffer your company, the better.”

  “We have had our… differences, yes. But now is not the time to quarrel. Chrysus-”

  “Chrysus is an infertile old goat whose ambition does not become him. His plans will fail regardless of my involvement. I told him as much last night when he attempted to goad me into making a bet with him.”

  Her delicate hands slid across the rim of the bathtub and, with minimal effort, she rose from the crimson waters, her clothes completely dry, and stepped out of the metal coffin’s embrace.

  “You disturb my bath,” she muttered, striding towards Diako. “You sully my period of mourning,” she waved her hands and the tub slid violently across the floor, smashing into the side wall. The floor itself began to bleed; liquid rose above the toe of my boots. “And now you request me as an ally?” Her voice was playfully venomous, but as she spoke a thick ball of mana began to gather above her head like a raincloud. “BEGONE!”

  As she reached Diako she threw out her hands, blasting him out of her room and back into the arena. Drapes were flung shut, casting the room into darkness. The only light source coming from the blood leaking upwards through the floorboards. It shimmered and sparkled like the night sky, tinged with red.

  “As for you two,” she said sternly. “Know that I will not ally myself with Chrysus… or Diako. I refuse to be dragged into this petty game of dick measuring. If the boys want to fight, let them. Perhaps luck will side with me and they’ll kill each other. I will return to my sanctum in the morning and I hope,” she cast an evil eye over me. “That our paths will not cross again.”

  She flicked a single finger in our direction and we flew backwards, though not as violently as Diako had, landing inside the elevator. My chest felt tight and breathing came with great difficulty as a pressure compressed my lungs.

  “Goodbye, Champion of Diako.”

  The elevator began its descent and I breathed in a sigh of relief. “She was intense.”

  “Yes, it seems we got the best outcome,” Havier said. As I looked at him he seemed to decompress, his earlier panic a long-forgotten memory.

  “How’s that?”

  “She’s dangerous. Not the most powerful in a head on fight, but her particular brand of mana is perfect for assassination. Especially when used against those of higher levels.”

  “That’s odd,” I replied. “She kinda seemed to me like the sort to fight her battles head on.”

  “When left to her own devices, she is. But that honour code of hers can lead her to fulfilling requests which are a lot shadier.”

  ***

  Having now met with all the gods, I returned to my apartment for the rest of the day and meditated alone, reflecting on the events of the past few days.

  Phonoi was out of the picture leaving Baccus and Diako on one side, Chrysus and Nyx on the other. With Loki floating around somewhere in the middle – I couldn’t be sure of anything other than his allegiance to himself. All things considered; it could be worse. The sides were even and, if anything, we held the upper hand. Baccus was a much older god than Nyx, surely that would come with more cunning and power. Yet my soul core was tumulus. Mostly black and empty, the few green hues that remained swirled and sloshed inside the ball like choppy seas in a storm.

  Taking a year away from Celestia to train had taught me a great many things. One of those things was how to calm my own nerves and steel myself for impending danger. I didn’t need to attend tonight’s announcement; I knew it was my turn.

  In the morning I would be fighting Aethis, Loki’s champion. In the morning, I would reveal the results of my training. In the morning, I would become a known quantity on the world stage.

  And I was ready.