Page 48 of True Sacrifice
“Got me again. I’ll keep working on it. One day, that case will be mine,” Theo shouted.
The two demons walked out together, chatting happily. If this is how Jasper and Jax would walk out of here, then I was all for it.
“Did you like that, my fox?” Justice whispered. I had forgotten for a moment he was even there.
“It’s different when you don’t have to worry about anyone dying. The short pain time helps a lot too,” I said, considering just how different things were from being human. Demons weren’t evil, they were just playing with the toys they were given.
Another set of demons walked out from opposing sides. I watched intently, trying to figure out which one of them would win.
“Current fight, Stryker and Juliet. Fighting for procreation rights for Charlotte Evergreen. Battle style, hand to hand,”an announcer boomed overhead.
I looked over to see a beautiful demon, with long chocolate brown hair and caramel colored skin, jumping up and down excitedly from the stands. “Come on! Show me who wants it more,” she yelled to the pair in the arena.
The demons squared off, shaking hands tensely and then giving a bow. The entire atmosphere of this battle was so different from the last one. There was no friendly rivalry between these two.
“Why don’t they just share her?” I asked, turning to Justice.
He looked back at me with a soft smile. “Not all demons are fond of the idea of sharing, particularly for a partner for offspring.”
I looked back as the fight began. Hand to hand combat meant literally that. The two of them charged each other at the sound of the gong. They came at each other with fists and claws and razor-sharp teeth.
The smaller one, with light blue skin and long purple hair, twisted around the incoming blows from the large deep blue demon with horns and a tail. Neither of them hesitated, and I could hear the bones snapping from the stands. It took far longer than the first fight. Both demons were broken and bruised, blood smeared across their skin as they labored for breath. They were just on the ground now, taking desperate punches at the other whenever they healed enough to make a strike.
The gong sounded, and they both fell back into the dirt. I didn’t know who won, so I looked to Justice for an explanation.
“Time ran out and neither of them landed a mortal blow. The hits are now being counted to assess who caused the most damage.” Justice pointed up to a large screen, which was currently black. The demons were healing enough to stand. They got up and went to stand beside the demon from the crowd who had been cheering them on.
Round Winner: Juliet
The pale blue demon jumped excitedly, grabbing her prize and pulling her into a steamy kiss. The big blue demon sulked away. At least it seemed like the loser accepted the results of whatever this was, so at least that was good to know. I’m pretty sure a conversation where you listen to the other person, despite their power level, was a much better way of handling a dispute. I can’t control them; I can only control myself.
I felt the hairs on my arm stand as Jasper walked into the arena. Jax entered from the opposite side, his gaze firmly on the ground in front of him. His hands were balled into fists at his sides, and I knew that he was clenching them.
“Current fight, Jasper Prince of Lust and Jax Prince of Gluttony. Fighting for day rights of Morrigan Princess of Hell. Battle style, hand to hand.”
I felt my cheeks heat as I heard my name and looked around to find that most of the other spectators searched the crowd for me. Maybe they were expecting a spectacle like the other demon did. I crossed my arms over my chest, hopefully signaling that their decision to settle their differences this way did not please me.
The gong sounded, and I glued my eyes to the arena. Just because I didn’t approve didn’t mean that I wouldn’t watch. It finally dawned on me exactly what it meant when Jasper was surprised Jax agreed to battle hand to hand. Jasper was going to put his hands on Jax.
They met, and I anxiously looked on as Jasper extended his hand for Jax to shake. Jax stood like a pillar, his hands balled at his sides, as he did not shake Jasper’s hand.
“You don’t have to do this,”I tried to whisper to Jax again. Take the loss. We had other days we could be together. He didn’t have to act so entitled.
“Shut the door until the fight is over,”he commanded back.
“Or you can just not do this, and we can hang out tomorrow. This is stupid,”I bit back so he would know just how much I disapproved.
“Shut the door or I will have less power to heal with,”he growled back.
I rolled my eyes and shut the door. I wasn’t sure what he expected my mood to be like after this. Justice laughed beside me, as I’m sure he could feel my irritation.
I watched Jax as his head lifted so he could look Jasper in the eye as he extended his hand to grasp Jasper’s and shake. I heard the collective gasps from the audience. Motion caught my attention as I noticed more and more demons rushing in to watch.
My gaze went back to my boys in time to see them bow to each other, then take several steps back. Time seemed to slow as I waited for the sound of the gong. My gaze flicked around as it looked like everyone else was moving in slow motion waiting for the moment.
The gong rang, and everything seemed to speed back up to normal. Neither Jasper nor Jax moved, each standing their ground facing each other. Jasper smiled cruelly.
“You have it so bad for her if you’re willing to go through this for a day of her time,” Jasper taunted, his stance becoming more limber as he shifted his weight around lazily.
