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Todo growls and bares his triplet tusks to me. I feel the energy shift as he gets angry. I feel the energy around here as they all anticipate my failure.
I see it coming from a mile away and I don’t duck as his fist lands on my chest and all air leaves me as I fall backwards.
Frack.
My muscles remind me I am not all the way healthy. He is on me the next moment.
“Todo! You know the rules.” My mother’s voice rings loud, and Todo’s face widens in an evil grin before he steps back. “I hadn’t announced the commencement. You both know the rules. Begin.”
“The human world rendered you weak, Imp. This is going to be fun.” Todo smirks
I pull my face up again. He is standing right where I was standing, at the center of the circle. He is no leader; he is still a child in his head seeking all these orcs approval. Maybe his strength is all he has, and he may over rely on it.
He lifts his hands, and the excited cheers continue. I circle him and he turns with me.
He charges at me and strikes again. This time I duck, and go low, barreling his mid-section. He grunts loudly, and staggers back but he doesn’t fall. He knees me and my chin hits the top of my mouth and I spit blood. He has a wide grin on him once more.
“Is this the great Imp I’ve heard so much about?” He taunts, overconfidence oozing out of him, he’s practically sweating it.
I wipe my mouth and we move around each other again. He attacks once more. I duck and manage to hit the side of his face with a direct punch even as one of his tusks tears through me. He roars but doesn’t take time to adjust.
We come blow to blow and he hits me with his power punches but because I am a much older, a more skilled fighter, I get mine in. Less frequent as his, but they are heavy.
We both pant as we circle each other again. I go for it this time as I throw a punch and he moves swiftly and ducks then hits me with a combination of hitting my mid-section and a left and right direct hook.
I don’t remember when I get to the ground. The pain in my head is mind numbing. I feel my body move and he looms over me and he starts punching me repeatedly. The cheering crowd barely registers.
He stops and I can barely feel my face. I groan on the ground as I see his feet moving at the edge of the circle. I turn to my side and get up.
The crowd goes wild as we go again. I get punches in, but he gets more, and I spit more blood as he wipes off the blood on his own face. He is panting and he is getting tired because of his heavier form but he is still at the advantage. If I was at my full strength, this fight would be over by now.
I swing and he catches my fist before it connects with him, and he kicks me so hard I go flying to the edge of the circle.
My head pounds and my body wants to leave me at this very moment.
I open my eyes as the crowd cheers, but my world stops when I see Aria and her pregnant belly. Mulan next to her holding her shoulders.
Aria. My children.
My body screams at me as I stand again. But I can’t lose. I can’t lose.
My beautiful dove just stands there in all her regality. She doesn’t cry as I’d expect her to, but she stands there, strong. She looks at me with so much confidence. Then she undoes me and brushes her belly slowly.
An unspoken violence takes over me. Todo may have strength, but I fight for something more important.
My children. My dove.And losing isn’t an option. I inhale sharply.
And Todo charges to me once more.
Chapter six
The Orchish Gaze
Aria
Igorducksthemonsterof the orc he is in the circle with. He is in much worse shape than the other orc. They paired him with the biggest orc I’ve seen here. His body is a weapon. He doesn’t even look like he inspires fighting back. If he was after me, I’d just stop and let him maul me to death.
I brush my belly, trying to calm myself as our children kick like they can see their father. I am terrified for us, but I believe in my orc.
