Lottery King 2, page 28
“Aaaahhhh!!” Alexander wailed in an agonized rage.
His shield wobbled as he fought to keep his grip on it, but the injury was too much, and the shield dropped with a thud to the dirt.
Then, in a burst of either confidence or desperation, Alexander’s gray eyes flashed up to connect with mine, but I was ready.
My eyes felt like they were going to burst like water balloons as the blast of energy exploded out of my face. There was no visible beam, but I could sense the strength of the stonification attack as it blared directly at Alexander’s gray eyes.
“Nooooooo!” the gorgon’s mouth opened wide in a violent scream, but it was too late.
I watched with horrified fascination as the blacks of Alexander’s pupils lightened to the color of fresh cement, and then the stone spread outwards from there. His mouth continued to let out a wrenching scream as his irises and sclerae turned to stone, and they were followed by his lashes and eyelids.
“Oooooooo!” his scream continued like a glitching sound bite that was stuck in a loop.
The stonification spread with agonizing slowness, and it rippled outward across his forehead, nose, temples, and mouth. The white-and-red snakes hissed with fear as they tried to flee from their inevitable fate, but in a matter of seconds, they too turned to stone.
“Ooooooo!” Alexander’s final death scream finally faded into nothing as the stone spread to his throat and consumed his vocal cords.
The stone spread faster down his shoulders, chest, and arms, and in a moment, it encapsulated his fingers and began spreading down his legs. The gorgon’s clothing turned to stone as well as his sword, and finally, the last inch of his pinky toes turned gray and dead.
Only then did I realize how utterly silent the stadium was, and how tense my body still was. My muscles were locked into place, and my sword and shield were still raised in combat positions. I forced a shuddering breath into my lungs as I lowered the sword, and the sharp, fiery sting of the wound on my leg blazed back into my awareness.
“Fuck,” I hissed through clenched teeth.
Then the crowds erupted into celebration.
Every single spectator jumped to their feet and began cheering and screaming their heads off. Even the smaller groups in the crowd who’d agreed with Alexander were now consumed with the contagious air of victory.
I hoped the thrill of the fight, and the display of my skills, both combative and magical, would be enough to win the respect and loyalty of the masses. Not that I cared especially about any of it at this exact second since my leg felt like it was on fire.
The blood had run all the way down and was slowly pooling around my sandal as Helena and Poppy came racing down the stands to me.
“Michael!” Poppy gasped with worry as she reached me. She took one look at the wound and then turned over her shoulder and shouted. “Witch! We need a witch down here!”
“That was incredible, Michael,” Helena said in an astonished tone that trembled.
“Thanks,” I said, and my voice sounded strange in my ears as the crowds continued to roar.
“Your majesty!” A middle-aged man with curly gray hair who wore casual tan shorts and a light shirt knelt down in front of me. “My name is Harry, I’ll have this healed in a moment.”
The satyr who’d delivered my shield and sword to me earlier appeared out of nowhere with a stout wooden stool for me to sit on.
“Thank you,” I huffed as I sank heavily onto the stool.
Firo’s flame-colored hair appeared in the corner of my vision as a wall of dark bodies encircled me and my small group of companions. I could only assume the crowds would try and rush down to congratulate me, but Firo was doing his job as well as he always did. He and my shadow nymph guards would keep the masses at bay while Harry the witch tended to my wound.
“Are you hurt anywhere else, your majesty?” Harry asked as he inspected the long gash on my thigh.
“No.” I shook my head.
The satyr servant quietly took the sword and shield from my hands, and I nodded my thanks to him.
Poppy hovered close on my right side where she could be near me without blocking Harry’s access to my leg, and her iridescent wings twitched with anxiety. Helena stood just behind her, and her hands were clasped tightly in front of her chest as she watched. Her tawny wings were perfectly still as she pressed her lips together with silent worry.
“He didn’t cut very deep,” Harry reported with relief. “The cut is clean, and it will be easy enough to mend together.”
“Good,” I sighed, and I was suddenly grateful for the stool as my head spun slightly.
I wondered how much blood I’d lost, and I looked down to see more on the ground than I’d expected. There were probably about two pints of my blood puddled in the dirt and streaming down my leg. Combine that with the rush of adrenaline that was now easing out of my system, and it made perfect sense why I felt pretty lightheaded.
Then I realized I’d used two pretty new powers, and I wondered how much of my energy I’d spent in doing so. I’d never felt especially drained after connecting with Poppy, but the shield felt less intense than Rune’s resizing power. Alexander’s power was definitely far more intense than Poppy’s shield or Rune’s powers, too. I knew I wouldn’t be able to tell from this fight alone how much of my lightheadedness was from the magical exertion and how much was from the blood loss, but I was interested to look into this in the future.
“This may sting, your majesty,” Harry said.
“Uh-huh,” I grunted and nodded my head.
Harry placed one hand on my knee, and he shaped the index finger and thumb of his other hand like he was holding an invisible needle. Then he began mimicking the motion of sewing my cut flesh back together, and I watched with amazement as the two sides of the wound closed.
“Holy hell,” I gasped.
Harry’s forehead scrunched up as he worked, and in a few minutes, the wound was completely gone, as was the pain. It felt like I hadn’t been cut at all, and I flexed my foot experimentally.
“Whoooa,” I breathed.
I still felt a little weak and lightheaded, but the agonizing fire from the cut was totally gone.
“The cut was shallow enough that you shouldn’t experience any nerve damage, your majesty,” Harry said, and he looked up at me with kind green eyes. “How does it feel?”
“Like it didn’t even happen,” I answered in disbelief. “Holy shit, that’s incredible.”
“I’m glad I could be of service, your majesty,” Harry said with a smile. “And if it’s not too bold of me…”
I nodded permission for Harry to speak freely.
“That was one hell of a show you gave us.” The gray-haired witch smirked.
“Great,” I chuckled. “Thanks for patching me up, Harry.”
“It’s an honor, your majesty,” Harry said. “Now, you shouldn’t feel any lingering pain or discomfort from the wound, but you did lose a fair amount of blood. You should make sure to take it easy the rest of the day, drink a lot of fluids, and eat something rich in protein and iron to rebuild your red blood cell count.”
“I will make sure he eats a fine steak dinner,” Poppy said with relieved tears in her purple eyes. “Thank you.”
Harry nodded with a friendly smile, and then he walked away.
“How are you?” Helena asked.
“Much better,” I said. “How’s the crowd?”
“Thrilled,” Firo answered as he walked over to check on me. “If possible, they love you even more, but are you alright, your majesty?”
Rune squeezed his way through the shadow nymphs and jogged over to join us, too.
“Yes, Firo,” I assured him. “Thanks to your training and guidance.”
“And a little bit of my magic,” Rune added with a sly wink.
“Thanks, Rune,” I chuckled. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“Ah.” Rune dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. “Yes, you could have, but I bet it was easier this way.”
“Oh, Rune,” Poppy said with a shuddering giggle.
“The crowds are waiting to see if you’re alright, your majesty,” Nyxx said as she appeared at my side. “Many of them are worried you are dying behind our walls of guards.”
“Well, we can’t have that,” I said with a smirk, and Nyxx nodded in curt agreement.
I started to stand up as Firo offered me an arm, and Poppy positioned herself close to my right side for additional support.
“I’m okay,” I assured them as I breathed through the head rush of standing up. “Yeah, I’m good.”
“Shall I have the guards stand down, your majesty?” Nyxx asked.
“Yes.” I nodded my head, and I shifted my arm over Poppy’s shoulder to a slightly more relaxed position.
After the fight, I wanted to give the crowd a show of strength and confidence, and if they saw me leaning too heavily on anyone, it could cause more doubt in my abilities. I rolled my shoulders back and stood straight and tall as the shadow nymphs faded away, but I noticed Nyxx remained behind to stand just as solid and proud directly behind my left shoulder.
The crowds erupted into a fresh frenzy as they got a clear view of me, and I raised my free arm to wave at them.
“Thank you all for being here!” I announced to the stadium.
Then I caught my first glimpse of the stone statue that had once been Alexander. The bastard’s snakes had hardened in a chaotic mass of open mouths and wide eyes, and the gorgon’s limbs were still in a combative stance. A little shudder raced along my spine as I saw the evidence of my actions, but I pushed the darkness away.
He’d brought this end on himself, and I knew I had no reason to feel guilty for doing my job as king.
Plus, the aftermath was admittedly fucking mind-blowing.
Never in a million years would I have guessed I’d one day turn a radical rebel gorgon into solid stone.
“Justice has been served this day!” I said in a firm and clear voice. “Let the events of today be a lesson to those who would try to tear down the peace we have in our kingdom.”
The crowds cheered in agreement, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I felt the rewards of my hard work paying off.
“As a reminder to any who might desire to sow chaos among my people,” I continued. “The statue of the gorgon will be placed in a prominent location in the city of Athens. He will remain there for the rest of time, so that future generations will know what happens when you try and spread hatred in the kingdom!”
The stadium roared with thunderous applause, and arms waved in the air as the spectators cheered in agreement. Lord Atlas and several other representatives started to circle around the gorgon, and a group of royal servants appeared to begin preparing to relocate the statue. I trusted the local representatives to find a good spot for that asshole, and so I left the work to them.
“You need to eat,” Helena insisted as she came to my other side.
“Yes, now,” Poppy agreed in a firm tone. “Your work is done, let’s get out of here.”
“Alright,” I said softly, and I realized just how hungry I was. “Yeah, I need to eat.”
Helena and Poppy remained close to my sides as Firo and Nyxx led us out of the stadium. James was waiting for us by the car with an anxious look on his face, and his shoulders sagged with relief when he spotted me.
“Oh, your majesty,” the white-haired siren sighed. “Thank the Goddess, you’re alive.”
“Yes, I’m okay,” I said with a bit of shock. “Did you think I was dead?”
“One of your guards arrived a few minutes ago,” James explained. “She said you’d been injured, and she told me to get the car ready immediately. I couldn’t help but think the worst.”
“A witch healed his wound, James,” Helena told her driver. “His majesty only needs rest and a good meal now.”
“Oh, good,” James sighed with relief, and he pulled open the doors for us. “Let’s get you exactly that, your majesty.”
“Thanks, James.” I gave the siren a friendly smile and settled into the seat.
Helena and Poppy squeezed in close beside me in the car, and Firo and Rune wedged themselves in across from us. I spotted Nyxx’s full-figured form just outside the windows for a second before she faded into the darkness under the car, and I knew she was coming along with us.
The rest of the guards would handle whatever situations might arise at the stadium as the spectators dispersed, and the representatives sorted out the petrified gorgon.
Exhaustion took over my body during the drive back to Helena’s mansion, and I felt myself fighting to stay awake. I really needed a good hearty meal and a bit of sugar to give me some energy after the fight and blood loss.
Thankfully, Mrs. Baros was incredible at her job, and there was a full spread ready and waiting for us when we walked into Helena’s foyer. The delicious scents of char-grilled steak, roasted potatoes, baked asparagus, fresh honey rolls, and green tea made my mouth water.
“Oh, that smells so fucking good.” I sniffed at the air.
“Come on,” Helena laughed lightly. “Let’s eat, and then you will have the energy to get cleaned up.”
“Oh, yeah,” I chuckled as I looked down at myself.
The witch had closed the wound and healed me, but he hadn’t done anything about the blood and dirt all over me. Most of my left leg was a rusty red color, and I was filthy over most of my body from the dust Alexander and I had kicked up during our fight.
“Your majesty, welcome back,” Mrs. Baros greeted us with a calm mask, but I could see the tension behind her pleasant smile.
“Don’t worry about me, Mrs. Baros,” I assured her. “I’m alright.”
“Oh, your majesty,” Mrs. Baros gasped, and her eyes welled instantly with tears. Even her dark blue snakes shuddered with emotion. “I was quite worried about you. One of your shadow guards appeared. He said you’d been hurt, but then he disappeared before I could ask how badly.”
“A witch healed my wounds,” I explained. “He said I needed rest, lots of fluids, and a meal rich in protein and iron. Smells like you’ve got exactly what I need.”
“Thank the Goddess,” Mrs. Baros sighed. “I prepared a hearty meal simply because I didn’t know what else to do, or how I could help.”
“You did exactly right,” I assured her.
“Let’s quit this chitter-chatter and get you fed, your majesty,” Mrs. Baros said, and she ushered us into the formal dining room like a mother hen herding her chicks.
“Whoa,” I breathed as I saw the spread.
The table was filled with a ton of food, and it all looked incredible. Three twelve-ounce steaks were waiting under silver trays for us as we sat down at the table, and they were accompanied by perfectly roasted asparagus, fresh dinner rolls, and tall glasses of hand-squeezed lemonade.
“Please, call for me if you need absolutely anything, your majesty,” Mrs. Baros said.
“I will,” I assured the sweet gorgon. “Thank you.”
Helena and Poppy watched me with nervous eyes for a few minutes as I dug into the meal, but after several bites of the rare steak, they both seemed to relax quite a bit.
“I swear,” I chuckled. “I’m okay. I feel a lot better now.”
“Your color is a lot better,” Poppy pointed out.
“You should still take it easy tomorrow,” Helena agreed.
“I will,” I said with affection. “Hopefully the discord has been wholly and completely squashed, and the city can find some peace.”
“I think it will,” Helena mused, and she traced the rim of her glass with one finger. “I got the feeling today that most of the followers of the Machités gia tin Elefthería were looking for something to entertain themselves with. You showed them that revolution is a poor choice for a hobby, and the more serious radicals will see you are no fool, and you are a force to be reckoned with.”
Helena’s thoughts brought me a little comfort, and I was hopeful the situation would stabilize now. If it needed more direct attention from me, I would happily return to the city to accomplish that, but for now, I was confident that the local representatives would be able to handle things.
We finished our meals, and I felt so much better that I was now able to feel how filthy my body was.
“Ugh,” I groaned. “I need a fucking shower.”
“Go,” Poppy encouraged me. “I wanted to speak with Helena a little anyway.”
“Alright…” I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at the two gorgeous women, but they stared back at me with expressions of utter innocence. “Riiiiiight.”
I felt mischief brewing in the air, but I was pretty sure it was the kind of mischief I liked the most, so I left the ladies to their conversation and went to my room for a shower. The water turned almost black from all the sweat, dirt, and blood that ran down the drain. I lingered under the hot water for a while and let it soothe the aches from my muscles and the tension from my chest.
I’d had to kill someone again today.
It still didn’t sit well in my gut, but it had been the best option. Besides, it wasn’t like I’d sought out some innocent to kill in cold blood. No, Alexander had more than earned his fate, and I was certain the lesson would be remembered for many years to come. But being king wasn’t as glamorous as I’d first thought, and I was still realizing how much dirty work there was in keeping peace throughout an entire world of very different species.
I sighed as the events of the last week swirled through my mind, and I stepped out of the shower to dry myself. I walked into the bedroom with the towel over my head, and I felt a strange sensation of being watched.
“Poppy?” I asked as I pulled the towel off my damp head.
“Not exactly,” Helena said in a coy voice.
Chapter 17
The Grecian harpy was standing in the center of the room, completely naked, and her tawny wings were damp like she’d just enjoyed a hot shower, too.
