The circular arena is filled with jeers and shouts as the combatants' enemies scream from the stands. In boxes stand Solomon's family, Leilani's mother, and Todd's little Holocaust buddy, glowing and radiant. Their caryatids-- Bloodstone martyr, Moonstone wolf, and Topaz queen--hang high above their heads. Their fragile stones are in their own possessions.

---

Solomon lit a cigarette and checked his gun. Fully loaded. He knew somehow that no matter how many shots he fired it would never go empty. He could see Todd and Leilani across the arena. "What a shame," He said, his eyes cold and calm.

In Todd's corner, his eyes had fixed on Leilani, as the Nazi who had killed the small boy that had become his only friend had been a woman. His body was hunched, and darkness had been summoned to him, putting his face in shadow. The blue of his eyes began to glow, and his mouth opened in a sneer, losing himself in his rage. His weapons lay forgotten, Todd had his hands at his sides, the fingers curled into claws.

Leilani straightened, blinking in mild surprise as she realized that she was now alone with Todd and Solomon. She glanced between the pair with a frown, her fingers flexing cautiously, Kill or destroy? She thought, What a rotten choice to be faced with. Her gaze narrowed, she didn't like what was about to happen but she would not allow herself to fail, if winning meant seeing her family again... then she would do what needed to be done.

---

group 6.0