Reminder!

After finishing this the story doesn't end here! There is a second book so please check that out thank you so much! Any votes, comments or reads will make me very happy!

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"Older men declare war. But it is youth that must fight and die."

― Herbert Hoover

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THUCK.

Thuck.

Thuck.

Helene watched as the last of her daggers hit the board, right in the center. She was sweating and hungry. In four hours her task would began. If she survived she would earn her prize. Then, she would watch the execution of her father. And then what? Would the Creatures rule until thousands of years later the Scars would have enough strength to get their land back? Would they rebel and die in the hands of Asmodeus until? Would they have to scrounge for their food, practice magic in private and celebrate their religions in the dark?

She was going to have none of it.

Helene walked to the window overlooking the gardens. It seemed peaceful outside. She wondered whether sleeping would be a good idea.

She didn't care at the moment, especially since she knew she was going to die. So she spent the rest of her four hours in resting, meditating and practicing her powers. Just enough to make her want to let it all out.

She had been preserving her power for long, and she wanted to show them off right at the task that Grave's father was making her endure. It wasn't fair, but since when was life fair?

Four hours passed in a blink, especially since Helene tried to enjoy every second of it. She was calm, and ready. Like Grave had told her, the guards arrived to take her to the Globe Hall.

The Globe Hall, like Helene had imagined from all the stories she had heard was in fact true. There were seats all around the globe which sat in the very middle, not letting anything get to the audience. A Scar within it would not be able to let his or her powers to reach the audience because of the globe, keeping it all in. The ground was empty, with the door at the edge of the stage locked with iron bars.

Helene was ready.

The guards led her straight to the entrance of the globe and pushed her inside.

"Turn around." One ordered.

Helene obeyed, and waited for them to unlock her manacles. Two clicks and her hands were free.

She was pushed into the globe and she watched as the door was locked behind her. Camera's were all over the place, ready to record at the signal of her dear older brother.

The place was full of Scar's and Creatures. Many were already watching from their ruined homes. She tried not to think too hard, especially when Grave said into the microphone, "To your right, dear sister there are some weapons for you to choose from. Be careful with what you choose, for it might be the end of your life."

So dramatic.

Helene made her way to the weapons stand and ran her eyes over all of them.

There were daggers, arrows and bows. Knives and sabre's. There was a collection of Pulwar swords, most of them rusted. But the collection of Katana's were what caught her attention. She slid one out of its scabbard and grinned.

That was what she needed.

As soon as she had picked up the weapon, the board where the weapons lay tilted and went through the hole in the wall, becoming part of the wall once more. Helene cleared her throat and swung her katana in her hand.

Once.

Then twice.

Her brother cleared his throat, waved his hand at the people dealing with the camera's and then she was live.

Helene was conscious of all the people watching her now, probably in disgust. She was a mockery to the world and a living joke. She turned her attention to the thing inside the bars, focusing on the energy in her body and that ran in her blood. She walked to the middle of the arena, knowing fully how everyone sat on their seats, most jeering and yelling, waiting for some action...and some blood. She closed her eyes, taking in a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes, she saw her friends.

They all sat in front of her in rows. The team-the entire team-was here. Even Loren. Brenna, Cassius, Raylan and Ella. Only two people were missing.

Helene and Legion.

She smiled, hoping she was looking as brave as she felt.They all watched her, as the iron door began to roll up. The bars disappeared above and the last person she expected to walk through.

Herself.

Helene let out a loosed breath. Did she have a lost twin?

No. It was a shapeshifter. It had to be.

Everyone else seemed frozen, staring back and forth at who had just come out. The doppelganger grinned, mimicking Helene exactly. She didn't like what was happening. She had to stop her.

And she was.

Helene stalked forward, her eyes narrowing at the other girl, watching her movements carefully. She was mimicking exactly what the real Helene was doing, moving in the exact direction.

This was going to be a bit difficult, Helene thought, swinging her katana in her hand, warming up her wrist.

"Are you going to stand there all day, or are you going to make a move?" Her voice was cold, cutting the quiet like steal. The audience was completely silent now.

Helene narrowed her eyes and said nothing, calculating.

And then she hit, with her fire. A dagger forged from hell went straight towards the doppelganger who smirked, putting up her own shield made up of fire.

Helene froze.

She had her power. But that wasn't possible. No one was able to wield that strong burning of fire in their veins, not unless they were gifted with it like she was. No one knew about that, of course, and she intended to keep it a secret.

"You are one hell of a copycatter. You must be a fan," Helene said sweetly.

The doppelganger snarled, "Shut your mouth. You're just too weak. And you are a coward."

You are a coward.

You are a coward.

Helene lunged so fast that she was a blur, sending a gasp around the audience as they watched the two Helene's fight with their katana's, flashing of silver and muffled grunts. Helene rolled just as the doppelganger swung with her katana, trying to cut off her head. Helene kicked with her feet, sending sand flying, aiming it at her head but she was too far away.

Gladly, the doppelganger hadn't caught on. But Helene was far from over.

She twisted, as their katana's hit once again, and made her katana burn with fire. Fire licked at the blade, warming her hand and she was ready.

Swinging with all her might, she hit the doppelganger hilt, using her favourite disarming maneuver to disarm her, and kicked the katana away.

"You are definitely not me." Helene laughed wickedly. "That was too easy."

The doppelganger cocked her head to the sight, panting slightly. "You are right. I am much more dangerous."

She struck towards Helene, sending a fire bolt right for her face. Helene tried to roll, but it was useless. It hit the side of her face, and she waited for the pain-but it never came.

Helene looked up with a frown.

The doppelganger swore.

"Ah," Helene laughed and laughed and laughed. "You are an illusioner. You are a fake."

The audience let out another round of gasps, leaning forward as if this was some kind of reality show. Not that Helene minded of course. The people watching her live must have been really curious as well.

"I am not a fake." She looked insulted.

Helene cracked her neck, just as the illusioner ran for her katana and held it up, daring her to come closer.

She obliged, swinging her katana, faking her maneuver to the right and hit from the left, using her body weight and her fire to send the illusioner flying back, and she hit the wall with a loud thud, causing the audience to let out loud whoops of delight.

Helene moved back, waiting for her copycat to get back up. It took her a couple of moments to get back on her feet and when she did, she was growling. Her eyes glowed silver. With a loud-and yet dramatic-battle cry, the copycat was running straight for her, like a bull who was seeing red. Helene bent her knees and dropped her katana. The illusioner grinned when she noticed what Helene had done.

She waited until the doppelgangers katana was a hairbreadth away from slicing her in half and then she rolled to the right. As she was rolling, she grabbed her katana and as the illusioner made a grab for it, their skin met.

Helene took the opportunity to let out some of her fire that had been cooped up in her veins, begging to be let out. The fire that she had not used in such a long time.

She let out one percent of it, to give her a small taste. It was a threat as well. Next time...next time it would be much worse.

The illusioner let out a loud scream, falling to her knees onto the sand, clutching her hand. It was sizzled and burnt, white bone appearing from underneath. Helene took all her willpower not to throw up right there, and she watched as the copycatter dropped her weapon. Helene picked it up and threw both their weapons far away.

"It's just you and me copycatter." Helene smiled sweetly, punching her in the face, causing her to fall down on her back, tears streaking her face as she hit the sand.

"Please-please don't kill me-"

Helene shook her head with a pout, "Now, now. I don't sound like that now do I? I sound more like...this." Then, she put her hands on the fake Helene and closed her eyes.

The girl's screams echoed loudly, causing the audience to stand, trying to look over each others heads. Helene did not look at her friends. Especially not at Aniela who stood beside Brenna.

She imagined all their faces in her head, and thought about how her family, friends and relatives were looking at her. With shock and pride? Shock and disgust? Shock...and what else?

Helene focused on sucking the power in her veins, letting it travel through her fingertips. The copycatter's screaming had stopped, as soon as her power was within Helene.

She stood up, watching the girl wither in pain. Helene's face had disappeared from her face, and had replaced it with her own face. She was rather old.

But she had a family. Friends. And probably a team. Everyone had their own choices and this was hers.

Helene stood up, cupping her hands and looking up to the globe and closed her eyes. She focused on letting the power out of herself, letting it into the air, freeing it. Letting the air suck it. Letting the air fly it away to someone who deserved it. Maybe a child. Maybe a mortal.

Whoever it was, Helene hoped they used the power wisely. That they accepted it, and helped others with it. It was a gift, and they would use it as such.

Then, she opened her eyes and yelled, "It's over, Grave! I beat her. Let me out!"

Grave grinned, looking so proud. "I knew you had it in you, sister. But what about your prize?"

Helene looked at where he pointed. She frowned.

The silver door opened and Legion strutted in, walking with a kingly pace, shooting her a deadly yet wicked smirk as he bowed.

"Fire-breather." He said, and winked.

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Please tell me no one guessed the ending....

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Reminder!

After finishing this the story doesn't end here! There is a second book so please check that out thank you so much! Any votes, comments or reads will make me very happy!