Happy New Year babes and the best of luck to all of you for 2017!! <3

P.S.  WHO NEEDS TO LOSE WEIGHT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS? *raises hand immediately*

P.P.S.  Thank you so much for 400k!! :)
*****
"Guys, were the Amazons cannibals?"  Clayre whispered as we walked in a line with our hands bound by thick rope behind our backs. 

"I'm quite sure they just ate normal food," I whispered back. 

The Amazonian women had now brought us through a hidden passage way in a cave that led us to a large clearing in the rainforest where a tribal village lay.  Numerous women had emerged from their little huts armed with weapons and immediately gave us dirty looks. 

"Be quiet!"  One of our captors who was an angry looking she-giant hissed at us. 

The village and its residents weren't welcoming and 
their faces added just that bit of hostility too.
We had walked straight to the center of the village where a rustic dais lay.  A large chair - maybe a throne - lay on top with a tiger skin draped over it. 
On one end of the throne lay a human skull with a hole in it that looked suspiciously like that of an arrow's. 

Oh Gee, I wonder who's head that was.  Probably some poor fellow who couldn't satisfy the sexual needs of the Queen.  I suppressed a smile. 

"Aleiya!  Tell the Queen we have trespassers that await their trial," The captor with the bow called. 

"Lucien, how the hell are we supposed to get out of this now?"  I asked nervously but he didn't answer.  Instead he was glaring intently at the dais right in front of us.  I honestly didn't know what to make of the situation.  Should we try to sprint away as fast as we can?  But we'd more than likely get shot by one of their arrows.  Also, we would have lost an ally.  I didn't really know why Nova wanted us to have the Amazons as our ally.  How useful could they be against a huge army of demon-bred vampires?

"The Queen is approaching, on your knees now!" The angry she-giant snapped at us again.
I was about to give her a piece of my mind but Clayre had elbowed me in my side and I hesitantly got down on my knees. I gritted my teeth in frustration. This bitch better be greater than Beyoncé for me to get down on my knees.

A moment later, her highn-ass stepped onto the dais. First thing I noticed was her height. She was even taller than the angry she-giant Amazon behind me, probably around 6ft 2. Next was her eyes. They were hypnotising but creepy. It was a strange pale grey colour that became even more enhanced by her mocha skin tone.  She wore a "you are as important as the dirt on the soles of my sandals" expression. 

"What is the meaning of this, Samara?"  The Queen questioned as she sat down on her throne calmly and leaned back. 

"Queen Negin," The big she-giant who's name was Samara said, "they were found bathing in our sacred river and crossed into our territory." 

"I see," The Queen mused, "And what are the Children of the Night doing in these parts?" 

We were all quiet for a minute.

"Speak now," The Queen ordered.

I cleared my throat.
"Uh, we came here to seek your help actually. We would like to make an alliance with you."

The Queen raised her eyebrow and immediately there were hushed whispering around us.
The Queen raised her hand for silence.

"And what kind of alliance?" She asked slowly.

Lucien decided to speak up this time.
"War. We wish for you to be an alliance with us in a war."

The Queen's eyebrows rose even further.

"A war? We have not fought in a war for almost three centuries. We want nothing to do with the outside world and it's problems. And especially not with men," She spat.

"Look, we didn't come all the way here to be denied," I said and began to stand up.

"Isadora, get back down!" Clayre whisper-yelled at me as she tugged on my trouser leg but I just swatted her hand away.

"Well aren't you a fearless one," The Queen looked amused, "We wouldn't mind having a young maiden like you in our tribe."

"Um, thanks for the offer but I don't think so. I would just like for you to consider our alliance. We really need the help. This is a war we wouldn't want to lose," I pleaded hoping I could get something through to her.

"Asking for someone to fight alongside you in a war is no simple matter. The war must be worth fighting. Besides, your war is not any of my concern. There is no reason why I should risk the lives of my warriors for you."

I sighed. This was harder than I thought. How the hell was I supposed to convince them to fight with us? There was nothing I could offer them that could match their feminine pride. Actually... Maybe there was.

"Oh I knew you'd turn us down. I guess the old tales of the great Amazon women weren't at all true. You're not as fierce or mighty as what I've heard about you," I bluffed while the Queen's eyes narrowed suddenly.

"What do you mean "not as fierce or mighty"? Our tribe has always been the fiercest and mightiest. We have slain thousands upon thousands in battle and have outsmarted men. Do not talk to me as though we know nothing of ferocity or might," She said dangerously.

"I'll only believe this on one condition," I said.

"And what might that be?" She asked curiously.

Yes! My plan is somewhat working.

"We have a duel. If I win, you have to come fight alongside us. If you win... Well, you can kill us," I was making a dangerous deal but there wasn't another choice. Besides, I was known for making reckless decisions by now.

She smiled amusingly. "Very well, sounds like a fair deal," The Queen got down from her dais.

"Isadora! Since when did I allow you to put my life up for bargain?" Clayre said through gritted teeth.

"Clayre, calm down. I know what I'm doing," I assured her.

"You better," Jaycon warned and I sure hoped so too.

"You are allowed to use anything you want, choose any weapon," The Queen had a table laid out with all types of weapons from traditional swords to daggers to scythes.

I went and picked up a sword and my wrist nearly snapped when I held it up. They were far more heavier than they looked. But I wasn't intending to use them. I had an idea - and my ideas usually sucked.

"Samara, you decide when we will begin," The Queen ordered. 

"Yes Queen Negin," Samara said and bowed her head. 

Queen Negin and I were opposite from each other and I glanced at my friends.  Clayre was so nervous her eyes had gone so wide and she was shaking while Jaycon had his arms wrapped around her.  Lucien looked like he wanted to kill me for being stupid, though I couldn't blame him. 

I stared at the Queen straight in her eyes while I chanted in my head "I will beat her ass" but she'd probably beat mine if my plan didn't work.  I definitely wasn't a skilled fighter like these women were and I could just end up making a fool of myself.  I took a shaky breath exhaled slowly.  Come on Isadora.  Just control it. 

"Begin!"  Samara yelled and the Queen immediately dashed straight at me. 

Just as she was about to slice me in half, I rolled to the side and kicked her hard in the hip.  She yelled angrily and I yet again moved to the other side to avoid her sword from sticking in my gut. 

I needed to control it, come on.  It's there somewhere.  I channeled as much energy as I could and dragged my gaze to the ground. 

Rise.

A large chunk of earth rose from the ground and I mentally aimed it at the Queen as she charged at me and a look of pure shock was displayed on her face as the large chunk of rock crashed into her.  I knocked her right off of her feet but she was quick to regain her footing. 

"What are you?"  She cried as I began to get up.

This time she switched to a bow and aimed an arrow at me. 

"That's for me to know and you to find out," I said and instantly used my sword to knock her arrow that was shot straight at me away from going through my face. 

She aimed to more arrows at me that I barely managed to dodge away from in time and I was already exhausted, shit!  I had to stop her before one of her arrows actually gets stuck in me. 

Before her could knock off another arrow I channeled the last bit of mental energy I had.

Entwine. 

Immediately, large tree roots from underground shot up and wrapped around the Queen's legs and pulled her down onto the ground.  They slowly snaked its away around her torso and arms, locking her in place so she was unable to break through. 

I slowly walked over to her while I breathed heavily.  Clayre was right.  I really needed to get fitter. 

I glanced down at the face of the Queen who was trapped to the ground.  Her face was full of anger and humiliation.  Serves her right.  I pointed the tip of my sword to her throat.

"I win." 

"You used magic!  That is unfair!"  She screamed.

"No, you said we could use anything.  If you won't accept your loss then I will gladly leave you like this and do the same to your people," I threatened pressing the tip of the sword a little deeper. 

After a moment of silence she answered.
"Very well.  I will assist you in your war to come."

"Good.  I'll let you go now." 

The roots retracted back into the earth releasing the Queen from its hold.  She got up from the ground and stared at me.

"No one has ever defeated me in a duel for over three centuries.  I am curious about who you are," She said to me as I threw down my sword. 

"My name is Isadora Pallas.  Daughter of Hecatisha."

It was the first time that I introduced myself like this but... It sounded right. 

Queen Negin gasped. 
"You are the daughter of the first Deus Witch!  No wonder you could control the elements.  I never knew she had a child."

"Well now you do.  We came here because Nova of the Gabreva Coven sent us to seek your alliance," I explained.

"Ah, Novasca. I should've known. Well, all I can say is that now we await your calling. And what war do you wish to fight, Isadora Pallas?"

"A big one. A vampire has gathered an army of demon-bred vampires to destroy the Celestial Bond and overthrow Vazol," I informed.

"This is bad indeed. There will be no balance if the Celestial Bond is damaged," Queen Negin said worriedly.

"Well now that I've gained your alliance, I have to go home."

"Very well, until then, see you in battle Isadora Pallas."

I nodded.

I walked over to my friends and Clayre immediately tackled me with a hug and cried into my shoulder.

"Well done, Iz. Thanks for not getting us killed," Jaycon joked and I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, we should be getting home now."

I pried Clayre away from my shoulder and all of us slowly started walking out of the village. Before we got too far, Queen Negin called out, "She's still very young, make sure she's okay."

"Me?" I raised an eyebrow at her but she shook her head.

"No, your friend. Make sure she will be okay, she's still very young."

"But Clayre and I are the same age. What do you mean to say?" I asked completely confused.

"I mean she's very young, eighteen years old I'm guessing. A little too young for today's youth," the Queen said and I couldn't get a grip of what she was trying to say.

"Can you please tell me what you mean," I begged her.

The Queen rose an eyebrow as if it was obvious and I should totally know.
"You do not know do you?"

"Know what?" I questioned.

"Your friend carries an unborn child."