Desire Contest
                                                 Round Two: Battle for Blood

Dagger stumbled through the portal backwards.  He lost his footing and fell.  In the few seconds in him fall he could only see grey mist, but when he landed, he was surprised to find green grass.

He stood up fast enough to see the last of the grey mist retreat like a pulled back curtain to reveal a large plain of green.  It was strange though.  White, marble walls surrounded the large place and in the center was a village.  He was inside, yet outside at the same time.

The village in the center was far from lively.  Charred huts and shattered pieces of wood and tools littered the ground.

Dagger looked at the charred buildings again and shivered.  Fire.

Dagger walked through the ruined buildings and tattered pieces of cloths that blew gently in the wind. The whole place was quiet and seemed almost peaceful.  It must have been a really nice place before whatever happened.  

It was strange how such a place could be so calm.  Dagger felt as if he could still hear the sounds of the flames crackling and the screams of people dying.  But they were soft and rode lightly along the wind.

As Dagger walked further into the rubble and debris he would see disjointed and charred dolls, broken farm tools that lay abandoned on the ground along with other items that proved life had once resided in this village.  When he reached the center of the village, he was shocked to find the same marble statue from the first room standing before him again.  Although this time, the hole in its forehead was now replaced with the word “Truth”.  Once again, the Grimoire lay open at the statues feet.  Dagger walked closer so he could read the words on the page.

"Fill the chalice with the blood of the unworthy."

Dagger looked up at the angel’s hand.  It held the same golden chalice that he had seen in the previous room.

Next to the angel statue sat a large well that was blocked by heavy looking metal bars.  Dagger walked up to the well and looked down.  He could see a ladder leading down into darkness.

He climbed up on the well wall and looked around at the village again.  

“Who ever lived here left along time ago,” he looked at the charred remains of the huts, “and they didn’t do so peacefully.  I guess I won’t be finding any food here…” Dagger trailed off.  

Suddenly, Dagger jumped onto his feet.  He had just sensed another presence and it was a strong one.  It also held the unmistakable feeling of magic.  He stood tall and waited for the newcomer to appear.

The first thing he heard was singing.  It was beautiful, but sad. It fit in well with the scenery and the wind seemed to sway with the words, which Dagger couldn’t understand because they were in another language.

Slowly, but steadily a woman walked around the corner.  She was beautiful and looked to be about in her twenties.  She had short, black hair that only reached her neck.  She wore a white dress that reached her knees as well as a pair of leather boots.  A leather pouch was fastened her side.  Dagger also noticed the scars that crawled their way around her legs and arms.

She saw him instantly and her eyes met his.  Dagger could feel a shiver go down his spine.  Her eyes were cold and merciless on her serious face.

The wind blew a little stronger through the village, making the ruins creak and click.

Her lavender eyes narrowed and as she continued to get closer.  When she was in earshot she spat, “Another human.”

“So you’re my next opponent.” Dagger noted, “How much longer will this tournament go on for?” he didn’t have time for this.  He needed to get that wish soon or Star would die.

She was now close enough for Dagger to realize that her ears were pointed.  She wasn’t human either.  She was an Elf.

Dagger slipped himself between her and the angel statue.  If she were to read the instructions, he’d lose his advantage.




“I’ve already read it,” the elf explained, “I’ve been waiting for you.  You’re blood will spill easily, human.”

Advantage gone.

The Elf charged forward with a sword in her hand.  Dagger dodged and flipped backward, landing in the form of a black panther.

The Elf hesitated for a moment; “So you aren’t human…” she resumed her fighting stance, “doesn’t matter.  I need to get the wish.”

There would be no reasoning with her.  She had a desire as great as his.  

With a determined growl, Dagger ran toward her with his claws outstretched.  The two met in a tangle of sword and claw.  Their feet threw up the dust that had settled in the ruins.

Moments later, Dagger found himself thrown backward.  He crashed into one of the huts, destroying whatever was left of it.  Quickly he picked his way out of the rumble and stood in human form.   She was strong, just as predicted.

“Just give up,” the elf said, “It will make things a lot easier.  I will get that wish.”

Dagger whipped some blood from his mouth and asked, “So what is your reason for this wish?” he drew a knife, “What selfish desire could you have?” he ran forward, “I will have that wish and I will save her!”

Dagger’s attack was blocked by the Elf’s sword, “My wish is far from selfish!  I will free my people and return them to the unbound nature from which they were taken!” her serious face was now accompanied by anger.  “Give up now.  I don’t just want to win.  I need to win!”

Dagger was pushed back, but he crouched low to the ground and swung his leg under her.  She jumped up and backward to avoid falling.

Dagger ran forward when she landed on her feet.  Swiftly, he jabbed his knife forward, trying to land a hit, but she moved too fast. She countered with her sword and their weapons locked.  There was the sound of metal sliding against metal and both weapons went flying into the air.  They sunk into the ground near the angel statue.

Without wasting time, the two went at each other with punches and kicks.  Dagger sent a roundhouse kick in the elf’s direction, but it was blocked and he was attacked on his blind side.  A hard punch caught him in the jaw.  Dagger winced but shook his head to clear it and kept fighting.  After a while, the two pushed each other backward, shoes skidding across the dirt.

Both were breathing hard now, but the intensity of their glares had not ceased.  

“I won’t give up,” Dagger said as he was catching his breath, “I need to win as well!” he shouted as he ran forward.  The sooner he ended this, the better.

The Elf had run forward at the same time and their blows met each other.  Each blow was blocked, until Dagger finally managed to land a punch in the elf’s stomach.  The elf bent forward, a little winded, but bounced back quickly.

She seized hold of Dagger’s arm and swung him around so that when she let go, he skid across the ground, crashing into another one of the huts.

Dagger stayed under the rubble even after the dust had cleared.  The Elf stood straighter; perhaps she had won.  She took a few steps toward the ruined hut, but stopped immediately when the rubble began to shift.

Dagger pulled himself out of the pile with the help of a long pole.  He stabbed it into the ground and used it to pull himself up.

The situation was bad.  The Elf seemed relatively unscathed, while Dagger had numerous bruises and scratches from the two crashes.

Panting, Dagger stood up, “Are you going to keep throwing me into huts all day or are you going to face me?”

The Elf scoffed, “You are in no position to be talking.”

Dagger grimaced.  He could feel it, the anger.  He was losing not only the fight, but also his self-control.  If he allowed his anger to get a hold of him now, not only would he lose and quite possibly die, but Star would die as well.

Dagger shook his head, “I WON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!”

He shifted into a hawk and flew high up into the air.  The elf followed him with her gaze.  When he was above her he shifted back into a human and unsheathed his knife.  Swiftly he threw the knife so that it sunk through her boot, trapping her.

The elf let out of yelp as the knife cut some of her foot.  Looking up, she could see Dagger falling closer, claws unsheathed in panther form.

Seconds later, a large crash could be heard around the village and a large cloud of dust filled the air.  As it began to clear, Dagger could be found standing over a small crater and a knife, but no elf.

“Miss me?” the familiar voice made Dagger swirl around to find Elin behind him.  She stood in front of the hut dagger had just climbed out of.  She was panting now, obviously whatever she had done drained her energy a bit.

Dagger looked up, shock filled his face along with rage, “What did you just do?”

“Teleportation,” the elf explained, “I told you before.  You may as well give up.”

Dagger picked up the knife from the ground.  Dagger couldn’t take it anymore.  Running now on rage, he threw the knife in the Elf’s direction.  She dodged it so easily that she didn’t even have to take a step.  The knife whizzed past her shoulder and dug itself into the pole Dagger had used earlier to help himself up.

Dagger was losing it.  The elf could see his anger begin to take over his actions.  His movements were easily readable.  He was getting sloppy.

Dagger picked up a couple of sharp tools that lay abandoned on the ground.  He threw them all, one after another.  The elf dodged them easily and they landed in the rubble of a destroyed hut.

The elf kept a serious face, “You’re acting like a child.” She said as she easily dodged another tool.

Dagger growled and threw another tool.  This one was a little more on target, but the Elf was able to dodge it by leaping backwards and landing on the pile of rubble.

“I told you to give up,” the elf said coldly.

Images of Star, so very close to death flashed before his eyes.  The vampire bite that should have been meant for him was running through her veins, killing her.  Gritting his teeth, Dagger shook his head.

He glared at the woman and drew another knife, “I never give up.” He said as he threw the knife it landed at her feet on the pile of rubble.

The hit seemed to trigger something and the elf looked in shock as her feet broke through the rubble.  The rubble acted similar to quicksand.  She sunk down to her calves and the rest of the debris caved in, trapping her.

She landed awkwardly on the pile; the sharp tools and knives Dagger had thrown earlier stabbed and cut her up.

“What?” the elf lay slightly dazed at what had just happened.  Dagger didn’t waste his chance.  He had grabbed the cup and was already collecting the blood in the chalice.

The elf was trapped, dazed and bleeding, but she still hung on. She struggled against the rubble, but the blades only dug into her more.  

“I…can’t…lose,” she said.  Dagger could tell she was tired by her breathing.  She was done.  That teleportation must have used a lot of energy.

“I suppose…” Dagger said, “No one in this tournament can.  We each have our own desires.”

There was a long pause.  The only sound was the dripping blood and the soft wind blowing through the village.

The elf broke the silence, “So you were just pretending to lose control.”

Dagger paused a while before answering, “Most of the time.  You almost had me for a while.  I lost my temper at one point, but I had to remind myself to get back on course.”

“You had planned that from the very beginning,” she was referring to the trap, “didn’t you?”

Dagger nodded, “When you threw me into the second hut, I stayed down a little longer.  I made the rubble and branches look stable, while there was really an air pocket beneath them.  Then I pretended to lost control and throw easily dodged attacks.  The attacks weren’t random.  They landed exactly where I wanted them to.”

“You knew I’d land on them, get trapped and you’d be free to take my blood,” the elf said coldly.

Drip.  Drip.  Drip.

The blood was taking awhile.

“I’ve failed my people,” the elf stated.  Dagger looked at her.  Her eyes were clouded with anguish.

“I’m sorry,” Dagger said, “But if I lose, someone close to me will die.”

He could see the elf’s eyes cloud with the pain of loss.  He guessed she knew how he was feeling.  He could also see the effects of the fight and the loss of blood begin to weaken her.

When the cup was full, Dagger brought it over to the statue and placed it back in its hand.  As if by magic, the bars over the well slid away to reveal an opening.

The wind blew softly through the village and it seemed to carry the voices of the ghosts that haunted this place.

Dagger turned back to the elf and kicked a single stone, causing the whole trap to tumble down and free her.  She stood up quickly, but had to hold onto the pole for support.

He walked over to the well and climbed up onto the edge.

“I never did get your name,” the woman called, “You are a being of magic, like myself.”

“Yes,” he said as he turned, “My name is Dagger.”

“I’m Elin,” the Elf said.

Dagger looked up at her, “Nice to meet you.”

Elin’s eyes were cold and she said, “Nice to meet you too.  I’m sorry about this.”

“What-” Dagger could barely finish his question when a knife came zooming through the air.  As a last ditch attempt, Elin had thrown the knife that was stuck in the pole.  It was Dagger’s own knife.  It shot straight and hit Dagger hard.  He was knocked off balance and went tumbling into darkness.

As Dagger fell, he could have sworn he heard singing.