Azazel's POV

I leaned against the wall of the lounge in the stadium. Today is the first day of our in house games. Soon we'll know who gets to see who gets go to the official games. Joseph was leaning against the wall with me. Like me, he was the strong silent type. He was cunning and hard as steel. He and Cleo had an intense past. Cleo gave Jocelyn a vague run down of it from them growing up in the orphanage to them street fighting together. We were a strange group. Three warriors, only one of which is actually respected amongst us, and a High Priestess who is a loud Gypsy Witch. If you looked at us, the only ones who seemed friendly were the women in our group and truth be told they were far scarier than either of us. Jocelyn was a powerful witch and Cleo was an earthquake packed inside a tiny body. Watching Cleo in the games will surely be a sight to see.

Joseph pulled a cigarette out of his pack and held them out to me. I took one and borrowed his lighter. "Don't let Cleo find out. She'll knock us into next week, " he grumbled. "With her strength, I think she'll knock us to another planet, " I told him. He chuckled, but he has yet to see her strength. She was gonna really shock the world when she gets to the games.

We smoked our cigarettes as we watched the games begin on the TV screen in front of us. "So why can't Cleo take part, " He asked me out of curiosity as we watched Reginald compete in the archery contest with a few others. "Because she is our secret weapon so to speak. Most of the world thinks having a first-ever female warrior is just a myth. Even many of the students think it's just a myth since Cleo doesn't parade around." Joseph nodded, "Showing off has never been her style, that's for sure."

We fell silent as we watched the screen. Many of the others came here to win. Many wanted recognition, wanting to prove themselves. Others wanted the slight boasting of fame it gives you if you win and compete. Most would say, not all winners are remembered, sometimes it's those who put on a good show. With warriors, those that put on a good show, showing their strengths, intelligence, and abilities, are the winners. The year four students really had something to prove. It was their last time to compete if they make it to the games. At any moment their abilities could kill them, or they shine to show they have mastered them and graduate. It's rare a student is ever killed by their abilities before the fourth year, and it's even rarer for them to master them before they reach their fourth year. It's why there is such a wide difference in the attitude of students. The first two years students tend to be carefree and happy, simply cruising. By the third year, they're readying themselves that it could be their last year to live. Then during your fourth, they become serious and tense, knowing at any moment it could happen. It's a crazy way to live but we manage it just fine.

I put my cigarette out in the ashtray by the window. Smoking was pointless. The nicotine and toxins don't affect any of us once we're marked, and whatever damage is done prior to being marked is completely erased from the body as if you never smoked a day in your life. We also can't be affected by illnesses. Poisons and wounds, on the other hand, vary per person, depending on your race. Vampires aren't affected by poisons and even the most tragic of wounds can heal unless you're torn to pieces and burned. Witches have a high tolerance for poisons and will only be affected as if they had the flu, but they can die from simple wounds like humans, although witches have more blood in their bodies due to their bodies have adapted to be able to do many spells needing blood without the worry of dying from blood loss. They could lose a gallon or two and still live without the need for more blood being put back into them since their bodies can easily produce more once it has the strength. Werewolves, like vampires, can survive many horrific wounds, unless the weapon used was made of silver. Poisons, on the other hand, varied in their effectiveness. Wolfsbane will kill a wolf instantly, but something like cyanide gas will just make them sneeze. Humans, on the other hand, were such delicate creatures.

The list of poisons that can easily kill them is vast and they can only suffer from so many injuries. The fact that humans are marked is a miracle itself. Although them being marked does make it harder for them to be killed, it is still easier than killing someone from the other species. It sucked, but that's just how things were.

The matches after matches went by, allowing many to show off their abilities. Today was the athletic rounds like archery and speed tests. Tomorrow would be the hand to hand combat rounds and the weapon combat rounds. That's when things will get really interesting. Many of the fourth-year students had entered those parts of the contests while I was one of the few second-year students and Joseph was the only first year. In our version of the games that is. Cleo will be causing a groundbreaking performance during the official games when she gets the chance to fight. I'm sure of it.

"So tell me, what do the winners get, " Joseph asked me curiously. "The students who win, win their school a hundred thousand dollars. Captain let us vote on what the money would go to and we all voted on some major updates to The House Of Warriors to fit in with more modern times. As for the winner themselves, they get ten grand while also getting a special weapon handcrafted by the Elite weaponsmith. The weaponsmith is amazing at watching the competitors and is able to think of a weapon best suited for your fighting style, " I told him. He nodded, "I see."

We continued to watch the games, neither of us competing until tomorrow in the combat part of the games. Afterward, we met up with Cleo and Jocelyn. Joseph shoved his hands in his pockets as he looked down at Cleo, "Are you still pouting?" Cleo glared, "No." Jocelyn smiled, "She totally is." Joseph smirked, "Big baby." Cleo went to say something until Lycos came running. Her wolf was large, larger than most around here. He had a scar across his right eye. He was an alpha wolf but no pack to lead, clearly a rogue. Much like the woman he claimed as his.

"Let's go get something to eat, I'm starving, " Cleo declared and began to make her way to the dining hall. We followed behind her. "Aren't you always, " Jocelyn asked her. Cleo smirked, "No, sometimes I'm tired." Jocelyn shook her head as she laughed, "Why does that not surprise me?"

The women laughed softly but stopped when we got inside. There was an argument going on between some of the student warriors. I sighed and went over to the line. Cleo stood behind me, watching. "Why are they fighting, " She asked me. "They're pissed they didn't win. It's all about their pride and shit, " I explained to him. She rolled her eyes, "Of course it is."

We got our food and made our way around them. Until one of them fell into Cleo, causing her to drop her food. "Oh no, " Jocelyn and Joseph said in unison.

"If you weren't in the way you wouldn't have been hit, " the guy on the floor said as he began to stand. Cleo grabbed him, "Excuse me?"

The guy's head snapped to look at her and his eyes widened in fear. "C-Cleo, " He stuttered out. "That was my dinner you knocked out of my hands, " she said. I placed my tray on the table and turned to face her. "What's the big deal, " Kronos said with a sneer. He was a fourth-year warrior student who had his head stuck up his ass. She grabbed him by the shirt and pulled him down to her height, "The problem, Kronos, is that my food is now on the floor all because of your little fight. Now then you decide what you're going to do, get me more food or clean up what spilled. You can get the food and he can clean up or vice versa. Either way, both will happen and it will be you two, who do it. Do I make myself clear, " She asked him. "I think you make yourself perfectly clear Ms. Norse, " Gin said when he came up, probably came to break up the fight. Cleo let go of Kronos and he grumbled something under his breath as he began to clean while the other went to go get her more food.

She sat down while Gin overlooked the two idiots. Joseph and Jocelyn relaxed while I sat down. "Stupid idiots, " Cleo grumbled. "I'm surprised you didn't knock their lights out, " Joseph said before biting into a garlic roll. "I waste too much energy training, I don't have any to spare for idiots, " She told him. He nodded, "Makes sense."

When Kronos came back with her food she gave him a smile while he glared. She flipped him off as he walked away. Jocelyn rolled her eyes at Cleo's vulgarity while Joseph chuckled. "Do you know who you're going against, " Cleo asked Joseph and I. I shook my head, "They'll keep it secret till they show the brackets tomorrow." "So have you found your dress yet, " Jocelyn asked Cleo. "Who do you hope to fight, " Cleo asked us instead, ignoring her question. Joseph and I chose to ignore her question so Jocelyn doesn't get even more annoyed.

Cleo sighed, "Of course not. Batair and I have been training a lot. I looked online for ideas but couldn't find anything close to what I might want to wear." "Then it's settled, you and I will go shopping tomorrow, " Jocelyn declared. "Oh hell no. I'm watching the games, " Cleo told her. "Cause in the end, it'll be these two beating the shit out of each other." "You'll be able to watch it online once we get back, " Jocelyn told her. Cleo sighed and huffed like a child, "But that's not the same thing." "The official games are weeks away and you need to find 2 dresses, with a pair of shoes, and jewelry to go with them. And getting your hair and nails done won't hurt either, " Jocelyn added in. Joseph choked on his food at that.

"I can't punch someone if I get my nails done, " Cleo pointed out to her. "Sure you can, " Jocelyn told her. "Just don't get them long. You can get them done to the length you have your nails at now." Cleo sighed and slouched in her chair. "This bites, " she grumbled. "Just think, if we make it to the official games, you'll get to see us beat the crap out of each other there, " I told her. That made her smile, "And I'll have front row seats." I didn't know what was scarier, her excitement over us beating the crap out of each other or her excitement for the violence in general.