Ignite: The Archangels Chronicles

The market had a completely different feel to it during the day.

Last night it had been crammed with people bustling about, loud merchants, and scantily dressed courtesans.

Now, it was completely reformed.

Men were hammering away at a welders nearby, others carrying packages back and forth for their masters, women dressed in long swaths of gossamer fabrics in an array of colors, with children weaving in between the crowd while their mothers called after them, a large woven basket containing the days harvest on her hip.

instead of haphazard tents and hastily erected stalls in the middle of the main road, it was clear of vendors and debris. The pristine stone pavement was lined with broad columns that were spaced far enough apart to host their own private store. The air smelled of fresh baked bread and an almost too sweet jasmine.

The sickeningly sweet scent had pestered her all night, making her nauseous, not to mention that nagging feeling from last night hadn't gone away, making Azreal even more on edge.

Before dumping them in front of what seemed to be a mansion with a full staff of servents, he sniggered and said, "Meet me by the front gates tomorrow morning at dawn. Come alone." And jestured for them to hurry up and get inside, like this was completely beneath his status and didn't want any prying eyes seeing him.

Azreal, of course, disregarded what he said and had asked Lucia and Cameron to come with her. The three of them were standing at the designated area waiting for their tour guide to show up, when seemingly out of no where, Jasper slipped in between two people like he had always been there and strode right for them, his mouth twisted to one side, obviously disappointed she hadn't listened to him. His ever immaculate appearance was in shades of sharp grey. His powder purple shoulder length hair was loose around his neck, framing his angular face.

"I thought I had told you to come alone." He said tightly, his head turned to the side in agitation.

Azreal completely unfazed by his obvious anger said "I assumed that was more of a..." she trailed off rolling her hand through the air, "suggestion." Azreal finished with a sharp as knives half smile of her own.

Oh, she was pushing his buttons. She could see that burning anger pushing its way up his neck, a vein began to throb on his forehead. His lips were pursed tightly as if he really wished to tear into her, but thought it best to wait.

Lucia, lounging against the pillar next to Azreal was smiling, quite enjoying their little back and forth. Cameron on the other hand, was sweating a bit, looking more and more nervous and exasperated with every word coming out of Azreal's snarky little mouth. Until he couldn't take it anymore and had to step in and diffuse the situation before Azreal got them all killed.

"Excuse me, Disciple VanGuan, we were only joining Azreal on the tour through the city. We are nothing more than glorified body guards." Cameron said using the proper terms and titles.

Azreal and Lucia snickered and even Jasper retorted, "How would a healer protect someone with an aura as strong as your friends here?" His gaze was glued to Camerons, distaste plain on his face.

Azreal chuckled under her breath, but decided to break down the situation before Cameron tried to start a pissing contest to defend his honor.

"I haven't all day, are you two going to stand here squawking about, or are you going to give us a tour of the city?"

Jasper looking smug replied "Right this way.." and gestured with a manicured hand for us to follow him.

As much as Azreal hated to admit, Jaspers city was beautiful. All the old architecture and the detail carved into each pillar, some worn and faded with age, some covered in ivy, others turned to dust in the wind.

Each store boasted one beautiful treasure after another. Gorgeous yards of silk in an array of colors, to tiny porcelain elephant figurines with little ruby eyes. These merchant were procurers for the rich and indulgent. If you could think of something beautiful and expensive, they had something even more beautiful and of course more expensive. The beaming sun setting every jeweled dress and golden scabbard a blaze, giving the entire market a pristine and shining aura.

If you knew where to look, and what to look for, you could see them prowling through the deep shadows between buildings. all the disgusting creatures that prowled in the underbelly of the city usually only came out at night. Leaving even the more impoverished areas appearing moderately safe.

as we passed through the slums of the city on our way to The Colosseum, a panhandler saw Jasper, and immediately ran in the other direction, afraid of being thrown in the pits for being poor.

This made Azreal's jaw clench, 'what had these people been subjected to in order to make them flee like that?'

Vivid scenes of blood and mayhem crossed her memory, children screaming, burnt flesh wafting up her nose...

Azreal shook her head, those memories needed to stay locked away, she didn't have any room for mistakes.

She knew she was going to have to fight as soon as they stepped through that main archway. Jasper said something about proving her skills or some other bullshit like that.

He was hoping she would die immediately so he could collect his new servants as soon as possible. The fool had another thing coming.

Azreal was going to give him a run for his money. Literally, because she knew he would be betting against her, especially on this first fight.

The Colosseum was gigantic, The fighting area was a large, round sand pit that was absolutely covered in blood to the point that Azreal thought it was just red sand.

Jasper dropped lazily onto his chase and immediately a few maidens dr.a.p.ed themselves across his l.a.p, and one sat at his feet. They were being fanned by large palm fronds, imported from the Demora Thicket, and held by scantily dressed women.

His lean form was stretched out over his miniature throne. He was a smug bastard, and Azreal couldn't wait to wipe that look off his face.

She was pacing back and forth like a tiger prowling in a cage. The more she watched Jasper being cooled in the shade, the brighter her rage burned.

Looking over to the left was a million rows of stone seats all of which were empty except for the spaces Lucia and Cameron took up. Usually The Colosseum remained empty until nightfall when the games truly began, but it seems Jasper was in a hurry and didn't much feel like waiting for his new play toys.

Lucia's face was full of pride and anticipation. She had absolutely no doubt in Azreal. Where as Cameron looked like he was about to hurl all over the stone steps.

Azreal growled out "Let's get on with it then!" And when she stomped her boot on the disgustingly sticky sand, she threw a little bit of earth magic in with it, and made the whole god damn place shake.

That seemed to have caught his attention as Jasper sat up a bit straighter and called "Bring the fighters out!"

Azreal looked up at him quizzically. 'What did he mean by fighterS, as in plural?'

Jasper mockingly called out "You said you wouldn't be caught fighting someone beneath you. Well, my best fighter happens to be out on a errand and wont be back for a few days yet." He said looking more and more bored. "If your as good as you say you are, these lot shouldn't give you much of a problem." His voice was dripping with sarcasm, and Azreal could hear the smile in his voice.

Gritting her teeth she focused on the large cast iron grate slowly peeling up in front of her...