heheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

"I've killed for less. At least this time there is a reason." Jason shoved his hands into the pockets of his old jacket, and clentched them tighly, "And Kit?" He paused, and smiled, even though it was sad, "Cares. Not cared. I will always love her, even if I am shown the past. No matter what happens, I will love her - to my dying day." It could be tomorrow, it could be in a year, it could be in 50 years. No matter what trials there were, he would always care for Addilyn, and protect her with all he has.

sry its short

wanna ts to arena?

It had been three days. Three days since Jason left to be with Jolon, three days since Addilyn had made her choice, three days since Jolon had made the order to prepare the arena for a battle that would be the best one for centuries after. A battle to die for, in his own words.

Addilyn had been preparing every day, her powers renewed by her sudden use of them. She was positive she had it all in the bag. The only problem was Kit.

He was awake, she knew that much for sure, what that meant for her fight in the arena she was unsure. Jolon had his stupid owl familiar which gave him an advantage, as familiars restored all of a witch's powers, no matter what life they were on. A familiar was required to reach one's full potential. Addilyn didn't know exactly what was going to happen to her if she didn't have him in this fight but she did her best not to worry much about it. Especially not now, when the fighting would start in maybe an hour. Currently, Addilyn was racing to the arena on her motorcycle. She hadn't brought it on purpose, but when she'd walked out of the hotel, there it had been, right next to the car Jolon had given the group. She was pretty sure Andres had something to do with it but she was unsure. All she knew was that it was familiar, comforting, and it was still as smooth as ever. So she rode it to the arena, Kaitlyn and Zane following close behind her in the car. Everyone else was being forced to stay behind, for their own safety. (If you want someone else to come just yeet that part and plop them in the car with Kaitlyn and Zane.)

Addilyn's bow and quiver were with her, knives hidden throughout her clothes. Despite not claiming her place in the coven, she went with the normal customs of witches and dressed in all black. The weather wasn't very cooperative either, freezing cold and the sky a dark grey despite it being 12 in the afternoon. Most people would be wearing big jackets and scarves, Addilyn wasn't. Over the past few days, she made a discovery, she no longer got cold. Perhaps it was her growing powers, or maybe it was because she was finally letting her anger control her, allowing herself to dissolve into the emotionless inhuman that Jolon had always wanted.

Kit had been talking to Jason whenever he got the chance, telling him all about the trials Addilyn would face. Eventually, Jolon had figured out that Kit was awake, though the familiar had been expecting it. So Kit had been 'invited' to Addilyn's fight. As a hostage of course. In fact, he'd been assigned to Jason, as a test of loyalty on Jason's part. Jason would be required to watch over the familiar and make sure he stayed in line. If he failed.. well death wasn't the worst punishment someone in Jolon's care could receive.

Speaking of Jason and Jolon, Jolon had been talking almost as much as Kit did with Jason. Jolon had been filling Jason's head with lies and truths with parts that Jolon 'forgot' to mention. Jolon had seemed to take a liking to Jason, if only for the moment.

Now the day had come, the day Addilyn would fight for her right to live, though those days seemed to arrived more and more often as she grew older. As Jolon and his crew, including Jason and Kit, arrived, a crowd grew around the car people begging for autographs and people asking questions about Jason. Like Jolon was a celebrity or something, and now that Jason was in his inner circle, so was he.

That all stopped though when the motorcycle pulled up, closely followed by a sleek black car. The girl on the motorcycle hopped off, pulling off her helmet to reveal black hair that barely touched her shoulders, and eyes that were as pale as the soft green of the Northern Lights but shone with a deadly glimmer. Addilyn, the old one, the one who could kill with a single glance was back. Her black long sleeved shirt was thin and it should've made her freezing cold, yet she looked fine. Well, she didn't look fine techincally she looked enraged yet undoubtedly calm.
The crowd that had surrounded Jolon and Jason disappeared as quickly as it had shown up. Allowing the two groups to glare at each other. Addilyn completely ignoring Jason, not wanting to even think about him. For now, she was set on her task.

It had been three days. Three days since Jason made one of the hardest decisions of his life, three days of Jolon attempting to fill his head with lies, three days of agony. Yet, it was nothing compared to what Addilyn was feeling.

The only being Jason could rely on and trust was Kit, and at times the familiar seemed so far away. He knew so much more, and understood what was going on, while Jason was clueless. He was drowning, trying not to be suffocated by the current, and only staying above the water because of the tiny shred of hope he dared not loosen his grip on.

-

Jonas watched the scenery pass out of the window, although none of it absorbed. He had never had a weak stomach before, but with the rising dread and knowledge that they were heading towards death while sitting in a stupidly comfortable and expensive car, he felt nausous. Somehow, he had actually started caring about the group during their times together. With Jason in the unknown (and on their side, which only Jonas knew) and Addilyn facing who-knows-what, Jonas felt like it was all splintering apart.

-

When Jason had been assigned to watch over Kit, he didn't know whether to be glad or worried. If they showed any sense of familiarity, Jolon or the advisors would be suspicous, but it was calming to know the cat was right there. Since he didn't have magic to take the advisors down with, Jason decided to go with a good ol' fashioned gun. Add in some knives and his fists, and it was a deadly party. He was layered up, and with his previous experience of sneaking around lethal weapons, managed to pass them all by the patdown he recieved.

Although Jolon seemed to like Jason now, he knew it could change in an instant. So, even with the people crowding around the car, and Jason's disgust of being seen with Jolon, he smiled, said hello, and otherwise acted like how one would expect a young man to act when he comes into a position of fame. He had decided on carrying Kit, as he would not put the cat in a cage, and if he walked around freely it would raise suspicion.

So when Addilyn did arrive, Jason's heart both plumited and soared. He was holding her familar, which would be vital in the fight, under the guise he was keeping Kit hostage.

Conflicting emotions ran through Jason's mind: She was here! But her hair! (It looked good, but with Kits explanation of what it meant...) She was alive! But of gods she had to fight!

And she hated him.

Jason couldn't fake hating her, and was glad she didn't look at him, or she would have seen a young man's heart shattering behind cold, icy eyes. Jolon wouldn't notice, as he didn't know Jason, and how he expressed emotion, but he still got himself under control before turning to face the older man, "What's next?"

Kit was there, Jason reminded himself. Addilyn was there, and he could see Kaitlyn, Zane, and Ribs in the car. Addilyn would win, she had to win, and he would kill the rest. It would be okay. One day, he could break down, and let everything fully sink in, hopefully with Addilyn in his arms.

For now, he was set on his task.

**this turned out longer than expected lol. and when i posted it, i had been signed out and nearly had a heart attack. luckily i was on the computer and could do the sign-in-refresh thing

It took Addilyn a moment to realize that Kit was right there. Her heart throbbed as she looked at him, both happiness and a deep sadness filled her gaze. She knew that there was no way in hell that Jolon would allow her to have her familiar in the arena there was no point in even trying. That didn't matter to her emotions though, fire sparking in her eyes and her fists clenching. She glared at Jason for a moment, debating on just snatching her familiar up in her arms.

Kit also felt the tug for Addilyn, the call for a witch to be with their familiar was impossibly strong for any familiar. "Jason, do not let me go, it will look odd if I don't fight to get to her. Do not under any circumstance let me go." And with that, the familiar released a loud yowl. Hissing and screeching, trying his 'best' to get out of Jason's grasp. His familiar mark glowing bright on his head, his eyes staring right at Addilyn.

Addilyn winced, seeing her familiar in distress made her want to run over there and take him now. Her indecisive nature made it a hard decision, luckily for Jason, Kaitlyn was there. The witch appeared next to Addilyn and laid a soft hand on the younger woman's arm. "Not yet Addilyn, come along now. Faster we can get rid of Jolon the faster you can get him back." Addilyn nodded and gave Kit one more despair filled look before allowing herself to be led away by Kaitlyn's gentle hand. Zane soon followed, the boy throwing Jason a sad glance before following Addilyn and Kaitlyn to the entrance to the underneath of the arena. Where the competitors would get ready for the battle.

Jolon glared at Kit, the familiar panting heavily as he finally 'gave up' on trying to escape, his claws retracting as they'd came out when he'd been trying to escape. He released a pathetic whimper before finally allowing his mark to dissolve. Turning to glare fiercely at Jolon, a hiss escaping his mouth before he finally went silent.

"Well that was eventful, I was quite impressed you were able to keep that cat under control. Perhaps we should invest in a muzzle though, get it to shut up." Jolon smirked at the face Kit made, the cat hadn't bit Jason as he hadn't wanted to be put in a cage or something. Though he did scratch Jason a little bit, just in case the no biting made Jolon suspicious.

"Anyways, while Addilyn gets ready for her first fight, we will retreat to our box seats to watch the first fights privately. Box seats only go to the most powerful Jason, remember that." Jolon sneered as Kit hissed again, a vicious hatred on his face. "Yes, a muzzle will do him good, Asmodeus." Addilyn's uncle appeared at Jolon's side, his powers revealing themselves as he formed a muzzle from his own shadow. "Here," Asmodeus held out the muzzle for Jason to take, a challenging glimmer in his eyes. Kit's voice began to echo in Jason's mind.

"Do it Jason. I can speak to you with the muzzle on regardless so it doesn't really matter. Just do it before they try to cage me or something please." Kit looked alarmed yet stoically remained quiet. It was going rather well, this plan. Kit could only hope it continued to go this well.

Kit's message broke Jason's haze after seeing Addilyn. He tightened his hold on the cat a moment before he started struggling. Like planned, the cat did not away. As his friends - well, now they hated him, so that would make friendship difficult - walked away, Jason's chest was incredibly tight. He hated this.

Luckily for him, Ribs, or rather, Jonas, was there. He met Jason's eyes, and in that moment, he thought one word, projecting it into Jason's mind, "Pickles.''

Jason blinked once, hard, and focused on not letting anything slip through his mask. Pickles had always been their code word when they knew the other was lying, whether it be Rainbow, Ribs, or Jason. The stupid phrase had a story behind it, but now wasn't the time.

Jonas knew he didn't betray them all.

That one thought gave Jason the strength to go on.

Jason nodded to Jolon, "I am honored to sit with you, Sir." When Addilyn's nasty uncle handed out the muzzle, Jason took it without hestiation and put it on Kit. Since the cat was okay with it, Jason didn't feel as guilty as he might of. They both knew what had to be done in order for their plan to work.

With an unblinking look, Jason stared at Asmodeus, challenging him to say anything. He put on the muzzle - and would take whatever happened next.

>.< sorry its short!!!

Addilyn so desperately wanted to go back and get Kit, and at least ask Jason why. But Kaitlyn was there and helping her out, keeping her in check with the slightest touch. Kit still held most of Addilyn's emotions but that didn't stop her angry mind from thinking. She never stopped thinking anymore. Something was always on her mind, though sometimes her mind felt so utterly empty but a running background noise told her something was missing.

Though she did not know what it was.

Kit tried pushing the muzzle away, taking it easily would make Jolon suspicious. He even gently nipped Jason's finger before finally giving in. The cat looked utterly uncomfortable, he just closed his eyes in shame. A tired glaze coating his eyes.

"Ah, finally you got it to shut up. Thank you Asmodeus, your power is quite useful. As well as you Jason, I am quite surprised you don't have the slightest bit of pity for the cat. Your actions please me. Do keep it up, I don't want to have to kill you." The green eyed man smiled maniacally at Jason before walking forwards. Leading them all to their private seating.
Asmodeus glared at Jason, not liking the fact that Jason seemed to be so liked by Jolon. Suddenly, a yell came up from behind the group. "Jolon!" The man turned around, furrowing his brows as Andrés ran towards them, "sorry I'm late sir. There was an issue in the border town." Jolon looked at his grandson with pure disgust on his face. "Nice of you to show up, I was worried you might have ran away, seeing as Addilyn is obviously going to beat you." Andrés blanched, the color leaving his face. "I have a chance, Addilyn is not anywhere near her old power. She cannot even be named Lilith at this point." Kit sat up suddenly, staring at Andrés with sudden interest.

Jolon suddenly reached out and slapped Andrés, the loud sound making one of his advisers jump back. "Could you speak any louder you absolute idiot. You know what, just shut the hell up and find a seat somewhere else where your stupid ass will not be tempted to speak of forbidden things." Andrés seemed rather shocked, he had obviously not been expecting such backlash. "O-okay sir." And just like that, Andrés left, giving Kit one last, intense look before leaving.

Jolon pinched the bridge of his nose, not making a single comment as he turned and led the group to the best seating in the arena.

Jason didn't dare look at Kit to question what Andrés was saying. It might draw attention from Jolon. He put on a blank, almost bored looking, mask, to fool Jolon into thinking he did not care at all about anything regarding Addilyn.

As Jason followed Jolon up the stairs to the best seating, everything he has ever done or anyone he has known flashed through his mind: His little sister, James, his father, mother, the first gang... Addilyn, prison, Ribs... Finding Addilyn again, the Hotel, Michael, Alex... All of Addilyn's gang. Their journey and escape, the travel to Mexio... Every single moment has been adding up to this. Now was the time to put all of his years of backstabbing and violence. After this, though, Jason was done. He wouldn't hurt anyone anymore. There was already enough pain in the world.

-

-

this is very short.

i do not know how to respond very well... SORRY

Jolon continued to the arena's box seating, arriving at a high quality room, the seats being recliners with trays in front of them for when the person who sat there wanted to eat. The seats were the highest point above the arena, with the best view of both the arena itself and the huge screens that would show close ups of what was happening in the fight for those who could not clearly see it.

Jolon sat at the front, closest to the balcony pointing at the chair to his right and staring at Jason. "Sit here Jason, and put the cat on the floor. Its magical abilities are stripped while it's in here. Though I am the one keeping the little beast in check of course. Enough of that unpleasant talk, this day has become much to complicated already."

The man sighed, despite his appearance (he looked around 40) he was much, much older, and it seemed his age was catching up with him just in this one day. "I do believe you deserve an explanation for what Andres said earlier, as you are a trusted guest, I truly think you should be aware of the danger today may bring. Please, get comfortable, this will be a long story." Jolon was already sitting in his comfortable chair, his pale green eyes staring wearily at Jason.

Asmodeus had sat at Jolon's other side, glaring jealously at Jason. Jolon knew exactly who this kid was but had so willingly taken him under his wing. Which was, in Asmodeus' opinion, complete bull shit. Not fair to a loyal adviser like Asmodeus.

~~~~~

Addilyn led her friends, as that's what she supposed Kaitlyn, Zane and Ribs were now, through the underneath of the arena.

The arena was huge, both aboveground and below, though aboveground was much different than below.

'The Below,' as the witches called it, was where the fighters would prepare for their fights. The place was filled to the brim with spell books, weapons, potion making stations. With the bigger rooms being the private rooms for the fighter's and any additional people and multiple medical rooms, where quick healing or major injuries could be healed. Most of the time.

Despite there only being 5 fights, The Below was filled with people, most giving Addilyn a single glance before scurrying off in fear.

She did not like it.

Addilyn didn't want people to be afraid of her, which was why she had ran away in the first place. Now she was back, because she had made the same mistakes over and over again.

She knew that she was wrong, that everything she was doing was so wrong. Addilyn didn't want to hurt anyone, all she wanted to do was live, and that's what she had been doing in New York, but somehow she always ended up back here.

Back to this damned place that could honestly be called hell and that wouldn't be wrong.

It was time for the violence to stop, and it would stop.

It had to.

~~~

Kaitlyn followed Addilyn with concern showing plainly on her face. The witch had been alive for decades, living beyond the years of any normal human, and she had met Addilyn many times over and over.

The poor witch was only a girl, going through things that no person should ever have to deal with. The poison that was the world was tainting her mind and it would not be long before the reality of her life would hit her and Addilyn would break.

Not that Kaitlyn planned on telling anyone that, it was something that could not be stopped, no matter how hard anyone tried to help.

Finally, Addilyn stopped in front of one of the private rooms, placing her hand on the door, causing an orange rune to appear and the door to open. "How long till my first fight?" Addilyn asked Kaitlyn as she entered the plain room, three comfortable benches and medical supplies were the only things that decorated the room. Plus the staircase that split two ways, the left into the arena, and the right led to seating for Kaitlyn, Zane and Ribs. "Twenty minutes," Kaitlyn said simply as Addilyn slumbed onto a bench, closing her eyes as stress pounded in her skull.

Jason sat down, not showing any of the dread and hesitation inside, instead he grinned as he looked out at the view. To anyone looking at Jason, it would seem he over overjoyed with the power and position he had been given. He set Kit on the floor, and turned his attention to Jolon. He was actually very curious about what Andres said, although he would take it with a grain of salt. Perhaps Jolon's story would have true origins, but he changed it to sound like he was the good person.

Only listening to it would tell, "Thank you for trusting me, Sir, with this information." He made sure to directly face Jolon, although he did see Asmodeus glaring at him. Jason, while making sure Jolon could tell it was not directed at him, stared hard at the other adviser, and purposefully turned to Jolon, "I am ready to learn the truth."

-

Jonas didn't know what the heck he walked into, but it was absolutely crazy! These people looked like they could squish him with their pinkies, yet they ran away from Addilyn. Jonas could fight, and could honestly say that these people could definitely squish him with their pinkies.

Jonas was very glad everyone else stayed away from here.

As Jonas awkwardly stood there, next to people who actually knew what was going on and knew Addilyn pretty well, he felt like an outsider. He couldn't contribute anything at all. Except... "This probably isn't the time, but like... everyone here is like a toothpick. I could sit on everyone in here at once. I won't because that would be weird, but you know what I mean?"

Jolon grimly smiled at Jason's craving for power. The kid had always been that way, not that he knew it of course. Addilyn had always been the same way as well, constantly fighting back the power that flowed through her veins and the need to see others beneath her, to feel others' pain.

That's what Addilyn was.

What she was supposed to be.

"Well, that is a very good thing, though the truth will be... jarring. It is much different than what is the 'known' for humans." Jolon paused, glaring at Kit, who was sitting and staring at Jolon intently. Not like the cat could actually do anything, his bond with Addilyn was so frayed, Jolon doubted the cat could contact her even without the magic prevention.

"Witches are unlike humans, obviously, but I mean more so in the case of death. Witches have the ability to either reincarnate or live as an immortal, though immortals can be killed and later on reincarnate. We have the ability to choose what we want for each life, and as such, we also retain our memories from our previous lives. Though we aren't automatically born all knowing, we, over time, embrace our past lives and memories as ourselves. I am one of the few who chooses to remain immortal, and have only ever died once." Jolon paused, telling the full truth in his words, and even Asmodeus seemed shocked by this.

"There are some witches who are born completely new, they are often called 'Fresh Blood,' as that is what they are. We don't know where they come from, they just appear. In Addilyn's case, she is not a new soul, she is very old, though she is not aware of this. At all." Jolon looked out over the arena, memories dancing like fire through his eyes.

His pause granted Kit a moment to sit in astonishment, a completely confused, hysterical expression on the familiar's face. "I-I don't know what he's talking about. We are new, there is no way. We don't remember anything. I swear Jason we don't remember anything this doesn't.. I don't.. what is happening?" Kit didn't know if he wanted to hear the rest of what Jolon had to say, he wasn't sure if he could accept it.

From there, Jolon began to tangle the story with edited parts. "Addilyn began to.. change after her first 10,000 or so lives, she began to give in to the evil that festers in all witch's hearts. She began to go bad if you know what I mean. It has taken me most of my life to remove what Addilyn did from the human history books. I've casted so many memory wiping spells I can strip someone of their memory in a moment and return it just as fast. Addilyn killed thousands, for no reason really, she was just filled with despair and anger. So, for the past few thousands of Addilyn's lives, I've wiped her memory. Over and over. She doesn't know who she really is. Addilyn is the horror story that witch mothers tell their children when they are misbehaving. She is the terrifying witch who is the real reason why humans are afraid of us. Even if they don't remember who she is. They know to be afraid of us." Jolon paused, staring at Kit who was now trembling in quiet despair. There was no way.

"Addilyn is known as Lilith Aethelbeorne. Terror of both humans and witches alike. The starter and ender of wars and the darkness that lurks just beyond the edge of this world. She is known as Death to the children, who even have a made a game out of her name." Jolon sighed, as Kit collapsed, feeling the truth of the words strike him through.

~~~~~

Addilyn looked up at Ribs with an almost soft smile, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. Zane was outright laughing, trying to trample the tension that had risen in the room. Kaitlyn did as well, the witch giving Jonas a bright smile. "I see why Amika likes you, you are good company, and you are right to be completely honest." Kaitlyn smiled warmly at Zane's words, it was a great compliment coming from Zane. As the boy was very close to Amika, he knew exactly what the two felt for each other. And he fully supported it.