Three Shades of Scarlet

                                    

                                          
Silver flashed through the air and he realized that his target might not be such an easy victim after all. Dragonbite dodged to the side, throwing a shower of razors, and laughed as the smell of blood filled the air.
It's good to be back.
                          
*******
                          
    They fought like twin sandstorms across the entry cave, steel glinting like shards of polished hail. A ring of students had formed around them, filled with the same draconic bloodlust that allowed a war to stretch for nearly twenty years--the same bloodlust that made Scarlet's arena such a macabre success. They screamed every time the assassins came too close, but they didn't leave. They didn't try to escape.
                          
    Dragonbite lunged at his enemy, scoring a sloppy cut across her wings. He grinned viciously, then ducked away. "First blood, worm!" He shouted. The spray of razors had barely counted--a real attack had to be personal. In that moment he felt real. 
                          
    I'm not a ghost anymore. I'm a demon.
                          
    And I'm . . . I'm bleeding.
                          
    The sting of a dozen small wounds erupted across his scales. He hadn't even seen the blades--were they glass?--but the sudden pain was enough to destroy his cocky attitude. He'd been the best, in his day. But now . . . 
                          
    What am I? 
                          
    "Not so dangerous anymore, are you, Dragonbite?"
                          
There was something about hearing her say it aloud--the thought that had whispered at the edge of his mind for moons--that inspired him to prove this violent shadow wrong.
                          
    For the first time he saw his opponent as more than a target, as more than a challenge, even. He saw her as a dragon--and if things went poorly, as his destroyer. He drew back for a moment, and the audience--the useless, tasteless audience--let out an ooh of excitement. The sandwing in front of him stepped closer and closer, her small, serpentine form weaving across the stone floor like a cobra hypnotizing its prey.
                          
    "You might think you can yield, you spineless worm, but I'm not leaving until you're dead. It's the least you can do for me." She surged forward, snarling. 
                          
He rolled to the side, almost cutting a bystander--skywing, he thought--with the blade on his tail.
                          
"As if I'll let some nameless salamander kill me again."
                          
"Again?" 
                          
He felt pain as a dagger flew past his face and into the soft part of his tail, pinning him for half a moment he couldn't spare.
                          
She cut through his defences, until her black eyes were inches from his own. 
                          
If we were alone, if this was before the war ended, I could end this now. Venom in the eyes. I could kill her here.
                          
But the Rainwings had left the rainforest, and everyone in Jade mountain knew what their venom looked like, even if the dragon before him did not.
                          
She smiled, a twisted parody of joy.
                          
"We all know you're not a ghost, Dragonbite.  . ."
                          
She pressed another thin blade to his neck, and ice--not from the metal--raced across his scales. The knife seemed to glow scarlet, brighter than either of their blood.
                          
"You're an animus," she whispered as she drew the knife across his neck.
                          
". . . But that doesn't matter anymore."
                          
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A/N:
                          
So, as you all know, the world is crazy right now. Despite this, I still want to apologize for the *significant* delay. Normally I like to type and post from my computer, but with limited wifi and a lot going on, I wasnt able to. That's why this is shorter than usual- I typed it from my phone, because I really wanted to give you guys something for your patience. 
                          
I'm not the best at keeping deadlines, but I love you guys and I love this story, so I'll update when I can. I hope you liked seeing more of Dragonbite, and would love to hear what you think of this development!
                          
 ~GingerFlame