We began to set up camp for the night not too far from the village's ruins. We made sure to stay enough away that if the wind did pick up that it wouldn't carry the stench of burnt flesh to most of us. After getting ourselves arranged into specific tasks to help get the camp set up, we split ways. Twitch was told to build up an area for where we could properly set up everything. Fenrir and Owl were sent to hunt down some food so we could eat. Me and Elizabeth had one of the most boring of the jobs. Looking for firewood. Both Elizabeth and I were a fair bit away from the camp as the sun began to set across the horizon. We both had sizable stacks but yet she insisted we would require more if we wanted the fire to stay alive the night. Something is off about her...

"Oh, Celt would you mind helping me move this log here? I think there might be some edible berries under it." She points to a rather large log covered in bushes.

"Our job is to get firewood. Fen... Skoll and Fletcher are in charge of hunting down some food for us."

"I know but I thought it would be nice to have some fruit along with our... uh... meat."

I sighed. "Alright, I'll move it but if it's poisonous berries it's your fault."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Though the hood hid her face I could feel a smile coming from her.

I strolled over to the log and grasped it in both hands. With one mighty yank I pulled upward. The log began to lift up for a short while before the sounds of cracking filled the air. Slowly the top portion of the log began to bend back to the ground despite my efforts. With a resounding crack the log split in two; one half with me, the other lying on the ground. I toss my half to the side. I rubbed my eyes before looking at the area where the log once was. There was what looked like a branch with white berries with tiny little black dots on them. I kneeled down to get a closer look at the berry. I reached down to grab one of the berries before Elizabeth stopped me.

"Oh! Those are Doll's Eyes!" She exclaimed with glee.

I stared down at the berries then back at her. "What?"

"It's a delicious berry. Great for stews and such. Maybe I can make a meat stew with them, if we can find wild onions out here then it would be perfect!"

"Well, then I suppose I should test them. To see if they are... poisonous." Grabbed a few berries only for them to be slapped out of my hand.

"No you don't. We're having them for dinner. If you eat them now it ruin the surprise taste for and it won't be as good!"

"Yes, mother."

I could feel her roll her eyes at the comment from under her hood. "Well, I suppose we should head back. They might get worried if we don't hurry back."

"Alright."

We began to walk back the direction of the camp after she had picked up a few of the berries for a stew. She placed the berries within a small satchel under her cloak. I watched as we walked back, completely carefree and unafraid of the jungle. Something is off, but what...

"Hey Elizabeth, I have a question for you."

"Yes, Adam?"

"Why do you hide your face in that cloak?"

She turned her head to me for a moment. "I dunno, why are you such a liar?"

"I don't lie, I just suck at telling the truth."

A subtle giggle came from Elizabeth. I smiled and we continued to walk back to the camp. The walk was mostly peaceful except for the feeling of being watched. Occasionally I looked over to the sides of us to search for the presence watching us. The further we went, the larger the feeling of being watched grew. Eventually I began to slow down in an attempt further examine the surroundings.

It's here somewhere...

"Adam, why are we slowing down? Won't it become dark soon?"

"Something is... watching us."

"W-w-watching us? If you are joking please stop. I don't take scare jokes well." Her tone began to hide something more than fear.

Is she angry? For not even pulling a joke? "No, it's been following us for a while... Where is your bird?"

"Mortimer? I told him to stay at the camp." Once more I could hear the subtle shift in her tone.

"Then something else might be following us..."

"Oh my..." She seemed to shrink down.

There was a sudden tapping noise resounding all around us. She darted her head to the left. I looked the same direction only to see nothing. Elizabeth seemed to relax and return to looking at me. Why only look left? It was coming from all around us... Sighing, I rub my eyes for a moment. Before I knew I heard a sharp screech from the girl. I quickly spun around to see her breathing hard. Her hand hid beneath her robe but I could tell she was holding them against her chest.

"What's wrong?"

She motioned towards the bushes. "There is something there."

"Alright, stay there I'll check it out." I slowly began to approach the bush when the fluttering of wings filled my ears.

I soon reached the bush. Slowly I peered over it only to find nothing there. No foot prints and no signs of something being there.

Something isn't right...

"Hey Elizabe..." Before I could finish my sentence an ashen spear darted past my head.

"You moved." Her tone shifted into one of cheerful malice.

It took a moment for my to figure out what had just happened. "Elizabeth did... you throw that at me?"

"No, it was the spear fairy who threw it." Sarcasm was nearly dripping off the words.

"Really? Because if it was, I wouldn't be surprised that it exists in a world of technicolor ponies."

A black figure darted past my head and landed on Elizabeth's shoulder. It took a moment for me to realize that it was Mortimer.

"I always hated this feeling. You know the one you have right after you try to kill someone."

"Can't say I do."

"Really? That either means you're really good or..." She began to laugh maniacally after thinking for a moment.

"What?"

"Oh gods! I can't believe I found a freaking newbie! Oh, this is too perfect. I thought this was going to be hard with how you recruited so many allies. Look at me! Planning an elaborate assassination only to find out the guy doesn't even know about the game!" She kept laughing.

"What?"

She began to catch her breath after laughing. "Just... just give me a moment to get over this. Man, that is funny! The look on your face is priceless when I said that! Though it would look much nicer when you're choking on your blood as you die."

"What are you..." My sentence was once more interrupted as she lunged forward at me.

She has no weapon so what is she trying to do?

I only had a few split seconds to dodge when I saw the blade appear in her hand. I stumbled back and tripped over a route. Staring up at her, I could see that Mortimer had become the weapon. His black as night feathers became the blade. The feet took the form of the handle. Even the beady red eyes glared at me from the blade's center.

"Come on, don't be shy. I'm a professional at this kind of stuff just like a doctor really. So it's best to follow doctor's orders and let me take care of you. Nice and quick, then you're off to the Afterlife."

"Gunna have to pass on that one, doc."

I reached to my back and pulled out my crossbow quickly. As soon as I aimed the crossbow at her, kicked it out of my hand. Note to self, grab crossbow with robot hand, not organic one... My weapon was sent flying over to a tree a fair distance away. I gaze a quick glance to the crossbow then looked back at her.

"Naughty, naughty. I usually make these fast but because you tried to fight back I'm going to have to make this very slow." I could swear I could see her eyes glow red under that hood.

Her sword slowly morphed into an axe. I could feel her eyes on me the whole time it was shifting. Sensations of cold were sent down my spine as I could feel her almost dissecting me with her eyes. She tilted her head and looked at me before cracked her neck back.

"So, let's change the location shall we? A jungle isn't exactly a good place for this kind of thing." She reached up a hand and rubbed her chin before snapping her fingers. "Oh, I know! Let's turn this into a operating room shall we? Today I'll be your surgeon. How about we even up that arm to robo arm situation."

She raised her axe into the sky. For a short moment I could feel the adrenaline began to pump through my veins. Craig, let's kick this bitches ass. I quickly darted forward into open posture with her axe in the air. I released my arm blade and stabbed forward into her shoulder. The sound of blood and muscle being torn was faint but I could hear it. She dropped both her arms to the side leaving the axe on the cold floor of the forest. She lifted both arms and grabbed my mechanical arm. Slowly she pulled out the blade out of her shoulder.

"Tsk tsk, such sloppy work. You obviously haven't been playing this game for long have you?"

"I stabbed you in your freaking shoulder!"

"But the shoulder isn't the heart is it? Unless you want to lost you'd better go for killing blows next time."

"Fine!" I swung at her neck ready to kill.

In one fluid motion, she dodged my fist and grabbed it. Using my own force she flung me into a tree causing a loud crash. It took a moment to regain my senses before seeing her sword coming towards my face. Quickly I rolled out of the way, allowing the blade to embed itself in the tree. I hopped to my feet and quickly took notice as to wear my crossbow was. If I can just get to it I can use Lux to call for help... I began to run to my crossbow before suddenly a black pole blocked my way.

"Nope, we aren't done yet. You joined the game so you gotta play by the rules." The blade had apparently shifted into a spear reducing the length of the blade thus freeing it.

She swung the spear at me with blinding speed. I just barely manage to block it with my arm. The force of the blow resonates through my body. Before I know it the other end hits me in the stomach causing me to rile back. Before I have time to think she jumps a little ways above me. What is she doing? I look up in time to see her claws grab my head and smash it into the ground. She releases her grip on me and rolls me over. Grabbing my hair she pulls me up to eye level. I could barely see behind the shadows of her robe. After she let me go , I fell into a kneeling position. I look to her side and see the weapon has shifted into a hammer.

"Fore!" She quickly swing at my head sending me flying into another tree.

Mother Nature, I thought we were friends... Why your trees gotta hurt so much.

I open my eyes, only to see my crossbow laying beside me. I slowly reach over to it and hide it under my body. I whispered "Terra" briefly. Making sure that the bolt couldn't be seen, I rolled over to face Elizabeth.

"So, just curious, do you even know what this game is for?"

"The gods to be assholes?"

"Eh, close but not quite. This is a death match, Mr. Bugbear. Gods pick their pieces and throw them into an arena to slaughter each other! Guess what the prize for the last one is! Go ahead! Guess!" She stopped moving forward.

"A free ice cream sandwich?"

"Yes, a free ice cream sandwich! Or a computer! Maybe even a small country to rule. The entire prize for this game is a wish. So, since you're not going to be able to make your wish allow me to ask. Any last requests, wishes and/or desires?" Her hammer shifted into a scythe.

How appropriate... "Just one..."

"What might that be?"

"I really wish that this will work."

I sprung up and brought the crossbow around as if I were going to punch her. I drew closer to her body and began to slowly press down on the trigger. The small rubble that formed the bolt seemed almost as anxious as I was worried. Elizabeth watched it approached calmly.

"Mortimer, aegis!"

Within the crow morphed from a hammer to a black wall in an instant. I pressed my crossbow against the wall and pressed down on the trigger. Within a fraction of a second the bolt flew into the wall and explode against it with more force than it should of had. A thunderous boom erupted outward from the bolt. The resulting explosion of force sent me skidding backwards while it sent Elizabeth and her crow into a tree.

If they can't hear that then they are freaking deaf.

I sighed and relaxed at my victory and smiled. I felt my body ache all over leaving almost no place either sore or just pain hurting. I looked over to the body of Elizabeth only to she her get up slowly. Using the tree to support herself, she stood up and looked at me. The hood that had hidden her face was now off.

Brilliant blue eyes stared at me through the locks of black hair dangling in front of her face. Her smile sent shivers down my spine. Her arm that had held Mortimer was clearly out of it's socket. It hung lower than her other arm yet she didn't seem to care in the slightest. With her good arm, she took hold of the other and pulled it up back into place. Elizabeth cracked her neck to each side before standing up straight.

"I thought this was going to be a boring fight! God, I love sometimes when I'm wrong!" Her voice filled with more glee and malice than before.

"Oh god dammit!"

She gasped at the word. "Oh, you said a bad word. I guess I have to teach you some manners now too!"

"With what weapon! You may have lived but your crow couldn't!"

Fluttering resonating in my ears as the bird landed on my shoulder. "You shouldn't underestimated, Mortimer."

"Gah! Demon crow! Demon crow!"

The bird flew over to Elizabeth and landed on her shoulder. "You shouldn't call others names. Except for their real names of course. So as a courtesy allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Elizabeth D Bellum, daughter of Edward Bellum, leader of the Bellum mob. I am also the piece of The Morgan and this is Mortimer Black, my weapon and associate." She gave a little curtsy with her robe.

"Um..."

"Now you give your real name and family. It's apart of a honor system. Your real first and last name."

"I am Craig Marlton, son of Carl Marlton, accountant at Shroudein's law firm..."

"Pleasure to meet you. Now, let us begin." Mortimer shifted into a rapier.

I put my crossbow in my organic hand and unsheathed the blade within my arm once more. I took a ready position and watched her. She kept her upright stature keeping the rapier ready in the air.

"Lux!" I quickly shot the crossbow in an attempt to blind her.

Elizabeth dashed around the bolt of light ignoring it's brilliance and went straight for me.  Lunging forward, she sent the blade right towards my face. I managed to use my robotic limb to deflect the blade. She moved at near impossible speed as she brought up her free fist to slam into my belly. I bowed down and she raised her arms and drove down onto my back with her elbows. I bent down and pushed forward ramming into her. I kept running until we slammed into a tree. Out of breath I backed away from her leaving her to stand there holding the rapier. A smile cracked across her face.

God she is twisted...

I caught my breath and retook my stance. I should get the first strike next. Then I'll choose the pace of this battle. Darting forward I prepared my crossbow.

"Fulgar!"

The familiar sensation of electricity accumulating spread across my body. Dashing forward, I paid no mind to the formation of the bolt. Elizabeth's smile grew wider as she appeared ready for my attack. I brought the crossbow forward at her. She grabbed the crossbow and pulled me forward. In a panic I pressed the trigger sending the bolt flying into a tree. The impact did nothing due to the lack of conductivity. Losing my balance I fell towards Elizabeth. She swung her elbow towards my face as she pulled me forward. The sudden impact sent me riling backwards. I took a step back to regain my position only to have her grab my head. She pulled my head down and kneed me in the face. Once more I took a step back only to see her change Mortimer into a broadsword. She took a two armed swing with blade in an attempt to decapitate me. I raised my mechanical arm and blocked the swing. I took this chance and shoved the crossbow directly against her stomach.

"Ignis!"

Elizabeth looked down at the bolt forming. The broadsword shifted into a glove of sorts while she swung down with it at my arm. I quickly pulled back to avoid her fist destroying my crossbow. She stopped and brought the glove upward smashing into my chin. Momentarily stunned she took the moment to grab my crossbow arm and grab the bolt from the weapon. I backed away from Elizabeth.

"Whatcha gunna do now that I have your little bolt?"

I smiled widely. ""I'm going to watch."

"Watch?"

"The fireworks." My grin grew larger.

She quickly looked down at the bolt. The red hue of the light radiating from the bolt had grown bolder. Elizabeth threw the bolt at me in time for it to explode directly in the middle of both of us. I shielded my eyes from the massive amount of light and heat being produced by the explosion. After the initial detonation I looked around to see a few spouts of flame on the ground. Eh... Mother Nature can get that....

I looked over to the murderous girl trying to kill me. She stood there, grin wider than I thought possible. Her eyes filled to the brim with joy and hate. She reached up and put out a small flame singeing a strand of her hair. Why doesn't she die?!?!

"This is so much fun! I haven't had this good of a fight since that chimera chess piece who thought that medicine wasn't poison!"

"You have some odd tastes in fun..."

"Everyone has their hobbies. Mine, just happen to include murder."

"I see that."

Elizabeth froze and looked towards the forest for a brief moment. "It seems our little battle must be postponed. No one likes party crashers."

"Wait what? You attempt to murder me then leave?"

"Shame, I know but I'd rather not deal with that wolf." Before I could say another word Elizabeth dashed into the jungle.

"I wonder if all girls in this world are psychopathic serial killers..."

I stood there for another 3 minutes before my friends finally arrived to see what the commotion was about. I hopped onto Fenrir and said absolutely nothing until we got back to the camp. The aches and pains spiked with each of his leaps forward. Twitch and Owl continued to ask curiously throughout the night about what happened but the pain surrounding my body and the pain of being beaten by a girl was too great for me to tell them. When they began to ask what happened to Elizabeth I only had one answer.

"Bitches be crazy..."

Next Chapter: Trickster and a Liar (30) Estimated time remaining: 18 Minutes