//------------------------------//
// The Blood Rite 
// Story: Long Live the Queen 
// by Laarsgaard 
//------------------------------//

	The pit was filled with fierce looking warriors that were busy tearing into each other. It was always odd looking into the lower ranks to see how easily they could turn on their brothers. I sat in the top tier of the coliseum that lay even deeper in the earth directly beneath the main chamber of the hive. I sat to the right of the throne and Kronus sat to the left. The throne itself was reserved solely for the queen and if any other were to sit there the whole of the hive would rip that idiot’s flesh to pieces.

Down here in the depths is where the only event that mattered happened: The Blood Rite. For some it was just an event to get your feet and face covered in a rival’s blood, for others it was a rite of passage. I had participated in a few of the Rites and it had been some of the most brutal and intense combat ever. What better way to test yourself than against several of your brothers at once? I sighed as I watched one of the warriors rip another apart with his teeth.

Above us the drones and the taskmasters kept at their work, the hive didn’t need us. The hive never really did need us. we are all just extra mouths. But the food we brought in more than made up for what we actually ate. We were starving for emotion though.

I pulled my mind from my thoughts on the well being of the hive. The round was ending and five living warriors stood on the field below. They were all heaving and sweaty, covered in their brother’s blood from head to toe. I stood and moved the edge of the balcony to watch the five be escorted from the field. They would live to see another day.

I looked to Kronus. His attention was on the field as other warriors came down to clean up the detritus. 

“You’re up next round.” I stated. I could tell the young praetorian was nervous. I laughed. “You do realize that unless they send out a behemoth you’re going to crush everything out there right?” I asked him leaning on the railing. Kronus looked at me, still obviously nervous. 

“And what if they swarm me?” his voice cracked.

“Then fight harder.” I stated. My colleague swallowed visibly and then flew down to the field as the last of the meat was cleared.

The Blood Rite, more like the winnowing. I knew why we really did it. The hive was weak, too many mouths at the end of long lines of bad genes. This was no trial of the champion, this was a withering out of the weak and if Kronus really did die, well, I’d be alone for a long time.

The horn sounded and the gates opened up. The rush of black chitinous bodies came flooding out. As usual there was fighting at the gates themselves but most of the brothers headed for the middle of the field, taking imaginary sides.

Kronus sat there in the middle, waiting. When the flood hit him he looked to be ready then he was swept under by the tide. I didn’t stir from my spot. My eyes scanned the ever quickening chaos for a sign of the young praetorian but to no avail. 

The fight went on and it was the most brutal of the day. I could see that my stock were the ones who were the most rambunctious, tearing into each other without care of their own body. I smiled at the thought of a true hive warrior.

I finally saw a single sign of Kronus. His head came up as if breaking water for air. His face was gripped in fear before he was dragged under again. It reminded me of watching Horus fight in the Blood Rite before I had been allowed to. Not that he had been swept under, quite the opposite. Horus had been a whirlwind of death, sprinting about the field tearing warriors asunder like they were no more than frail egg shell.

I could smell the blood from here and memories of my own time in the Rite came to the fore of my mind. Bones breaking, squeals of pain and blood that ran like rivers and fell like rain. The Rite had been the best time of my years and now, I would no long have one.

I watched the melee and noticed on the edge was Kronus crawling his way to the wall, both his hind legs broken and his wings were missing. He was bleeding profusely and would obviously not survive without immediate medical attention. 

I rose from my seat and took into the air shouting.

“Stop the fight! Stop the fight!” I commanded. Heads turned and cheers died down as I flew my way onto the field. By the time I landed there was complete silence. I strode my way over to Kronus’ body. I could feel my veins singing with the sweet, sweet rage I felt. I reached Kronus. The young praetorian looked up at me, blood burbling from his mouth. His face was brutally beaten and one of his eyes had been gouged out with a horn.

I smiled down at him cruelly. He smiled back up at showing that half his teeth were missing and blood flowed freely between the gaps. I reached down and grabbed him by his right rear leg. He began to scream as I dragged him to the center.

“This,” I called out. “Is what has become of our hive over the last few years.” I reached the center and tossed down Kronus’ leg, he continued to moan in pain. “Today is the day of the Blood Rite and he,” I pointed to Kronus. “Has failed us.” There were boos and hisses heard from the stands. I circled the dying praetorian. “I will not stand for such weakness to be shown, for such hubris as living for oneself.” The warriors in the stands all said as one, our beloved mantra. “All for the hive, in death as in life.” I looked down at Kronus my rage coming up, lending my voice intensity. “In death as in life!” I shouted at him. I raised my foot above the weaklings head. Horror spread across his blood soaked face. I slammed my foot down over and over again, the crowd roared as I assaulted my brother. Soon I was only smashing pulp into the hard black rock of the ground.

I stepped back and took a deep breath. I spread my wings and slowly made my way back up to my balcony. I turned to face the brothers crowded into the stands all staring at me. I raised my foot.

“Continue!” I shouted. The carnage below started anew, all of those foolish warriors trying to impress me with their best efforts.

I chuckled to myself. I was going to be alone for a long time.