The Burns Defiance

by N M Thorn

  “I’ve never thought of you this way, but I’m sure many would kill to have you as their captive.” He chuckled and headed toward the entrance.

  Chapter 4

  ~ Zane Burns, a.k.a. Gunz ~

  “Would you like to change into something… fresher?” offered Mr. Kogan as soon as they walked inside.

  “No, thank you,” replied Gunz, giving a quick once-over to his reflection in the large mirrored wall. “I just need a few minutes to clean up.”

  “First door on the right,” said Mr. Kogan pointing in the direction of the washroom. “My butler will show you to the dining room once you’re done.”

  Gunz walked into the washroom, which was bigger than his entire motel room, and stopped in front of the mirror. His shirt was covered in road dirt. He pulled it off and cleaned it the best he could. Then he washed his face and his hands. The dirty brown water ran down the sink, marring its pearly-white surface.

  He wiped his hands and face with a paper towel, throwing it in a garbage basket and stared into the mirror, thinking about everything that just happened. Mr. Kogan’s words flashed in his mind, resonating with shock. Since the last few months he spent fighting in the pits, he knew there were captive circles where fighters were treated as slaves and if Yaroslav was there, he was willing to do almost anything to get him out.

  Nevertheless, it never crossed his mind that someone would try to capture him. Possibly because he was a young modern man, the idea of slavery didn’t feel as something real to him. Even though he knew that slavery was still a real problem in this world, and not only in the illegal supernatural fighting pits, it was still hard for him to accept.

  “I’ve never thought of you this way, but I’m sure, many would kill to have you as their captive.” Gunz remembered the words Mr. Kogan said and shuddered, wondering if he was truly safe in Mr. Kogan’s house now that he thought of him as a possible captive fighter. Would the Head of Florida House cross the line and betray his guest’s trust? Gunz wasn’t sure, because as nice as Mr. Kogan was to him, it was possible. After all, it was money that ruled his world, not honor. People like him were capable of pretty much anything.

  I better watch my back, decided Gunz, heading out of the washroom.

  The dining room was a large, sunlit space with tall windows adorned by light chiffon panels and valances. An enormous glass dining room table stood in the middle of the room with a contemporary stylish crystal chandelier hanging above it. The dining table was large enough to sit at least twenty people, but it was set only for three.

  “Please, sit down, Gunz. Make yourself comfortable,” offered Mr. Kogan rising and gesturing at an empty chair on his left. “We just need to wait for Clarissa a few minutes. You know how women are… They never have anything to wear and their makeup takes forever to put on.”

  Gunz smirked, thinking that Mrs. Kogan would probably prefer wearing nothing when in his company but wisely decided not to say anything. Mr. Kogan noticed his reaction and his colorless lips stretched into a stiff smile. He chuckled uncomfortably.

  “I know what you think, Gunz. I don’t really care what she does. So, if you want to, you can give her what she wants.”

  “That would be hardly appropriate, sir. Even if your wife’s morals are flexible enough to openly cheat on her husband, mine are not.”

  “Spoken like a true warrior.” Mr. Kogan chuckled his uncomfortable chuckle. “Anyway, Gunz… Sometimes I wish I knew your real name.”

  “You do,” replied Gunz with a shrug. “Gunz is my real name, not something I came up with for the fighting pits.”

  Mr. Kogan gaped at him for a moment, his eyebrows slowly climbing up. “I’ve been in the world of supernatural fighting for years, and I must tell you – you’re quite a unique young man.” He lowered his eyes for a moment and then continued, “Anyway, Gunz, as you’re well aware, my bodyguard is dead, and I was wondering if you’d like to take that position. I would feel a lot more comfortable with you by my side. Of course, I will compensate you generously.”

  Now it was Gunz’s turn to get surprised. “I thought I was your biggest moneymaker.”

  “You are. But what good is money if I’m dead?”

  Gunz thought for a moment, all sort of different thoughts and scenarios flashing through his mind. Being the Head of House’s bodyguard wouldn’t get him where he needed to be. Mr. Kogan never travelled with his fighters outside the state, instead, sending his representative anytime they were challenged to a fight elsewhere. If Yaroslav was indeed a captive fighter in California, he needed to travel there, which would become impossible if he was tied up to his boss in Florida.

  The other problem, the captive fights were highly-secretive lockdown events. Only people who paid to attend, the Heads of Houses or their representatives, and the captive fighters were allowed to be present during the fight. Bodyguards or any other service staff weren’t allowed inside. To buy a ticket for this kind of event wasn’t easy either. On top of being absurdly expensive, a person had to be recommended by someone with the right reputation to get an invitation in the first place.

  Out of all his friends, the only person who possibly had a chance to get invited to this kind of event was Aidan McGrath. He had a certain reputation in the supernatural circles and enough money to afford a ticket. Based on his past experience, Gunz didn’t want to get any of his friends involved. This could get messy and he couldn’t risk the wellbeing of people he cared about.

  “I appreciate the offer, but I have to respectfully decline, sir,” he said finally. “I want to remain in your House, fighting for you. But if you ever need my services outside the pits, you can always call me.”

  “Why don’t you think about it a little more, Gunz. Sleep on it,” said Mr. Kogan rising.

  Gunz saw Clarissa Kogan walk into the dining room and also got up. She wore a long silver dress that seemed to expose more of her skin than it was covering. She circled Gunz, running her fingers over his shoulders as she passed by and approached her husband giving him a quick high society air-peck on his hollow cheek. Mr. Kogan pulled a chair back, helping his wife to sit down and waved his hand at a young man who was standing by the wall. The server brought the soup, placing the hot bowls carefully on their plates.

  “Well, darling,” he said to his wife, dipping the spoon into his soup, “I was just asking our guest why he is so set on continuing to fight. After all, one day he may meet an opponent who is faster, better and stronger than him. Meeting an opponent like that could cost him his young life.”

  “Young?” Clarissa glanced at Gunz undressing him with her eyes, a hungry smile on her lips. “Yes, darling, I would like to know that too.”

  Gunz shrugged. “Death doesn’t scare me. I’ve being looking for an opponent like that since I started fighting in the pits. So far, I haven’t found one, but I’ve heard of a fighter on the west coast. California House, I believe. A vampire who never lost a fight, so far. I would love to meet him in a cage one night. I’m sure a match like this would bring a lot of money and fame to your House, sir.”

  “If you win,” pointed out Mr. Kogan dryly. “I think I know which fighter you’re talking about—”

  “Is he talking about… Alucard?” whispered Clarissa, her fingers squeezing the napkin on her lap. Mr. Kogan gave her a warning stare.

  “Alucard?” repeated Gunz. “Like a Netflix cartoon character? Or that vampire from the Castlevania video game?”

  Mr. Kogan frowned at his wife, shaking his head reproachfully. “Yes, something like that. I’ve heard of this fighter too. He’s an ancient vampire, tall with long blond hair and his weapon of choice is the katana. So, the nickname Alucard seemed to be appropriate.”

  Yaroslav… It has to be him…

  Gunz took a deep breath to keep his emotions at bay. It wasn’t easy for him to constantly keep his power shadowed and when he became emotional it was even harder.

  “Is it possible to set up a match between Alucard and me?” he asked, hoping he look
ed calm and indifferent enough not to arise any suspicions in Mr. Kogan. “I would love to try my skills against a worthy opponent like him.”

  “No,” Mr. Kogan cut him off, switching his attention to his meal. His mood seemed to decline drastically. He tried his soup and threw the spoon back into the plate, splashing the liquid around. He turned to the server, frowning. “This soup is too hot. It’s impossible to eat.”

  Gunz smirked, putting a spoonful of hot soup in his mouth. “Seems okay to me.”

  Mr. Kogan chuckled nervously. “Always trying to prove your superiority, aren’t you?” he asked, waving at the server to stay back.

  “Not at all, but this soup is delicious,” replied Gunz, nonchalantly. “So, why can’t you set up a match with a fighter from out of state? We had matches before with the Georgia House and with the fighters from Texas. Why not with California?”

  “Multiple reasons,” replied Mr. Kogan, twisting the spoon in his fingers. “But the main reason why a fight like this is not possible is because Alucard is a captive fighter. You two are fighting in different circles. You’ll never meet him in the cage, Gunz. Get this idea out of your head.”

  “I understand, sir.” Gunz nodded and bowed his head to his chest, appearing crestfallen.

  “And if you’re thinking about going to California and approaching the Head of House, don’t,” warned Mr. Kogan. “The only way you will ever fight Alucard is if you become a captive fighter, and from what I hear, the new Head of California House is quite brutal with his captives. You don’t want to experience that kind of abuse, trust me.”

  Clarissa got up and walked around the table, halting behind Gunz’s back. She put her hands on his shoulders, gently massaging him. Gunz stiffened under her touch. He threw an uncomfortable glance at Mr. Kogan and lowered his eyes.

  “Why, darling,” purred Clarissa, staring at her husband. “You got our guest so upset. I believe the match between Alucard and Gunz is possible. All Gunz has to do is become your captive fighter. If he agrees to that, you can always approach the new Head of California House. I’m sure, he wouldn’t object to the idea, as both Gunz and Alucard have quite a reputation in their fighting circles.”

  Mr. Kogan waved his hand at the server, asking to bring the main course. “Gunz, don’t listen to her,” he said, frowning at his wife whose hands sneaked under Gunz’s shirt and were now slowly traveling down his chest. “I actually like you, young man. I wouldn’t want to submit you to a life of a captive fighter. You’re making tons of money for me as an unattached fighter. I’m happy with that and don’t want to change anything.”

  Gunz seized Clarissa’s exploring hands, taking them off his chest. “I understand, sir. You don’t want to take a chance with your bottom-line.”

  “Darling, come on. Make it happen,” whined Clarissa, her hands back on Gunz’s shoulders. “I would love to watch him fight that blond vampire. Imagine that… Two wild beasts, tearing at each other’s throats. Ahhh… It would be a breathtaking show.” Her breath quickened, her fingers with silver manicured nails digging into Gunz’s shoulders in ecstasy. “Just imagine how much people would pay to see the two best fighters of the country clash in mortal combat. Two monsters enter, one monster leaves… You and that new Head of Californian House, whatchamacallit… never mind. Between the entry fees and the bets, you both would make millions on a single fight, regardless of the outcome of the event. Tell me, is it not worth the risk?”

  “Dammit, Clarissa!” yelled Mr. Kogan, slamming his hand on the table. His fork and knife jumped up and landed with a loud jingle. “You really want to get into his pants so much? If you want to screw him, just tell him and pray he wouldn’t mind giving you want you want. Don’t push him into slavery!”

  “Ugh!” Clarissa stamped her foot and marched back to her chair.

  Gunz averted his eyes and got busy with his food. They finished the main course in silence with Clarissa throwing angry scowls at her husband. After the dessert, she slammed her napkin on the table and turned to Mr. Kogan, aggravation in her every move.

  “I don’t understand you, Robert,” she shouted, her hands on her hips. “If he wants to fight Alucard, then make it happen. It would be great exposure and money for our House. If you’re so afraid to submit him to slavery, then don’t. Just make it look like he is your captive for the outside world. No one needs to know what you do with him behind these walls. You can treat him like a member of your family for all I care! I want to see him fight that vampire!” She stomped her foot, pouting like a little girl and stormed out of the room.

  Mr. Kogan sighed and threw his hands in the air. “She can be impossible when she wants something. And I hate to admit it, but she has a valid point.” He sighed. “So, what do you think, Gunz?”

  “I don’t know what to think,” replied Gunz, taking the napkin off his lap and carefully placing it on the table. “I’ll be honest with you. I do want to fight that vampire, but the word slavery terrifies me, sir.”

  “Since we are on the honest streak here, I will disclose everything you may need to know before making the decision,” said Mr. Kogan rising. “Follow me, please.”

  They walked through the house into the garage. At least ten cars were parked there, varying from antique models to modern vehicles that cost more than some people’s houses. Mr. Kogan sat down in a golf cart, asking Gunz to join him. For a while, Mr. Kogan drove him through the dark park that was surrounding the mansion. He stopped in front of a small enclosure which looked like an oversized toolshed.

  Gunz followed Mr. Kogan inside the toolshed and his jaw dropped. He was standing in a small room filled to the top with state-of-the-art modern technology and security devices. Two giant security guards were manning the equipment, staring unblinkingly into the monitors. They didn’t move and didn’t turn away from the monitors even when their boss walked in.

  Mr. Kogan waved at Gunz to come closer to the monitors. Gunz peered at the screen and his throat tightened. On every monitor, he saw a small room with a man inside. Each room was sparsely furnished, just enough to attend to the basic needs. Although the rooms didn’t look like cages or musty dungeons and there were no chains or handcuffs, there was no mistaking in what they were – prison cells designed to keep the inhabitants securely locked in.

  “These are my captive fighters,” said Mr. Kogan quietly. “I don’t love the idea of treating the fighters as slaves or animals, even though some of them are true monsters. But I wouldn’t be able to hold my position in the House if I didn’t have a solid representation in the Captive circles. So, I do own a few captive fighters, and I try to treat them as humanely as possible.” He turned to the guards and ordered, “Let us in, please.”

  The guard pushed a button and a small door opened up in the left wall of the room. Mr. Kogan walked through the doorway, asking Gunz to follow him. He went down a narrow staircase and ended up in a large underground facility with multiple locked rooms. Each room had a see-through wall designed like the mirrored window in police interrogation rooms. A few guards were stationed inside the facility to monitor the fighters day and night.

  Gunz walked closer to one of the see-through walls and touched it. Then he turned to face Mr. Kogan. “You run tight security here,” he said quietly. “At least you don’t keep them in chains…”

  “I do,” objected Mr. Kogan. “But with these monsters, you can’t use mundane restraints. The chains we use are magical, and since I promised full disclosure, allow me to show you.”

  He headed to the table where the guards were sitting. “I need a controller for fighter #303, please,” he said to the guards. The guard gave him a small plastic device that looked like a TV remote. “Fighter #303 is a wizard, but unlike you, his strength lies in the dark arts. Nevertheless, he’s been serving my House for a number of years and I trust him a little more than the others. I’m going to use him to show you what I am talking about.”

  He clicked the green button on the controller and the door into one of the
rooms unlocked. Mr. Kogan walked inside and Gunz followed him. As soon as they walked in, the man inside got off the bed and lowered himself to his knees, bowing his head to his chest.

  “Master,” he said, without raising his eyes, “what can I do for you?”

  “No need to kneel, Rand.” Mr. Kogan approached him with a friendly smile and helped him up. “This is Gunz, my unattached fighter, and I wanted to show him a few things.”

  Rand threw a heavy look at Gunz and a hardly visible dark smirk curved his lips. Mr. Kogan seized Rand’s chin with his fingers and lifted his head up. Now, Gunz could see a thin metallic collar around his neck.

  “What do you sense, Gunz?” asked Mr. Kogan.

  Gunz carefully scanned Rand with his magical sight. “He is a powerful dark wizard, sir,” he said flatly, “but I don’t think he can access his magic. It seems to be blocked.”

  “That’s correct,” confirmed Mr. Kogan. “This collar, in combination with four bracelets locked around his wrists and ankles, keep him under control and his magic locked.”

  “Wait,” said Gunz, cold sweat running down his back. “Are you using gray stones to lock his magic, creating an inverted pentagram? Is that how these devices keep him under control?”

  Gray stones were a powerful natural artifact that could drain magic and power out of anyone who came in contact with them, and the more powerful the person was, the worse these stones affected them. Gunz shuddered as the memory of his first encounter with gray stones magic popped up in his mind.

  “You’re quite knowledgeable for your age, Gunz,” said Mr. Kogan, giving him a narrowed-eye stare. “Yes, I’m using gray stones, but not full ones. That would be too painful for my captives. I’m using dust of gray stones and trust me – it works like a charm.” He showed him the controller he was holding in his hands. “Depending on the settings of this controlling device, I can change the effect of gray stone magic on the fighter, giving him a certain level of access to own magic or removing it completely and bringing him down to his knees. Watch this.”