by J. A. Smith
“Lana, we have good news for you my dear” the queen said gleaming at me from her throne. I gave her the smile she was waiting for wondering what on earth could be good news. She gently pulled me by my hand until I knelt in front of her. With gentle care she reached behind my neck, I felt the lock give on my collar as she removed it. I didn’t know what to say to either of them, I just stood there stunned into silence.
“We trust you enough to let you roam free, do not prove us wrong” the King threatened, he had been moody since he walked in on Amelia and I a few nights ago. “I am quite happy here” I said bowing in servitude, though saying the words actually made me realize it was the truth.
“Attention please” The King announced, silencing the room. “We will be doing tonight’s festivities early this evening. I have considered a bid from Marcus, and have decided to accept” A tall vampire with shaggy brown hair stood up, then began bowing “Yes your highness, I would like to challenge your shifter against mine”. I nearly feel off my pillow I was sitting on. Amelia grabbed my arm to telling me to remain seated. I looked at her with worried eyes.
“They believe you are weak Lana, but we know differently. This will be an easy task for you, plus Richard and I have discussed giving you a percentage of the profit if you do well” she said almost in a whisper. Trying to gain control of my frantic heart I stood up and began walking down the white carpet. Emily came up beside me, again I felt as though I was walking to the gallows.
I was escorted outside by Emily; making an immediate right towards some concrete steps and through a large metal door. The room reminded me of the dungeon where I had awoke when I first arrived. Shackles hung from the walls, old blood spilt in spray patterns covered the concrete flooring. The smell of shit and piss was atrocious enough that I gagged.
“This was Siberian” Emily’s said smiling pleased with my discomfort.
Entering a silver lined cell I was told to strip, and prepare myself; praying came to mind. Why would Richard take the bid when I was only just learning how to defend myself, Amelia had said something awhile back about some yearly tournament, but I had my doubts this was it.
After undressing, I began pacing the cells width as I waited to be brought into the arena; five steps forward, turn, five steps back. I began chewing my nails from the anticipation. I could hear the echo of feet shuffling as the arena filled up above me.
I hadn’t let my shields down since I lived around vampires and the white noise buzzing sound was irritating, but since I was going to be fighting to the death I figured I needed all the help I could get.
Brick by brick I let my wall fall, I was bombarded by thoughts from the shifters and humans in the stands. The humans were excited by the prospect of seeing a new sport, not having any idea what was truly going to happen. The shifters on the other hand did, their thoughts were disturbing since none of them thought I had a chance in hell at winning.
Eventually Emily came back to my cell, opening the door she began walking down the hallway until we came large silver bars. The arena was just beyond it. The dirt on the ground of the arena smelled like it had been bleached recently.
“I would say it has been a pleasure knowing you, but I would be lying Lana” Emily whispered as the silver bars began to rise signaling for me to enter. I didn’t reply to her, I had to keep my head on straight for the events that were about to happen; if I survived I’d say something smart.
The lights were bright as I walked out into the arena, I could feel the heat coming off them causing a trickle of sweat to form on my brow. A loud cheer started as I began to make my way to the middle. My opponent came out to meet me looking pumped and ready for the fight.
We both turned towards the King and Queen, bowed and waited. My eye sight was keen enough that I could tell Amelia looked worried. Richard had a face of stone making me wonder if they had gotten into an argument.
“CHANGE!” The King Commanded. Crouching down I began the change, staring at my opponent the whole time. I felt the fur ripple across my body, like wrapping a velvet blanket around myself. I was much faster at the change. I saw shock cross my opponents face as he was still trying to change, he looked to be in an in between state of a bengle tiger and a man. Guess Richard wanted to see two different types of tigers fight then. I didn’t want to kill this man but I wouldn’t be the one to give up my life.
The crowd quieted once my opponent was finished, you could hear a needle drop it was so silent.
“BEGIN” the Richard yelled signaling the beginning of the end for one of us.
But I knew what he was going to do before he launched himself at me. Quickly jumping up and over him until I was at his back, the approval from the stands was near defining.
As the tiger turned I struck him in the jaw, catapulting him into the air. I had heard the snap of his neck at the force I had used. My stomach began rolling as he landed at the base of the crowd who sat there in complete shocked silence looking from me to the dead tiger now turning back into a man.
Once loud clapping started, as I looked up it was Richard who seemed very pleased with the show.
“I believe we have a new record” Nervous laughs began before the whole stadium began cheering in delight. Looking at all the spectators cheering for me had me swelling up with pride, I had won plus, made a new record. I couldnt feel bad I had just killed a man through self-defense. I felt powerful and untouchable outcast. I walked back to the silver bared cell where I had entered from, Emily wasn’t around so I was escorted back to the nasty cell to get redressed. I didn’t have a mark on me, only a little dirt on my feet. I didn’t look like I had just won a death match at all though I felt the victory as a pleasant vibration through my body. My tiger was happy we had won as well, purring in contentment, which explained the vibrations.
I had to wait a little more than I wanted to in the cell until I was escorted back into the great hall where the vampires were all seated, awaiting their meals. “Come sit Lana” the King beckoned me as I entered. I smiled and stood proudly as I walked over to the pillow that was now sitting in between Amelia and Richard. I caught Marcus eye as I walked on the white carpet, he was trying hard not to show his anger but failing miserably. I was nearly to the steps that lead up to the throne when I heard Marcus growl “How did you defeat him so quickly” Without permission I calmly stated “You should teach your pets a better offense next time” The King and Queen both started to laugh, causing the entire room to erupt along with them. I continued until I sat down on my plush pillow, sitting lady like with my back straight and a smile on my face. Marcus was still standing looking like he would like to go around in the arena with me and teach me the error of my ways.
“Marcus is a poor sport, his pet had won many fights. He’s just upset he no longer had a winning horse.” Amelia whispered. I nodded in understanding.
By the end of the night I had a few more vampires ask to challenge me for the next time, Richard had agreed to both. I felt excited about the prospect of fighting again, the adrenaline rush it gave me made me feel like I was invincible. Who would have ever thought the shy girl from a small town would be something others would fear.
Chapter 11
Three years passed, I was the most challenged and feared shifter in the history of the games. I had fought over so many different creatures I had lost count, fighting two nights a week would do that. Plus Amelia had told a little story that seemed to make my decision easier. I was allowed to come and go as I pleased, no longer a prisoner but a live in guest. I had my own bank account that Richard and Amelia had set up a year after I had won so many challenges, I got a percentage from the fights.
“Are you ready for tonight?” Amelia asked as I met her and Richard at the base of the stairs like every night when I was to fight.
“Of course” I responded walking behind the couple as we made our way to the great hall.
“Marcus is staying with us for a week, just so you know” Richard stated as he took his seat on the throne.
“It took him long enough to lick his wounds” I stated smiling brightly, Richard, Amelia and I talked a lot when there was no one around to judge how the King and Queen treated their pet.
“Lana, be nice” the King said touching my cheek as I bent forward to position my humongous pillow. I had been given an upgraded one a year ago.
I kissed his fingers as they brushed my lips teasingly. I had become very seductive, living with them these past three years. I even had Emily raising her eye brow at me from time to time at my playfulness.
The room began filling up with vampires as it did twice a week now, we were the hottest party around. Richard even had a waiting list since the stadium could only hold fifteen-hundred. I searched out my opponent for the night and found him looking at me like most shifters did these days. Fear with a hint of lust. I had learned to control my hormones and recede back my smell for only when needed. I could set the whole damn room of shifters into a frenzy for the hell of it if I wanted to. I smiled at the thought bringing my glass up in a toast to him. He lost all expression and become worried when I did this because he knew I was telling him goodbye…
As I scanned the room some more I saw Marcus he didn’t have a shifter next to him, maybe he never found a replacement. I shrugged it off and enjoyed the feast.
“Your challenger is a Bear tonight” Amelia told me. She had started to tell me what my opponents turned into shortly after my first fight, she knew I didn’t like being surprised and I tended to be more aggressive with more exotic breeds.
I nodded smiling seductively at her. She bent over and gave me a gentle kiss on the lips. I kissed her back, lightly touching her fangs with the tip of my tongue causing her to shudder out a low moan. Richard cleared his throat, a nice way of saying “knock it off”. Since the whole room was watching us I pulled back slowly. Amelia’s eyes were burning with her inner fire, ignoring her husband she motioned for me to scoot forward more to were now I was nearly blocking her view of the room. She placed her hand low on my back until it rested on my butt. This was a game we played often, who could be the quietest during orgasm.
I didn’t lose often. As I felt her slowly gliding down my dress until it ended at my knees I reached behind myself so to the room it looked like she was holding my hands behind my back. I could feel her gown on my fingertips and began pulling the material up until I felt smooth cold skin. She was just at my entrance with her fingers when a low whisper came from Richard
“Not right now, you two.” I removed my hand smiling as I heard Amelia’s elevated breathing, Richard did like to be involved when we played our games but that would have to wait until later, I had a fight to win.
As I made my way down stairs to the basement, I passed a cell where someone was yelling at the tops of their lungs to be set free. Poor bastard I thought as I began laughing then looked through the small window to see who the fool was.
My heart skipped at beat when I saw Jason shackled to the wall of the cell. I didn’t have a key, or any way of explaining his escape at the moment, so this would all have to wait until I had a chance to talk to Richard and Amelia, after the fight.
I felt my heart pounding as I got undressed. Jason was scared, he didn’t want to be here, and he wanted to be home with Emma his wife and his child. He had been camping when Marcus caught him. I had forgotten about my life before this, buried it away in some deep dark piece of myself in order to survive. Seeing Jason and remembering what I had left caused Pandora’s box to open a little, when I felt the first wave of emotions hit me, I shut the lid tight once again. This would not help me tonight, I needed to stay focused.
I took a deep breath and let it out, focus, focus I told myself over and over again.
“You ok Lana, you seem nervous. Don’t be this guys no match for ya” One of the vampires that I had befriended stated as I approached the arena’s entrance.
“What are they doing with that shifter?” I asked stopping to hear his reply.
“Awe they’re trying to break him, guess Marcus is having a bit of a trouble with his prized tigers. If he can’t be broken he’ll be killed like a dog with rabies” I shouldn’t have asked, that damn box where all my emotions held started shaking wanting to be let out. I knew Jason wouldn’t be easy to break, I was betting Marcus bet those who didn’t bow to his authority.
“He will be watching your fight so he understands what’s at stake, Emily is taking him out now, so don’t kill this one so quick if you can help it Lana” I know I had a shocked look on my face, shifters normally didn’t watch the fights but heard about the aftermath. As I numbly came into the arena my fans starting yelled my name “Siberian” over and over in a chant. I scanned the crowed and waved at my admirers. It was a packed tonight. Richard and Amelia had started selling tickets for my fights starting at five hundred a piece. It was a good turn out and I would see the results in the morning in my bank account.
I watched as Emily brought out Jason to Marcus. Jason wouldn’t recognize me now even if he wanted to, my hair was much longer and had begun to lighten bit by bit to a golden huh. My eyes were totally light grey now never changing at all when I shifted, my body was tones to the point I looked like a gladiator.
Shaking out of my uncomfortable thoughts as my opponent came out, bowing to me, which was something all the shifters I had fought started doing after my second or third kill. I didn’t bow back, he was beneath me. He snarled, protesting against my rudeness (which I was also known for).
I just smiled at him, and then faced Robert and Amelia. “This is fight to the death” Richard stated for those who didn’t know yet. I bowed to him like always and then I crouched down to change. Bears were always a welcome challenge to me, with their strength I knew to stay the hell away from the paws. I began running towards his right as he stood on his hind legs, pushing up hard I hit his side causing him to tumble to the ground. He recovered quicker than I expected, his head came up glaring at me as I skidded to a halt, realizing too late I was within his range to grab me. The bear caught my tail as I was in the process of retreating; I felt the fear of flying as I was swung up in the air; flying until I connected with the concrete wall that lined the stadium. I got up fast, ignoring the aches and pains as my body started to mend. Over the years my healing ability had grown to where I only had a bite wound for ten seconds after fangs retracted.
I began running in a circle around the bear so fast that I was causing a mini cyclone to trail behind me. When enough dust had been stirred, I again pushed off the ground, the bear could see me until it was too late. I hit him with my full weight right around where his heart would be, I didn’t like messy kills so I rarely made bloodshed.
The momentum of my hit send the bear flying; when he hit the stadium walls shook and began cracking like an earthquake had just hit. There was a moment of stunned silence as we watched the cracks become bigger, then began spreading outward; the Achilles heel of the arena had been hit.
The bear was dead, but the stadium began falling down one giant piece at a time.
“Out ! ! ! ” Richard yelled. The vampires fled faster than I had ever seen before, leaving their humans to fend for themselves.
Once to safety, we all stood and watched the stadium fall to the ground in a cloud of debris. I lowered my head and put my paw on my face knowing I was getting a disapproved look from Richard and Amelia, along with all the rest of the congregation.
“Lana, from now on don’t use all your strength “Richard stated as Amelia came over to inspect me for harm.
“It will take some time to rebuild” Robert said basically to himself but Amelia felt the need to respond.
“Maybe it’s a sign that some of us are in the need for break” Amelia said surprising me at her tone, had Amelia and Richard been arguing over a vacatio
n.
“You sound like you care a great deal for our Siberian” Robert whispered so that others wouldn’t hear. Admitting you cared for your pet was a big no, no in the vampire community. Amelia didn’t admit anything out loud, but the pleading look she sent Richard told much.
“You can change back now Lana, events are over until further notice” Amelia said kissing my head. A clapping sound came from out left, Marcus was approaching smiling widely. “She has become very strong over these years” Marcus stated as he brought his head down to pet me. I growled not wanting his kidnapping dead hands anywhere near me. He snatched his hand back quickly rethinking if I was safe enough or not. I was going with Not.
“Lana, he is our guest” Richard reminded me causing me to lay down in a huff. I had been so caught up with the stadium falling I had forgotten about Marcus’s new toy. Jason was staring at me in shock. I could read his mind putting the pieces together, at first he thought I was just another rare Siberian, but the more he thought about it the more he realized it was me.
“Well your highness, it looks like I have chosen a bad time to ask for your expertise” Marcus said staying on the far side of Richard away from me.
“Yes it does seem to look that way it seems, but now that there is no more arena Siberian will have more time on her hands to help with your… problem”. Robert said staring at the crumbled building. I was curious as to what kind of a problem Marcus had but was interrupted in my listening by Amelia.
“Are there any more people in there?” she asked in a whisper, so that Marcus wouldn’t hear. I opened my shields wide, blocking out Jason’s cursing.
