H.T. Night's 8-Book Vampire Box Set (85 page)

This was about to be a blood bath. When a
Carni or Mani dies, they disappear, end of story. If a human being
dies, his remains will be left in the ring.

If a gory, bloody, punch fest that led to a
fatality was what this crowd paid to see, then they were about to
get their money’s worth. I, on the other hand, didn’t need to see
any more. I closed my eyes, knowing this poor businessman’s
destiny.

I leaned my head back and just listened to
the cheers, moans and groans of the crowd. The sounds that were
coming from inside the ring were brutal. The sounds of horror
filled the arena. I refused to look into the ring. Instead, I
opened my eyes and looked at the faces in the crowd. There were
very few cheers. People stood on their feet with blank, horrific
looks on their faces. Still, no one would leave. I could only
imagine what Tommy had to do. I didn’t want to know.

Soon, paramedics rushed to the stage, give
the illusion that this place gave a crap about that poor man’s
life. It was apparently over. That guy wasn’t going to need CPR; he
was going to need a body bag.

I turned to Romero. “I need to get ready.
I’m going to leave your suite with or without your permission.” As
I said this, the entire room stood to their feet. Romero motioned
with his right hand to let me leave, but instructed three men to go
with me.

Why did Romero insist on keeping me in his
suite? I needed to figure out that part, and I wasn’t going to
understand what was actually happening until I investigated this
entire situation on my own.

Chapter Twenty-nine

I made my way to the fighter holding area
with Romero’s thugs close behind me. It was like having my very own
camouflage entourage. I opened the door and for some reason, there
were more fighters in the holding area than normal. There must have
been 300 Carni and Mani in the room.

It was more apparent than ever how
segregated the two sides were. On the left side of the holding
area, the Carni all stood their ground. I recognized a few from a
few months back as those who had fought beside me. I nodded my head
at them to say hello, regardless if they were Carni or not. Some
recognized the gesture, most were afraid to respond to it. They all
seemed unsure of why I was there. I didn’t think anyone other than
Romero knew that I was going to be the main event.

On the right side of the holding area was
the Mani, they were as intimidating and beaten down of a group as I
had ever seen. These were true warriors. They were battle tested,
night in and night out. The Mani seemed equally as unhappy to see
me. Something was eating at these guys. They were divided. One
thing I had respected about these guys was that they seemed to be
united regardless of immortal race, having being warriors in
common. Not tonight, they were as divided as the Red Sea.

I found a spot that was somewhere in the
middle of the two sides and began to stretch and prepare for the
fight that was to come.

“Why are you here?” a Carni man yelled out
to me.

I didn’t respond.

“I thought Tommy was your boy?” a different
Carni said.

“His boy?” a Mani man yelled out. “Why is
his boy in there killing Mani?”

Now it was clear to me why there was so much
division tonight among the fighters. They were looking at it in its
simplest form: vampires versus werewolves.

Romero had done a good job at making both
sides feel uneasy. They had turned on each other and that was the
way he liked it. A house divided cannot stand, and Romero didn’t
want any unionizing going on with these guys.

As I stretched, I felt both sides moving
closer and closer to me. They remained on their separate sides, but
I was now surrounded by everyone in the room. I didn’t even have
room to stretch.

“Why is Tommy breaking the code tonight?” a
Carni man came up to me and asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. “Romero has
something on him.”

“You think it’s coming from Romero?” the
same man asked.

“I know it is,” I said. “That isn’t Tommy
out there. Whatever Romero has on him, it must be huge
because…”

“You don’t think he’s doing it for money?” a
Mani man interrupted me. “We were told this was his last night,
Romero is probably giving him a real nice severance package on the
way out if he kills for higher ticket prices.”

I thought about what these men were saying
and I looked at both sides. “This isn’t about money. This is about
a different kind of debt that Tommy has that Romero is exploiting,
or its blatant blackmail.”

“You don’t know that for sure,” a different
Mani man yelled out and walked forward. I recognized him. He also
fought alongside me against Krull.

Again I said to the group of fighters.
“Tommy fights with honor. Especially in the ring.” I looked back at
Romero’s bodyguards. They were ready to radio Romero the second I
started riling up these guys. I knew I needed to be careful.

I turned to the crowd of immortals and said,
“In the ring tonight, Tommy is fighting another fight in there. I’m
not sure what it is. Every man in here is paying off a debt. All I
can say is that Tommy is fighting for something bigger than
himself. That’s all I can tell you.”

The spectators in the room just stared at
me. There were no more comments, which was probably a good thing. I
understood their frustration and even their fear. If Romero turned
this place into a death match central, it would change everything.
Still, I needed to figure out some stuff and I wasn’t going to be
able to do it while trying to ease these men’s fears.

“If you guys don’t mind,” I said, “I need to
prepare and get ready.”

“Prepare for what?” one asked.

I didn’t respond to the comment. As matter
of fact, I had said enough. I walked out of the holding area and
found a side entrance that led to outside the arena.

I stepped outside and I put my back against
the door, so Romero’s men couldn’t get to me. I needed a break from
everyone. I looked up to the sky and said a prayer. I asked for
forgiveness and I asked for strength. Most of all, I asked for
wisdom.

I opened the door and made my way back to
the holding area. I walked all the way across; again, everyone
stopped and just watched me. I saw Militia hanging out behind the
black double doors. Then I realized what was happening. Militia was
going to represent Pride. I walked by him and slipped through the
double doors before he was announced. I stood in the very back, out
of sight to the crowd, but I could see the ring.

The announcer walked to the center of the
ring and said, “Pride.”

I watched as Militia made his way to the
ring. Militia was a powerhouse, a one-man army. I recalled him
single-handedly killing four of Krull’s men. I didn’t know what to
make of it. I was becoming numb to the savagery. I knew I couldn’t
do that. I had to stay above the horror.

Militia had one of the most shredded bodies
I had ever seen as he entered the ring.

Then something really bizarre started
happening to me, a powerful overwhelming feeling came over all my
senses. I had an amazing sensation burn through me.

I felt Lena. I felt her overwhelming
presence. I closed my eyes and I could feel her, as if she was
right on top of me.

What the hell was going on? Why here? Why
now?

The fifth bell rang.

I was drawn to the middle of the ring from
where I stood in the back. In the ring, two warriors were about to
fight to the death, but yet, I could feel my one true love in this
very arena.

I began slowly walking toward the ring. Some
of the crowd recognized me and even called out my name, but most
were far more interested in the fight at hand. Tommy had already
transitioned into the gray wolf and the two were squared off, they
took turns attacking and retreating.

“Tommy,” I said, in my head. “Don’t look in
my direction but I am to the left of you at ringside. Militia is a
beast. You’re going to have to fight a very thorough fight. I know
you’re exhausted, but that is the only way you’re going to beat
him.”

“I’m not sure if I have anything left,
Josiah,” Tommy responded, without looking at me.

“I’m going to be the eyes behind your head.
Just listen to my voice. Fight your fight and I’ll do my best to
point out his weaknesses.”

“Josiah, be careful,” Tommy said. “Whatever
you do, don’t let on that we are communicating. It’s a matter of
life and death.”

“Whose life, Tommy?” I asked. “Whose
death?”

Tommy didn’t answer. As I stood watching the
fight, I could once again feel Lena’s presence. It was very odd. In
my heart, I knew she was in danger, but as long as I was close to
the ring, I felt she was safe.

“Tommy, Militia is very crafty. He has never
lost a fight in this arena.”

“Well, neither have I,” Tommy responded.

Then Militia flew into Tommy’s werewolf body
and tackled him to the ground. He slipped his left forearm
underneath Tommy’s neck. Tommy got to his feet and spun around the
ring, swinging Militia like a rag doll. It looked like something
out of the Lion King. The guy was locked in good, choking Tommy
out.

“Roll! Tommy! Roll forward!” I yelled in my
head.

Tommy rolled the guy all over the ring.
Militia was still locked into Tommy’s neck with his left
forearm.

“Take your left claw and scratch the hell
out of his left arm. He will have to eventually let go.” If Tommy
could get him to let go of his pressure, then Tommy could chuck him
off his body. Tommy was losing consciousness. “Do it, Tommy! Do it
now!”

Tommy began raking his claws into Militia’s
forearm. He was ripping into it like a cheese grater. That
motherfucker was still not letting go, but I could see his face
wincing.

“Don’t stop, Tommy. He’s giving up his
hold.”

Tommy continued to scratch and claw and then
finally, it was too much for Militia to bear. He let go.

Tommy rolled forward and quickly
transitioned into his Carni form. He stood there faced off with
Militia, gasping for air. He was finally free.

I knew Tommy wanted to fight him, man to
man. Although he had insane strength as the wolf, Tommy had far
more control of his hands and feet when he was in his Carni or
human form.

“Tommy!” I yelled, from the side of the
ring. I didn’t care who could hear me. “He’s too powerful as a
Mani, you need to transition!”

Tommy looked at me and said, “Screw it,
Josiah. I was a human fighter before all of this madness. I’m
fighting this motherfucker straight up.”

‘Militia’ looked at Tommy and said, “No
shenanigans?”

“No shenanigans!” Tommy said, back to
‘Militia.’

“Then I’ll also fight you straight up,”
Militia yelled out.

There it was. Two old-school MMA fighters
going toe to toe and agreeing to not use any of the immortal
powers. This should be interesting.

Tommy looked exhausted, but I knew he was in
great shape. If anybody could come out the victor after all he’d
been through tonight, it was him.

The two traded punches and take downs for
about twenty minutes. It was technically perfectly executed by both
sides. Even if Tommy won, he would have nothing left in the tank
when this was over. Both fighters were giving their all. The crowd
had no idea what a masterpiece of fighting they were
witnessing.

Militia kicked Tommy, but Tommy caught his
leg and wrapped his arm around his calf and he pushed Militia off
balance with his other hand. He stepped forward, shoving Militia to
his back. Tommy then jumped on top of him. Nobody was better at
dealing with an opponent from the top position than Tommy.

This was the classic ground and pound. Tommy
had Militia pinned to his back and he began raining forearms and
elbows down on top of Militia’s head, neck, and body. Every one of
Tommy’s shots landed. Militia tried to defend himself, but Tommy
was far too strong and far too talented. Militia tried to protect
his head, but the sea of blows eventually knocked him out.

In a normal fight, this is where a referee
would step in and stop the fight. Not on this night. I knew Tommy
had to do what he had to do. I didn’t want to see it. Tommy had won
his fifth straight fight. I got up and walked to the back of the
arena and didn’t look in the ring. The response of the crowd told
me all I needed to know. Five Mani were now dead.

It was now apparent what was to happen in
the last fight between Tommy and I. Romero wanted only one of us
alive after the fight. That wasn’t going to happen as far as I was
concerned. This entire deal was off. Tommy had paid back his debt
tenfold. He had done the honorable thing. He gave Romero five
amazing fights. Tommy had nothing left. I eventually turned around
to look inside of the ring. There was no sign of Militia. He had
obviously been supernaturally disposed of. Tommy was lying on his
back. I knew my best friend had zero left. He had given every inch
of himself in that fight.

He was done and I was done. Lena was in
danger and I knew she was close. I needed to know who had her and
why she was even near this place.

I went back up to Romero’s suite.

Chapter Thirty

I stepped inside Romero’s suite. “Excellent
job, Josiah!” Romero said. “I love how you went down to the ring
and gave the crowd a little taste of what is to come later in the
night.”

“It’s over, Romero!” I said, plainly. “Tommy
paid his debt to you. We had no written contracts and, as far as
I’m concerned, he’s paid off. And if you don’t like it, that’s just
too bad.”

“As far as you’re concerned?” Romero asked,
with anger building in the inflection of his voice.

“Yeah, I say he’s done. We’re done. He gave
you a show for the ages. No one else has to die!”