Copyright Kelly St. Clare 2015
The area is filled with leather clad men. Some of them are warming up. One man is lying bloodied on the floor to my left while another man tends to him. As I survey the men again I realise they are actual separate groups. There is space between them. Each barrack must have their own place. Alzona heads towards the one empty bench.
“I thought the whore had finally given up.” A voice says behind us.
This can’t be the first time this man has make this type of remark. Alzona’s eyes are already sparking when she spins around. “And I thought the fuckwit had gotten some new insults. What a pity.” She says.
I turn to see a tall, thin man sneering at our group. His eyes glitter at Alzona’s words, but he doesn’t respond. His eyes come to rest on me, moving down my body. My stomach lurches as I meet his gaze. I wouldn’t meet this man in a dark alley for anything. Even a new veil.
“And who have we got here? You save another whore?” He flicks his eyes to Crystal whose cheeks blush the same colour as her hair. Alzona steps forwards, but is stopped by the younger girl.
Shard doesn’t look up from where he’s untying his boots. “She’s our newest fighter.” He says.
“Your newest…?” The man blinks, speechless for a moment, then he throws back his head and roars with laughter.
He turns to his group of fighters.
“It looks like you’ll be fighting a girl today.” He says. Those who can hear him look disbelieving, others burst into laughter.
“That’s right. The slut is trying to make a joke of you all,” he roars. The groups around us start to pass word to the people around them. Laughter spreads throughout the whole ring. I can see some of the fighters from Trick’s compound shaking their heads. My face flames, but I hold my head high, staring straight at the thin man. I try to ignore the jeering stares of the fighting males who are walking around to stare at me.
“Look at those tits!”
“I’ll tell you what darling, give me a romp and I’ll let you win.”
“Look at that face boys cause it won’t be long until she’s missing some of ‘er teeth!” People in the levels above are craning their heads to see what all the laughter is about. I want to sink into the floor and somehow arrive at the castle, in my bed, covered with furs.
Alzona steps up to the skinny man. “Well, if she’s such a puny female you’ll have no problem putting her up against Crush.” She says. Some of the fighters hush. A couple laugh even louder at her words.
“She serious?” One of the men close to Hale asks.
Hale looks at her with narrowed eyes. Then at me for a long moment. My eyes are starting to burn with tears. His frame begins to blur. He grins and spits on his hand, holding it out to Alzona. Without hesitation, she spits on her own hand and they shake. It’s gross enough to shock my tears away.
“You gotta deal. There’s a slot in three fights.” He smirks.