Love Bites (Book one)

Chapter four

*Drex*

I let out a long sigh as I sat in the throne type chairs on the raised platform overlooking the circular pit below. Dimitri was at my side, trying to kiss my ass like he had been since I arrived. He was just as insufferable as the rest of the vampires here, the only one who spoke their mind being the young Sedvey who was swiftly warned by her sire for doing so.

To say she interested me would be an understatement. Not in a s****l way, even though I had to admit that even for a Sedvey, she had a beauty that was unrivaled, but it was her attitude, the way that she spoke with passion and had a glimmer of humanity left in her eyes that was missing from so many of the sires here. But there was also a sadness there, a sadness that went down to her very core.

As the crowd cheered and two doors in the pit opened I could not help but roll my eyes. It was sad to see that the barbarism that had all but taken over my sire had spread to those leading his district as well. When he had first found me, wounded on the battlefield and offered me a chance to live on, it was his kindness and the care in his eyes that made me agree. But those emotions had long since left him and he was but a cold hard shell of the man that he used to be. I would always love him, he gave a gift that I never thought possible and I relished that gift everyday, but it was hard for me to respect him the way that I once had.

A Phsvey came out of either door, Dimitri leaning over and telling me who sired each of them before a bell ran and they started to fight. They were both impressive, one having the power to breathe fire like a dragon while the other was able to change his limbs into blades. The crowd yelled with glee as the Phsvey with the blades dodged a burst of fire before taking a swipe at his opponent, managing to slice down his arm. The firebreather turned, ready to spit his fire again when his leg was sliced with the other blade. The firebreather retreated backwards, knowing that he had the advantage of not having to be within melee range to be able to strike his opponent.

It was only a matter of time until the bladed Physvey was struck by the flames and then it was all over as the firebreather continued to flame his opponent until there was nothing left but charred flesh and bones. This seemed to make the crowd explode with laughter and cheers once more, while I averted my eyes as the firebreather strolled over to rip out his opponent's heart. To me, this was not entertainment. In my human life I had had to kill for my people to live, seeing these vampires make a mockery of it for sport was distasteful and such a waste.

“Do you not like our entertainment?” Dimitri asked, noticing the look on my face.

I let out a long sigh, knowing that I had to stick to what my sire would want me to say. It was his way of making sure that the district leaders felt important, but still knew that they were below him. “It is very entertaining, you must be proud of those in your district for creating such fine vampires.”

The smile on Dimitri’s face and the slight puff of his chest showed me that I had hit the nail on the head with my response. Vampires were so easy to manipulate, a slight stroke to their ego and they would think that they walked on water. If only they knew how little the Master vampire that they all revered really cared for their petty lives, they would not be so quick to want to lick his creations boots.

The fights went on, the floor and wall of the pit being covered in blood. I did not understand how the sires in the stands could all still be cheering, laughing and drinking, unaffected that their creations were fighting for their lives or dying in the pit below them. I liked to think that my sire would not be so cold and malice, but given his attitude of the last few decades, I started to doubt his own love for me.

When he had gone in search of Frankie, I had followed him, afraid of what he may do to her if he found her in the position he did. Although his words were harsh and distasteful, I was happy that he had let my sister live. He was one to talk anyway, given the size of his harem and his inability to form a connection with any of them. He did have a favourite bed fellow, Michelle, but she was only interested in my sire’s status and soon enough she would realise that she would never have the standing that she craved so much. Sven was many things, but being able to commit to someone was something I did not think he would ever be able to do.

The doors opened once more and a large Physvey came out of one door. Dimitri leaned over and whispered in my ear. “That is Nick, my oldest creation.” He announced with pride. From what my sire had told me, that might not have been that long considering he liked to pit his creations against other vampires in fights to the death.

The door at the other end opened and a laugh rippled through the crowd as Yasmin walked out the other door, looking radiant in her dress, her eyes wide as she looked up into the stands. She had obviously never been in this situation before and I felt a pang of sympathy for her, knowing there was nothing I could do to change her fate. Her eyes moved to her opponent, the bell ringing out as she seemed to just stand there, not doing anything.

Everything went silent for a moment before there was a ripple in the air and then Yasmin went flying backwards, hitting hard against the wall. The crowd shouted and cheered, my eyes scanning the vampires in the stands for Antonio seeing that he winced slightly. I was surprised that he cared at all for her, given his attitude towards her before, but Antonio reminded me of Sven and I knew that Sven liked to possess things, especially other vampires and it could just be that same possessiveness that was getting the better of him instead of actual care.

I looked back into the ring, seeing Yasmin try to use her speed to avoid the invisible punches being sent at her. I wanted to let out an encouraging cheer, but I knew that that would not go down well with Dimitri given she was pitted against his creation and so I remained silent, gripping onto the arms of my chair with anticipation. Yasmin was beginning to tire and she was still yet to reveal her ability, making me wonder what it was.

The air rippled again, just as Yasmin stumbled slightly, the punch hitting her straight in the stomach making her double over. Dimitri got to his feet yelling “Finish her.” the others around the room echoing his calls for blood. Nick stalked towards her showing off to the crowd as he punched his fists into the air and flexed his muscles.

Eventually, he loomed over Yasmin’s body, grabbing her by the arm and yanking her back to her feet. Even from this distance, I could see the small smile appear on Yasmin’s face, and I think the rest of the audience saw it as well as the cries started to dwindle down into nothing. Nick looked around, confused, before his eyes settled back on Yasmin. His hand shot out, aiming for her chest, but then, there was a small ripple in the air and Nick went stumbling backwards.

“What the...?” Both me and Dimitri exclaimed as I shot to my feet as well. No one seemed to be certain of what they had just seen, until Nick went to throw another invisible punch, but Yasmin beat him to it, sending the Physvey flying backwards, rolling across the bloodied floor.

Fuck, she could use the abilities of other vampires. It seemed that she needed physical contact to be able to absorb their power, but it was still a very rare gift and I could not help but look over to Antonio, seeing a smug smirk on his face as he looked at Dimitri who I thought was about to have a fit. The crowd let out a round of applause and my head snapped back to the pit as Yasmin delivered blow after blow to Nick as she walked slowly towards him, Nick seemed unable to get back to his feet. She was not showboating, she was doing what she needed to do to get out of there alive and I respected that.

Eventually, she was next to him and with one more dazing invisible punch, she plunged her hand into Nick’s chest and ripped out his heart, allowing it to instantly fall to the floor instead of holding it up in victory like the other vampires had. Nick’s skin turned pale grey, his body not aging much proving that I was right that he had not been turned long ago.

The audience was going berserk, everyone cheering and clapping, exclaiming to one another that they did not see that one coming. Everyone, that is, except Dimitri who was breathing heavily next to me, his arms folded and his eyes as black as night showing his rage. Antonio walked over, the look of glee on his face making even me want to punch him in the face.

“It seems you underestimated my Sedvey, but no hard feelings.” He half laughed, offering out his hand to Dimitri. Dimitri did not even bother to fake savility, slapping Antonio’s hand away as he pushed to his feet and stormed out of the room, not participating in the rest of his own entertainment. Antonio chuckled as he took Dimitri’s chair, leaning over towards me. “Well, it seems our district leader does not have the balls to admit when he is wrong.”

“Humm. It seems.” I nodded, before looking down to see Yasmin walk out of the pit, her body caving in on itself as if she had lost instead of won. She needed to work on her confidence and her ability to kill without remorse or question, but she would be ideal for what my sire had asked me to find. “I have a proposition that I am sure you would be interested in Antonio. Would you be able to meet me just before sunrise?”

Antonio looked at me wearily, knowing that to meet another vampire that was not one of your creations so close to when you were about to become most vulnerable was risky. He let out a small hum, rubbing his hand on his chin before finally nodding. “Fine, where shall we meet?”

“I will come to your place.” I told him, pushing to my feet knowing that I had other places to see if I no longer had to entertain Dimitri’s ego. “Oh.” I said, turning back to Antonio just before I teleported away. “And bring Yasmin with you. I promise I will make it worth your while.”

I saw the corner of Antonio’s mouth change into a grimace, but again he gave me a small nod before I teleported away from that foul place, hoping I could find more like Yasmin, but knowing that it was unlikely they would have the same power to captivate me as she did. If I could convince Sven to give Antonio whatever he wanted for Yasmin, I knew he would not regret it. Hell, maybe she could do what I had failed and stop him from turning more into a heartless monster than he had already become.