Into the Sands of Blood

Coming back to his room in the Warrens from his excursion and excitement at the Red Lion, James is about to take off his jacket, when he sees a letter, on his leather working desk, set up neatly. The outside just says OPEN on it. Taking out the letter from inside the sheet reads
 
“Wayward Traveller, now. M”
 
Sighing, know that this is in no way good news, James goes heads off, and arrives decently quickly at the Wayward Traveller. It’s a standard night, so busy but not crowded. Looking around he spots her where she usually is, looking over books. Marlene snaps her fingers at him and points to the bench across the table from her. James complies as quickly as he can without upsetting anyone.
 
They sit in silence for several minutes, Marlene going over some books, checking figures, ignoring him. James waits, knowing that pushing now will only make things worse, and it’s not worth it, not yet. She finally looks up at him, cold, malicious eyes meeting his. “You’ve rested long enough meat. Time you truly earned your keep for all the generosity I’ve show you.” Her voice, like scum slicked water washing over him. James starts to speak to ask what she wants him to do, but as he goes to, he sees her tense, waiting to strike him. He closes his mouth and waits. “Oh look, you can learn. Will wonders never cease. Now, you’ve been slacking where as your friend Nel, she’s been putting in some good work, hard work. Hell, last night was the hardest I’ve seen her worked. Or at least worked over.” James does his best to hide a slowly building anger as she watches him, waiting.
 
“Here’s what you’re gonna do. Next week, you fight. You’ll work the crowd, you’ll smile, you’ll play nice, and everything will be nice and easy. Hell, you’re gonna like your first fight. Feel free to mess them up a little, make it look good, because that’s just to get you warmed up.” Her voice takes on a very dangerous tone. “Because your second fight of that night, well…that one’s gonna be a little bit different. See, we like to have regular fights, they keep everyone happy, drinks are bought, bets are placed, and the business gets its cut. But every now and then we like to do something special, something to really get the blood flowing, and the bets coming hard and fast.” The shadows behind her eyes are a wall of blades, threatening to eviscerate everything they see, but also take a truly sadistic glee in every bit of pain it causes. James watches her, but a cold sweat begins to form on him, feeling like he has an idea what she’s going to say.
 
“You’re going to be fighting someone who hasn’t been around here for a while. Kind of a crowd favorite actually.” Marlene leans in close. “And there will be no rules except the only weapons you can use are the ones you’re born with.” She watches with a glee as she can see that James understands exactly what she means. “Oh yes meat, you’re going to go until you can’t any more. And the other guy, he’s gonna make it take a long time. The patrons have to get their money’s worth after all.” She sits back relaxing in the way only petty tyrant kings can when on their thrones. “And you know what, I’m not even gonna ask you to take a fall. Isn’t that generous of me?”
 
James doesn’t say anything, not knowing if he’s supposed to. From most people, a slap stings, maybe leaves a mark that fades in a few minutes. James doesn’t even see it coming, and the blinding shock and pain keeps him from hearing what sounds like a gunshot, as a hand as hard as iron slams into the side of his face, nearly taking him out of the booth. “I said, isn’t that generous of me?”
 
Pulling himself back up, and trying to clear his head of the ringing, he is able to just get out. “Yes boss, very generous.” He can taste blood in his mouth from his cheek having been cut against his teeth.
 
“You see there, with the proper training even you can learn when to speak. Now get out of here. And don’t forget, Tuesday, 7 o’clock. If you’re even one minutes late I’ll hang your balls above the bar and feed your cock to the dogs.”
 
James makes his way out of the booth, stumbling a bit as his head hasn’t completely cleared yet, and makes his way out. The people in the Wayward Traveler give him plenty of room, not wanting to be close to anyone subject to Marlene’s displeasure, in case it rubbed off on them.
 
All the way back to his place, he can taste the blood in his mouth, and hears her words, a cold dread sinking into him. “This is going to be a punishment fight. She’s going to make sure I hurt and hurt bad. But” He stops and thinks for a second. “But, I don’t have to just sit there and take it. Wouldn’t be good for the crowd if I did. I’m allowed to fight back, and win. She didn’t tell me what my opponent is, but she’s going to want someone who won’t kill me quickly, so that eliminates several of the nastier types I could be facing.” A feral grin breaks out on his face, revealing teeth stained red with blood. “But I can fight, and I can win.” A movement happens in his heart, the feeling of an apex predator just waking up, and seeing that food is on the horizon.