This had to be a dream, a sick twisted dream because there was no way that that was a Cu sith and especially not the one that had kidnapped her. Jaws, teeth, and a murderous shriek flashed in her mind as her breath stopped altogether. She knew, deep inside her, she knew that the creature watching and studying its opponent was the same one.
A hand on hers snapped her back, and she turned to face Lucien, who looked at her in question and…was that concern? She noticed her hand on his arm clenched so tightly she could feel the pressure on her fingertips. She quickly pulled away, apologizing.
Lyla refocused on the space below them. The Cerberus took a step forward —three heads, three snarls, and three sets of eyes blazing like embers from the pit.
Chains snapped free, and the two creatures lunged at each other, the Cu sith releasing a long howl that sliced through her like a blade. Jaws snapped as claws struck, blood already dripping on the sand.
The Cerberus was wild, coming after its opponent fiercely, but the Cu sith was more strategic, noting how the three-headed dog attacked while dodging.
Lyla couldn't get a breath out as she concentrated on the fight.
A familiar shriek rattled through her bones; one of the heads of its opponent had managed to get a big chunk from the Cu sith's side. It lashed out, nothing but fury in its eyes. All Lyla could do was clench her fist as the ten-foot beast yanked away the head that had bitten him. Blood, flesh, and bone…Heavens, the sound that came from the Cerberus would make anyone freeze in fear.
The woman beside the brown haired male let out a whimper, echoed by someone from the nearest booth.
The Cerberus lunged, but its opponent was quick to dodge the attack, slashing its claws on the beast's side. The wound gushed blood; it was deep, but the now two-headed dog did not relent
Lucien had seen creatures go at it, but it was nothing close to this; this was blinding fury and rage so palpable that he could not take his eyes off, even though it sickened him what these people were doing.
Teeth and claws, claws and teeth, each beast fought as though their very existence depended on it, and in a way, she supposed it did. She wasn't sure how this was supposed to end; would it be by taking down your opponent until they were too weak to rise, or was death the only way out?
The Cu Sith had suffered a big blow on its right front leg, not counting the big chunk on its side. Several claw marks marred it, but the Cerberus had taken the biggest hit: one missing head, another barely hanging on its neck, a deep slash, and a wounded leg.
The green-furred dog lunged, managing to pin down the opponent. The beast, now on its side, snapped, jaws trying to strike, but the Cu Sith had its claws buried deep. With a pull, flesh ripped and guts spilled, followed by the hanging head being completely ripped off.
The Cerberus wailed and roared, but the sound got weaker as the seconds passed, and finally its remaining head hit the ground in one final breath.
The section was silent, everyone stunned by the events that unfolded before them.
The champion stared at the opponent as if making sure it was truly dead before backing away and facing the crowds. Lyla could almost hear the breaths held as those black orbs surveyed them.
The Cu Sith turned, taking them all in before those eyes stopped and stared directly at her, and she hated the recognition she could somehow sense from it. Those eyes glowed
It stalked forward towards her slowly and only stopped when it reached the barrier. She wasn't sure she was breathing.
Lucien watched as the beast stared and stared at the woman beside him. It didn't move, showed no signs of attacking, but he braced himself, hands to side, ready to grab his well-hidden weapons. Lyla stared at the beast, her breath slightly ragged, but she swallowed down the fear, down, down, down until something new shone in her eyes, a look he had seen on warriors facing a threat; calculative, determined, and ready to strike.
Smoke drafted into the ring, and as though a link had been severed, the creature looked away and retreated to the door it had come from. It was only then that she released a haggard breath.
"Well, that was not weird at all," Leo said from her other side, but Lucien couldn't help but just stare at her, and neither could the brown haired male behind him.
*
Lyla excused herself to the bathroom when they were finally allowed to exit. She stared at the mirror, calming her breath and shaking off the feeling of those eyes on her. It had known her, but the way it looked at her wasn't predatory, and now that she thought back, even then, the look had been more of curiosity and interest. What was scarier for a creature to consider you prey or to defy the norm and just be curious about you?
She remembered the black-cloaked man, the one the Cu Sith seemed to obey; she was sure he was the same man who aided Blondie with the attack. Was he involved with the Den? The drugs? He had to be, and that meant he was someone of interest to them. That man could very well be here.
She rushed out of the restroom only to bump into a wall…not a wall, a man. A familiar brown haired man
He smiled down at her, a charming smile she was sure he used to get his way with anything
"Sorry, didn't mean to bump into you."
Lyla gave a small smile, "It's okay," she said, attempting to leave, but he caught her arm.
"I'm Attacus. We shared the same booth."
"Ah, yes, I'm Laura."
"Laura," he slowly repeated, "beautiful name for an even more beautiful female."
She sized him, "and where's your wife?"
He laughed, "Wife? That was not my wife, she's ah…company. She was just company."
Of course, this man had no commitments, "I see. Well, nice meeting you," she dismissed, trying to wriggle her hand away, but he held on
"You? The dark-haired male with you, is he your partner?"
"What's it to you?" he chuckled
"Or maybe it was the blue-haired one? Or perhaps both?"
"Perhaps," she shrugged
He laughed again, amused, "My kind of female. I have never seen you around here, so you must be new. Mind if I show you around?"
This was a great opportunity, but following him alone? That would be dumb.
"go"
She almost jumped out of her skin at the voice. She looked around, but the hallway was empty.
"Go, Laura, I'll be close by," came the voice again, and she could have sworn it was Lucien's
A chuckle, "Yes, it's me. Now tell him yes, he's already looking at you funny."
And he was, but she couldn't stop the curiosity of this discovery, "You're a telepath," she asked in her mind.
"Yes, now stop being weird."
Right, she turned to the male, now looking strangely at her, "No, I don't mind," she said, smiling, and he grinned, offering his arm.
As she took it, Lyla prayed she wasn't losing her damned mind and she hadn't been imagining Lucien's voice.
"You're not, sweetheart," he said, and she could practically hear the smile in his voice
"Get the hell out of my mind," she said into that channel
Lucien's laugh followed, and it had to be the realist she had ever heard from him. It lingered inside her as she fell into step with the man now ushering her away.