Separated by a distance of two steps, John followed Sofya quietly as they descended a staircase. Both were surrounded by vampires who also had taken an interest in the discussion and had decided to go down as well.
As for the two who had decided to fight, they were gone from everyone's sight by now. No one knew where they went.
While descending the stairs, the voices from those who remained in the casino started to fade to John's ears while new voices from below started to fill the space.
Just from the very few lines he heard and the intensity in the tone of these voices, John was already assuming the so-called arena was way more heated than the casino.
It seemed like a crowd from a soccer game, cheering frenetically, much more agitated and animated.
When finally walking off the staircase, John was met with a hallway in front of him. It parted in two directions, one to the left and another to the right.
Most of the vampires in the gathered group took the right turn, but seeing Sofya taking the left turn, John did the same without asking. And after a few dozen steps taken, they were met with a pair of closed doors that she pushed open without fanfare before entering the room, a big one.
And since he was following her from up close, as soon as Sofya opened the door, John was met with a barrage of voices.
"Come on!"
"Finish him!"
"Break his arms!"
Halting his steps before a glass wall that gave him a panoramic sight of everything, John laid his eyes below, observing the crowd that stretched over the grandstands.
So many of them. John couldn't hold most of his surprise going to his expression, which made him thankful to be wearing a mask right now.
The arena, which seemed a reflection of the famous colosseum, was just as great as its location of inspiration. Easily, tens of thousands of people could be sitting down there. However, instead of that number, a very much smaller number of vampires occupied the grandstands. But even so, the numbers were impressive.
How many are there? Quickly, John's eyes blurred as he started to literally count the number of vampires present around.
And as he did that, he didn't only count the ones in the grandstands below him, he also counted the ones present in what seemed to be chambers.
Above the grandstands, twelve chambers could be seen to be within a wall that surrounded the arena. Said wall was purely white, with the only way to be able to identify the chambers being the huge window walls in the white wall.
Among the twelve of them, only one stood a little bit higher than the others, but when he looked into that chamber, John didn't see anyone in there at the moment.
In less than a dozen seconds, John's eyes stilled.
Unbelievable… eight hundred vampires. He frowned when thinking of the number. So many of them. Are all vampires from the east coast here? John knew his words couldn't be true, but they were only a result of how much he was flabbergasted at the sight.
While he was in a daze, Sofya calmly walked to his side. She had two wine glasses in her hands, something she fetched from a small bar present in the chamber.
"It is impressive, isn't it?"
Looking at her, John looked down at the wine glass she was offering to him. From his sense of smell, he could tell wine was the only thing present in it.
Well, I have got no reason to deny. Taking the glass in his hand, John slowly nodded. "Thank you. And yes, it is impressive." He raised the wine glass, but stopped his movement half-way through. "I mean, it is if you are referring to architecture. If you are talking about the fight, then I am sorry. But thinking how they built something like this here got me much more interested than it."
Sofya laughed lightly at his words. "Yes, I meant the place. No matter how many times I come here, I am amazed by how such a place was constructed a couple hundred meters under the ground."
"Well, my guess would be this place used to be a natural cavern before. After all, the work it must be to just empty this place would be a headache." John said after drinking the wine, tasting its bitterness and enjoying it a bit. But I still prefer some hot cocoa or coffee.
Listening to his words, Sofya nodded in agreement. "It would make sense. After all, digging a cave of such space to construct all of this isn't something easy to make go unnoticeable, even for someone of the owner's status."
"I am curious." John placed the glass of wine on a stand nearby, putting his hands behind his back then. "The owner, I don't know much about her."
Sofya strangely glared at the boy. "You don't?"
"What I know is what I was told and what I presumed from what I observed. For example, I know her name, the fact she rules Las Vegas and a few other things. However, I am not aware of her personality and about her past besides the fact she was a noble from the Byzantine Empire."
"Well, just by knowing that, you know much more than most." Sofya sat down on a sofa in the chamber, with it placed near the window wall. "At least, compared to most down there, you know she is a woman. It might be common knowledge for those who visit the casino, but people up there are different from the ones here."
"I didn't imagine she was that much of a hidden figure." John said, surprised.
Strangely, Sofia chuckled when listening to the boy's words. "You know, you saying these things is what confirms a few theories I have about who you are." She twirled the glass of wine in her hand, her smile growing. "I can imagine the people surrounding you are important, so much so that you are used to it, which makes you not realize the level of importance other high ranking members of our society have."
"I thought you had stopped trying to find who I am." John sat down near her.
Sofya's lips curled up in amusement. "A little naive as well. But you truly don't give me the impression of being stupid, so I believe there are other reasons for you to think that way."
"Are you sure? My girlfriend says I do stupid things quite often. I disagree with her most of the time, but she is smart, so she can be right as well."
Sofya didn't immediately respond to his words. She just quietly mulled over her thoughts while enjoying her wine.
Looking at her, John sighed. "Does it matter that much to you to learn who I am?"
"'Matter' is a very subjective word. It doesn't really matter to me now, but it might matter for someone else. And that someone else might be the future me. You know I am a mercenary, knowledge is very important in my line of work. Who knows if I am hired to target you without knowing it is you." Sofya replied, sharing her thoughts. "There have been a total of three people who have entered this place with masks, two before at the same time and from what I have learned, I am sure you are not one of them. Despite not being here, people confirmed with me the other two were a white woman and the other a black man, which you obviously are none of them."
"Didn't cross your mind I could have wished for a witch an illusion spell to hide my skin color?" John boldly asked.
The russian vampire resisted her urge to laugh at his words. "I believe no one is that paranoid to hide themselves. If they were, they wouldn't come here in the first place." She replied, taking one more sip from her wine. "Also, you are taller than the other man. Or will you say you did an operation to increase your height?"
It was John's turn to hold his laughter. "Okay. What else are you thinking?"
"Around the world, of all the existences I am aware of, I can think of… thirty or so that can make the owner bend her own unwritten rules to make her hide someone else's identity for a favor."
"That's a lot of people." John nonchalantly said. And hopefully, you don't connect me to either of them. "Good luck trying to guess which one I am or I am related with."
"Thanks." Sofya accepted the words with sincerity despite her even tone of voice. "From thirty, I imagine I can discard around ten of them if I make some considerations. The problem of figuring things out and thinning the list, I get the gut feeling I might start to dislike you if my guesses come to a certain conclusion."
Possibly. John thought, even though he was mostly uncaring even if this remote possibility ended up real.After all, despite him sprouting a liking for Sofya, her figure in his mind was still small and didn't have much weight. "Unfortunately. I don't wish for it, but who am I to control your emotions towards someone?"
"You say that as if you knew I would certainly dislike you at the end of it.
John rolled his eyes under the mask. "Stop trying to lay traps around with your words. You are only saying that because you expect me to know who you hate since I am aware of you even before coming here, and based on that you want me to confirm your guesses when you say something like that because then you could shorten your list even more."
His words just made Sofya amused as she smiled and softly chuckled. "See? Not so stupid."
"Thanks." John took a long sigh, starting to get tired of the conversation.
Slowly, John turned his head and tried to focus on the fight below, trying to find some enjoyment in it.
In the arena, amongst the pools of blood forming over the floor of concrete, half a dozen vampires were fighting. And on the floor, two already laid dead, their necks twisted and bitten off, their eyes devoid of life for at least the next few hours.
If compared to John's sparring fight with Jeremy, which was precise and full of techniques rather than relying purely on strength, the vampires down there fought much more savagely.
Obviously, it wasn't like they couldn't throw a good punch or such. But contrary to an experienced fighter, who has to control their punch so as not to hurt their own hand by exerting too much strength, the vampires didn't have that worry.
Their fists weren't held back. When striking, a vampire would simply throw a punch with all their strength against the head of the other. And just when he was watching, John saw the outcome of a situation like this.
As expected, one of the vampires, with a lot of injuries already piling up in his body, had the bones in his hand loudly cracking and his radius bone breaking out of his forearm with blood gushing out of the open injury as he hit his opponent.
However, despite the obvious pain anybody would feel from such damage, the vampire just gritted his teeth and continued forward. His figure blurred as he launched forward towards the other vampire, opening his mouth and revealing his fangs, targeting the neck.
And this wasn't a single scene of savagery. The other vampires fighting amongst themselves were just as bloody or worse as one of them simply ripped the arm of another and used it as a spear to throw at the arm's owner.
Seeing how brutally the vampires were fighting despite them obviously preventing to kill the other permanently, John narrowed his eyes in curiosity.
And to satisfy his curiosity, there was only one person nearby who could do it.
"Instead of roaming your mind in search of an useless answer, help me here." John said to Sofya, getting the minimum of her attention. "Why are they fighting exactly?"
"Let me guess. You are asking yourself why they are fighting so fiercely, right?"
"Yes."
Taking the last sip from her drink, Sofya put her wine glass away. "Well, they are fighting for a chance. What you are seeing is just a minor Battle Royale that might give them a chance."
Hmph, that is a concept that I didn't expect to hear in this kind of place. John inwardly laughed. "Okay, and what is this chance?"
"To go for the next round." Sofya replied. "Every month, fights like this are held. They are to decide who is going to fight in the final fight on the last day of the month."
"And what is there to win in this last fight?"
"What all vampires desire." Sofya casually said.
"I see." John muttered in realization. "They are fighting like that for a single daylight ring?" From John's tone, it gave the idea it wasn't a fight worth fighting for.
An idea Sofya disagreed. "Hmph. You underestimate the value of an object that protects us from the sun. Maybe it is because you have probably had one ever since you transformed, correct?"
"Who knows?"
Sofya mirthfully smirked. "Don't you think it is worth fighting for the ability to walk under the sun again?"
"I think it is." John nodded in agreement, but his tone lacked any conviction. Well, I know many humans would kill to get at least one ability of a vampire. What they are doing here isn't much different from that. "How are the fighters decided? They enlist themselves or what?"
"I am not sure about that. I know some vampires from other places come here, but the rest of them I can't track where they come from."
"So much for a top-tier mercenary. Such a poor network." John sighed, shaking his head.
Now, it was Sofya's turn to roll her eyes. "What are you, a child?"
Not far from that when comparing my age to yours, granny. John thought, but he didn't have the guts to say these words outloud now.
"I investigated it, but not much since I hit a wall. I didn't want to start sniffing around and find something I shouldn't, so I chose the safe option and backed down from investigating." Sofya said. "But as far as I know, many of them are strays, leftovers from decimated groups or those who abandoned their original groups in search of a better life here."
"You mean vampires from rival groups?"
"You could say so." Sofya nodded. "It isn't every group that can convince a witch to work for them, and the owner of the place sure has enough sway with the servants of nature to create a few daylight rings every month, not to mention one."
"I see." John crossed one leg over the other, pondering over the matter. "Hm… I wonder how far her influence stretches if even vampires from other places come here and the witches agree to work with her." Pausing his words, John turned to Sofya. "They agree, right?"
Sofya shook her head. "I have no idea, but I guess it is a mutual agreement. As for how far her influence goes, I know one thing – Nevada is hers." Sofya put her elbow on the sofa's arm, leaning herself to the right to support her head with her arm. "No group dared to invade her lands in the past two decades, and those who did before that had their forces eliminated or were forced to work under her."
"So, for the last twenty years, she has just been quietly amassing resources." John muttered.
"Basically." Sofya nodded, knowing where the young man was going with his words. "Are you thinking she is trying to raise her forces to take more territory?"
"I don't doubt. But at the same time it seems like a valid reason, it also looks too obvious at the same time in my opinion." John replied, leaning more on the sofa to get himself more comfortable. Looking at the arena, he noticed how the movements in it were less now and more bodies laid on the ground. "Let's talk more about this later. From what I am seeing, the fight is close to an end."
"It is. And what we came here to watch must be right after that, hopefully." Sofya nodded in agreement.
As her words stopped echoing in the chamber, John and Sofya could see one of the last two vampires alive strongly slamming his knee on the other's nape, the sound of something cracking coming right after.
The vampire who suffered the knee strike went immediately limp and fell on the floor, his eyes lifeless.
That must've hurt pretty bad. John thought, watching as part of the crowd cheered and others whined in disappointment.
With a winner having been decided, a man in a suit blurred into the arena, stopping right in the center of it, surrounded by the blood of others.
He was tall, had blue eyes and his hair and beard were perfectly trimmed.
"Ldies and Gentlemen," He looked at all the spectators spread around the arena, his voice deep but energetic, just like you would expect from an announcer. "I am extremely happy to announce to you all that in today's fight, a winner has been decided!"
Even if he didn't hold a microphone in his hands, his words reached everyone, brushing their ears. And since the crowd was made of vampires, they all perfectly heard him.
The crowd cheered under the man's announcement and even those who were disappointed by losing their bets clapped loudly towards the arena.
After a few seconds, waiting for silence to come back, the announcer raised his voice again. "He has been with us for less than six months, but he has already won his first fight. Certainly, we can say a very promising seed has come to our home. And for that, I ask you to watch him closely, for we possibly are watching the rise of another star!" He pointed at the last standing vampire.
Said vampire was now on his knees, barely breathing and probably not listening to the announcer's words.
As the vampire did his part in the show that was the fight, John turned to Sofya. "Besides getting a daylight ring, is there something else you get by winning the fight on the last day of the month?"
"Not directly. But by getting a daylight ring, you are basically advancing through the ranks of the organization since now you can do jobs during the day as well.
"I see." John nodded. Hmph, this place is a training ground as much as it is an arena for entertainment. They basically prepare vampires to fight many enemies of similar strength before sending them to the field. John's eyebrows furrowed, a thought forming in his mind. The more I learn about the vampire community, the more it seems a war among vampires is nearing on the horizon.
As John thought of the possibilities, his eyes turned to the arena again as another round of claps echoed. The vampire who had won the battle had just risen to his feet. He walked out of the arena slowly, one of his legs limp. The fact it wasn't healing just showed how tired he was.
"Now, Ladies and Gentlemen, let's change topics." The announcer smiled widely, trying to get the attention of the crowd. "Tonight, besides this great battle we had and others planned, we will also be honored with one more fight! One between customers of our establishment."
Some of the spectators cheered loudly, happy to learn one more event would be held in the arena today. That meant that besides the entertainment brought by the fight, they could also get back part of the money they lost or earn even more if they chose the right side.
A few of the vampires in the grandstands were already preparing to go make their bets, they were just waiting for the announcement of who would be fighting so they could choose who to bet their resources.
And seeing the expectant look in them, the announcer's smile widened even more as he noticed the crowd was already hooked in the fight.
"We will remember the fight of today for God knows how many years! It will be one between such esteemed figures we can't even think how this fight will affect the world beyond this arena!"
Quietly, John leaned towards Sofya. "Are they that much special?"
"Not really, he is just igniting their interest." Sofya replied, her eyes still locked on the arena. "This fight is far from being one between Ali and Tyson for him to say such words."
Not able to hold it, John laughed at Sofya's comment.
"My guests, I present to you all what will be the fight of the night! In three hours, Guillaume Pierre of Burgundy – last descendent of the extinct House of Burgundy – will fight an old enemy of his family, to end a grudge long on hold. His opponent is none less than the main knight of the Duchy of Orléans, his name is Mathieu Du-Lac Olivier. During the Hundred-Years War, he held a moniker fitting of his actions of widowing so many across old France. The Lame Pleureuse, the Weeping Blade!"
It seemed the crowd would cheer once again, but the announcer hadn't ended his words yet. He raised his hand, and different from before, he didn't only raise his voice, he shouted. "And the best of all of this, it will be a fight until one truly dies!"
If before the crowd was animated for the fight, the mere statement of only one would come alive brought an euphoria and excitement to it that was completely unexpected to John.
"From the crowd's reactions, I may guess fights until one truly dies are rare."
"Oh, they are." Sofya nodded, a light of surprise showing in her eyes as well. "In the field, someone can always run or use tricks to get the upper hand. But here, the owner makes things fair. If you wish to fight, it's with what your parents granted and the blood flowing in your veins. At most, you can request one single weapon, but nothing more."
"What happens if one of them, thinking they are close to losing, tries to run away?" John asked.
"Then, you won't have to worry about your opponent. Since they chose a death duel, the owner will make sure someone dies." Sofya smiled somberly, more expectant for the battle as well.
Staring at the arena, where the staff was taking out the bodies of the vampires, John slowly rose from his seat before walking towards the exit of the chamber.
"Where are you going?" Sofya asked.
"I came to this place to get some money and have fun. I am going to do it since the fight won't start now." John replied, not stopping his steps. "I will be back before it starts."
"Try not to get poor during this time."
"I will do my best." John just casually replied, walking out of the chamber as he grabbed a small chip from his pocket.
Throwing it up and catching it in the air along the way, John contemplated his options to make money. Okay, let's see if I can get out of here as a millionaire.
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A/N
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