"Hey, Hope." MG approached with a comic book in hand. "Have you seen John? I knocked on his door but he didn't answer."
Slowly, Hope moved her eyes off the pages of the book she was reading. "He is out for the night, MG." She said, making use of the opportunity to take a sip from her tea. "What did you want to talk to him about?" She asked curiously, her eyes wandering to what he was holding.
"Oh, hm… when we were talking yesterday about compelling, he made a comparison to some DC stuff while on it. We talked a little about it, and I wanted to know if he was free to discuss about a few other comics." MG muttered, hiding the comic book behind him.
Despite liking comics and novels, MG still felt a little shy of other people seeing him as a comic nerd. So, for people to not learn about it or at least put much thought on that, he tried to evade the topic or hide his likings as much as possible
But since he learned there was someone else with similar taste to his and of the same age as well in the school, it was normal for MG wishing to have a conversation about the topics he is interested in.
Unfortunately for MG, tonight wouldn't be that moment for him.
Observing how MG reacted, a little shy even, Hope's expression turned soft. "I will tell him to talk to you when he comes back, okay?"
"Okay." MG nodded, his usual vibrant demeanor quickly started to show itself again. "Then, I-" Just when the young vampire was about to say something else, he halted his words and pulled his phone out of his pocket. It was vibrating constantly as a result of someone calling him.
From where she was sitting, Hope couldn't see who was calling the young man. But from how he reacted, it seemed like an unexpected call.
"Your crush?" She playfully asked, smirking at him.
MG rolled his eyes. "I wish. It's my mom." Slowly, he narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what she is calling for."
"Guess you will never know if you don't answer it."
"I guess you are right." Having said that, MG turned around and started walking away. "Sorry to bother and thanks, Hope. We'll talk later." He waved goodbye at her, bringing the phone up to his ear.
Seeing from afar how he started to act a little reserved as soon as he picked up the phone, Hope chuckled softly before going back to her book as well.
Leafing through the pages, despite having her attention caught on the story told in them, a constant thought kept ringing in the back of Hope's mind as she was now not fully immersed in the book.
I wonder if he is okay. Those rumors… I don't want him to see anything that could scar his mind. Hope worriedly thought, wondering just how the young man she liked was doing now.
[Scene Break]
Meanwhile, in the casino, the target of Hope's worries had his eyes narrowed under his mask. But although it wasn't possible to see him tense through the mask, it was possible to see he was a little tense through his body language.
And taking advantage of that, a voice located opposite to him decided to use it to taunt the boy. "Are you scared?" While asking, he licked off the blood on the corner of his lips. He had a menacing and threatening look while doing so, as if ready to kill the boy if the opportunity surged.
Lifting his head, John strongly stared at the vampire while he tried to relax. "The hell I am." Then, slowly, he pushed a decent amount of poker chips to the center of the table. "I bet one and a half."
When the amount of the bet echoed around the table, everyone who had already quit or was simply watching turned their eyes to the vampire now. They were curious to see what he would do.
And just as they expected, since the vampire playing was a known player around, the man immediately pushed his own poker chips to match the bet, as if the amount mattered nothing to him. "I pay," But he wasn't done. He counted one more pile before putting it into the previous amount as well. "and raise my bet by five hundred." He strongly said.
"Calling." John replied instantly, pushing some more chips.
The dealer, looking between the two players still in the game, nodded to himself. "Gentlemen, you may reveal your cards."
Following his words, both players revealed the cards they held at the same time, drawing everyone's attention to them.
For a normal player of Poker, they would find it strange that when all the cards were revealed, it had way more than what it should have in a normal game. However, those observing the game didn't bat an eye at it. Instead, they focused on trying to see who had the better hand at the end of this game and won the pot.
In less than one second, many of those around slowly turned their eyes at the boy.
And John, who seemed tense just a moment ago, suddenly relaxed. His shoulders lost all their stiffness and the somberness around him vanished. "I won, just as I expected."
"Bullshit!" The other vampire slammed his cards in faux anger. "You were shivering just a minute ago, brat!" He pointed at the young man, his european accent more distinct as his emotions escaped a little bit.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Ludwig." John nonchalantly said, taking a deep breath. Shit, I will never get this lucky again. Probably used all of my blessings here. "You just have to accept that I am a better player than you."
"I will believe in that when pigs learn to fly!" Ludwig grumpily said, taking his wine laced with blood before sliding into his chair.
Drinking it to calm his nerves a little, Ludwig squinted his eyes while looking at the boy. "Is this really your first time playing the Fortuna variant of Poker?"
"Yes." John replied while counting his chips. He was so happy he almost hummed a tune along the way.
Noticing how sincere the young man was in his words, Ludwig sighed in frustration. "Verdammt, and to imagine I would lose to a boy who hasn't seen his first century yet."
"Are you sure I am that young?"
"Honestly? Ja." Ludwig said. Then, he turned to someone sitting by his side. "Omar, how many years do you think the boy has on his back?"
Said Omar was playing with his chips when he listened to the question and turned to John. "He is way too lively yet. Less than seventy, I guess. Probably hasn't been around during the Great Wars."
"I thought the same." Ludwig caressed his trimmed blond beard, eyes still locked on the boy. "What do you say, boy? Will you deny that too?"
"Sure I will." John nodded, collecting his poker chips slowly. "Honestly, why can't you be just like Miss Minari here? She hasn't asked me a word about my identity. And you know why? Because she guessed I wished it to be kept a secret since I was using a mask."
Sitting by John's side was a woman from eastern Asia, with pale skin and long black hair cascading down fully on her back. "Thank you for not putting me into the same pot with these brutes, Sir."
"See? She is even polite with me." John said.
Ludwig snorted. "She is polite with everyone. It's part of her act to trick others. Don't fall for that, her last three late husbands are proof she is up to no good."
"Do you want me to kill you too, Ludwig?" Minari evenly said, her tone not wavering a little bit despite the threat.
Ignoring the Japanese woman's words, Ludwig sighed weakly while keeping his eyes locked on the boy. "I guess you are right. Even though I want to know who is behind the mask, you probably have your reasons to hide it."
"Of course I do." John rose to his feet, holding his poker chips in both hands. "Do you think I would feel safe after robbing an old man of all his money? Even more so one with such a scary face?" He said, shaking the chips in a taunting way towards the germanic vampire.
Despite almost having a vein popping on his forehead, Ludwig still chuckled at the young man's words. "You seem like a good brat under that mask. If we bump outside, don't be a bastard and ignore me. Think of some way to talk to me without revealing yourself if that is what you want." He said. "I will also try not to hit you for calling me ugly with other words."
"Heh, I will try, old man." John nodded, he was in a good mood. "Well then, everyone, it was fun to play with you all. I will see you all later if you stay around. Now, I have a fight to watch." He looked up at the hour on his phone. The time was approaching.
Thanks to John's words, everyone seemed to forget about the great game of poker they just watched and remembered how the even greater fight they would witness was coming.
Immediately, some already started to walk away to find good spots for the show.
"We most likely will be there soon as well, it's not every day we can witness a good duel to the death." Omar started organizing his things as well. "Also, this old man doesn't have much more money to cough out today, so I guess it's time to leave the table."
"Oy, Want to have a duel as well?" Ludwig taunted him, eagerness taking over his expression. "Did you forget who won our last game at Monaco?"
When Ludwig said these words, a somber look took over Omar's eyes. "That was bullshit luck on your part, you boarhead."
"Really? Then I think that time on the 70s was-"
"Don't you dare remember that!" Omar slammed his fist down.
"I will remember whatever I want, you stick!"
"Drunk bastard!"
While the two vampires discussed and changed insults against each other, no one else paid much attention to it. It was a recurring scene whenever the two of them were close to each other.
Taking the opportunity, John patted Minari's shoulder in a gentle manner to say goodbye. When she nodded, he walked away from the table with a considerable amount of poker chips in hands.
…
"I thought you wouldn't arrive on time." Sofya muttered while still sitting on the sofa, enjoying a wine glass. From the smell, it was mixed with blood as well. "Were you having fun?"
"To your knowledge, I was." John replied, walking to the mini bar in the chamber to get something for him. "I met some fun individuals while playing Fortuna Poker."
"Fortuna Poker?" Sofya muttered, thinking of something. "Let me guess, you met Ludwig."
"Uhum." John hummed in agreement. "Funny individual, don't you think?"
In response, Sofya pursed her lips. "Well… I would think that way if Ludwig didn't play a little trick against me a few decades ago."
"Oh, really?" John said in curiosity, walking towards her with a cup in hands. "And what kind of trickery did the super russian vampire mercenary fall into?"
It seemed Sofya wanted to frown in irritation just by remembering what happened with her and Ludwig, but she resisted the urge. "I will refrain from divulging that information." She looked up at him, a sort of smug smile on her lips. "You are not the only one here that wishes to keep secrets."
"Touché." John sat down by her side, not pressing for answers despite the curiosity. I will ask Ludwig later. He seems like the type with a loose tongue for secrets.
Keeping her eyes on him, Sofya put her wine glass aside. "Did you at least not go poor while playing? Although that individual is someone I wish to see falling into a river of lava, I know he is quite skilled at the games."
Out of his pocket, John fetched out a single poker chip. "I believe I did well." With a flick of his fingers, he threw the chip at Sofya for her to look at it and see what he meant.
Taking the chip into her hand, the russian vampire looked at the value displayed at the chip and showed an expression of mild surprise. "How many of these did you get?"
"Eighteen of them."
"That much, hm…" Although she wasn't very expressive about it, Sofya was impressed by his statement. "Well, consider having me done a favor if you have got at least a fifth of this amount from Ludwig. Although money is not something we don't give much value to, I am sure it at least annoyed him a bit losing that much and even more so of the fact he lost." She said while giving the poker chip back.
"Oh, I did get more than that from him." John replied, getting his money back. Meanwhile, he thought of what she said. Truly, I learned tonight how much vampires care less about money than anyone else in the world.
When playing Fortuna Poker, John learned one important truth: Vampires care not about money. And the reasons for that are obvious.
They were immortal, having eternity to work honestly to get money and invest it. But beyond that, they have abilities that allow them to influence others to give out their entire fortunes or simply take forcefully what they wish. For them, things like money were easy to acquire in large amounts.
For them, it mattered not that the bets started at a thousand dollars. For their entertainment, it would at least end up at a hundred grand.
I was never poor. But today, I felt like it. John sighed silently, pursing his lips under the mask. But not anymore. Now, I have enough money to make my own Batsuit if I want. Quickly, a large smile opened in John's expression.
While he contemplated what he should do with the money besides quitting his debt, John looked down at the arena and noticed that it was starting to fill with more vampires.
Even more of them. "Was there any interesting fight while I was out?"
"Not from my point of view. They were all bloody, but lacked the needed strength to bring my interest to it."
"I see." John muttered. "Then, will there be any other fight here after this one?"
"From the last programmation they sent us, this will be the last one of the night." Sofya replied, looking at her phone quickly. "It's already quite late, after all."
"We are in the middle of the night. Wouldn't it be quite early for us? Since, you know…" John jokingly said, his lips curled up.
Despite a poor attempt at a joke, Sofya still softly laughed at it. "I guess you may be right."
Just when she said that, the lights illuminating the colosseum suddenly ceased, submerging it in deep darkness. To add suspense, everyone in the area went quiet due to abrupt change.
Quietly, Sofya adjusted her position on the sofa. She straightened her back and her eyes turned serious while looking at the shadows. "It is starting." She muttered, a little bit eager.
Bang!
Amidst the darkness, a sudden flash of light erupted right in the center of the arena.
On the grandstands and chambers, everyone squinted their eyes a little due to the strong light. But it was momentarily, and when they opened their eyes to normal again, someone was standing where the beam of light surged.
Ha, even changed the way of appearing? John smirked, quite eager for the forthcoming fight.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, friends under the Night! It is my pleasure to see you all still here in our humbling establishment! For that, I – Ambrosios – am extremely grateful to you all!" The announcer opened his arms wide, encompassing the crowd.
Immediately, those on the grandstands clapped loudly and shouted in expectation, their spirits for the fight already igniting.
Looking at how the crowd below reacted, John sighed in admiration. It is impressive how a good announcer or narrator has the ability to make things more exciting.
Ambrosios spun on his heels, setting his sights on the masses surrounding him. "After your long wait, spending your precious time to enjoy what we can offer for your entertainment, I have come to announce what you all expect! The great fight of the night, a grudge to be settled after decades of regret and pain… Tonight! Someone fated to live forever will die!"
The cheers and screams of the crowd following his words were loud enough for the window in the chamber to vibrate slightly.
Although not having any base to his thoughts, John was sure a vampire could scream louder than a normal human by how irritated he was getting through his sense of hearing.
But the cheerings didn't stop, more so for the lights converged to one extreme of the arena, where one of its four entrances were located.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome our first fighter who challenges death – Guillaume of Burgundy!"
From the passageway, a young man slowly walked out of the darkness. He wore nothing but casual clothes that didn't restrict his movements and held a single shining sword in his right hand.
His blue eyes glowed under the lights over him, highlighting the serenity and extreme calmness he was experiencing despite the screams and excitement surrounding him.
After ten exact steps out of the entrance, the tall young man halted his steps. He kept his sword by his side, eyes locked on the other side of the arena.
"I am prepared." He said, speaking in french to Ambrosios.
Keeping his amicable smile, Ambrosios curtly nodded. He spun around on his heels and faced the other direction.
"Now, the one who accepted the challenge! A former Knight of Old Tales, one who has left his name engraved in books! Mathieu Du-Lac, the Weeping Blade!"
New lights surged, focusing on the other figure walking out of the entrance located opposed to where the other fighter was.
In simple words, Mathieu was a giant. From where John was sitting, he could clearly see the man was taller and had wider shoulders than him, which was honestly a rare sight for the boy who was used to being the biggest in almost all places he went.
The Weeping Blade… I can imagine how he got that title if he was carrying that kind of sword around six hundred years ago. John looked at the blade Mathieu had on his shoulder.
It was a long sword, the mere sight of someone carrying it would be frightening. It was bigger than some people present in the grandstands.
But what was really scary about it when someone thought a little more was how light the sword looked in the vampire's hands. It seemed to not have any weight when he swung it.
While he was observing the two fighters and analyzing them, John got distracted by Sofya. "Besides aging, what else do you think that makes vampires stronger?"
Looking at her, John immediately thought of obvious answers. "Combat abilities, like learning fighting styles and how to maneuver weapons."
"Exactly." Sofya nodded. "However, there is one more thing as well. One thing that a vampire can acquire and learn by themselves that can make them stronger. And strangely, it is one thing many of the new generations don't have."
"Which is?"
"Real experience." Sofya replied, watching as the announcer was giving his final speech before the duel. "Humans nowadays, when they turn into our kind, there is a good chance they might know something about combat. And if they don't, they can learn. With our enhanced senses and attributes, we can learn any martial arts in a shorter time than almost any human. However, they lack a crucial thing. Never, or most likely not, have they fought putting their lines on Death's scale."
Quietly, John diverted his remaining attention in the fight to Sofya's words.
"And truly, why would they need to take this risk? We are a predatory species, the fear of death when we live among beings we can kill by simply twisting our hands vanishes with time." A look of reminiscent took over Sofya's eyes, her mind going back to the past. "That's what I believed until I faced the first vampire who truly wished to kill me."
"Well, from what I can see, you survived him." John commented.
Even though she wanted to laugh at his words, Sofya held the urge. "Yes, I did. But my survival was a result of luck, not of my own abilities." She said, sighing at the memory. "At that time, I had lived half a century more than that man, yet he was stronger than me. For when we engaged in battle, my movements were all barren. And the reason for that is simple: When facing death in the eyes again, I wasn't ready to give my life. But that man, who was once a warrior, was ready to do it despite having died just days ago at the time." She paused her words for a moment, using it to catch her breath. "That's a difference many vampires of today have when compared to those of the past. For among the old ones, it is not uncommon to find one who is ready to surrender their lives if that means acquiring what they want."
"And why exactly are you telling me all of that?" John asked.
Sofya turned, looking directly into the eyeholes of the mask. "For you to prepare for a great battle." Her eyes quickly moved to the arena again, watching the announcer leaving it. "For those two, when stepping into the arena, have already given their lives to death to see who shall be the one to walk away and the one who will go with it."
After her words, John stared at Sofya for one moment. So dramatic. He thought, but not humorously as the words should sound in the situation. And the reason for that was right in front of him.
Whoosh!
At the moment Ambrosios stepped out of the arena, neither of the two vampires in it waited one second longer. Their figures vanished from everyone's sight.
Some couldn't follow their extreme speed, and those who could immediately looked at the center of the arena, where their first collision approached.
Mathieu raised his sword up high and swung it down, cutting the air in its path towards Guillaume's head.
Boom!
The concrete floor of the arena, which sustained the fights of newborn vampires the entire night, suddenly had cracks surging from where the sword hit. In the last moment, the last descendent of the House of Burgundy avoided the cut that could cut a car in half.
Making use of the side-stepped that prevented his death, Guillaume stabbed his sword's tip at his enemy's chest, attempting to end it quickly.
Clank!
But despite his efforts, the giant of a person that was Mathieu was fast. He raised his sword in time to deflect the attack, even though the tip still risked his cheek.
Amazingly, almost nothing of blood escaped the injury. Before a few drops of blood could escape Mathieu's body, the wound closed and healed completely.
When the two slowed down for a moment, even if it was for a second, it was enough time for everyone in the arena to catch up with what happened and see the results of the first confrontation between the two vampires.
And truly, everyone was amazed by what they witnessed.
Under his mask, John had his brow furrowed in thought while observing the blurring figures. I expected vampires to be stronger than what was shown in the series. But this… this is ridiculous, every strike of them matches the strength of a cannon ball. The air down there is violently bending due to their movements. And what also impresses is their acceleration. The amount of gravitational force they must be experiencing by their sudden burst of speed is absurd. Sure, it doesn't do anything detrimental to them because of their resistance, but it still must bother all of that tension in a single moment when suddenly accelerating. But they don't even look a little bothered at all.
Clank!
Once again, the vampires clashed. Their swords met amidst the air and a metallic screech echoed through the air.
No dent after such impact? Suspicious of how well the swords were holding up, John looked through them and confirmed his guesses. Fortified with magic as well. So, the owner's sway over the witches is enough to ask for better weapons as well.
As he inspected the structure of magic in the swords, the vampires pushed themselves far from each other. Their steps slid over parts of the floor which weren't damaged yet.
At this brief pause of the battle, it was the first time the crowd stopped to think of what they were just witnessing, and when the first raised their voices, others immediately followed along.
"It seems the crowd is enjoying the show." John commented, momentarily moving his eyes off the fighters.
"Chances are this is the first fight of this level most there are witnessing. It isn't surprising for them to get euphoric about it." Sofya replied, her eyes attentive in the arena. "In my long time as a mercenary, few are the times I've seen fighters at this level and putting their abilities to use."
"Hm…" John hummed, thinking of something. "Throughout this period, has there been a particular vampire that caught your attention the most?"
"Many, all on their own." Sofya replied.
"And in regards to strength," John spoke up again. "which one caught your eye?"
"That answer contains two names." Sofya said instantly, two figures coming to her mind. "Marcel Gerard and… Klaus Mikaelson." Her tone of voice changed, a strange sentiment lacing around it.
But even then, John could comprehend a few things about her tone of voice.
It's not disgust, much less hate. It's more like… disregard now.
"I heard you once were by Marcel's side and fought the Mikaelsons with him. Is it true?"
"Partially." Sofya replied, keeping her nonchalance over the topic. "I helped him, yes. But fighting against the Mikaelsons? No. At most, I ambushed Rebekah Mikaelson, but the mare act required the help of others, vampires and witches. And still, once one of her brothers arrived, all my work vanished, almost literally as he cut off the heads of two subordinates of mine before I took notice of him."
"Hm. It seems like they are tough to deal with." Now, John was mostly digging for more information about the Mikaelsons' abilities.
He could do it directly with Hope's help or even ask his girlfriend about what she knew. But since he was here and with someone who classed with the Original Family, why not ask her?
At that moment, Sofya turned her and stopped paying visual attention to the fight to look at the boy. "If there is one thing I say to every vampire who hasn't faced the Mikaelsons, it is to never antagonize them."
"You are that much wary of them?"
"Yes, I am." She nodded immediately. "In the days of today, the Mikaelsons are the most powerful in the world. No matter what any other group says, in regards to resources, individuals or connections, the Original Family has them in abundance. And in regards to strength…" Sofya looked back at the arena, her eyes passing over the crowd. "Anyone of them, a vampire or witch, could decimate this whole place. Hmph, I wouldn't doubt if their younger one could do it as well."
"You refer to Hope Mikaelson?"
"Who else would it be?" Sofya said. And as her words escaped, a tinge of empathy followed it. "Poor child. She hasn't seen eighteen winters in her life yet and someone already placed a value on her life."
…
Silence followed. From John's perspective, nothing could reach his ears for a second.
Without him noticing, at that moment, a storm almost erupted in his eyes.
"Someone… is paying for her death?" He asked in a low voice, holding his emotions.
"Some are." Sofya replied, seeing the boy's change as someone surprised by what he learned. "They are offering riches and gifts for whoever kills her."
"Why?" John flabbergastedly asked, not thinking correctly.
"There are many reasons." Sofya said, sighing. "She is Klaus Mikaelson's daughter. For a hundred vampires over the globe, that is enough reason to wish her dead for what that man did to them. And the witches, when thinking of her status as the first natural-born hybrid of the three species, wish for nothing more than her obliteration as they see her as something totally against their ideal world."
Momentarily, John was quiet. "So… they are cowards."
"Basically." Sofya agreed with him. "Even I, when I heard of Klaus' death, let go of my grudge and didn't seek revenge against him by going after his daughter."
"May I ask why?" John asked.
It was Sofya's turn to be quiet before her answer. "That is a moral line I do not wish to cross."
"That's good." John nodded in understanding, a little content to hearing it. "That means you didn't give away at least that part of your humanity."
"I guess so." Sofya chuckled softly when thinking of his words, finding a strange sentiment of comfort when listening to them. My humanity, right? She hummed in her mind, her eyes resting on the arena once again. "Let's cease the conversation for now. The fight is soon approaching a conclusion."
Even if he agreed to her words by nodding, John wished to ask more. So, he turned his eyes to the fight, but his attention wasn't on it.
Instead, his mind was in a dark corner where bad ideas surged. But now, that place seemed the right one to be for the boy.
I will have to find out who the fuck is offering the bounty, and then I will kill them. John somberly thought, his eyes glowing menacingly.
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A/N
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