Chapter 19

I stood in the locker room and put my things away into my locker. The room was quiet as this was Rodgers wing and I was one of only three female fighters he managed. I had wanted to get a look at Helvetica but she was on the other side of the plaza. A noise at the door made me look around and Rodger walked in holding a little expensive looking black box in his hand. He pulled it open and held out the little choker like gold necklace and grinned.

"Keep this on and no one will be able to recognise you." He smirked. "Has this need for a new one got something to do with the Hunters the other day?" I sighed.

"Jenny and Mathew are in the audience. My old one doesn't work too well and I don't want to be found out." He frowned.

"They don't know you fight?" I shook my head and took the choker then slipped it on. It felt strange as it seemed to wriggle to fit my neck perfectly.

"Only you and the guys at the gym. Is this enchanted?" He nodded his head.

"Only the best for my girl… It'll never fall off or get yanked off or be able to choke you…" He saw my expression at his words.

"My girl?" I questioned and he looked away.

"Er... Well, go out there and give her hell." He looked around stepping closer. "She's actually left-handed so don't fall for her tricks, furthermore she's fast. Really fast. She likes to beat down her opponents like you do when they're bigger than you and..." he wracked his brains for anything else he could think off. "Oh, she's a biter." I tucked my hair up as I pulled on my mask letting the purple locks fall into place.

"She's a vampire." I would be surprised if she didn't bite." He nodded.

"Her last opponent looked like a chewed corn cob. Blood loss is a real thing fighting her." I smirked.

"A chewed corn cob?" He nodded.

"She took a bite out of his arms, legs, neck and I believe his left buttock." I couldn't help it and smiled shaking my head as Rodger pretended to chew on a corn cob.

"I'll keep that in mind. Do Vampires teeth grow back?" He frowned and nodded.

"Yes... but slowly I think it takes a month." I nodded and walked to the door.

"Almost show time." He grinned.

"How about a kiss for luck?" I patted his chest as I walked past.

"You know how I feel about luck." He nodded and turned to follow me out into the hallway.

There seemed to be electricity in the air tonight and in the hallway to the ring was a crowd holding large cameras as they stood by a strange green screen draped against the wall.

"Banshee!" My name was repetitively called. I looked to where a young cat man stood holding a camera. He was noticeably excited, and his cat ears popped out. "Can I take your picture for the hall of fame and the poster?" Rodger pointed.

"Put your ears away and focus." The boy placed a hand to his head and his cheeks flushed red.

"Oh my god sorry, that's never happened before!" Rodger shook his head.

"Banshee if you would stand against the backdrop and strike a pose." I nodded and walked to the screen. With a wave of my arms I stretched a little then began to throw a few practice punches towards the camera with the same intensity I usually did at training.

There was a thud as someone fainted. But the cat boy merely shuddered and his cat ears popped out again as he took photo after photo from different angles a grin on his face. After five minutes of him encouraging me into different poses Rodger grabbed his shoulder.

"Take it easy, she's going into fight I don't want all her energy used up here." He nodded and apologised then went through the photos on his camera.

"I got some awesome material here." He grinned and slipped the memory card out of his camera then into a device on the desk behind him. With a click he waved Rodger over and pointed "Like this?" I saw Rodger and the boy begin to point and wiggle fingers at the screen then I heard the announcements.

"Lady's and gentlemen! We have a treat for you tonight!" The crowd fell silent as people waited for the names of the fighters to be announced. "Tonight we have the devilish Helvetica!" There was a roar from the crowd. "And… the harbinger of death herself the Banshee!" there was an explosion of excitement and music started to play please welcome to the ring…" I looked around and shook my head then left Rodger to play with the computer.

As I approached the exit out to the ring I could see the billboards flashing images of Helvetica and heard music as she jumped around in the ring. I rolled my eyes. Show boating wasn't me… Well I did do the scream. I waited, then was about to step forward when the music changed, and a heavy metal intro began to play. Rodger appeared next to me.

"When the music stops let out your scream baby." He pushed me into the spotlight. I stood in the light then heard the silence. I took a deep breath and let the scream fly from my lips. The crowd went nuts then as my scream ended the music started and a heavy metal rendition of ride of the Valkyries boomed out into the crowd.

"Fucking serious?" I looked back to where Rodger was giving it all thumbs up. Reluctantly I turned and walked to the stage my blood boiling as my desire to throttle that man surged to new heights.

Suddenly, the images on the large screens changed and I saw for the first time the images they had just taken of me in the hallway. I looked fierce and focused my left arm back at my shoulder ready to punch while my right arm struck out to the camera. In the background there was a massive silhouette of a wolf and golden flames licking around my body. It looked like I was standing in the middle of a forest fire.

An announcement pulled me from my slack jawed gawk, and I closed my mouth. In an effort to make sure I heard what I thought I had. I read the print that flashed over the screens.

'What the hell is this about posters now available?' I gave a slow turn to Rodger as he jumped around excitedly and gave me a thumbs up. He seemed so ecstatic that I began to smile at his ringside antics. I turned away.

'I'll deal with him later, but for now...' I stepped up to the ring and climbed the steps to the gate. With a creak it was opened and I stooped inside.