3 The Arena

The arena was in the castle's courtyard. It was a massive pit with only one entrance. Wicked spikes were placed around the perimeter. Guards and staff stood still near the dreadful hole. They appeared to be stone golems, locked in place.

Drake appeared and sat on the single chair placed on a raised platform. "Let the game begin!" he shouted. This man's ego made Hope giggle. An average person would probably feel fear or dread, but all she could do was pause to analyze the intriguing man. Indeed, he was creepy and an egomaniac, but how else could a powerful being express boredom?

Hope's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a huge pulley lowering an iron-barred cage into the pit with her. Inside, a magnificent tiger tilted its head and roared menacingly. A servant girl gasped, seeing this creature that in her eyes seemed like a ferocious monster.

But Hope saw something else. The tiger was angry indeed, but beneath all that hate, Hope could sense fear and sorrow. He would tear the head off anyone who would approach him to feel safe and ease his pain and hunger. A wild beast trapped in a cage and cornered in a pit... Hope knew that feeling; she was experiencing it right now.

Drake made a sign for the pulley handler to open the cage. When the tiger made his first step out of the cell, Hope sat down while maintaining permanent eye contact. She was calm, peaceful even, sharing all her feelings and emotions with this magnificent creature in front of her.

The tiger tilted his head and closed his drooling mouth when he heard her voice. "You are a splendid creature, and I adore you with all my heart. Do you wish to tell me your name? Hmmm... Menace, you say? I think Handsome is more like it! Would you let me call you Handsome?" Hope cajoled as she pulled herself closer to the tiger until she could place her hand on his head.

The feline sat down next to her and laid his head into her lap, purring like a giant kitten. "Handsome it is!" Hope giggled, petting the tiger. His fur was soft and short, almost red with dark brown lines. Hope could see the lighter color on his abdomen, chest, and on the hidden side of the paws when Handsome rolled on his back, demanding for her to pet him more thoroughly.

Drake laughed, applauding ostentatiously. "This seemed easy for you, little girl. There is a rule you must consider. Only one can leave the arena alive," he decreed, grinning. He was intrigued by her display of power and Drake could bet it wasn't over.

Hope turned to him, joining his laughter. The Handsome tiger was imitating her exactly; he tried even the laughter, but only a roar came out. "Oh, but here in the arena is only one being. We have reached a consensus, and now we are one. If you wish, we will die as one." Drake's laughter came to a stop, but hers continued. "If I get out of this pit without any help, will you agree to a bargain?" Hope tried her luck, betting on his tremendous ego.

His eyebrows moved like he was interested enough. He sighed, smiling, and spoke. "I agree to make a deal with you if it doesn't concern your freedom because that is out of the question."

"Do you know that squirrels can jump over six meters?" Hope chuckled, knowing she would show off one of her favorite skills.

The next moment, she sat on her bottom, with her knees elevated and her hands in front of her tensed and bent at the elbow. Hope jumped over the wall, over the barbed wire, and landed next to Drake. "I learned that from a dear friend. Now, let's talk a bit regarding our deal," Hope boasted, looking into his eyes and searching for a reaction.

His eyes went red again, and the sparkles ignited Hope's desires to the very bottom of her soul. Drake licked his upper lip and whispered roughly. "Let's hear the proposal."

"We begin a fair contest to decide who is the beast and who is the mistress," suggested Hope.

Drake let out a soft chuckle. "Or master," he smirked, trying to get the upper hand.

She crossed her hands over her chest, sighing in disbelief. "If you say so. Anyhow, I will need a bit of freedom around the castle, at least. You don't have to let me go or anything," Hope added, thinking if she should have requested other important stuff, but she was clueless for the moment.

Drake's interest was peaked. "You have a deal. Any other requests I should know about?" he dared Hope, trying to see what else was going through that pretty head of hers.

"In fact, yeah, there is one question I need answering. Why do I fear you less when your eyes are red?" asked Hope, trying to copy his mischievous smile. She was trying to understand his dual nature, but it was like hitting a brick wall.

"Isn't it true that if I give you all the tools to picklock the treasure box, you won't be a real master thief?" Drake's eyes were checking her out from the top of her head to the toes of her feet. "I will even give you something extra. You will get proper attire befitting a guest in my castle. Tomorrow morning get up early. The training starts at dawn."

Drake turned his back on Hope with his black hair fluttering in the spring breeze. His tall, slender figure moved away slowly and elegantly as if he knew his new favorite toy was carefully watching him. Hope still hadn't made up her mind if she wanted to kill him or know him better. But she was confident of one thing: she will win this challenge.