Fight to the Death (1)

Of course, it wasn't that simple. 

A fight to the death…

Zephyr and Dain slowly looked at each other. They weren't friends, barely even acquaintances, but there was some hesitation. Was that a form of loyalty after escaping the humans together?

Dain's eyes narrowed as though he was assessing Zephyr with that one good eye. Thick tension rose, as did the beat of Zephyr's racing heart. Were they really going to off each other for a spot with those fucks? 

Zephyr wasn't sure if he could trust Dain, and a moment like this really did stress that question, but he didn't want to do anything for these slimy fucks that would get sick satisfaction out of their fight.

"I'm a thief," Zephyr rushed out before either of them turned on the other.

"Huh?" Bull was the first to answer. "We have thieves-"

"Not like me," Zephyr continued, raising his chin. "I'm good. Very good." In one fluid movement, a gold necklace dangled from between his scaly fingers. "This will sell well."

"Hey, when did you take that-"

Zephyr swept his hand to the side to silence Dain. He'd taken the necklace from one of the punters at the inn they'd lodged at. In the past, his hand moved before he realised what he'd been doing. It was automatic. While he hadn't intended to pilfer, he found himself unable to resist. There was no way he was returning it now.

He wasn't sure if that was the old Zephyrion popping up in his subconscious or if he was just thinking long-term. A piece like this could prove invaluable. His hunch was validated by the way the gold seemed to captivate the demons.

The trio of Draegorths were almost salivating, looking at the piece. They knew how much it was worth and the assistance it could provide them. It was a little ballsy on Zephyr's part to reveal it to them; after all, the demons could swiftly kill him and seize it for themselves. Which is exactly what Manatee and Bull were about to do.

They started towards him, their eyes trained on the necklace until Skullhead grabbed them by the back of their leathers and yanked them backwards. Perhaps Skullhead recognised Zephyr's potential, which, in addition to his apparent far greater physical strength, contributed to his leadership position. Maybe he was brighter than he appeared.

"You can't buy your way into this," Skullhead growled, that creepy smile not budging from his freakish face. "Fight, or neither of you is getting in-"

"You said there are no spots, right?" Zephyr stepped forward, eyes meeting his… well… his skull; he honestly didn't know where this demon's eyes were. How could he see? Anyway, he was challenging the leader of this gang by doing so. Manatee and Bull glared at him, their hands going to their blades. 

"Is this boy deaf?" Bull snorted, steam blowing from his nostrils again. 

"Why should I fight him when two others in your gang are already seemingly useless to you?" Zephyr glanced at the Slinktails behind them. "Why fight for one spot when we should be earning our place from them?"

Skullhead cackled at his words. "Are you negotiating how to get into our gang?"

Manatee mumbled something, but Zephyr couldn't hear him correctly. He returned his attention to Skullhead, who was intrigued by the runt Slinktail.

"It seems like a simpler option. It will be a test. You'll get rid of weaklings if we do kill them." Zephyr shrugged like he was discussing the weather. Those Slinktails had been brutally beaten. Now, he didn't want to kick another while they were down; he'd been used to such treatment his entire life, but at this rate, they were going to die anyway- just by the Draegorth's hands.

Wouldn't it be considered an act of kindness? 

"What a load of bullshit! Garzon, let's kill him for trying to be a smart ass!" Bull roared, yet he waited for Skullhead's response, whose real name was Garzon, before he did anything, despite his anger. 

"Hold on." Garzon raised his massive hand. "I like the way you think…" He looked behind him and clicked his grubby fingers. The two Slinktails fell into line, albeit the one who'd been beaten up was swaying from side to side.

Manatee said something incomprehensible again, but Garzon and Bull understood. The minotaur smacked the Slinktail, who had been swaying, and the demon flew back into the door. It swung open and shut behind him. 

"Get Fig," Garzon ordered whilst watching Zephyr and Dain. Steam snorted from Bull's nose before he entered the tavern and searched for this Fig.

"I can't believe you," Dain muttered under his breath. 

Zephyr glanced at him. "Why? Did I take the fun out of killing me?"

Dain smirked. "It would be a murder. I already owe you, and now this. That's IF we survive."

Zephyr shrugged. He looked nonchalant, but his heart was pounding so quickly and hard he was sure Garzon or the others could see it through his skinny-ass chest. He'd never been a fighter, and the times he did fight his bullies off, he landed one punch and hurt his hand in the process and had new bruises over his body. That night, he looked up how to curl his fist and wanted to learn self-defence, karate or something, but classes cost, and what little time he did have outside of school and work was spent sleeping or later on spending it with Sonia.

Sonia, the bitch that was the cherry on top of the fucking cake of his mountain of shitty luck and life. 

"What do you want, Gaz?" A feminine voice called. Zephyr's head snapped back to see another Slinktail exiting the tavern, followed by Bull. It was a female and his first time seeing a female Slinktail. Besides Garzon's head, it was the strangest thing, and to hear her speak to the leader with such attitude compared to the other Slinktails who had been cowering spoke volumes.

Unlike some other Slinktails, including himself, the female Slinktail wasn't emaciated and looked healthy. It was odd how he could tell, but her chest didn't show the bones of her ribcage. Her curly hair even had a healthy shine to its turquoise colour. The demoness literally looked exactly like him, but she had tits. Quite decent sized, actually.

Zephyr couldn't look away from them because of the questions forming in his mind… did she have nipples? Were they scaled? Did lizards need breasts? How did they breed here?

Dain was watching her just as curiously. Was a female Slinktail rare?

"Fight to the death with one of these. They want to join us," Garzon replied with a cruel smirk.

This was Fig? She stopped beside Garzon and eyed the duo before her. Unlike the other Slinktails, Fig sported a belt with daggers sheathed at her hips. Her trousers were snug, with a loose top that partially clung to the swell of her breasts before tapering into the waistband of her breeches.

"Aww, that's a bit unfair, isn't it?" Fig smirked, her golden eyes flashing as she looked at Zephyr like she could eat him for breakfast. 

Maybe she could?

Garzon shrugged. "You've been lazy recently, Fig. See it as training."

Fig sighed, her hand brushing down the side where her daggers were. 

"No weapons," Garzon ordered. "Gotta make it a little fairer on them."

Tutting, the female Slinktail drew her daggers and flung them to the side. Zephyr watched as they pierced the tavern's wooden post by the stairs leading to the porch behind her. She had good aim.

The other Slinktail stepped up to Dain. He'd been recently beaten, but he wasn't in such poor shape like the other one. He also looked nervous yet determined. It was either he fought for his spot, or he died. 

On the other hand, Fig clicked her neck one way and the other, rolling her shoulders back. She was acting like this was a game or a bit of fun.

Fuck, how was he meant to fight her?

"What? Don't fancy fighting a woman?" Fig addressed him whilst stretching her arm across her chest.

"No," Zephyr answered truthfully. He didn't know how he felt about hitting a girl, let alone killing one.

Fig's eyes narrowed. "You think you can beat me, is that it?" She started circling him like a lioness, and he was an easy prey she'd easily feast on. Well, he felt like bloody prey. "That's why Gaz asked me out here? To put you in your place?"

Gaz, huh? They must be close. The demon was watching them intently with amusement. 

"No, I don't want to hurt you-"

Fig struck out in a flash as quick as lightning. She struck so hard and quick that his body jolted to the side, his vision dimming momentarily before his leg collapsed into the hard, cold ground. Before she could strike again, Zephyr rolled to the side and hopped up, casting a glance at Dain, who had his opponent in a headlock already.

Garzon definitely did this on purpose. Fig was a trained fighter, a healthy demoness who could kill him in seconds. Even though he changed the circumstances, it looked like he was still going to die.