“I don’t suppose you will go easy on me?” I asked half-heartedly.

“I would not shame you so.” That was all he said.

I did not see a way out of this, despite my respect for the man. He was unflinchingly loyal to Drelem. I never really understood why, considering the two personalities, it seemed very odd.

“If that is the case, I guess ill have to fight you. I wont just take a beating without fighting back.” I declared, raising my fists.

“I would be disappointed if you did.” He replied just as the first jab came flying.

Using my vampiric speed, I dodged it easily, which was odd, since Titus should be faster than me. Was he going easy on me? Or were my expectations of him too high?

Before I could even finish that thought, another jab came immediately after the first. I barely dodged that by ducking to the side. I could feel the impact brush my cheek. It was enough force to decapitate someone, luckily I was no mere mortal. If I was, my head would have been all over the tree back there.

Deciding to reply, I tried a few probing jabs. He blocked them easily before leaning into a counter, trying to catch me off guard. He managed to impact my chin with an uppercut, but I pulled back at the last second.

Fearing another attack, I retreated to get some distance. He did not follow, only frowned as I sped backwards.

“What is it?” I asked, keeping my guard up.

“I thought you were going to fight, not flee?” He asked, slightly disappointed if I read him correctly.

“Tactical retreat, I’m not foolish enough to face you head to head.”

“A prudent measure, but if you cannot bridge the distance, how do you expect to fight me?” He gestured to the space between us.

The expert fighter was correct, I couldn’t just dance around at the periphery. I would need to meet him in close quarters. That was a bad move, but how else could I do this? A thought of just taking my punishment flashed across my thoughts. I shook my head at that option, even if punishment was inevitable, I would struggle mightily.

“If you wont come to me, I guess I will come to you.” He declared just before he became a blur.

I only managed to dodge a split second before he struck, leaping into the air and latching on to a tree branch. That was a bad move as his fist smashed into the very tree that held me aloft. Splinters rained everywhere as it creaked and strained.

Before it could come tumbling down, I swung myself to another and grabbed on for dear life. Or perhaps it was unlife. Regardless of my state of being, I was safe for now.

Casting a glance at Titus, I noticed he was looking at the downed tree with an odd expression. Was that pity or perhaps sadness? Whatever he felt, I could hear him whisper something about planting a new one.

The vampire cast his gaze upwards, finding me dangling like a monkey. He chuckled at the humorous sight and blurred again. I managed to barely track him as he sped up the tree and went straight for me.

Swinging again, I managed to land somewhat gracefully on the ground. I quickly turned to look up, noting a smiling Titus, sitting on the branch. He nodded, either acknowledging my skills at running away or preparing to come down there and pound me into dust.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“Had fun playing?” He asked with a smile.

That face was very odd, I had never seen him so jovial before. Usually, he was cold and aloof, only getting serious when his master gave orders. Generally to crush some uppity little vampire, like me.

“If that is playing, I hate to see you when you get serious.” I said honestly, hiding my fear pretty well.

“You would not enjoy it. Neither will you enjoy this.” Titus said, right before blurring again.

Before I could even fathom what he meant, he appeared right in front of me. I tried blocking, but it was too late. His fist loomed in front of me, like oncoming death. The impact was painful and sent me flying back and into another tree.

Laid flat out on the ground, I stayed still as my face tried to knit my broken skin back together. It was taking a while and soon the legendary fighter would be here to finish his work. Getting up was painful, but I managed it, noting Titus was just standing there.

“One down, seventeen more to go.”

“You counted how many times I hit that bastard.” I said, incredulous, but also impressed.

“Of course I did, now are you ready for the next seventeen?” He grinned.

I stood tall, not wanting to show any weakness. “Well come on.” I urged, cracking my neck to alleviate some of the pain.

His grin faded, and he settled back into a serious expression, ready for the violence to come. He struck forward with tremendous speed, sending an uppercut to my stomach. I blocked the attack but found his other fist coming to my face.

The hit knocked my senses for a loop, I could barely see straight. I Oddly had pitying thoughts for all those fighters and the boys bet on. Consecutive blows followed and I think the count is now fourteen left, but I could barely think, so I was not sure.

Slowly, my senses came back to me, I was sitting, bloody and battered against a tree. Titus loomed over me, wiping blood off his knuckles. Despite the savage beating, I managed to reclaim some clarity.

“Why do you serve him?” I asked in between bloody coughs.

Titus stopped in his tracks, this gave me a little respite before the next beating. I sat there, wincing in pain and the one who was about to administer some more loomed over me. He looked puzzled, I think my question unnerved him.

“That is a long story.” That was all he said.

“You got somewhere else to be?” I joked, trying to spit out a broken tooth.

“Why do you think I serve him?” He answered a question with a question.

I pondered the idea, he thankfully didn’t pulverise me while I was thinking. Coming up with an idea, I spoke it aloud. “He saved you from a grim fate in the fighting pits?” I suggested.

He shook his head in the negative before leaping forward and plunging his fist into the ground. Luckily I had moved or number fourteen would have been painful.

“He pays you very well.” I made another suggestion.

I was going to regret that, as the moment I said it, he flinched angrily. It was the first time I had ever seen him show such emotions. Before I could even defend, he came at me with full force and battered me aside like a ragdoll.

“Eleven left.” He declared after he broke my nose and bludgeoned my left eye.

Speeding away with all the energy I could muster, I managed to escape to the side. Or perhaps he just let me go, to be sporting. “I’m guessing you didn’t like that suggestion?” I asked.

His glare said more than any words could convey. I would from now on, not besmirch his owner to claim he was a common sellsword like yours truly.

“Is it something more personal?” I asked, trying to avoid a few hits.

I have taken to relying solely on vampiric speed and keeping my distance as much as possible. Despite my efforts, he managed to land a few blows.

Without looking I slammed into a tree, the branches shook and the leaves descended upon me like rain. Turning to locate my foe, I barely ducked as a spinning backkick went straight past my head.

I was sure it would split the tree in half, instead, Titus stopped mere moments from contact. His body stood like a statue, leg outstretched, grazing the tree.

I would admire his impeccable form, but I was too busy running. It was pointless as he caught me only two steps away and threw me like a ragdoll.

I landed roughly, and pain shot down my back, but I didn’t just lay there. I flipped over and was about to ascend before an oppressive force pushed me down. It was his foot, planted right on my chest. The visage of my foe loomed over me, eyes cold and calm.

“You owe something personal?” I managed to get out between ragged breaths.

He didn’t answer and so I continued, trying to come up with an answer. Suddenly inspiration struck, and an idea I wouldn’t have thought of before came to the forefront of my mind.

“You don’t owe him for yourself, you owe him for someone else?” The moment I said that his boot pressed down harder.

He paused as if he was about to say something. But he never did, he remained quiet and stoic. What followed was one hell of a beating.