Raina took a final look at Leila before they set out for the location that Erica said that an underground fight would be taking place. No matter how often she saw the woman, Leila's supernatural disguise abilities never ceased to stun Raina. Leila was in a similar form to the one that she had used... was it only a few weeks ago? No wonder Jim had warned her about using his simspace to often, it really messed with her sense of time.

Leila's hair appeared to be even darker than the last time she had seen the transformation, seemingly absorbing the light around her. Raina was somewhat relieved that the other woman had taken her advice and shrunk down to five feet tall. It was hard for her to act dominant with her supposed 'slave' towering over her.

Finding the location of the ring was surprisingly easy despite it being an illegal fight club that apparently condoned slavery. Raina was beginning to understand why the agents she knew that had worked with Xcution tended to be impressed by their intel. There was a touchpad on the wall, next to a door. Raina put the code that Erica had given her into the pad, causing the door to open smoothly.

“Hello,” An attractive woman greeted them politely. “Are you here to fight or watch a match?”

Raina, remembering that her persona was supposed to be lesbian, gave the girl an appreciative once over before answering, “I'm here to get some extra cash,” she pointed over her shoulder at Leila, “She's going to be fighting.”

The woman's eye's flickered behind Raina, apparently noticing the metal control collar around Leila's neck, before she looked back at Raina, “The rules for betting on a slave are: No betting against your slave, and we are not responsible if she should die during a match. Additionally, she must fight a minimum of four matches in her class and your minimum bet is a thousand crypt.”

Raina barely managed to keep herself from hissing at the ridiculous 'minimum'. A crypt was a cryptocurrency that had gotten popular over the past couple of decades. Raina didn't know the exact exchange rate to dollars off the top of her head, but it was around three hundred dollars the last time she had checked it. Well, Mae gave you all those nice accounts, right? Might as well use them.

“That's fine,” She said, “assuming that I'm not responsible for other fighters injuries.”

“You will not be held responsible for any injuries that take place during combat, however, if your slave injures an opponent after the match has been concluded, you will be required to pay a penalty.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Raina nodded, “Fair enough.”

“If you would just give me the slave's name and class, you will be escorted to the viewing boxes where you can place your bets.”

“Kine-Enhance: Low Four.”

“Name?”

“Achlys.”

Raina placed her bet, trying to hide her nervousness. It was ridiculous for her to worry about Leila getting injured, she knew that. She had watched Jim get limbs cut off while training, the boy hadn't even flinched. And if there was one thing that Jim had made clear to her over the past the weeks, it was that his sister was infinitely more powerful than he would ever be. Still, Raina couldn't keep herself from getting a bit worried about the other woman.

“First time?”

She turned, seeing a man of average height, looks and from the feel of it, power. “So who do you spy for?”

The man raised an eyebrow, “Excuse me?”

Raina laughed, “I was just thinking, if you aren't involved some sort of espionage or security, it would be a total waste of your looks.”

The man cracked a grin, “Nothing so crude as spying, I assure you!” his voice taking a faux sophisticated accent, “I am merely an observer of beautiful women, such as yourself, and one can hardly fault myself for that when you appear as a goddess before my eyes. It is all I can do to not kneel at your feet and beg for the privilege of worshiping your beauty!”

Raina cracked up at the over-the-top flirting, “Before we take this any further, I should probably tell you that you don't have the right set for me.” The man's expression turned comically disappointed. “Although, I still want to know who you're observing me for?”

The man raised an eyebrow, “I would tell you, but I would have to kill you.”

Raina shrugged, “If you just want to talk, then fine, but I'm not cutting any deals with a middleman. Tell whoever you report to if you think I'm worth dealing with, and they can meet with me.”

The man gave her a long look, his face unreadable, Raina didn't blink, “What makes you so sure that what you have is worth their time?”

She smirked at his attempt to fish for information, “That's for you to decide. I'm only here for the night, so if they want to meet, it's up to them to show up.”

“And who should I say they would be meeting with?”

Raina considered for a moment, coming up with an obviously false name, “Hmm, Lenore Raven sounds nice, what do you think?”

The man shrugged, “A bit dramatic, don't you think?”

“I've been reading a lot of Poe recently. Let's use that, what should I call you?”

He thought for a moment then grinned again, the mask of humor coming back up, “Cthulhu Crow.”

Raina made a face as she checked the schedule, “I'm not calling you Cthulhu, how about, I'll just be Raven and you'll just be Crow?”

He shrugged, “Fine by me, when is your match starting.”

Raina scrolled down the schedule, finally finding the match, “ First match? Now.”