Underland(54)

Huh. That was actually pretty brilliant.

Kira moved to get him some water.

Den finally let himself sit down. He held his katana across his lap. Zeke grabbed a few bandages from the supplies Den had gotten and gave them to Kira.

Chaz actually looked like he was going to start purring when her hands gently brushed his neck and she started to clean his wounds.

***

“Well, at least the salt will kill any bacteria,” Kira said softly. Her hands worked slowly as she felt the weight of Alice’s death like a lodestone around her neck. It was hard for her to swallow, to keep back the tears. She decided just not to fight them, crying silently.

Chaz butted her with his head, and she buried her fingers in his hair.

He stretched and closed his eyes. He probably would have gotten more comfortable if Zeke hadn’t come over and started to bandage his cuts with a firmer hand.

“Easy there, boy,” Chaz warned. “I’m a hero.”

Chaz looked to her for approval. Zeke just seemed like he wanted to help speed up the process and get Chaz on his way. Finally, he left the bandaging to Kira and moved to stand by the wall.

Chaz sighed. “There’s been a surge of new champions entered in this next event all of a sudden.”

“That happens all the time,” Den said, clearly impatient. “Especially after a devastating event like the gauntlet. Owners and trainers start buying out the Gamblers’ Market. I went by and it was empty. They—”

Chaz swallowed. “Nope, these ones didn’t come from the market. Pickings have been slow.”

“Chaz, spit it out!” Zeke slammed his fist into the wall and left a large dent.

Kira jumped and looked at Zeke in confusion. Why did he seem so ungrateful? Chaz had just risked his life for them.

Chaz seemed unfazed. “They came from above!” He smiled and watched Den. “Ah, but I can tell by your reaction, you knew that already.”

“What?” Kira asked and looked over at Den. That’s why he was so mad when he stormed in. He knew and wasn’t going to tell her.

Zeke figured it out, but she didn’t.

“After the gauntlet, there was a surge on the market for humans, but there haven’t been any. So a few parties have gone up and come back down with some. Supply and demand, you know? I wonder what made them want humans so bad.” Chaz turned his head up at Kira and winked.

She dropped the bandage and it rolled across the floor.

“What about the ban?” Kira asked.

“It’s been lifted,” Chaz answered. “Not permanently, but it seems that they’ve okayed the abduction of humans for the games.”

“What?” The horror of what happened to her washed back over her. Her kidnapping, her branding, her being sold on the market. She wouldn’t wish it on anyone. And now, because of her knack at surviving, others had been taken and forced into the games. What was a spur of the moment, quick buck for Alpo and Vic, had now become the thing.

“How many were entered?” Kira was numb.

“Two in the rumble last night, and they didn’t make it. Five are signed up for next week’s already. I looked at the roster.” He let his hand brush against his pant leg. “Remus ordered Holly to go up to get him one as well after he lost you. It’s why I left. I wouldn’t do it.”

Kira looked at Den and pointed at him. “You have to stop this.”

“The ball’s in motion. We can’t stop it,” he answered. “We just have to wait for it to die down.”

She looked at Chaz. “So where are you going to go now?”

“I thought maybe you could use a sponsor. I can coach you through some of the smaller events. The ring maybe.” He gestured between them. “We’d make a great team.”

Kira’s cheeks warmed. Flattered at the offer.

Zeke stepped in front of Kira. “She’ll get back to you.”

“Hey…wait,” Kira argued. “He helped us.”

“You already have a team.” Zeke stared at her. “Remember?” His dark eyes pleaded with her, and she couldn’t help but look between the two of them. How did Chaz and Zeke both want her to be on their team? It was odd, but it felt nice for once, not to be thought of as a liability.

Chaz looked saddened at the competition. If he’d shifted into his feline form, his tail would have been drooping. “You could use a Paladin, though, right? I’ll have all sorts of different connections.”

No one answered.

“Okay, I’ll check back with you in a few days.”

“You do that,” Zeke said and followed Chaz to the door. As soon as he stepped through and turned to wave bye, the metal door slammed in his face.





Chapter 24

Zeke eyed Den who still stared at the door, his hand rubbing his chin.

“The ring,” Den said. “Now there’s a possibility for some quick money to up your rankings.”

“Don’t tell me you’re thinking of doing it.” Zeke accused. “There’s a good chance you know who will be there. That’s where they go to slum.”

“Chaz has a point. Two of you would mean twice the chances of winning.”

Kira couldn’t follow their thread of conversation. Doing what?