Tortured Souls
ch. 1
The Master
I screamed and kicked out with a large clawed foot swinging my head side to side as I hit bats aside with my ram-like horns. Small bite marks coated my arms and legs and a couple were even on my neck and wings. There were several tears in my wings as well where bats had lodged there little claws. I took two out at once with a swipe of sharp curving fingernails.
Only ten more to go. The largest one had gotten a small chunk of my ankle. I dove for it. Claws raked it's sides as it pulled away screeching and flapping it's wings wildly. The other bats rose like a cloud behind me trying to protect their leader. I was suddenly intent on getting that one bat, all others were ignored bites and scratches pushed to the back of my mind, ignoring the pain each one brought. Then I was on it, my wings spread in a final killing strike as claws sunk deep into it's chest, I bit into it's neck and ripped out it's voice box that had been shreiking. All the others bats dispersed flying in any direction away from me. I ate fast and bloody knowing that I would punished for being so weak in such a small battle, knowing that any food would help me survive. Survival was all I thought about, there was no room in my life for anything else.
Busuzima emerged from the shadows a smile on his face as he faced a man across from him was coated in bats that stared fearfully back at me. I clambered over to my master and he left me not hitting or petting just with that wickedly cruel smirk, the knowledge that he had won and would get money.
The other man wore a frown, his eyes angry and filled with fire even as he handed over the money and walked away. The dark grills and bars that seemed everywhere in the underground where I fought for my life regularly in beast fights. It was dark and grimy but I barely noticed anymore, how long had it been, how many years, I had lost track.
"Well little one, you didn't fail me too badly now did you. You'll only punished lightly because you took so long and have too many open wounds to battle anymore tonight." He said and my only response was a small coo of acknowledgment, which I knew I shouldn't do He was always telling me not to make that sound, it was so ugly and disgusting but sometimes it slipped out. He slapped me hard across my face and I fell back across the cold slimy cement.
"Now what did I tell you about making that noise?!?" He practically screamed at me. I simply stared down at the floor tensed for the next strike.
"That's better. You will never speak and never make that noise, Have I taught you nothing?! You are mine." He finished hovering over me and turning my face to look at his.
He stepped away after a moment and walked away, I was quick to follow knowing that a light punishment was no longer a possibility. I was always doing everything wrong. My master was always maddened by me. So ugly and stupid, he surely wishes for a better pet than me, I can only hope he doesn't find one because I could not survive alone.