Chapter Eleven- Downward Spiral

Zane went to one knee as his life points hit zero and silence reigned in the stunned arena. Zane heard Aster approach before his mocking voice said, "I told you. It was your destiny to lose to me." Zane barely acknowledged Aster's words; he was thinking of the monsters he had just seen.

His monsters. They were Elemental Heroes like Jaden plays, only Jaden doesn't have Phoenix Enforcer or Shining Phoenix Enforcer and yet they use the monsters Jaden uses for Flame Wingman and Shining Flare Wingman. He had a counter for every move I made and he took me out so fast. Unbelievable. He rose and left the way he came in, his head bowed and his eyes averted so he sensed Shinestone's presence by the hand on his shoulder and his voice. "It's okay, Zane. Just one loss. Probably had the right cards from the start."

"Perhaps, but he countered all my moves and he defeated me so quickly and brutally as well."

"Some pros can be ruthless but don't let it get you down. We'll win the next one."

"Yeah, we will," Zane said, though he didn't feel that confident.

Zane watched as his 300 life points hit zero. I lost again! My eleventh loss since dueling Aster. What's wrong with me? Why can't I win? He left the arena to boos and catcalls. He had been bumped to the amateur league and still he lost. Could it be that my loss to Aster affected me more than I had realized? When he got to the concourse, Shinestone wasn't there. Confused and concerned, he headed outside to see Shinestone getting into the limo and shutting the door. "Mr. Shinestone, wait!" he called as he hurried to the vehicle.

The window rolled down and Shinestone looked coolly at him. "I'm sorry, Mr. Truesdale," he said, using Zane's last name for the first time since the interview. "But our partnership is over. You've hit rock bottom and I cannot support someone who can't win." The window went up and the limo drove away. Stunned and depressed, he headed off to the stadium showers to wash and change.

I have hit rock bottom. I can't win and I will have to get my own blood now. Zane dried off and put on a business suit; his deck, Duel Disk, and dueling clothes in a case. He trudged out onto the streets, not sure what to do.

"Mr. Truesdale?" a voice spoke up. "I hear you're down on your luck."

Zane's eyes darted around before seeing a pale man dressed in black. His red eyes pierced Zane with intense scrutiny. A dark one! he thought in realization. "Who are you?"

"Oh, yes. Pardon my rudeness. I'm Mr. Shroud." He produced a card bearing his name. "I specialize in managing vampires who have no sponsor or manager. I usually have dark vampire duelists as my clients, but I have sponsored light ones on occasion. I would love to help you regain your former glory."

"How?"

"By starting at the beginning. Have you heard of Underground Dueling?"

"I've heard dark ones duel one another in an underground arena with their own rules."

"That's precisely right. You'll start there and before you know it, you'll be back on top and better than ever."

"You what!?" Crowler yelled on the phone. He had decided to call Shinestone and asked him to let him to talk to Zane and the vampire manager told him that wasn't possible and why. "How could you drop him? He's just going through a rough period."

"Look, Doctor. He's lost eleven matches in a row. I can't have a duelist who keeps losing."

"I suggest you do have a duelist who's losing. Zane is out there, alone and depressed. A perfect target for a dark one to entice him to turn dark. A dark Zane is not an idea I want to entertain."

There was silence before Shinestone said softly, "God, you're right and, in his state of mind, he may listen to a dark one. I'll look for him and I'll start with the underground arenas as dark ones can move in quickly on light ones who are depressed." He hung up and so did Crowler, the latter putting his face in his hands and moaning.

"Doctor Crowler?"

Crowler looked up to see Jaden peeking in from the hall. "Jaden, my boy. Come in."

The Slifer entered and stood before the desk. "Are you okay? Are you thirsty, maybe?"

"I'm worried about Zane and I could use a drink." Crowler ducked down.

"Yeah. Sy's worried about Zane too. A lot of us are. Doctor?" Jaden saw Crowler rise and massage his temples.

"I'm out of my emergency stash," he said softly, almost as if to himself. "The next shipment won't be here until tomorrow night."

"Out?" Jaden repeated. He came around to Crowler, knowing what he had to do. "Take my blood then, Doctor."

Crowler planted his hands on Jaden's shoulders. "Thank you," he said gratefully before biting and taking a little. As his headache faded, his worry for Zane grew and he hoped Shinestone found him before a dark one corrupted him.

"A cage match?" Zane repeated as he dressed in private.

"Oh, yes and no one leaves until the duel is over. Also, everyone duels with their wings out, a strong indicator that one's a vampire."

Zane unfurled his wings before attaching his coat like a cape. This whole business felt wrong, but he felt he had nothing to lose. Mr. Shroud promised to put him back on top and, to get there, he had to start at the bottom. He emerged from the shabby dressing room and followed his new manager toward the cage. He saw other vampires sitting at tables around the cage and he saw they all had bat wings. He felt very much out of place with his white angel wings, but he didn't let that show on his face; he was determined to keep his calm game face on. He entered the cage to face his opponent, a muscular pale man with bat wings, and long fangs. He had gotten a shock when Mad Dog, as he was called, spoke: He sounded like a kid! Zane pushed this odd twist aside as the duel started.

Mad Dog started it with playing Acid Slime in defense mode, explaining that Zane would take 800 points of damage when it went to the graveyard if attacked and destroyed. He set two cards and ended his turn.

"I draw," Zane said. "I'll set a card face-down and then play Different Dimension Capsule. It lets me choose one card in my deck and put it out of play for three turns before adding it to my hand. Next, since you have a monster and I don't, I can special summon Cyber Dragon."

"I activate trap, Last Machine Acid Virus. I tribute my monster to destroy all machines monsters on your field, your hand, and any you draw for the next three turns and for each one destroyed, you take 500 points of damage."

No! Zane silently exclaimed as his dragon was destroyed and his life points went to 3500. That card. It practically shuts down my deck and it'll damage my life points with each machine monster I draw and Mad Dog won't even have to attack. It's almost as if this duel was rigged so I'd lose! "I end my turn."

Mad Dog began his turn and played Contingency Fee. Zane had to draw until he had six cards and Mad Dog would gain 1,000 life points for each one. Zane drew three cards and his opponent's life points rose to 7,000.

Where are you, Zane? I know now that I was wrong to dump you. Please forgive me if I find you in time. Shinestone tapped his speed to search for Zane on foot. So far, he had searched two arenas and came up empty.

His phone buzzed in his pocket and he answered it. "Hello?"

"Darryl, my friend," drawled a man's voice.

"Barry. Listen, this isn't a good time to talk."

"Perhaps it is. I'm at Arena 136 and guess who is dueling: Mad Dog and former pro Zane Truesdale, your client I believe he was."

"Was and will be again. I'll be right there." He hung up and sprinted off for Arena 136, an underground facility Barry frequented. How fortunate it is that Zane was taken there. Hang in there, Zane. I'll be there soon and I'll apologize and take you back. We'll work together to make you the duelist you should be.