The battle arena was a large field of sand, surrounded by rows of stone benches that rose towards the rocky ceiling in tiers. I was the only female among the competitors. Most of them were big burly men, but there were a few smaller, leaner opponents as well.

We were initially paired up with opponents that had similar height and builds. Chase watched us silently from the stands with his tigers.

My first oppenent was a slender man slightly taller then me. He was good looking, in a dark mysterious way. There was a nasty looking scar that ran from his eye to lip.

"Don't worry, I'll make this easy for you," were his first words to me. I decided that I didn't like him.

I lunged for him the second a bell rang, signaling the start of the round. His suprise showed clearly on his face as I grabbed his arm and twisted it in a position is was never meant to do, hard. The crunch of his bone breaking was very satisfying. I punched on the temples and neck, and then he was out cold.

I glanced at the pairs around me, still in the midst of fighting. I was the first to finish. Looking up, I saw Chase staring down at me, smiling as he stroked the head of a purring tiger. I winked at him, then turned to the other men, waiting for them to finish.

Xi Shi was good, mused Chase as he watched her tackle opponent after opponent. Vicious, ruthless and attacking with deadly precision. A powerful combination. He smiled. At least his match with her would be fun.

By the time the sun had set, four finalists remained to battle Chase himself the next day.

The dining room was quiet, especially compared to the rowdiness of the previous day. Apparently, the losers had already gone home. Chase was nowhere in sight.

When I finished my meal, I headed for my room. I was suprised to feel a nudge at my waist. I glaned down to meet the face of a particularly large tiger. It turned down a hallway and looked at me expectantly. Getting the message, I followed it through a series of passages and into a cave completely carved from a smooth blue stone, a sharp contrast from the rocky surroundings I had grown used to. There were several pavilions, sculpted out of the same powderry blue stones, and even watwerfalls. The tiger padded on without a pause and I followed it up a staircase leading to a pavilion.

"Welcome," the familiar voice said. I had no doubt he meant it.

He was scratching the ears of a purring tiger, smiling pleasantly at me.

"What did you ask me here for?" I asked, blunt as ever.

"Your company," he replied. "I find the long nights boring."

He took a step towards me and my heart skipped a beat.

"Don't move," he whispered. And kissed me hard on the lips.

Then he pulled away, as suddenly as he had advanced. "I'm sorry," he said, but he didn't look a bit apologetic.

I was breathless, my heart racing out of control. "Why?" I gasped out, trying to regain control of my breathing.

"Do you have someone else?" he asked.

"What?" Damn, could he see through my illusion?!

"I don't think you see yourself very clearly," he said, brushing a hand across the hair that covered my face. "Don't you have… another man waiting… for you?" His eyes glittered as I glanced at him. I doubted it would matter to him if I did. The old Chase might have backed off, but not this one.

"I did. He… Didn't want me." I barely realized I had spoken aloud.

"He was a fool then." He pulled me close to him, his arms wrapped around my neck. My heart began to pound unsteadily again.

"Fighting shows the best and worst of us," he explained softly, his lips brushing my ear. I didn't dare move. "When I saw you battling today, I could see your very attractive qualities."

"Like?" I prompted after a minute's silence from him.

He smiled, the distant look coming out of his eyes.

"Your calculating, vicious, ruthless and sadistic nature," he chuckled.

I snorted. "Right. All the wonderful qualities a man looks for in a woman." I said sarcastically. I was actually relieved. I would have been mortified if he was attracted to me by looks alone.

"I'm not like other men," he murmured, stiffening slightly.

I kissed him, quickly and lightly, trying not to be too aggressive. "I know," I said simply. How well did I know that.

"You don't care I'm evil?"

I laughed. I couldn't help it.

"Is that what's bothering you" I grinned. "Chase, I was trained by a Heylin master. What do you think I am?"

"Not a do-gooder at any rate." He snickered. "You're far too vicious for that."

And he closed my mouth with his again.

"Why did you come for this competition?" he asked softly once. "The money?"

I shook my head, a smile tugging the corners of my mouth.

"The fight then."

Again I shook my head.

"Why then?" he asked, slightly frustrated.

I leaned on him and closed my eyes before answering.

I wanted to know you," I whispered truthfully.

His grip on me tightened and he kissed me, yet again.

I managed to drift into a dreamless sleep at one point. It was the first in years I actually slept without dreaming in a long time. In the past years, whenever I fell asleep, the ghosts of my victims would haunt my dreams.

I could feel his warm body under my head when I woke. I kept my eyes shut, enjoying the serenity of the moment.

"I'm sorry – Eva," Chase suddenly murmured, so softly I couldn't be sure I heard him. I felt myself being picked up and carried. Still pretending to be asleep, I kept my eyes closed and felt him putting me down on something warm and soft. A bed? I hadn't laid down on one for so long…

Then he placed a finger on my forehead.

"Forget," he said. My eyes snapped open and I pushed away the finger. He backed away surprised. I realized dimly that I was back in my room, but that didn't matter.

"Who's Eva?" I instinctively asked.

He rearranged his face into a black, expressionless mask.

"Forget what happened last night," he said harshly. "I shouldn't have done anything."

He turned around and slammed the door shut, leaving me alone and confused.

I was waiting inside a room that led out to the arena. The three other finalists had exited the room, one after another in the past hour. I heard a roar of triumph outside, and knew it would be my turn soon.

And in the next second, Chase entered the room. My breath caught in my throat when I saw him. I had never seen him look so… so inhuman, so godlike before. He was clearly enjoying himself.

"Are you ready?" he asked me, his eyes glinting like two golden gems.

"I want to make some things clear first," I said.

Annoyance crossed his face, and then it quickly transformed back to its former mask of indifference.

"Yes?" he asked.

"I want to duel with swords."

"Fine."

"And there's this." I took out the bloodied paper from the mercenary out of my sleeve.

"You found out." He shot me a puzzled look. "Yet you came?"

"I told you I would be the one to defeat you."

He laughed now, a harsh sound that I loved. "You know what will be your fate."

"Yes. I will be victorious."

The corners of his mouth twitched as he walked away.