When she had initially agreed to the terms, she had believed Victor to blowing smoke when he said he had the perfect candidate to paint the walls of her establishment with blood. The short, bald man had never been one to come through and many of his deals backfired on him. He owed several debts as it was to her but each time, he came back with some outrageous promise more concocted than the last. Grieger didn't savor his presence every time he crawled back to her feet- he would have much rather kicked him out until he paid what he was owed. Livana, though, knew that it wasn't the fights Victor was addicted, but the betting.

It was his own vice doing him in, she thought as she once again accepted his arrangement.

But soon she would start to regret it the moment she saw his latest fighter from her luxury box high above the arena.

There was no clue on how he was able to get his hands on an ogre, but he had and worse- the brute actually listened to his commands. The tall, greyish brute went wild as the night slowly passed by, using his wide cleaver to victimize and carve any and all opposition that opposed him. With each fresh kill, a new coat of crimson painted her club indeed and the bets were going haywire until no one would bet against the ogre. Angrily she chewed at her lip and looked on as no one would volunteer to go up against the walking grey death. Meanwhile, the horrid little man laughed heartily as the terms would see to it that all his debts were paid off. Even in her human form, Liv hissed coldly at him before regaining her composure as the broken bodies, heads, and limbs of the ill-fortunate warriors were swept up by the cleaners. None of which were even in a good condition for her to reanimate later. "Sadly, this was bound to happen one day", Grieger said seldom as he went to pour her a glass of wine.

"Whiskey. Black Angler, now", she said sharply, obviously not in the mood to listen. Her servant stood by for a moment before complying, reaching deep in the cabinet and pulling out a decanter with dark liquid. Taking out a lowball glass, he filled it all the way to the rim and went over to her seat to hand it over. Liv nearly snatched it out of his hands and chugged it all the way down as her anger boiled.

Before long, she stood upright after no other offered to fight the beast. “Whoever brings me its head will be handsomely rewarded and guaranteed a mountain of silver!” Sitting back down, she received another glass and drank it as fast as the first. She would be damned if that troll and his pet make her a fool in her own house.

Xerxez was a different man. No longer did he wander for nights on end. No longer did he feed until a scene was made. No longer did he pick fights that decimated buildings. No, Xerxez was a different man. But he was still Xerxez. The anticipation of his next fight always bit inside him, gnawing him from the inside out until it was barely contained. The smell of blood caused shudders of ecstasy to flood through him. Xerxez was a different man, that much was true, but he was still himself.

The roars of the crowd set his blood on fire. The absolute insanity of the blood drenching arena’s walls, the yelling of the crowd, the smell of sweat and death, it all excited Xerxez down to his bones. The mighty ogre took another swing with the cleaver that sliced through air, another coat of blood splashing the walls. In a different time, that's all it would’ve taken for Xerxez to lose control. Whatever fool that stood against the massive ogre was butchered in quick time. With the ogre’s immense size and strength and unnatural speed, it was a formidable opponent for any fool that stood in its way. However, Xerxez had come to the furnace for one particular reason. Even his seat was meticulously chosen. High above *she* sat in her luxury box, set high above the rest, a perfect view of the carnage down below. A grim smile grew across his lips, revealing his sharp canines, as she called out to the masses, an opening presenting itself to him.

He cared not for silver, it had no use to him. If he wanted something of monetary value, he just took it. He cared for something much more valuable. A resource that he had to fight for, and even then, a deal would need to be made with the boss of the furnace. Diplomacy being somewhat of a lack of skill for him, he decided that in this situation, actions speak much louder than words. He stood from his seat, those near him jeering and cheering as he made his way into the arena. Many of the excited patrons slammed their heads into his as a sort of encouragement for him. The gates swung open, as he made way onto the floor, stepping in pools of blood. In front of him the ogre let loose his war cry, almost loud enough to quiet out the yells of the crowd.

The grey ogre charged forward, the floor shaking as he did. The shimmering cleaver gleaming in the air. It sliced through the air, crashing into the ground as Xerxez nearly avoided becoming another coat of blood on the walls. It was a welcoming experience whenever Xerxez had to draw his favored weapon during his time as a human. He couldn’t just turn wolf in front of a crowd, besides, he wasn’t looking forward too much to the oger’s taste. His hand dropped down to his waist, retrieving his mace. With utmost speed, the ogre responded, dragging his cleaver across the ground trying to knock Xerxez down. Xerxez darted towards the Ogre’s massive legs, sliding between them and whipping the mace through the air catching the beast in its back. It roared in pain, slamming its foot down, narrowly missing Xerxez.

With a massive arching swing, the ogre swung its cleaver down, Xerxez rolling to the side just in time to avoid the giant’s kick. He rushed forward, swinging the chain mace upwards, locking into the ogre’s vast, protruding belly. With a small movement, he collected the chain till it ran taunt and yanked downwards, causing the spiked ball to tear a line down the stomach. Hot, reeking blood poured from the wound, drenching Xerxez from above. The behemoth screeched and yell, as it clawed at its belly. Xerxez quickly wrapped the chain around the beast’s foot and with the strength of a vaewolf, he pulled, forcing the beast to come timbering down, landing on the solid floor with a loud thud. The audience cheered louder than before as Xerxez slowly walked up the beast's head. A sword came flying through the air and landed onto the floor with a couple clangs. Picking up the sword, Xerxez brought it down onto the ogers head only mangening to hack through a couple inches of its neck. He threw the sword aside, grabbing the neck. With a sharp twist, a sickening crack filled the air, Xerxez holding up the ogers head to the crowd. He stared down the boss of the Furnace, a challenging look on his face as he roared victorious, edging on the crowd, wondering if this was enough to garner an audience or droves of enemies awaited him.

“My lady, you must resist anger’s temptation”, Grieger offered as he poured her some more whiskey for the third time before holding up the decanter to inspect. “You made quite the dent in this, especially since you normally don’t take this.” His words were far from Liv’s thoughts as she glared angrily at that little troll as he was gloating in his seat and was starting to do the one thing that normally would please her- to bet more of the coin on his behemoth. She didn’t know his end game, but it looked as though he wasn’t just trying to get out of his debt. Victor was trying to make a profit and it irked her even more.

No one was willing to take arms for her proposal, that was until someone took the bait. She waited with the little bit of patience she had left inside until he had made it to the ground floor to face off with the ogre. Now that he was in full view, she observed him silently as she took down half her drink. The man at least looked like he had seen quite a few battles; it showed not only in his strong and rugged appearance, but it was in his posture and lack of fear as he passed by the remains of the fallen. She could see Victor unfazed by the latest challenger and was off betting off an absurd amount of money on his fighter. To him, it was another easy payoff and one more middle finger at Livana.

Chewing softly at the side of her mouth, she stood and watched closely as the ogre made the first move which in normal cases would need to be the only one made. Admittingly she was a bit in awe when the unnamed warrior was able to avoid the strike from the cleaver. With his own weapon, he went after the beast and was actually holding his own pretty well. In the middle of betting off his coin, Victor started to look a little more nervous, which was a look that suited him as far as Liv was concerned. She let herself enjoy a soft chuckle as he started to sweat bullets and yell at his monster to kill the man quickly. Despite its attempts, the man was willing through the skirmishes, slowly wearing it down. None before him had even gotten close to even tiring it, let alone hurting it.

It was clear to her that this fighter wasn’t a mere human, but couldn’t place a label onto him as he drew blood and the crowd was really getting, chanting for him to vanquish the ogre once and for all. Victor tried to hush them, all the while a familiar feeling fell onto his gut and he looked up at the luxury box and saw the mistress watching him slowly falling apart. She did nothing to mask her pleasure in seeing him break down, almost like how the ogre was as the warrior brought him down to the ground. Someone must have been ecstatic over the pending death as they threw a sword to the man and he started the job that she demanded- the head of the monster.

When the blade wasn’t enough, he used his own hands, and she was glued onto the gruesome sight to the end. Gods, she couldn’t have been any happier with the outcome but the ecstasy went away as quickly as it came when she saw him directly looking in her direction. No, he was looking at her. “A powerful combatant that one was…”, Grieger stated.

“Bring him here now, she commanded, eyes narrowed at him. Something didn’t seem right, but one thing was for certain. Victor was ruined beyond belief this time and she ordered some of her guards to get him and the money owed. In the meanwhile, Grieger, a think elderly looking man ventured on and met with the recent champion of the Furnace. “My lady requests your audience right away. This way, sir.” He escorted him up to the room where Victor was already on his knees, begging for forgiveness.

“Come on, you know me Liv…I would never try to rip you off…”

Her usually warm eyes were dark and cold as they had to lay on a sorry sight as he and she kicked at his gut hard. The man onto his side, cradling his belly as the guards fetched every last piece of silver owed to her. “You should have just left, not tried to double your money, idiot.” She would have been foaming at the mouth had she not had a guest to entertain. “Take him away. I don’t care what happens to him…” She brushed him off and looked to her winner and her mood changed to a more pleasant tune. “Congratulations. You have fought well against that thing with such dominance. I am Livana, the mistress here.”

She moved over to the cabinet and gathered another glass and offered it to him. “Take whatever drink you desire and we can discuss your well-earned reward.” The silver she offered was on the table- the earnings that Victor had made previously and it was true to her word that it was a hell of a lot. She also pondered what else he would be seeking. Livana drank the rest of her whiskey and took her seat while offering him one across from hers. “You have bloody talent, and could be a star of this fine establishment. Silver and women will come to you like fish to water. Now, what brought you here in the first place?”

Xexez followed the frail looking man, a victorious grin on his face as he grabbed a nearby towel and scrubbed his face, following to rub the stinking blood off his bare chest. He tossed the bloody towel into the crowd, running a rugged hand through his long, shaggy, midnight black hair in an attempt to sleek it back. He made his way into the luxury box where the woman he came for resided. She introduced herself before gesturing toward his reward. What seemed like a job offer was presented but met with a sharp snort from Xerxez.

Xerxez was not a diplomat. He was a killer, and not a silent one. He would rather fight the troll again, rather try to discuss deals and favors. However, his true opponent was Liviana, and unfortunately, this was a battle of words and gestures, not cleavers and maces. Recalling the lessons he had not paid attention to from Serafina, and the stories he heard from Nemesis, he decided his immediate response was to gratify his host. He was the guest in this situation. “We are well met, Livana. In turn, I am called Xerxez. Thank you for the drink, but I prefer more… Organic drinks.” He said slyly, eyeing the pathway the man was taken to out of sight, wondering if he could negotiate dinner out of this deal as well.

“As for the silver and women…” He said, his voice trailing off. He grabbed a handful of loose coins, letting them dribble softly through his fingers. His next step should be to execute a power move. Let Livana know he wasn’t to be pushed around. Let her know he could, and will, call shots as well. His massive arm went to the table, sweeping the silver coins onto the floor, scattered little clangs echoing around the room. He stared Livana in her eyes, his hot, crimson eyes burning aflame as he waited for silence. “I have no use for silver, and I have a woman who’d have my genitals hung as decorations if I ever laid with another.” He said calmly, fighting the urge to smirk at his host.

He stood up from his chair, walking around so he stood behind it and firmly grasped the head of the seat. Following the next step in diplomacy, a smart choice would be to level the playing ground. Something to connect the two. What he had to reveal was a cardinal sin for his race. A crime punishable by death, the first lesson Serafina had taught him. It was risky, but Xerxez was never one for safety. “Forgive me, but I believe we are both wearing masks, my dear Livana. Perhaps we should be more transparent with each other.” He said, with a growl. His hands gripped the head of the chair tightly as his body convulsed. His nails had grown into claws. Tawny tufts of hair sprouted over his exposed chest and arms. The wolf woke from its slumber with a snarl, the primal urge to rip and tear pounded through him. But even the wolf was hesitant and knew the being in front of him was not to be stifled with.

With immense control and training, Xerxez had mastered the art of half phasing. He urged the wolf back into chains, fighting its restraints until Xerxez’s body had grown still and calm. It was an idiotic move on his part to reveal his wolf. Livana was no fool. If she assumed he was a simple were, in time she would know the whole truth, if she didn’t already. He made his way around the chair and sat back down, gageing Livana’s reaction. With a small smirk, he continued. “I care not for silver, and women are not what I am after. But there is something that interests me.” He said, his voice low and grave. “I’ve heard whispers of an unique necromancer, capable of powerful magic. They all trace back to this fight club.” He leaned forward in his chair, pressure in his voice as he spoke. “Consider my reward receiving an audience with you. Perhaps we can talk about these rumors a bit more.”

Strong built and even stronger will, she had to say that she was honestly impressed with this man before her. He had certainly earned her favor, as well as the rewards she had so graciously promised him. Hell, she couldn’t mask the smirk on her whenever she recalled seeing Victor’s stupid mug collapse into itself once the realization dawned on him of his defeat. At this point, the insult to make her look like a fool earned him more than his death, but she was still trying to think of something suitable for that idiot. But her attention drew back to Xerxez who returned the greeting with such formality. It didn’t seem to suit the very being that had just ripped an ogre’s head nearly clean off, but she went with it. Her eyes followed his over to Victor, and his comment made her think, trying to eliminate what he truly was.

“If you want him, then that’s fine. He’s worthless to me at this point, my friend.” Heaven could only imagine what he could do with that pipsqueak, and she was almost eager to watch him dismantle him. Turning around, her amusement faded once he addressed his rewards. Aside from some annoyance at his disregard towards the silver offered, she kept a leveled face and looked towards the coins swept onto the floor. Arms folded against her chest and a small sigh befell her lips. “Pity on both parts. You must have one hell of a woman if someone of your liking fears.” She wouldn’t be the one to pick up the silver, nor would Grieger. A task like that was beneath either of them; one of the lowly pawns would come to clean up afterward. Despite being in a better mood since her victory, Liv was now dealing with her most recent champion, which could prove to be a worse ordeal than the last. She poured more of the Black Angler and drank it down.

“Masks?”, she spoke with an eyebrow raised. Her tone was coy as he proceeded to show her something…strange. Her eyes never left his as he stood and started to change. The image of a man was fading and something more bestial was coming out and it captivated her attention as she watched in awe silence. Leaning forward, Livana was starting to realize why he was some fearsome and perhaps a creature that had to be handled with the utmost care. “I see now…”, she spoke in a hushed tone; it was more towards herself than to him. Still, she couldn’t fathom what he was doing here or what he wanted from this place until he spoke up and more questions rose from her.

The delicate-looking woman pondered her options as he became more forward with his demand. She made him wait, moment by moment almost as if she was doing it on purpose. Eventually, she agreed to play along, and there was a simple way to alarm him of it. Liv stood up and snapped her fingers before being engulfed in what looked like purple flames. They danced wildly in place for about half a minute before they dispersed and what stood in her place now was a creature more demonic in nature. Her pale skin replaced with a slight lavender tone, her size even larger than before, coming closer to Xerxez, and a pair of wings were folded behind her. The dress she wore, fortunately, remained intact despite her physical changes due to magical alternations.

A pair of jet eyes peeked out at him as she grinned. “There, the “masks” are all but off now, my warrior. It is no secret that I am the one you wish to see. There’s a reason why many do not interfere with my works, especially in The Furnace.” Her eyes narrowed as she approached him, her steps slow and tantalizing before she was half a foot away from him. “But something tells me that you simply didn’t come all this way just to see if the rumors outside were true. As promised, I do owe you greatly so speak, Xerxez. So…let’s cut to the chase; do you seek my power for?”

A small grin of excitement crept across his face as he saw Liv transform. It was something that even frightened him to an extent, and how much he loved it. He stared in awe at the inky black pools of her eyes. When she made his way towards him, he made an effort not to back down, keeping his body in place as she stood within breathing distance. She smelled of fear and death. It was pure intoxication. Xerxez stepped forward, a rush of adrenaline shooting through his body as they were now neck to neck. He inched his head further, whispering into the demon’s ear. “You’ve been holding out, Livanna. With a body like that, why hide it.” He said, with an arousing growl. He backed down, not wanting to push his luck with someone like the demon in front of him. “You saw my skills in the arena. I’m a fighter. I won’t pretend to know about the inner workings of magic and Necromancy. I do know business though.” Xerxez said, an easy bluff, as easy as breathing.

He started a slow circle around Livanna, slowing to admire the bat like wings that protrude from her back. “If your faithfully devoted fighter wanted a small army of soldiers on standby, waiting for my order. Is that something you could control? How much would that cost me?” He asked, making his directly behind Livanna, pushing his large muscled chest on to her back, his hands running softly along the flesh of her wings. He careened his head over her shoulder and breathed into her ear. “What would you need from me.” He breathed. He finished his circle and stood in front of Livanna, “I don’t think you care for silver,” He gestured to the various coins that littered the floor. “Is it muscle you desire? Or perhaps a favor granted? I assure you, I have powerful friends, I’m sure we can come to some agreement.”

It wasn’t often when the mistress allowed herself to transform in front of another, let alone do so in general. It would be a real treat for her champion of the pits to witness such a sight. She honestly thought that he should consider himself flattered, but wouldn’t the same be said when he did the exact same thing? Her eyes lingered on the man, a smile creeping up across her lips. “Dear Xerxez, despite how lovely this form is… it’s a dead giveaway to what I am. There is a time and place for everything, I have learned.” With that said, Liv raised a hand and moved a finger onto his arm. “I’d believe that you would be aware of why we hide our inner selves. Honey attracts more than vinegar… Her nail etched along the paths of his strong muscles amusingly. His truest form, at least as far as she was concerned, was unbridling power and ferocity. This form he was in, had its own perks as she had seen demonstrated earlier.

“Besides, I don’t consider many even worthy of seeing this form. You are among a few elites that have lived to tell the tale.” She moved her hand back and let the predator circle her, her eyes followed as much as they could as he explained his business. While she thought herself a good businesswoman, Livana wasn’t too keen on what it was he sought, for various reasons. A faint frown came out as she pondered the cost of it. The demoness did nearly forget about it as she felt Xerxez pressed up against her. Whether it was to tempt her or perhaps some sort of thing that was normal for shifters, it caused Liv to draw in a deep inhale. Her wings relaxed to his touch, which was oddly caressing for someone of his strength. Of course, she was sure that his dear lady friend wouldn’t think kindly of what his motions were suggesting and it kept her grounded for a time.

Liv made sure that he was back in front of her before she considered the bargain. “You are right, I don’t need more silver either." In Victor’s case, she cared about the disrespect he shown both her establishment and herself. The money was never a real concern. But she was interested in other things. “If these friends of yours are as strong as you are, I’d be very interested”, she spoke coyly. “As far as this army you request…” Liv moved over to the balcony and overlooked the next fight taking place. In comparison to the art that Xerxez had painted with the orge’s body, this one was a child’s play. She remained quiet for a few minutes before turning back to face him. “I think we can be good friends, Xerxez. As a friend, I will tell you that I can give you such an army, but the problem is that I need enough suitable bodies. But if you can supply them here”, she offered, pointing to the arena below and then followed up by returning to his side and took a lock of his hair between her slender fingers. “then I can give them to you. The price? Well, just how badly do you want it? I can be persuaded if you plan to stick around a while…” She played around with both his hair and the offer to see if he’d bite.

“After all, you are undefeated so far, so I doubt you fear the offer of fighting for me here.”