The Royal Shadow

Chapter 3: The Diamond Meerkat Bar

    Four weeks have passed since my encounter with the royal guard. I haven't left my apartment since. Except for when I have to get food. Keeping a low profile was insanely boring. The only thing that was getting me through this was Stacey's rare visits. The Royal Guard is still looking for me and I don't think he will ever stop. 

    I sit on my couch watching a TV show that didn't interest me but kept me from going insane. I hear a knock on my door and I moan as I get up to answer it. Stacey stood on the other side she looked excited about something. I left the door open and walked back over to the couch. Stacey closes the door and follows me over to the couch. 

    "Why aren't you ready yet?" Stacey says looking at me up and down. 

    "Ready for what?" I ask.

    "We had plans today to go to that new bar that I was talking about." She says disappointed. 

    I forgot about that but I can't say I wanted to go in the first place. I couldn't risk getting seen by the royal guard again.

    "Come on you've been in this apartment for four weeks. This has to be killing you." Stacey points out.

    "Fine." I give in. I had to admit this was turning me insane. I have never been stuck in one place for so long. "Let's go." I get and walk to the door. Stacey doesn't follow me which makes me turn around to look at her. 

    "You're not going anywhere in that,"  Stacey says looking at my outfit. I look down at my outfit. I was wearing sweat pants and a black tank top. 

    "What's wrong with what I have on?"

    "Your joking right." she walks up to me and grabs me by arm pulling me into my room. 

    When we get to my room she lets my arm go and goes to my closet searching for something for me to wear. I go to sit on my bed and watch her search through my closet. 

    "Why is your closet so sad. All you have is black clothes."

    "It helps me blend in," I reply

    "I think I found something." She pulls out some jeans and a black crop top. "This should work." She tosses it on my bed. "I'll be in the dining room."

    She walks out of the room. Leaving me to change my clothes. I get up and quickly take my sweats off and throw on the clothes Stacey picked out for me. Then go to my desk where a mirror sits prompted against the wall. I sit in front of it and grab my brush that sat on the side of the mirror. I look into the mirror my brown skin shimmered from that new soap I bought a week ago. I brushed my black hair and let it fall on my shoulders. I get up and go put my shoes on and left the room and went to the dining room where Stacey sat at the table waiting for me.

    "See you look amazing. I wish I had your body." Stacey says

    "Training helped a lot," I say.  

    Stacey stands up and walks to the door, "let's go."

    I nod and follow her out of the apartment. Where a car waits for us outside. We get in and Stacey tells the driver the address and we leave my apartment blocks away.

    "What if this was a bad idea," I say looking out the window.

    "You worry too much. You'll be fine. Have some fun." Stacey says reassuring me that everything is going to be okay.

    Stacey makes small talk. Making the long car ride bearable. I didn't even notice when the car stopped in front of the bar. We get out the car and Stacey pays the driver. I look at the bar. It seemed okay. The name of the bar was called Diamond Meerkat Bar. I saw a couple of shady men outside smoking. Then Stacey shows up on my side.

    "Let's go inside." She said excitedly.

    When we get inside the bar its was loud. The type of loud that gives you an adrenaline rush. I smiled to myself now this is my type of party. We walked past all of the sweaty men and took a seat next to two really big dudes. 

    “Can I get you, two beautiful ladies, something?” the bartender asked.

    “I'll have White Sangria,” Stacey said

    "Make it two," I say

    As he walked away to get our drink. I notice a crowd yelling. I start to analyze the crowd. They looked like a drunken crowd. I looked around some more then I see a lot more people in a group they looked like they were looking at something.

    "How did you find this place?" I ask her but she's too busy admiring the bartender as he makes our drink.

    So I yell, "Stacey!" She snapped out of it and looks at me.

    "You better be having a heart attack. I was in the middle of something."

    "Yeah, drooling all over the bartender."

    "I was not drooling." She checks her mouth. And I roll my eyes

    "How did you find this place?" I ask again.

    "Oh Gavin made me do a job with Marlene and the target was at this bar. It was crazy in here. And I wanted to come here with a best friend so we could have a good time." 

    “Here your drinks,” the bartender said placing a glass in front of me and Stacey.

    Before he could walk away I asked, “What’s happening over there?”

    “A fight,” he said simply.

    “And that's normal here?”

    “Yeah, there bets on a fighter every day. The first person to knock the other unconscious first wins.”

    “Who’s fighting now?”

    “There's Scar he is one of Cardinal’s fighters and Cipher he is a new one.”

    "Could I get in?" Stacey and the bartender looked at me in disbelief.

    "No offense but these guys don't seem to hold back are you sure." I roll eyes was this guy sexist or something.

    "I'm positive."

    "Okay umm. Can I have the name you want to go by?" He asks me awkwardly.

    A thousand names fly around in my head but one sticks out. "I'll go by Shadow." The same name the people of Triaxe gave me. 

    The bartender thought nothing of it. He nodded and walked away towards the fight pushing his way through the crowd.

    "What happened to keep a low profile," Stacey says her voice low.

    "What happened to have fun," I say contradicting her. 

    "You could get seriously hurt out there." Stacey points out.

    "Have you met me, Stacey. I can hold my own." I haven't told Stacey about my encounter with the royal guard the night I moved in. I didn't think it was important and still don't

    "If you want me to back out. I will but.." Before I could finish Stacey cuts in.

    "I want you to back out." She says without hesitation. I wasn't expecting that I was going for those reactions you see in movies. They feel bad for being an ass and agree with my decision. Unfortunately, it didn't happen that way.  And just when I was running out of ideas the fight was over and the winner was announced over loudspeakers 

    "And our winner is Cipher." The crowd went wild as they announce the news as the guy the winner. "Next fight we have Blackflaw you all know him to make some noise."  The crowd burst out with screams. "And we have another new fighter here tonight. Make some noise for Shadow." The crowd cheers but not as loud as they did for the guy named Blackflaw.

    "Oh look at that seems that I'm too late. Well, I can't keep them waiting." I get up from the stool I was sitting on.

    "I'm coming to. Since I will have to drag your unconscious body off the floor." I roll my eyes as she stands up.

    We push through the crowd. When I got through everyone. I look at the fighting arena it was twenty feet lower and I would have to go down some stairs. Blackflaw was already down there waiting for me the crowd was excited about the fight. And I was starting to regret this as I examined Blackflaw he was tall and heavyset. I look over at Stacey she smiles at me as she sees my change of emotion. 

    "What cold feet." She laughs at my discomfort 

    "You seem to be enjoying this too much," I say crossing my arms over my chest.

    "You have no idea." She said continuing to laugh.

    "I'm leaving now." I turn to leave.

    I walk down the stairs that lead me to the fighting arena. As I entered the crowd went silent I look up to see all their eyes were on me. They weren't expecting a girl. 

    Then I heard someone yell, "is this a joke." Then more angry shouts followed. I look up looking at Stacey as she stood there she was worry and it showed all over her face. I turn away from her stare and ignore the angry shouts as I walked deeper into the arena. 

    The speaker came on again announcing that the fight was about to begin. Blackflaw and I walk to the center to shake hands. His rough hands told me this wasn't his first fight. Then we return to our corner. The room was completely silent more people have come to watch the fight. And I was nervous. Wanting to punch me for getting myself into this situation. From my corner, I watched Blackflaw the way he moved as someone was in his corner hyping him up. Heavyset people were usually really strong but slow. My advantage on him would be my speed. 

    The speaker came back on, "fighters get into position." Blackflaw walked out of his corner and so did I. His eyes locked on mine but I could tell he didn't take me seriously because of the smile that played on his lips. I hated being underestimated but it was another advantage I had over him. "Fighters you should know the rules no biting, spitting, or use of weapons. Good luck fighters."

    The bell rang over the speaker telling us the match has begun. We both move clockwise. Then he moves in for the first hit which I easily dodge turning to hit him on the right side of his face. As the punch connect the crowd starts to gasp. Blackflaw was irritated it showed all over his face and the growl he let out didn't help much either. He punches me in my stomach sending me crashing to the ground. My lungs trying to reach for air. The crowd goes wild. And I try to collect my breath. I stand up looking at Blackflaw. His eyes narrowed on me and I search for a way out of this. Blackflaw makes his way over to me. Throwing another punch at me. I duck but he kicks me in the face.  Sending me smashing back to the ground. And my nose starts to bleed. The crowd roar with excitement. I make myself get back up. Rage boiled through my veins. I hated humiliation more then I hate beans and fish. This time I go in for the punch. Hitting him in his jaw. And before he could recover. I kicked him sending him falling back and smashing against the ground. I slowly walk over to him as he gets up. He was red with anger. He careless threw a hard punch I dodge it kneeing him in the stomach. The crowd was silent again.

    But the silent void is filled with Stacey screaming and yelling. "Kick his ass, Nat."

    I throw another punch. Connecting it with his chest. He stumbles a bit but regains himself in time to dodge my blow. He threw another hit. I sidestep avoiding it and used all my strength and hurled myself at him shock overtook him and connected my fist with his head. Sending him crashing to the ground again. I wait for him to get up but he doesn't. The crowd is silent they were waiting for him to get up as well. But he didn't he lied there. He looked paralyzed.

    Then the speaker is turned on, "We have our winner. Everyone give it up for our newcomer Shadow." Cheers erupted everywhere. The crowd was whistling and some stomping their feet. I search the crowd. I stop when I set my sight on a guy that wasn't cheering for me. He just stared. He smiles at me. And I look away. I wipe the blood from my face. And I climbed up the stairs where Stacey was waiting for me at the top.

    "That was amazing." She hugs me and I return it.

    She pulls away, "At first I thought I was going to have to carry your unconscious body out of the arena."

    I laugh but stop when I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. Stacey notice. "Maybe we should go sit down." I nod my agreement people cleared the way as we walked through. They all stared at my shock and amazement played on their face. And I knew I earned a lot of people respect.

    The bartender is looking at us as we ease back into our spots. "I didn't think you had it in you." He says handing me a handkerchief for my nose.

    "Thanks," I say. But I still feel like the loser. It felt like my lungs were completely damaged but I still had an adrenaline rush. That wanted more. I look over at Stacey who is eyeing the bartender again. I look back at the bartender. "I didn't get your name."

    "Stephen." He says.

    "Stephen," I repeat, "I don't know if you notice but my hot friend over here. Needs your number."

    "Oh really." He turns to Stacey. "That could be arranged." 

    I look over at Stacey who was now blushing. I let them talk. Exchange cheesy lines. The next fight has started and the crowd was yelling and roaring their consent. I continue to drink. Trying not to hear their conversation.

   “I would slow down if I were you,” I hear an unfamiliar voice say from behind me. I turned around to see the guy that was staring at me earlier.

    “Good thing your not me.” I turned back around to my drink.

    I hear a soft chuckle from beside me I turn and look he took up the empty seat next to me. I  meet his eyes again. This was the first time I was able to look at him he was clean and good looking. He had flawless brown skin, messy hair, his eyes were a mesmerizing hazel-brown color. Again I broke the gaze and took another sip of my drink.

    “What are you doing in a place like this,” he asks me.

    “I think that is my business,” I said facing him again.

    “I could ask you the same question but I realized I don’t care,” I said fiercely.

    He smiled at my answer, “Cute."

    I turn to him I was a lot of things but cute isn't one. "I am not cute."

    He laughs, "Do you know where you are?"

    “Well, I like to believe so.”

    “And you still came here.”

    “Is there a reason you came over here?” I ask coldly.

    “I’m Cipher,” he said, extending his hand towards me  I didn’t take it. 

    "The new guy?"

    "Yes, and you are Shadow the new girl." He said taking his hand back

    "Seems like it," I reply.

    "You don't seem like much of a talker." He says 

    "Not to strangers," I say

    "Maybe we can get to know each other." He offers

    "Natasha." I turn to face Stacey.

    "Stephen offered to give us a ride home." Great I get to listen to them flirting back home.

    "I have a ride. Cipher said he was going to take me home." I turn to Cipher which doesn't give anything away

    "You're the one who won your fight. Congrats."

    "Thanks." He says simply.

    "Well good luck. Nat." She gets up and whispers in my ear. "Have some fun. He's hot." I roll my eyes and she walks away with Stephen.

    I turn to Cipher. "You don't have to give me a ride. I just didn't want to be a third wheel."

    "I give you a ride." He says without hesitation. 

    I frown, "You're going to give a stranger a ride." I stop to consider all the possibilities. He could be a murder, r****t, or maybe a thief. That wants to steal all my money. Good thing I don't have anything to steal. "Don't try anything. I promise you will regret it." 

    "I don't doubt it." He says a grin plays on his lips and I stand up and follow him out the bar. He takes his keys out of his pocket and hits a button which makes the car beep and lights up. He walks over to the car and I start to hesitate. 

    He turns back to me. "You coming." I roll my eyes and walk over to the car. He opens the door for me and I get inside. He closes the door and walks to his side. I put my seat belt on and cross my arms over my chest. He falls into the seat. And starts the engine

    "So where are we going." He says facing me.

    "4187 Archer Lane," I say as he starts to back out of the parking lot. 

    The rid is silent I look out the window. Wishing this awkward ride would be over with. I watch trees and house quickly come and go. Then we finally pull up to my apartment. He stopped in front of my apartment.

    I turn to him. "Thanks for the ride." I felt like I was supposed to say something else but nothing came to mind.

    "No problem," he says. I bit my lip trying to think of something that would make this less awkward. His eyes fall to my lips.     

    "I guess I owe you one," I say trying to tear his attention away from my lips.

    He smiles. "Seems that way."

    "Well if I see you again. I'll make sure to pay you back." I smile then reach for the handle. "Night," I say opening the door to get out. 

    "Probably when I see you again  I might be lucky enough to get your actual name."

    "We'll see." I give him a soft smile and get out of the car. Closing the door behind me.

    I walk into my apartment building not chancing a glance back.