"The ghosts here, yeah. I meant the ghosts holding her to such a destructive path."
Berna shook, her head. "There will be no pleasing them until both men are dead."
I looked at her. "And if I promise to finish what she starts?"
Berna's gaze raked me. "I think maybe they might be satisfied. I doubt she will be, though."
"Isn't one revenge better than nothing?"
"She's obsessed. Sensible thinking is not exactly her high point at the moment." She shifted, staring at me. "How do you plan to help her beat those creatures?"
"By giving her the key to their destruction."
She raised an eyebrow. "And how would you know that?"
"Because I've fought creatures very similar." Only mine had been a mix of griffon, cat, and human with arching gold and brown wings.
Berna didn't ask where, which was good, because I wasn't about to tell her.
The doors down the far end of the room opened, and with all the ceremony of a king entering his domain, Starr swept in and took his seat. But his gaze ran around the room, as if seeking something. When it stopped on me, I knew he'd found it. I was too far away to see if there was any surprise in his eyes, but the smile that touched his lips had a shiver running down my spine. I had no idea what that smile meant, but it sure as hell couldn't be good.
Waiters appeared, dropping platters of food on every table. I ate because I had to eat, because I'd need the strength, not because I actually wanted to.
As we ate, a solitary man walked onto the arena. Once again the babble of voices died, and excitement rushed into the void. Starr's guests had a taste for blood sports, and that's certainly what was provided in the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen." The bald guy's voice rang out loud and clear across the vast arena, and the soft clink of cutlery died. "There has been a change of plans tonight. We will not be offering the wrestling, as originally planned."
A disappointed murmur rolled through the crowd - though it wasn't something any of the fighters added to.
"Instead, we have the possibility of a death match. But only if the fighter survives a match with our Kayvan."
Another murmur went though the crowd, but this time it was filled with anticipation. I had to hope that Jack found the lab, because then he could get here and clean up these sickos.
"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight's fighter." He made a sweeping motion with his hand, and the far side section of the arena began to slide up. From it came two men and Nerida.
"This fighter, Nerida Smith, was caught trying to assassinate Alden Merle."
Laughter trickled around the arena. Even the announcer smiled before continuing. "She has been sentenced to death via the arena. If she survives the Kayvan, she will meet her target in a battle to the death."
It was all so very formal. All so very melodramatic. These people were basically sanctioning a murder and no one seemed to give a damn.
The cage came down, then the announcer said, "Release her ropes. Release her competition," before beating a hasty retreat.
Nerida rolled her shoulders, shook her arms, as the doors near Starr began to open. From out of the shadows came the thin, blue humanoids with the butterfly wings. Anticipation trembled through the air, touched with a lust that was both sexual and blood-based.
The blue things halted just past the door and lightly fanned their wings. As the lights highlighted the jewel-like colors, one of them began to fan harder and, with gentle grace, rose in the air. The other walked forward, his wings fanning slowly.
They were repeating exactly their actions from the first fight. Maybe that was their pattern, what they did each and every time. And it I'd noticed it, surely Nerida - who was military trained - would.
"When the fight starts," I said softly to Berna, "stand up and tell her to attack the wings."
"What?"
"Trust me. It's her only chance at beating those things."
"So why don't you tell her that?"
I looked at her. "Do you really think she'll trust anything I say?"