The Traveling Vampire Show

We stopped and turned around.

“What is it that you want?” Stryker asked, sounding almost as if he’d forgotten. But you could tell by his voice that he was playing with us.

“Rusty,” Lee said. “We just want Rusty.”

“How badly?” In a solemn voice, Lee asked, “What’ve you got in mind?”

“You give me what I want, I give you what you want.”

“And what is it that you want?” Lee asked.

“You and Valeria. Five minutes.”

“What?”

“In the cage.”

“You want me to fight her?”

“That’s the idea.”

“Why? The show’s over. Everybody’s gone.”

“Not everybody.” Stryker placed a hand on his own chest. “I love a good contest of strength and will. Frankly, I feel cheated. The show usually goes on for a couple of hours, at least.” He shrugged elaborately. “It was especially disappointing that our only challengers were men. I love to see an attractive woman take on Valeria. Warms the cockles of my heart.”

Lightning flashed again. All I noticed was Stryker’s dripping, grinning face.

When the darkness returned, he said, “Take her on. I know you’ll give us a great show.”

I pulled at Lee’s hand. “Let’s get out of here.”

She stayed put. “What if I don’t win?” she asked.

“If you don’t win, my dear, Valeria will suck your blood.”

Scared that Lee seemed to be considering it, I pulled harder at her hand. “Come on!” She didn’t budge.

Thunder grumbled through the night. It came from a distance. Rain continued to fall, but I realized the worst of the storm had moved on.

“What about Rusty?” she asked.

“What about him?”

“Do we get him even if I lose?”

“Certainly.”

“No!” I blurted. I wanted Rusty back, but not if it meant Lee getting ripped up by Valeria. “Are you crazy?”

Lee turned her head toward me. “I’m the reason Rusty came here tonight. I bought the tickets, remember?”

“I know, but...”

“And I’m not leaving without him. Not if I can help it.”

“Then we have a deal?” Stryker asked.

“We have a deal,” said Lee.

“You can’t fight her!”

She gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze and said, “It’ll be all right.”

“Leeeee!”

“Don’t worry, honey. Please.”

Stryker stepped away and spoke to some of his crew. Three of them went hurrying off through the rain. Two others came over to me.

While Stryker stayed in the arena with Lee, I was led up the empty bleachers. My two guards were Vivian and a muscular man with a crewcut. They chose seats in the middle, about halfway up, and positioned themselves on both sides of me.

From there, we would have the best view possible of the activities inside the cage.

Vivian patted my leg. “This is gonna be good,” she said.

I didn’t respond.

“So who’s the lucky gal? Not your mom, is she?”

I shook my head.

“Didn’t think so. She looks way too young. What is she, your big sister?”

I had no reason to tell this woman the truth, so I said, “Yeah, my sister.”

“Good lookin’ gal,” said the guy on my right.