Is this destiny?

Aiden watched with a complex expression while Sarah slowly pushed the blade inside man's windpipe. Her wrist moved slightly, twisting the knife and the man's body below her jerked for a moment before he stopped moving completely.

Sarah unhurriedly stood up and looked at the man for a second before turning to the announcer and signaling that the body should be carried out.

Aiden is relieved that Sarah detected the blade in time and defended herself effectively. And he does not care about that man's life, it's worth nothing compared to Sarah's. What came as a shock to him is that he never saw her so cold. He knows that this is not her first time to kill a human. Just last night they also killed few, but it was in the heat of the fight. And this… was not a fight. This was an execution.

It made him wonder, what did she go through in the last three months? What caused her to change like this?

He is aware that the man would kill Sarah without missing a beat, and he was going for a kill. However, the Sarah he knows would disarm the man and render him unconscious, maybe break few bones to teach him a lesson, but this… She must have suffered a lot.

Aiden clenched his fists while thinking that Sarah suffered and that made her lose a piece of humanity, and he was not there to prevent it. He was not there to protect her.

He asked himself, can this be related to him? Is it because he was in such a state for three months that she became like this? Or did something else happen? Is he missing some important information? Eve told him that in the last three months Sarah didn't cry, and she didn't laugh either. She held everything locked inside her, and it seems that it cracked her a bit.

Aiden wondered if this is a good thing. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. Because of her compassion, she got in trouble more than once. People see her kindness and take advantage of it. Considering their current situation and all the dangers surrounding them, maybe this is a good thing.

The statistic on the walls showed:

'Nyx -> Wins: 42; Losses: 0; Ties: 0'

Sarah straightened her posture and looked around the club through the bars of the arena which keep her caged in. Her eyes darted over faces and Eve was showing her on Eve-vision information about each person she focused on: name, age, criminal record, known affiliations, etc.

To the guests of the club, she looked like a dangerous predator, and they were happy that she is inside. Locked.

Members of the army of Chaos looked at Sarah with admiration. They know the rules they follow in fight… If oponents run away: let them go. If they defend: hurt them. If someone attacks: kill. And that man attacked while breaking the 'no weapons' rule. Their Boss did good.

Regular employees of the club looked at the man being dragged away while two cleaners wiped the blood with bleach, and their gazes moved to Sarah while sense of security enveloped them. All of them are in the area for a while and Boyle Heights is not a friendly neighborhood. Each of them saw a corpse or two left after gang fights on the street. Sometimes in broad daylight. Knowing that they are working for such a powerful boss makes them feel… safe.

Sarah's voice rang through the club: "We don't have many rules in 'Chaos'. But those few that we have, must be obeyed. There will be no exceptions."

The line for who is next to fight boss Nyx got shorter considerably.

Sarah was pleased to see that people who challenged her after that incident have some skills and are not just random thugs.

No one else dared to pull a stunt with a weapon of any kind.

After several next fights, more people joined the queue. They were encouraged because fights proceeded without killings.

By the time Sarah left the arena, the statistic on the walls showed:

'Nyx -> Wins: 87; Losses: 0; Ties: 0'

"Not bad for one night.", Aiden told Sarah when she returned to the main VIP booth.

She smiled while accepting the bottle of water from him. "Do you want to go next?"

Aiden rejected the idea. They sat on the sofa and he wrapped his arms around her. "I just want to hold you.", he admitted. Well, he would kiss her also, but the kids are present, so it's not appropriate.

Jesse, Haru and Ron played rock-paper-scissors to see who is going next to the arena. Before they finished, they heard the announcer say that Raven (aka Ade) is available to face challengers.

Jesse: "…"

Haru: "…"

Ron: "…"

After few seconds, all three turned to Sarah and Aiden and started complaining how this is not good.

"Boss, how can he jump the line?", Ron asked in outrage.

"Was there a line?", Sarah asked while trying to keep a straight face. She was not sure if she should laugh or cry. They are the oldest ones out of the generals, and the smallest one took his oportunity while they quarreled. Serves them well.

"Yes! The line of seniority!", Haru responded.

Jesse frowned and looked at Ron and Haru. "If there is such a line, then I should go first! Between the three of us I am the oldest one and I joined Boss first. What is the need for that silly game to determine order?"

"No, no…", Ron interjected. "Out of three of us, I'm the youngest one and I joined last. So, I should go first to make up for the experience I'm lacking."

"No way…", Haru protested. He didn't like that in any case he is not first. Now he understood how the middle child in the family feels (probably).

Sarah and Aiden looked at the three people bickering and laughed.

Sarah laced her fingers with Aiden's and enjoyed that small intimacy.

Ade finished his matches quickly. His goal is to win 10 matches and earn his spot on the board and he had no desire to go beyond that. Partly because he was bored by lack of challenging opponents, and partly because he had an agreement with Jamari.

The statistics on the walls showed:

'Nyx -> Wins: 87; Losses: 0; Ties: 0

Raven -> Wins: 10; Losses: 0; Ties: 0'

"Oh, he is leaving the arena already!", Ron exclaimed.

"OK. I'm next!", Jesse announced.

"No, no… we need to determine order!", Haru pulled Jesse back.

After short bickering, Jesse, Haru and Ron started a game of rock-paper-scissors again.

Announcer's voice boomed: "Ladies and gentlemen, new fighter in the arena awaiting challengers is Dark Claw!"

Jesse: "…"

Haru: "…"

Ron: "…"

Three of them looked at the arena and saw Jamari (aka Dark Claw) stretching his arms. He is wearing a mask, but they can tell it's Jamari!

They turned to Sarah and Aiden and started complaining again. Sarah sighed while thinking that parenthood is a tough job.

"Don't worry.", Sarah pacified Ade when he returned to the VIP booth. She saw that he is sulking. "The word will spread around that there are skillful fighters here, and that will attract next level of challengers."

The statistics on the walls showed:

'Nyx -> Wins: 87; Losses: 0; Ties: 0

Raven -> Wins: 10; Losses: 0; Ties: 0

Black Claw -> Wins: 10; Losses: 0; Ties: 0

Jay -> Wins: 10; Losses: 0; Ties: 0

Surge -> Wins: 10; Losses: 0; Ties: 0

Haru -> Wins: 10; Losses: 0; Ties: 0'

Sarah asked Ron (aka Surge): "What happened with Spike?"

Ron shook his head while saying that Spike has a shameful past, and no good records. So, he will go with Surge from now own.

"Haru, didn't I tell you to come up with a nickname?", Sarah asked Haru when he returned.

"No one will suspect that is my name. It's perfect.", he responded with a sly smile while sneaking glances at Nala.

Girls said that they will compete in the arena some other day. It's late.

Sarah and Aiden approved.

Before they left, Noah told them that number of various underground and gang bosses expressed their desire to meet with the boss of Chaos.

"Tell them that we will be available to meet them on Tuesday.", Sarah responded. "Schedule them one hour apart." She wants to see what they want, and then Aiden and she can discuss further steps.

Noah took notes and headed out to talk to the bosses after wishing a good night to his Mistress (and Aiden).

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