The day before the fight, Ava was anxiously pacing back and forth in her room, feeling like a student who had to study at the last moment for the big exam. She wasn't able to see Lynn these past two weeks, nor Marcus, who would come to check on her on the daily. Now she was left alone with only her thoughts to keep her company. Even Ruby who previously knocked on her door at the same time each day was nowhere to be found. She tried asking one of the many vampires patrolling the hallways about her and Marcus's whereabouts, but the answer was always: "We are not allowed to give out any information, boss's orders."

Unsatisfied with the same words being tossed at her, she decided it was about time she went to search on her own. She noticed Elenor on the second floor, sitting on the carpet in a fetal position while surrounded by other vampires who were seemingly disturbed by her, judging by their faces. Upon a closer look, Ava saw that one of them was bleeding from a massive wound in their shoulder. Someone whispered "I told you not to get any closer to her. She's gone completely off the rails."

Syd came in angry, telling the crowd of spectators to disperse and leave her alone. He snatched her up without hesitating and she didn't seem to show any hostility toward him.

"What's wrong with you?" He scolded her. "I've been acting so weird lately, weirder than your usual self."

Ava stepped closer to them. Perhaps she could use the time while he was distracted to ask questions.

"Syd, do you know where I can find Marcus?" She asked.

"No, I haven't seen that little turd in weeks, why?" He shook his head without giving it much thought. "As you can see I have other issues right now. This idiot here is trying to get herself killed and I didn't know for how much longer I could cover for her before the boss finds out."

"How about your boss?"

"She is..." he bit his tongue, remembering that he wasn't supposed to tell. "I have no idea."

Ava knew he was lying, but decided that ultimately it would be best to not be persistent and left without saying anything.

***

As he was left with no human blood for two weeks (or any blood for that matter), Lynn started to feel the changes taking hold of him. Every single tooth in his mouth grew sharper, he even cut his tongue a few times when he tried to feel their shape. His skin was nearly translucent. He could see the black veins bulging on his arms when he pulled his sleeves. He was grateful there were no mirrors around for he was too afraid to look at his reflection.

The terrible screeching of the other inmates almost started to make sense to him. Instead of pointless screaming, they sounded like cries for help. The hunger was driving them mad. Lynn wondered when it would be his time to join them. He barely noticed when Ruby entered the premises, unannounced. Her silhouette loomed over him as he struggled to get up. She was carrying a blood pack, which she tossed at him without saying a word.

Consumed by bloodthirst, he didn't give it a second thought before downing its contents. Something he quickly regretted as he soon began vomiting profusely.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Ruby asked, lifting an eyebrow. "It's just some strawberry juice. Oh, wait. My bad, I forgot you cannot eat any human food." She twisted her lips in a smile. "What a shame."

"Came here to torment me?" Lynn said in a faint voice. "I expected no less from you. Perhaps you derive some sick type of pleasure from seeing the suffering of others."

"No need to flatter me. I just wanted to see if you had turned yet. In the end, I might not even need you for my plan. "She leaned forward. "Do try to keep your sanity until tomorrow for me, ok? In case I need to hold my end of the deal."

"What deal?" There was a growing concern in his voice.

"Me and your girlfriend made a bet. She is going to fight for your freedom, how lovely is that?"

Lynn looked at her with a gaping mouth, not wanting to believe his ears. The image of Ava going against that monster was enough to make him want to throw up again out of worry. He couldn't bear the thought of seeing her bruised and beaten up the very way he was before his capture.

"I can forget about the fact you turned the old clan into a cartel..." he uttered. Eyes filled with spite. "What you did to Ella... I can even forgive you for turning my best friend's remains into that stupid chalice, but if you as much as lay a finger on Ava..."

"Her name is Sellen! Get it into that thick skull of yours!" Ruby became visibly angry as she grabbed the iron bars, staring down at him. "You're awfully confident with making threats for someone in such a sorry state!"

He used the moment to grab her by the neck and slam her head against the iron, leaving a red mark. He burned his hand in the process, but wouldn't loosen his grip, no matter the pain he was in.

"Let go of me..." She muttered through her teeth.

"Try to break loose. What's wrong? I thought you were stronger than me."

"Let go of me or I'll make you eat that pile of vomit you just threw up." Her red eyes glistened, though now there was a note of fear mixed with the anger.

"Try it."

"Hypnosis doesn't work in you, does it? I bet Elenor taught you how to become immune to it. I did well bashing her fucking brains out." She laughed in a maniacal tone.

"You disgust me..." Lynn released his grip, being sickened by the fact he even touched her. "Why she was ever friends with someone like you is beyond me."

"I wasn't always like this, you know. After Sellen and I got separated, I went searching for a cure for vampirism, knowing neither of us had a chance of a normal life after what they did to us. I stumbled upon a scientist who promised he could help me out. Around the same time, I started consuming vampiric blood to get stronger and fend for myself, but in the end, I wasn't strong enough when it mattered most. He was killed by a gang of bloodsuckers before he could finish his research, I barely had the chance to grieve before they captured me. They used me as their blood bank, as you know, we hybrids are pretty useful when it comes to that. That wasn't the worst part, however. The worst part was when they took turns penetrating every hole in my body and then making new ones that they could use."

Lynn stood silent, feeling his stomach starting to turn from the mental image. He almost felt sympathy for her, he knew what it was like to suffer under the hands of an abuser.

"It was around the same time that I met Edwin." She continued." He was the one to save me, but by that time I was already a different person."

"Why did you kill him?"

"He wanted to spare the ones who did those awful things to me. Can you believe that? Of course, you could. You knew him better than anyone after all." She paced back and forth around the cage with her hands behind her back like a schoolgirl. "But... to be honest that's not the true reason I killed him. "She paused to think, her expression suddenly changing." Up to that point, I thought that Sellen was the only person I would ever care about, but Edwin was something else... no matter how much I opposed him, he would treat me with nothing but respect and kindness. He saw me as an equal despite our differences. It wasn't long until I desired something more than a friendship..."

"You did all of this because he rejected you?" Lynn uttered in disbelief. "You know he's not into women, right? Even less - homicidal maniacs like you!"

"That's rich coming from you!" Ruby yelled back. "And yes, I knew that... He told me about how the two of you met, the thousands of people you've killed during your days as a mercenary. He wouldn't shut up about you." She spoke through her teeth, narrowing her eyes. "Sellen too. It's just you, you, you... Everyone's fucking obsessed with you!"

Lynn stood there silent. It never dawned on him that the reason she hated him so much was out of jealousy. When she finally settled in one place he was able to see that the red marks on her face from earlier hadn't disappeared yet.

"I can't wait until she rips your heart out." Ruby continued, this time replacing her rage with excitement. "I would love to do it myself, but meeting your end in the hands of your lover? Now that's just too poetic!" She paused noticing the look on his face. "What are you staring at?"

"Are those burn marks?" He said. If she was the same as Ava, she wasn't supposed to get burned when in contact with silver.

"Your eyes are deceiving you, old man." She rubbed the spot on her forehead. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I fight to attend in a few hours from now."

"Wait! I'll do anything that you want from me, just please don't hurt her."

The red-eyed woman started walking away.

"It's not up to you." She said dismissively. "We made a deal and we shook our hands already. There's nothing left for you to do but wait patiently for your final sentence. Oh, and by the way - if you really loved her as you claim, you would have been out of here by now."