My lips tightened. Captain didn’t take well to requests to leave the fight club. I’d really liked him at first, but I was starting to see him for the manipulative bastard he was. He’d made it pretty clear that nothing I said would get me out— and he’d pit me up against the toughest guys in the league if I said anything more. It could literally get me killed to keep pushing him.
So I said the only thing I could to save my friends. “To be honest, Captain, I don’t think they have what it takes.”
“Hey!” Alistair protested. “You wanna see what I’ve got? I’llshowyou what I’ve got!”
Captain laughed, like my attempt to save my friends was comical. “That’s up to them, Bandit. Should you two take this offer, you’ll be provided extra privileges on campus, and be rewarded monetarily.”
“And if we don’t?” Eddie asked warily. I already knew he wouldn’t join— not if I told him so.
“You’ll receive a memory-wiping potion and forget this meeting ever happened,” Captain said. “But should you get into a second fight, you won’t get another opportunity to join. You’ll answer to the Warden next time. This is your one and only chance.”
“I can do it,” Alistair stated confidently. “Let me at those jerks, and I’ll show them what my battle orbs are made of.”
“That’s the thing, Alistair,” I told him. “You can’t use magic in fight club.”
“What?” he balked. “No magic? You expect me to fight with just my fists? No thank you, old man. Those vampires will turn me into a pretzel.”
“Hm,” Captain huffed. He was trying to hide his emotions, but it was obvious he was very displeased with the answer. “And you, Elf?”
Eddie hesitated, then turned to me. “If I was in the fight club with you, we could train together. I could learn how to defend myself here.”
“No,” I stated. “Take the potion, Eddie.”
I wasn’t giving him a choice. As my guard, he was magically bound to do what I said.
“Okay. I’ll take the potion,” Eddie agreed automatically. His answer was a little too bright for Captain’s taste, and I heard him make a dangerous noise.
“Are you sure?” Captain pressed. “This is your one and only shot. Perhaps I can convince you with numbers—”
“They said no,” I snapped. “Give them the potion and be done with it.”
Captain drummed his fingers on his desk, as if waiting for one of them to change their mind. Nobody spoke.
Finally, Captain drew a breath and said, “Very well.”
Slowly, he stood from his desk and opened the door. He called one of his guards outside. “Ender! Get in here!”
“What is it, Cap?”
Captain sounded less than pleased. “Take these boys and get them the memory-wiping potion. We’re done here.”
“Very well, Captain.”
Eddie and Alistair stood, and I started to follow. Before I got out of the room, though, Captain shoved an arm in front of me, nearly clotheslining me. “Not you, Bandit. Let’s chat.”
My stomach dropped from my abdomen as Captain swung the door shut, leaving only the two of us in the room.
“I’ll meet you in your cellblock!” Eddie called before the door shut. I wasn’t sure if he’d remember after he took the potion.
My knees quivered as Captain took a step toward me. I retreated until my back was pressed against the wall. The ex-military head of security loomed over me, his hot, angry breath brushing against my cheek. I thought for sure the vampire was going to pummel me, but he just stood there, letting the adrenaline pump through my blood. I wasn’t scared of most people in this prison, but this man was intimidating as hell.
Captain must’ve had enough with the silence, because he smacked me upside the head— which fuckinghurt.
“Ow!” I cried. I resisted the urge to cradle the side of my head, because you couldn’t show weakness around Captain.
“What the hell is your problem, Bandit?!” he roared. His nose was barely an inch from mine, and spittle flew into my face. “You just cost me two fighters! Those bets could’ve bought you a mansion if you wanted it, with the recruitment commission!”
To hell with it. I wouldn’t let my friends join for all the money on Darke Island.
