Page 2 of I Am Lioness

Two…

One…

Mayhem.

Hundreds of blood-lusting spectators jumped to their feet in a frenzy of excitement that echoed off the walls in the L.A. arena. The referee slammed his hand down on the mat beside my incapacitated opponent, then sliced his arms through the air, signaling the end of another round. Rising to his feet, he threw my arm up as the booming sound of the announcer’s voice blared above the clamoring cheers, declaring me the victor for round four. I smiled triumphantly, my chest heaving with each breath, my entire body vibrating with a surge of adrenaline from yet another win.

Like two lasers burning a gaping hole through my head, Leilani’s menacing glare was utterly palpable. I took one look at her weakened form laid out on the blood-spattered mat and knew there was no way she could trump me. Round five would undoubtedly be mine. The thought widened my smile.

When the ref released me from his grasp, I immediately pivoted around the ring, bowing my head reverently in a silent thank you to all my fans. While it may have seemed brandish and unnecessary to some, in my eyes it was the very least I could do for them. Their love and support knew no bounds, and for that, I made it a point to show them how thankful I was.

Waves of cheering continued as I retreated to my corner and leaned back against the fence. My coach, Bernie Gutierrez, was at my side within seconds, ready to clean me up and cover a plan of attack for the last and final round of the evening. Handing me a chilled bottle of Gatorade, he tilted my head to inspect the sole injury on my face. Rivulets of blood trickled down from my eyebrow and over my cheek in a steady drip, splattering onto the mat beneath my feet.

“One more round, kid. You ready?” He asked, whipping out a few items from his aiding pouch.

Taking a swig of the blue electrolyte goodness, I nodded and met his brown-eyed stare with a gleaming, broad smile.

He pointed a finger in warning yet his expression failed to hold any hint of frustration, his lips curling in an amused smirk. “Cut the cocky crap. It's not over yet.”

I choked back a laugh at Bernie’s rendition of a stern coach, a role that was most certainly not his strong suit.

“I haven't said a word.” I quipped innocently, batting my eyelashes and all.

“No, but I’m sure you were thinking something of the sort in that stubborn head of yours.” He eyed me momentarily, obviously expecting one of my typical smart-mouthed remarks. Now was not the time for my usual shenanigans, though, and when he realized there was no sassy comment to come, he returned his focus to the task at hand, looking all too pleased that he’d had the last word.

The man worked quickly and efficiently. Within minutes my face was free of all blood and sweat, and the light sting on my brow had nearly disappeared. He stood back to admire his handiwork, rolling the lid onto the salve tin. “We may need to stitch that up if you take another hit there, but for now it’s looking good.”

I scoffed. “Last time I checked, Kealoha was nearly out of commission. I’d be surprised if she lands a punch, period.”

Bernie agreed with a simple nod of his head and stepped aside, granting me an unprecedented view of my opponent in the opposite corner, struggling to catch her breath. A stream of crimson poured from her nose and the right side of her face had already begun to swell, a deep bluish hue spreading across the puffy skin in what would definitely result as a nasty bruise. Leilani’s slanted black eyes were trained intently on my less than disheveled form, her blood-stained lips set in a grim line. Winded and all, she looked ready to rip me apart limb by limb, but given her currently battered state, her musing was more of a delusion than any probable reality.

A newbie to the league, Leilani Kealoha was blindsided at every turn through each round. No amount of training could have prepared her for being locked in that cage withme. With brisk footing and powerful punches, I’d done a number on her in a short span of time. All I needed was one more clean shot to the face and it was lights out for her.

Good night, sleep tight.

Lioness strikes again.

Lani’s coach sidled in to attend to her bloodied face, abruptly blocking her from my view. I lifted the Gatorade bottle to my lips and took another long sip, the mellow citrus flavor bursting over my taste buds as it slid down my throat. Passing Bernie the half emptied bottle, I pushed off the cage and promptly hopped onto the balls of my feet, my arms coming up reflexively instance.

“She's weak but you need to stay focused.” Bernie commented beside me. “Until that clock times out, there's always a chance for something to turn around.”

“Oh, please. The girl can barely breathe. You really think she's miraculously going to regain enough stamina to take me down?”

“Thatis exactly what I mean about staying focused, Hazel. Get your head out of your ass and take a look at this from every possible angle. It's the last round. Never underestimate the power of retaliation when under pressure.”

“Under pressure or not, some magical comeback seems unlikely if you ask me.”

“Stubborn as ever.” He sighed deeply, shaking his head in defeat. “Just promise me you’ll stay focused, kid.”

I stilled and turned my head to look him square in the eye. “Don't I always?”

He crossed his arms, holding my stare. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean you aren’t in need of a reminder from time to time. Distractions are all too easy when you have this many people” -he circled a finger through the air- “blowing up your ego.”

“My ego is just fine, thank you very much. A tad inflated sometimes? Maybe.”

“A tad?” He chuckled.

I rolled my eyes. “They’re far from distracting, Pops. If anything, their cheers fuel me. They make me go harder, amp me up, keep me going. Without them, and you of course, I wouldn’t be here.”

---