Page 67 of Stars At Dusk

‘The prize money for the most part. The Sable Group wasn’t pumping schills then like it is now. We were scrabbling for whatever we could find to make bank. This place is legendary across the entire System for hosting some of the most memorable and high banking brawls. An invitation to The Nebula Crown meant I could earn money to keep me and my brothers afloat.’

‘And did you win?’ Harlow asked.

‘Fokk yeah,’ he confirmed softly. ‘The Nebula Crown is an illegal fight club but where it differs from the seedy, sweat soaked underground clubs is that it’s aimed at wealthy businessmen, professionals and anyone with the money to afford the 5000 schill monthly fee. Gives them a chance to work out their high life stress out on a brawling ring. Occasionally though to spice things up, they invite the underworld’s most famous street brawlers to fight the well heeled of the city. This was how I got my in. I was the prize fighter the rich and mighty tried to knock-out in multiple no-rules bare knuckle slug fests. I won every fight for a year. I was merciless, wearing them down both physically and mentally. I won hundreds of thousands and became unbeatable.’

‘True?’

‘‘Tis. I was unrelenting. Used my fists and body mass for years to work out my pain. Thought twice about it when I was cut up bad in a fight by akinaiwho was salty about my winning streak. Decided therapy was a better way to deal with my issues. I quit soon after - and made sure to walk away with a lifetime membership. Since then, they’re always asking me back coz I made so much bank for the club too. But now I only do it for charity.’

She sat up and looked at him. He met her concerned gaze with a sincere one of his own.

‘So much to unpack there,’ she said. Her eyes flicked to his scars, which up until this moment, they’d never discussed.

‘Is that where you were cut up?’

‘Naam. Twice. First by the devil, then by my nemesis.’

Her eyes widened at his revelation. She paused a beat waiting for him to divulge more but his eyes shuttered briefly and she cautioned herself against pushing it.

‘May I touch you?’

His eyes widened, then he nodded.

She reached out a hand and used a finger to trace the ridged skin. His silver eyes blazed as she tracked the jagged scars down into his beard.

‘Did you know,’ she whispered softly, ‘That on ancient Earth, in the tribes of the African people, scars were an expression of bravery and a mark of dignity and social status? Back in the day, a warriors’ scar signified the number of battles he’d won. Or the number of animals he’d hunted. A sign of bravery and strength, which commanded great respect. They were also beautiful elements of attraction. They were believed to enhance one’s features in order to stimulate and attract potential sexual partners. These people also believe that merely touching the scars can induce strong erotic feelings in both men and women.’

Kage took a sharp breath. ‘And do you believe that? About my scars?’

‘Maybe.’

His eyes glimmered and he leaned into her hand that was still cradling his scarred cheek.

‘Harlow, Harlow, Harlow, what you do to me woman -’

Just as he spoke there was the sound of a bell.

‘First bout of the night,’ Kage murmured.

The interruption broke the intimate moment and nonplussed, Harlow rose and walked to the edge of the dais to see the ring below better.

Two men emerged from an underground passage to the sound of chanting and shouts coming from the floor of the packed arena, as well as from the floating booths above.

The combatants, large, muscly and naked to the waist, met at the centre of the ring decked with sand, to bow before an umpire.

‘Five rounds of action, three minutes long,’ Harlow heard the umpire instruct.

He lifted a hand and threw it down and the fight was on.

The fighters launched kicks, punches, elbows, and knees, striking so hard Harlow could hear the slap of flesh all the way up in their private platform. The fight was brutal, bloody and unhinged. She shivered at the sight.

Kage stepped up close to her and pulled her gently against him, so her back was flush to his front. ‘Knife fighting is allowed in some cases, so are swords. But in the bare knuckle brawls, fighters can only punches and they are not allowed to use kicks, eye pokes, or strike below the waist. Injuries range from deep cuts, fractures, and broken jaws, and they’re medics on standby.’

‘It’s practically gladiatorial,’ Harlow said in awe. ‘How do people do this?’

‘Since the dawn of time, there have always been those amongst us,kara, that need to walk on the wild side,’ Kage said softly behind her. ‘You can take out your wild in public and go down for it, or you can take on another wild one in a controlled space like this. Where your wild is respected, matched and unleashed. It’s the only thing that tames you.’

At one point, one of the fighters unleashed a volley of kicks that were so brutal, Harlow turned and flung herself into Kage’s arms.

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