The Immortal: Vampire (Story) - Prologue

Blood. The first thing one smells when entering the arenas. The last thing spilled by the fallen. And, for some, it's worn as a badge of honor.

I had never been one for getting into fights, but I loved to watch them. Now, fighting is my way to survive. Like the Roman gladiators of my time, those of us who are forced to fight nightly are forced to kill to survive. We are slaves.

Some, like myself, are vampires. We are considered one half of the top two Dark Blood clans. While not many have my experience in battle, some do pose a challenge with the varying strength and agility levels. So far as I know, I'm the oldest vampire in the fighting ring and the only one originally from Rome.

Others, more numerous in number than vampires, are werewolves, the other half of the top two. They are the most unpredictable and aggressive. They're hard to beat because of that. I have only one ally in this volatile species, a young female born in 17th century Germany. I believe the only reason we are allies is due to the fact we're in the same stable...and we're both owned by a vampire who's older than myself and calls himself Rhyn.

Along with the young werewolf and myself are two shape-shifters (a step lower than vampires and werewolves), a witch (one of the lowest classes indeed), and a demon (a species classed with shape-shifters if they're high ranking or a step above witches if they're low ranking).

Each night, every stable is brought to an arranged fighting ring and anyone can be challenged by anyone outside their stable. Or the stable owners can arrange matches. We fighters never know who we're fighting and on what night.

If I keep winning the fights, perhaps Rhyn will arrange for me to fight the vampire who managed to kill my mortal family soon after I was made into one of the undead.

Kunodi...I will destroy him if it kills me.