Battle Interupted

Patrick Lussier is walking in the night. He walks down a dark alley between two apartment buildings, looking high and low. He sniffs the air, catching the scent of blood and rot. He walks over to a dumpster and opens it up, discovering the body of William Fetcher, otherwise known as the Pink Cowboy. A local pimp around these parts who had controlled the prostitution rings for some time. He pulls a smartphone out of his pocket and dials a number.

Partick Lussier - Esmeralda has struck again, either her or one of her Valkyries. 

“Dahling, you may as well know it was me.”

Patrick hangs up the phone and puts it away. He doesn’t turn around, but smiles. 

Patrick Lussier - How long have you been looking for me?

Esmeralda von Krauss - Long enough, dahling. You were the one to kill my Minerva.

It was not a question, but a statement that hung in the air. Patrick smiles and slowly turns around. 

Patrick Lussier - How would you know it was me?

Esmeralda grins as Patrick slowly turns around, Minerva’s silver blade tucked into his belt. 

Esmeralda von Krauss - Those daggers are enchanted with tracking. Don’t think I did not know where you were. It’s why you are seeing me and not one of my Valkyries. 

Patrick Lussier - My mother will be pleased when she discovers that I have slain you. 

Esmeralda von Krauss - Will she? Or will she even notice that you have died? 

Patrick growls, a deep, guttural sound, as his eyes begin to glow red. 

Patrick Lussier - I will make you eat those words. My mother loves me!

Esmeralda von Krauss - Let’s get with the dying. I’m afraid that I am on a rather tight schedule. 

Patrick Lussier - Let’s get to it then. 

Patrick grows, his hair lengthening and transforming to a red while his skin takes on a bruised purple as he transforms into a monster nearly nine feet tall, his clothes shreds on his monstrous frame. Esmeralda smiles. 

Esmeralda von Krauss - A male Annis Hag. I wonder if you know how rare you are…

That’s when a police siren is heard and lights can be seen in the area. Patrick halts his advance toward Esmeralda and leaps high into the air, landing on the fire escape for the apartment building. He leaps again, vanishing into the night as police arrive on the scene while drawing their weapons and pointing them at Esmeralda. 

Police - Freeze! Hands in the air! 

Esmeralda von Krauss - It is good you found me, dahlings. I was just looking for my friend and I just found him in this dumpster. Someone murdered the Pink Cowboy! 

Hours later, Esmeralda von Krauss is walking out of the police station, having given her statement on what had happened and not up for any charges. She gets into the back of a waiting limo and chuckles as she gets out a black, foot-long cigarette holder and lights up an Egyptian cigarette in it. She takes a long drag from it and blows the smoke into the air. 

Esmeralda von Krauss - Aaahh, he has escaped. I am sure that he will ditch the dagger now, but I will find him again. But for now, we have to look to the future. 

She gets out her smartphone and turns on Facebook Live before setting the phone down so that the camera is on her. 

Esmeralda von Krauss - Christian Patrick, welcome to my chaos. You’ll be facing me for the Chaos Championship in stipulations that we don’t even know outside of the fact that it cannot be the same stipulation twice in a row. Are you certain that you are ready for this, Christian? I am ready for the chaos to come. I have been ready for…well, for a long time. This championship was made for me, you know, dahling. 

Esmeralda takes another drag from the cigarette, flicking ashes onto the floor of the limo before moving on. 

Esmeralda von Krauss - I don’t see much intel on you outside of the fact that you are a fierce warrior. You won the shot against me, and I will plan to give you everything that I have. Expect to bleed, expect to find panic deep within your soul when you discover that everything you throw at me isn’t enough. I will take you down as I will all challenges as I work my way to the top of this company.