Vengence's Odyssey

Chapter six

Harry Banter was not just another number at the party, he was popular, he was feared and he was a fierce fighter. Alice could feel her bones chill as she heard his voice from behind her. She braced herself for his assault, he was not the kind to back down without a fight. 

  Harry Banter, the son of a mafia boss, he was the infamous Hunter, the martial art fighter and a notorious show off. It was not in his nature to take no for an answer, one of the reasons Alice was trying damn hard to avoid him, even going as far as taking Christian along with her, hoping to use him as a shield so Hunger would back down, but she should have known better. 

   The Banter and wills were one of the richest and ruthless mafia in the city and. Harry's father had always wanted him to marry Alice and finally unite the two families, making them an even greater name. But Alice was not into Harry, she had no intentions of being with him and talking more of marrying him. 

   "Don't be rude, Alice, introduce us," the man said as he walked to the couple and smirked at Christian, his teeth bared. 

   "Raymond, I didn't know you were coming...this is..." But before Alice  could speak, Christian stretched his hand to Harry and introduced himself. 

  "I'm her boyfriend." Christian stated and watched Harry's face morph into an ugly sneer, one he tried hard to mask with a fake and aloof look. 

  "Nice, I've never met you before, boyfriend." He replied and then turned to look at Alice who was a little shocked at Christian's blurted response. She didn't want trouble and she could sure as hell perceive it coming. 

  Harry grabbed hold of Christian's hand in a rather firm grip, his larger fist squeezing in and attempting to crush Christian's knuckles. But Christian was smarter, he knew his trick even before he thought of it and he held his hand firm, contracted and his face unaffected as he tried harder to hurt him. 

   Harry could see that Christian was not affected by his antics, he had expected him to either yell out painfully or wiggle out of his hold with a wince, but neither happened, instead, Christian calmly took his hand back and gave him a wry smile. 

  "I guess you really are her boyfriend, huh?" He asked, his sneer apparent, he wanted to intimidate Christian and he could not quite get to him. 

   "You're pleased to meet me, I'm sure." Christian said, his cocky smirk in place, his hand then snaked around Alice's waist and stayed there possessively. Alice was obviously uncomfortable but she could not speak, not when both men looked to be in a staring contest. Harry glared at him and his hand which was resting on Alice's waist, he had the instinct to shove him away and claim his woman - or so he'd always thought. But then, Christian did not appear like the weakling he thought he'd be. 

   Harry was a fierce fighter and a martial artist, he knew how to fight and he'd taken down a good number of persons for the record. 

  "As a matter of fact I'm glad to meet you Mr. Stranger, so how about you tell us who you are, huh?" He asked, eager to goad Christian.

   Christian  merely smiled, he knew how much he was affecting him, he could smell his rage from a foot away and he basked in it. "I guess you know it already, I'm Mr. Stranger, I'm nameless." He replied with a smirk. 

  Harry laughed, a barking and cold sound, then he turned to some men who stood behind him and nodded in contempt, "He says he's nameless, huh?" He asked rhetorically and nodded at Christian with sneer. 

   "This right here is one of our territories, so guess what? There are no strangers allowed." He said and got even closer to Christian, his face right within the same breathing space. Christian stood his ground, his eyes fixed on him, he was completely at ease, his stance had not changed and he was certainly not intimidated. 

   "I think I have an idea, Mr Stranger, how about we try out our skills?" He offered and the two guys behind him nodded in agreement. There was a sudden hush around the room. Some of the people who knew Harry knew him for his strength and Mixed Martial Arts skill, he was undisputed, he'd undertaken many cage fights and killed a number of persons which he'd covered up with the right connections and money. 

   "I see a podium up there, I see an audience eager for some fun, how about we entertain them with a fight? What do you say, Stranger?" Harry asked, his face in a mocking laugh and his hands spread wide in invitation. 

   Alice knew who Harry was, she was afraid, she didn't think Christian would be able to stand a fight with him, not with the record and skills that Harry had. She tugged at Christian's shirt and shook her head lightly at him, pleading with her eyes for him to refuse such an invitation. 

   "Come on, don't be a coward," Harry teased with a sneer and began to circle him, his eyes fixed on him and some of the men were already behind to cheer and applaud. 

   A circle was fast forming around them, some had taken out their cell phones and others were roaring in cheers and pumping fists. Alice tugged again at him and this time whispered, "Don't do this, walk away, please." She begged him sternly but Christian was not that man, he never had been. 

  Emily was also panicked, her face was crumpled in a fearful frown and she shook her head violently at Alice, telling her to make Christian stand down, she knew who Harry was he'd never lost a fight, not once. 

   But before Alice could talk sense into him, Christian had already turned to Harry and boldly said, "Let's do this." The crowd erupted in cheers.