As Maya stood watching the handsome lord of the rings battle yet another opponent that day, she knew that in a month's time, after practicing under Bryan, she would be able to beat him. It was not that she expected to become stronger or more skilled than him within a month but watching him fight, she could see why his opponents always lost to him. They all expected to loose and he always expected to win. It was as simple as that, even Bryan had seemed surprised when he threw Gabe earlier on.

Maya knew why she had to win, loosing would mean she lost everything, acceptance, the place she could finally call home. Her eyes followed his every move as she watched him battle his opponents while for some strange reason, her heart beat quickened as she caught herself wondering what it would be like to have her body move in perfect sync with his perfect body, not in the ring this time around but in a private place.

Just thinking about that made a blush creep up Maya's neck as she felt a fire starting in the pit of her stomach. He was so perfect, from his blond hair to his chiseled face, down to his perfectly sculptured body that was ridden with muscles that looked as hard as Steele rods, she wondered how they would feel under her touch - she also wondered at the boldness of her thoughts, her father would have skinned her alive if he could read her mind right now. He had once given her the white torture, locking her up in an empty room that was painted white, she was dressed in white and had been fed white bread on white plates for two days because she had looked back at a good looking boy when she was fifteen.

Maya had fought the gradual disorientation wondering why this seemingly painless torture from her father seemed the most gruesome. When she had finally started feeling her mental health disintegrate, he had opened the door and released her into the normalcy of her home. It turned out her school mates had asked of her because she had been away from school for two days. Maya wondered what her father would actually do if he could read her thoughts just now, she hoped he never got out of prison.

After Gabriel had fought two more opponents winning both of them, he climbed out of the ring, leaving the arena for others who challenged themselves. All around her, people were betting, staking on or against the fighters and Bryan collected the money. He seemed in charge of that even though it was Bryan who owned the fight- dance club. After she had watched two different groups battle themselves, Maya decided it was time to go home. Back into the unknown, to into a world where even her breath was controlled by her father. He had controlled her before when he had been around, and even now that he was locked away in prison, he still controlled her, the whispers of his past threats still fresh in her ears every time she did something she knew he wouldn't approve of - and there were many things he didn't approve of.

He hated singing, dance - just everything that made her happy, he not only hated happiness, he hated to see her happy. As she headed home to Rachel's house, she said a silent prayer to heaven that her father never got out and if only for that moment, she believed in answered prayers.

Gabriel left the arena feeling dissatisfied. He had still not been able to find someone that could beat him in the dance fight. It was not that he wanted to loose, he wanted to win, he just wanted to fight for that victory. He was sick of things being handed to him on a platter of gold. Everything came to him cheaply. His victories at the arena, his success in career, even the women he slept with. He wondered how it would feel to actually struggle, to fight for something and rejoice at a success you fought for.

Unwittingly, he thought of the woman he had seen a few days back at the arena. She had been breath taking. There had been something about her that was so enchanting, she hadn't been dressed to impress, instead she had been wearing a shabby oversized shirt and her trousers hadn't been any better yet - she hadn't needed beautiful clothes to look good. The oversized shirt and burly pants did nothing to hide her subtle curves and her face - he had seen nothing like that before it was a blend of arousing and innocence like a cross between Angelina Jolie and Selena Gomez. Her bee stung lips had been parted like they were begging to be kissed and there was a slight flush in her perfectly high cheeks. He had wanted to - he wanted to fuck her until she screamed his name, until the only thing she ever thought about was him, until he had totally captivated her heart as she had his but - it was her eyes that stilled him even though she had looked at him with obvious arousal written on her face, her eyes had betrayed her vulnerability. There was a troubled look in her eyes that spoke of secrets no one could know, of pains she had had to survive simply because she had no one to turn to and knowing that he couldn't handle that, that she needed better than him, he had shook his head to try to clear it, break free from whatever spell she had cast on him and as if taking cue from him, when he had turned to deliver a blow to Bryan and turned back again to face the direction he had last seen her, she had been no more. It was like she had been a mere figment of his imagination, a Chimera and he half believed he had thought her up but those eyes, they were a figment of no man's imagination. They had their own stories to tell, their own secrets and it didn't come as a surprise to him that he wanted to learn them.

He arrived at the casino he frequented and got spotted immediately by the owner, Antonio. They weren't really friends and we're hardly business associates but apart from the fact that he had become a frequent guest, in New York, one billionaire was brother to another, well until they wanted the same thing you wanted and then it was time for back stabbing.

He exchanged pleasantries with the middle aged owner and went to his table. His favorite dealer was on duty and she threw a seductive smile at him as she counted out his cards. Feeling reckless, he pushed a hundred yellow chips forward and felt the adrenaline rush yet after three rounds, he had gained an additional fifty thousand dollars to his hundred thousand. He cashed out and got up to go at the same time the pretty dealer's shift was up. He liked her, she was not only hot, she was also smart and at the moment, she wanted the same thing he wanted - care free mind blowing sex with no strings attached.

She leaned up from behind him and whispered into his ear. "I've got a friend that would like to meet you."

He smiled and spurn her little frame around so that she was standing in front of him. "Sounds interesting, where is she?"

"Oh, she's waiting for us outside." She stared up at him a little curiously. "You don't mind that I also like girls do you?"

He shrugged. "As long as this girl likes me, we'll have no problem --"

"Oh she likes you, I have a feeling tonight would be the best night of her life."

He waited as she discussed a bit with the Man she was handing over her shift to and collected her coat then they both headed outside.

The night had proven an interesting one even though he was sure the pretty card dealer had lied, her friend had been more into her than into him. She seemed to like being commanded and the dealer obliged her, sometimes commanding her to do pretty demeaning things. He didn't mind that, it made the girl and the pretty dealer happy and so therefore it made him happy but he had had to put his foot down when the dealer asked her friend to sleep outside in the open, she had ended up sleeping in the reception of his suite. He dropped off to sleep as the dealer was whispering something into his ear about making him happy the rest of his life.

Gabriel woke up feeling like there was something he needed to do, something he had to do. Still feeling groggy from sleep, he tried to focus. It was like there was just that one thing he needed to make his life complete, then he remembered why he had woken up feeling like that. He wanted her. It had just been a brief encounter at the arena yet he felt like she was the one he had been waiting for all along. He had dreamt of her and surprisingly, there had been nothing raunchy about the dream, they had simply been walking bare feet along a beach with the waves making splashing sounds as the water hit against rocks and the cool sand beneath their feet. For the first time, he had felt content. He wished he could make the dream continue.

He gradually opened his eyes to find the dealer at the casino smiling down at him from the other side of his bed. At first he frowned, a bit confused then last night's memories came rushing in.

"I can tell you woke happy" she said smiling coyly and he shrugged, she had no idea.

" Look, we're good for each other. I understand you very well and you seem to really see me, like the real me."

A frown was starting to form across his brows, what the hell was she talking about?

She reached over and smoothed away the frown. "It's okay, I know you're scared, I'm scared too. All this is new and scary."

"What the fuck are you talking about.?"

"I love you Gabriel -- and I know you're starting to feel the same way about me to."

"About you or your friend?" He wondered why he even said that but it was worth it.

An ugly snarl formed on her face so that he wondered why he had ever considered her pretty. "You can stop thinking about my friend, she's gay." The dealer spat. "The only reason I brought her here is because she gets her kick out of feeling jealous, it turns her on."

"And demeaning other women turns you on?"

In an instant, she went from being angry to playing the coquette. " Well you want to know something that turns me on?" She ran her finger through the length of his body. "You do."

He sighed and ran hand through his hair. "You know what Susan --"

"It's Sharon!" Her eyes already held unshed tears.

"Sharon. You can go now. I bet you're friend would be happy to see you. I want to think, I have a busy day ahead of me."

The tears spilled over. "You're such an ass hole and you deserve to burn in hell. I hate you - I hate you more than I've ever hated anyone and you don't even deserve a chance at love."

Gabriel shrugged. "That's what I thought." But he was not thinking about her, he was thinking about a certain dark haired woman.

"I hate you!"

" You've said that before."

The dealer burst into tears and he was not sure if they were even real or part of an act. She got up and tried to wrap the duvet around herself to hide her nakedness but he held on to it. "I've already seen you naked before Sheila, several times."

She got off the bed, a look of pure hatred on her face as she walked out of his room. She must have been trying to act dignified but he could see how small being naked in such a manner in front of him made her feel. He shrugged maybe she should taste a piece of the medicine she had been feeding the other woman, what annoyed him was the fact that he could still bring her to his bed that morning and she would come willingly, all he had to do was show the tiniest bit of attraction.

When he was sure the two women had gone, he got up, showered and dressed. He had another long day ahead of him.

Maya was scared, filled with emotions she couldn't name, her body reacting in ways she couldn't understand. Why did only the mention of the name Gabriel send her heart racing and start a fire in the pit of her stomach, stirring feelings she had never felt before.

Her father had called her a whore when she had looked twice at another teenager when she herself had been a teenager. She had felt angry then and rightfully so, it had given her the self determination to beat her father's white room torture. Now she wasn't so sure, was this what it meant to be a woman of low morals - to want the body of a man on top of her's, doing things to her that no one had done before, a man she barely knew.

In her minds eye, she saw him. The way he had been at the arena the focus in his gaze, the rhythm in his moves. He had obviously not needed to stay focused in other to beat all his opponents, even a dummy could tell he was the better fighter -- yet he had fought with a concentration she had never seen before.

The ringing of an alarm jolted her from her reverie, it was coming from somewhere in Rachel's room. She looked at the clock by her bedside, it was five o'clock.

She had been living in the policewoman's house even though her house had been cleared by the police and she was free to go back yet she didn't want to go home, not yet. She wasn't ready to face her nightmares, to stand in the same house where her mother had been brutally murdered by her own father. There were to many memories, memories she wanted to lock up somewhere in the recess of her mind. Her father had hated birthdays, he had simply ignored her's or he had forgotten her birthday but he hadn't spared her mom and each day that would have been a day of celebration in other families had been a horror in her own house. Her father had always locked himself up with her mother in their room and she had always ended up needing ear plugs and very loud music to block out her mother's screams.

Somehow in the last few days she had felt free, from being herself, from the horror story that was her life. She had felt emotions that she had never felt before, she had even made a friend. Even though she knew Rachel was only putting up with her out of pity, the policewoman was still the closest thing she had ever had to a friend.

She got out of bed and took a shower, she was going to have to face her fears and move back into her house and like her English teacher always said, there was no better time than the present.

"Good morning beautiful." Rachel said as she stepped into the sitting room, she was already in her uniform.

"Good morning Rachel." Maya smiled, trying to be brave. "I'll be going back to my house today."

Rachel looked concerned immediately. "Are you sure you're ready for that, you know you can remain here as long as you want."

Maya sighed. "I know. It's just that I'm going to have to go home one of these days."

"It doesn't have to be today -- you can stay here for a month or two, until we're sure that--"

"Sure that what." She shook her head, a bit confused. "What are you trying to tell me Rachel."

Rachel sat down gently. "He has been granted bail, a thousand dollars but we all believe he can't afford it."

Maya suddenly couldn't breathe, her breath was coming out in whooshes and she couldn't draw in enough air. She tried to concentrate. She had not snitched, her father had no reason to punish her but deep down, she knew he did not need any reason. He had been in jail, he didn't like that and that was reason enough to want to punish her, he could even throw in the fact that she had not come to visit for good measure.

She felt Rachel's reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Breathe." Rachel was saying and gradually, she forced in air into her lungs and forced it out again.

"Like I said earlier, you don’t need to go back there, not today"

Maya shook her head slightly, dread written all over her face. "Yes Rachel, I do have to go back."

With the tournament drawing closer the arena got more busy, many crews practiced in the arena for want of better rehearsals space, others challenged people randomly, beating and getting beat, learning new tricks and teaching old ones.

Maya arrived wearing her mask again, she couldn't let anyone know she was a woman, she wondered how they would react if they found out. Obviously, they would not be very pleased. She shuddered to think what a multitude of men who were not pleased with her might do, her father served as the only example she could come up with in her mind.

"Still feeling embarrassed?'' Maya turned to find who had spoken and saw Bryan.

"Embarrassed? I don't understand what you're talking about." Maya was momentarily confused.

He pointed. "Your mask. You're still wearing it."

She shrugged for want of something to say.

The weather was clouding like it was going to rain and a few bouts of thunder had already waltzed through the atmosphere. Many people crowded into the building and not for the first time, Maya noticed just how many people assembled on a daily basis at the arena simply because they loved to dance -- or fight, she didn't know the difference anymore.

"Want to go inside?" Bryan asked.

"Sure." Maya shrugged and followed in his wake then she realized what he was saying.

"You seem to be here because you want to prove a point to yourself and I don't know what that is but-- it's obvious you don't belong here, I mean, I'm not trying to be mean but look around you, what do you see?"

All Maya could think of as the tears clouded her vision was that boys didn't cry. She tried to do as she was told and looked around. All around her, she saw men of different ages, sizes and races but one thing was common among them, they were all doing what they loved most with utter abandon. She choked down her sobs and answered Bryan with the clearest voice she could muster. "This is my home now Bryan, I cannot go anywhere from here."

Bryan sighed and she saw him pull at his hair from the corner of her eye. "Look Buck -- though I have a feeling that's not even your real name. You cannot really call this home, firstly you're more of a dancer than a fighter and secondly if this were home to you, you wouldn't be wearing that mask. You're built small, what would you do when the bullying comes because trust me, you're going to attract nothing but bullying with the way you stick out like a sore finger."

"So what's your point!" Maya cried out in exasperation, she didn't care anymore about the tears that were freely flowing down her cheek, mingling in and out of her mask.

"Wooh!" Bryan was momentarily shocked, being faced with feminine tears was a horror many Men liked to avoid but being faced with tears from another man was something he was totally unprepared for. "I'm sorry Buck but I lost -- Gabriel said you could join if I could beat him, I didn't --"

"Would I be accepted here if I did this?" Before Bryan could understand what she meant, Maya tugged at her mask and pulled it off.

Bryan drew in a breath as he watched rich curls tumble down a face that was so exquisite, it belonged only in paintings, falling down to her waist then she dug her hand beneath her shirt and pulled out the binders she had used to bind her breasts.

Bryan watched the under formed youth standing before him transform into one of the most beautiful women he had ever come across. "I'm not sure if this helps you're case." He said huskily

"Well at least, we've started getting real around here." They both turned at the sound of Gabriel's deep voice and Maya found herself pinned down by piercing blue eyes that held her with their unfathomable gaze, she could give her right arm to be able to read his mind at that moment.

"Follow me Buck." He said the name with obvious mockery. "We have a lot to talk about."

Maya felt the menace in his words even as she felt heat rush up her neck, she had no idea why she was blushing as she followed Gabriel meekly to a room that looked like an office, praying silently to heaven that he wasn't as experienced as her father in punishment.