<strong>Adrianna:</strong><br/><br/>Adrianna's cell begins to shake and lift.  Light filter above her and were she to look up, she would see the red orange glare of a harsh Hell sun.  Humid air is replaced by a whoosh of hot dry arid desert air and the sounds of mass cheering and cajoling assault the senses.  She will stand in a circle and the cage will disappear, leaving her to see those who had been in the slave pens now beginning to face off dangerous looking opponents one by one.<br/><br/>A soft giggle from behind and the air is filled with the scent of a garden of roses.  Behind her is a woman, beautiful and otherworldly.  Her hair is red and her skin has a pale green cast to it.  She smiles mischievously.  Such a pretty site, the woman, who seems naked, sits inside a giant rose.  A flower in a throne of rose.  But what is this, the woman inches closer but she does not step from the giant aromatic petals, instead, beneath the bloom, the color of blood, tentacles of thorns slither, pushing the woman forward.  Closer inspection will show that the rose and the woman are fused.<br/><br/>Beautiful as this creature is, she is dangerous.  In her left hand she holds a scythe with a wicked point, the vines of the handle, seething and writhing like snakes.  The eye in the cross section, yellow and staring, blinks at Adrianna.<br/><br/>"My, my.  It has been so long since I have played.  Pity though.  It's no fun when I play with girls.  The scream of man is so much better.  Plus I get the bonus of harvesting their seed.  What use have I for eggs?  I am Alraune (http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs47/f/2009/176/9/8/Alraune_by_GENZOMAN.jpg) after all.  Oh!  Do you wish to have a baby?  Pregnant here in the depths of hell?"  Girlish laughter filled the area.  "Now, wouldn't that be silly."<br/><br/>Alraune began to twirl the scythe over her head.  A distraction.  Two vines, with wicked thorns the size of daggers and roses in full bloom began to slither from beneath the giant rose towards Adrianna.  The air grew heavy with the aroma of roses, so heavy, so dreamy, as if it would be nice to just sit and smell them.  Lay down and take a nap......<br/><br/><strong>Herja:</strong><br/><br/>Thick gray smoke began to coalace and form, growing in size.  From within the haze hissings and howls.  The sound of jaws snapping the air.  From out of the smoke a taloned claw.  Each talon cruel like a saber, the glinting tips sinking into the sands.  The beast steps forward and he is fearsome.  The body is an amalgam of animals.  No part is just one part.  The eyes waiver, trying to figure out just what to make of the creature, to give it one name.  There is but one and it is Chimera (http://www.creativeuncut.com/gallery-05/art/gow2-chimera.jpg).  The tail is a like a giant Anaconda, striking forward with venomous fangs.  In the middle of the chest is a human face, but not like any human face should be.  Teeth...no, more like tusks protrude at odd angles.  It's eyes are red and wild, it's nose like that of a beast.  One shudders to hear it speak, but it does.<br/><br/>"You smell of prey.  We are hungry.  Power in your blood to feed us."  A long, forked tongue, flicks out to wet...lips?  A rumbling growl comes from the goatlike head.  "Ye-eh-eh-eh-ssss, fee-ee-ee-d usssss."<br/><br/>It begins to circle the slave, playing with it's food, edging ever closer.<br/><br/>*****************<br/><br/>The Arena Master leans forward, some of the slaves have already begun their bouts.  He face is blank, even as his mind turns.  Even if he did smile, one could not tell through the skull visage he wore.  This had to be the first batch of his most promising fighters.  Such amused him.  Breaking the unbreakable or for those whose will was too strong, bending them until they had no choice.  He turned his gaze to the Princes.  It seemed as though all had not arrived but even without stretching his senses, he could still feel them.  They were eager.  Perhaps from this batch.  He had heard they grew tired of the easy ones, wanting...more.  Perhaps one of these would provide.<br/><br/>A slave girl passed by and his long arm reached out and grabbed her about the waist.  He hooked his finger and ripped the cloth of her meager tunic, the sound of fabric tearing filling the air.  She screamed and squirmed in his grasp, to afraid and startled to be cowed.  He laughed a terrible laugh as he fondled her breasts, the skin bleeding and tearing from his mauling.  Her screams turned to cries of pain and he brought her face close to his.  "If you do not wish more, go bring me the Messenger."<br/><br/>He released the shivering girl who scrambled to her feet and ran as if her life depended on it.  He did not watch her go, just rose from his seat and stepped forward.  "Who will be the first to fall?  Who will rise to the occasion?  But you all look so tiny down there.  Perhaps we need a better view."<br/><br/>Even as he said the words, the circles below began to turn counterclockwise,  The sound of stone groaning beneath there feet.  The outer ring began to glow.  An aerial view would show each connected by a line of light, forming a a demonic circle.  The circles began to rise until they were fifteen feet off the ground, minimum.  Some were higher.  The sands blew away and it was as if the opponents faced each other on circle of glass.  The circles turned and the crowd cheered.<br/><br/>"Now, show me the worthy.  I assure each one of you, a fruitless fight brings punishment worse than death.  Amuse me and there are...rewards."  As he stood, surveying the Arena, the crowds, the Princes, he saw the lines that began to connect.  Yes.  All was coming together.  Soon but not yet.  Not yet.