Chapter 2

Back Alleyways of West Hollywood, California, United States

This showdown between Vinny's gang and his rival, Maurice's, had been a long time coming. The fights in the streets were numerous, each gang member taking a shot when they could. It was time that the leaders fought—ending this battle—proving once and for all who ruled the streets of Los Angeles. Vinny knew it would be him.

Facing the large man in the alleyway, Vinny felt the familiar thrill of adrenaline as it filled his veins. Maurice might be larger than Vinny, but that didn't matter. This fight would be won by the quickest hand. It would be secured by the first man to pull his gun and fire with the truest aim.

Eyeing the men flanking Maurice, Vinny counted the many figures dressed in black. There were three of them and three men standing at Vinny's back. When this fight was over, there would be fewer. But because the gang leader was so confident that he'd win, he didn't worry that he'd lose all his men.

Behind Maurice and his goons, people passed by the narrow alleyway on their way home or off to the bars and restaurants. The shootout would no doubt take down innocent people, but that wasn't Vinny's problem.

They were fighting under the streetlamps in a back alleyway. That was one way they'd lessened stray bullets. But he'd mostly chosen this place for the duel so they didn't get the attention of the police, rather than to protect the innocent. If a few who weren't gang members took a bullet, then what did Vinny care? He had to show Maurice who was boss, once and for all.

"This ends tonight," Vinny said, his voice clear and loud, his hand flexing next to his gun on his hip.

Maurice laughed, showing a row of silver teeth. "Where do you want to be buried?"

Vinny's eyes flicked up when the streetlamp over them sputtered, making him nearly pull his gun prematurely. That wasn't the rule, though. Vinny was many despicable things, but he played by the rules. He wouldn't pull his gun until the countdown.

"We agree that whoever wins this, rules the streets of Los Angeles. Their gang members show the winner allegiance, right?" Vinny asked, looking around at the other men surrounding the man before him.

Another laugh from Maurice. "Yeah, your gang is about to work for me, being my footstools."

Tired of Maurice's usual smack talking and ready to put a cap in this guy once and for all, Vinny was ready to call for the countdown. Before he could, the streetlamp flickered overhead. Went out completely, raining sparks down on the gangs below, like there had been an electrical fire.

Something dropped down from the sky between Vinny and Maurice. A crouched figure stood. In the dark, Vinny could only make out the outline of a small person before they sprang into action. Before anyone could react, before anyone could fire, before the shouts rang out, a boot whacked Vinny hard across the face.

He hit the pavement with a thud, never remembering being assaulted so hard and abruptly. Rolling to the side, he watched a slender, hooded figure in black knock out Maurice, kicking him hard across the face. Behind him, Vinny's men fled, their footsteps sounding like true betrayal to him.

One of the gang members rushed forward, but the strange intruder spun around, thrusting their boot into his stomach, knocking him into the men behind them. They fell like dominos. Picking up a trashcan, the invader threw it down on the cluster of tangled men on the pavement.

In a blur, the assailant defended themself from the last man standing, one who had been hiding to the side. Easily, the hooded figure wrapped their arms around the man's neck, twisted forward and threw him over their back, hard to the concrete, knocking them out at once.

Vinny made to stand, but a boot pushed him down again, pressing hard into his back.

"If you want to kill each other, then do it," the voice of a woman said. "But don't do it where innocent people can get hurt. If this happens again, then next time, I won't leave any of you alive. Got it?"

With his face pressed hard into the smelly pavement, Vinny could only manage a grunt that he hoped sounded like yes.

The woman picked up her foot, stepping back into the shadows. Vinny lifted up, catching sight of the stranger who had taken down five men at once and scared away the cowards he called gang members. She was beautiful in the ambient light from the neighboring streets, her hood having fallen back to reveal a long blonde braid over her shoulder. She was dressed like straight out of the medieval era in an armored top laced up in the front and a half skirt and boots. Her porcelain skin made her seem fragile, although the way she'd kicked all their asses contradicted that observation.

"Who are you?" Vinny asked through a mouthful of blood, knowing that he'd never seen anyone like this before. "W-W-What are you?"

"I'm Gen Beaufont," the woman said, glaring down at him. "I'm a medieval warrior, meant to fix this world."

And just as fast as the vigilante had appeared, she vanished, leaving no trace and all who had witnessed her prowess, cowering in fear.