ReemAfterDark: Prologue for "God of the Ring" by Keith Kareem Williams

PROLOGUE

I AM A GOD

Before the bell, I am not afraid, and then I am but I welcome the fear because it’s that fear of failure that keeps me sharp. There are thousands of eyes on me here in the arena and millions more focused on me through the lenses of these video cameras, watching intensely via pay-per-view television screens with all of their hopes and dreams rolled up tightly in MY fists. Some of them have wagered everything they own except their souls that I will win… again. Most of them still hate me and pray that I will lose but didn’t have the nerve to foolishly bet against me. Above the thunderous music booming from the sound system, I can hear the serenade of hateful words the mob spits at me as I walk towards the ring where a giant will fall tonight. Although he outweighs me by at least twenty pounds and has a much longer reach, I do not fear my opponent. He is a large man indeed but he is only skill and training, wrapped in flesh that I will bruise, and bones that I will break. He is only a student who has studied me diligently, searching for weaknesses to exploit. No matter what he thinks, he will find none. I will destroy him because the truth is, he is only a man… but I am a god. Even those that hate me will roar my name, even if it’s only to curse me was his unconscious, face-down on the canvas and they realize that I cannot lose. They will watch the recordings of this fight long after I am dead. I am immortal.

I step into the ring. I see my challenger bouncing gracefully from one foot to the other for confidence and to settle his nerves. I stand perfectly still with my feet planted firmly beneath me. We stare each other down and I peer into his soul for the truth that he is trying to hide behind his eyes. He has trained hard but still isn’t sure if he’s ready. That doubt alone lets me know that he is not.

After the ring announcer dramatically shouts our names and our fight records into the microphone dangling in front of him, the referee summons us to the center of the ring. He gives us a speech about the rules of the fight and what he expects of us. I don’t listen. None of it matters. I am a god. Everything else that happens feels like a dream with muffled background noise until the bell sounds. Then I see red, everything slows down and the fight begins.

Round 7, and I’ve taken his best shot. He doesn’t know it but he nearly broke my jaw before I opened up that cut above his eye. I watch his cut man trying desperately to seal it up. That was his best shot, his only chance to win and as the blood flows into his eye, he knows it. From his corner, he can see in my eyes that I’m laughing. He doesn’t want to be knocked out…not yet. For pride, and honor, he has tried to avoid the inevitable. His children and his woman may be watching so I’ll grant him that and let him survive another round. I am merciful. I can finish him as soon as the next bell rings but I’ll wait and let him have his pride before I end it. Besides, the ravenous, ringside mob wants a good show…so I’ll toy with him. I will show them style and flair combined with deadly skill. That’s why they love me. The smart ones will see that I am holding back. It will feel as if we’re sharing a secret and they will love me for it. I feed off their energy and become stronger. For tonight, I am their deity, their false idol to worship…but I am not just GOOD at this. I am the BEST at this. Inside this squared circle, I am unconquerable and unstoppable.

The 9^th round is the last round. This is where this battle comes to an end. In the 8^th round I punished his body with body blows and I’ve broken at least two of his ribs. Another shot to his body will make him drop his hands and then I will put him out of his misery with some of his dignity. He has fought bravely…with honor. I almost change my mind about knocking him out until I remember his brazen bravado at the weigh-in, and all of his chatter in the media for weeks about how he would kill me in front of my weeping family. Blasphemy!

Everything…slows…down. One crushing punch to his body followed by an uppercut that nearly lifts him off the ground and his eyes roll back until his pupils disappear until only the whites remain. He is broken, cast down from the self-made pedestal he stood upon. He hits the mat, limp and lifeless. He stays down for more than the referee’s count. He is no more and I am still undefeated. I raise my gloves, covered in blood and bask in the glory.

From the corner of my eye, I see that my opponent is still motionless on the canvas. His trainers are frantically trying to revive him while a woman ringside with a baby cradled in her arms weeps hysterically for her fallen husband. I step out of the way as EMTs rush into the ring.

***I hope you enjoyed this sample from "god of the ring." You can expect this book to drop right on the heels of "Death in the City." Apologies for being gone so long from the blog. I was caught up with the release of the 1st book in my "Reem After Dark" series of erotic novels, "The Higher Learning Curve." So far, the readers are LOVING all of the sultry, nasty, freaky, sexy, naughty things I put in that book so I can finally breathe a sigh of relief.***

COMING SOON