Just a little hunting...

Rudy’s questions had no effect on Oxx but the same couldn’t be said when Oxx was speaking.  Rudy felt his inner rage growing more with every word.  He wanted to challenge the bastard, he wanted to bare his fangs and rush in to attack.  Every fiber of his being said to act in one form or another but willpower had him stand there and just watch Oxx approach.  Muscles twitched and spasmed but he’d wait to react till the last moment.  If he waited till Oxx attacked him, didn’t show off whatever his attack would be, then maybe he could at least get one bite in.  Let Oxx show his hand first.

Rudy felt a sense of dread in him along with the rage and that was a feeling he hadn’t felt since his mom’s death.  “What did you do to Art?” Art hadn’t been all that specific and suddenly Rudy wanted to know what his brother had suffered.  Who was living in a skull for that matter? That had to be a hell of a big skull. As Oxx walked around him Rudy was sure to turn so that he was always facing the monster.  He wouldn't be jumped from behind at least.

“What faults huh?” Rudy wasn’t going to risk thinking of what could happen to him aware that could just make the feeling of dread worse. “I talk to much,” despite the dread it was so habitual that a momentary smug smile appeared but it faded soon enough, “I’m impulsive.” He had no problem listing faults, it wasn’t even about distracting Oxx now it was just to keep himself calm.  Stopping to imagine things was giving in to fear.  If Art hadn’t lost to this bastard or if Rudy was still in peak fitness then he wouldn’t feel so little hope of winning.  He’d try though, maybe something would come up to give him an edge.  “What about you?  Are you willing to admit to your faults or do you label yourself perfect?” Hey, maybe he could even learn something useful from the bastard.  

Rudyard Carpathius