Without warning, the arena descends into blackness. For a moment, there is silence. Just a moment. And then the PA system explodes into life...

"Forfeit the game/Before somebody else/Takes you out of the frame/Puts your name to shame. Cover up your face/You can't run the race/The pace is too fast/You just won't last..."

As Linkin Park's "Points of Authority" fills the arena, the lights come back up, and a figure is visible at the top of the ramp. She is a beautiful girl, in an odd, ghostly sort of way. Her skin is pale, accentuating her unnaturally bright red hair and deep haunting green eyes. Her nails are painted blood red. A black vinyl "one piece" scarcely covers her breasts and crotch, the midsection left bare save a network of thin straps in a spider web pattern. The backside of the garment is open, save for the straps supporting the top half and the thong of the bottom. She accessorizes with matching fingerless, elbow-length gloves, black silk stockings with garters, and a black silk choker.

Miriam Gaiman makes her way down toward the ring, slowly at first, keeping to the middle of the aisle--assuring a healthy distance between her and any hands that might try to touch her. As she nears the ring, she picks up the pace, diving under the bottom rope as she reaches the apron, sliding to a halt on all fours, her tight backside elevated, drawing more than a few hoots and hollers, her eyes locking on her opponent's.

There's a glint to those eyes as she smiles unnervingly, appearing to almost hump the canvas a moment before backing herself into the nearest corner to await the bell. Manic, yes, but more than that: intrigued. The crowd rises to a fever pitch with the overt sensual nature of every movement of the feline predator and the nearness of the hour when she might strike.

Now coming to the ring, weighing in at one hundred and thirty pounds and hailing from New Orleans, Lousiana...KIORRRA DONNNAAAAVAAAAN!

The bell sounded amidst the chatter of the audience while redhead and brunette moved slowly from their corners, each watching the other with a steady, intense gaze. Cutting the distance between them rapidly, Miriam and Kiora met in the center of the ring, stopping with less than a foot separating them. Holding Kiora’s gaze, Miriam cast a glance up and down the brunette’s trim figure, silently impressed by what she saw. But the pale redhead wasn’t the only one scoping her competition. At that very moment, Kiora was surveying Miriam’s frame, openly pleased at the chance to finally tangle with such a vaunted adversary. After a few more seconds of this, Miriam broke the tense (but not necessarily acrimonious) silence by asking, "Are you ready?" she placed both hands on Donovan's shoulders and leaned in close, giving her soon to be foe a passionate French Kiss before pulling back andwatching her closely.

Kiora savored the feel of the kiss and then responded "I'll prove to be MORE than worthy of you..." She stepped forward and returned the kiss, keeping the embrace locked for nearly fifteen seconds before stepping back from the redhead. Keeping her eyes locked with her opponent, she finished, "...come find out why." Miriam nodded and the two warriors nodded slightly. Backing away from one another, Kiora assumed a Martial Arts stance while Miriam dropped into a low wrestlers crouch. Circling cautiously, the space separating them shrunk with every revolution until their outstretched hands were almost touching. Kiora was the one to break the tension this time, lunging forward in one loping lunge to lock up with Miriam in a basic Collar and Elbow tie-up. The pair had been locked in the clinch for mere seconds when Kiora shifted her grip, grabbing Miriam’s right arm in both hands and dropping to her knees. In one smooth twist of her torso, Donovan tossed Miriam across her body, sending the redhead tumbling halfway across the ring with a textbook Arm Drag. But this was far from Miriam’s first match and the pale beauty reacted accordingly, and as she hit the mat she rolled with the momentum, popping to her feet like a gymnast coming out of a tumble. Spinning around to face Kiora, she braced herself as her foe sprinted toward her. Waiting until there was no place for Kiora to go, Miriam shot forward and threaded her arm under Kiora’s armpit. In the same motion, she tossed the sprinting girl up and over, sending her to the canvas with a simple Hip Toss. Kiora was surprised by her sudden upward motion but like Miriam she was no wet behind the ears rookie and she was off the canvas in a second, executing a perfect nip up that had the fans cheering appreciatively.

Eyeing each other warily, Miriam and Kiora circled for another few seconds, each trying to pinpoint the line of attack that would bring her victory. Again it was Kiora who acted first, the shabbily dressed girl suddenly exploding forward with a barrage of kicks and punches aimed directly at Miriam’s face and chest. Miriam held her ground as best she could, ducking, weaving and blocking everything that came her way even as Kiora steadily increased the pace of her blows. Watching the timing of Kiora’s strikes carefully, Miriam waited for just the right moment before attempting a counter, a second later, she got her opportunity. Kiora choreographed a punch just a little too long and as she fired the Palm Strike at Miriam’s jaw, the redhead stepped aside, leaving Kiora punching at nothing. In that instant, Miriam lunged forward, meaning to grapple with her foe and subsequently slam her to the mat. But Kiora had suckered Miriam in and she slipped under Gaiman's lunge with a quickness that was almost supernatural. In a flash she was behind the redhead, locking a Half Nelson on Miriam’s left arm while looping her right across her victim’s throat. The crowd was on their feet, as it appeared Kiora was going to lock in her vicious Lethal Lullaby finisher less than 2 minutes into the match. As she felt Kiora’s arm begin to cut off her air, Miriam kept her cool, more than lsightly impressed by Donovan's quickness. Before her foe could lock her hands (thereby spelling Miriam’s doom) the trapped redhead shot her free hand up and back, grabbing a handful of Kiora’s hair. In the same motion she jerked down and forward as hard as she could, hoping to dislodge her attacker. In this measure she was successful as her makeshift toss pulled Kiora off balance and flipped her to the canvas. Backing off as Kiora got up, Miriam rubbed her throat appreciately, only relieved that she’d been able to escape the debilitating hold so quickly.

Kiora on the other hand was impressed (and more than a little irked) that Miriam had slipped through her finisher so gracefully. Nodding to her opponent she stayed silent, bringing herself within range of her pale rival to continue her attack. Pressing the advantage she had from almost choking Miriam out, Kiora went on the offensive again, blasting a high, hard thrust kick at the redhead's chin. But this time Miriam was ready for the attack and she actually moved forward to meet the kick before ducking under it and slipping behind Kiora. Looking for a little advantage herself, Miriam latched a Half Nelson onto Kiora’s right arm and drew her free arm across the stunned girl’s throat, intent on cinching the Lethal Lullaby on its mistress. Almost shocked into inaction when she realized what Miriam was trying to do, Kiora cast off her stupor and reacted accordingly getting a grip on Miriam’s choking arm with her free hand before the sadistic beauty could lock her grip in. Not wasting a second, Kiora tossed Miriam off of her, letting Gaiman get up un-accosted so she could get her bearings back.

Not used to having someone try her own moves against her, Kiora said, " Intriguing. I wasn't really sure what that actually felt like."

Miriam smiled slightly, "Now you do." she responded.

"I'll have to find the best way to thank you." Kiora added, beckoning Miriam to come and get her. The redhead obliged her foe and she lunged in, arms extended for another clench. But Kiora had plans of her own and she enacted them by driving jean covered knee up right into the plane of Miriam’s belly, right above her navel. Gaiman grunted as the air left her lungs and Kiora added to her discomfort by flipping her to the mat with a perfect Judo Toss. Before Miriam could attempt to roll away, Kiora grabbed hold of her prey’s right arm and pulled it over her head. Pulling Miriam to a sitting position, Kiora threaded her legs around Miriam’s head and fell back, locking her ankles to trap Miriam’s head and arm in a tight Scissor hold, a maneuver better known in Martial Arts circles as a Triangle Choke. Keeping her ankles locked, Kiora squeezed with all her might, trying to choke Miriam out with her well-toned thighs.

Red faced and gasping after mere seconds in the hold, Miriam kept her wits about her, trashing about for the sanctuary of the ropes even as Kiora was squeezing tighter. After several agonizing seconds, the redhead found what she was looking for and looped her ankles around the bottom rope, waiting for Kiora to break her hold. Seeing Miriam get to the ropes, Kiora fought the urge to just keep the hold locked in, knowing it would render her prey unconscious in relatively short order. But that would probably get her disqualified and she wanted to prove she was Miriam's equal too badly to risk getting DQ’ed. Listening to the ref count, she broke the hold at 3, getting to her feet as Miriam got to her knees, trying to shake off the asphyxia of the choke.

Knowing she had to keep Miriam off balance if she was going to beat her, Kiora grabbed the kneeling redhead by her hair and pulled up, shoving her roughly into the ropes in the process. Pushing Miriam’s arms aside to get a better shot at her chest, Kiora drew her hand back and let fly, cracking a Knife Edge chop across the top of Miriam’s chest. The chop made a sound like ice cracking on a cold day and the pale beauty's pained grimace proved that the blow was solid. Smiling slightly as the crowd "WOOOOOED!" with the chop, Kiora repeated her tactic, cracking several more brisk chops into the redhead's undefended chest. Deciding on something a bit flashier, Kiora grabbed Miriam’s wrist and whipped her across the ring, letting her foe bounce off the ropes opposite her before sprinting forward to meet her. With the space between them rapidly diminishing, Kiora left her feet in a high, arcing leap that culminated with her slamming her heel into Miriam’s chin. The redhead's head snapped back and she let out a pained groan, as she was sent hard to the mat.

Getting to her feet in an instant, Kiora strode over to where Miriam was laying and grabbed her by the hair. Pulling her to her knees, Kiora placed one hand on the top of Miriam’s skull and pushed down while the other she placed under Miriam’s chin and pushed up, twisting her foe’s neck painfully. Listening to Miriam hiss in pain, Kiora asked her foe calmly, "Does it feel good?"

Her response somewhat slurred from the hold, Miriam answered back, "It's wonderful."

Kiora’s face got a bit colder. "Let's try for euphoric." she said. She was about to continue when Miriam hammered an elbow into her captor’s gut. Kiora grimaced and maintained her grip even as Miriam smashed her in the belly again. Knowing she’d have to release the hold unless she changed her approach, Kiora did just that pulling Miriam to her feet while she was still in the Head Vise. Before Gaiman could elbow her again, Kiora shifted her grip and tossed Miriam butt first to the canvas with a simple Snap Mare. With the redhead slumped over in front of her, Kiora left her feet in a short hop, driving both bare feet into the base of Miriam’s neck with a Low Dropkick.

Deciding on her next move, Kiora grabbed Miriam by the hair and pulled her up, before cinching a tighter grip on her foe’s wrist. Planting her feet, Kiora whipped Miriam towards the ropes, but as she was going to release her captive, Miriam latched her free hand onto her wrist and held on tight. Putting on the brakes, Gaiman planted her feet and tugged forward, yanking Kiora into her. As thebrunette stumbled forward, Miriam greeted her with open arms, clasping both limbs in a tight circle around Kiora’s torso.

Standing belly to belly with her opponent, Miriam took a microsecond to whisper, "Gotcha." then she lifted straight up and fell back, tossing Kiora halfway across the ring with a huge Overhead Belly to Belly Suplex. The throw caught Donovan totally off guard and she lay on the mat gasping as Miriam got to her feet and stalked over to where the Suplex had tossed her. Eager to play with her new toy, Miriam pulled the brown haired girl to her feet, standing face to face with her. Looking to repeat the success of her last attack, Miriam locked her arms around Kiora‘s waist again. Her grip unbreakable, Miriam lifted her victim off the mat and in one brutally smooth motion, pivoted 180 degrees before driving them both to the canvas, slamming Kiora’s back into the mat while landing with her full weight on the brunette.

Pleased with the way the suplexes had slowed Kiora down, Miriam looked to keep the agile brunette grounded. Sitting beside her rival, Miriam pulled Kiora to a sitting position before wrapping one strong arm under Kiora‘s chin while the other pressed down on the back of her skull. Pulling her grip tight, Miriam fell to the canvas, locking in the Sleeper as the both lay on the mat. Feeling Kiora begin to fight against the hold, Miriam threaded a leg between her captive’s and grapevined one of the flailing limbs in an effort to keep Donovan from reaching the ropes. But even though Kiora was winded from the Suplexes and the Sleeper, she had more than enough fight left in her to reach the ropes and several seconds later she did just that, grasping the bottom cable with both hands while demanding to be released. Listening to the ref begin his count, Miriam knew she was in for a tough but immensely enjoyable battle. She’d have to grind away Kiora’s defenses before she could set her up for something big enough to finish her off. Breaking the hold, Miriam got to her feet, allowing herself a small breather as Kiora regained a vertical base.

Shaking off the effects of Miriam’s assault, Kiora fixed her gaze on Miriam and said, "That was fun. I can't wait until you really get going."

Miriam answered quickly. "You might not feel the same about me when this is over"

Kiora’s eyes narrowed at the subtle threat in Miriam’s response. "I could say the same thing to you." she shot back before lunging forward to crack another chop off Miriam’s chest. The redhead soaked up the first chop and then a second, but when Kiora reared back for a third, Miriam ducked under the strike and slipped behind her opponent. Securing a tight Waist lock on Kiora, Miriam lifted her up and bridged backwards, dropping Kiora on the back of her head and shoulders with a beautiful German Suplex. Knowing the German was a potential match ender, Miriam kept her feet planted on the canvas and bridged up, trying to keep Kiora’s shoulders pinned for the 3. She was not disappointed or surprised when Kiora broke the bridge right after the 2 count.

Collecting herself, Miriam decided to keep pressing the attack on Kiora’s back and ribs. Pulling the brunette to her feet, Miriam slipped behind her opponent and sprang into action. Keeping her body pressed tightly against Kiora’s back, Miriam reached around Donovan’s body with her right leg so it looped around Kiora’s side and between her legs, hooking Kiora’s right leg with the entangling limb. Then, using both hands, she pushed down on Kiora’s head and neck, stretching the trapped brunette’s torso painfully across Miriam’s knee. The Abdominal Stretch was locked in perfectly and Miriam knew it, mostly because of the pained grunts and groans coming from Kiora. Bouncing the hold slightly, Miriam asked, "Enjoying yourself?" Face twisted in a pained smile, Kiora’s response was immediate, "Immensely." Not listening to Miriam’s muttered comeback, Donovan closed her eyes against the pain and focused on escape. Holding still for a moment, she began to catch the rhythms of Miriam’s movement and the captured brunette began to rock in time to the motions of her tormentor. A few seconds later when she believed the time was right, Kiora pushed up with all her strength and tossed forward.

Miriam was caught flat-footed by her prey’s escape plan and thusly she was tossed over Kiora’s hip, landing on the canvas in a painful sprawl on her back. Still grimacing at the pain in her side, Kiora didn’t take the time to shake it off. Biting back the pain, she pulled Miriam to her feet and whipped her toward the ropes again.

Setting herself for a second Hip Toss as Miriam rushed back towards her, Kiora was surprised and a bit disheartened when Miriam reversed her momentum and slipped behind her. In a flash, the redhead had locked the Abdominal Stretch in again, but she played a little rougher this time, using her right arm to hook Kiora’s head while driving the point of her elbow into Kiora’s ribs with her left arm. Feeling Donovan, Shiver in her grip, Miriam’s dark eyes flashed fire. "This doesn't end until I say it does? Understand?"

Using the pain to focus her attention, Kiora purred, " What makes you think I want it to end?"

Her face a study in pitiless calm, Miriam answered, "I'm glad we understand one anotheEERRGGGH!" Her quoting was cut off as Kiora blasted her free hand up and into her face, rocking the dominant redhead enough to force a release on the hold. Staggering back a few steps, Miriam cleared her head and homed in on the gingerly moving Kiora. Deciding that she hadn’t worked her rival over enough, Miriam stalked forward and trapped the girl in a tight Front Face Lock. Slinging Kiora’s near arm over her shoulders, Miriam grabbed a handful of tattered denhim and hauled upwards, inverting Kiora over her head with a basic Vertical Suplex. But Kiora’s escape from the Abdominal Stretch had given her some much-needed confidence and at the apex of the lift, she slipped free from Miriam’s grip and landed lightly on her feet behind her foe.

Before Miriam could turn around, Kiora blasted a low kick into the redhead's right thigh that dropped her to one knee in an instant. In almost the same breath, Kiora reset her stance and fired a short, stiff kick that clipped Miriam right behind the ear. The kick sounded like a rifle going of and Miriam reacted as if shot slumping forward with a single groan to lie moaning on the canvas. Finally taking a moment to collect herself, Kiora ignored the cheers of her fans, never once letting her gaze leave Miriam. Bending down, she grabbed the sprawled girl by her right arm and yanked her to her feet, wringing the captive limb in the process. Twisting Miriam’s arm painfully, Kiora stepped back from her rival and said, "I want so much from you Miriam. And if I have to hurt you to get it, I will do just that." When Miriam didn’t reply, Kiora went about proving her point, snapping a wicked series of high kicks into the pale girl's chest and armpit. Each of these blows sent a shudder through Miriam’s frame and after a half dozen she was barely able to stay on her feet. And after Kiora delivered a final kick directly to Gaiman’s chin, the ‘barely’ part left the equation and Miriam tumbled to the canvas in a bruised, moaning heap. Breathing deeply, Kiora gave herself a small mental pat on the back before deciding on her next course of action. Coming to a solution quickly, she pulled Miriam to her feet and whipped the groggy girl hard into the corner.

Moving quickly to the corner on a diagonal from her rival, Kiora sprinted halfway across the ring before leaving her feet and executing a three consecutive handsprings, the last of which culminated with her ramming the point of her elbow deep into Miriam’s exposed chest. Keeping her balance, Donovan pushed Miriam back into the corner, making sure she was open for her next attack. Leaning in close to the dazed redhead, Kiora spoke quietly, but clearly, she WANTED Miriam to hear what she had to say, "Fight back Miriam. It's not even worth if it you don't fight back." Not waiting for a reply, Kiora stepped back and set her stance before blasting another pair of hard Snap Kicks into the side of Miriam’s head.

Looking for an artistic flourish to go out on, Kiora hopped onto the middle rope and used it as a springboard to hit a leaping kick to Gaiman’s temple. The abused redhead's legs finally failed her and she stumbled forward drunkenly and would have fallen if Kiora hadn’t caught her. Holding Miriam in her arms, Kiora said, "It's not time to rest yet." Then she slung her opponent into the opposite corner, waiting for Miriam to stop squirming after her back hit the steel. Picking her spot, Kiora sprinted forward and leapt, this time coming to rest with both her feet on top of Miriam’s thighs. Looping her hands behind the redhead's neck, Kiora fell backwards, propelling Miriam up and over her with a Monkey Flip that sent her victim to mid-ring.

Popping to her feet, Kiora stalked the wounded redhead, watching warily as Miriam got to her feet several seconds later. Realizing Miriam hadn’t fully regained her balance; Kiora lashed a foot up and out, looking to catch Miriam under the chin with a Super Kick. But Gaiman’s head cleared at the last possible moment and she ducked the strike, slipping quickly behind her foe. Without thinking, Miriam slapped a Waist Lock on Kiora and bridged up, trying to take the redhead to the canvas with another German Suplex. Unfortunately for her, Kiora wasn’t looking to repeat the experience and she rolled free of Miriam’s grip again, landing a few feet behind her foe in a perfect back flip. Remembering the earlier success of the Dropkick, Kiora delivered another one, this time driving both bare feet into the back of Gaiman’s knees. Miriam was knocked ff her feet and she lay on the mat, cradling her injured limbs. Looking to make a bold statement, Kiora stalked over to her prey and pulled her to her knees again. Without saying a word, Kiora spoke volumes, firing a series of three brutal chops with blinding speed. The first caught Miriam across the forehead, the second along the bridge of her nose and the third landed right across her mouth. Almost as the third chop landed, Kiora slammed Miriam face first into the mat, bouncing the Scream Queen’s head off the canvas like a basketball. Believing that would be the last nail in Miriam’s coffin, Kiora dropped to her knees and muscled the pale redhead over onto her back before going for the cover. The ref had slapped the amt twice and was going for three when Miriam managed to get a shoulder up.

Perturbed but not discouraged, Kiora pulled Miriam to her feet and applied a Front Face Lock of her own, setting Miriam for a suplex. Grabbing a handful of her rival’s black tights, Kiora popped her hips hard, taking Miriam over fast and mean with a scintillating Snap Suplex. Gaiman’s back arched when she hit the mat and Kiora took that as a good sign. She was really putting the screws to Miriam now. Deciding to attack Miriam from a different front, Kiora stalked her opponent, waiting for Miriam to get her feet under her. Watching Gaiman look wildly around for her caused Kiora to grin coldly and she uttered a low little whistle. Miriam spun and Kiora was already in motion leaping at the redhead with her legs scissored open and aimed at Miriam’s head. The raggedly dressed girl snapped her thighs shut and fell back, preparing to complete the Hurricanrana by rolling Miriam up for the win. But as she fell back, something went wrong. Instead of taking Miriam to the canvas, Kiora found herself hanging inverted, her hands brushing the canvas as Miriam held her legs in a death grip. Gaiman’s dark eyes glowed with painful intent as she held her foe aloft. Shifting her grip, she snaked both arms around Kiora’s left leg before taking a step forward and sitting down, turning the awkward looking predicament into a perfect Half Boston Crab.

Knowing they were in the center of the ring, Miriam put all her strength into the hold, leaning back as far as gravity would allow her so she could torture Kiora’s lower back and leg. Bouncing roughly on the sweating plane of Kiora’s lower back, Miriam gave the hold another jerk and addressed her foe in a voice tinged with the tiniest bit of spite. " I hope you were being honest about wanting me to fight back Kiora Donovan. Otherwise, you are in for a very long evening." She punctuated this statement with another colossal jerk on Kiora’s bent leg. Gritting her teeth, Kiora slapped the mat in helpless anger, ignoring the ref when he asked if she wanted to give it up. Spying the ropes, the trapped brunette bit back her groans and put both palms on the mat. Pushing up, she began to crawl very slowly towards safety, dragging not only her weight, but Miriam’s as well. Feeling Kiora’s movement beneath her, Miriam looked over her shoulder just in time to see Kiora’s fingers brushing against the bottom rope.

Determination flooded her features and Miriam whispered, "Not yet my lovely." before pulling herself off Kiora’s back and dragging her back towards the center of the ring. Seeing her freedom snatched away from her, Kiora slammed both hands against the mat and snarled in frustration. She managed to twist her torso to look back at Miriam only to see the redhead grab hold of her left ankle with both hands. Her eyes widened in fear but her shout of protest died on her lips as Miriam pulled up as hard as she could before shoving back down, ramming Kiora’s knee full force into the mat. An explosion of pain went off in the joint and Kiora couldn’t hold back a groan as she pulled her injured leg towards her, trying to prevent Miriam from damaging it any further. This was a useless effort however as Miriam pulled the limping brunette to one knee and stood beside her. Reaching down, Miriam hooked Kiora’s injured ankle and pulled up, folding her rival’s leg at the knee, forcing Kiora to hop awkwardly on one foot. Keeping her grip steady, Miriam hadn’t forgotten Kiora’s statments from earlier in the fight. Finding her voice, Miriam said, "Having fun yet Kiora?"

Keeping her grip on Donovan’s folded leg, Miriam lifted up with all her strength, pulling Kiora awkwardly off the mat. Holding her prey aloft for only a moment, Miriam dropped her down, slamming Kiora’s bent leg into her own posted knee, a brutally simple Knee Breaker. Kiora howled and fell to the mat, clasping at her mangled joint as Miriam stalked her. Watching Kiora hobble to her feet, it occurred to Miriam that it would be better to put Kiora away as quickly as possible, if only so she could really take her time with the brunette after the bell had rung. Calming herself, Miriam slipped up behind the woozy girl and trapped her in a Tight Full Nelson. Making sure her hands were tightly clasped, Miriam bridged up and dropped back, driving Kiora’s head and shoulders into the canvas with a Dragon Suplex. Taking note of the pained grunt that emerged from Kiora when her head hit the mat, Miriam bridged up, trying to keep her foe in place for the three. But Donovan was resilient and she managed to break free of Miriam’s grip microseconds before the 3. Shaking her head in disappointment, Miriam got to her feet and pulled Kiora to hers. Gripping the brunette’s wrist, Miriam slung her into the corner, noting with no small amount of satisfaction the tortured expression that crossed Kiora’s face when her back hit the buckles. Closing the distance between them, Miriam stood in front of Kiora, gripping the top rope on either side of her rival for extra leverage.

Rearing back a bit, Miriam hurtled forward, burying a high Knee Lift in Kiora’s gut. As the wind rushed out of Donovan’s lungs, Miriam talked to her foe, while still delivering a steady stream of Knee Lifts to her belly. "I’ll be the first to admit that I can’t best you in a slugfest Kiora, that's your area of expertise apparently. But I think you’ll agree that I can hit with the best of them given proper motivation. Wouldn’t you agree?" She snarled this last bit as she delivered a final Knee Lift, this one finally taking the brunette off her feet, leaving her sitting with her head resting on the bottom turnbuckle. Unable to resist the opening, Miriam backed up several paces before charging forward and dropping low, driving the soles of both feet into Kiora’s face with a Dropkick of her own. Kiora shuddered and slumped to her side, the denhim wearing warrior quickly being used up by Miriam’s methodical, grinding attack. Not wanting to give Kiora any time to recover, Miriam pulled the dazed girl from the corner with a damp handful of brown hair. Getting behind Donovan, she pulled Kiora into the corner, back first. Then Gaiman hoisted herself up and sat balanced on the tope rope, her back to the audience as she maintained her grip on Donovan’s locks. In one practiced looking move, Miriam brought her legs up around Kiora’s throat, locking in a Figure Four Head Scissors. Releasing her hold on Kiora’s hair, Miriam grabbed the top rope in both hands and leaned all the way back until she was almost upside down outside the ring, her long legs still cinched tightly around the flailing brunette’s neck.

As innovative as this version of the Head Scissors was, it could only be held for a five count before it had to be released. Miriam used every bit of the count, only releasing her suffocating foe when the ref reached 5. Hopping off the buckles, Miriam stood over Kiora for a second, getting her breath back before going on the attack again. Breaking her respite, Miriam pulled Kiora to her feet and tossed her across the ring again, smashing Kiora’s tenderized back against the steel buckles for the second time in as many minutes. Calming her nerves, Miriam sprinted forward and extended her arm, meaning to decapitate Kiora in the corner with a Clothesline. But it turned out that Kiora was rather fond of her head and not quite ready to relinquish it yet. As Miriam charged in, Kiora got both feet up into her chest and pistoned them out, catching Miriam right in the chest. The redhead gasped and staggered back several steps, both arms crossed protectively across her torso as she tried to get her breath back. Over in the corner, Kiora saw her opportunity and refused to let in get away.

Ignoring the growing pain in her knee and ribs, the revitalized brunette hopped onto the top rope and perched there just long enough for Miriam to turn and face her. Leaping off the top, Kiora said to herself, " Tell me what this feels like Miriam." as she extended her right leg and thrust it forward, catching Miriam right across the chin with a top rope Thrust Kick. Gaiman’s strong legs turned to water and she went down hard, spun around almost a full 180 degrees by the force of the kick. Kiora was getting to her feet and was about to pull Miriam to hers when she realized her last kick might have knocked Miriam cold. Eyes widening at the thought of putting her foe away right then, Kiora dropped to her knees and rolled Miriam onto her back, hooking both legs as she went for the cover. She was genuinely surprised when Miriam was able to roll a shoulder off the canvas before the deciding slap of the mat. Knowing that Miriam must still be dazed from the kick, Kiora pressed the advantage, pulling Miriam to her feet and slipping behind her. Securing a Wait Lock of her own, Kiora threw Miriam’s taunt back in her face.

" I’ll be the first to admit that I can’t beat you grappling Miriam, but I think you’ll agree that I can throw a suplex with the best of them given proper motivation. Wouldn’t you agree?" Then she bridged up, holding Miriam off the canvas for a few seconds before falling backwards, spiking the back of Miriam’s head and shoulders into the amt with a Delayed German Suplex. Intent in succeeded where Miriam had failed, Kiora bridged up high and tight, trying to keep Gaiman’s shoulders on the mat, but Miriam was still able to break free before the 3 count. Pulling Miriam to her feet, Kiora attempted a move that had failed earlier. Tensing her legs, she executed a gorgeous vertical leap, at the apex of which she scissored her thighs shut around Miriam’s head. With a twist of her hips, Kiora pulled Miriam off her feet, taking her up and over with the Hurricanrana. But when Kiora came to rest on Miriam’s chest, she didn’t get off, she reached back and hooked both of her foe’s legs before leaning all her weight forward, trying to put Miriam away with a Matchbook pin. She came close, but Miriam shoved her off right after 2.

Slapping the mat in anger, Kiora snarled to herself, "Now I finally get to se if you can take as much as you give." Shoving her anger aside, Kiora pulled Miriam up by the hair, setting the pale vixen on wobbly legs. Setting her stance, Kiora didn’t hesitate a second more, burying several sadistic punches and just as many kicks in Miriam’s torso and face. After an especially hard chop rocked theredhead back on her heels, Kiora stepped forward, looking to end her attack emphatically. Standing slightly to Miriam’s right side, Kiora grabbed her foe and threaded her left leg behind Miriam’s right. Then she shoved forward with all her strength, taking Miriam off her feet with a brutally simple Leg Sweep known as the STO. Miriam was shoved off balance and she groaned in agony as the back of her head bounced hard off the canvas. Kiora thought about going for the cover then, but decided against it. Pulling Miriam to her feet, Kiora got behind her damaged opposition and went to work. Kiora snaked her right leg around Miriam’s body, threading it over her side and between Gaiman’s legs, entwining Miriam’s right leg with her own. Then Donovan wrapped her right arm around Miriam’s head and pulled tight, bending the redhead painfully. Her version of the Abdominal Stretch almost complete, Kiora used her free hand to sink a claw into Miriam’s exposed tightly stretched stomach, applying wicked pressure. Digging her claw in as deep as it would go, Kiora looked down into Miriam’s face and asked softly, "How does it feel?"

Red faced and snarling from the pain in both her side and neck, Miriam nodded her head as best she could and repled " Better than before." Nonplussed, the domineering brunette merely dug her claw in deeper, watching fascinated as her fingers sank deep into Miriam’s defenseless belly. The brunette was about to ask for Miriam’s feelings on the matter a second time when Gaiman balled her free hand into a fist and smashed it full force into Kiora’s face. Startled and hurt by blow, Kiora released her hold and staggered back, shaking her head to clear the cobwebs. Fortunately for her, she cleared her head faster than Miriam could, and she responded in kind, driving a guillotine like chop down on the back of Miriam’s neck, driving her to her knees. Brushing a bit of hair from her eyes, Kiora moved so that she was standing in front of the kneeling Miriam. Speculating she had enough time to deliver the final blow, Kiora turned her back on Gaiman, sprinting toward the ropes on the other side of the ring. She bounced off the cables and was heading back towards her foe, preparing to take her head off with the diabolically painful Shining Wizard Kick when Miriam exploded off her knees, shooting forward to drill a Clothesline across her face.

The force of the blow snapped Kiora’s head all the way back and the brunette almost did a full 360 in the air before landing on the mat in a daze, moaning tangle of limbs. On her knees beside Kiora, Miriam took several deep breaths before getting to her feet. Looking down at Kiora’s sprawled figure, Miriam got angry, now more determined than ever to put away her foe in a dominating and convincing fashion. Pulling her weak-kneed foe up by her dark locks, Miriam got in Kiora’s face and asked, "You'll have to tell me what'smore satisfying, the falling sensation or the landing itself." Then Miriam trapped Kiora in a Front Face Lock, slinging the brunette’s near arm over her shoulders while reaching down to hook Kiora’s left leg with her right arm. Ready to act, she pulled Kiora up and off her feet, bringing the brunette crashing hard with a Fisherman’s Suplex. When the first suplex connected, Miriam twisted her hips and rolled to her side, getting her feet under her. With a loud groan, she brought both herself and her captive to their feet. Then Miriam delivered another beautiful Fisherman’s Suplex. And even then she wasn’t done, bringing Kiora up into position for a third Suplex. This time when Miriam hoisted her prey up, she held the battered girl over her head for as long as possible, a Hanging Fisherman’s Suplex. After several seconds of holding her rival in this embarrassing pose, Miriam’s legs began to fail her so she fell back, driving Kiora into the canvas one more time.

This time when they hit, the redhead did bridge up, hoping to put Kiora away with this impressive feat. But much like Kiora’s best moves hadn’t been able to keep Miriam down, neither would Donovan be pinned down by Miriam’s assault. Releasing her grip on Kiora, Miriam thought through her arsenal, looking for the move that would put Kiora down for good. Settling on an old favorite, Miriam sat next to Kiora’s head and scissored her legs open, bringing the back of Kiora’s head to rest against her crotch. Crossing her ankles, Miriam put her hands on the mat and squeezed as hard as she could, cutting off her rival’s air with a basic Headscissors. The fog in Kiora’s brain lifted immediately as Miriam’s vise-like thighs began to crush against the sides of her head. Red-faced and thrashing, Kiora dragged herself toward the ropes, managing to get one foot under the bottom cable right as the black dots began to dominate her vision. Snarling in exasperation, Miriam gave the scissors one final squeeze before releasing her grip and getting to her feet. Watching Kiora use the ropes to get up, Miriam suppressed a smirk, replacing it with a cold, indifferent glare. Seconds later, Kiora met her gaze and the gasping girl had this to say. " Am I worthy of you yet?." She ended her statement by once again assuming her Martial Arts stance.

Dropping into her preferred crouch, Miriam answered, " Getting there." She beckoned the brunette in then, daring Kiora to lock up with her. Kiora didn’t wait long in obliging her, lunging forward to launch a wicked looking kick at Miriam’s face. But Miriam had anticipated the attack and she slipped under Kiora’s leg in one quick flowing movement. Getting behind her foe, Miriam took advantage of Kiora’s confusion, trapping her right arm in a Half Nelson while slipping her other arm around Kiora’s waist.

With another pop of her hips, Gaiman tossed Donovan up and over, letting the redhead land hard on the top of her head, a victim of the impressive looking, but very dangerous Half Nelson Suplex. Knowing that Kiora’s neck had to be in bad shape after the landing from the Suplex, Miriam went in for the kill. Lying on her opponent’s body, facing her feet, Miriam trapped Kiora’s head between her thighs a second time; cutting off her victim’s breathing with the effective and embarrassing Inverted Figure Four Headscissors. With her butt mere inches from Kiora’s nose, Miriam squeezed as tight as she could, adding an occasional flick of her hips just to get the audience in an uproar.

Indeed it was a worthy tactic as the crowd roared their support, encouraging the redhead to finish off her opponent. If there was one person not entertained by this hold it was Kiora, the downed brunette suffocating though still rather enjoying having Miriam’s butt in such close proximity to her face. Knowing the ropes weren’t an option this time, she went with the only other option available to her. Balling her hands into fists she began pounding, short, sharp punches into Miriam’s thighs and butt hoping to dislodge her tormentor. Miriam grimaced and tried to fight against the pain growing in her legs but eventually it became too much and she released the scissors, letting Kiora breathe freely again. Massaging the pains out of her legs and backside, Miriam approached the recovering brunette with anger in her stride, yanking Kiora up and slapping a quick Hammerlock on the weary beauty. Wrenching the Hammerlock tighter, Miriam hissed, "Tenacity will only take you so far before I start to get annoyed."

Rising up on her toes, Kiora spat back, "Frustration is a beautiful thing." Before Miriam could respond, Kiora brought her free hand up and gripped the back of Miriam’s head. Bending her feet, Kiora pushed off the mat hard, rising into the air in front on Miriam even though she was still in the Hammerlock. When she began to descend, Kiora tucked her legs in and jerked forward. The effect was a sort of brilliantly improvised Snap-Mare that used Kiora’s weight and momentum to toss Miriam over her and halfway across the ring. Massaging the tenderness out of her arm, Kiora got to her feet and watched Miriam stagger to hers. Tensing her entire body, Kiora waited for Miriam to turn around before hopping forward and absolutely rocketing her right foot toward Gaiman’s face. This time Kiora’s Super Kick connected and it connected perfectly, the simple kick nearly decapitating her rival. Miriam went to the mat hard, almost spread eagled as Kiora walked up and stood over her. Kicking Miriam over onto her stomach, she straddled the dazed redhead's back before speaking to Miriam in a rather pleased tone. "You know Id’ve preferred to put you away with the Lullabye, but I’ve got another hold I’ve been working on that should do the trick. Try to remember everything about the experience, I'll want you to describe it after the match is over."

Not getting a cogent response, Kiora went about the business of finishing Miriam off. Still facing Miriam’s head, Kiora leaned back and hooked the redhead’s right leg. To complete the hold, Kiora pulled the leg forward and slipped it over her shoulder, gripping the bent leg tightly at the ankle. Finally she planted her feet on the mat and leaned forward as far as she could, wrenching Miriam’s leg with hideous modification of the Single Leg Crab. When Kiora locked her new move in, Gaiman’s leg and back had exploded in agonized pleasure. Clawing at the mat and her hair to keep from tapping out, Miriam dug her hands into the canvas and began to pull herself toward the sanctuary of the ropes. After what seemed like an eternity (but in actuality was only about 15 seconds, Miriam felt the comforting presence of the ropes and she clutched it the way a drowning person clings to a lifeline.

Seconds later she felt Kiora release the hold, though the brunette did it more than a bit grudgingly. Gaiman tried to get her feet under her, but her right leg felt almost useless and she was only up to one knee when Kiora, pulled her up by the hair. Marching her out to the center of the ring, Kiora doubled Miriam over with a kick to the gut. Stepping back a few paces, Kiora charged her prone foe at a dead run and left her feet in a beautiful vertical leap. As she began to descend, Kiora brought a leg up high and smashed it down across the back of Miriam’s neck. The Scissor Kick drove the Scream Queen face first into the mat and she let out a low groan as Kiora pushed her over onto her back and into a cover. Somehow though, she was able to push Kiora off her before the last count. Kiora was reaching the limits of her patience now; Miriam was taking her best shots and wouldn’t stay down.

Donovan was still trying to figure out a plan when her gaze came to rest on Miriam’s head. Knowing the redhead's skull had taken a sick amount of punishment during this match, Kiora deduced that one more big move focused on the cranium would put Miriam down once and for all. " This should prove my worth." Kiora whispered as she pulled Miriam to her feet. Trapping the redhead in a Front Face Lock, she secured a handful of Miriam’s tights before lifting her captive overhead as if for a Vertical Suplex. But instead of falling back, Kiora fell down, spiking Miriam’s head into the mat from several feet up with the Brainbuster. Miriam lay boneless on the mat and Kiora knew the battle was hers; still she would not be content until the ref had raised her hand in victory. Draping herself across Miriam, she hooked both of Gaiman’s legs and waited as the zebra counted, 1... 2... Miriam’s shoulder jerked off the canvas.

The crowd couldn’t believe it and neither could Kiora. It took all her control to keep from belting the ref upside the head and simply making the count herself. Instead, she got to her feet and pulled Miriam to hers. Glaring into Miriam’s glazed eyes she whispered, "I'm going to make you surrender Miriam Gaiman. Then it is YOU who will find she is worthy of ME." Then she whipped Miriam into the corner, noting there was almost no reaction from the redhead when her back rammed into the post. Approaching her victim, Kiora switched places with Miriam, trapping her pale victim in another Front Face Lock as she sat on the top buckle, preparing to administer a skull shattering Tornado DDT. Kiora pushed off the turnbuckles and had just twisted herself around when Miriam’s hands flew to her shoulders and shoved hard. Kiora’s Face Lock was broken and the DDT rendered useless as she landed hard on the canvas.

Getting to her feet, Kiora was about to say something when Miriam interrupted her, "You're a worthy foe Kiora Donovan, and you will prove to be a most delicious canvas to work with." Incredulous that Miriam was still in this thing, Kiora looked to surprise her with another Super Kick, her good right leg, pistoning out and toward Miriam’s chin. But Kiora had tried kicking at Miriam once too often and this time she paid the price for it. As the leg shot toward Miriam’s face, Gaiman shot forward to meet the limb, snaking her arm under the leg and pulling up trapping it in s position that was nearly directly above Kiora‘s head. In the same instant, Miriam shot her free hand behind Kiora’s neck and clasped her hands shut. Holding Kiora in this painful position, Miriam turned in a circle so that her back was facing the center of the ring. Looking into Kiora’s helpless but fearless visage, Miriam whispered "Beautiful." before tossing Kiora up and over her head, the Capture Suplex a truly amazing sight.

Standing over the wreckage that was Kiora Donovan, Miriam knew she needed to end this match. Looking to the crowd, she drew a finger across her throat before pulling Kiora to her feet. Getting no resistance from the brunette, Miriam muscled her onto her shoulders in a Fireman’s Carry before walking to the center of the ring. Turning in a slow circle, Miriam let everyone see the set-up for a new addition to her arenal, an impressive looking Fireman’s Carry Pile Driver some pun loving intern in the front office had dubbed the 'Pain or Pleasure?' But just as Miriam began the twist of her torso that would begin Kiora’s downward descent, the brunette slipped off Miriam’s shoulders and landed behind her. In a flash, Kiora had cinched in the Half Nelson and was trying to lock her arm across Miriam’s throat and thus cinch in the Lethal Lullaby a second time.

Miriam knew that if Kiora locked her hands she’d have no choice but to tap out so she did the reasonable thing and raised her foot up before stomping her heel down across Kiora’s bare foot. The raggedly dressed girl shrieked and stumbled back, but Miriam didn’t let her get far. Whirling on her heel, Miriam grabbed Kiora’s left ankle and jerked up, pulling Donovan on her feet. Kiora had barely hit the ground before Miriam was in motion, twisting her victim’s leg in preparation of the Figure Four Leg Lock, one of the redhead's favorite methods of scientific torture. Kiora wasn’t going to just let herself get tied up though and in the second that Miriam’s back was to her, Kiora got her free leg up and slammed it forward, booting Miriam in the butt and breaking the hold in the process. Seeing Miriam off balance, Kiora popped to her feet and sprinted forward, leg extended high for another Scissor kick that would take Miriam’s head off at the shoulders.

With mere millimeters to spare, Miriam pulled her head back, leaving Kiora’s leg to slice down through empty space. As Kiora spun to face her, Miriam buried a boot in her gut, doubling her over. Stepping forward, she trapped Kiora in a standing Headscissors and wrapped her arms around the brunette’s slick waist. Not waiting another instant, Miriam inverted her foe, and held her in place for a split second before sitting out and drilling the top of her head into the canvas with a Sit-Out Piledriver.

With Donavon rendered almost out of it, Gaiman swooped in for the kill. "Not the Cruel and Unusual for you, Kiora," the redhead whispered, gathering the exotic beauty's arm. "Not on our first date."

Speaking no more, Miriam secured her other finisher, the Face of Death crossface. Immediately, Kiora began to writhe and thrash under Miriam, struggling vainly to break the hold. But, to her credit, she did not scream.

"Do you give up, Kiora?" the referee asked. Her head trapped in Miriam's grasp, chin pressed closed, it was hard to tell exactly what was her answer. But one thing was clear: her free hand was not tapping the mat.

Miriam continued to work the hold, bringing tears to the brunette's eyes--but still no cries of anguish. The time continued to tick past.

And then, with surprising tenderness, Miriam whispered, "Kiora, you've made your point. But you've also lost. And the longer I keep you here like this, the more you risk not being able to wrestle again for several weeks. Or do much of anything else. In these circumstances, Kiora, there's no shame in submission."

Several seconds passed following Miriam's words. And then, Kiora finally began to repeatedly slap the canvas.

WINNER: Miriam Gaiman