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Chapter 34
We met at the stone bridge leading to what was called Castle Mist. The stone of the bridge was similar to that of the castle and the rest of the town, iridescent yet full of intricate carvings. All twenty contestants were here, crowded around the base of the bridge. A crystal-clear stream ran beneath the bridge. Inside the stream was a multitude of colorful stones, all seemed to catch the sun and scatter a rainbow of light across the surface of the water.
A large garden sat out front of the castle, but no tents ventured past the stone bridge. Standing on the arch of the bridge were Apollo and the four other strange men. While I’m sure they had names of their own, I wasn’t willing to pay the price to find out. Apollo, Day, Night, and Sunset, all looked as they had the previous times we spoke with them. Their suits were crisp and tailored, mixed with that special blend of magic that made the colors shift and move like the brilliant phases of the earth and sky.
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Iridian Chapter 35
The inside of the castle wasn’t what I had expected. Then again, nothing in the Iridescence Pack had mirrored my expectations. Multi-colored beams of sunlight streamed through the glass ceiling. The ceiling above the foyer was made of different colored glass, creating an incredibly realistic mural. Two bulls, one white and the other black, were locked at the horns. They stood in a beautiful garden, lush with flowers I had never seen before.Off to the left and right were long corridors, wide enough to fit hundreds of people. Tall arched windows let in plenty of sunlight, but also blocked us off from the outside world. The left corridor was blocked off by a thick golden rope. That was the Western wing we had been prohibited from exploring, the rest of the castle was free game. Directly ahead was a large doorway, and through that doorway I could make out two mirrored sets of winding staircases.“Where
Iridian Chapter 36
I took one look at the near-deserted road of my hometown and turned on my heel. I had emerged from what looked to be my house, but I knew better. I had come from Castle Mist. I opened the front door to my house and stepped inside, hoping it would take me back to where I had once stood in the castle.Instead of ending up back at Castle Mist, I was standing in the middle of my living room. Nothing had changed from my short time gone. The little sofa in the living room was still faded and coated in an array of stains. The coffee table had seen better days, and was wrought with little carvings from Zack, Aidan and I. On the leg of the table, I could still make out the little ‘A + R’ Aidan and I had carved when we were ten. The television was on, playing some cartoon in the midst of the crackling and snapping of the static.As I stood in the living room, the scent of fruit and cinnamon wafted through my nose. My legs carried me into the small kitchen where my Mo
Iridian Chapter 37
“Aidan got an invitation?” I scoffed, murmuring quietly to myself.Judging from the look on Mom’s face, she was fully convinced I was losing my mind. Quickly, the anger in her eyes softened to what looked like pity.“I know it’s hard, Rachel. I can’t imagine being away from my mate, knowing he’s in danger, but you know how badly Aidan wanted this.” Mom’s voice was soft, but her tone did nothing to lessen the blow.‘Mate? She said mate. Why did she say mate?’ Rayna demanded, both of our panicked thoughts mixing into one big mess.‘He’s not our mate. At least, not that we know of.’ I replied, shaking my head. ‘We never got the chance to touch him after my birthday. The Rachel in this reality, that’s his mate.’‘This proves nothing.’ Rayna insisted, her voice full of conviction. ‘Just because he’s our mate in this reality, that
Iridian Chapter 38
Trigger Warning - This Chapter Contains Dark Content.The air inside was cold, reeking with the scent of dust and mold. It seemed this house had long ago lost whatever life resided within it. White sheets were draped over the furniture, reminding me of one of the many horror movies Aidan and I had watched over the years. I tried and failed to suppress my shiver at the dimly lit house.‘This is going to take forever.’ Rayna groaned, ‘Do you see how big this place is?’‘Not if we look in the right spots.’ I tried to remain optimistic, ‘Now, where would you put a crystal necklace that also serves as a weird clock key?’‘Not under any of these sheets.’ Rayna shuddered, ‘Probably a jewelry box, desk, or dresser of some kind.’‘Alright, then let’s start over here.’ I suggested, my eyes attracted to an old antique side table.There was no foyer in this estate,
Iridian Chapter 39
“Everyone has secrets, Rachel; and no one, not even your friends, are what they seem.”Camille’s voice sounded from behind me, and I whipped around with a look of absolute guilt on my face. That guilt was squashed the moment I took in her expression. That gentle face that once held a delicate innocence had been wiped away. Her once soft eyes were now hard, and…empty. I had never noticed it before, the lack of light within her gaze; like she was a shell, nothing more.“Are—are you real?” I found myself asking, wondering if she were just a figment of Castle Mist.Her slim lips turned up in a cat-like grin, one that set my teeth on edge and made my blood run cold. I had once thought Liliana was cold and unfeeling, but I had been so very wrong. Liliana was a wealthy, stuck-up woman; but she was not unfeeling. She had compassion, no matter how she chose to express it. This…this was the truth of Camille. There was a bi
Iridian Chapter 40
I stepped out into the hallway but was quickly barreled into. From scent alone, I knew it was Helena. The Game Master had kept to his word even though he could’ve twisted my request in many ways. Even though my heart felt heavy from the price I had paid, I knew it was worth it.Unshed tears burned in my eyes, and I wrapped my arms around Helena’s soft form. I could hear her shaky breaths, and I could hear the rapid pattering of her heart.I shoved the grief I felt down deep, smothering it until I could no longer hear its nagging voice. I had been so deluded, so clouded by my own distaste that I hadn’t appreciated the place
Iridian Chapter 41
I made it all of ten steps down the hallway before my nerves began to ache and groan. They had been rubbed raw during my time in Castle Mist, and I couldn’t shake the mind-numbingly cold feeling that something more might happen. With clenched teeth, I spun on my heel and immediately halted.What the hell? I wasn’t sure why I still had expectations when it came to Castle Mist. Clearly nothing here worked within the fragile boundaries of logic and reason.I faced what looked to be a blank wall, solid and sturdy. There wasn’t even a glimmer of the golden rope that had once blocked this corridor. I could no longer see the foyer and the ornate front door.‘Looks like there’s no turning back.’ Rayna grimaced, skillfully hiding the unease we both felt.For once, I was incredibly thankful for my wolf. I couldn’t count the number of times Rayna had gotten on my nerves, never once failing to give me a piece of her mind. I h
Iridian Chapter 42
‘Putrid and rancid, it devours the weak.Living in all of us until it finds what it seeks.Consume and decay, devour and feast.To uncover the truth, you must tangle with the beast.Kind and pure, its compassion knows no bounds.Fierce and strong, you quake when it sounds.Given a choice, one you must choose.One you will gain, the other you lose.Choose wisely, dear friend, for there is a cost.To dance with the beasts is to recover what was lost.’I analyzed the words over and over again, stuck in this room with nothing better to do. I was hyper aware of the scratching against the thick doors that separated me from whatever had a hold of Abel. As I glanced back at those doors, I finally noticed the design painted and etched into the stone.The two bulls that adorned the wall, they were also on the doors. Instead of glaring at one another with hatred so profound, I shuddered; they were locked i
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