I felt nauseous. I felt like puking. Even though the journey to the pack had barely lasted one minute, I felt like disgorging the contents of my stomach from my mouth. My throat was scratchy too. First time perks I thought, from teleporting.One second I was holding hands with Diana on one side, and Laura on the other side, connected to the hands of the other party troopers—we were all holding our hands together like a cult would—while the queen stood in the center of the circle and chanted things that I had known nothing about; and the next minute we were here. The queen; she had been looking ethereal in her white gown which had gone past her ankles, and even shoes. She had worn a white mask too; a white mask that had enhanced the mystery that shrouded her. She hadn’t looked human; she had looked like an angel. I had seen her sons too, and her daughter. Handsome fellows if I would admit, but I looked nothing as I felt; just blank. I guessed they felt the same as our eyes had co
The party hall was a magnificent spectacle of opulence and artistry. As I entered with Diana, my senses were overwhelmed by the sheer beauty and grandeur that greeted me. It was way different, and much more beautiful than the decorations that had been put in play for my sendforth then. This screamed of a royalty ball.The walls were draped in luxurious fabrics in deep, rich hues of crimson and gold, reminiscent of a royal palace. Crystal chandeliers adorned the ceiling, casting a soft, warm glow that bathed the room in a gentle, ethereal light.From beside me, I heard Diana gasp. Quite understandable. This was a beauty to behold. I was very sure that the king had put so much effort in this to play a show off to the magic Queen.Every corner of the hall was meticulously decorated with attention to detail. Elaborate floral arrangements graced every table, featuring an assortment of roses, lilies, and orchids. Their fragrance wafted through the air, creating a sweet and intoxicating at
“Do you know them?” Diana asked, her hand still clasped to mine. As Laura had kept repeating whilst we walked to the hall the first time, Diana was sticking to me like glue. I held her hand tighter, for assurance. When we had gotten to the hall, I had seen that the people we had come with had all dispersed to mingle; and watching the flurry of movements now, I could see that some of the witches and wizards already had friends here. I was surprised to see the queen’s daughter even talking to Cass. Remember her? She had been one of my bullies; daughter to the pack doctor. They laughed over something and held hands like best friends would. Then, there was the son, the girl’s twin, with Naomi’s brother, Timothy. But I hadn’t seen the lycan boys yet. Were they waiting for a special entrance service? I wouldn’t put it past them. Hooligans. There was no sign of Claire too, not that I cared. The bitch had played a part in what I was facing. Who says she hasn’t been in on the big pla
“Who are they? They look alike.” Diana asked, a note of enthrallment in her voice.But why wouldn’t she be enthralled? The boys still looked as hot as ever! The difference was that I felt no crush for them, just a hatred as deep as the ocean. “Maya, aren’t you going to say something?” Diana asked, and I soughed. The girl was really determined to know them. “I know you know who they are. Can't you tell me?” I stretched my hand toward her, aware of the furrow in her eyes, but knowing that she understood what I wanted. Hesitantly, as if not sure, she dipped her hand into her bag, and brought out the bottle of pills. “Is it that bad? The news about them… is it that bad?” She asked, as she handed the bottle of pills over to me. I nodded, before opening the bottle, and taking out one pill. On a second thought, I took out another. Just before Diana could say a word, seeing my actions but taking a second too late to react, I threw the pills into my mouth. “What are you doing?” She shou
I’m hurting his feelings? Like seriously, the idiot had the audacity to complain that I was hurting his feelings? I didn’t blame him though. He didn’t know who I was. He thought that I was his newest conquest, the new girl that would grace his bed. The bastard! Without much ado, I flinged his arm away, my face scowling, unable to help the expression this time around. Quickly, I retrieved a handkerchief from my bag and cleaned my hand, the exact spot where he had touched. As I cleaned, I cussed, aware that tears were beginning to brim in my eyes. Another side effect of the drugs? I didn’t know. But I kept on cleaning my hand, becoming unaware of my surroundings, until Diana laid a hand on my busy hand, halting my frantic motions, driving me back to consciousness. There was explicit worry in her eyes that broke my heart. I think it was at this moment that she began to see why I had needed the extra dose of the pills. I would have been a freaking ball of mess by now if not for the
Noah straightened-he had bowed a bit when he had wanted to speak with Diana about his dissatisfaction with her. An indescribable emotion fleeted past his eyes. He looked at me, this time more deeply as if accessing me, as if wondering if he had crossed paths with me in the past. The idiot didn’t recognize my voice. That’s interesting. I thought, finding it comical. They really hadn’t cared about me, they had really toyed with my feelings. They would pay though. The three of them. They would pay. “Do you know me? Have we crossed paths before?” He asked finally after beats had passed, folding his arms across his chest, peering down at me. I scoffed in derision, and turned away from him, with Diana, not bothered at all to give him a reply. He didn’t deserve one. I was just about to leave the hall for some air, when the lycan king began to speak. I paused in my movements, needing to hear what he wanted to say, curious as to what nonsense he was about to spurt out in the name of pea
Diana palmed her face first with her free hand. She wasn’t entirely pleased with being the center of attention this way. I felt bad, biting my lips. What the hell was wrong with me? Why was I laughing? What was funny? Okay. Seeing Claire faint was really funny. But my laughter had gone over the board.Laura seemed to think so. The expression in her eyes told me that, and also told me that she knew that I had lied to her. She now knew I had my memories back, or at least some. If not, why would I be laughing?Queen Aliana was still smiling, her hands tucked in her white clothed thighs. And this time around, my mind latched onto that action. Why was she laughing? Was I looking hilarious? Was I looking like a clown? Did I just give her comic relief, or was it something deeper than comics?However, in all, I could see that my laughs had gone overboard, and might draft in consequences that I couldn’t imagine. My heart began to race then, within my chest, pounding like a relentless drum,
As the weight of my words settled on my conscience, I couldn't help but feel the pang of guilt and remorse that gnawed at me. I couldn’t believe that I had just referred to Noah as shit. Now, not because he wasn’t that-Oh, heck he was a bunch of shit and worse.It was just that I knew that she liked the idiot, and referring to him like that was like insulting her, like emphasizing that she was dating a shit, that she was a shit for trying to date or catch the attention of a shit.Noami’s reaction of a jaw slackening and a teeth grinding to my announcement about dating Noah had been clear; I had hurt her deeply. I shouldn’t have said that. I gulped in nothing, my eyes stretching to Diana who was now beside her mother, her eyes blinking rapidly at me. Why? I was not sure. I had no time to deliberate on that either.My thoughts were consumed by the way I had wounded Noami with my insensitivity. It was a moment of reckoning, a stark reminder of the power our words held to cause pain.He
Because the beast’s voice could be heard by all in the field, and maybe even outside of the field, I used magic to amplify my voice, so that everyone could hear me speak too. So, when the crowd erupted in mild shouts and mutterings at the previous words of the Queen, they echoed affirmations after mine; affirmations mixed with amusement at the nonchalancy in my voice and then anger at the Queen for breaking the laws that had been in place for many years. The beast obeyed. He turned his mighty head and stared at the Queen, whose hands were shaking. Out of nerves or shock or anger, I wasn’t sure. But her cool composure was gone. “Well, to be fair to the Queen, she didn’t call you out…” The beast grunted, in confusion I was sure, if the thinning of his eyes were anything to go by. “Who called me then? Only she has the power to call us out…” “Well…” I smirked, and pointed at a Rachel who was shaking with fear beside her mother. Oh well, she was scared of what she had conjured? Inte
Rachel stood still even when the crowd was shouting ‘Fight!’ ‘Fight!’ like a mantra. I knew she wanted me to attack first. “I’ve been watching you fight, and you have never attacked first, well apart from your last match….” She started, placing her hands on her waist.“Well, that’s a stupid deduction to make. I’ve only fought two contestants. Didn’t your mother teach you that, when she taught you how to fight with the subtle magic, when she taught you how to cheat in the competition?” I shot back, a smirk appearing on my lips.Her eyes widened, and her composure disintegrated by a meaningful portion, as she looked around her, to check if the others were hearing. “Tsk, your family is terribly disgusting. You want me to attack you? Then you will have it. Don’t regret it though. There’s a reason I don’t attack first. I thought my last battle would have explained that, but it seems you are slow…” I said, right before I advanced toward her. She jerked back, as I approached, causing me t
Laura’s infamous meat sauce would have been enough reason to win this last battle, even if the Queen’s rewards hadn't been attached to it. Thinking of it now as I sauntered into the battlefield brought out the hunger pangs that had managed to stay hidden for a while, under the layer of fruits and water. I was hungry. “Wait, until I am done with this.” I muttered to myself, flexing my hands. Laura should have better prepared my favorite meal to celebrate my win, because I wouldn’t settle for less. Not when my mind was already clouded with meat sauce. Rachel was already waiting for me in the field, her arms folded across her chest, disdain notable in her eyes. I didn’t bother mirroring the same, I just wanted to be done with this, so that I could go home and eat. ‘That’s a good attitude, keep it up.’ El spoke then, causing me to pout. ‘Is that sarcasm?’ She chuckled. ‘Not at all. It’s good that you’re not nervous, considering the principal’s insight, considering that it lowers you
Rachel won her own fight. But it had been by a sharp luck; the senior had been varsed in combat, very varsed, despite her not so big stature. Probably why the organizers had linked her to Rachel; they had thought it would be an easy defeat. After her match, the Queen had called for a little recess, so that the final contestants could have some rest before the last phase of the competition. It was why I was reclining on the chair in my tent, drinking an energy mix that Laura had given me. “I’m sure that the Queen is giving Rachel some tools on how to fight you, some tricks. You have to be careful out there, Dora…” Diana spoke, with a disgusted expression on her face. “That woman can be so sneaky.” She added, placing her arm around my shoulder. “If you win Rachel, I will give you my meat sauce for a week.” I laughed then, unable to hold it this time around. Diana was a darling. “Deal!” I shouted, jamming fists with her, whilst her parents and Levina watched on with wide smiles on th
My second opponent was the senior that had tried to bully me in the hallway a few days ago; that had tried to instigate me to fight her so that I would be disqualified from the competition. She was prancing around the field like an overzealous proud horse, getting cheers from the crowd. I thought she looked hilarious. I was going to win her. That was a given; not because I was proud, but because I had no choice. I had no choice than to make her eat her words, than to make her regret troubling me that fateful day. My quiet demeanor was mirrored by Rachel and her family. At intervals, I looked at the people in the crowd, at the Queen, at her. It was as if they knew that the senior was making noise. A noise that was uncalled for. Rachel, especially, had a bored look on her face. She knew I would win, never mind that it wouldn’t be pleasing to her. When I had won Courtney, I had seen the dread that had flirted past her face, right before she conditioned her countenance to stoicness. Sh
The battle was over before the senior knew it. With swift movements that I had never learned in any training, I started to free myself from the painful hold of the senior. It was like my hands and feet knew exactly what to do, guided by some unseen force, guided by El.I twisted and turned, using techniques that felt instinctive yet unfamiliar to me. With each move, I could feel my opponent's grip loosening. I managed to break free and turn the tables. Now, I was the one in control.I didn't hesitate. El didn’t hesitate to attack. It was like a dance, each step calculated and precise. I surprised myself with my own agility and strength. El was not just guiding my body, but also my mind, giving me the confidence to face my opponent head-on.I dodged punches and countered with moves that I didn't even know I was capable of. It was exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. But I trusted El; she wouldn’t let me down.Soon enough, I gained the upper hand. The senior was struggling to k
The fight was against ourselves. Since we were just eight contestants, we were paired against each other in a duel. But the announcer had picked out rumpled papers in a bowl to know who we would be contesting against. For my first time, I was selected to duel with the senior that had bothered to speak with me after my victory in the magic prowess session. We were both surprised to be fighting each other, but we had no choice but to advance to the field when our names were called by Professor Zokel. We had been the last in the list too. The others had fought, and now there were only three females moving to the final; three and whoever would win this duel that was about to happen. “I had never imagined to be pitted against you, Dora. But I will make it quick. You have outlasted than we all had gambled for, a feat, but it comes to stop now.” I nodded slowly, not knowing what to say. The seniors had gambled on my position in the contest? Did anyone gamble for my win? “Did anyone gambl
Standing in the middle of the clearing, surrounded by the never ending, echoing applause and cheers of the people, I felt a rush of emotions surge through me. The silence that had enveloped the arena moments ago, as I wielded my magical powers, was now replaced by this overwhelming cacophony of approval. It was surreal, almost like a dream I never dared to dream.I turned towards my family, their voices rising above the rest, shouting my name with unabashed pride. They had been there from the beginning, believing in me even when I doubted myself. Then I saw Adam. He was sitting two bleachers behind his family. And his smile stood out—bright and wide, his eyes shimmering with a mix of admiration and wonder. I couldn't help but touch the scarf he had given me, a talisman of his support and friendship.Friendship? We will see about that. I wondered if he had confided in his brothers about the change of the status quo. I didn’t think so.Bowing graciously to the audience, I savored the m
As I stood in the midst of the expansive field, chosen for the competition for its grandeur and open skies, doubt crept into my mind like tendrils of mist on a cool morning. My earlier dose of courage had evaporated.The memory of Rachel’s captivating rain dance rather haunted me. The way she effortlessly commanded the elements, enthralling every eye and heart in the audience. Could I match that? Did I have what it takes? I could. And I did. But what do I create? The judges were still talking animatedly about Rachel’s magical display. How do I get their attention?I clenched my fists, trying to dispel the doubts that threatened to paralyze me. "You are capable, Maya," I whispered to myself, my voice almost lost in the rustling of the wind through the tall grass. I needed to win this competition, not just for myself but for my family, and for my pride. A movement caught my eye, and I turned to see her – Rachel with that infuriating smirk playing on her lips. She knew she had the upper