” I pay my respects to the clan of the Balgarus, the clan of Dorian, the clan of Obsidian, and the clan of Umbrathos. Their bravery and their valour will never be forgotten and will remain unsullied in our hearts. The remaining competitors and the champion will now go through the last portal for the last game. A battle against the Beasts of Druskell. In the third game, every competitor will be required to either leave a memory, their ability to shift or their identity. In the game, there are three beasts. There is the turtle, the dove and the deer. No competitor knows the animal that they will encounter when they go through the portal, so they have to pick what to leave behind and what to keep. If a competitor decides to leave a memory, and encounters the turtle, the turtle may ask a question from the competitors past that the competitor may not be able to answer. If the competitor decides to leave behind their ability to shift, and encounters a deer, the deer may ask that the c
“ No Irene, I'm not giving Jaigan the benefit of a doubt.” I said wheezing as Irene tightened my corset till I could feel the metal squeeze my ribs. “ And do I really have to wear this?” “ That's not what I meant, little mistress.” She said, ignoring my question. “Lady lupita has no reason to connive with Magistrate Cynthia so Desmond would win and Master Luke would forfeit the game.” “ And that's where you are wrong, my little birdie. Lupita has every reason. Number one—she hates me. Letting Desmond win would mean that he gets to take me away forever. An idea I'm sure she would be very happy with. Number two—she wants the Elderman legacy to go back to the way it was. She would hundred percent drug Luke if it meant she would get her way. Number three— she's super close with Cynthia. They're the only two female Alphas in the world. You would think Lupita would know what Cynthia would and wouldn't do, Hun?” I held on to the railings of my bed as she finished tying the strings of the
“ What did you do to him?” Lupita said as she walked into Luke's room with Anthony, Marlowe and Kanos. After shaking, yelling and begging Luke to wake up, when he collapsed, I checked his pulse and when I realized he was still breathing, I ran to Marlowe's office for help. “I didn't do anything! He was standing there,” I pointed to the spot. “ And then I gave him some tea…” “ Tea?” Kanos said from the window side. “ Yes! I gave him tea, he drank it…” “ What was in the tea that you gave him?” Kanos asked again, his jaw tightening. He was chief of security for the castle and was in charge of making sure nothing bad happened in the Castle. Marlowe finally did the same thing I had done earlier, checking Luke's pulse to see if he was still alive. “ Why do I smell Hyoscine ” Lupita said as she pushed past me to smell the kettle of tea. “ Did you give him Hyoscine?” She asked. “ I don't even know what that is—” I started to defend myself. “ Bull! You gave him Hyoscine and masked i
“ Surrender.” I said, pointing an unsheathed sword at Nael who laid on the hard floor sprawled in pain. “Cut him! A little jab should do.” Lupita said with her eyes hooded with a dangerous intent. “ What?” “ Cut him. He'll heal, he won't die. This looks more child's play than it does training for battle. The one Jaigan will bring up in this family if God forbid his son doesn't win the game of Druskell—” Lupita said before Luke cut in. “ That's enough for one day.” “ You need to prepare your human, little brother, or she'll never understand. She has lived a shielded life up until now.” “ That's enough luv.” Charming Anthony said. Lupita scoffed, looked around at her brother, her father and her husband like they were the ones who were raving mad and spewing nonsense. She stormed out of the dojo and Anthony followed in her trail, but not before saluting me. *** Luke's PovKnock knock “ Who's ther—” The door creaked open and Lupita entered the room like it was still hers after
“ The next game is called the game of Echoes.” Luke announced, standing on the makeshift ring where the five used to practice fighting. “Each competitor will go through the East portal which leads to the world of the hollows. For the sake of those who do not know,” he continued. “ Hollows are phantoms that can see guilt, pain, rage, jealousy, and envy. They can also materialize into your greatest fears, your deepest desires and the things that haunt you when you sleep.The five competitors will go through the portal carrying a Zuan candle. They are to travel across the Maze of Moreh carrying the candle until they find their way back to this world. As you know, the Zuan candle doesn't go out, so the competitors have a light to scare away the Hollows.” Luke said. “ And what happens if the candle goes out.” Lupita said. “ The game seems too easy, no?” “ Like I said, the Zuan candle is no ordinary candle. It can only go out if the person who is holding it starts to feel fear, grief, or
The castle was quiet two days after five competitors came back with replicas of me. Prince Moherm of Dorian unfortunately was the only one that didn't make it back. He had failed the test. The news sunk my soul. He lost because he didn't describe me well enough? “ That's such a stupid rule!” I said in Cynthia's room, sipping tea that was excellently brewed. During the first game, we had become friends, or at least I had forced her to be my friend by talking endlessly to her about everything. “ I'm sorry, that's the law. The games have been going on for centuries Joyce, do you really think I can just call it off? And to be fair, everybody knows it's ridiculous, but they still do it either way.” she said sitting across from me, sipping tea from an antique cup identical to mine. “ Ugh. Why are they so dumb then. Why can't they just go away like the seven princes did earlier. I don't want people to die for me.” I said, sulking in my chair. “ Oh honey, they're not dying for you,