Chapter 1: The Selection Games

CLAIRAELLE'S POV

“You must enter the Selection Games, Clairaelle! Do you hear me? You! Not Aurelia, not Elaine. You!”

My uncle's slap sent my head turning to the side.

For a moment, I couldn't hear anything except the ringing in my ears. I pressed a hand against my cheek and stared at the man standing in front of me.

Uncle Richard had never needed much of an excuse to remind me that my sister and I were a burden. Apparently, today, talking back to him was enough.

“Father, please.” Aurelia caught his arm before he could strike me again. “Don't hit her. I'm sure she didn't mean to upset you.”

Aurelia, his only precious daughter. She was never worried about me. My guess was she was enjoying this very much but still wanted to act innocent in front of her father.

“Then she should learn to never talk back at me.” He pulled his arm free. “I've fed her, clothed her, and given her a roof over her head for years. The least she can do is repay me by doing what I asked.”

I swallowed the bitter response rising in my throat.

There were plenty of things I wanted to say about the food he claimed to provide, the clothes he complained about buying, and the roof he reminded us of every other day. But arguing with my uncle had never done me much good.

Still, I couldn't let this go.

“So because you gave us somewhere to sleep, and food to eat, I should go out there and die for you?”

His eyes narrowed. “Watch your tongue.”

“I'm asking a simple question. Do you even know what you're asking me to join?”

“The Selection Games!”

“I know what they're called, Richard.”

His expression darkened at my use of his name, but I continued before he could interrupt.

“Those games are for werewolves, vampires, witches, fae, and every other supernatural creature you can think of. I'm human. What exactly do you expect me to do when one of them decides to tear me apart?”

“Stop acting like you've already been sentenced to death!”

“Have you watched the previous games? People have died!”

“And people have won!”

“Yes! People with powers!” My voice cracked, and I hated myself for it.

I wasn't afraid of admitting I was human. I was afraid of what that meant in a competition where the other contestants could do things I'd only seen in nightmares.

A werewolf could rip through a person before they had time to scream. Vampires were faster than humans could follow. Witches had magic, and some fae could make you believe things that weren't real.

What did I have?

Two hands, two legs, quick wit and a very strong desire not to die.

Uncle Richard snatched a document from the dining table and shoved it toward me.

“Read it.”

I glanced down at the paper.

The Selection Committee's seal sat at the top, followed by a large announcement printed in bold letters.

THE SELECTION GAMES.

GRAND PRIZE: FIVE MILLION CROWNS.

My stomach tightened.

Five million crowns.

I'd never even held a thousand crowns at once. Five million was the kind of money that could buy houses, pay off debts, and keep a family comfortable for years.

It was also enough to pay for Elara's treatment.

My eyes moved down the page, but Uncle Richard snatched the paper back before I could read the rest.

“Do you understand what this means?” he demanded. “Five million crowns, Clairaelle! Do you know what that kind of money could do for us?”

“For you, you mean.”

“Don't be ridiculous. It's for all of us.”

“You've spent the last ten minutes talking about how rich you'll become. But you haven't said one word about what happens to me.”

“Why are you making this unnecessarily difficult?!”

He paced across the room, dragging a hand through his hair.

“Our business is struggling. People who used to respect this family barely acknowledge me anymore. This competition will be watched across every kingdom. Even the contestants who don't win can attract sponsors and gain influence if they make a good impression.”

“And you think I'll become popular?”

“Yes of course. Humans don't have enough guts to join these games but when you join, you'll be one of the few humans who made history.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“You're young, beautiful and healthy. You can learn to adapt there.”

“Your daughter is also young, beautiful and healthy. I don't see you signing her up.”

He sent his glare my way. “You are easily the stronger one between you two. And you have a reputation of being a hardcore in hard situations.”

The sheer stupidity of his answer left me speechless.

Aurelia smirked while watching me. Doing nothing to hide her reaction.

I wished I could laugh too. It would have been better than standing there with my cheek burning and my uncle treating my life like a business investment.

“I won't do it,” I said firmly.

His pacing stopped. “What did you say?”

“I said no.”

For a few seconds, the room was quiet enough for me to hear the clock ticking above the fireplace.

Then he pointed toward the front door. “If you refuse, you and your sister can find somewhere else to live.”

My heart dropped.

He had threatened to throw us out before, but he had never made the threat sound so final.

“You wouldn't do that.”

“Try me.”

I searched his face for some sign that he was bluffing.

There was none.

Aurelia stepped forward. “Father, you can't throw them out. Where would they go?” her voice filled with fake concern. She would be the happiest if my sister and I are thrown out.

“Stay out of this, Aurelia.”

“But...but Elara is sick!” I managed to choke out.

“And whose fault is that?” he snapped. “Do you think medicine grows on trees? Do you think hospitals treat people for free?”

I felt as if someone had punched me in the stomach.

Elara hadn't chosen to become sick. Neither of us had chosen to lose our parents so young, or to depend on a man who treated kindness like a debt that could never be repaid.

Yet somehow, we were always the ones being punished.

I looked at the document again.

Five million crowns.

I imagined Elara sitting on her bed, trying to convince me she felt better because she knew I was worried. I remembered the last time her doctor had explained that she needed a more expensive treatment, and how she had squeezed my hand afterward and told me not to worry about her.

As if I could simply decide not to worry.

“How much is the registration f*e?” I asked.

Uncle Richard's anger faded almost immediately. “Ten thousand crowns.”

“And you have that kind of money to pay for it?”

“I've made arrangements.”

That answer made me suspicious. “What arrangements?”

“That's none of your concern.”

“If I'm the one entering the Games, it's very much my concern.”

His jaw tightened. “The committee requires an advance payment. I've already spoken to someone who can help us with the registration. Once your name is accepted, you'll receive money to cover your initial expenses.”

“How much?”

“Fifty thousand crowns.”

I looked at him sharply. “Fifty thousand?”

“Yes. It's more than enough to get you started.”

“What about Elara?”

He sighed as though I were exhausting him on purpose. “What about her?”

“Who's going to look after her while I'm gone?”

“She'll continue to stay here with us.”

“With you?”

“Unless you've suddenly found someone else willing to take her in.”

I ignored the insult. “And her treatment? I'm always the one who hustles for the money.”

“I'll handle it all.”

“You said that last month, and the hospital nearly stopped treating her because you refused to contribute to the bill.”

My uncle looked ready to explode again, but I had reached the point where I no longer cared whether my questions offended him.

“If you want me to enter those games, I need something more than your word.”

“You think I'd let my own family suffer?”

I scoffed. Has he seen himself?

I took a breath. “Put it in writing. You'll take care of Elara while I'm away. You'll use the advance payment for her treatment, and you'll pay for her medicine and other needs. If I come back and find out you've neglected her, I'll make sure you pay and everyone knows what you did.”

Uncle Richard stared at me as though he had never considered that I might stand up to him. “You've become very bold.”

“No. I've become fed up.”

Something in my voice must have convinced him that I wasn't going to back down this time. He muttered under his breath, then pulled out a chair.

“Fine. I'll have the agreement prepared.”

“I want a copy.”

“Fine. You'll get your copy.” he said in a mocking tone.

“And I want to see Elara before I leave.”

He waved a hand impatiently. “Whatever you want. As long as you'll join the game.”

I didn't trust his sudden cooperation, but I had finally secured something I could hold him to.

~