A Firelit Room Game Novels & Stories

When I came back to the dorm after dinner, Rachel and the others were already in the middle of the hallway, starting on the fondue. The moment I stepped inside, an intense, rich smell hit the back of my throat. As if fondue weren’t enough, Rachel was actually grilling patties over charcoal in a cramped dorm room. Did she not care about carbon monoxide poisoning? When she saw me, she put on a fake look of surprise. "Oh wow, silly me, I totally forgot to invite you, Lila!"

"Maybe it'll be a good lesson on control." Peter and Lucifer got some torches from the cart and setup a rectangular pattern. Sabu and Heinrich were on the sidelines ready to catch any stray fireballs. "The rules for the fire variant are simple Elijah. You throw a ball of fire at your opponent who sends it back. With every third volley you add another ball to the mix. First to miss loses." Lucifer explained. "You can catch someone else's fire?" Elijah asked. "Yes. This game can be played with any of the elemental magics so long as the participants share the same affinity, though personally I think wind is boring, no offense Sabu."

Sweet, almost too sweet. “The library?” I reminded Luca, shaking off the strange shiver that had gone through me. “Almost there.” He pushed through to another room. “Game room,” he announced. This one stopped me in my tracks. Four tables sat in the center—one square, one rectangular, one oval, one circular. All of them were glossy black. The rest of the room was pure white: walls, floors, and shelves. Not bookshelves. Game shelves. They were stacked, top to bottom, with board games. Hundreds. Maybe thousands.

he said flatly, “everyone’s waiting in the living room. The games are about to start.” My face flamed red. “I wasn’t—I mean, he—” “Save it,” Zeke interrupted smoothly, already turning away. Rys winked at me, smug as ever, before sauntering off with infuriating calm, towel and all. --- The living room was alive with laughter and chatter. A small fire crackled in the fireplace, warming up the room, as everyone gathered in a loose circle on the floor. Someone pulled out cards they had found in one of the rooms, someone else suggested riddles, and soon the room was filled with groans, cheers, and playful accusations of cheating.

James said, playful punching my shoulder. “You wish," A commented wrote before a buzzing sound rang across the garden. “Players return to the living room for a friendly game of rock, paper, scissors, and truth," the system voiced, at mist the loud cry of sirens. “Players have one minute to reach the game room, other die," It declared once more. It's tone casual as though reading the weather. “60 second, 59, 58, 57..." It began it's count down, like it was the most natural thing to do.

I asked taking the vastness of the room checking for the easiest way of exit but there was only one and taking my chance would only be futile. “There’ll be a signal. Each of us will go out that door.” The gunner pointed to the sole door in the room. “The timing depends but it’s approximately every hour. And outside that door is a box, you would pick a card. In that card would be your role in the game.” “My role?” I was getting the partiality of the game but I needed more specifics to fully understand its mechanics yet I was afraid to know it all. “I don’t get it. Are we still all here or are there people who came out already?”

Placing her thumb on his the entire wall of shelves folds in on itself, revealing a smaller room within. “We call it the war room,” Charity comments, arms crossed over her chest, enjoying my reaction to the amount of weapons lining each wall. Each one is sitting comfortably in its place, with spotlights shining down from above. Underneath each case sat a chest of drawers, and only the Goddess knows what fills them. Flipping on the overhead lights, it engulfs the room in a cool blue tone. “Pretty cool, huh?” I just stare wide eyed at the enigma who is the Gamma of Silver Run.

A small silver plaque on the wall read *Velvet Room*. Curiosity and leftover heat from Rowan’s fingers won out. Inside, the lighting was low and intimate. Deep green velvet covered the walls and draped from the ceiling in heavy folds, swallowing sound and creating intimate pockets of shadow. Low couches and wide ottomans were arranged in loose circles. A dozen or so masked guests moved in the space—some talking in hushed voices, others already entangled. The game happening in the center was simple and filthy: blind man’s bluff with a twist. One person blindfolded, hands only, while the others offered themselves to be explored.

Camilla says as she stops by the foot of the spiral staircase. “Sure. Just don’t wander to my lounge though. You don’t wanna see things that you’re not supposed to see.” “God, you’re a pig,” Camilla says as she starts to climb the stairs. I chuckle as I turn around and head toward my lounge. I’m in desperate need of a drink, and maybe a cigarette to get through this night in one piece. I pour myself a glass of bourbon as I sit down on the red couch, gazing at the long swimming pool through the translucent wall at the end of the room.

The Echo Game Olivia Pov The bedroom was dimly lit with warm golden lamps. The air felt charged, heavy with perfume, wine, and building desire. I lay in the center of the large bed wearing only a sheer black lace bra and matching panties. Marcus was on my left, Nathan on my right. Both men were shirtless, their strong bodies already showing signs of arousal. We had created a new game tonight — **The Echo Game**. The rules were intimate and intense: