The line is moving faster. I’m pleading out internally for it to slow down, begging to the sky above for the names to just stop.But they don’t.The man before me is next. I can barely see outside by the burning star in the sky and we both have our hands across our brows, blocking as much light as we can.
Everything's a blur past him. But then his name is called.
“Skydance Keel.” His deep, chocolate curls bounce as he strides forward with confidence. And that’s when it all hits me. My knees want to give out as they tremble uncontrollably. My bottom lip shakes as the edges of eyes begin to see black… shit, I cannot pass out. And just when I get the urge to run, to flee and head back for the dormitory, knowing I will get killed there anyway, she calls my name.
“Serene,” she says, but then pauses. “Serene.” She states my name again. I have no last name to her and the roars of the crowd go into a hush silence.
They know I am a woman. I exhale.
My chest tightens with apprehension, knowing once I take a step, all of this turns real. No more hiding in the dormitory, no more searching for my sister, but a game of survival. For the both of us. I won’t let this world see my weak side. My fearful side.
I will bring the woman from Seattle, the woman my father raised me to be, and let the rage I have been bottling up explode.At last.
I know I can do this.
I’m going to show them that a woman has the ability to fight just like men. Even if the men here aren’t like those back home. Even if I die trying.
I am going to show them that a woman has a dangerous side, arecklessside, especially when it comes to fighting for their loved ones. Even if I might not be as strong, my heart will stop at nothing until I reach Tilly. Despite the tremor in my hands, Icalm my racing heart, knowing if Alice was here, she would kick me in the back, shoving my body forth.
She wouldn’t let me hide. She wouldn’t let my fear override me.
I must remember who I am, or this Realm could change me. For the best orthe worst.
But one thing is for certain—they threw the wrong woman in the games. And no matter what, I’m going to show them all what a woman is capable of and that they shouldfear it. They should fear what I will do in order to leave this damn place.
Chapter 16
“A huntress shall be a true born killer. The huntress shall have no fear. The huntress shall have a heart of stone, forbidding her to love.” - Book of Azure
I CAUTIOUSLY TAKE A STEP and the narrow bridge of a gleaming, onyx metal awaits me, stretching as far as I can see. With each step, my boot thuds against it, echoing in the silence as I move across it. The sun glares down, forcing my eyes into a squint, but I can still make out the burnt-orange gravel scattered beneath the bridge like a fiery carpet. Straight ahead, the fifty-seven other men stand in rows, their chests thrusting forward with pride and their hands clasped tightly behind their backs, all facing…the damn Queen.
My boot grazes the rough edge of the bridge, nearly slipping off, but with a swift move, I regain my balance. I have no idea how the men with their massive sizes managed to walk this, because I feel as if I could slip off any second. With my heartracing, I stride forward, counting every step I take as I emerge into the open where thousands of people packed into the arena's wooden stands come into view.
All eyes on me.I am no longer invisible.
With the men, they all cheered. I could hear the roaring of people vibrate throughout the tunnel, but with me,dead silence. My eyes stare at my boots, watching as my heel touches before my toes while I cautiously step forward. I fear if I look up towards them as I walk, I will lose balance. Steel clashes violently against steel, the chains echoing as if a ferocious beast is desperate to escape. I freeze, holding my breath, my heart pounding as I slowly tilt my neck up to see what awaits me. That's when my heart plummets down to my feet—two enormous dragons, much larger than the ones in the desert, are directly ahead. One on each side of the bridge, staring at me with their dark eyes. Chains are cruelly wrapped around their massive necks and limbs, their mouths clamped shut. Their wings, a pitiful sight which makes my heart pound with rage, appear to have been savagely slashed thousands of times, leaving them shredded.They will never be able to fly again.
With a shaky hand, I extend my arm toward the golden one, its scales glimmering with a turquoise tint that shines brightly in the sunlight. I should fear them, yet I don’t. The dragon appears exhausted, its eyes dull and lifeless as it slumps forward. My fingers reach out to touch its nose. “I am so sorry they did this to you,” I whisper, unsure if a dragon can even understand me.
“Serene.” The woman who announces the names of the contestants speaks through a pearly shell with a large opening for her sound to bellow out like a microphone. “Please continue to move forward.”
My nostrils flare as I lower my hand. I wipe my forehead and sweat smears along my palm as my eyes burn with pure rage.How dare they do this.
I snap my glare towards the Queen, my brows narrowing deep as I take deliberate and powerful strides across the bridge. She sees me as she lifts her chin up, her brows raising as she takes a sip of her drink. But I continue to walk and as I do so, my eyes stay locked on her.
My boots reach the edge of the bridge, and I take the wooden stairs down to the pit. I land on the rust gravel, dust clouding around me as I walk to my spot. The lady continues the announcements. Theon is called, and the crowd goes wild. Flags whip in the air, horns are blown, and the yells I swear reach the angels above. Theon must be a crowd favorite, more than likely from him being the son of the Queen who rules all of the Realms. Which aggravates the shit out of me, because I should hate him, despise him, yet… I don’t.
I could consider Theon, just thinking of the word tightens my throat, afriend. It's hard to believe how kind and free spirited he is, when his mother is an insane Queen that I want dead. As the sun beats at my skin, Kaine’s name is called and many more after him.
My shoulders ache as I stand in formation, the heat beating against my open wound from the guard who stabbed me. However I know with time, the pain will fade. As the sun travels down, creating a golden soft glow across the horizon, I lose count of the men, but I’m pretty sure we are towards the end from the pit being almost completely filled.
I catch the announcer’s eyes widen as she glances towards the Queen, who gives a stern nod for her to continue. She clears her throat. “Koen Fallyn.”
My neck and face begin to burn, my cheeks reddening by the pure rage that is now coursing through my veins. I whip my glare from the Queen over to watchhimwalk that damn bridge. New plan, stay alive andkill Koen.
His chestnut waves bounce as he walks, the crowd is…silent. Good.
He deserves that silence.
