My fingers glide along the ledge as I make my way to the staircase that leads me out. The guards part ways, eight of them total, four standing on each side. Their spears stand upright asthey are frozen, watching me walk through them. The Queen awaits me at the arched entrance. Her narrow eyes beam with rage as her foot taps against the concrete walkway. She won’t enter the cave, just impatiently waits for me to meet her. I pissed off the Queen, yet again.
Chapter 23
“The sword must be found in order to reunite the hunters.” - Book of Azure
“I SHOULD HAVE YOUR HEAD for this!” Queen Antavianna bellows, her arms flailing wildly as I trail behind her along the concrete path leading back to the Kingdom. I glance back over my shoulder, glaring up to the hovering mountains that circle the Kingdom and towards the arched doorway that leads to the Vitaei.
Her voice carries in the mountains, echoing around us and catching in the wind. “Stealing the Light Stone! How foolish can you be?”
The guards follow, their spears pointed upward as they march in formation. My eyes roll as I stride after her. Water drips down from my hair, gliding over my forehead and cheeks. I grab my soaked midnight strands, throwing them over my shoulder and twisting tightly, squeezing out water as my soaked suit drips to the concrete.
“Do what you must,” I mutter out, glancing towards the arena that is placed against the mountain side past the Kingdom, up on a hill. It’s a perfect place for people to either sit in the arena to watch us fight… or as I trace my eyes along the mountain side, I catch the sighting of something else. Ledges are formed with seatings fit for only Royals, I suppose to also watch up high. The golden swirls of the railings glisten in the yellow light that beams from the sun. The flags are still whipping in the wind, and I can see their colors from way over here.
Maybe it's a safe spot for the Royals to watch those in the games fight dragons.
I always wondered if the dormitory was underground, but it makes sense now as I can see the landscape of the Kingdom of Eekatia.
“You really are begging to die now aren’t you, Serene?” She halts, her snowy-white hair flowing in the breeze as she whips her head towards me. Her golden crown, adorned with wings and the five stones resembling the colors of the flags and the stones I had seen in Alaska, glistens in the light. She is still wearing the dress she wore last night at the celebration—a deep, velvet red with sleeves that billows out around her petite wrists. Her collarbone is noticeable with her heart-shaped bodice, hitching in her stomach before her gown falls down towards her feet. One high slit reveals her full leg.
“Everyone in this Kingdom has threatened my life.” I shrug. “Sooner or later, death will have me. But who will have my life… that is the mystery.”
Her eyes squint, glaring into mine as silence takes over before she speaks. “You do not fear death?”
“Everyone fears death. I would be a liar to say I don’t.” I pause, taking a step towards her as my soaked suit rubs against my thighs. “But will you be the one to take my life? Or will you let the fate of the games decide?”
She cocks her head to the side, revealing more burns along her skin, wrapping up toward her ear now. The language of the flames by the oracles. She has seen them maybe a hundred times since being in the dormitory. “I will let the Gods decide. The games are always for them.”
I gesture my hand for her to keep walking. “Then let's get me to the first game.”
“I hope the Gods let you burn.” Her lip scrunches upward before turning. “Oh and that stone on your arm… whatever that is, won’t protect you. I’m unsure what Florian tried to tell you.”
“Trust me, I never believed a word he said. I also am not putting my faith into a stone.”
She looks over her shoulder. “How did you survive traveling through the Light Stone?” She halts again, eyes tracing my body in pure confusion. “Unsure how you are alive if you went into the Vitaei?”
Her eyes widen, almost as if something just clicked in her mind. “What has Florian said to you?”
My lip pulls upward. “Now why would I tell you this?”
“Do you want him to stay alive?”
I take a step forward, never blinking or hesitating. “I'm absolutely certain you'd never take his life. You rely on him, depend on him. That is the future King you are talking about. Are you threatening the future King of Azure?”
She nervously glances away for a mere second. “No.But something is going on, I can sense it. If the oracles can’t get to the bottom of this, I will. I will do anything in my power to understand what this is,what you are. I don’t care how many lives I take in order to do so.”
“And I…” I stride forward, glaring into the eyes of the woman who tortures people for a sick game, “don’t care how many lives I have to take in order to find my sister.”
WE’RE SILENT THE ENTIRE WALK back. Not another word leaves the Queen's lips.
And I am okay with it.
I watch the sun dip behind the mountains, creating a soft golden hue on the walk back, knowing the games are about to start. Knowing men are about to walk into a pit locked with a dragon and await their death.
Why do men risk this?
My suit is still wet, and my damp hair waves down to the bottom of my back. I thought the long walk to the dormitory would dry me by the scorching sun, but it didn't.
I enter the room and as the door closes with a loud bang that makes me jump, the men preparing to battle the dragons fix their gazes on me. They are all here. All ninety-nine of them. And I know Koen sees me.But I don’t see him.
