“I will not dignify that with an answer. Just make sure it does not leave these apartments. Happy reading.”
CLASSIFIED
The Gemini Games
Human contestants (name, age, sex, planet, distinct personality traits):
Celeste Gayton:twenty-four, female, Auralea, insatiably curious
Lenny Jorston:sixteen, male, Lunara, learns new skills with ease
Aria Zollo:sixteen, female, Noctor, quick thinking
Solene Lox:twenty-eight, female, Auralea, notable social game; calculated and deceptive
Graham Osto:nineteen, male, Lunara, presents with high energy; restless
Atlas Quell:twenty-two, male, Auralea, playful persona
Zellie Toro:twenty-seven, female, Lunara, strong-willed, chameleon-like tendencies; able to adapt to any social or environmental situation
Merri Trask:twenty-one, female, Lunara, clear self-expression; easily makes allies
Leo Vance:twenty-nine, male, Noctor, unpredictable
Miles Zeno:twenty-six, male, Noctor, heightened strength
“Orion!” I whisper, shocked at the information spread before me. I turn past the cover page that relays our basic information. There are pictures of all of us; mine appears to have been taken in front of the doors to my chambers. All those security scans were also collecting and storing information. I’ll be able to identify every other competitor before we even start training. My eyes rapidly scan over each face. Despite our differences, we all have one commonality: our yellow.
As the files show, all of us from Lunara have silver hair, while those from Auralea have white, and the remaining contestants of Noctor have black-based hair. While the yellow is woven differently on each of our heads,it easily stands out, showcasing our likeness. It’s interesting to see how it winds around the top of Merri’s head like a halo or how Solene’s hair is divided in half—one side white and the other golden. Then there is Leo, whom I may spend more time than necessary taking in. His untamed onyx waves with yellow clashing on the sides only amplify his fierce look. Unpredictable… He certainly looks the part.
I save my file for last. A chameleon? Is that a compliment or an insult? A strange sense of pride washes over me. I’ve never felt that I fit in one box. Being able to adapt allows me the freedom to explore what I want and to be who I want to be. To me, that shows resilience and the power to be true to myself. Will that be an advantage in these Games? As this saga unfolds, I find myself willing to do whatever it takes to win—for myself, for my friends, and for my kind. We deserve more than a shell of a life, and Astralis is proof thatmoreexists. We are equally deserving. They think I’m strong-willed? They’ve yet to see anything. Despite my determination, I can’t shake the fear that to win this thing, I will need to sacrifice who I am.
“Where does the moonstone come from?” I sit at the sleek, minimalist table and watch as Orion cleans up from dinner.
“The Kosmos holds a trove of magical gemstones. Officials for the Games retrieve and plant the pieces in each game.”
“If the officials are already collecting the shards, why can’t they restore the constellation themselves?”
Orion wipes the counter, his muscular back stretching as he does so. “The constellation only allows Geminis to do so.”
“But why the Games, then? Why not just select a Gemini and forgo all this nonsense?”
Orion’s shoulders rise in a shrug. “It’s ‘tradition’. The Games have been around for millennia.”
“That’s bullshit. I understand that a Gemini must collect the moonstone, but these games are unnecessary.”
“I agree. It’s an outdated way of doing things.” I wish his back wasn’t turned to me so that I could read his facial expressions.
I hum in response, staring off at the binder and getting lost in my thoughts. “Thank you, by the way. For the information.”
Orion’s brief nod is the only response he offers as he cleans the marble countertop. “I chose to be your sponsor for a reason, Zellie. We want the same things.”
Can I trust him? I certainly want to believe that he has the best interests of both humans and me at heart. A wave of exhaustion crashes over me. “This day has been a lot. I could use a shower and some rest. There is a shower, right?” I hadn’t toured the place when we arrived, numb and overwhelmed by the day's events.
Orion’s signature smirk returns. “I’ll do you one better than a shower.”
Twelve
