“You torture me, woman.” He groans into his pillow. He tries to pull me down into the bed with him, making me laugh as I swat his hands away.
“I have to go; Orion will pick me up soon. You need to get ready.”
“How about we skip the whole thing and stay in bed?” Leo adjusts his head on his pillow, running his hands up and down my thighs.
“We’re almost done,” I whisper, tracing the outline of his muscular chest and stomach. Leo groans again, this one with need. He lifts his hips suggestively against me. Heat floods me instantly, the need for him insatiable. “Leo, stop it, or we’ll never leave.”
I move to get off, but Leo gently pushes my back towards him, causing me to lean forward. He softly tugs both my braids before planting a kiss on my lips. “I’ll see you there.”
“Okay,” I kiss him again.
“Okay,” he murmurs against my lips, slipping his tongue into my mouth.
I playfully push off of him. “Okay, goodbye!” His laughter follows me out the door.
The arena is abuzz with the typical excitement. Celestials and Astrals place bets, wondering what type of show the Kosmos has planned for them today. My thoughts are similar, but I’d like to think I’m a tad more invested than those sitting in the stands. How easy it is to sit back and watch others risk their lives when there is no attachment involved. Do all of the citizens here look at us as if we are solely objects for them to play with? How many disagree with the Order, their corruption, disgusting tactics, and use of humans? Are they sitting in the crowd right now? Are the Children of the Constellation? Brinn said they would be here. I scan the crowd, but the faces blur together. My hand twitches, palming the dagger through my leggings. I’m on edge, yet I can’t place exactly what is bothering me. Perhaps it’s general anxiety about being so close to the finish line, to finally being done playing the role of a puppet.
I watch as the others arrive, taking a moment to reflect on how my relationship with each of the seven has grown. Except for Atlas—Leo did a number on him with his intimidation. I chuckle to myself and watch Leo stroll across the sand as if he owns the place. Stars above, that man is aspecimen. Orion’s arm brushes against mine from where he stands next to me, a physical reminder that he is here. His support has been unwavering. I know that no matter what happens, he and I are in this together.
“Citizens of Astralis, we welcome you to the fourth trial of The Gemini Games.” Pluto’s eely voice slips through the airwaves, but the Kosmos is nowhere to be seen. Enough with the fucking dramatics already.
“With only two games left, who will our new Celestial champion be? Will it be Leo Vance?” An orb light gleams like a spotlight, highlighting where Leo stands. He smiles as the crowd cheers ferociously for him. “Zellie Toro?” I squint as the light falls on me, trying my best to smile and play my part. “Or the newest addition to the standings, Miles Zeno?” The orb lights blink out, highlighting the divine Order, who now stands on an erected dais in the stands.
“We are very close to restoring the Gemini constellation, allowing for continued energy to flow openly to surrounding planets. To our remaining contestants: remain vigilant! Your efforts do not go unnoticed; three moonstone fragments remain. Contribution from any competitor is welcome.”
I twist my bandana back and forth on my neck, wishing Pluto would wrap up his speech. “With that, as always, contestants will have five minutes with their sponsors to prepare. When the horn sounds, the game will begin. This challenge will last one hour. A warning horn will be blown when fifteen minutes remain. We hope you all find this challenge…enchanting. May the stars guide you; the constellations are the only constant.” Enchanting? What does that even mean?
“Find your inner calm,” Orion instructs me, placing his hands on my shoulders.
“You wouldn’t be able to find your inner anything if you had to do this.”
“Why are you so nervous about this one?” He moves his hands down my arms, trying to calm me. I catch Leo glowering at Orion out of the corner of my eye.
“I don’t know!”
“Release what doesn’t serve you. Shake it out.” I expel a wavering breath, physically shaking my arms and hands. “Do not lose sight of your light, of who you are. Now take five deep breaths with me.”
We breathe in unison, each breath more grounding than the last. “Thank you,” I say, squeezing his hands.
“Today, you will win.” Orion transports off the arena floor along with the other sponsors, and the entire coliseum is blanketed in darkness. Into the darkness, I whisper, “Today, I will.”
Fifty-six
Eight individual spotlights highlight oval standing mirrors in the illuminated circles. The curved mirrors are bewitching. I’m transfixed on the celestial designs swirling around the silver frame; the silver shimmers with iridescence under the glow of the orb lights. It is as if the moon herself were caught within the frame. Twin crescent moons facing one another are arranged carefully at the bottom, while the top features a series of delicate starbursts set within a crown, with a large moonstone inlaid into the center.
We all hesitantly scatter in opposite directions—each of us drawn to, yet apprehensive of, the looking glasses intended for us. As we all take our spots in front of a mirror, the lighting in the arena remains off, adding to the eerie feeling that lingers in the atmosphere. The crowd is quiet, waiting and watching with bated breath.
My feet are moving while my mind is reeling. What could this be? I make my way to meet my image in the looking glass. I look at the outskirts of the mirror; perhaps there is a puzzle or a clue inscribed in the details that I need to find. I’m distracted by a flicker of movement in my peripheral vision. What? Staring at my reflection, I recognize parts of the woman in front of me. She’s me, yet she’s not. A veil of shadows darkens her features, as if she were hiding in the dark. Her hair is parted into two braids, her green eyes are richly shining, but her facial expression is off. She looks… vindictive. Her mouth is turned downwards in a scowl, her eyebrows bunched inwards. I watch as her posture shifts, her arms folding defensively.
“Whatareyou?” I breathe.
“It’s not what I am,” I startle as my voice speaks back to me, “but whataren’tyou?”
I twist my bandana, watching my reflection do the same. I drop my hand and watch as hers remains, a smirk lifting one corner of her mouth. She’s toying with me. I lean forward, my nose, my breath fogging in front of me. Moving to place my hand against her cheek, my hand passes through onto her skin. I gasp, drawing my hand back. The glass is false. I repeat the motion, not only feeling her skin against my hand but also the soft pressure on my face as if my handwerephysically warming it. Holy shit. The mirror is enchanted. I take my fingers, flicking them against the braid resting above her collarbone. My fingers bounce off the mirror with a resoundingboing, but my braid brushes over my shoulder. Anything that happens to her… happens to me.
“Bravo,” she slowly claps. “That took longer than I expected. I thought you were smarter than that.”
My nostrils flare in anger as she continues, “Maybe if you try harder, you’ll feel important to somebody.”
