“Interesting choice, potential match. Please take your position and begin your training.” At the sound of her smarmy voice, I mark Celeste as the first vampire I stake.
But what did she mean by “choice”?
I have no say in this! If I had it my way, the place would be full of tiny kittens that I have to pet in order to get through.
Immediately following that thought, a low, thunderous growl erupts throughout the arena. My heart races as I search for the source; it then stops altogether as the biggest lion I’ve ever seen prowls towards me.
Oh, shit.
Slowly, I move closer to the ladder. Lions can’t climb right? I grip the wood, old and rotten beneath my hands. The lion tracks my every movement, stalking me with each second that ticks by. To my surprise, the crowd cheers as another grumble rips from his chest.
“Nice kitty,” I mutter as it edges closer.
Fuck, what am I doing? Talking to a lion?!
But it’s either get over this fear of heights or be eaten alive by a lion.
I gulp and begin the ascent to the top. I make it about five steps up before the lion lunges. The wood cracks under my feet and I scramble for hold.
That thing is huge! If it jumps, it could easily bite my leg off.
Just as I think it, the lion leaps.
But I’m faster.
I scramble up the ladder, ignoring the wood creaking beneath my fingertips and focusing only on putting one arm in front of the other. Garrett is the only potential Familiar to claim he was interested in Knox. I have no idea if he is alive or dead, but I won’t be used as a personal plasma bank.
I’m here for one reason.
I saw through the illusion for one reason.
And a fucking ladder and the lion beneath it isn’t going to stop me.
14
Danni
This trial is purepsychological warfare.
I climb for what feels like hours. Each step up the ladder is like an impossible task. A thick sheen of sweat covers me, making the rubber of the catsuit feel like sandpaper against my skin. I can barely breathe, and my hands have turned bloody and numb from the piercing splinters. But I have to keep going. I have to survive.
A soft wind whips my hair across my face, bringing with it an icy chill that takes root deep within my bones.
Why is there wind?
I glance up for the first time in what feels like hours to find I’m almost at the top. Relief relaxes my muscles as I cling to the ladder. The decomposing wood creaks in protest as I halt for a brief moment. I realize my mistake all too late.
The wood beneath my foot snaps in two. I grasp tightly onto the ladder, my legs swinging helplessly in the air that seems tobe getting colder by the second. The vicious wind picks up speed and what little warmth was left in the stagnant, popcorn-scented air of the tent disappears. My fingers grip harder onto the wood as my feet struggle to find a landing. The weight of my body threatens to pull me back down to where the lion lays in wait.
My teeth chatter like a jackhammer as my whole body shakes from the temperature drop.
I can’t die like this.
I won’t die like this.
My scream is a war cry as I gather what little strength I have left to drag myself up. I fight hard against the wind that engulfs me, ignoring the tiny daggers of ice cutting my skin.
My foot finds the next step. The crowd far below groans as if they don’t want me to survive this.
