The contestants were all quiet as we were escorted by armed guards one at a time. When I finally made it to my room, I found my suitcase I had packed waiting for me.
“If you need anything, just pull on this cord here,” the guard gruffly instructed. At least it was a different one than had assaulted me earlier this morning. He left without another word, and I sighed, feeling relief sweep through me for the first time all day. I’d made it through the choosing ceremony. It had gone different than how I’d imagined, but now I could strategize and learn how to wield my newly gifted power.
The room was a modest one, but far nicer than the one I had at home. There was a full-sized bed filled with plenty of plush pillows, and a regal deep red comforter that had golden tassels hanging from the ends. A matching velvet canopy hung about the top of the bed that were tied back with golden braided ropes. A roaring fireplace heated the space, and several light fixtures lined the walls giving me enough warm light to see my surroundings. Despite the fire, there was still a chill that hung about the air, and a hint of damp that seemed to permeate through the floor. And of course, because we were underground, there were no windows to be found.
It had to at least be near supper time by now, and my stomach was still a mess of nerves. Though a low pang of hunger reminded me that I should probably eat something.
There was a small ice box filled with meat and cheese tucked away in the corner of the room. I rolled them up together and shoved them in my mouth suddenly ravenous. It’s like I had been suppressing my hunger and finally realized I needed sustenance to survive. As I chewed, I went over to open my suitcase, wanting to settle in and rest my feet for the night.
But when I went to open it, a large dagger sat prominently on top with a note attached at the handle.
It read:
Just in case :)
- M”
Fucking Marley.
Having this on me could get me killed or expelled from the games. Sentenced to a lifetime of servitude to one of the gods. My heart rate jackhammered into my chest as I whipped my head around trying to find a suitable place to stash it.
A knock on the door came and everything inside me panicked. The knife clutched in my hands would doom me before I even had a chance to fight.
The knob turned and my knees quivered in fear. I was a fucking goner.
Chapter 5
Odessa
There was no time to hide the obvious weapon in my hand before a large imposing figure stepped through the door, making my jaw drop and anger rise.
Instead of the guard and chains I expected to see, a dangerous dark-haired menace walked into my room, taking all the oxygen out of my lungs with his sudden appearance. The door snicked closed behind him—the sound echoing off the vaulted ceiling.
“What the hell! Dex, I thought you were a guard.”
He tilted his head to the side examining me like I was a specimen under a microscope, and he was a scientist desperate to discover my secrets. His golden horned mask gleamed in the flickering light, making him appear ten times more devious and dangerous than he had earlier. The ghost of his touch on my skin still lingered, remembering how he had steadied me when the shadows swirled all around me. I still didn’t know if I had caused that to happen or if it was something else.
“You asshole, what are you even doing here?” I seethed, trying to calm my erratic heart rate.
The icy blue hue of his eyes locked on the dagger I held in my hand. Immediately, my brain caught up to my body and I hid it behind me.
Too little, too late. It was clear by that insufferable smirk that he’d seen it.
“What, are you planning to do with that? Stab me with your contraband? Might I suggest aiming for my heart if you do. It’s the only way to get the job done.”
“I—I’m not planning on stabbinganyone.My sister packed it without my knowledge, and now I don’t know what I’m going to do. If they find it, I’ll be kicked out and jailed. Or worse. Hung up in the stocks and made an example of.”
I plopped down onto the bed and stared at the weapon in disbelief, not sure why I just unloaded all that on him, other than I was still clearly in shock. How could Marley put me in this position? I swore, if I got out of here alive, I was going to personally wring her little neck.
“That would be a shame, not being able to face you in the games due to a stupid rule. Have you thought of, I don’t know, maybe hiding it?”
I glared up at him.
“What are you doing here anyways?”
“I came to see if you wanted an escort to dinner.”
A loud snort came out of my nose, and I quickly covered my mouth. “You did not.”
