Chapter 25
The Beginning of the Trials
None of this is for the faint of heart, thousands have died today. My heart aches for every single one of them.
-Arabella
Aunt Adalia left Luxington Valley after our meeting last night. She has gone home to rally the troops before we go to war with Diodyous. Uncle Radix stayed here to escort me to Dragoncrest City after the Light tournament.?Uncle Jo is on patrol duty, so I'm meeting up with Uncle Radix at the private entrance of the arena. From what I’ve been told, because there are three different factions, there will be three separate trials today. King Aramayus, reluctantly, has agreed to let me participate in the second one.
The first trial is one dealing with water, and since it’s been discovered I'm Maritime, my being able to compete in that one is a forfeit. He said the last one had only been designed for the last three contestants and there wasn’t a fourth spot available. Someone had a dream a long time ago, and it is already recordedwho the remaining three will be. It’s sealed in the archives. Whatever the hell that means.
The butterflies in my stomach flutter with a vengeance, each task is secret, and all they told me was that I could bring my Billie club, because the others would retrieve their weapons in the first task. Uncle Radix has the biggest smile on his face when he spots me. His smile reminds me so much of Aunt Georgias. His reddish hair gleams in the sunlight, and he even has the same freckles running across his button nose.
My cousins are taking Merrie-Beth to her designated seat on the floor, and they are going to stay down there so they can see all of the action up close. “Arabella, remember, this will be a televised event, so don’t be nervous. All you have to do is act as if the cameras aren’t here. The more you’re in the spotlight, you get used to them, and almost forget they are there. Our people have a right to see what's going on, seeing this tournament is everything to them. They also need reassurance that you’re safe. That's the only reason King Aramayus allowed the media access to the palace grounds."
I nod my head nervously. "Do people suspect I'm not safe?"
He shrugs as he opens the door to the balcony where we’ll watch the Trials. "You know how rumors are, one person says something contrary to the news, and it spreads like wildfire. A tabloid reported that you had been captured. We are about to prove them wrong."
I almost don't hear his explanation, because I'm having a hard time making my mouth stay closed. This arena is magnificent! The open-top arena is three levels total, and seats about ten thousand. We are on the second floor, which offers the best views in the house. The walls are made out of white marblewith gold trimming. The stone floors are cut straight from the mountains. However, the competition part of the floor looks different, no fuss or fluff. Just a bare wooden floor, with a dark blue mat that covers over half. They even have two places where you can buy concessions in the back.
I'm amazed. Uncle Radix explains that they've had the blueprints for this place for several years. They started construction about eight months ago, intending to have it completed by my 21st birthday. As the plans changed, they worked day and night to finish this place. It was all hands-on deck to get it done.I swell with pride as I look at all the detail they put into this place. It's smaller than they intended, but nothing to be ashamed of. I'm starting to see just how hard our people work. When there is a problem, they don't blame anyone else. They find a solution, band together and fix whatever needs fixing. Unity is more important than anything in a society.
A Vampira with silken black hair waltzes into our box. Her mysterious smile is alarmingly beautiful. Danger leaks from every one of her pores, and the feminine precision in which she moves is in total contradiction to the predator that she is. No one has to hide who they are in Luxington Valley, so her lips painted red, with her canines extended. She’s here for the blood contract. “Arabella, welcome home. As King Aramayus has explained to you, I’m here to render the blood oath.”
I nod weakly up at her and hold my finger out to be pricked. He explained that in the task I’m participating in today that each of us would have to sign a contract in blood. After writing our signatures, only death or victory will get us out of the contract.
She takes a long needle and pricks the top of my forefinger, then draws up as much as she thinks we will need. She inserts my blood inside of a fancy looking pen.?
“What’s your name,” I ask.
She looks down at me in surprise, as she hands me the pen. “Brambri, from the shores of Azure.”
I smile at her, she’s beautiful, as all Vampire’s are. “Nice to meet you, Brambri.”
She nods in turn, and I stare at the contract for only a minute before I literally sign my life away.Freshwater mermaids are the worst.?
She leaves us with a bow, and I go back to people watching. With twenty minutes left to go, the TV cameras are out in full force. I'm thankful that, at least for now, they have not discovered my whereabouts. I lean over to get a better look at the people standing to the far right of the stage. My eyes casually dart between two men and one woman. They must be announcers, because they look like celebrities.The woman is tall, lean, and platinum blonde. She wears a metallic blue mini dress with electric blue stiletto heels. She’s gorgeous. The man to her left has short spiky hair. He’s wearing a solid black suit with a bright red bowtie. The other man is about two inches taller than the first guy, and all I can think is, Hello, Daddy! His thick dark hair is graying at the temples, making him look distinguished. His pants and shirt are black, but is sporting a bowtie that is shiny gold, and his sports coat is the same, polished gold with a design trimmed in black interwoven into the coat. I take the binoculars beside my seat to get a closer look at the design. It's my sun. He’s wearing my sun.
Uncle Radix laughs. "Your sun is a pretty big deal around here, Arabella. You better get used to it, sweetie. I have a similar coat myself."
A giggle erupts in my throat. This is not real life. I can't believe what I'm hearing but tell me more! "Really? Why is my sun such a big deal?"
"Arabella, you are a beacon of hope and peace. The purpose for your life was set before you were born, and you’re going to save billions of lives. Mayra won't quit until she rules the entire world, but you're going to stop her. The people are excited because this generation will see all this come to pass. You don't understand the impact the Prophecy of the Chosen has had on every single one of us. Even I was told the story of you as a child. You're a legend, and we were chosen just as much as you were. You will lead us. Then we will win." He grabs my hand and flips my wrist upward, so my sun is visible. "This sun, your sun, gives new purpose to us all. To think that our family line is the one to have been chosen, that's humbling. Who are we but servants hiding in the shadows."
Everything he says comes crashing down on me all at once. I’m no one special, and that makes his words even harder to process. “My mind is having difficulty believing this is my new reality."
"You've had everything thrown at you in a short period of time, and that isn't fair, but that doesn't change the fact that war will soon come for us all. There is no time for you to get acclimated.” He takes my hand and gently squeezes.
"I wish there was more time, but I know that isn't going to happen." Desperately needing to change the subject, "Uncle Radix, who are those people? They look important."
"The woman is Estrella Fitzgerald, she’s the beloved daughter of Jarret Fitzgerald, which makes her a princess and Kori royalty. She's no fan of the Diodyous, and she has done everything she can to get her father sober. Because of her openhostility toward the new regime, she lives in exile in the valley. The Resistance still loves her, and they are patiently waiting for her return."
“I’ve heard of the Resistance. How many of them are there?” I have so many other questions.?
"Nobody knows the exact number, but I would say it’s a significant amount, because the Fitzgerald’s are still very popular. I don't know exactly how many there are. They cause quite a stir in Kori territory, and steal from the palace daily." He chuckles. He doesn't like Diodyous either, I can tell.Maybe I can meet with Estrella before we leave here tonight. I would like to get a read on her and let her know that although my family sat back and did nothing, I won’t.
"The gentleman in red is Alberto Ferrari. He's Pyralis and the lead investigator for the UGN. He's very popular, and the ladies love him. Mr. Sunshine over there is Damien Killyorn. He's Lux and the Undisputed Heavyweight Underground Champion of the World. He's been in fifteen title fights and has won every single one of them." My brain goes into information overload. So many people, places, and things.
