The cool steel of my father’s ring does little to comfort me as I spin it on my thumb.
Gentle fingers are gliding through my hair, pinning and pulling at the messy strands. Between Ellie’s soothing touches and the plush vanity bench I’m currently slumped on, my drooping eyelids threaten to pull me back into restless sleep despite my reeling mind. Ellie must see the worry and weariness written all over my face because she offers me a sympathetic smile in the mirror. “How are you feeling? You know, about the interviews?”
The constant spinning of my ring never slows though my nerves never calm. “Well, I have no idea what to expect. And if it goes poorly…” I trail off as Ellie nods at me in the mirror, not needing me to finish that thought.
“Don’t overthink it. You’ll be fine,” she assures while continuing to pin up my hair. “Besides, the people can’t stop talking about the Silver Savior.”
The Silver Savior.
I nearly laugh at the name I’ve been bestowed. If they really knew why I was able to stop the Silencer, they wouldn’t be calling me a savior anymore. In fact, they wouldn’t be calling me anything, because I would just become another dead Ordinary who doesn’t deserve a name, a title, a memory.
An elegant low bun sits at the nape of my neck when Ellie finishes, sparkling pins holding it in place while silver ringlets surround my powdered face and darkened lashes.
After much deliberation, we settle on a sleeveless, light blue dress. Elegant, but not too flashy. “You’ll want to make a good impression, and I think this one will do the trick,” Ellie says with a smile. As soon as I’ve slipped into it, I’m being dragged over to the mirror so Ellie can admire her handiwork. Between the hair, makeup, and blue gown hugging my body, I almost look like I belong here. Like I haven’t been sleeping on the streets for the past five years of my life.
A knock on the door startles me enough to stop staring at my reflection. “You ready in there?”
Lenny is waiting outside the door when Ellie pushes me into the hallway, sneaking a shy glance at him before retreating into my room. He gives me an easy smile before leading us back to the main, massive doors of the castle and into the sunbathed courtyard beyond.
We’re not alone. Most of the other contestants are tensely milling about while the rest slowly file out of the castle. Soon, Imperials are shuffling by, joining the group of us standing idly.
“What’s going on?” I breathe to Lenny, still standing beside me.
“We,” he gestures to his fellow Imperials, “are escorting you all to the Bowl.”
My eyes drift to the looming structure sitting innocently nearby. I’d never been to any of the contestant’s interviews before, so I’ve never had the pleasure of packing into the arena stands alongside thousands of other Ilyans. It’s been granted its unoriginal name due to the sloping, bowl-like shape of the large stadium that I never thought I’d step foot in.
The group sets an easy pace as we make our way to the Bowl, Imperials flanking us on all sides. It’s less than a mile from the palace, and I’m completely content to study my surroundings as we walk the gravel path. Twisted, drooping trees loom over us, oddly enchanting with the way the sun streams through their leaves to cast the ground beneath them in dappled light. Vibrant white and light pink flowers dot the branches while several of them flutter down, scattering the path with petals.
I let myself fall to the back of the group, watching my competition as they stride in front of me. All the boys wear some variation of slim pants and colored button-downs while the girls wear sleek but simple dresses.
Braxton and Sadie speak in hushed tones with hesitant smiles, while Andy keeps sticking out her foot to catch Jax’s ankle, sending him stumbling while she snickers. My eyes sweep to Hera, quiet as she looks around in awe at the tunnel of trees enclosing the path. Ace, on the other hand, has his nose so high in the air that I doubt he can even see what’s in front of him.
Finally, my gaze trails to the two tall figures striding at the front of the group. Kitt and Kai chuckle quietly, a seemingly common occurrence when the two of them are together. Once again, the future king blends in with the contestants, making me briefly wonder if he wishes he was a part of these twisted Trials.
Blair wedges herself between the two brothers, laughing at something one of them said. Both her lilac hair and shimmery navy dress gleam in the sun, giving the illusion of a constant spotlight following her. She uses any excuse to touch the boys, making her anything but subtle. She knows what she wants, and it’s clear that it is one of them. I almost admire her resilience.
I walk quietly while watching the pink petals fall from the trees, drifting to the ground on a gentle breeze—
“I see you found something to wear.”
The deep voice beside me makes me jump, and I curse under my breath at the sudden sight of the future king beside me. He’s chuckling at the stunned look on my face, and I fight the urge to shove him for startling me like that. I take a deep breath before meeting his green gaze, the color matching the leaves hanging above us—matching the color of his father’s eyes.
The king’s eyes.
The sudden realization has me faltering. I force myself to swallow my disgust towards this man and the corrupt kingdom he will rule in his father’s likeness. Taking a deep breath, I remind myself to be civil, polite.
Play the part.
“Yes, but I can’t take all the credit.” I look down at my light blue dress, billowing in the soft breeze. “I have Ellie to thank for this.”
“Ah, yes.” The future king’s grin is teasing, startling me. “Ellie, the maid you insisted you didn’t need?”
“That’s the one,” I reply dryly. “You know, I thought she liked me, but it seems she wants to torture me with these shoes.” I can already feel my feet beginning to blister in the too-tight, strappy saddles Ellie insisted I wear.
He laughs again, a bright and contagious sound that manages to make me uneasy. “I don’t envy you or the blisters you’ll likely have.” A small smile curves his lips as he gestures to me. “But it suits you nonetheless.”
“Thank you…” The words come out sounding more like a question than I intended.
I always assumed the future king would be cold, calculating—more like his brother at the very least. But Kitt seems to be quite the opposite, which confuses me, considering who his father is and what his future holds.
Lost in thought, I look up to see the giant silhouette of the Bowl looming closer, awaiting us at the end of the tree tunnel. It’s enormous. Other than the castle, I’ve never seen a structure so large.
I feel something land on top of my head and practically jump out of my skin. Kitt barks out a laugh as he reaches over and plucks the thing from my hair, making me flinch. The action doesn’t go unnoticed, and his brows crinkle with concern.
I’m not playing the part very well.
Wiping my face of the anxiety I’m sure is written all over it, I try to manage a weak smile as I stare down at the pink flower he now twirls between his fingers. I glance up, catching sight of several petals clinging to Kitt’s messy hair.
“You know,” he says softly, plopping the flower back on top of my head, “this also suits you.”
I take a deep breath and force a stronger smile. “I could say the same about you,” I say, pointing at his blond hair full of petals. He returns my grin as he runs a hand through it, doing little to rid his hair of the flowers creating a crown atop his head.
“Well, now we’re matching,” he says simply, his eyes watchful. I look away, still feeling his gaze roaming over my face as I try my hardest to look calm, collected.
“You look…” He pauses, trying to find the right word. “Anxious.”
So much for calm and collected.
I offer him a quick smile that doesn’t reach my eyes. “Well, let’s hope anxiety suits me as well.”
“Is it the interviews that have you nervous, or is it something else?” His words are soft, curious.
Concerning.
My gaze slides to his before quickly looking away at the sight of the king’s eyes staring back at me. “Just the interviews, and the possibility that I’ll make a fool out of myself.”
“You’ll be fine. Especially after your…incident with my brother in Loot.” He gives me that charming grin of his. “You know the people are still talking about you.”
I’m about to respond when my face is suddenly bathed in sunlight. I hadn’t realized the tunnel of trees had ended, leaving me blinking rapidly in the blinding light.
But the sun is gone as quickly as it came. The group quiets when we step into the shadow cast by the Bowl. We make our way into one of the many large, cement tunnels leading into the arena, our footsteps echoing off cold stone walls until we are spit out onto the lowest level of the stadium.
My head swivels back and forth, eyes wide as I take it all in. Wrapping around the entire oval arena are dozens of wide rows covered in concrete benches that climb up the side of the Bowl. My eyes sweep over the thick glass encasing each section of the stands.
No, not glass.
Mute.
I’ve only briefly learned of the rare material invented by the Scholars, let alone seen it myself. By means that are far too complicated for me to understand, this glass look-alike prevents the Elites within the stands from using their powers, so as not to interfere with the Trials.
I tear my eyes away from the odd phenomenon and continue perusing the Bowl with my wide gaze. Though we stand at ground level beside the bottom row of benches, the sand-packed arena lies below us. I walk over to the thick, metal railing at the edge of the path and look down. It’s easily a fifteen-foot drop to the arena floor below us, packed with sand.
The Pit.
And that is where the Trials will take place while hundreds of Ilyans watch from the stands encircling us.
The Imperials begin herding us along the path until we come to a stop beside a wide room jutting out into the pathway, surrounded by thick glass. Peering inside, I can see three large and luxurious chairs, all sitting on a polished wood floor and looking so at odds with the gray, cold concrete covering the rest of the Bowl.
The king’s box.
So this is where he sits comfortably and watches us die.
To my surprise, the Imperials begin pushing us into the glass room, one by one. We all file into a line and watch as Kai strides to the far corner. I crane my neck to see him lift a hidden latch from the floor, swinging open a trap door before jumping down easily.
A hand on my shoulder urges me forward.
Where are we going?
I walk through the stuffy room and make my way to the hole in the floor that awaits me. The room beneath is cast in shadows, making it impossible to see how far down the floor is.
I sigh before stepping off the edge and into the darkness.
My feet hit the ground with a soft thud. After estimating that the drop was nearly seven feet, I’m thankful that the ground beneath my sandals is plush. But with the shifting mat beneath me and my bent knees to lessen the impact of the drop, I can’t help but stumble forward into something solid.
No. Not something. Someone.
Strong arms wrap around me before I feel the rumble of deep laughter coming from the broad chest I slammed into. Large hands are placed firmly on my hips and as my eyes adjust to the darkness, I can just make out the familiar curve of a smirk on Kai’s lips as he looks down at me.
“Sloppy footwork, Gray. I’d hate to be your partner on the dance floor.”
I push against his chest with my palms, and he reluctantly releases me, laughing darkly. “Well then the feeling is mutual.” I’m flustered and I hate it. “And I have fabulous footwork, thank you very much—” I clear my throat, averting my gaze before adding quietly, “—when fighting.”
He’s right, once again. And once again, I hate it. I am a disastrous dancer. I may be able to dance around in a brawl, but that skill doesn’t extend to the ballroom.
He laughs again, but before he has the chance to make some sly comment that I would most definitely make him regret, Kitt drops down beside me.
“Toying with your competition, Brother?” I can hear the amusement in his voice as he walks over to a large lever on the wall and jerks it upward. The lights above us flicker and hum to life, painfully reminding me of home and the few buzzing lamps that scatter Loot Alley.
“I can’t help but toy with the competition that’s fun to play with,” Kai replies with a sloppy shrug.
I’m about to say something I likely shouldn’t when our conversation comes to a halt as the rest of the Elites quite literally fall into the room. Looking around, I find the space filled with plushy chairs and couches along with an assortment of snacks sprawled out on a long table, making it clear that we are waiting here until the interviews start.
Everyone mills about the room, dropping into chairs and grabbing food. I feel a brush of a hand on my shoulder and startle, spinning around to meet a pair of amused, honey eyes hiding behind stands of wine-red hair.
“Jumpy, aren’t you?” Andy quirks a brow.
“Yes, well, I thought you were Kai and was preparing to break your nose.”
She snorts loudly. “Understandable. My cousin’s an ass. Kinda.” She jerks her head towards Kai, but the smile doesn’t fade from her face.
“Your…” I blink. “Cousin?”
“Yep. He’s lucky enough to be related to me.” She smirks, her nose ring winking in the dim light. “They both are, though I’m only Kitt’s half-cousin, I suppose.”
“So, you grew up in the palace too? With them?” I nod my head towards the boys who look to be mercilessly teasing Jax.
“Yeah, unfortunately.” She shakes her head and chuckles. “The number of fights those two have gotten into over food…” she trails off, smiling to herself. “Anyways, I’m what they call a handy back at the palace. My dad and I fix anything that needs fixing in the castle, and trust me, those two have broken a lot over the years.”
Eventually, we find our way to one of the couches and plop down, talking hesitantly. We’re polite with each other, content to have a civil conversation while still being very aware of the fact that we are competitors.
The thundering sound of hundreds of stomping feet quiets us all. The rumble fills the arena above, making my stomach twist. They’re here. Hundreds of Ilyans—thousands, even. All here to watch the interviews, the show. Here to choose who they want to support, who they want to live.
I’m not sure how long it takes for the parade of footsteps climbing up the rows to quiet. But the voices don’t. They chant and cheer, waiting for the contestants to show themselves. The Imperials beckon us back towards the trap door where I suddenly find myself in another line, waiting my turn to pull myself out of the room and back into the glass box above us.
I hadn’t even noticed the future king beside me until he reaches up to pull something from my hair. I don’t even have time to flinch before he’s holding a flower in front of my face—the one I had forgotten was tangled in the silver strands.
“Although I think it suits you, maybe you shouldn’t do your interview with this on your head.” He gestures to the flower with a smile. “You might attract a lot of attention. Especially from bees.”
Play the part.
That’s what I must keep telling myself. Because every time I look at him, all I can see is his father, and a man who will one day rule over a corrupt kingdom. And yet, despite my disgust, I force a smile to my face. “Thank you. For saving me from both embarrassment and bees.”
Braxton steps beneath the exit, and I’m thankful for the excuse to look away from the future king. The Brawny doesn’t even need to jump to grab hold of the lip before easily pulling himself off the floor and through the trap door. One by one, the boys help themselves up into the room above until only the two princes remain.
They help the girls up with ease, practically lifting Hera through the opening. Blair takes advantage of the situation, using it as an excuse to have the boys’ hands all over her. After Sadie politely asks for a boost, I’m left alone with the brothers.
I look up through the trap door, assessing my jump when Kai steps behind me, ducking his head so his chin nearly rests on my shoulder. “Too stubborn to ask for my help, Gray?”
“No,” I say coolly. “Too strong to need it.”
His next words are murmured close to my ear. “That’s what I like to hear.”
The heat of him vanishes when he steps to the side, gesturing to the trap door above with a smile twisting his lips.
I jump, my fingers curling around the edge of the opening as I dangle in the air for a moment. I’ve never been more grateful for the many years I’ve had to practice scaling buildings. I pull myself up, ready to swing my legs over—
“This damn dress,” I huff. It’s stiff, the fabric hugging my hips making it impossible to move freely.
“Go on.” It’s Kai’s taunting voice I hear behind me. “Ask for my help, Gray.”
I roll my eyes at the wall in front of me. “Stubborn, remember?”
I hear Kitt chuckle before I feel hands brushing my legs. Startled, I look down, eyes landing on a bent head of messy black waves. Kai is gripping the bottom seam of my dress, his eyes flicking up to mine.
“May I?” His voice is soft, tone amused.
I swallow, roll my eyes once again, and nod against my better judgment.
And then he’s ripping my dress.
He tears the fabric easily, creating a slit up the side of my thigh, freeing me from the tight confines of the fabric. His rough fingers briefly brush my skin as he says, “I am more than willing to rip your dresses for you, Gray. To help, of course.” Kitt snorts while Kai smirks. “You only need to ask.”
“Why ask when you’re so eager to offer?”
Kai’s laughter follows me as I finally pull myself up, arms burning with the strain. When I stand to my feet inside the glass box, I’m relieved to find the chairs are still empty. The thought of seeing the king after the way he so flippantly spoke about my father as if he weren’t his murderer makes my blood boil. Before that dinner, I’d never had to fight the urge to shove a fork through someone’s jugular.
I take a deep breath before stepping out onto the pathway.
The crowd roars.
Here we are.
The Imperials lead us to a small opening in the railing opposite the box, where stairs have been placed for us to get into the Pit below. My feet hit the hard sand of the arena as the crowd cheers, sounding as though the Trials have already begun.
We walk across the large floor of the Pit, stopping in the middle where a makeshift stage rises a few feet off the ground. Ten plush chairs line the back of it while two more are centered in front. The Imperials usher us onto the stage where we take a seat. My gaze catches Lenny’s, and he gives me a reassuring nod before stepping into line with the other Imperials.
“Welcome, fellow Ilyans, to the sixth ever Purging Trials!”
The crowd roars as I snap my head towards the high, female voice. She turns to face us, brown eyes bright with excitement and full, red lips curved into a smile as she takes us in.
Tealah.
Ironic that her bright teal hair matches her name. I’d never seen the young women who conducted the interviews for the previous Trials, but I’ve heard enough about her unique appearance to identify her.
“Oh, but this is no ordinary Trials!” She beams at the crowd, flashing her white teeth. “For the first time in Purging Trials history, we have a future Enforcer competing.” I can almost feel the thousands of eyes shift in Kai’s direction. He’s clearly used to this attention, appearing completely relaxed as he reclines in his chair.
Tealah continues, “And because of that, this year’s Trials will look a little…different.”
The crowd goes wild.
Ellie’s words echo in my head, mirroring the ones Tealah just spoke.
Different.
All because there is royal blood competing? All to make things more difficult for the future Enforcer?
I don’t have time to ponder it more before Tealah says, “Are you ready to meet your Elites?” She flattens her hand to her chest as she speaks, causing her words to carry across the arena. Her ability as an Amplifier allows her to project her voice, as well as the voices of others, so long as she is touching them. A Mundane power, yet useful in this line of work.
The crowd cheers and stomps, mimicking the rumble of thunder. “Why don’t we meet Jax first? Jax, sweetie, would you come sit up here with me?”
Jax plops down in the chair angled towards Tealah at the front of the stage with a shy smile on his face. He fidgets, one of his long legs bouncing on the ground as she pelts him with idle questions about his life and the Trials.
“Er, I like sparring with Kitt. Mostly because he lets me win sometimes. Kai…not so much.” The crowd erupts in laughter at Jax’s response to what he likes most about training for the Trials. He smiles sheepishly at Tealah, his grin widening when he shifts in his seat to spot Kai’s quick shrug.
“Isn’t he just adorable?” Tealah flashes a smile at the crowd before asking, “Tell me, Jax, how old are you again?”
Tealah’s hand rests on his shoulder, amplifying his answer. “Fifteen.”
Plagues, he’s so young.
“Fifteen and already bestowed the honor of competing in the Trials!” Tealah exclaims, looking towards the crowd for approval which they offer in the form of stomps and cheers. “And remind us again of your power?”
He clears his throat. “I’m a Blink.”
“How fascinating! Tell us more for those who haven’t witnessed this ability.”
“Well,” he straightens in his seat, “I can teleport anywhere that I can see, in a…well, in a blink.” He smiles as the audience laughs.
“Alright, Jax, one more question before you show us what you can do.” Tealah looks suddenly serious as she says, “What are you expecting from the Trials?”
Jax’s head tilts to the side thoughtfully. “Well, I’m not sure what the Trials will consist of, but no matter what, I’m expecting to honor my kingdom, my family…’ He pauses and tosses a glance at Kai. “And myself.”
The stadium explodes in applause at hearing the motto of the Purging Trials. Tealah stands and guides Jax down the steps of the stage and onto the packed sand of the Pit in front of us.
“The floor is all yours, Jax!”
One second, Jax is grinning at the audience, and the next he’s gone. I spin in my seat to see where he went, only to find him standing right behind Kai, a mischievous grin on his face. He ruffles his hair before vanishing, leaving the prince sputtering.
Jax continues his little routine, Blinking from one spot to the next, causing the crowd to gasp in surprise at each new place he appears in. After a few minutes, he Blinks back to his original seat, right between Kai and Braxton, where the former doesn’t hesitate to trap him in a headlock and mercilessly ruffle his hair.
Tealah continues her own routine of questioning the contestants before letting them loose to show off their abilities, following the same pattern.
It’s nothing but a talent show. A showcase of who is the strongest.
Braxton smashes and hurtles stone statues that have been scattered across the stadium for him. After Ace’s interview, where he spoke as though he’d already won the Trials, he strode down into The Pit, pompous as ever. The illusions he casts look so real, so easy to mistake for reality. He made fire flare, burning across the sand in a trail of flame, managing to even smell of smoke. And then it was gone in a flash as quickly as it had appeared, leaving nothing behind.
Sadie, being a Cloner, displayed her power by creating ten copies of herself and striding them through the stands. Each duplicate offered quick waves to the crowd before filing back to her seat.
Blair followed Sadie’s interview, being annoyingly sweet towards Tealah and the crowd, though I don’t miss the sharpness return to her voice when talking about winning the Trials. She stepped out onto the packed sand and gently lifted Tealah right off the ground using her power of Telekinesis, informing me that her strength lies mentally rather than physically. In fact, the blade that sliced my ear only yesterday was likely thrown by her power, not her hand.
Hera was shy, squirming in her seat and only talking when necessary. I could practically see her sigh in relief when she was finally free to show off her ability and avoid talking to the audience. She vanishes, and after a moment, Tealah vanishes too. The crowd applauds, left staring at the empty air where they once stood.
Andy was the most entertaining by far, unashamedly telling embarrassing stories about her childhood with Kitt and Kai. The crowd loved her, laughed at her every word. But when she stepped out onto the floor of the Pit to display her power, my gasp was swallowed up by the crowds. Right before my very eyes, she transformed into a tiger. Then a falcon. A wolf. All of them the same wine color of her hair. And then, after casually switching between multiple animals, she transformed back into her human self, her lilac dress somehow still perfectly intact.
Tealah chooses Kai next, leaving me for last.
Great.
With Kai smiling at her, Tealah looks flushed and flustered. It’s clear he’s slipped on his charming mask as he jokes and interacts with the crowd. When Tealah asks him about what he’s expecting from the Trials, his answer is the same as all the other contestants before him: Honor to my kingdom, my family, and myself.
When the prince finally finishes, he flashes a grin at the blushing Tealah before stepping right off the stage to showcase his power. Well, everyone else’s powers. He goes right down the line of contestants, using each of their abilities and wooing the audience with them. Their powers seem easy to him, familiar, the result of many years of training.
When he comes to the end of the row, his eyes meet mine. His head cocks slightly to the side as he takes me in, gray gaze wandering over my face. I can’t imagine how much it must rattle him to not be able to use my ability, and the thought brings a small smile to my lips as I look down at him.
Then Kai is back in his chair, and I’m striding towards my doom.
“And lastly, we have Paedyn Gray!” Tealah’s voice echoes through the arena as she pats the seat beside her expectantly.
Play the part.
