Page 79 of A Curse So Cruel
Tarlaz and Elgen escort me and Kenzie as we make our way along the academy corridors, and I spend my time telling the shadows about some of my favorite foods. As irrational as it is, I feel a little guilty for leaving them.
“Oh, and there’s this thing called chocolate mousse,”I tell the shadows.“It’s like chocolate clouds in your mouth. The texture is light and silky, and it’s oh so decadent.”
“Tell us when you get back, girl,”Tarlaz replies somberly.
“Hush. We both know she’s not coming back,”Elgen quips.“Stop interrupting her.”
Kenzie and I reach the open front doors of the academy, and I pause, giving the shadows a soft smile. I’m going to miss the pair of them.
“We’ll be waiting for you when you return,”Tarlaz tells me, ignoring his friend.
I nod once and turn. As I go to step through the door, I hear Elgen’s voice.“Good luck, girl. You’ll need it.”
Dozens of eyes watch as Kenzie and I make our way down the stone steps at the front of the academy, and we cross the grass, joining the mass of students gathered beneath the huge tent that’s directly beside the forest. Some of the students look at me with pity, and others with awe, but there’s no disgust, today. No, there’s a nervous excitable energy in the air. As much as I’m dreading this, I’m reminded that the students who have been here the longest only see the opportunity this presents. If they do well during the hunt, they’ll be one step closer to graduation, and to make it even sweeter, Queen Krosia and the originals are watching today, so they may even gain her favor.
Some of the students stare at me for a long while like they’re committing me to memory, no doubt wanting to make sure they don’t forget what I look like so I’m easier to spot during the hunt. Not that I think that will be an issue considering what I’m wearing. Or should I say, what I’mnotwearing. I attempted using my shadow magic to create an outfit again, and for once, the result isn’t too bad. A black dress decorated with silky onyx feathers clings to me, making me look like I’m headed to an extravagant ball rather than a hunt. The only practical things I’m wearing include the weapons belt I have with a couple of Kenzie’s daggers, and my black, leather boots.
As the time goes by, the tension in the air thickens, but it’s around half an hour before dawn when the queen and the originals finally turn up, materializing from a cloud of shadows and standing at the end of the tent that’s closest to the forest.
Galen and the others are there, and all of the originals are dressed in fine clothing like they’re attending a royal gala.Looks like I’m not overdressed after all,I muse internally.
“How wonderful it is to see you all here on this fine morning,” Queen Krosia says, projecting her voice across the crowd. “I trust you all slept well and are ready to showcase your skills.”
A couple of the originals chuckle at that, and I decide I don’t care if they are the good guys. I think I might just hate them a little.
“Now, where is our Token?” the queen calls.
Instantly, the students around me take a collective step away. Kenzie is the only one who stays close. Wrapping her arms around me, she squishes me in a hug. “Give them hell,” she whispers in my ear. “You fight, Shade. If anyone can win this thing, it’s you.”
You mean if anyone can die,I want to mutter sarcastically, but I don’t. I appreciate the fact she’s trying to lift me up, and I give her a smile. No matter what happens, this is it for us. Either I’ll make it to the boundary, and I’ll disappear to the demon realm, or I’m about to die.
The queen calls out again, and Kenzie reluctantly pulls away from me. I give her one last reassuring look, and I start my walk toward the originals. Everyone is silent as I pass them, and I actually miss the whispers and looks of disgust I usually get. Now all I get is pity, and I’m pretty sure I even hear a student muttering a prayer for me under their breath. Which would be sweet if they weren’t mumbling something about committing my body to the earth.
Keeping my chin up, I force myself to put on a brave face as I stride forward.“Okay, Shade, just put one foot in front of the other and don’t even look at your mates. Who cares about their stupid, sexy faces.”Despite telling myself not to look at them, my gaze strays to Galen and the others anyway. They stand rigidly as they watch me, their muscles tense and their shoulders squared, but none of them speak.
My gaze locks briefly with Thane’s, but he looks away quickly as if having my attention burned him. I try not to let it shake me.
When I reach the front of the crowd, I stop before the queen and the originals. Behind them, the forest fans out, and white fog curls around the closest trees. Dozens of pairs of red eyes watch me from the darkness of the forest, and I wonder if Kazer is out there. I could use an ally, and with the giant lion by my side it would certainly increase my chances of staying alive, but then I remember that the creature is bonded to Raith, and it’s not like the animali would act against the wishes of his bonded. No, I’m on my own.
“Mmmm an interesting choice of clothing,” Queen Krosia mutters. “Quite the statement.” She pauses, and I’m not sure if she’s expecting me to say something, so I don’t. For once, I don’t have any words. “Thank you for your service, young warrior,” the queen goes on when I don’t speak. “Here are the rules. Your objective is to find a hidden relic in the forest using this.” She holds up a small, black crystal that’s sitting on the palm of her hand. “The relic is an object dear to me, and when you are close, this crystal will glow, guiding you to it. Find the relic, and you will be the first student permitted to go through to the graduation games when the time comes.” Shadows curl around the crystal, carrying it over to me, and I take the rock, looking it over before gripping it tightly.
“You will be given a fifteen-minute head start, during which time, no one is permitted to touch you,” Queen Krosia continues. “But once that time is up, the hunt begins...” Her gaze goes to the crowd. “Your fellow students may not use their animali during the hunt, but they will still have the heightened abilities that their animali provides them. The first student to find you before you locate the relic wins the hunt.”
I notice she doesn’t say anything about them killing me, so I’m guessing that part must be implied.
The queen opens her arms wide. “Now, let us recite the words that are the lifeblood of this academy.”
As one, the students, the queen, and the originals all recite the prophecy, chanting in unison.
Where the black sky weeps and shadows reign
A darkness stirs, born of pain
They must rise, shadowed blades
Take the oath, decide our fates
Where the land bleeds, and the skies fall