Page 69 of A Mastery of Monsters

The final test is on Wolfe Island. The sky overhead churns with gray clouds.

The chill in the air is crisp and biting, and the ground is covered in a thin layer of frost. We’re in a stretch of forest not far from where we’ve done a lot of my training, except the area now has the addition of a spectator’s section—rows of tall metal stands already filled with people and several projectors set up to broadcast the test.

I stand with Virgil and Corey as Margot goes over to the stands to chat with Henry. He’s sitting in the special box with Adam. Though when he spots Margot, he excuses himself and goes down.

Adam gives me an enthusiastic thumbs-up. I manage a grim smile in response.

I don’t know what to make of the man. He’s kind but in a sort of unreliable way. Like his offer to help. The same as Henry, he can’t deliver on it until after the election. He’s not that different from his friend. He just presents better.

It’s been over a week since the last time I saw Jules, and he hasn’t resurfaced. Margot promised that she and Isaac would keep an eye on the area so I could concentrate on training, but nothing.

I’ve decided that Jules must have been telling us that we know the person who’s controlling him.

That I know. And I only know a limited number of Masters to begin with.

But then again, I could have encountered someone at the nomination or first cut and still not really know them.

Or maybe Jules is assuming that I know someone.

I stare at the crowd. James, obviously, could enlist any Master willing to help in whatever way he likes. Just as people want Adam’s favor, James has his loyal followers too. Maybe I know someone pretending to be a Progressive who’s actually working for the Traditionalists.

Then there are the Wilds and Pro-Libs. I spot Natalie and Garrett separately in the stands.

Their groups worked together before to push their own agenda.

Why not do it again? After all, the Pro-Libs have experience with unregistered monsters, meaning they could be responsible for Jules, and the other one could be a Wild.

It would be a huge risk for the Wilds, like Corey said, but maybe it’s worth it for them now.

It would also mean the Pro-Libs forcing a monster to work with them, which goes against their stance on monster liberation, but a lot of people sacrifice morals when it comes to getting what they want.

Maybe something about this artifact could tip the scales of power in their favor?

If only we knew what the artifact was. That could help us narrow things down.

Virgil nudges my shoulder. Without even looking, I know it’s him. Because it’s the same way he always breaks me out of my thoughts, that gentle push of his shoulder against mine. “You can’t think about it right now,” he says.

“I know.”

Corey says, “Everything will work out.”

I don’t think I believe her, but I appreciate her. “Yeah.”

I watch Margot and Henry have their conversation. Part of me is expecting an argument, but they seem cordial. They finish, and Margot comes back down.

“What was that about?” I ask.

“A statement of intention, I suppose,” she says, as if I have any idea what that means.

“Believe me when I say I don’t trust a lot of people, and I put my faith in even fewer, but I believe that you can do this.

” I’m too shocked by her words to say anything, and she plows on quickly. “Let’s warm up and do a couple drills.”

Margot helps me stretch and pushes me to run a couple of laps around the small trainee waiting area.

Then Corey has me do some kicks and checks my form.

Margot even has us do a short spar to practice.

I can tell that Corey is taking it easy on me, either because she only has on her everyday prosthesis or because she doesn’t want to send me into a test with a bruised ego, maybe both.

When we finish, Corey’s eyes go to the stands where her parents sit. They throw strained smiles their daughter’s way and wave. I expect to look back at Corey and see her eyes averted, but instead, she’s staring back at them.

Just a few years ago, she was down here, waiting to go into the third test. Fifteen years old. Desperate to prove herself. Even though she’s eighteen now, I don’t know if that feeling has ever gone away.

“You good?” I ask her.

She nods. “Yes.”

There’s a crackle, and Chen’s voice comes through the loudspeakers. “We will now announce the current candidate standings. These are the cumulative scores of both the first and second tests.”

Looking around, I count six other candidates gathered in the area.

Meaning that six didn’t get their minimums in the last test and were disqualified.

Unfortunately, Caden is still here along with his buddy, Hudson.

The Black guy. And the only lackey left.

Violet was right. Caden’s an asshole, but he’s a loyal asshole.

Virgil swallows, bouncing on his toes.

“In first place with twenty-five points, Charity; in second place with nineteen points, Violet; in third place with twelve points, Bryce.”

Shit. I didn’t rank first for the second test. I got zero points in the first test, but if I came in first for the second, I would have twenty now and be in the lead.

“In fourth place with eleven points, Caden; tied for fifth place with ten points, August and Peter; and in sixth place with seven points, Hudson.”

Ten points. I came in second that last round. I glance across the training area at Charity, who I’ve previously never paid much attention to. She’s a white girl, bulky in the shoulders like a swimmer, with dark brown hair cropped short. I don’t think she came to the Halloween party.

I need to get first. Meaning that she just became my competition. This is a race, but if I can slow her down from the onset, I’ll give myself a better chance. And from the way the other competitors are looking at her, they’re thinking the same thing.

“Maybe it’s good you didn’t come in first,” Corey says. “In my year, a bunch of candidates went for the guy in first as soon as the whistle blew. Held him down and broke his legs and arms.”

I shake my head. “That’s fucking horrific.”

“People get desperate in the last test.”

My eyes stray to Caden. Even if Charity is the better target, I know he’s still going to come for me.

Instead of dwelling on him, I nod to Violet and Bryce.

We agreed to help get each other through the first rush of monsters, but from there, we’ll go our separate ways.

They need to hold on to their ranks, after all.

No point in having a spot in Henry’s Mastery group if you can’t get to the initiation and become Bachelors.

“This is good.” Virgil wrings his hands. “You’re within the top five. You just need to keep that spot. They make the panel break ties, so that’s not ideal, but we’re in a strong position.”

Chen continues, “The winner of this test will receive thirty points, the second-place winner fifteen points, third place, fourteen points, and so on.

At the end of the test, the cumulative scores will be shown on the board, and then we will have a final announcement for the scores with the addition of panel votes.

This final score will determine the five candidates who will proceed to initiation.

“This is the monster run. Competitors will race from the start to the finish line, encountering various obstacles on the way. These will be in the form of Master-monster pairs who have volunteered for this test. The fastest time wins. Anyone who, due to forfeit, injury, or death, cannot complete the race will be disqualified. Anyone who does not finish the run within the hour will be disqualified. Combat of any kind, be it hand-to-hand or weapon-based, between candidates is allowed for this test. As usual, you’ll have horns for halfway, five minutes, and one minute.

Candidates, please proceed to the competition area now. ”

“It’s time.” Margot adjusts my holsters herself.

It reminds me of the first time Mom helped me into a set.

Showing me how to loop the belts and testing the sizing even though I could have done it myself.

I knew it wasn’t for me. It was for her.

“Keep your guard up. Stay alert to your surroundings. This isn’t just a physical test. Keep your mind sharp too. ”

“I will.”

She swallows and steps back.

Corey comes forward to give me a hug. Her fingers shake where they press against my back. “Don’t forget your kihap.”

“I won’t.”

She and Margot head for the stands, leaving me and Virgil alone.

“Fuck ’em up,” he says.

A laugh bursts out of me. “Wow. That is the most un-Virgil thing you’ve ever said.”

He gives me a sad smile. “I’m glad you’re the one I came this far with.

Even with everything. Both your and my bullshit.

I don’t think I would have gotten to this point with anyone but you.

” He glances over at the other competitors, who are still saying their own goodbyes. “Let me teach you something quick.”

I raise an eyebrow but nod.

He holds out his hand, his fingers facing up.

“You do the same thing.” I copy him and he grasps my fingers, tugging me in close until our forearms are pressed together.

I manage to suppress a gasp, but I still feel breathless.

“They used to do this back in the day. Master and monster. For good luck. It showed that they were the same. I never hoped for that. I planned for the bare minimum. But you and I, we’re different. ”

I can’t even make myself swallow, my throat is so dry. I stare into Virgil’s eyes. “We’re better.”

The corner of his lip jerks up.

I pull away, our fingers falling from each other at last, and join the rest of the candidates, leaving Virgil to go to the stands. When I turn to check on him, he’s looking back at me.