Page 20 of The Gods We Defy (All Gods Must Die #2)

CHAPTER 20

W ith my mask in place, I make my way back to the main building when a young girl comes up to me, her eyes averted.

“All chosen are to meet in honor of the Queen. I am to escort you to its location.”

My stomach churns at the mention of Kestral’s mother, but I nod, and we head toward the main building. Passing the kitchens, I run in and grab a drink of water and some bread, eating it on the way.

I hadn’t eaten this morning, and I doubted the girl was bringing me to a feast.

The girl pays me no mind and stays silent as we move along the corridors to the other side of the building and back outside, where a long path lays before us.

Grateful that I ate something before this trek, I silently follow her, keeping my eyes open for anything.

A thick fog blankets the rest of the path, blocking most of the view ahead. It’s not until we’re down farther and around the curving path do I see other chosen.

“I shall leave you here.”

“Thank you,” I tell her, and she dips her head before turning and leaving the way we came.

I move in the same direction as the other chosen, and the fog clears, revealing what we’re heading toward.

Stopping in my tracks, I stare at the monumental structure in shock and awe.

A huge circular building with open arch windows and a path that circles the entire thing. The structure is as tall as the cliff I dove from, but much wider. And unlike the cliff, this intimidating tower is far more terrifying.

There’s something about the atmosphere that has me wanting to run in the opposite direction. But I push my legs to keep walking, one foot in front of the other, until I’m up the long path of steps that lead inside.

Walking in, my eyes are immediately drawn to the large platform above, hovering in the center of the room. Its structure held by the large pole in the center and half a dozen paths leading from the wall onto it.

As I move toward Vidarr, his men, and the rest of the chosen, I spot another platform above the first, with the same circular structure and paths leading to it.

There are no steps up to the platform. The only way up I can see are the ladders and spikes along the surrounding walls.

Movement from above has me glancing even farther up, past the two platforms on a small balcony that leans outward to where a dark-haired beauty is watching us.

The queen.

“I heard this was used for a previous trial.”

I turn to the sound of Hael’s voice as he steps up beside me wearing his black and silver mask.

Twin silver masks with leaf designs follow behind him.

“Great. We have a trial before the trial,” Indira says. “It’s not like the trials are already trying to kill us off or the purge, why not add a fake trial too?” She turns to look at me, her eyes widening when she spots me. “I thought you were dead.”

“I’m a little hurt that you think I’m that easy to kill.” I bump her shoulder and her eyes sparkle.

“Did anyone see Hunter?” I ask, scanning for his black mask with the gold-filled crack but find none.

“Him and another chosen were given a pass for this. They’re still in the healing bay. Something about poison from the first trial,” Hael says.

I blanch and look at him. I should’ve checked on him afterwards. Not that I have the slightest clue where to look. But I should’ve tried instead of assuming he would be looked after.

He took that spike from the creature for me. Was that the poison?

“But he’s okay?” I ask and ignore the glint in Hael’s eyes as they veer to me.

“He’ll be fine. He just needs a few more days of rest,” he says.

I nod to him as some of the worry eases.

“Glad to see you alive.” Yasmin moves to the other side of me and dips her head toward the small shed across from us. It has no door, and the sides and roof are thick iron. But it’s the small line of weapons on the inside of it that piques my interest.

I smile to her before realizing she can’t see it behind my mask and instead focus on Vidarr as he goes on and on about how much of an honor it is for the queen to come here.

“The queen has heard of the impressive group of chosen we have this year and has arrived early,” Vidarr announces.

“In honor of her Majesty’s visit, we have decided to have a little mini trial. Though unlike the actual trials, should you win this one, you will hold an advantage toward the next.”

That has my undivided attention.

“Pick your teams of four or less,” Vidarr says, and I share a look with Hael, Yasmin, and Indira, our team picked.

The other chosen break up into teams, but some choose to stay on their own.

“At the top of the second platform above us is an immunity antidote that will help you against poisons in the Burren. The second is an advantage over the others. Those who get to the immunity first will also have a head start in the next trial.”

Vidarr’s smile grows cruel as he glances around at those he deems beneath this trial, including our little group. “Of course, it will not be as straightforward as it sounds. Fae personally trained by me are guarding the immunity vial above. You will have other obstacles apart from each other, and no powers are allowed. Should you even attempt to use them, you will be disqualified. Everything else goes.”

Everything else, meaning the other chosen can kill anyone in their way. And from the savage sneers around me, they’re most definitely going to try.

“It doesn’t matter if we all make it up there. We only need one of us to get the immunity and head start,” Yasmin points out and I nod, agreeing.

“Begin.” I barely hear Vidarr’s command but the group closest to him must as they all rush toward the small shed with weapons and grab every last one.

I share a frustrated look with the others as Vidarr chuckles to himself with a smug look on his face. He moves over to the wall and quickly disappears through a hidden door that locks behind him.

Some of the chosen with weapons shoot forward and attack, blocking any attempt to reach the ladders. While the rest of their group heads upward, already gaining a head start.

Ducking, I avoid an axe to the head and spin and kick my attacker. He falls back into a group, knocking a couple of them down.

A female chosen with half a gold and silver mask steps in front of me while a male with a black and blue mask covered in small, spiked horns steps behind me, blocking me in. But I’m more interested in the female’s sword.

I could use a weapon.

The male tries to rush me from behind, but I spin and kick him, watching him drop to the ground before turning back to the girl.

Her eyes are livid, the rage pulsing from them almost glowing.

I guess she’s close to the male I just knocked out.

“You’re supposed to be weak, Sidus,” she grits out.

“I wouldn’t be listening to whoever told you that lie. Just because I’m a Sidus doesn’t mean I can’t fight,” I warn her.

She nods as if heeding my warning. Raising her sword, she shoots forward and slams the blade down.

Spinning to the side, I avoid her blade, bend down, and punch her hard in the ribs. She curls forward with a grunt. With her hands outstretched, I grab her arm and twist it, catching the sword before it falls, and shove her backward with a kick.

With a sword now in hand, I cut a path through the chosen and make my way over to the nearest ladder.

A grinding sound has us all glancing to the ground as it moves in toward the wall. As it opens, it reveals familiar black water.

My eyes widen when I realize why that is. It’s tainted. It has to be. I’d bet my life on it and if any of us touch it, we’re as good as dead.

“Start climbing,” I shout over to the others as I place the sword on my back and start climbing up the ladder, moving as fast as I can.

Quickly glancing around, I spot Yasmin on the opposite side of the room, getting onto a ladder and climbing.

I’m halfway to the first platform when I hear a gush of water.

Glancing down, I watch in horror as black water flies from both sides of the walls.

I frantically look for my group and find Hael pulling Indira under the small iron shelter just before the black water hits everything below me.

Relief fills me for a moment, thinking they’re safe. But then the other chosen on the ladders above start breaking the spikes off the walls and throwing them at the shed, aiming at the roof and walls trying to break it.

My heart drops and I frantically try to think when I spot Yasmin. She’s a little farther down but already moving closer to the shed.

“Go,” she shouts. “I’ve got them.” She breaks off spikes and starts throwing them at the chosen, diverting their attention to her. With two throws, she quickly takes two out, leaving only one.

Seeing that she’s got it handled, I continue climbing up the ladder, nearly making it to the first platform when the long, thin paths to it start crumbling and falling.

I hug my body to the wall as they collapse and drop into the water below.

Glancing up, my eyes find the platform as it holds strong by the large center pole. But even if I can climb up the ladders and spikes to the second platform, how can I reach the center without a path?

Looking farther up, my eyes catch on a glint of light and find large cages hanging from the high ceiling by thick chains. I try not to think about why they’re there, or what they’re used for, and focus on my surroundings.

The chosen below and around me are still destroying the ladders and spikes, ensuring no one else can follow them up. I find Yasmin monitoring the shelter and fighting off anyone who gets near it.

A chosen to the side of me switches ladders, making his way over. I climb past the destroyed paths of the first platform and straight up to the second one.

Using what’s left of the small path that juts out a few feet, I climb on top of it and get my balance before picking the nearest cage and chain a couple of feet down and away from me.

The cages are high enough that the chosen still destroying the rest of the paths can’t reach me.

From the corner of my eye, I see Kestral jolt a step forward when I run and dive off the ledge and catch one of the long chains, holding onto it as I swing forward with the cage.

My gaze finds the queen on a balcony farther to my left. Her long dark hair and sun-kissed skin is similar to Kestral’s, but that’s where the similarities end. Her eyes are a deep violet, and her features are sharp. Those eerie eyes narrow on Kestral before finding me again, her entire face loses the cool and distant look, revealing her true self. And I see nothing but brutal cruelty.

Ice crawls down my back at that look, but I push it to the back of my mind for now.

When the chain moves backward and forward again, I use my momentum to lean forward and jump to the next one. I do it again and again until I’m close to the platform.

Once I’m directly above it, I drop down, spotting the four fae Vidarr foretold, guarding a small, crystal blue bottle sitting on a short block table at its center.

Just as I take a step forward, three other chosen that have finished destroying the rest of the paths make it onto the platform. Instead of heading toward the group of fae waiting for one of us to take the small bottle of immunity, they head straight for me.

Grabbing the sword from my back, I wait as they slowly spread out around me.

None of the fae from the center makes a move toward us, allowing me to focus on the three chosen.

The one with the long beak mask rushes forward, sword in hand. I block him and attack without mercy.

I shove him closer to the edge before quickly glancing at the other two moving toward me. The chosen in front of me uses my distraction against me and yanks the sword out of my hand before flinging it across the platform.

He smirks at me, sharing a look with the other two behind me. I use his own foolish wasted moment to bring my fist to his face and stomach before kneeing him between the legs.

He curls in on himself just as the next chosen tries to grab me from behind. I spin around and grab his head, bringing his body in and kneeing him in the stomach. Once. Twice, before punching him in the side of the head, knocking him down.

I turn toward the last chosen a second too late, and he grabs me, pulling me toward his dagger. I knock it out of his hand, and his grip on me tightens, his arms closing around my shoulders.

I slip a hand out and over his neck.

Bringing his body closer to me, I lean back using my weight before flipping up and over his body while keeping his arm in mine and turning the tables on him. Snapping his arm, I shove him away and grab my sword before heading toward the four fae to end this.

All are without masks. Two are bulkier than the others, one with a bald head and the other with black eyes. The slightly shorter one beside him has curly blond hair and an innocent face. It’s a stark contrast to the savage look of malice he’s giving me.

The shorter one with murky brown eyes grabs the bottle and pockets it before they all spread out like the chosen did. But unlike the chosen, they don’t attack in turns. They all shoot forward and attack in tandem.

The slam to my ribs echoes the punch in my back and kick to my thigh. I bend forward with a gasp as their brutal attack doesn’t let up.

Gritting my teeth, I tighten my grip on my sword and slam it forward straight into the murky brown-eyed fae’s stomach before shoving him back and spinning out of the other three fae’s path.

They quickly advance, ignoring their fallen friend, and surround me once more. One of them grabs my sword and flings it away.

I kick, block, and shove them apart, breaking up their tandem attack. The bald one gets back to me quicker than the others, but I spot a fallen dagger on the ground and grab it as I run and jump forward, wrapping my legs around his shoulders before slamming the dagger into his neck.

I release him and he stumbles back, grabbing his neck in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

Using him as leverage, I kick off him, knocking him backward as I land on the curly blond fae’s shoulder. Using my thighs, I squeeze tighter and as he falls to the ground unconscious, I throw the dagger toward the last fae, the one with the black eyes. He catches the dagger and is on me before I know it, slamming it into my thigh.

A grunt of pain slips from my lips, but I manage to shove him away and gain some space.

He rushes for me once more. Instead of going on the offense, I exaggerate my injury and stay low. Once he gets closer, I yank the dagger out of my leg and slam it up into his stomach.

His eyes widen in shock as he slowly glances down at it. I twist it harder, and he gasps before falling to his knees. I turn around to look for the bottle when I remember he was the one who pocketed it.

Turning back to him, I step toward him when he gives me a vicious look before rolling something past me.

I glance behind to see the chosen with an arm hanging limply by his body grab the crystal bottle with his good arm with a grunt as he gets to his feet.

He raises the bottle above his head in triumph and a blaring horn blasts throughout the building, ending the competition.

Glancing at the fae, I give him a sweet smile that has his own smirk instantly dropping. I reach down and punch him hard in the face, breaking his nose and knocking him out.

The queen gets to her feet with a smile directed at me. Her eyes, though, are full of warning. I stare back at her unflinching, letting my rage of this entire game and trials bleed from my eyes, hoping she’ll see it.

Her smile only widens, dripping with malice before she turns and leaves, her guards following her.

I ignore Kestral’s presence as a portal opens in the center of the platform and I limp my way to it, grateful that they’ve not decided to just leave us here.

Kestral’s presence is like a beacon, calling me to it. I must be a glutton for punishment, because I turn to look at him again just before I enter the portal, and all I see is rage. It’s not directed at me, though. He’s staring at the four fae attempting to recover from my beating. Watching each of them as if he’s waiting.

His eyes flicker to me and the rage flees, disappearing, if only for a moment, and revealing so much guilt and pain.

Swallowing hard, I force myself to look away and step through the portal. It leaves me inside a hallway in the main building, alone.

Another thing I’m grateful for.

I make sure no one is watching me before ripping off the end of my top and tying it around the wound on my thigh.

With the thought of a steaming hot bath, I make my way toward my room slowly as every pain and ache in my body makes itself known.

I somehow make it to my door when something slams into the back of my head. A sharp pain shoots black across my vision, and I crumple to the ground.