Page 10

I was seated between The Siren mask wearer, who was a petite girl with ebony skin and jet-black hair that swung in intricately woven braids below her waist, and The Spider mask wearer, who was a boy with a tan that suggested he worked the fields.

He seemed the same age as my brother with a similarly cut hairstyle as Jean, and deep green eyes, that had me feeling all kinds of homesick.

The servants were the same women who’d brought out our masks earlier.

They balanced trays expertly on their arms, plating our food in front of us with blank expressions and eyes that looked as if they were unfocused.

It was unsettling. What could have happened to them that caused such disassociation?

A simple roasted chicken with rosemary seasonings and a side of mashed potatoes, covered in a rustic white cream sauce was placed in front of each of us.

A few of the contestants were chatting amongst each other, but all seemed to hold a level of nervousness that was palpable.

It was hard to forget that the majority of these people around me would most likely be dead in a few days.

It was rare for more than a handful of contestants to emerge from the catacombs with their lives intact.

I cut into the meat delicately removing a bite sized piece feeling my nerves rear their ugly head.

These contestants that surrounded me could be the reason I didn’t make it back home.

I had to pay attention. I’d already clocked the biggest threat as Magnus, and he seemed to still be unnervingly fixated on me, watching me through the small slits in his mask as he devoured the chicken off the bone with his bare hands.

The juices from it running down his chin.

Gross. I had to stop myself from throwing a napkin at him.

That was sure to guarantee me becoming even more of a target.

His intense gaze made me want to slink down into a puddle just to avoid his notice.

“What I want to know is which one of do you think is going to die first?” he asked, not wavering in his penetrating gaze. Chicken rolled around in his mouth as he threw the bone onto his plate with a clatter.

Ice sluiced along my veins feeling the implications of his words.

The threat lay there between us clear as day.

He meant for it to be me. I hoped to all the gods he wasn’t on my team.

When I looked up, his eyes stared directly into mine.

I quickly looked away and focused on my plate. Picking up another piece of chicken.

The two contestants on either side of me visibly tensed at Magnus’s callous words. The Siren had a crust of bread paused halfway to their mouth before they set it down onto their plate with disgust.

“Probably someone who can’t keep their mouth shut,” a reply came from down the table.

I didn’t have to look over to see where it came from, though. I knew that voice and felt my heart flutter on its own volition.

Sure enough, Dex got to his feet and circled around until he planted his hands on Magnus’s muscular shoulders with his long fingers digging into his flesh.

The golden horns of his mask gleamed against the soft candlelight making him look far more threatening than the man he stood over.

Dex had the look as if he could snap Magnus’s neck and go right back to eating without breaking a sweat.

“Do you know what kinds of things can happen down here to people who don’t make allies, Magnus?

They end up dead. Now I know you’re feeling all kinds of big and strong because of that mask you have on there, but I promise that magick can only help you so much.

All of us here now possess ways in which to kill each other.

” Dex slapped him hard on the back and Magnus flinched at the contact.

“It would serve you well to remember that.”

Dex smirked and revealed a concealed dinner knife in his sleeve. He leaned down to Magnus’s ear and whispered just loud enough that I could make out his words.

“One wrong move in here, and you’re dead.” The knife slammed down mere millimeters from Magnus’s meaty hand. The whole table shook with the force, and a guard emerged from the shadows, gun poised and ready to eliminate the threat.

Dex put his hands up and walked calmly back to his seat, but not before catching my gaze and winking at me.

I didn’t know why a part of me found that so damn attractive, but I squashed the feeling deep inside as soon as I recognized it for what it was and remembered the ring around my finger.

A promise that I belonged to Theo. I had no business finding anyone else attractive.

Plus, Dex of all people, was just asking for trouble.

No, it was nothing but a small slip in judgement. A primal instinct and nothing more.

“What team did you get?” The Siren asked after the shock of what just transpired before us wore off.

“Hearts, you?” I asked back, making polite conversation.

“Spades. My name’s Céline.”

“Odessa.”

“I’m on Diamonds,” The Spider answered. “Name’s Uric.”

“Nice to meet you,” I responded just as an eight-legged creature emerged from the tips of Uric’s fingers stringing a web behind it.

“Shit,” he cursed, smashing it with the palm of his hand. “Gotta get the hang of that.” He had a boyish charm to him. The tips of his ears pinked up with embarrassment.

“Good thing we have a few days to practice,” The Siren, Céline, said.

For that I was grateful. Practicing how to work with our new powers would make the difference between life and death.

“Do you think the gods will be watching us? As we train, I mean?” Another girl with two golden braids plaited down both sides of her head asked. She had The Ghost mask on— the power to disappear.

“Fuck, I hope not.”

Being watched and judged as I fumbled my way through trying to control this new power I’d been saddled with, wasn’t something I was looking forward to. It felt awkward enough during the choosing ceremony, which I’d been working hard to forget.

Everyone started out the games with their teammates, before being lowered into the labyrinth.

Many champions chose to eliminate their teammates and face the games on their own.

Doing so was a risk, because teaming up with others could mean they would be able to assist if you found yourself in trouble.

I pegged Magnus as the type to eliminate his whole team and could only hope that I was placed as far from him as possible. Magnus seemed to boil with anger ever since that little display Dex made earlier. The knife was still lodged in the table, a reminder of just how unhinged he was.

“Who do you think is going to win?” Céline asked, taking a sip of red wine.

I shrugged, “It’s anyone’s game.” And it was. Luck could be as big of a factor when it came to survival.

“Contestants, you will be escorted back to your rooms where you are expected to stay for the remainder of the evening until we come to get you for training in the morning,” an announcement crackled over the speaker system.

I looked down at my barely eaten food and shoveled a few more forkfuls into my mouth even though my hunger had abandoned me.

I knew I would need my strength for what was to come. We all would.