Page 22

Dex

T he rotunda was empty save for a few discarded servant trays and random bits of uneaten food that littered the floor.

But right where they’d been left, were the three heads— masks still affixed to their faces.

I’d managed to sneak out without anyone noticing and now, I was so close to obtaining the powers I sought.

At least, I hoped my theory was right. I was taking a huge risk to find out, but it would be worth it.

Carefully and quietly, I pulled on my power, using the bones in the walls to create a makeshift ladder for me to climb.

The bones held my weight as I made my way up to where Magnus’s head sat as a decoration and warning.

The mask came off easily, revealing the deformed and already eroding state of what remained of him.

My stomach roiled, threatening to empty the contents of the rich party food I’d consumed earlier, but I couldn’t afford to waste time.

Who knew how often the guards patrolled the tunnels. I didn’t want to find out.

I was lucky no one had caught me yet as it was.

Odessa hadn’t come back from the bathroom, and I assumed she’d gone to bed early. Smart move really. I should probably have done the same, but I couldn’t pass up the chance at obtaining the powers while I could. Not when they were so close.

Genevieve’s was next. Her mask was tangled in her golden hair. The crown wrapping around her soft curls. I gripped the mask by its ties and held it together in the hand that held onto Magnus’s.

Uric was last. His was the furthest and required me to strain from where I stood in order to reach it.

Soft voices began to fill the corridor, and I froze. My fingers were barely brushing against the golden edges. I could run back right now and not get caught, but I was so close to having all three masks.

As quickly as I could, I undid his mask, and stashed it with the others, climbing down the makeshift ladder, using my magick to push the bones back to where they’d been.

“Poor bastards probably won’t even make it two minutes with the new additions they installed. That acid water? Instant killer,” a voice murmured getting closer.

Acid water? My ears strained to hear what the guards were saying as I pressed my body tightly against the wall. I crept quietly into the hallway, hoping the shadows would keep me covered. All I needed was enough time to try one. Then I would know if it worked.

Two guards seemed to linger just out of sight. Quickly, I took off my mask and put on The Enforcer, tying the string behind my head. Just like with mine, it tightened, and I felt a surge of power running through my veins.

Those lying bastards, I fucking knew it.

Most contestants were too tired to find out that our powers worked even if we took the masks off. The magick was dimmed, but still entwined. Working at our behest, we only had to know how to call on it.

Quickly, I slipped off the mask and put on The Crown, then The Spider.

“Hey, weren’t they wearing masks before?”

Shit.

“They probably took them into storage.”

“Right.”

My heart was hammering a million miles a minute as I slipped back in my room. The masks hung from my hand as their power thrummed in my veins.

“What happened to your eye, by the way man?”

“Some bitch contestant wouldn’t let me fuck her.”

I stilled.

“Which one?”

“That brown haired one with the braid.”

“Oh man, yeah. She’s hot.”

All the powers I’d just absorbed shot to the surface in a blinding rage.

They were talking about Odessa. And one of those assholes had tried to hurt her.

It seemed she’d been able to land a punch, which filled me with pride.

But a punch wasn’t nearly enough punishment.

I stepped out from where I was hiding with a deadly smile on my face.

“Can we help you?” The tall one with the shiner on his eye asked.

Yeah, this guy was going down.

“I was on my way to the bathroom, think I got turned around,” I said, putting a fake drunken swagger on as I walked forward.

The guards looked at each other like they were annoyed.

“Yeah, buddy. The bathrooms are back that way. You shouldn’t be out here. It’s off-limits,” the tall one said, putting his meaty hand on my shoulder.

Immediately, I pounced on him.

“And you shouldn’t be assaulting women,” I said twisting his arm behind his back and kicking him straight in the elbow. The bone gave a satisfying pop before he crumpled before me in a heap of agony.

“You’re fucking dead!” the other one cried, going to put a whistle to his thin little lips.

My power had him frozen before he had the chance to move. It settled deep into his bones as his eyes went wide in shock. The thing about some of these guards is that their position has made them think they’re untouchable. I was more than happy to shatter that illusion.

“What’s worse than a guy who assaults women?” I asked, moving around him, yanking his knife from his belt. It was cool to the touch as I raised it to his throat. “Anyone who excuses and supports that kind of behavior,” I said, slicing clean across his jugular.

He went down clawing at his neck to no avail as he bleed out at our feet within seconds.

I turned on the assaulter who was cowering.

“Listen, man. I’m s-sorry. I didn’t hurt her. Swear.”

“I really don’t care what your opinion of the encounter was. I heard you. She wouldn’t fuck you. But you’ve got me instead. And while I won’t fuck you, I will make you wish you’d never been born.”

“Fuck—”

I slammed my powers into him, using all the force I had to break him apart bit by bit until his bones were emulsified and his skin looked as if he had been melted.

To get rid of the evidence, I turned that light power on so high that their bodies dissolved into piles of ash.

All that was left of the guards could be swept away by the maids.

Now I just needed to prepare myself for the start of the games in the morning. From the sounds of those guards’ conversation, it was even worse than I was imagining.

With the guards’ now dead, I was able to sneak the masks back where they belonged, hiding their powers deep inside me to use when the time was right.

Four powers down, twelve to go.