Three Deadly Trials (Battle for The Dark King Book 1)

by VS Winters

  "No pressure at all..." I said, chewing my cheek.

  "I'll be here, don't worry," He said before stretching out a long arm to push open one of the doors.

  I swallowed hard, promising myself that I could do this.

  Hopefully.

  Chapter Seven

  The interior was bustling with bodies.

  I gripped Scott's hand tightly against my clammy palm as he guided me. Unfamiliar eyes of all species followed us warily as we moved. Heads swiveled, and people drifted aside so we couldn't brush them. Fine by me, I didn't want to touch them any more than they wanted me to. Scott had been right about them peering down their noses at us.

  Head carried high, he accepted it with grace, making me feel small and insignificant with my chin sinking to my chest. Dodging the glares was difficult, but I didn't have to worry about it for long. As soon as Rowan descended on the grand staircase, with a strong hand holding onto the elaborately designed banister, faces turned to give him their full attention. I saw Scott's jaw contract again at the sight of the prince, but I looked elsewhere, not sure of why I felt just as enthusiastic about the prince showing up as everyone else.

  "Welcome, everyone!" Rowan's rumbling voice was abnormally powerful. As though there was an unseen microphone being held in front of those full lips of his.

  "Thank you to everyone who attended this assemblage, in support of your chosen individuals who will be competing in the Devotion Trials! I wish to extend an apology for our delayed start. We had a Witch on the loose." A flush filled my cheeks and crept into my ears as the crowd roared with laughter and whispered exchanges, several heads turning to glance at me.

  What an asshole.

  "Please, drink, eat, and enjoy getting to know each other while you listen to me ramble on." Another chuckle from the people.

  "This will be the last day that families are permitted to see their participant. You should have all chosen an individual escort by now. Please make sure that it is decided by midnight, at the latest. As for the Trials, there will be three, as is customary. We must remember that this was designed to bring our strongest, our smartest into the light. Those who fail will lose nobility status as it is recognized by the crown. However, the one who completes the Trials will have proven themselves worthy of marrying me and will be allowed to ascend as Fae-Queen."

  "Told you, the elf can't stop himself from showing his power," Scott whispered, prompting a grin to tug at my lips. He smiled too but never turned away from Rowan.

  Gleaming red eyes illuminated in the corner of my vision. Expecting to see Harper, I returned the look, but was met with the pretty, angular face of a female. She stood several feet away and was dressed in a revealing two-piece gown that looked more like a bikini with sheer cloth hanging from it. It was ruby-colored, resembling her eyes. I scowled at her smirk that was fixed on her face for no reason that was clear to me.

  "...I'm confident that this series of Trials will pull us closer to a resolution during these troublesome times..."

  Demon lady drew her sights away from me to get a better listen as Rowan proceeded. I shifted to notice him glancing back at her for a fleeting moment. The recollection of his words from the evening before crossed my thoughts, he had stated that he would only support 'one.' Could he have been speaking of the Demon, and if so why her in particular? Something pulled at my gut. Could it be jealousy? Surely not.

  "What war?" I whispered to Scott. He glanced down at me and then over to the pod of Demons to our right.

  "Between the Fae and the Demons." He said quietly with no implication that he would later elaborate.

  "In conclusion, I'd like to thank you all once again. It is our pleasure to have so many of you with us for the Devotion Trials. Please, enjoy the rest of the evening!"

  Slapping my hands together, I joined the applause and waited as the various groups tore apart and restarted their chatting. Several factions worked their way to the base of the staircase and Rowan was lost in the mass of bodies.

  "Excuse me for a moment, Eden," Scott said and released my hand before I could argue. Great. I was a lone rabbit amongst a pack of wolves and hadn't the slightest clue how to converse with those creatures. The only thing I could think to do was find Rowan, and perhaps get some more information seeing as how Demon princess, and her creepy stare, had caused me to miss a chunk of his speech.

  Working my way around in the general direction I had last seen him, I was extra careful not to make eye contact with anyone. Peering on tiptoes over the sea of heads, I could just make out the dark curls stretching above the crowd. I accelerated, weaving between the mob with a growing urgency to get away from them all. Just a few more steps…

  Exactly as I was preparing my mouth to call to the prince, a woman with long inky locks overlaid with a sheer black veil took a step back just as I stepped forward. She twisted around just as I came hurtling into her rooted frame. The impact cast me onto my rear in front of everyone. She hoisted the veil from her sharp-featured face, her silver eyes peered down at me through thick lashes. Pointed black eyeliner rimmed her alien eyes, her dark eyebrows held the image of tranquility as her sanguine lips stretched into a snarl.

  My stomach lurched like it was trying to escape my abdomen at the display of two razor-sharp fangs alongside her pearly teeth. Vampire, my mind instantly shrieked. Thankfully, I was too astonished to vocalize the word. Her smooth, marble-like skin dropped back into a stoic expression as she recalled that there were hundreds of eyes watching our every move.

  My neck prickled with the certainty that, had we been alone, she would have drained me of my blood for the mishap. A hush fell across the hall as I eased myself back onto my feet. The woman glanced down at my now-exposed sneakers and produced a burst of piercing laughter, in a sound that seemed about as sweet as a lemon.

  "The Coven isn't doing well lately, I see." She sneered in a thickly accented voice.

  "Go suck a neck, Lavinia," Scott said from just to my left, making me jump. I hadn't seen him arrive at my side.

  "Are you offering?" She asked with glowing eyes.

  "Don't you just wish?"

  "Hah!" Her laugh rang out again.

  "Not even if I were starving would I drink your filthy blood, Witch."

  "So everyone wins!" I exclaimed with a bit more zeal than intended.

  Scott seized my hand and dragged me away from the growing murmurs. As we moved, the crowd erupted into gossip and laughter. Never, in my life, had I craved to be alone more than at that moment. Maybe Scott had sensed it because we were headed to a corner that seemed empty. We almost made it, before the Demon woman forced her way in front of us.

  "For fuck's sake," I muttered at the ground. Scott jammed an elbow into my ribs, reminding me that I was supposed to behave myself. Right, like he had done when he had challenged the arrogant Vampire.

  "Ouch! Sorry...Nice to meet you, my name is Eden."

  "Nija." She replied the amused smile once again on her lips.

  "Quite dense one would have to be, to walk directly into a Vampire. You came from the mortal realm. Is that a normal behavior for your kind, to be so obviously simple?"

  "Yes," I snapped. How did she know where I came from?

  "Back on earth, walking into people is what we strive for."

  "No need to get irritated," Nija settled her large, indigo fingernails against her breast, pretending to be hurt by the response.

  "How would I know what humans do? I don't associate with your kind."

  Her eyes flicked between Scott and me.

  "In the mortal realm or otherwise." She added.

  With her other hand, Nija reached out to stop a passing female with moss-green hair. The woman's huge, earthy eyes peered at her in puzzlement.

  "Kariye, what do you make of the idea of Witches being able to compete?"

  "Oh, I don't know, Nija," The girl gave me a grimace that I'm pretty sure was meant to be a smile. It didn't come off that way, she rather looked like she was in discomfor
t. Nija glowered at the girl and shook her head, sending her cropped, violet hair around her shoulders in tumbles. I took note that there were no horns visible on her head, though her glowing red eyes were a dead give-away that she was a Demon.

  "Moron."

  "What is your problem?"

  "My problem is none of your concern, hag."

  The heat was once again rising in my throat, this one of anger. I could sense it scorching its way around my innards.

  "Eden, stop. Walk away." Scott hissed. Turning to look at him, fully ready to slap him as well, my gaze fell to the direction of his pointed finger. He was motioning to my hands, which were exhibiting what looked to be magma flowing in my veins. I swung them behind my back and avoided Nija's hate-filled eyes.

  "Yes, step away before you do anything you'll regret, little Witch."

  Who was she calling little at nearly the same height as myself? Harper had called me the same thing, maybe it was a Demon thing. The warmth of my power lingered, coursing within my veins, making me want to show Nija how strong I could be. What I did, instead, was stick out my tongue like an upset child and spin on my heel to move elsewhere.

  "You can't do that here, do you want to be arrested?" Scott ridiculed under his breath.

  "It's not like I was trying. I have no idea how to control this, Scott."

  "Merely strive to manage your temper, that's a start. Deep breaths."

  "Right."

  In through the nose and out through the mouth, I breathed like he recommended. It helped, which enabled me to be presented, by Scott, to the rest of my opponents.

  "You've met Nija the Demon, Kariye the Nymph, and Lavinia, who is a Vampire. Let's get you introduced to the rest of them."

  He continued to guide me around the hall, where I met the remaining three. First up was a feathered woman, or a harpy as he called her, named Sephial. She did nothing to greet me, only gazed down from two feet above me with her swirling, kaleidoscopic eyes that paired her massive wings beautifully. There was no objection from me when we left after the name exchange.

  Next up came the most graceful and attractive woman I had ever seen in my life. She was an elf, and not the kind that helps the fat man make gifts for kids. The tall, slender, looked like she was made of porcelain kind. Her silvery braids fell to her hips, with not so much as a single hair out of place. Irises of smoky gray charmed me as I introduced myself. She dipped her refined head in return with sharp ears peeking out from under her impressive mane. With the chiming voice of an angel, she introduced herself.

  "My name is Shael Nueovas, I am of the Fae kingdom. It is a pleasure to meet you, Eden."

  Astounded that there was another polite being in this place, I grinned and returned the bow before advancing to the last person. At first glance, I almost believed her to be Ava, with her cascading blonde hair. As she whirled to face me, my heart dropped a touch.

  "Eden! Finally, I'm getting a turn to speak with you! I'm Pimea, and the second most hated woman in the palace, well, hated by the other women..."

  "Err," I looked to Scott who had fastened his sights on the stunning woman.

  "Why is that, exactly?"

  "I'm a siren." She said matter-of-factly as if I was supposed to know what that signified.

  "Like, a Mermaid?"

  "Some call us that, and you can if you'd prefer."

  I rolled my eyes away from Scott. Great, even my only friend here so far was captivated by my competition.

  "Don't despair, he's not to blame. I tend to have that influence over men." Pimea surprised me with the comment. Wait, could they read minds here?

  "My strength is only to influence and attract men. However, Lord Blaive has the power to protect himself from my control, as most of his kind can. So, I'm essentially useless in this competition." She chuckled.

  "That makes two of us. I don't know how to control my powers, or even how to summon them."

  Pimea looked taken aback.

  "You're Mistress Tamora's daughter, how is that possible?"

  "You two can resume this discussion later, yes? I need food in my belly, and I'm sure Eden does as well." Scott appeared to have snapped out of Pimea's trance.

  "Later," I promised with a bow to Pimea. She returned the gesture and waved before turning to return to her aimless charming.

  "I liked that one," I said, following Scott to the abundant meal tables.

  "Me too, though not of my own wishing."

  I giggled and studied the spread. We had been there for hours, and my late breakfast wasn't holding up against the time. Touching my abdomen, my belly growled in response. Spices filled the air with a wonderful aroma that drew me in like a kid in a candy store. My eyes were alight as they wandered over the golden roast hen, towers of sweet cakes dripping with honey, spicy peppered potatoes, and everything else one could imagine.

  Scott reached for meat and potatoes while I opted for as many different things as I could fit on a single plate. I'm rather positive that some people were staring, but I didn't care. I was here, why not take advantage of the food that didn't come out of the freezer and get nuked in a microwave? The two of us spotted a secluded table to eat at and I started to stuff my face. Scott grunted in disapproval at my animalistic eating display but proceeded to eat his meal, regardless.

  "Maybe I could get used to this place," I said once I had polished off the plate, sinking back with a full belly.

  "Well, here's your chance to tell Lord Blaive yourself." Scott stood and excused himself, despite my questioning frown. I turned on the wooden seat and was met with Rowan's dazzling smile.

  Chapter Eight

  "Your highness," I sighed, not bothering to stand and receive him. The defiance was stinging his ego, I could see it deep in his eyes. Butterflies fluttered around in my belly as I tried to maintain my resistant stare. What was he going to do in front of all these people? Have me arrested?

  "Witch." He stated quietly. Okay, that was just hurtful. At least, I think that he had meant it to be taken that way. I happened to be a Witch, so perhaps I shouldn't have been so offended by the term.

  "Please, behave appropriately. It wouldn't be very becoming of me to have to show you how to act in front of your rivals."

  I almost choked on a gulp of water. Flashes of Rowan's body pressed against my own spread through my mind like flames in a dry barn. As carelessly as I could manage, I sprang from the seat and gave him a clumsy dip. His pale eyes shone as he watched me in amusement. It was humorous for him to see me struggling to fit in. At least now I knew for sure that it bothered him when I acted like I didn't need to follow the rules.

  "Here's a crazy idea, send me home. That would teach me a lesson."

  He smiled and bent forward, the raw aroma of the forest emanating from his skin. My jaw went slack as I ogled his impeccable grin. He had moved too close, and I had been single for too long to be teased this way. I tore my eyes off of him and fiddled with a jewel that dangled from my dress.

  "I'm not sending you anywhere unless you'd like to be shown around the dungeon? All it would take is a single flick of my fingers. Don't test me, Witch. I'm not one to play games with silly girls."

  "But you expect girls to play games for you?" I snapped back, wishing Scott would come and throw a hand over my mouth before it got me into real trouble. To locate him, I swiveled my eyes around the room. My wandering gaze was led back with a jolt when Rowan grabbed my chin between finger and thumb and forced me to look into those intense eyes of his.

  "When I met you last night, I hated to welcome you here, pitied you even. However, that tongue of yours is making me want to keep you here. Just to spite you."

  "You can't do that." I retorted. He couldn't, could he? Where the hell was Scott?

  "Try me. I can do anything I wish. Your Coven isn't what it once was, and after the Trials, I will possess an essential ally in this gods-forsaken conflict. With a century-old war put to rest, I could stomp your vile Coven into the ground, and would do so with pleas
ure."

  I started to open my mouth in protest, but no words came out. It was one thing to be sassy, knowing that I was putting myself at risk, but I didn't know anything about the Coven or their numbers. Could he be serious about killing off every single one of them? The hard look in his eyes alongside the tight muscles of jaw told me that he was about as serious as a heart attack. My throat constricted and I felt panic seeping into me.

  "Now, be a good Witch, and learn your place."

  Without being able to look into his eyes anymore, mine lowered as I nodded and took a step back with a heavy head. I could feel his seething anger radiating off of him in heatwaves that made me want to start running and never stop. It was the first time since arriving in the Fae realm that I felt like I had been shaken awake. Rowan had jolted me from a dream, only for me to find that I was stuck in the nightmare. Moisture settled in my eyes. I hastily dried them with the back of my wrist. Rowan's harsh stare lingered, full of disgust before he turned to depart.

  "Eden, what's wrong?" It was the voice of Pimea. She wrapped an uninvited arm around my shaking arms. Not wanting her to see me weak and crying, I sniffed back my emotions and gave her my best smile.

  "It's hard, yes? Coming from the mortal realm? Come, I can get us away from here."

  I nodded, wanting nothing more than to get the heck out of that grand hall, I allowed her to pull me aside by the wrist. She was quick on her feet as she moved us through the crowd. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't at least a little fun. Pimea seemed so free, so full of life. Like, losing her noble status wouldn't affect her one bit if she failed these Trials. My curls lashed my face as we ran, like teenagers ditching a school dance under the watchful eyes of the principal.

  "This way," She giggled and yanked me through a small service door used by the cuisine staff. Once inside, we made our way through the kitchens being watched by the workers as we passed. My heart raced as I thought about what Rowan had just said to me. What would be the harm in us taking a stroll through the castle, surely someone would have stopped us if we were doing anything that we weren't supposed to, right?