Nova and Hunter pick theirs. And finally, it’s my turn. I excitedly walk up to the mess of cards, and I raise my finger, twirling it around like I saw Jade do. The cards shuffle, and it makes me smile. I try to feel which one calls out to me most, as my eyes travel from the top to the middle. Then, just by my hip, a card seems to pulse. Instinctively I raise my hand and point to the pulsing card. It joins the other five, and I turn around to stand next to Hunter. She takes my hand and walks with me to stand in front of the cards, beside her and Ava, placing me in the middle.
Ava raises her hand, palm up. And Hunter does the same, placing her open palm above Ava’s. Quickly I raise mine and rest it on top of Hunter’s. Both Sisters close their eyes, and I do the same. “Focus on our energy together. A card will come to rest on top of your hand.” Ava's soft voice instructs. I do as she says, and almost instantly, I feel a card fall onto my open hand. Opening my eyes, I watch the card join the others that were chosen. We walk back to the line and take our place, as Belle, Jade, and Nova walk up to repeat the cast. The last chosen card joins the others, and the games are finally complete. We all join hands and raise them high in the air as Ava begins a chant,
“Chosen games, show your names.
Chosen games, show your names.”
We chant the cast over and over again, and like a wave, the cards above us spark to life, twisting and turning into coherent words. One by one, each game’s name is revealed. I can hear shouts and screams coming from both the competitors and the crowd. Everything just went from serious to exciting really fast. These names don't really mean much to me right now, but I'm sure I’ll know what they mean by the end of the competition. We came up with a strategy last night that would help me understand what games were chosen, since this is my first time participating in these Matches. We all agreed that I would go last in each game, so I can get a feel of how it’s supposed to be done before my turn comes up.
I look over at Evan, and with a spark in his eyes, he says in my head, “You're going to LOVE game 4.” I look up at the chosen games to read the random names.
Game 1- Relay Race
Game 2- Scavenger Hunt
Game 3- Elements Arise
Game 4- Matching Potions
Game 5- Blaze Maze
Game 6- Feel the Light
Game 7- Cast Roulette
Game 8- Fight Box
Some of these sound like they will be a blast to participate in, but some of them make me want to run the other way. What the hell is a Blaze Maze? And a Fight Box? With big eyes, I look over at Hunter, and she giggles at the sight of my fear. “Go back to Evan. He’ll explain. You all have 15 minutes before the first game begins. You'll be taken to a locker room while we set up out here, now that the games are chosen. I'm really excited to see you out there. You're going to dominate these Matches, Scar.” She takes my hands and tries to soothe me. It does work a little, but I'm anxious to find out what these games consist of. I pull her in for a hug then jog to Evan’s side.
Evan takes my hand and kisses the top, “We’re going to have a fun time today. I'm happy I get to do this with you by my side, love.” He’s another one who can make me feel better instantly. I smile up at him. “I'm excited, but a little nervous. Some of these sound pretty intense,” I admit, trying to sound like I'm not bothered. But he sees right through me. “They're really not that bad. You’ll see. Have a good time. This is all just practice for you.” He’s right. “Thanks, Evan.” I say sweetly, looking up into his eyes. He smiles and leads me out of the stadium. I see the New York team make a left inside towards the lockers, but Evan leads us to the right. “Aren't we supposed to go to the locker room?”
“They all know what they're competing in. I want us to have some privacy while I explain these games to you,” he says, leading me into an empty room. He sits us down across from each other and gets straight to business. “I wish we had longer to discuss the games, but at least you get to watch us all compete first. I'm going to keep the descriptions short and sweet. Like you.” He winks, as I roll my eyes. I can’t hold back my amused smile, but it fades quickly as he begins his explaining.
“Game 1 is Relay Race. You already know what that is, right?” He pauses, waiting for me to reply. I nod my head. “Good. It’s the same thing but with enchanted props. Just remember, there’s a pattern to everything. Game 2 is Scavenger Hunt. Again, you already know what that is. I'm sure. But this one is trickier. We get a list of ingredients and have to transport to the place to find the ingredient, but it’s timed. You have to get as much as you can within the time given to you.” I interrupt him, so I can fully understand. “You can transport anywhere in the world?” I ask for clarification. “Correct but only for a moment and only for today. Game 3 is Elements Arise. This one is great. As you know, we have four elements; air, water, fire, earth. In this Match, something random will be selected for you to make out of those elements. For example, if I get a tiger, I would have to cast one tiger from water, one from fire, one from earth, and the trickiest one from air. There’s not much you can do with that so creativity is at its best there.
Game 4, Matching Potions, is one you're really going to enjoy. We have to mix five potions. They give us a paper with instructions and ingredients to the potions. We can only look at it once and for only a minute. Then the paper disappears. We have to make it exactly as the paper said then pour it over the seed they give us and see what it turns into.” This time, unintentionally interrupting him, I whisper in awe, “Fascinating.” Nodding his head in agreement, he continues. “Game 5 is Blaze Maze.” I let out a deep breath, and he smiles. “I know it sounds intense. But it’s actually pretty cool. We’re placed in a maze, and we have to find our way out. Pretty simple. Only… fireballs are being thrown at you, and you have to cast to get through.” Oh, gee, fireballs being thrown at you, no big deal. His confidence helps, but it still sounds terrifying. “Game 6 is Feel the Light. There will be seven of the same object. Only one has light magic inside of it. You have to find it three different times. And you only get one chance per try. So if you miss the first time, you fail that game.
Game 7 is Cast Roulette. This one is fun. You throw a ball of your power into a roulette, and it spins. When it stops, whatever your ball lands on, you have to cast it. You do that four times. And last is Game 8, Fight Box. You will be given a small box that you place in front of you. And whatever darkness that comes out of that box, you have to defeat with your power. Usually whenever Fight Box is chosen on the first day, it’s chosen on the second day, as well. So be prepared to fight tomorrow, too.” He finally finishes. That’s a lot to take in, and it was a quick review. But like he said, at least I get to watch the games being played before my turn. He takes my hands in his and pulls me out of my chair, bringing me to sit on his lap. Leaning my forehead on his, he sends his voice to my head. “Are you all right, love?” I answer, honestly. “A little nervous but excited, too.” With a small smile, he says, “Remember you're not competing, so there’s no pressure.”
“All right. Let’s do this!” I clap my hands, jogging in place and throwing punches like a boxer would before a match. I get Evan to laugh in his chair, and it’s so comforting to me. And it makes me feel out of this world that I'm the cause of it. I grab his hands and pull him up out of his chair. He towers over me, and I can’t help but crane my head. He picks me up as I cross my legs behind his back, and he gives me the sweetest and softest kiss. “I love you.” We say at the same time. It surprises us both, and we have matching big-eyed looks of amazement. Can’t deny our bond. It definitely chose the right partner for me. A loud horn sounds around us, and Evan sets me down. “Ready to kill it out there?” He asks, with the brightest smile. “Ready to kick some ass,” I say, with a wicked one.
Chapter 33
Caster Matches Part II
If I didn't see the arena before they casted the games in it, I wouldn't have believed that it was vacant just a moment ago. They even added more space to accommodate a
ll of the events. I see the relay race right away. It’s the first event to the left. I guess we start there and end up on the opposite side, on the right. I follow Evan over by the other competitors waiting for the first Match to begin. As Ava and the Sisters continue their conversation, I look around at the enthusiastic and energetic crowd in the stands. It is such a diverse crowd. The section from Greece with their blue and white banners and signs representing their country is perceptible. But they're not as loud as the New York section. You can hear the New Yorkers booming shouts as they try to get our attention. The Quisqueya section is very colorful and musical. You can hear them all as they sing and dance along to a catchy Spanish melody. And England and China have joined together to make an epic wave. I take a deep breath and cherish all of the cheerfulness.
Ava steps forward, and the remaining Elders transport themselves to their seating area. Ava snaps her fingers, and a small paper appears in my hand. I look down to read the number nine drawn beautifully on it. I look back up and watch as the back of Lucas and Derek's vest now have the numbers six and seven on them. Then I look over at Evan, who is beside me and see a minuscule number eight written on the front corner of his vest. I lean back to see the same number appear on his back, also. “The numbers that you have received are there to tell you when it is your turn to compete. Whatever number you are today is the same number you will be for tomorrow’s Matches. You will be scored on creativity, speed, and overall your casts. We will average out your points to an ending number, which you will see at the completion of all Matches. There are eight of you in each team representing your location, and nine in New York. When the last casters complete their turn, Scarlet will have hers on her own. She isn't competing. So even though points will be added to her own name, it won’t count against anyone here. Match one is Relay Race. Get through the obstacles ahead as quickly as you can. Do your best and show us what you got! Good luck to all the contestants!” Ava announces.
“Would it be easier for you to watch up there with the other Elders, or do you want to stay down here to watch?” Evan asks, still holding my hand. I decide here, with him is best. “At the sound of the blast, the time begins. At the sound of the second blast, your time is up. Understood?” Ava asks bluntly. “Yes.” Everyone answers together. She bows her head once and disappears to her seat in the stands a few feet away with the other Sisters. The first blast sounds, and I watch the first five casters from each location run forward into the first part of the relay. It’s a wall at least 500 feet high. The caster from our location claps his hands and a rope appears. He quickly places his feet on the wall while holding on to the rope and hurriedly climbs up. The caster next to him claps his hands and steps onto the actual wall with no rope. His feet stick to it as he runs up to the top.
I look over at Evan. “You can’t see anything past the wall. How are you supposed to see what’s next?” I ask, annoyed that I can’t see the next obstacle. He chuckles. “We can’t down here. But if you sit up with the Elders, you can see everything. It’s specifically done this way so no one can prepare for what’s next after this wall.” he explains. “I’ll stay here with you until it’s your turn. Then I’ll go up to watch you,” I reply. He kisses me softly and motions for us to take a seat on the soft grass.
Finally, Lucas finishes and Evan stands and jogs in place, preparing himself. Before his blast sounds, he gives me a message. “Tell Ava you want to watch up there with them until it’s your turn. I love you.” I do as he says and mentally reach out to Ava, but she doesn't answer me. Instead, Hunter appears, touches my arm, and transports us up to our seats. No one says a word. Their eyes are glued to the arena. I join them and find Evan instantly. The blast sounds, and Evan runs up to the wall. He snaps his fingers, and a rope appears. He pulls it once and holds on. Faster than I thought the rope could go, it pulls him up to the top of the wall. Still holding on to the rope, he jumps off to the other side, landing right on his feet. He lets go and runs over to the next obstacle, a quicksand pit. Evan flicks his wrist, and monkey bars appear.
He jumps up, racing across them then runs up to the next course, which is a tight rope with a large puddle of blazing lava under it. He snaps his fingers, and an identical rope appears above his head, matching the tight rope under his feet. He grabs it and runs across. Fourth obstacle, and he’s in the lead. This one is a minuscule tunnel that I don't even know if a baby could fit in. Evan snaps his fingers, and the tunnel sucks him into it like a vacuum cleaner. A few other Sisters and I gasp, wondering where he went. He pops up on the other side of the tunnel, still in the lead. The fifth obstacle has eight oversized tires on the floor placed side by side. Evan flicks his wrist, and the tires melt into the ground, becoming a hard and bouncy consistency. He gets through in two long strides and races over to the next obstacle. Two more, and he’ll complete the course.
He comes to a wall of moving targets. There are three sizes: big white ones, medium red ones, and small yellow ones. Evan points to the targets with both hands and, like bullets, blue sparks leave his fingers. He hits every yellow one right on the bull’s eye. Clapping his hands, he runs over to the last race. He’s so far ahead of everyone else that he looks up at me and winks. I smile to myself, knowing he’s all mine. The last race looks tricky. But Evan seems to think really fast on his feet. Even if he wasn't my Anima Partem, having him in my coven would be incredibly beneficial. An ogre stands with the end of a rope in his hands. In the middle of the rope is a flag tug of war. Evan picks up one end of the rope, and with the other hand he points to where the ogre is standing. Slick blue ice forms under the ogre’s feet. He slides immediately, and Evan pulls the rope, beating the ogre. Wow. He’s already done. I wonder if he’s got the fastest time of all the other competitors. “He does.” Ava says aloud as the other Sisters giggle.
“How did you know what I was thinking?” I asked her curiously. “It’s what we were all thinking,” she laughs. I join them and look back to Evan, incredibly proud and slightly cocky. “I have no doubt that Evan will be in your coven,” she says smugly. “You're up, buttercup.” Hunter tells me excitedly. The last caster to finish is on his last match. I stand up and take a deep breath as Hunter touches my arm to transport me back to the arena, but I stop her. “Wait. I want to try.” She smiles and gives one last bit of advice before I close my eyes to transport myself.
“Remember, you're not competing, so have fun and show us what you got.” I smile and close my eyes, thinking of the grass beneath my feet and the obstacles in front of me. I find my power and focus on the relay race. I cast it out and feel my body flicker. I can smell the grass, but I wasn't fully there yet. Another push and I’d be there. But just before I left, I heard Ava say something aloud to Hunter, “You really like her.” And Hunter nods enthusiastically, filling my heart and giving me strength to play. I open my eyes, and the huge wall is directly in front of me. I take a step back to put some space between it and me. I definitely need to work on my transporting.
I embarrassingly run to the line where I'm supposed to stand behind, looking up at Ava and giving her a thumbs up. With a flick of her wrist, a blast sounds in the air. My time starts now. Looking up at this incredibly intimidating wall, the first thing I think of is how much time I’ll waste going up. So why can’t I just go through it, cutting my time in half completely. I close my eyes and think of a door. I find my power and cast it out, creating an engraved rectangle door in front of me. I hear the entire crowd gasp and go silent, not one sound in the air, not one. I open the door and step through to the other side still no sound. Now I'm sort of insecure about what I just did. Was that against the rules? I don't know if I should keep going or if I should stop until someone makes a sound.
“Go, love. Go!” Evans playfully shouts in my head. I do as he says and run over to the sand pit, momentarily forgetting about the awkward silence. Instead of going over it, I'm going to walk on it. If I touch the sand with my finger I can make it solid. I tap the sand, casting my power out and turni
ng it into stone, quickly running across. When the other casters were competing, there was cheering and laughter. But it’s so quiet in here that I can hear my own heartbeat loud and clear. It’s making me really nervous. Who knew silence could be so loud. Thinking of invisible earphones, I find my power and cast them into my ears. I flick my wrist and focus on the song I want to hear, nothing with words or I’ll get distracted. Classical. Definitely classical.
Instantly I think of it and, in seconds, blasting in my ears is The Cello Song by The Piano Guys. I stand in front of the tight rope over the lava with a new sense of strength. I think of my skateboard, and my good sense of balance and finding my power. I cast the tight rope to work like a conveyor belt. I step on the rope. And it instantly flings me to the other side, quickly dropping down and running over to the next obstacle. Forgetting about the crowd around me, the music fills my thoughts with its beautiful melody.
The mini tunnel. Remembering Hunters advice to have fun, I think of what fun I could have in a tube. I clap my hands and make it human size. Then I get in and sit at the edge, raising my hands up so this end rises, sliding me down to the other side. Laughing and, I'm sure, shouting, I fly to the other side. That was way more fun than I thought it was going to be. I stand and run to the tires, and I feel tingling in my spine, but disregard it. I'm having too much of a good time seeing what I can do with my power.
The tires are really heavy, unless I can make them lighter. That’s it! This one is for Violet. She loves balloons. I find my power and snap my fingers, casting the tires to be as light as balloons. I run across to the other side as they float in the air above me. Now the targets. I want to get all of the yellow ones, but they're moving so fast. Squinting my eyes, I follow Evan’s advice about always finding a pattern, and I keep them squinted and focused on yellow only. I feel my power getting hot, and I shoot it out of my fingers, surprising myself when I see all the yellow targets have caught fire.
Winter's Awakening (Light Coven Chronicles Book 1) Page 31