by Celia Aaron
He was handsome, his hay-colored hair short and neat. Tall and wiry, he was older, perhaps forty. I wished him dead, just like everyone else here.
“Ellis, my man! How are you?” Another man of about the same age walked up and shook hands. Even with the distraction, it took Ellis more than a few beats to turn away from Sophia and Sin. They fell into conversation and melded into the mix of people in the center of the tent.
“Ma’am?” A server with black hair and dark brown eyes walked up and offered me a flute of champagne.
I took it with a shaking hand. “Thank you.”
He stopped and glanced back at me, his eyebrows raised in surprise. “You’re welcome.”
I supposed no one ever thanked the servants, never said a kind word. Vultures weren’t known for their warmth. And here, where they could be themselves, their worst was on display.
He tilted his head to the side and glanced around before approaching me again. “Are you in some kind of trouble? Do I need to do something?”
“I’m fine.” I whispered. “But you shouldn’t talk to me. You’ll get in trouble.”
“It’s just, I’ve heard things. This is my first time working one of these events. Money was too good to pass up. And you look…scared.”
“Shh.” I shook my head and grabbed another flute from his tray to make it seem like I was keeping him. “Stop talking. You’re in danger.”
He furrowed his brow. “If you’re in trouble, I know people. Something doesn’t feel right.” He glanced around.
“Go. Now.” I wouldn’t meet his eye.
He shook his head and backed away. After giving me another long look, he continued his round of offering drinks.
The crowd swelled, overdressed people talking, eating, and drinking to the jazz from the band. I went almost unnoticed, pressed up against the cool stones, until I saw a flash of light red hair and heard Cal greeting, “Red, welcome, my friend.”
Red surveyed the crowd, his gaze seizing on me for a second before roving elsewhere. Brianne walked behind him, her head down, her blonde hair hanging in curtains on either side of her face. She was a wreck, even more so than the last time I’d seen her. My stomach sank, and I leaned against the wall for support. The ages-old chill seeped into my bones, and I dreaded Brianne more than Red. Her judgment was far worse than any vitriol Red could spout at me.
Once their introductions were complete, Red dragged Brianne into the mix of people. He glanced at me again, but didn’t seem inclined to engage for once. I sagged with relief and edged closer to the bar, toward Sin.
He was in a close conversation with Sophia. He smiled for her as she touched his arm and whispered something in his ear. Jealousy crept along the periphery of my thoughts, but I already had too many emotions competing for my attention. I hid the shake in my fingers by downing the champagne, setting the glass down, and stuffing my hands into my pockets.
The ghouls swirled around me, their vapid conversations focused on either themselves or the trial. I bowed my head to avoid their rude stares, though I could still hear their comments about my “chances,” and how much fun the Christmas trial had been.
“Hey, Stella.” Gavin approached, the only friendly face I’d seen.
He was like an oasis in a desert of sand and snakes. The warm smile on his gaunt face made tears sting my eyes. His smile faded as he neared.
“What is it?” He smoothed his hands down my upper arms.
“I’m sorry.” I finally said the words I’d been wanting to say since that horrible day in December.
“For what?” The concern in his eyes made me want to vomit. I didn’t deserve it.
I shook my head, willing the tears away. “For what happened to y-you.”
He pulled me into a hug, his arms strong around my back. “That wasn’t you, Stella.” He kissed my hair and whispered into my ear, “It was them. Not you.”
“I know, but it didn’t happen to me. I didn’t get…”
He hugged me harder. “How? Wait, it doesn’t matter. I’m glad. Don’t feel guilty about that. I’ve got your back, remember?”
“I’ve got yours, too. I’m so sorry—” My chest shook, and my unspent tears welled up inside me and threatened to overflow.
“Shh, it’s over now. I don’t talk about it or think about it. It’s done.” He rubbed my back, and I relaxed into him. Despite his words, I wasn’t absolved. But it took some of the weight away to know he didn’t blame me.
“I’m going to get them. I swear it. For you, Brianne, and me. They won’t get away with it.” My voice was a harsh whisper, and I meant every word.
“Let’s just get through it. All I want is to get through it.”
“We will. All three of us will make it.” I nodded against his shoulder.
Letting go, he stepped away and furtively wiped at his eyes. “Have you seen Brianne?”
“Yeah. She came in, but then I lost her. Do you know anything about the trial?”
“Miss Rousseau?” Judge Montagnet moved through the nearest group of people, leaning on his cane as he walked.
Gavin scrubbed a hand down his face and blanched.
“Go. He just wants to torment me,” I said quietly.
Gavin gave me a curt nod and walked away toward the band.
“Judge.” I crossed my arms over my chest and stared into his faded eyes.
“How are you coming along? Recovered from Christmas?” He grinned, one of his bottom front teeth showing a filthy shade of green.
“Fine.” There was no other answer—except the truth. And if I told him how I really was and what I really thought of him, I’d be putting Teddy in danger. So, “fine” it was.
He reached out and pinched my arm. “You seem thinner. Sin not been feeding you well?”
“He has.” Though civil, I kept my words clipped. The sooner he was gone, the better.
“Good. Wouldn’t want him starving you out. Not until the trials are done anyway. How’s your father?” He was nothing more than a self-satisfied cat playing with its food.
“Fine.”
He cocked his head, perhaps unsatisfied with my short replies. But, it didn’t matter. The sound system clicked on with a feedback hum. It was show time.
“All right, everyone.” Cal’s voice boomed over speakers nestled along the metal tent supports. “We have a wonderful show for you today. I can’t wait to get started. Make your way up the stairs to the seating along the battlement. Don’t worry, we’ve had special awnings installed as well as heaters, couches, beds—anything you’d want to get comfy on this rainy day.”
People began streaming through the door and up the stairs as Cal continued. “I think you’ll be pleased at the entertainment. We also have plenty of servants to accommodate your every desire. Even yours, Judge Montagnet.”
The crowd laughed, and the judge swiped his hand through the air. “You joker,” he called.
“Acquirers and Acquisitions, make your way to me. Announcements are over. Let’s get the party started!”
CHAPTER TEN
STELLA
SIN FOUND ME AND took my hand, pulling me from the wall where I’d taken refuge. He squeezed my cold fingers as we made our way back to Cal.
His touch—the same one that once chilled me to the bone—now gave me a slight warmth. I would be the one suffering today. It would likely be my blood spilled, my body broken. The touch of his hand told me that he would be right there with me. Every stab of pain inflicted on me would be mirrored in his mind. I wished I could save him from it even more than myself.
We walked against the flow of people heading to the battlements until we reached Cal. Sin dropped my hand, and I was alone again. Brianne, Red, Gavin, and Bob were already assembled. Gavin gave me a slight nod, but Brianne kept her head lowered.
“We’re all here. Excellent.” Cal smiled, still in showman mode. “Acquisitions, head into the fort, turn left, and go down the stairs. An attendant is waiting for you. The three of you lucky Acquirers wi
ll stay with me. I have a real treat for you.” He rubbed his hands together, the machinery in his conniving mind clicking and scraping. “Go on.” He jerked his chin toward the door.
Sin gave me one last look, his eyes saying nothing, but I still felt the warmth of his fingers on mine. I followed the crowd through the wooden doors into the fort. They turned right and climbed the curving stairs as Gavin, Brianne, and I turned left and descended. The air was dank, the rain running down the walls and feeding the moss. Naked light bulbs hung in a string along the curving ceiling, and my boots squeaked on the slippery stairs.
Foreboding rose inside me with each step, but I kept going. When we reached the landing, two attendants waited for us. I recognized one of them from the Christmas trial. Mr. Tablet, the one I’d embarrassed in front of Lucius. He didn’t have a tablet for me to destroy this time, though he wore the same sense of smug satisfaction.
Gauging by the smirk on his almost-purple lips, he recognized me, too. “Right this way.”
I reached for Gavin’s hand. He took it as we marched around behind Mr. Tablet, the curving wall obscuring the way ahead of us.
“We’ll get through it,” Gavin whispered.
I glanced to Brianne. “Are you okay?”
She didn’t respond, only darted her eyes up and then back down. She reminded me of a wild animal that had been caught in a trap. One that would gnaw its own leg off just to be free.
“I need to talk to Stella.” Dylan’s voice cut through the damp air. He leaned inside a dark alcove along the interior wall.
Mr. Tablet stopped our march. Gavin gripped my hand tighter.
“I don’t believe we have time. The trial is about to—”
“I didn’t ask.” Dylan rose to his full height and stepped into the light. He was imposing, a brute with a malicious glint in his eye. “Take the rest of them. She’ll be along shortly. Stella, come here.” He gave a little smile after the command, as if the power he wielded was some sort of shiny new toy.
I didn’t know what his game was, but I knew I didn’t want to be alone with him. I edged closer to Gavin.
“I’ll come over there and get you. Is that what you want?” Dylan stepped toward us.
“Back the fuck off.” Gavin moved in front of me.
“This is going to be fun.” Dylan swung his arms over his head, stretching. “Let’s go, big guy.”
“Wait.” I stepped around Gavin. He was strong, but Dylan was a wall of muscle and spite. Gavin wouldn’t stand a chance. “I’ll talk to him. Just go.”
“No.” Gavin gripped my elbow. “You don’t have to.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ll catch up.” I disentangled my arm and walked to Dylan, despite the instinctive desire to run as far from him as I could.
Dylan nodded. “That’s right. She’ll be just fine with me. Go.”
I glanced back to Gavin, his lips pinched and his brows drawn in concern. Then he glared at Dylan. “If you hurt her—”
“You’ll what?” Dylan grabbed me around the waist and pulled me back into the shadowy alcove. “Fuck off.”
Mr. Tablet pulled a black baton—the same one from the Christmas trial—from his belt. “Come on.”
Gavin took another step toward Dylan and me. I shook my head. “I’m fine. Please go.”
“I won’t tell you again.” Mr. Tablet held the baton at the ready.
“If he hurts you, yell. I’ll come. I don’t care about the consequences.” Gavin said the last sentence to Mr. Tablet.
Satisfied he’d won, Mr. Tablet turned and led Brianne and Gavin away.
“Why is it so hard to get to you these days?” Dylan kept one arm around my waist and ran his fingers through my hair. “I couldn’t get you at Christmas, though I was so close. And now I still have to fight just for some alone time with my sis.”
I tried to push away from him, but he was too big. He may have even been more muscled than the last time I’d seen him. “I’m not your sis. Just let me go.”
“Why would I do that? You’re mine.” I couldn’t see his eyes in the dimness, and my skin crawled at what I knew I’d find there.
“I’m not.”
“You are. I was cheated at the last trial. I still intend to have you, all of you.” He gripped my hair and pulled my head back hard enough to hurt.
“Dylan!” I gasped as he bit the side of my neck. When he clamped down hard enough to break the skin, I tried to scream, but he clapped his hand over my mouth.
I struggled, trying to break free. He only bit harder. Tears rose in my eyes at the searing pain. Then he let up and pulled me to him again. My blood coated his lips, and he kissed me, smearing it onto my mouth.
He ran his hands to my ass and squeezed, pulling me forward and rubbing me against his erection. I turned my head and pushed away before he could sink his tongue between my lips.
“There now.” He grinned, my blood between his teeth. “I can’t wait for the Vinemont boys to see my mark on you. The next time Sin and Lucius are in your cunt, they’ll think of me. And then, before long, the Acquisition will be over and you’ll belong to me. My little whore to use and abuse. I’ve already ordered a cage for you. It’s custom made. You’ll sleep in it every night at the foot of my bed.”
“I will never be yours.” I couldn’t comprehend half of what he’d said. “A cage?”
“I own you.” He bent his head to my mouth and pulled my hair again. “Cal gave me a little welcome gift. You. I can’t stop the Acquisition. It’s too late for that. But once the new Sovereign is chosen, you’re mine. You can run. You can try and hide. Don’t doubt that I’ll find you. Not even the new Sovereign can break this deal. It’s done.”
Loathing invaded every cell of my body, and my fight kicked in. I balled my hand into a fist and aimed a hard hit at his ear. He howled and shoved me back. I took off down the curving corridor, sprinting toward whatever trial awaited me. I didn’t care. I had to get away from Dylan, from the twisted ghost of my former friend.
Voices rose ahead of me, and I ran headlong into Gavin’s back. He turned and put his palms on my face, tilting my head as he stared at my neck.
His lips turned up in a snarl. “That motherfucker. Where is he?” He looked over my head, spoiling for Dylan to try and follow me.
“I left him. I d-don’t think he followed.” The tremor in my voice matched the chaos in my mind. I wiped my sleeve across my mouth.
“Hey, asshole, do you have a first-aid kit or something in this hell hole?” Gavin asked Mr. Tablet.
“Oh, I’m afraid not.” Mr. Tablet smiled sweetly and strode to a wide wooden door.
“It’s okay.” Gavin turned back to me. “It’s not that bad.” He yanked his sleeve down to cover his hand and pressed it over the wound on my neck.
It stung, but I tried to calm my breathing, calm my mind. Dylan was just an appetizer for the main course of the trial. I couldn’t fall apart before the real game even began.
The door had a sliver of space I could see through. It led outside, the low light of the cloudy day filtering through. The ground beyond was grassy, and there was some sort of narrow, circular platform in the very middle. I assumed Cal stood atop it, per his usual.
“Ladies and gentleman! Get your popcorn and take your seats because the entertainment is about to begin.” Cal’s voice boomed through the door, the speaker system at full volume. “As you all know, the classic theme to the spring trial is family. I’ve stuck to the theme, but I gave it my own little twist. Are the Acquisitions ready?”
Mr. Tablet swung the door open. “Yes sir!” He called.
“Perfect. Bring them out.”
Brianne whined like a dog kicked by its owner.
I tried to grab her hand and squeeze it. She pulled away as if I’d slapped her.
Gavin pressed into my wound one more time and dropped his arm. “I think the bleeding’s stopped. Damn. I can tell it hurts.”
“I’ll live. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. We�
�ll get through it.” His warm brown eyes still held the same optimism as they had before the Christmas trial. I didn’t understand it, but I was comforted by it all the same.
“Go.” Mr. Tablet motioned for us to walk through the door.
I took Gavin’s hand and stepped into the arena.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SINCLAIR
“RIGHT THIS WAY.” CAL led us up the battlement and around to the side opposite where the spectators lounged.
I scanned the crowd, the ground below, and the central platform for Teddy, but he wasn’t there. Relief couldn’t take hold in my chest, though. Cal was far too gleeful. Whatever he’d cooked up must have been beyond heinous for him to prance along the stone steps as he did.
There was no point asking questions. He would reveal the game when he felt like it, and in a way that had the most impact. As Sovereigns went, I had no doubt he made an excellent one, despite my constant desire to snap his neck.
“Here we are.” He stopped and turned, letting us go ahead of him.
I stepped around him and proceeded forward. I halted in surprise, but then shored up my mask. “Mr. Rousseau. Lovely to see you again.”
Stella’s father sat on a wooden bench, his hands and feet shackled. A chain ran from the binds to a metal ring affixed to the stone beneath him. Two others—a middle-aged woman and a dark-haired girl of no more than twelve—sat beside him. The girl sniffled quietly and the woman stared, a blank look on her face.
“Where is Stella?” Mr. Rousseau’s voice was weak, his skin sallow, and his eyes red and watery. He looked much the worse for wear since the night he had sold me his only child.
“She’ll be out shortly. Don’t you worry.” Cal clapped him on the back, and the old man almost fell forward. I imagined kicking him when he was down, and it warmed me only a little. I was far more concerned with what Cal intended to do with Stella.
Bob walked past the prisoners to a stainless steel cart. Shiny instruments—scalpels, plyers, knives, metal knuckles—were laid out along the top. Rope and other, larger, weapons sat on a bench behind the tray.