Playing God (Game of Gods Book 3)

by Lana Pecherczyk

  Something made a loud sound and everyone looked a certain way.

  Jacine stood at the front of the crowd, speaking. Next to her, someone held up an enormous map of the local area.

  “Alright, doves, it’s time for your final trial. Get through this and you will be freed into the Game after the Libertine Ball.”

  A murmur of appreciation rose around me.

  “Today, your task is to get across the harbor and all the way down to this point.” She pointed at a spot on the map. “This is our very own Race Around The World. You have a time limit, no money and nothing but your wits and skills to get you there. You slip and reveal your abilities, you’re done. Just like that, game over. Oh, and good luck getting public transport—it’s Christmas Day.”

  It was the one day a year where shops shut down and public transport ran on a bare minimum. It was basically a ghost town out there, so if there were accidental slips of secret abilities, the Tribunal would clean up the mess and hide our presence from the world.

  I scoured the crowd for Marc. Surely he’d be here. If my body got in front of him, surely he would know it wasn’t me driving this body. He could sense auras as well as me. He should know. But he was nowhere in sight.

  No battering against my cage today. I conserved my energy hoping I’d have the strength to persuade Leila to work with me. She’d had a few moments where she’d been able to break apart from Petra and write me a note. My hope was she could do something now. I needed to warn my friends… I slumped. What friends? I’d alienated Cash. Marc was missing. I hadn’t spoken to Wren since the day she learnt I attacked her brother. My human friends were back in Margaret River, completely unaware of what was happening to me.

  I was exactly where I was afraid I’d be, all because of my stupid pride. Alone, afraid, forgotten.

  But I couldn’t give up. I wouldn’t. I’d find a way to get out of here. If Petra could do it, so could I. The Book of the Dead had been unblocked. I knew how to split her soul, to weaken her. I just had to bide my time until I could take control of my body back.

  I searched for Cash. Not here. Why would he come when I’d told him it was over? But then my vision cleared, the people around me came into crystal focus. That tiny spark of hope flared to life again. He must be near.

  “Roo, I’d like a word.” His voice, behind me.

  My vision panned to Cash, tense and determined.

  “I told you, I want nothing to do with you.” My voice was cold, flat.

  “You heard her,” Ava said.

  “Since when did you speak for her?” Cash countered.

  “Since our Houses are aligned.”

  “What she wants is irrelevant. I’m her mentor, and I need to speak with her before her last trial. Privately.”

  Petra gave a quiet nod to Ava then turned my body to Cash. He placed a palm on my back and guided me to a spot a few feet away. At his touch, everything inside me surged, stronger, more alive, but Petra’s words coming out of my body cut like a knife: “Don’t touch me again.”

  Before Cash’s hand dropped from my back, I caught the sharp flare of his nostrils and the twitch in his eye. He smelled something. His gaze bored through me, assessing. “Roo. Why are you doing this?”

  “Because I can.”

  “This isn’t you.”

  “You haven’t been around long enough to know.”

  Cash! I yelled from my prison. It’s me! I’m in here.

  But he didn’t hear. He stood, arms folded, watching intently.

  Leila, help me. I need to get a message to Cash.

  My body flinched.

  I pushed with all my energy. I tried to pilot my body myself, to make my lips move, to do anything to show him I was here, but Petra was too strong. All I achieved was a hiccup.

  “I’m not backing down,” Cash said.

  A frustrated growl came out of my body. She controlled my voice, my breathing, my face. I wanted that growl to come from me, but it was from her.

  “What’s it going to take, then?” Petra continued. “You only understand pain, is that it? You need to see for your own eyes that I don’t care anymore?”

  Petra stepped my body sharply to the right and grabbed the nearest person. She yanked him to my mouth and kissed him in front of Cash.

  Stop!

  I lashed out and my body trembled, confused. Then Petra pulled on the man’s energy, siphoning for strength against the clarity Cash brought me. My soulmate. I felt a foreign spark of life infuse Petra with strength and vibrate through our bones. She kept sucking, draining, but without blood, it was just a pick me up. And pick me up, it did. It connected with me. Woke me up.

  The more energy she siphoned, the more I dragged into myself, away from her. She let go and shoved the dazed man away from us. He stumbled back, lifting his surprised gaze to catch with Cash over my shoulder.

  When we turned, I expected to see heartbreak on Cash’s face, but he smiled darkly, and it turned my blood to ice. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

  “Why, because you’re jealous, because you want me all for yourself? I told you, I’m done with us. When is that going to get through your thick head?”

  “Never, because you fucked up, Petra.”

  I could’ve wept for joy at his words, jumping up and down in my metaphysical cage, but Petra stood back, shocked—caught out. Cash moved forward, his large, lean body imposing, looming. “You think I can’t tell the difference between your scent and hers, or the way you talk and even walk? I’ve known from the moment you woke up at the librarian’s.”

  I saw my hands lift in front of my body, palms out, ready for attack.

  “Careful, now, Petra. We’re not in the Ludus anymore. You attack me and I’m free to attack you back. And your powers don’t work on me.”

  “You won’t hurt this body. Not while I have your precious cargo inside.”

  “She’s survived cyanide poisoning, a bomb, being thrown into a pit and much more. I think she can take what I have to give.”

  “If I die, her soul is the only one inside me to sacrifice.”

  Cash paused, eyes assessing.

  A hand slapped me on the shoulder. Bruce.

  “What’s going on, here?”

  “Your game is up, Bruce,” Cash warned. “Hand her over before things get messy.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about. In case you haven’t noticed, the trial is about to begin. So, if you’ve finished doing what second rate mentors do, I’d like to speak with my daughter. Alone.” His fingers grasped my upper arm and tightened painfully. “Come with me.”

  “I don’t think so.” Cash’s hand grasped my other shoulder and pulled.

  My body got caught in a silent game of tug-of-war.

  “Is there a problem here, doves?” Jacine walked up, hands behind her hips. “You’re making a scene. Whatever it is, wait until after the trial. Hunter, I’d like to speak with you.”

  Cash’s steely gaze locked on us, but he let go. “After the trial.”

  Bruce pulled my body across the garden to an isolated spot under a tree. He used his enormous bulk to block us from the rest of the gathering.

  “What the hell was that?” he growled.

  “He knows. He’s known from the start.”

  Bruce’s lips flattened into a hard line. “Then we don’t have much time. Advance the plan to the next stage of testing. You know what to do. Call me when it’s done.” He glanced to his side. A few feet away, Lincoln spoke with one of the Epsilon boys. Bruce lowered his voice for our ears only. “If he causes trouble, get rid of him, and anyone else on the list.”

  Shock radiated through me. The list. This was it… well, the start of it.

  I felt my head nod and my face pull taut with a smile, but inside I seethed.

  I would find a way to stop him. I had to. We were running out of time.

  The trial began, and we walked in a group away from the gardens, back to the Sydney Harbor Bridge. Most contenders rushed off
to find their way across town. A few flagged down stray cars, others used mind control… but there weren’t many cars around. The streets were empty this early in the morning, and the people I was with—Epsilon House and Lincoln—took their time.

  Did they all intend to fail?

  Ten minutes later and we’d crossed the bridge to the other side of the harbor. Instead of continuing toward the national park, we veered left, to the foot of the bridge where a large screaming mouth of a clown-like-face marked the entrance to Luna Park. When we approached the wide mouth entrance, my arm flew out, power burst from my hands and the gate broke under the pressure of telekinesis, clearing the way forward.

  “Why are we going here,” Lincoln asked. “We’re running out of time. The way to the finish line is that way.”

  Ava’s poker face angled his way. “Then go.”

  Lincoln hesitated and looked at me for guidance. “Roo. Come on. Let’s leave these idiots.”

  But my body didn’t move, didn’t make a sound.

  Lincoln’s focus narrowed on my eyes. “It’s not Roo, is it?”

  “Clever boy.” The words fell out of my mouth.

  Tension filled the air between us, and then Lincoln shook his head. “Fine. Do what you want. I’m leaving.”

  “I’m afraid that’s not possible, little brother. You know my secret.” My body advanced on him. “You cannot be allowed to leave.”

  “But, you’ll all fail the trial. You’re not all in the breeding program. You’ll have your game ended.”

  Petra laughed. “Don’t you get it? Soon, there will be no Game to worry about.”

  Epsilon House snickered. Each had found a spot of the bent metal fence to lean against, arms folded, waiting for the show to begin.

  Run! I screamed. Run, Lincoln.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  LINCOLN TRIED TO run away, but Petra used my power to stop him. She enveloped his body with air and squeezed. He choked, gasping, body trapped.

  “As much as I’d like to stay and play with you, time is of the essence. Boys, collect our friend. Ava, move ahead and secure a room.”

  “I don’t take orders from you.” Ava folded her arms.

  “If you want to live, you will.”

  There must have been something in my eyes that affected Ava because she hesitated and eventually conceded. She jogged into the deserted amusement park decked out in primary colors, swirling red, blue and yellow. Stripes and swirls decorated everything.

  “Where do you want him?” Rus said.

  He and Val held Lincoln between them, like a stiff store mannequin.

  My hand gestured toward the park where the open clown’s mouth marked the entry. We walked through the clown’s teeth and stopped to gain our bearings while waiting for Ava to return. The sun shone in our eyes, blinding us in the heat. To the left, a Ferris Wheel swayed and creaked in the wind. To the right, a carousel looked lonely with no children to ride it. Up ahead sat sideshow alley, frozen rides, and more empty attractions. The soundless, hot atmosphere was odd. A ghost town.

  But private.

  Perfect place for them to do whatever they planned to do.

  “In here,” called Ava and took us to The Lighthouse Café. She’d busted the doors open and walked us to the vacant epicenter of the room. There were tables void of people, counters missing hotdogs and mustard, and air stuffy and thick.

  “Put him over there.” Petra pointed to a corner of the room. “I might need him for energy.”

  Poor Lincoln. Just like me, a prisoner. Unable to move his body, forced to watch from afar. Wait, what did she say? She might need him for energy?

  Over my dead body.

  The realization washed over me like a wave.

  Maybe that’s what I needed—to die. To end up back in my body wherever that was. And Petra… she’d be easier to kill. Cash wouldn’t hold back if he knew I was out of here. A stone of resolve dropped in me. If that’s what it took, then that’s what I’d do. But the question was, could I do it without getting out of my metaphysical cage?

  “Okay, what now?” Val asked.

  “Now, we need cables and electricity. Split up, and look for wires, cords, anything we can attach to a point and conduct power through. Try the cash registers, computers, extension cords.”

  “That’s a waste of time,” Ava argued. “We don’t need to tie him up, just cut him down.” She strode over to the kitchen counter and rifled around until she discovered a sharp range of kitchen knives. After selecting her favorite, she deftly rotated it in her hand.

  “Do as you’re told.”

  “My idea is better.”

  “Ava. We don’t have time for this.” Power shot from my hands and knocked the knife from Ava’s grasp. It clattered to the counter.

  Ava growled at me.

  “Ava, the trial will be over soon, and people will notice we’re missing. We’ve only got one shot, and the Gamekeeper’s no ignorant Player.”

  “I can take him.” Ava retrieved the knife and flipped. It sliced through the air, spinning, until it landed hilt first back in her palm.

  “Cables and electricity are what we need. Do as you’re told.”

  Ava glared at us, but the boys sprang into action. Reluctantly, Ava followed.

  Electricity and cables. The notion tripped something in my memory.

  When Cash trained me in how to hunt a witch, he’d pulled a feral witch out from the back of his car with a metal collar around her neck. The collar was attached to a car battery. The small electric current prevented her soul from leaving the host, thus trapping her inside, making her easier to kill. Petra would use the same technique on Marc.

  “I found something,” Val said, walking up with a lasso of cables in his hands.

  “That will do. Set it up and stand to the side of the door.”

  “And what am I supposed to do?”

  My head swiveled toward Ava. “You think you’re good enough to fight a god? Then be the backup.”

  An evil grin broke out on her face, turning the otherwise pretty features into something twisted and ugly. “And my ability? Can I use it?”

  Her ability? I’d never seen it. Not at the trials, never. Whatever it was, she was busting to let it out.

  “Only if we can’t secure him via the current. The General said you haven’t revealed your ability to the world yet. If you do it, your edge will be gone.”

  “Spoil sport.” Ava pouted. She kicked a stray collection of cables to the side and moved to stand near the service counter, one blade tucked into the belt of her leather jeans, another in her hand.

  “Are you ready?”

  Ava nodded. Rus nodded and held up his cable, frayed copper exposed at the end. His brother did the same from the opposite side of the doorframe. Lincoln, poor Lincoln, did nothing from the far corner of the room.

  Petra moved my body to stand in front of the open door, so we looked out into the laneway beyond.

  “Egnatius,” she said. “Egnatius, I need you.”

  Ava snorted from behind us. “That’s his true name?”

  “Shh.” Val gave her daggers.

  “Just saying, no wonder he went by Marc.”

  “For fuck’s sake, Ava, shut-up.” Rus flexed the cable in his hand, hopping from side to side, agitated.

  We waited in silence for a beat, watching the bright landscape outside from the shadows within.

  Marc didn’t show.

  But someone else did.

  A black shadow blocked out the light in the doorway, casting the room into stormy darkness. The silhouette’s head cocked to the side. Our eyes took a moment to adjust from the change in brightness. The image in front of me came into clear focus.

  Cash stood in the doorway to the café, checking the screen of a digital smart-tablet, as though he followed a tracking program. Perhaps it was the nanobots injected at registration—they’d be in all of us.

  No! I screamed from my confines.

  Whether he heard me, I di
dn’t know, but the moment his foot crossed the threshold, he dropped to one knee. He swung his tablet to the right, smashing it into Val’s gut. A follow-up left hook to the face sent Val soaring.

  Cash spun to pop Rus twice in the nose and once in the throat. Rus crumpled to the ground.

  Cash glared at me and stepped closer, never taking his eyes from mine.

  No, I cried again. What about Ava?

  Two-seconds later, the air behind Cash warped and Ava stepped out of nothing.

  She teleported?

  Ava’s fists torpedoed Cash in the lower back. When he swung to face her, she disappeared again, swallowed by air. Cash charged the empty spot and grasped nothing. He jerked to the side, grunted, as if hit by a force.

  Ava hadn’t teleported; she became invisible.

  He roared in frustration as his body propelled against the counter.

  This was not good. If he couldn’t see, how could he fight?

  A red ribbon sliced Cash’s shoulder with a cut. He winced and made to fight back, but reined in at the last moment. He glanced at me and then closed his eyes.

  Look out! I pounded against my prison. What was he doing?

  His chest rose and fell as he calmed and centered himself. His head cocked to the right, listening with his super senses, and then whipped to the left, following something unseen. He lashed out and caught something, but then lost it. Ava’s body blurred in and out of focus, a chameleon. He almost had her.

  “Come out, come out, wherever you are,” Cash crooned. He kept his eyes closed and stalked around the room, his body moving with grace and coiled power.

  A glint near the kitchen.

  Cash ducked to miss the knife sail over his head and embed in the wall behind him. A slither of hair floated to the floor. My heart leapt into my throat, but his concentration didn’t waver.

  Petra leaned my body against a metal table. She was in no rush to assist Ava, and that worried me.

  Cash paused and waited, lethal and ready to pounce.

  Seconds later, he grabbed the air in to the side of him. Ava came into full view with his hand around her neck, squeezing, gasping, red in the face.