by Kenna Bardot
Well, that wasn't cryptic at all.
I saw the note at the bottom and read it aloud, irritation mounting as I realized what it meant. ‘Note: As you were first in the last Challenge you did, a little tip to ensure you make the right choice. It might behoove you to know that not everything as it seems. There is a chance you will not survive your time here if you are not very careful. Good luck!’
I put the parchment down and inspected the goblet.
I bent down to peer at it, being very careful not to touch it. There were tiny jewels on the stand and a thick rounded rim.
The thick blue liquid gave off a scent - sweet, almost cloying. It niggled at the back of my mind, but I filed it away for when I paid closer attention to the contents.
I moved on to the copper bowl. It was shallow but wide, the inside of it inlaid with opalescent jewels that glowed eerily in the blue light. I hummed and reached out to carefully touch the rim.
Somehow, inexplicably, it was cold to the touch in the warm room but apart from that; it was quite ordinary or at least from what I could discern.
I turned my attention towards the goblet, because I had a feeling that was what mattered. I pick it up by the stem, avoiding the jewels and, instead, holding carefully around the smooth part.
I sniffed again - allowing that cloyingly sweet scent to flood my senses, and tried to remember as I muttered, "What are you?"
Then it hit me. Lessons I'd had with Serenity as we'd foraged in the forest during what had been warmer months. The Camela Vine.
It’s leaves, mixed with the essences we made for washes and shampoos comprised our best sellers. The smell they gave off was fresh, only slightly sweet and had the tendency to last the entire day.
But the flowers they produced, especially in full bloom, had the same smell. And the sweeter the smell, the more potent its capability to kill.
In fact, one didn't even need to ingest a big amount of it to feel its ill effects.
I quickly put down the goblet and eyed it distastefully. Of course, it wasn't a blessing. The note had been right - not all was as it appeared.
I picked the goblet back up and poured the thick liquid into the copper bowl. It shimmered for just an instant - blue and bright, before I heard the snick of the locks behind me.
I turned around and was met with just a bright white light. Figuring anything was likely better than staying in the creepy room, I walked towards it eagerly.
✽✽✽
I raised my arms up to block my eyes from the stinging brightness, waiting for my eyes to adjust after the dimness of the light behind me.
"Ah, Miss Bolstad. How pleasant it is to see that you've made a good choice." The voice was familiar.
The Majele God.
I stiffened and cursed myself for not realizing that as a judge he’d be there. I was not very comfortable knowing we were in the same room together.
As I could not yet distinguish much of anything, I didn’t even know if we were alone in the room or if there were others in it. I sincerely hoped so.
I quickly blinked, letting the tears gather in my eyes. I opened them carefully and saw, with a relieved breath, that all the other judges were present.
He sat at the very end of a long table with a group of the four other Gods. They were silent as they just sat there examining me; I let them. After all, I was examining them right back.
"Ms Bolstad," the female God at the other end of the table spoke up - a green-eyed Leven whose hair flowed in generous curls down her back. In fact, they reminded me of the Camela vine. Likely, because the plant was in the forefront of my mind from what had happened.
"That's me." I didn't know if I should answer but figured it couldn't hurt.
If they wanted to hurt me, there was nothing I could do to stop them.
"I am Sunniva Leven." She gave me a beatific smile even as she gestured to the Tempestas beside her.
Where the green-haired Goddess was all that was femininity and vitality, this one had short messy hair in a deep purple that looked like they were never combed. She’d been the one who had caused a storm on the lake in the previous challenge. "Nuala Tempestas."
"Ione Springen," the yellow-haired Springen who had transported us back during the second challenge. The Goddess who had been instrumental in me almost going back to my family.
"Uttam Kald." He was a big brute of a fellow. It had been him that had nearly frozen the lake. The one who had caused the death of nearly half of the contestants.
Finally, the Majele spoke. "Lathyn." He smiled at me, a smug grin that immediately put my back up. "I figure it best to know the name of the one who will see you as his wife."
"Lathyn," Sunniva Leven chided him gently. "Now is not the time for personal affairs but a time to get to know Mireyah Bolstad as one who might be a Sylfe. Even potentially a God amongst us."
She turned to me, and I was met by such a gentle power that emanated from her. I knew, theoretically, that the Leven dealt in Life, but she seemed so much more than just that.
"The first Challenge was mine. Do you remember it?" Her voice was gentle, like a warm breeze in the spring air.
I nodded as I remembered how I had traversed over the Anguid and hid my scent with the Titanum plant. "I do, yes."
"You had the opportunity to do so, but you did not kill the Roc, which was simply tethered there. Why didn't you?"
The answer was easy for me because I had never, for a moment, considered killing it. "It was trapped there. Does it deserve death for being there because someone else decided it should be stuck there?"
"Indeed." She nodded and gestured vaguely to her left.
The Springen, Ione, spoke up this time, "I'm sure you have surmised that the second Challenge was mine. What I have to say is this: You were tempted to go back to your home and leave the duty you have found yourself tied to here in Godsvail. However, you came back. Can you tell us why?"
I let out an unsteady breath. Had I thought I had kept that hidden?
The Gods saw everything. They knew everything.
"I met an Cattican Hind, and she was glorious." By the look of surprise in the other Gods' faces, this was not common knowledge. "I did not wish to harm it and it came up to me. Hundreds of years of my kind hunting down her kind. But she did not fear me. She trusted in me in a way I would never have trusted me had I been in her stead. And that reminded me of my new life in this place. Those I have met anew and had to learn to trust."
"Interesting." She inclined her head and shot a look at the Kald to her left.
"Uttam, that's my name. Do you know how cold that lake was when you jumped into it?" His bronze hair glinted in the bright lights.
"As cold as it gets in my village in the deepest of winters. In Wintercairn, we do not know of seasons. Spring is simply not as cold, and winter is so bitter only an idiot would actually go out into it at those times."
"I heard you did not remove your clothes to get into Godsvail, but you easily removed them prior to swimming."
"That's correct. I didn’t want to be a part of Godsvail, but I also did not want to sink to the bottom of the semi-frozen lake.”
"Would you walk into a storm to save someone you love?" This from the Tempestas who had introduced herself as Nuala.
"Yes." And it was true. Without condition nor any qualification.
If I loved, I would do everything to protect and cherish it.
"Just yes?" She tilted her head at me questioningly.
"That's correct. Love doesn't need to be qualified or quantified. It just is."
The Majele, Lathyn clapped and Nuala shot him an annoyed look. "Lathyn, your obsession is getting annoying. Did the Svadenis get you?"
"Not at all, dear Nuala. But Mireyah has been very impressive thus far." He addressed me with a playful smile, "Tell me, what made you reject the liquid in the goblet?”
"I used the training I had, Sir." I sniffed even as I appreciated the light of fascination in his eyes. "It was really rather simple
. I trusted my instinct and intellect before I did the words written on a piece of parchment. I took a whiff of the blue liquid in the goblet and determined that it was poisonous. So that was the choice I made."
"And what if there was a blessing in the drink and you just threw it away?" His tone was challenging - a taunt and a dare.
"Then so be it."
"We can give you a blessing, Miss Bolstad. Should you wish it, you may have one. As you won the last challenge, it is yours." He held out his hands and the Gods - or most particularly the other male God, nodded.
"Is it much like the blessing I got from the Descendants?" I remembered that moment - it seemed so long ago. But it still burned in my mind, the memory of how far we’ve come.
His grin glinted, predatory I would call it, when he answered me, "Indeed. It is the best way to give a blessing."
Unconsciously, I took a step back. "No, thank you. I did not ask for their blessing and still received it. I would rather not get anymore."
The Springen spoke up, "Think carefully before you reject the offer. A blessing from a single God is better than even the blessings from five Descendants."
I nodded, feeling my jaw tense. "Yes, I'm quite certain."
She shrugged. "Suit yourself, Miss Bolstad. Thank you for answering our questions. She gestured to the far left, and I saw the dark green door. "You may proceed through that door."
"Thank you, ma'am." I curtsied before hurrying away from them and their intoxicating presence.
I stepped from the door and back to the room where I'd first been in.
Annalee, Ryder, and Dennis sat on a bench that was flushed against the wall. Jason sat in a comfortable armchair to the right and the Sutre was nowhere to be found. "Ah, Miss Bolstad. Well done. None the worse for wear, I see. Mr. Moureau, your turn."
Ryder stood and shot me a menacing look.
The door shut behind him with an ominous thud.
I walked over and fell onto the part of the bench he'd vacated, trying to sit as far as I could from the others.
What had just happened?
✽✽✽
Ryder came out and from what I gathered from the things Jason had said, he'd taken more than twice as long as I had.
Given I'd had no sense of time while I had been inside, I could only believe it.
After all, he'd taken so fucking long I was half asleep on the bench when the dark green door had opened.
Annalee had stumbled out, hand to her stomach, a green tinge to her skin and obviously in desperate need to puke. I could only guess that she’d tried a sip of the blue liquid. Nothing else could have gotten that reaction.
Finally, it left Dennis. He hadn’t taken as long as the others. In fact, in what seemed like less than an hour, he'd staggered out the door - paler than he had been when he'd entered the other one.
The moment he stepped over; he fell to the floor.
The others rushed towards him, and I had to keep myself from telling them it was futile - he was gone.
That meant there were only the three of us left. In the end, there would just be one.
I was determined it would be me.
✽✽✽
In the face of the bitter taste the interview left me with, my hatred for the Gods only worsened. A blessing. I scoffed at the thought. As if I would accept a blessing from the God I'd refused to take my clothes off for.
But if there was any merit to the blessings, I'd put myself at a disadvantage. I had no doubt that Ryder had accepted blessings with relish if he had been offered them. He likely would have dropped to his knees without even requiring the added benefit of an advantage in the next Challenge.
Because it was an honor to service the Gods. Obviously.
That was our entire purpose as Sylfes. The whole thing we strove toward, aside from survival anyway. And the best thing to do would be to show them how willing we would be to do our duty.
I'd mostly decided I wouldn't tell my Descendants about the offer of the blessing. Shep alone was territorial, possessive. He wouldn't be pleased with the thought of the Gods propositioning me, and it didn't matter as I'd turned them down.
Even still, knowing that I was keeping a secret from them all made me irritable.
Moody.
Downright broody.
I hated every second, wanted to stab my own emotions out, because it was something that might have once been insignificant - something that I would have laughed in the face of.
Regardless, I knew I had duties to tend to, even if they'd done what they could to minimize them. They would be in class, and it made me grateful that I could work in Hollis' room without being nagged with questions for a little while and wrap my head around what exactly to tell them.
I took my time getting there, enjoying the silence of the halls while everyone was settled in their classes or duties for the day. If I'd known what I would find waiting for me in the guys' common room, I probably would have stalled even more.
Char sat there, white eyes darting up to glance over me as soon as I entered the room. I almost stepped back out - I had expected that they’d all be in class. His chin rested in his hand, his knee bouncing with something like anxiety.
"Are you alright?" he whispered, standing awkwardly.
Charolais didn't do awkward. He was never anything but confident in himself, proud of who he was even in his worst moments. I narrowed my eyes on him in suspicion. "What are you doing here? Don’t you have class?"
“I do. I don’t really need to attend.” He gave a small wave of his hand and surged forward. He repeated, “Are you okay?”
I sighed before turning around and opening the cupboard. I took out the cleaning spray that I had stored there. When I turned back around, he was closer, peering at me so intently it was more surprising to me that he could not read my thoughts. “Yes, I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
"Annalee came up here ranting about Ryder getting a blessing from the Gods themselves as his reward for coming in second during the last Challenge. Did they hurt you?" he asked, and his hands clenched into fists at his side. I fought back the urge to scoff, all indignant on my behalf, as if he hadn't done the same thing he accused them of.
"No." I scoffed. "They could have, I'm sure. Who would stop them? But for whatever reason, the Gods have never seen fit to force me into doing things I don't consent to. I resisted on Collection Day, and I refused today."
He nodded at me thoughtfully. "The Majele will be a problem when you go to Sylfeshire. "
"It's my understanding that Sylfes aren't raped. I have to consent to sex, because as a Sylfe I'll have rights that I don't as a human." I shrugged. "He won't be a problem unless I allow him to be."
Char sighed, hanging his head to his chest. "I'm sorry. For what we did."
I felt my body tighten, unable to believe the words that had left his mouth. Of all the elements that made up Char, I never would have labelled him as being even remotely capable of apologizing. I felt my chest tighten at the sight of legitimate regret etched all over his face.
"You hurt me." My accusation came as a whisper, barely even audible in the silent room. His full lips twisted into a grimace as he nodded.
His response came in an echoing whisper, "I know."
"You'll just keep doing it." I choked on the words, gritting my teeth to stem the flow of tears I knew would flow. I stepped back a few steps, and he simply followed, his long legs prowling toward me as he closed the distance between us. I stumbled, nearly falling over the coffee table in my effort to keep distance between us. Something in his face screamed danger, warned of coming pain. For a Vide Descendant to have that expression was a very dangerous thing for anyone in his path.
He caught my upper arm, hauling me into his chest and sending a flash of pain through me with that white-hot power only the Vides possessed.
"I will." He grimaced. "I want to be better for you. We all do, but I'll fuck up. You need to deal with that."
I snarled at him, unable to believe he
would dare tell me I had to get used to being hurt while he used his power to hurt me. "No." Wrenching at my arm, I tried to get free, gasping with the little pulse of pain it earned me. "You fucked Annalee. You told me I was just a plaything, and then you fucked me. You made me feel like nothing!"
"Nothing happened with Annalee. Nothing has happened with her in a long time. Not since this spitfire of a Northerner came barging into our lives and made us disregard everything, we thought we knew about humans." He sighed, leaning forward to run his nose up the side of mine affectionately. "I didn't want to give up my power. I'm always in charge. Always. But if I told you how much power you held over me; I wouldn't be anymore. Making you think I could mess around with Annalee seemed like the most efficient way to take some of that power back from you." I knew my gray eyes were wide as I stared into his white ones that were so close to mine.
"I don't believe you," I argued with a shake of my head. It was too convenient, too easy. Too unbelievable.
"No more Annalee. No more other girls. No one but you from now on, Mireyah. What will it take for you to believe me?" The arrogance returned to his face when he watched me smirk in indignation.
I narrowed my eyes at him. "You could cut off your dick. That might work."
"My jealous little Northerner." He grinned, tucking a stray strand of white blond hair behind my ear. "What good would I be to you if I cut off my cock?"
"I think I'll manage with the four others I have." It was a mean thing to say, my attempt at making him feel like he was irrelevant.
Replaceable.
Just like he'd made me feel.
Instead of giving me that, he tossed his head back on a roar of laughter. The bastard always could see right through me. "Ah, sweetheart. Were I anyone else that might have hurt, but I enjoy watching you with them. I enjoy knowing that you belong to all of us."
I scoffed, moving to step out from the way he'd trapped me. He winced in pain, and I watched as his fingers dug into his own flesh in the same way they did to me when he used his Gods-given gift. "What are you doing?"
"I'd rather hurt myself than hurt you again. I want you to know that's true." Ripping his hand away from his forearm, I shook my head at him.