I nodded to her and Arabella called, “Choose your weapon.”
I turned to the leather mat, eyeing the remaining weapons there. I stepped closer to it, my thoughts wild. Blades...all blades. My eyes settled on a silver hatchet. I'd played throwing games with Ignus when he and I had been teenagers. It was my best bet, so I snatched it up, gripping it in my slick palm.
“Iris, approach Mercy,” Arabella commanded.
The girl moved toward me, her strides confident, making me worry if I'd made the right choice.
I tried to steady my heartbeat, but it was impossible. In moments, I could be dead. And the thought was nearly paralysing.
I tried to remember anything I'd learnt growing up about fighting. It wasn't much, but I'd seen a lot of fights in my time watching the V Games. The image of Selena Grey flared into my mind. I was like her now. A girl forced to fight for her life. She'd won. So maybe I could do the same...
Iris moved with skill, side-stepping as she sized me up, a smirk on her face. The symbol of Nox Clan was tattooed by her eye.
I glanced up at Arabella, my hand sweating around the handle of the hatchet.
Keep it together. Breathe. You're a Helsing. And Helsings are made for killing Vampires.
The hint of a smile danced around Arabella's lips then she cried, “Fight!”
Iris lunged at me, raking her nails across my throat. I gasped, stumbling back, bringing up my hatchet in defence. I kept my distance, brushing my fingers over the wound on my neck.
Iris laughed, arrogantly gazing up at the crowd as some of the spectators joined in. Her Clan leader, Hawke, was watching me with curiosity in his eyes.
I ground my teeth, diving at my opponent, swinging the hatchet hard toward her head. She moved in a flash, but my blade scraped down her arm and she shrieked in pain.
She backed up, glowering at me as the wound on her arm knitted over, her cocky expression falling.
The crowd started cheering Iris on.
She ran at me again, swishing her small blade left and right until I could barely see it. Iris released a wild, animalistic cry as she sprang into the air, lifting her blade high. I rammed my weight forward, catching her by the waist and somehow knocking her to the ground. She snarled as I brought the hatchet up, slamming it down toward her head. She rolled fast and it clanged against the ground. Fate wasn't on my side. I might have had Immortal strength, but that didn't matter against trained fighters.
As I jumped to my feet, Iris snatched my wrist, trying to prise the hatchet from my fingers. I yanked it backwards and she threw out a leg, knocking me to the ground. I slammed onto my butt and laughter roared through the air.
Heat fled to my cheeks, followed by a wave of terror as Iris rose to her feet before me. I still had the hatchet in my hand, but what good was it if I couldn't get it near her? She approached at a slow, taunting pace, pumping one fist in the air as she claimed her victory.
Not yet, bitch.
I lifted my arm back, raising the hatchet, using the one skill I did have. Aim.
I threw it forward with a scream of effort and the hatchet wheeled through the air, hilt over blade. It slammed into Iris's forehead, right between her eyes. Her laughter cut off abruptly and she crashed to the floor before me, blood pooling out around her. I dipped my fingers into it, licking it to heal the wound on my neck then rose to my feet, turning to face the crowd. They'd fallen quiet. Most of them were in shock.
I caught Colt's eye amongst Arabella's Clan, looking like he wanted to run to my side. I gave him the ghost of a smile and he returned it. My breathing was ragged, but it was a solid reminder that I was damn-well alive. That I'd actually won.
With a jolt of realisation, I remembered the leaders now had to offer me a place in one of their Clans, or I was screwed anyway. Sent into exile. Which didn't sound remotely appealing.
“Leaders, you may step forward to offer Mercy a place in your Clan,” Arrabella spoke. She was eyeing me with a dark, assessing look.
Immediate movement on my left surprised me. I glanced over, spotting Bain on his feet, eyeing me through his half-bone mask. He had a hungry look in his gaze that sent a wave of fear rolling through me. His mouth pulled down at the corners. “Mercy Helsing, I offer you a place in Tenebris Clan.”
Oh no. Not him. Anyone but him.
I gazed hopefully at Arabella, figuring I'd rather be under the rule of a woman in this place.
At least she won't rape me!
Arabella remained still, her chin lifting higher. The Viden, Solomon, made no move either, casually stroking the owl on his arm.
Bile burned the back of my throat as I realised Tenebris Clan was going to be my only option.
I stepped toward the group and a voice rang out, surprising me, “Mercy Helsing, I offer you a place in Nox Clan.”
I gazed up at Hawke, standing tall, glaring down at Bain, not me. Bain grimaced, glowering back at him, their rivalry obvious.
“Which do you choose?” Arabella prompted me.
I gazed up at Hawke, trying to assess whether he was the safer option. Bain's aura gave me chills, so I decided on the latter, hoping Hawke's slightly kinder eyes weren't some mirage I was buying into.
“Nox Clan,” I announced, turning sharply toward them, relief ebbing through me.
Hawke stepped down from his throne, weaving through the crowd and some of the people brushed their fingers over him as if they were touching a God.
My throat grew dry as he approached, glaring down his angular, Roman nose at me. He was over a foot taller and twice as wide as me. He brushed past me, moving to the fire, a poker in his grip.
I released a shallow breath, having forgotten about the branding. But at least I was alive.
Hawke thrust the poker into the fire until it blazed red with heat. He turned to me, his mouth pressed into a harsh line, not asking me where I wanted the brand as Arabella had done Colt. Instead, he turned me, pressing a calloused hand to my shoulder as he held me in place. The brand stamped against my back on the fleshy part next to my shoulder blade. Fire coursed through my skin, the smell of singed flesh carrying to my nose. I bit down on my tongue against the pain, forcing myself not to scream. The Immortals in this place already had a target on my head and I didn't want to give them more ammo.
Hawke removed the brand and I gasped in relief. He jabbed me in the side and I hurried into Nox Clan.
The crowd parted as I stepped amongst them, as if they were disgusted at the idea of touching me. I looked to the women in the group. None seemed hurt or beaten like they had in Bain's Clan. In fact, most of them looked as fierce as the men, dressed in short furs over their shoulders with clasps pinning them together. The half-skull symbol of the clan blazed on the shiny broaches.
Hawke brushed past me, stepping back up to his throne, standing before it, his dark eyes wheeling to Arabella.
She spoke to the room, but the words were for Colt and I. “New Clan members will enter their leader's harem without complaint.”
Harem? My mind screamed. Perhaps I wasn't safe from Hawke after all.
Arabelle continued, “After one week, you shall face another trial. If you are successful, you may earn the right to ascend ranking in your Clan. You must abide by your leaders' laws and by the laws of Dødstårn. Clans do not integrate beyond the evening feasts and the trials. You are required to remain in your wing of Dødstårn unless stated otherwise. Failure to abide by any law laid out by your Clan leader will result in immediate exile.” She bowed her head and the raven cawed loudly on her shoulder. She spoke again in a reverent tone. “I pledge to lead my Clan with honour.”
The other leaders repeated the words in unison.
Everyone around me started moving. The clans divided, heading through different passages around the room. I was swept along amongst the Nox Clan. Everyone avoided my eye, all but one girl who gave me a sweeping glance. She looked like an African warrior with her dark skin, long black dreadlocks and plated armour over her shoulders. Her neck was ringed wit
h a golden band and her thick army boots were laced right up to her knees. I moved toward her and she seemed tempted to shift away before I caught her arm.
“Hi,” I breathed.
She frowned, glancing at the surrounding group who were giving her shakes of their heads.
“Hi,” she said at last and relief swept through me.
“What's your name?” I asked.
“Tykera,” she whispered, eyes forward.
Hawke shouldered past me, not sparing me a glance as he moved to the head of group, guiding us forward. Five woman hurried to move into formation around him, each with a sash of red ribbon around their necks.
“Who are they?” I asked.
Tykera threw me a glance. “Hawke's harem.”
My gut spiralled. I was going to be one of them?
“Do I have to wear one of those stupid ribbons?” I hissed and Hawke glanced over his shoulder at me with a scowl.
My heart doubled its pace, but I held his gaze until he turned away, not wanting to show fear.
Tykera chuckled a laugh and I moved closer to her. “Yes, she breathed. All the women must enter his harem initially.”
“Did you?” I breathed and Tykera nodded.
“What about the men?” I tried to get a look at Colt as he headed away with Arabella's Clan. She had her own ring of men around her, eight into total, all marked by green sashes around their throats.
I found the back of Colt's head, but he didn't look back and my stomach twisted at parting with him.
“Do we have to...” I wrinkled my nose, lowering my tone further in case Hawke was still listening. “Have sex with him?” I forced out.
Tykera gave me a curious glance. “It depends. Hawke is picky.”
My nose wrinkled further. “I hope he's not into blondes.”
I was certain Hawke's back tensed.
Shit. I was going to get myself into trouble before I'd even been here a day.
Tykera smothered another laugh. “You'll be fine. Hunters don't get treated well here. Hawke will probably not want you. Actually, you're only the second Hunter I've ever seen here. Not including the other man you came with.”
“What happened to them?” I asked.
Tykera's brow lowered. “They died in the second trial. Before that...Bain claimed him. Had his clan torture him daily.”
My throat constricted. “Thank God Hawke chose me.”
Tykera raised her brows, then inclined her head. “Yes, I think you're right about that. But I've never seen Hawke around a Hunter. He's a V, Mercy. He's your sworn enemy. I can't promise he'll be kind to you.”
My mouth grew overly parched. “What are you?”
Her face softened a fraction. “Werewolf,” she revealed, turning her arm over to reveal a row of teeth mark scars running across it.
I nodded, relaxing a little. “I tend to get on with Werewolves,” I said offhandedly, thinking of Jameson. I prayed he'd gotten away from the Watchers back at Rockley's resort...
Tykera eyed me with interest. “A Helsing friends with a Werewolf? That sounds unlikely.”
“Yes...well, I'm not like the rest of my family.”
“We've heard things about you.” Tykera lowered her tone, eyes forward again as we followed Hawke into a dark passage. “The Videns bring news here with their birds. We heard there was an insurgence against the Hunters, that your family died in the fight.”
I nodded and she smiled slightly. “And that you turned against them.”
My heart swelled at that. If the Immortals knew I'd turned against my family, they might show me some lenience. Perhaps that was why Tykera was speaking to me.
“You're friends with Selena Grey?” Tykera asked curiously.
I nodded, even though the term 'friends' was a bit of an overstatement. We'd never spent much time together. And I was sure she despised me for keeping Varick prisoner, amongst other things.
Tykera's eyes brightened. “Selena is something of a deity here.”
I snorted and sensed Hawke's eyes on me once more. “She is?”
Tykera nodded. “Tell me about her.”
I fought a grimace. I'd come to admire Selena, but it still annoyed me the way everyone fawned all over her.
“She led the uprising,” I said. “She survived two V Games.” I shrugged. “What else is there to say?”
Tykera sighed and I spotted more of the Immortals listening to me now, so I went on, hoping my connection to Selena would buy me some sway with them. “She's strong, fierce. But she's not cocky...she was just fighting for her life and inspired others to do the same. Even Varick...” My heart tugged at the memory of him. But more with guilt than love. I was finally getting over him. I knew how different we were now. And that connection I'd had to him was dwindling away into admiration. Perhaps it had only been infatuation after all.
“Varick Cartwright?” A man stepped closer to me out of the crowd. He was a Vampire, tall and dark haired with fairest skin. He had a coil of tattoos circling his neck and a black tunnel in one ear.
“Yes,” I confirmed.
The man beamed. “He's an old friend. I was part of his crew back in the day.”
“You were a pirate?” I asked in surprise.
He nodded, his blue eyes glimmering dangerously. “Varick was my captain for a time.”
“What's your name?” I asked cautiously, hoping to make another connection.
“Harlen,” he revealed. “But the crew used to call me Pud on account of my fat gut.” He clapped his firm stomach beneath his shirt. “Not anymore, huh? Being a Vampire helps too. Jameson would be so proud.”
I raised my brows. “You know Jameson?”
His eyes rounded. “Wait -do you?”
I nodded and he stepped closer, gripping my arm. “Tell me everything.”
As I started recounting the V Games and everything that had happened afterwards, I was glad at least to have a couple of people willing to talk to me. But I had the creeping feeling Hawke was listening in on our conversation too, and I wasn't yet sure if that was a blessing or a curse.
We arrived in an oval room of black stone, the walls of which were filled with large holes, running right up to the ceiling. Ladders allowed access to the holes and I spotted a few of the men and women climbing up into them, catching glimpses of beds inside.
The far wall held two great pillars at its centre; between them was a staircase and above was a huge balcony with a red flag hanging from it. The Nox symbol blazed on it and above the balcony, carved into the wall, was the name of the clan itself.
Hawke strode confidently toward the staircase, disappearing up it without a word.
The five harem girls turned back toward the crowd, their eyes searching.
Tykera nudged me toward them whispering, “Go with them. They'll prepare you for the ceremony.”
“What ceremony?” I asked, but she was already walking away, climbing up into one of the holes in the walls.
I sighed, moving reluctantly toward the girls. Two of them strode forward, taking hold of my arms, but I didn't resist. They guided me toward the staircase, leading me up one level and heading into a room opposite that was carved into the rock.
Heat swept over my cheeks as I took in the small cavern. A steamy pool of water lay at the back of it and a large fire pit heated the space.
“In,” a blonde girl commanded me, tugging my armour from my shoulders.
I gazed around the group, searching for kindness in their eyes, but there was none. There were five of them in total; the tall blonde, a dark-haired girl with freckly skin, an Indian girl with flowing black hair, a redhead and a well-fed Vampire girl with ebony hair and keen grey eyes.
When I was naked, the blonde girl pushed me toward the pool. I slid into it and was thankful for the hot spring soothing my muscles and banishing the cold from my bones.
I turned to them, the steam rising around me as they sat on cushions near a wooden chest.
“What's this for?” I asked.
<
br /> “You're being cleansed for Hawke,” the freckly girl spoke.
The blonde elbowed her. “She doesn't need to know, Elise.”
“She should know, Meredith,” the Indian girl addressed the blonde.
“Quiet, Nanook,” Meredith snapped.
She bowed her head obediently, saying no more.
I sighed, holding onto the edge of the deep pool as I waited for them to order me out of it. Several minutes of silence passed which I spent washing my hair and ignoring their persistent stares.
Meredith eventually beckoned me up and I was only a little uncomfortable as I rose from the pool. I'd never been body conscious and none of the girls were looking at me as I walked toward them anyway.
Meredith took a brown towel from the box and I wrapped myself in it as she handed it to me. She took my arm, planting me down on a red cushion at the heart of the girls. They immediately moved forward, combing my hair and dabbing my face with some sweet-smelling powder. One of them tied a red sash around my neck and I grimaced; it felt like a dog collar.
Meredith took a white, Grecian gown from the box, holding it out to me. Wanting to get dressed, I got up, taking it and she wrenched the towel away from me. Grumbling, I quickly yanked the dress over my head and it fell down to my ankles.
I eyed the dark-haired girl, Elise, as she stood up and started braiding my hair. “What does Hawke want from me?” I asked.
Elise looked to Meredith who nodded before she spoke. “That's up to him.”
I grimaced, gazing between them all and Meredith jabbed me. “Go to him,” she commanded, pointing to the door.
I shuddered, moving away from them, my feet bare as I exited the room, eyeing the wooden door before me. I half considered running, but I didn't see the point. I'd only be dragged back there.
Steeling myself, I opened the door, entering a room filled with smoky-sweet incense. The floor was wooden and a red curtain hid the balcony from view.
To my right was a large bed of furs. Hawke was standing by a high table, sniffing a glass of something that resembled whiskey.
He didn't acknowledge me, his gaze fixed on the bed as I crept further into the room.
When he continued to ignore me, I cleared my throat.
Hunter Trials Page 2