Chapter 1
The gaurds in the square seemed more tense than usual, their harsh behavior becoming more ferocious than it had been months before. A scream grabbed at my attention but before I could dare a glance, Cassius pushed my head back down.
"Keep your head low and your eyes lower. Understood?" He mumbled as we made our way through the crowd. The back of my coat swayed side to side while the wind pushed against it.
"Why are there so many guards today? Seems like they doubled up." I noted and out of the corner of my eye I seen Cassius nod. "The Royal Affray is today which means the royals will be in town." My stomach lurched at his words, The Royal Affray was a battle to the death for all commoners and if you were unlucky enough to get chosen you had to go against whomever they decided. Each battle is three rounds, if a commoner wins the first round they get placed with someone else but if they win all three rounds they get placed with a guard.
Each year the commoner loses.
It was a way for the royals to keep the population at bay along with our fear, making it known that they called the shots.
"Hey don't stress it, just remember the rule and we'll be fine." The rule, 'Keep your head low and your eyes lower.' I nodded and continued walking behind him.
We turned the corner towards our family home only to be stopped by an outstretched arm. "All commoners must report to the arena now, disobedience will be punishable by death."
Without looking up towards the man, we turned back the way we came and I cut my eyes towards Cassius to see him staring right back at me. His hazel eyes flooded with emotions.
A scream sounded out in the middle of the square and I could see a lady being shoved down onto the ground. Her thick blonde hair was wrapped around the hand of a guard and I felt anger in me begin to bubble up.
"You think you can push us into submission?! We arent little toys for you to play Gods with, we are people! You will fall, all of you! The royals, the guards, their followers. Every single one of you will burn." She seethed through clentched teeth and right before my eyes her pure anger turned into hysterical laughter. The crowd that she had gathered all gasped as the guard brought out his sword and cleaved her head clean off. Red painted the ground beneath her body as her head rolled to my feet.
I looked down at it before my eyes pushed upward to the guard, something forbidden in this hell hole of a village. The evil smile that was plastered on his face made me sick. They enjoyed this, killing my kind off one by one. His eyes met mine and his smile slowly fell into a snarl as he pushed through the crowd towards me.
"Raven what are you doing?!" Cassius snapped before shoving me behind him. My vision was blocked by his body as the guard pulled his fist back and struck Cassius in the face, the cracking sound of his knuckles connecting to his face made me cringe.
"You'd do well to keep your sister on a leash, Occisor." The guard said before spitting on the ground and walking away, Cassius spun around and gripped my arm into his palm.
"Are you stupid or just suicidal? Or maybe both huh?" His cheek had already turned an ugly purple shade, his hazel eyes bore into me while his grip grew tighter. My face instantly shot down towards the head of the blonde woman still lying at our feet.
"Neither, I'm just getting tired of useless deaths occuring on these very streets and everyone turning a blind eye! Everyone gets to witness it but no one gets a say." My voice was harsh and I could tell her understood my reasoning but instead of agreeing, he just shook his head.
"This is how it is Raven, we have a chance to stay alive if we do as we're told but stepping out of line will get you where she is." He pointed down to the lifeless body of the woman before turning and walking down the street towards the arena. I looked around and noticed people were now looking at me, whispering to one another. I just pulled my hood on and pushed through the crowd right behind Cassius.
"Welcome back to this year's Royal Affray!" The announcer yelled over the microphone and the entire crown sat completely silent, not even a clap erupted. "Alright, Alright tough crowd I see! As you all know, this event is hosted by the royal family themselves. We will start off by having the king choose his commoners to begin the first round."
My eyes glanced up at the balcony over the stadium that held five people.
The royal family.
The king was the first person I saw, his towering figure and scolding facial features told me that the rumors of how ruthless he actually was were true. His cold, dark eyes raked over the piece of paper in his hand then back over the arena and I adverted my gaze before he got to my section, not wanting to risk it.
"Althea Territ and Bethany Dawn." His voice boomed over the speakers, I felt my heart rate decrease at the thought of not having to go in this round. I glanced over at Cassius and his eyes hardened as he watched the two girls crying while being dragged to the dirt in the center of the arena.
"You should know the rules by now but if you don't I'll happily repeat them." The announcer spoke, "Survive."
He chuckled as he sat the microphone down and turned his attention towards the two girl. One looked to be maybe a year older than me but the other looked to be in her 40's, this wasn't even close to being a fair fight but the royals knew that already.
Both stood still until the oldest made the first move.
She slung her arms out to the side, engulfing them in blue flames. The youngest ones eyes widened at the sight and moved to dodge a burning ball of fire the woman had sent her way.
"Come on, do something." I mumbled under my breath at the youngest girl, her dark brown hair swayed with her eased movements but her face showed clear terror.
Another round of fire placed at her and this time she wasnt quick enough, the flame knicking her arm leaving bubbling burned skin in it's wake. A triumphant smile appreared on the old lady's face while in the other groaned in pain.
"She's about to lose what is she doing? Why doesn't she use her power?" I frantically call out to Cassius and he just pushes his head down, looking at the concrete steps we were sitting on.
"She doesn't have a power, Raven. She's an outsider. They brought her in a few months ago and I heard about it from Mr. Jeston." I felt my breath hitch at his words and my eyes fly back down to the girl who was now pinned against the conctrete wall, her breathing was frantic and tears streaked her cheeks.
"NO!" I shouted but my voice wasn't enough to stop the flames from engulfing her entire petite frame. Her skin had turned a charcoaled color as the life in her eyes seased.
A hand gripped at mine, no doubt Cassius, but I yanked free. The entire arena turned to me and without thinking I darted towards the little girl's body, allowing my feet to carry me since my adrenaline had officially taken over. Gasps left the bodies of people I passed but I ignored them completely and made my way towards the middle of the arena only to be stopped by a giant fireball heading in my direction.
"Ahh, the second round has already started." The announcer said, clapping happily but my attention was pointed towards the black haired woman infront of me. Her sinister smile was a sign of how triumphant she felt about her first victory, I felt my blood heat up at the sight.
Closing my eyes, I dove deep into my mind in search for an element to use. Five strings dangled losely inside my brain, one for each element including Spirit. I pulled the gray string and felt my body fill with air, chills raked my body as the wind picked up around me and slung my hair wildly around my face. Another fire ball spiraled towards me but I dodged it as I pushed air towards the older lady.
"You stupid girl, oxygen allows fire to grow." She laughed but it was cut off by the sound of my winds growing stronger, surrounding her entire body. I felt a smile creep up onto my lips while I watched her eyes fill with water, tears threatening to spill onto her cheeks just as the little girl's had done.
"But it can also smother it." I mumble and watched as she fell to her knees, gasping at the wind while it spun around her. Her hands flew to her throat at the same time her flames went out, I forced it to grow tighter around her and pushed it into a tighter circle so her body had no room to move anymore. Her hair whipped violently back and forth until her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she dropped to the ground.
The wind completely stopped and I pulled it back in slowly.
"An air wielder? I thought that bloodline ceased long ago." The king stated and I found my eyes trailing up towards him. I looked behind him to find his three children all standing on their feet now, looking down at me. The eldest child's gaze stopped me for a slight second, his violet colored eyes borring into my deep brown ones and for a moment I thought I could see a smirk on his lips.
Turning my attention towards the princess, I pulled my hand up and stuck my index finger out towards her.
"I choose you." I shout up towards the balcony. The queen gasped before standing up and mumbling something to the king who wasnt paying any attention. His eyes were glued on me and before I could speak again he turned to the princess.
"If she wants a fight, then give her one."