Chapter 182

Amaris chanced a glance backwards and saw Jason's face. His face showed how haggard and tired he truely was, it also showed his despare at what he has had to do. Amaris did not know all of what he had been through, but she knew that there was more to the story as his mate had said. She slowed and took a half step back. "Listen to your mate. Do not doubt yourself." Something kept telling her to encourage him to move on, and keep going. The line started moving again, and Amaris remembered why she had run into the back of Andreas in the first place. Amaris looked back up in to the stands and found that Anna, Taji, and Lyle were no longer there. Her eyes scanned the stands and she did not see them anywhere. Her hopes fell. However now she wondered what she had actually seen. Was Taji able to heal Lyle or was it just a coincidence? She wanted to know what she saw. She could not be sure. The line moved on slow and steady with Amaris lost in her thoughts. Finally, they reached the end of the line where a guard stood directing the prisoners into the stands. Jason stepped forward "It's about time!" He snapped. "Now let us through!" The guard bowed his head and stepped aside for them. He led Amaris to the steps leading to the royale box. They were able to sit far above anyone else and still right at the wall of the arena. There were only two rows of seats infront of them and several to each side. The vampires were all seated now, and carousing while scantilly clad female humans walked around offering 'refreshments'. These women were human feeders that the vampires fed off of. They voluntarily chose to allow the vampires to feed off them. Amaris could not believe that it was completely voluntary. From the look on their faces they looked like a junky who had just gotten their high when they were bitten. Amaris turned away in disgust. She walked to her seat crossing in front of the King. "There you are my dear. The guards took their time getting you here." He commented. "I thought you might miss out on the start of the last challenge. I know you won't want to miss this one." He said with an excited laugh. There were two servants at the back of the box that were serving drinks and snacks. They came around with glasses of some sort of red drink, and skewers with bits of beef or lamb on them. Amaris did not take any, she was not sure that her stomach could would allow her to eat anything right now. She was nauseuos again. Amaris finally sat, and Jason and his mate sat to the side of her once again. She looked at him as he sat down and he gave her a tiny nod. The King finally stood up after drinking down his glass of the red drink that was being offered. He walked to the front rail of the box and raised his arms for silence once more. As he did two guards came up the stairs into the box and stood at the back. Amaris looked back at Jason to see a look of worry on his face. They stayed where they were and hoped that they were just there for a short time. The arena had gone silent, and the King cleared his throat. "I have the greatest of treats for you this time. This is a special on for our own Oracle who is with us tonight." He paused and waved a hand toward Amaris. She did not know what to do. She settled for simply scowling at the King. The King looked at her and pursed his lips at her scowl, and decided to move on. "Now I know you have all been the maze that is down below us here tonight, and I am sure you can guess part of what our final task will be. You guessed it, our challengers will have to start at the far end of the maze, and work their way through to this end. The first one to make it will win the points for their team. Now I do have one special twist that I am going to add to this last challenge. We will not be using the two challengers that the teams picked, I will be picking the challengers to represent each team this time. First, since this challenge is in honor of our dear Oracle, I have chosen someone who was near and dear to her heart, until he betrayed it." The King held out his hand to the area that he had indicated as the starting area. A spot light went on, and Amaris could see that two guards had hauled a man to the spot by his arms. When he threw his head back to try and break free, Amaris could see that it was Lyle. As he trashed trying to get away from the two guards, one of them finally punched him in the gut and then threatened him with a crossbow. Amaris stood up and went forward. The King looked at her, as she was now standing next to him. Their eyes met. The King's eyes showed an evil delight in Amaris' pain. The King kept playing with his charade. "I know my dear, it really is him. He will finally pay." He said to Amaris rather loudly so most of the vampires could hear him. The King took Amaris' hands and brought her back to her seat. He went back to the box rail and continued. "In keeping with that theme, I have also recently discovered a traitor." Once again the King paused for dramatic flair. Amaris glanced around and when she looked at Jason their eyes met. He was clearly nervous. Many of the vampires were booing. The King played along. "I know. I Know. And to make matters worse, this traitor was right under my very nose. In my own house!" Amaris heard movement behind her and spun around trying to see if she could protect Jason from the two guards that she was sure were trying to take him into custody. Amaris spun around to see Jason's mate Persia hugging him tightly, but the guards were moving to the other side of the King's throne. They had grabbed Adam.