Chapter 180

"Now!" Michalis jumped out of the bush and pulled a rope in the trees. The trees sprung up into the air and pulled the ropes attached to the nets. The nets pulled up around the boar and held. Michalis grabbed the ropes to help pull it taught and hold the boar. Nikos ran over to the other side and grabbed another set of ropes. Between the two of them, they were able to subdue to boar. As they tied the final ropes to the trees and a nearby rock they raised their arms in celebration as the on looking groups of prisoners cheered, jumping up and down and yelling. The two brothers embraced and high fived. The vampires booed and some of them started to walk away. The King pounded the arm of his chair with his fist. It was clear that he was not happy with the outcome of the match. Amaris stood up and cheered for the two men who had outwitted the King and his game by both of them winning together. It was then that Amaris noticed that Jason was back at her side with his mate. His face showed a huge relief, but he kept shooting wary looks at the King. The King was standing now too. He was hesitating as if he needed time to figure out what to do in this situation. Amaris noticed that the guards too were hesitating. They were waiting to see what the King did before making a move. Amaris did not think that this was an outcome that was planned for. After about a minute the King stepped forward and raised his arms in the air for silence again. It took longer this time for silence to fall. The guards stepped forward and posed a threat to some of the louder members of the prisoners who were celebrating more than was allowed. Nikos and Michalis were still in the arena. They too were looking up at the dais to see what their fate would be. The King's little game did not work out as he had planned, but that did not mean he would not make new rules to make it turn out the way he wanted. Once the room was silent, the King stepped to the very edge of the steps. "Well that was an unexpected turn of events. For their ingenuity and team work I will award each team one point for the round." There seemed to be a collective sigh of relief from most of the people in the room except the vampires and Sveta. She seemed to be as blood thirsty as the vampires. The King continued, "Since these two fine young men have kindly caught us the main course for our celebration tomorrow, and there is a lot of clean up needed in here, I think that we should all file out to our next stage of the challenge. I think that you will all love this one as much as I do!" The King nodded to the head guard once more who started ordering men about. The guards closed in around the two groups. They ushered the group closest to the door out of the way and let the vampires all pass through into the large room next door first. When the entire groupd had disappeared, the guards took the group that was closest to the doors in, and then the second group of prisoners was led in. Amaris could just make out Anna. She was still holding up a woozy Lyle with one of the other soldiers that had been helping her. Soon all that was left in the room were a few guards, Adam and Sveta, Jason and his mate, and Amaris and the King. Amaris looked down and realized that Nikos and Michalis were still stuck down in the arena. two guards had gone in there and were keeping them where they were standing. The King had not moved from his place on the top step. One of the guards came to the top stair. "Your highness, what would you like us to do with the two prisoners in the arena?" He asked, unsure of what their fate should be. "Kill them. They were not supposed to survive anyway, and they messed up my games." The King waved his hand in annoyance. Amaris panicked. "NO! No you can't!" Amaris turned and grabbed the King's arm. The guard who had turned at her shout, grabbed her at once and pulled her away by her upper arms. He restrained her. She thrashed and kicked at the guard. The King yelled over her protests. "Stop! Let my queen go!" The guard let her go with a look of surprise on his face. "Let them go free. They won the game fair and square. You set no rule that they could not work together, in fact you set the precident with the previous game where they had to steal the keys and throw them to each other so they could unlock their doors. You encouraged them to work together." Amaris pled. The King reached out and caressed Amaris' face. "My dear, is this what you really want?" She looked at him and nodded with her chin still in his hand. The guard looked between Amaris and the King not sure if he was beleving what he was seeing. The King looked in Amaris' eyes. "Alright, then let it be done. They have earned their freedom. Let them go outside the castle gates." He said dropping Amaris' chin and walking off toward the door. The guard nodded his head but his eyes showed disbelief as he turned to head toward the arena. Amaris still stood there rooted to the spot in disbelief. Was it really that easy could she just ask him and get them all set free? Amaris could not believe it but figured it might be worth a try. As she turned to go, Adam and Sveta walked by her. Sveta gave her a look like she was the most disgusting thing that she had come across. Adam sneered at her and paused. "Do not think that you have won some sort of victory. You do realize that you have just had them freed to a large group of hungry vampires out there, whom you took away their food source." He gave her an evil smile at the look of horror on her face and followed Sveta off the dais and into the room beyond.