23. Say What?
Say What?
Rez
Getting ready this morning is a somber affair.
There isn’t an official dress code for the Gauntlet, so while the other academies are planning on wearing some form of their school uniform, we decide to go with old faithful—our old outfits from Hell.
At least with our battle armor, we know it will stand up to the task of protecting us, since we have no idea what we are going up against.
Yesterday, Knots took my mind off everything after we made love and had a picnic under the stars.
I had one bout of dizziness while we ate, but it was short-lived and quickly passed after lying down for a few minutes.
Once we got back to the dorms, I found out the guys had gone out to a festival and had their own run-in with trouble.
Apparently, Emer hung out with them for a bit, and Knox ran into a rival.
I don’t know how I feel about them allowing that fucking sea serpent even close to them, but since she didn’t pull anything, I can’t be too mad.
I mean, they are fully grown, and they are men, not my property, technically.
Now ask me if the green goblin and voice inside of my head truly believes the shit I just said.
No, not one iota. I want to rip her grimy little claws out of her fingers and shove them down her throat and then scream at Levi for his lack of judgment. But I love him, and I don’t want to become the psycho bitch I feel raging underneath my skin.
Last night, everyone slept in their own beds so we could get one last night of proper sleep on a bed and pack for a week of camping conditions worse than Hell.
Or so I’ve been led to believe, since while I was in Hell, I was sleeping in a mansion, and this time, I’ll be roughing it on whatever I can find on the land and the sleeping bags we’ve packed.
Oh shit! Sleeping bags. I need to pack a sleeping bag!
I don’t want to take any chances of them becoming targets without extra protection. Even though I spent time in the healing waters last night, I know the one-time dip didn’t completely heal me of the God’s Trumpet.
On a positive note, I think the waters helped with some of my side effects because when my magic peters out on me, I don’t get dizzy or have hot or cold chills.
My magic just isn’t there for me to pull.
It takes me a complete hour to do it, and I’m already tired, but hey, for a sporadic, unstable spaz, I’m taking the win.
Upon reaching the Hub, we check in, tell them our group, get assigned a number, and are told what time to report for the beginning of the Gauntlet.
We still have about an hour, so since we have time, Moni, Chester, JP, and Knots decide to go ahead and find a starting spot to begin this madness, while Lynx and I stay behind to meet up with the guys and people watch.
‘Damn, the energy around here is palpable.’
Lynx growls as someone shoulder checks him. ‘Tell me about it. If I were in my cat form, I would be having the worst hair day.’
It seems there are more students here than there were at the meet-and-greet, and now it’s finally sinking in that this is a pretty big deal.
I guess it would be if Supes want the chance to travel to Earth.
An awful thought hits me, and I grab for Lynx.
“Lynx!” I pull his arm and spin him to me.
“What? Did you forget something?” he asks, seeing my wide eyes.
“Besides my sleeping bag? I have everything I need.” I shake my head.
“Don’t worry, Rezzi, I have an extra for ya. I noticed you didn’t pack one.’ Lynx winks, but I still have a burning worry in the back of my mind.
“How the fuck will you and Knots cross over to Earth if you don’t participate and get the Fates' blessing or whatever it is?” I’m in full-blown panic now.
Lynx chuckles and grabs my shoulders, trying to anchor me. “I’m pretty sure I have to survive the Gauntlet first, so let’s concentrate on that.”
“What?” I cry out.
‘Relax, Rezzi-bear.’ Lynx’s turquoise eyes squint, focusing on me, “We’ll figure that out later. Besides, I’m sure with your connection with the Fates, we’ll have no problem. Let’s just concentrate on making it through the Gauntlet, okay?’
I take a deep breath in and blow it out quickly before nodding, knowing that he’s right, and I need to focus on what’s in front of us. There’s no point in panicking over stuff I can’t control right now.
Anger flows down the link along with a flash of frustration before a calming wave hits me, and Knox comes into view, slinging his arm around my shoulder.
“Are you okay?” I ask, looking him over.
“Beck,” he growls.
His deep frown and his alpha vibes are projecting, forcing people to give us space. On one hand, I’m not mad, on the other, it’s kinda putting us on the spot.
“Oh, did something else happen besides the run-in from last night?” I ask as I squeeze his waist, trying to send comforting waves back down our link.
“No,” is the only reply I get as he squeezes me to him.
“Well, at least you don’t have to see him again.” I give him a peck on the cheek as he grunts his agreement, as we see the others joining us.
“Where’s everyone else?” Zeke asks as he steps up with Levi and Ryker.
“At our spot at the front. We were just waiting for you,” Lynx says, turning to show them the way.
As we make our way to meet the rest, we pass pop-up shops and street vendors lining the edges of the street, allowing students to pick up last-minute items. I can’t help but roll my eyes at the shop peddling the souvenirs for this event.
Who the Hell wants a ‘I portled my way through the Gauntlet’ shirt?
Parents crowd around, hugging their students, hopefully not for the last time.
As students check their gear and items, others engage in last-minute trading with vendors and other students.
As we walk towards the others, I notice the massive portals standing behind the platform where there are seats for VIP guests and a podium.
Off to the sides, behind the bleachers, I spot blank TVs just floating in the sky, and tables and chairs below them.
Wow, they weren’t joking about displaying us for everyone.
I pause as Knox finishes a story about his childhood friend, Atticus, and anger flares within me. “Are you serious? Where the fuck is this asshole? Let me at him!” I say, turning around and trying to march past my Alpha. Knox chuckles as he lifts me and deposits me in my previous spot.
“I love you for this reason. But trust me, Beck will get his one way or another.” Knox’s jaw grinds, but love flows down our link, and I wrap my arms around his waist and squeeze.
“Okay, but if you need me to help slash him up, I’m all for it. I got your back,” I tell him as a chill runs down my spine.
“I know,” he whispers against my hair, squeezing me back before letting go and tilting his head in concern. “Are you doing okay?”
“Yeah,” I reassure him.
“Rez!” Moni yells, zipping back and forth between Chester and JP, leaving her green dust trailing behind her.
I grab Knox’s hand and hurry over to the rest of the group.
“This is insane,” Moni shrieks, twirling in a circle and immediately fainting straight into Chester’s arms.
He almost drops her, but JP is there to help take her weight as they both gently wake her up, and she zips straight to me.
“Can you believe it. It’s about to start, and my heart is going to explode.” Her eyes dart up for a quick second, and I throw my hands out, but Chester beats me to it.
“Damn, that’s six just while waiting for the Gauntlet to start.” Chester’s tone shows some worry.
“Then it’s a good thing I brought some of this, else she might not even get to the Gauntlet,” a familiar voice says.
I turn to find Gus walking up behind me. Smiling big, I turn to hug the Sphinx who owns Sparks Coffee.
“Gus! What are you doing here?” I ask, surprised to see him.
Before he can answer, Moni pops up like a possessed Cracker Jack and spots him.
“Gus! Coffee! I need coffee!” she yells, making a beeline for him.
He laughs and pulls out a smaller cup than her usual gallon, and tells her to drink it all.
You don’t have to tell Moni to drink her Nectar of Life twice.
She downs her drink in one go and flies off to throw away her cup.
I squint after her and then at Gus, feeling something is off. Turning to face the old Sphinx, I place my hands on my hips.
“What did you give her?” I demand.
He gives me a small smile.
“Why do you say that?”
“Answering a question with a question is deflecting and is a way of lying. Out with it, old man,” I call him out, and he straight up laughs at me, throwing his head back.
“It’s a mixture of decaf and a new bean. It should help with her fainting spells, at least for today,” he admits.
“You gave Moni DECAF?” Chester says in horror.
“Dude, you broke the coffee code,” JP inhales sharply. “I’m ashamed to call you a friend.”
“I’m not. If it helps her, I’m all for it. This place is dangerous, and I want her to survive,” I admit, not letting the distrustful looks I’m getting bother me.
“That’s the type of thinking you have to have, Rez. You guys will be lucky to have half of the students make it back.” Gus sighs as he looks over the crowd around us.
“You sound like you’re talking from experience,” Lynx points out.
“I am.”
“Ladies and gentlemen. If you would please find your seats. Contenders, please come to the stage. We are about to begin,” Dean Caldron announces.
“Here. Give this to Moni,” Gus says, handing Chester a pack of three canisters of emergency coffee. “Good luck, guys. I’m sponsoring you,” Gus calls out as he heads towards that platform.
“Did I hear that right?” Moni says as she zips back up to us. “I get emergency coffee from Gus during the Gauntlet? He’s a sponsor?”
“It seems so,” Knots assures her.
We all gather on stage as Dean Caldron starts his announcements.