Chapter 5 #2
I kneel down, my behind touching the wet cold stone as I settle down behind a tree.
I can see it good enough from here. There are young people sparring everywhere.
Or at least what looked like sparring from up there.
It goes far too heavy handed. It is a real fight.
People, who I assume are candidates, are fighting everywhere.
A shiver rolls over me. I hate that they make people do this.
They might have volunteered, but they have no idea what they are fighting for.
“Noo, please no,” someone cries. “Don’t take my baby.” I turn my head. A woman runs over to a girl, a girl that is lying motionless on the floor. Everyone around the two of them goes quiet and walks away, while the boy who killed her stands there. Silent—frozen probably. Maybe he is in shock.
Why does no one do something?
My hands start to tremble.
Manes.
I have to fight the urge to run over to the woman. A guard walks over to the girl, lifting her, swinging her dead body over his shoulder. How could they? She is also human. How can they treat a body like that?
Someone’s body, a daughter, a friend, maybe even a sister.
That’s just outrageous.
The king is a fucking monster.
I blink my eyes, lost in thoughts, only to realize everyone has left the fight I just witnessed. Everyone gathers around something else. Another fight.
“Time’s up! Let him go, Braxton!” Da screams. My feet hurry towards the familiar voice.
“Braxton.”
The name rolls over my lips in a whisper.
As in the youngest Prince Braxton? How does Da know him?
Why is my da involved in this? As if people hear my questions, they step aside, giving me a better view of what is happening.
The boy, the prince, looks bewildered. It is that there isn’t foam spewing out of his mouth or I would have said he looked like he has rabies.
His blue eyes widen, looking in shock at his opponent.
His jaw locks in place and his hands are balled in fists.
Even from a small distance, I can see his heart pounding and his chest going up and down as he takes short, panicked breaths.
He takes a step back on his shaky legs. The boy on the ground doesn’t move.
A girl runs over to him. I don’t hear what she says.
I am too busy with the handsome boy standing frozen in front of me.
My eyes follow the boy with brown hair. His blue eyes are still wide open in shock as he lift a hand to cover his face.
Before I can study him any better, he turns around and sprints away from the scene.
I can’t leave this boy behind yet, I must do something.
So I run, not really after him, but I run behind the trees.
Hopping over tree stumps, trying to run as quietly as I can, hoping no twigs break under my weight.
His pace slows down when a small lake comes into view.
He sits down on the water’s side, and I freeze.
His fingers brush through the water, his strong arms shaking with something that looks like fear.
He rolls his sleeves further up, revealing big, muscular, tattooed arms. It looks kind of hot.
Blush covers my cheeks, and I look away, turning around, the fresh, damp grass squishing under my feet.
He must have heard me, because he stops moving.
Shit.
He really shouldn’t’t see me. He is the prince, and not the nicest one if I should believe the rumors. A monster, most would tell you if you ask them.
I don’t want to risk it, so I tiptoe away, trying to wrap my head around what just happened.
I can’t help myself completely. I want to and need to see how this day will end.
I am not as close as before anymore, but I can see it better than I can from my hiding spot.
The boy, or better said prince, who I left sitting at the pond, is in a fight again.
A boy, dark skin tone and short dark hair, attacks him.
The prince is in another fight, his tattoos still on display.
I don’t really see why he has to fight this much.
Isn’t he already a candidate? The prince sits on top of the other guy.
He throws a punch to the other’s face. The boy under him doesn’t give up.
He punches the prince hard, who momentarily loosens his grip, giving the boy a chance to switch positions.
They look like they are equally strong when not using powers.
The boy takes his sword and slices it into the prince’s chest. Even from up here, I can hear a gasp here and there.
I hold my breath as I watch the prince every move he makes.
He hits the boy against his temple, causing him to fall to the right.
The boy just lies there. The prince slips away under him, looking around.
The crowd starts clapping as the prince just stands there.
He grins, looking around the crowd. The smirk leaves my stomach twisting.
The tension in the air seems to shift. And then I hear it.
Someone screams.
The prince falls over.
People take a step back. A ball of iron hitting the ground next to the prince. The boy after him stands up, smiling widely, ear from ear.
A metal wielder, there is no discussion about that.
The prince lies there, still not moving.
Nobody does a thing. The king stands there, looking down on his son.
Why does nobody react?
I feel my blood boil. Blood starts flowing from his head.
I can see the puddle of blood next to his head.
My ears ring. I must do something. I jump off my rock, making up a plan and then I see him, my da.
He runs over to the prince. It is vague, but I can make up his words.
I am not even sure how he has the courage to talk to the king like this.
It must be because of the deal he was talking to him about. Because no guards drag him away the moment he opens his mouth.
“Get a healer, you fuckers! Do you want him dead?!” he screams, looking at the king. He turns around looking into the crowd and everyone around him starts running.