Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Jun and I arrive at the second trial together, and there’s an edge that wasn’t there before. Rather than being dressed in our best, we’re clad in simple, dark workout clothes. Jun wears fingerless leather gloves and a matching jacket.
He’s handsome, but there’s no time to linger on the thought. No time to trace his chiseled jawline with my eyes and fall into his crimson gaze… no matter how much I want to.
As we walk through the gymnasium, Jun’s vast, intimidating presence attracts wary looks. The crowd has thinned since the first meeting, but there’s still plenty of competition. Twenty students in total, some grouped and others alone.
Jun and I stand close together, with one of his wings wrapped around me.
When the gymnasium door slams shut, the click feels final.
The three professors stand at the front of the room, all in a line.
“If you’ve made it this far, congratulations,” Professor Stark says. There’s nothing particularly congratulatory about her flat tone.
“Today is the physical trial,” my father says. “Of the three trials, this is the most dangerous. If you do not think you can successfully pass this trial, this is your opportunity to leave. If you walk through those doors, you forfeit your position in l'Ordre de la Chasse Amère.”
No one moves. They’re here for a reason, and when you’re trying to seek immortality, you’re willing to do anything for it, even if that means risking your life. It makes little sense to me, which may be proof I’m not cut out for immortality.
Jun reaches for me. It’s becoming second nature to hold each other in moments like these. He grasps my hand tight, and I have his in the same iron grip.
A soothing energy washes over me, and I breathe it in.
“In exactly ten minutes,” my father says, “we will unleash forty lesser demons into this room.”
I freeze, exchanging a look with Jun.
Lesser demons.
I’ve heard of them and seen them in illustrations, but I’ve never witnessed one in person. I know they aren’t like Jun—not really. They’re wisps of energy and magic, thoughtless and primal. They have claws, teeth, and venom.
One bite, and you’re dead.
My father continues. “We will provide weapons, and you are expected to banish the demons. If you wish to surrender, lift your weapon or right hand in the air. We will escort you to safety. Do not push yourself, or you will die. Do not put your allies first, or you will die.”
A chill runs up my spine.
“To continue to the next trial, you must be standing once the demons are vanquished. There are no rules, and no more allies. Do what you can to survive. Any questions?”
A student named Rosalie raises her hand. She’s been at Strode for a few years, but she’s meek; I’ve only heard her speak in passing.
“Are we supposed to kill the demons?” Her hand trembles as she lowers it.
“The weapons we’re providing will not kill the creatures. They return the demons to the underworld,” Professor Stark says. “Anyone else?”
The room is silent.
If there are questions, no one is brave enough to say them aloud. Professor Fairweather wheels out a case of weapons—swords and daggers, namely. I wish they offered bows. My father knows my weapon of choice—he was the one who signed me up for archery classes—but I suppose he’s done coddling me.
“You have ten minutes to prepare,” my father says.
But I’m no longer paying attention to him.
I turn to Jun with worry behind my eyes, and he’s fearless. He stands tall and brave, with his jaw clenched tight. Determination comes from him in waves.
“No more allies,” I whisper.
“Oh, fuck that.” He looks at the weapons case. “Do you know how to use any of those?”
I shake my head. “I’m all right with a dagger, but—”
“Let me take the lead. I promise to keep you safe.”
“Okay…”
“Do you trust me?”
I never thought Jun would look at me like this—protective and earnest.
“I do.” It’s true. After my father’s speech, he’s the only person I can trust. “We are going to win this, as we did last time. Those mini demons don’t know what’s coming for them.”
His lip tugs into a half-smile. Our hands are still together as he leads me to the weapons.
My father is surely watching. I can feel his gaze on me, but I don’t pay him any mind as I choose my daggers—two made of matching silver.
Jun picks a long sword, humming thoughtfully as he inspects it.
“That’s pretty,” I say.
“Then it’s a good match for you.” He smirks. “Maybe you should wield it.”
Did I hear him right? Did Jun call me pretty?
It’s not exactly the time for that. I mean, he’s right… But I’m not expecting him to say so.
Weapons are more about aesthetics to me. I have a few on my wall back home, but I never learned how to use them. On the other hand, Jun looks like he knows what he’s doing. He takes a step back and holds the sword with an expert grip.
“This’ll do.” He hooks the sheathed sword to his belt and turns to inspect the other students.
I stand by his side, letting his wings protect me again.
Some students are confident with their choice of weapon, like Jun.
Others appear clueless, staring at the weapons with fright in their eyes.
Those are the ones who will surrender quickly, I imagine.
Others ignore the tools entirely. They either have claws and fangs to use as weapons, or they’re choosing to struggle with no defense. To run.
Students may die today. Is this how they’ve been dying all along? Perhaps it wasn’t a murder, but… an accident. That’s why the victim wore the sigil pin.
They were in the group.
I swallow thickly, exchanging a look with Jun. “Have you ever seen one of these demons?”
“I have. I’ve fought them before, too. Believe it or not, fighting lesser demons is a common training technique for my kind. They’re hard to kill. You can practice with weapons like these, and they return to the underworld. No harm done.”
“They don’t require the witch weapon?”
“Not quite—just a few extra steps. They have to be killed in the underworld to die fully. But we’re not aiming to kill today.”
I let out a nervous chuckle. “Right.”
The room goes silent as we wait for the trial to begin. This may be the one to end it all. Realistically, I don’t think my father will let me die, nor am I easy to kill, but my nerves won’t listen to reason.
The countdown begins. All around me, the beating of hearts sounds in my ears—dozens of racing pulses, none belonging to me.
“Three,” Professor Fairweather says.
“Two,” Professor Stark says.
My father’s voice bellows at last. “One!”
A side door opens, and in come the petty demons—about the size of a goat. They’re dark, shapeless blobs running on four legs. They chatter and squeal as they rush through the space at an alarming speed.
They may be small and weak, but they’re fast. Their long, lolling tongues roll from their mouths as they chase after the students. Even more disturbing than their inhuman sounds is the students’ screeching.
I would feel bad for the little demons, but they instantly begin attacking, and my empathy goes out the window.
One runs in our direction, snapping at Jun’s leg. In a swift motion, I bring the heel of my boot onto its head, using my full strength. The creature disappears with a shriek, in a puff of smoke.
Jun exchanges a look with me, his eyes sweeping down my form. “Good move, partner.”
Pride rushes through me. “Yeah?”
“Keep it up. We’re not out of the woods yet. Not even close.”
It’s a favorable start to the trial, but he’s right. We haven’t even entered the woods.
Forty demons. Twenty students. Numbers are on our side, but not everyone is up for the task. Within minutes, several students have their hands in the air, and they’re escorted out of the building.
Jun and I won’t surrender. We’re the only two truly working together, watching each other’s backs.
Thirty-five demons. Fifteen students. Then ten students. Twenty demons.
Several others are a good match for the little monsters. Timid Rosalie spears one with a sword and lets out a victory screech.
But Jun is the strongest of all. His moves are swift and decisive, slashing through the creatures with ease. It’s clear he’s trained with them before. I haven’t, but I keep up with him, diving on the floor to spear my dagger through the neck of a speedy one.
“Got it,” I call out.
Before long, the crowd thins. Five students, five demons. An even match, and we’re still standing.
Jun and I fight with our backs to each other, letting the little creatures come our way. Their numbers are low. Other students catch their breath, but I don’t dare let my guard down. One of the creatures runs at me, with its tongue lolling about.
I crush my boot into the demon’s skull and scan the area, relief pumping through me. The remaining few are circling three other students.
Good. They can take care of it themselves. My shoulders slump, and I let out a breath of relief.
From behind me, Jun yelps. I can hear his face, but it’s more—terror rushes through me as if it’s my own. Then there’s a flash of pain shooting through my calf.
I nearly double over, but I turn instead. He’s on the ground, with the little demon’s teeth sunken into his leg.
Two demons run in his direction, spotting his weakness.
No one in the room stops to help.
“Margaux,” my father calls. “Leave him.”
No!
His pain belongs to me. It’s poisoning me. I can barely inhale, my breaths as ragged as Jun’s.
Our eyes lock. Crimson flashes in his irises, and though no words come from his open mouth, I hear everything.
You have to win this, Margaux.
Damn it all. He’s my mate. Jun is my mate. This is the mating bond, the psychic link I’ve heard so much about.
And I have to save him.
I dive to the floor and stab my dagger into the demon at his knee first. Before the creature disappears, I move to the next, kicking it hard enough that it bounces against the wall, falls to the ground, and disappears in a puff.
One more remains. Even wounded, Jun is strong enough to take the dagger from me. He stabs it once in the skull, which is enough to get the job done.