I could already feel tendrils of hair escaping my tight braid as we were dragged back towards the edge of the stadium.

Only here was I able to truly see just how large it was, larger than any stadium I had ever seen before, more people in the crowds than I could even know existed.

"Within the pack, choir and court trials, our representatives would have been put through... an obstacle course. Well now, those skills are coming to fruition, with a cleverly devised race designed to put our representatives to the test." Alpha Montgomery smiled as he clicked his fingers. Just like that, from where we stood, a massive wall erupted from the ground, curling into the sky as high as the clouds, small rocks tapped into the side.

"There is no time limit, but of course, the quicker the better." As the Alpha talked, I moved from the clumped space that the three of us were in and spread out towards the left side, leaving a good metre on the end for space.

"... The representatives will be able to follow arrows and guidance throughout the course to ensure that they are travelling on the correct path, however, no directions shall be given. On the alarm, the race shall begin!"

I planted my feet firmly in the ground, scraping them against the dirt with my hands readily waiting in front of me.

A countdown, and then, the alarm.

I jumped into action, wrapping my hands around the rocks as I pulled myself up the wall with ease. I used to scale skyscrapers with nothing more than the nails on my hands. I could almost guarantee that I was going much faster than the others and low behold, as I spared a moment to look down, they were a good metre and a half behind me.

I kept going, scaling the wall until I reached the top, pulling myself onto the very edge of the wall, keeping my feet perched on the edge as I contemplated my options. There were more rocks if I wanted to climb down, but that would take too long. I had no magic to levitate myself. I could see the golden arrow pointing forward, leading me into a thick forest of trees. So I did what felt smartest to me.

I jumped.

Curling my feet into my body as I launched myself down, catching my body in the wind as I fell.

As I approached the floor, I held my hand out and grabbed onto a long, extended branch, my entire body flipping over it. I pulled my core tight as my body stopped rolling, moving myself to be standing straight up on the branch.

I looked back up to the top of the wall where Odette and Arnav were now waiting, watching me with their mouths open wide to their jaw.

I didn't waste any more time, instead of dropping to the floor I kept running over the branches and keeping my steps nimble as I darted across the trees.

Suddenly, I could hear the sounds of Odette and Arnav screaming. I paused, the ground was crumbling, like an earthquake that only affected the floor.

While I could feel the shake in the timber of the trees, it was nothing more than that, and if I hadn't stopped moving, I doubt I would have noticed it at all. For a moment, I thought something was wrong, though it was easy to figure out that the Earth rumbling was just another part of the challenge. Clearly unaffected as I kept myself above ground, I kept moving.

My feet were moving so fast beneath me that it felt as if I was gliding on air.

The trees began to sparse and before I knew it, I was jumping down from the evergreen trees onto the hard earth once more.

I was now fast approaching a lake. The deepest blue in which when the sun hit the ripples, it almost looked as if it was filled with sapphires and gems. Spinning slowly by the water's edge was a holographic sign, with YOUR TASK written in bright, neon yellow. Below it was a circular object, resembling almost like some sort of weapon, maybe a gem, I couldn't be sure. No time was to be wasted on watching it to try and decipher exactly what it was.

What I did know, however, was that whatever it was, was lying on the bottom of this lake bottom.

Only fair to move from the woods and the earth into the water, something for each of us. I ensured that I had nothing in my pockets or on my person that could be damaged before jumping into the water, keeping my body straight in rigid for just a moment before my arms began to move. Long strokes that propelled me further and further down into the lakes waters. Almost immediately, my lungs began to constrict as I felt my face blow up. Immediately, I let my body float up back to the surface as I took another deep breath. As I did, I noticed that the other two were now jumping into the water.

An even playing field.

I inhaled as much oxygen into my lungs as possible, calming myself before diving back down again. This time, I was careful with what angle I was swimming at, ensuring that my body remained titled. The further I swam, the clearer a dull, yellow glow became. I could weel the water churning behind me.

Arnav.

He was gliding through the water as if it weren't even there. I mean, of course, he was. I tried to swim quicker, pulling myself down to the level he was at as I reached my hand out and latched my fist around the small object. It was an egg shape, fitting easily in the palm of my hand.

Arnav too had already grabbed it and was moments away from breaking the surface. I swam down just a tad deeper before swinging myself around, placing my feet on the sandy floor and propelling myself as high as I could. I swam the rest of the way, suddenly becoming desperate for air.

I found myself, once again, in the middle of the lake as I poked my head over the top. Not wasting any more time, I swam my way to the riverbank, clawing my hands into the muddy ground and heaving myself up.

Arnav was already waiting, fiddling with the golden egg in his hand. I looked forward, taking in my surroundings. There was no more space to run, or do anything. Against the metal barriers lied a target, in pristine condition.

I needed to throw something at it.

But what?

Suddenly, I started feeling the egg, running my fingers over and around it as I tried to find any sort of pressure points. I tried a million combinations of pressing on jewels or golden circles before finally, the egg clocked open, revealing a small throwing knife.

In one, quick moment, I grabbed the knife from the egg and with all my might, I threw it against the target.

The exact same moment as two other daggers hit it as well.

Odette, panting with her hair plastered all over her face was now moments away from collapsing on the floor, a broken egg in her hand. And Arnav, a hard twitch in the side of his head, pulling his skin taught as he surveyed the target.

A moment of silence, a moment so long that I thought I must have drowned in the water and this was all a dream.

A moment before the crowds began to scream.

'We have... a three-way tie!" Alpha Montgomery shouted into the microphone. "Congratulations! The representatives will now have an hours rest so please, choose to do with the time as you wish. A reminder will be sent out five minutes before we are due to resume!"

I placed my hands on my knees, puffing before swinging myself up and starting the trek back over to the tent where I knew food and drink would be waiting.

As I walked by, I offered out my hand towards Odette, who was still doubled over, heaving water out of her lungs. She raised her head, completely frozen for a moment before taking my hand. I swung her arm over my shoulders, keeping her up entirely on the weight of my body.

"Sorry," She spluttered, "Fae and water don't mix."

I snorted, "Really? I hadn't guessed."

At that moment, she reminded me of Ti, back on a mission where she needed to swim out to some island for something or other, the details were hazy. I thought she was going to die that day, delaying the mission by a full three days before we were able to get back to base without Ti passing out the moment she stood up.

On instinct, Arnav came around the other side and grabbed Odette's other arm, pulling it over his shoulders also, not only opening up her lungs completely so she could at least try and breathe properly. We tried to move as quickly as possible, practically running across the now completely empty field as we attempted to get back to the Representative's tent.

As we arrived, we placed Odette upright on the medics bed, the medic immediately holding a stethoscope up to her chest and began working. I took a step away, grabbing what looked to be a chicken and salad wrap and collapsed into the nearby chair. Arnav took the one opposite me.

"You moved up the wall very quickly." He commented, digging into the fish meal that sat in front of him.

I shrugged, "It was part of my job for a really long time. I've climbed higher and steeper with less."

"And what was your last job? Before being Luna of course." He kept going.

"I'm not Luna. Not yet anyway. And my last job? Well, it doesn't really matter, does it?" I said, narrowing my brows.

He lowered his head slightly under my gaze. "Of course not."

We were silent for a moment before I decided to keep talking. "And what about you? Got someone back home cheering you on?"

Arnav paused. "No, not yet."

I could feel the tension. Obviously, there was a lot of issues surrounding that topic. So I let it go.

"You know, it doesn't matter that you're breaking the rules to be the Representative. Admission rules have been broken for years, of course, not usually by you wolves, so pretentious, but us Fae and Sirens? It's all favouritism when it comes to trials."

I leaned forward, eyes wide, "What do you mean?"

He shrugged, "I've been tied up to the Royal Family for years, my cousin is the Queen's daughter, of course, she's been lost for years, but the point still stands. And Odette, her mother's been screwing the High King for decades. Rumours are that she's his illegitimate daughter, but it's rather hard to get confirmation with things like that."

I sat back, horrified. "Oh my god."

"Rulers are decided through power, and it only makes sense that the best representatives, the most powerful representatives, are the ones that aren't even allowed to compete." Arnav finished. "And you know, when your Bloodlust Alpha finally decides to step back into being King, it will only make more sense."

I quickly decided that I didn't want to keep talking with Arnav, letting him to his meal and me to my own. As soon as I finished, I went and changed into a spare outfit, considering the fact that I could still feel the water lingering on my skin.

By the time I returned out to the front of the tent, Odette was now moved from the medic table, along with at least ten news reporters and journalists crowding at the entryway.

When she noticed me, Odette began to speak, "They're sending someone to get rid of them now. We're instructed to not engage and stay quiet."

I shrugged, grabbing a drink from the fridge. "Fine by me, how much time do we have left?"

"Maybe about ten minutes?" She offered casually, inspecting her nails.

"Ms Verano, how were you able to scale the wall so easily?"

"Ms Verano, were you aware of the challanges coming into this part of the competition due to your inexplainable talent seen so far?"

"Ms Verano, please, look at the camera!"

I held my hand up in an act of ignorance, pretending that I couldn't even hear them. It took only a moment before a range of guards turned up out of the blue, dragging away any reporters that hadn't already run away and out of their sight.

Once again, we were left completely alone, and yet, it didn't feel as awkward as it had before. From underneath the lid of the material ceiling, I could see the stands beginning to fill up once more. I cracked my knuckles as I began to prepare myself. The moment that I saw an official walk over, I knew it was time to start again.

As I walked out into the centre, a large wall was set up with a range of weapons hanging off them.

Axes, swords, daggers and a range of weapons that I didn't even recognise.

I was waiting for at least five minutes before Alpha Montgomery started speaking again, explaining the next task.

"Again, we're keeping it simple! Fighting. Hand to hand combat. We'll be doing it in pairs, three rounds. Each representative will choose their weapon, and then they will begin. Arnav, Cassandra, you're up first."

We were unmoving for a moment, but as Odette stood back, I walked forward.

I already knew what I wanted, wrapping my hand around the elbow-length dagger that curved at the tip.

A small area was set up in the perfect viewing point of the field. I took my place standing in the corner, feet planted and hands raised, ready to attack.

After a few minutes, Arnav joined me in the square, while looking completely prepared, I could see the sliver of fear in his eyes.

As he gripped the weapon in his hand, I once again watched as he brought it to his mouth, whispering into the hilt.

I only gripped my weapon further.

The table of witches seemingly had floated closer, leaning forward and watching us intently. The middle, however, was exclusively watching me.

"The fight will start in three... two... one! Begin!"

I raised the dagger over my head, prepared to strike until I noticed something in the corner of my eye.

Red.

Fire.

The Stands were on fire.

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