Great orange flames that seemed to take over the stands, completely hiding the audience behind. Time seemed to stand still as white noise filled my ears. Within a second, it was back to normal, screams and terror echoing through the stadium.

I couldn't see anything but the flames, lacing the air with thick, black smog that was quickly becoming unbearable. Two of the witches were in a frenzy, moving from the table and rushing towards where Alpha Montgomery had already fled. However, the third simply raised herself from the table, staying in position while chaos erupted. Her dress billowed around her, the locks of air singed with black.

Even from a distance, I could see it, the crumple of her collar, revealing a familiar mark on her collarbone.

Odette was unmoving eyes wide as her brain seemed to be running into overdrive. Arnav, however, had collapsed to the floor, choking on his breath as he stretched his hands out into the grass.

"Water," He coughed, "Please, please don't leave I need water."

Of course. The heat of the flames would be eating him alive, regardless of the fact that it wasn't near us.

No more hesitating, I hit Odette's arm, breaking her out of her trance as we each grabbed one of Arnavs arms. In a quick heave, we managed to send him tumbling into the lake that we had only just emerged from ourselves.

"Quickly, come on, quickly," I murmured, crouching down to the water's edge. His body had already been lost to the waters deep blue depths, so I simply held my hands together.

As bubbles floated towards the top I took a step back, just as Arnavs body came propelling out from the lake. A few heaves of tainted oxygen into his lungs and he looked like new as if the fire wasn't ravaging.

"We need to do something," I said, the screaming still running rampant. "And quickly, we don't have time to waste."

"I don't- I can't think," Odette stressed, her cool demeanour that I had gotten so used to now crumbling away, a perfect mask that was cracked into two.

"We're the safest people here, meaning that we are in the best position to help. The fire is being caused by magic, meaning there is only one way to get rid of it."I started explaining, the words tumbling over my tongue as I tried to get my hastily-made plan out as quickly as possible. "Arnav, how much water manipulation can you do?"

"A great deal, I can get it to the level of the grandstands but not wide enough to make any difference." He informed.

One second to think. "Well, lucky we have the wind on our side. Odette, I need you to carry the water out in a tornado and send it out to diminish the fire, could you do any more than that?"

She nodded, "Wind movement is my specialty, and a water tornado will be nothing, what else do you need?"

I spared a glance behind me, only to see Leo now dangerously standing on the table, considering animatedly with the ever-focused witch who seemed to be completely ignoring him.

"Just a burst, sending me over to that table where the man and witch are," I said. "Once the fire is out, leave the stadium and find everyone else, I'll come over the top of the Grandstands and be right behind you," I explained. "That work?"

Only a nod, standing opposite from each other as I moved in the middle, ready for Odette to send me launching.

I could already see the water in the lake churning, Arnavs tattoos glowing.

"It's been an honour, competing with you," Odette slipped in as she flexed her hand. "Maybe in the future, we can all catch up again, perhaps have a rematch of sorts since I doubt a winner will be announced anytime soon."

I cracked a smile, wind already tickling the back of my neck. "Of course, I'd say more, but I doubt I have the time."

A glint in her eye and a hint of a smile. "No, you don't."

And then I was sent flying.

I tucked my legs into my body, keeping one extended and slightly loose and I moved through the air in one, giant arch, cracking my knuckles as I came towards the table.

The witch? Completely unbothered, yet Leo's eyes widened to the size of saucers as he noticed me. A shame he decided to waste time scrambling through his pockets for a weapon, his body void of anything of use.

I extended my nails, sharpening them as I drew on my wolf. My feet planted against the wood and my hands went flying, knee up, arm across, nails to the face.

"Times running out Nightstalker," He taunted, "Come on, you came into the games without any weapon to fight me with? Would Master Skotus agree with the use of brute force or be angered by your lack of preparation."

"He'd be furious that you're compromising my mission, do you realise how suspicious this will be to Bloodlust? They enter a pack member with a particularly strange tattoo and suddenly, the stadium erupts on fire by people with the same mark? What the fuck did you think this was going to do?"

Another bloodthirsty smile as our fists continued to fly. "Scare them. Come on, don't tell me the idea of psychologically scarring hundreds of thousands of people doesn't fill you with glee?"

I silently grimaced, "Not when it compromises my mission. I'd be in my right mind to kill you right now."

A grin, "Ah, but you won't."

I turned my head for a moment, continuing the fight, as I realised that the fire was still burning. Now raging through the grounds and beyond the stadium itself. Yet the water tornado held strong, the two figures at the bottom barely weakened.

I moved to look at the witch, her concentration still unbroken. I needed to break her focus.

And so I jumped.

This time only to about a metre above the table, stretching out my leg and letting it collide with her torso, causing her whole bodies magic to pause as she focused on keeping herself afloat.

"Bitch!" She screeched as I sent her body moving out from near me and tumbling towards the floor with my other leg.

I'd deal with her later.

The fire disappeared as a final wave of water rushed over the structures, eliminating any flicker of orange that may have remained.

Now, to finish off Leo.

But as I turned to land another blow, he was already gone, his figure humped over as he stood on a distant tower. Even from this distance I could see the long open slashes in his uniform, red bleeding out with the surrounding skin already starting to bruise.

He said nothing, only gave a wave of his hand before slinking off into the crevices of the building, disappearing from my sight.

I could chase him, finish him off.

But I won't.

I jumped down from the table, drifting into a tree which I quickly grabbed, wrapping my hand around a charred, extended branch.

It was only to soften my fall. I let go after a second, paranoid that it would snap under my weight and send me into an even harsher fall.

I pulled myself up and walked over to where the witches body laid twitching on the floor. For such a powerful fire, you would think she would be stronger.

Apparently not.

Maybe all that fire had burned her out, leaving her dry of her sources that she used to create her magic in the first place.

"You work for the Organisation?"I asked, shoving my boot into the side of her face.

"I'm not saying anything." She spat. "I'll send them to kill you, I'm high ranked, you know!"

I snorted. "If you were high ranked, you would know who I was. On top of that, you would have been told not to insult me, but you haven't been told. What do you think that means?"

A whimper in response.

I leaned down, "It means I could kill you without even getting a slap on the hand."

She tried to move, to stand, to escape, but I pressed my foot down harder.

"You can't," Her words were muffled by the dirt that seemed to be shovelling itself inside her mouth. "You can't, you can't, YOU CAN'T!"

"Actually," I cooed, "I think you'll find that I can."

Another stomp before I picked her up entirely, twitching my fingers and snapping her neck. I watched as her eyes rolled to the back of her head.

I dropped her to the floor, large white patches on her skin where my fingers had been. I couldn't waste time, not anymore, I needed to get out.

The door was completely barricaded, a futile attempt to try and prevent the fire from spreading so, as I told Odette and Arnav, I would come out by going over.

I ran to the edge, gripping my hand against the black, ashy wood. I heaved myself up, trying to move fast as to not risk any more damage to the structure of the stadium.

I made it to the top and felt my breath lodge itself in my throat.

Dead bodies, no, burned bodies. Burned to a crisp. Crusted skin melted to the visible bones of their body, scraps of material from their clothes that may have survived. I couldn't even tell whether the bodies belonged to fae, wolf or siren. All I knew is that they hadn't been lucky enough to escape.

I kept moving.

I tried not to focus on the crunch of bones or puddles of blood beneath me as I walked. No, I focused on getting higher, to the furthest seat.

Once I did, I began the painstaking process of climbing down, nimble moving from shaft to shaft of wood, dropping myself two or three levels on multiple occasions just to try and make the process quicker.

By the time I had reached the ground, black soot covered my hand completely and lined my arms. I paid no attention, I needed to find the others.

I knew Alexander was fine. As I took the moment to hone into the bond between us, it was still as strong and vibrant as always. Through him, I could latch onto the wispy tendrils of Harmony and Vance, both of who seemed to be fine.

I moved back to the vine connecting Xander and I. I grabbed onto it, tugging slightly. Everyone would have retreated as far from the stadium as possible. So I let the bond guide me, ducking and weaving through houses and the harsh desert patches. The further I ran, I could hear Alexanders voice becoming louder and louder until I finally reached the large group of people.

"The stadium will be searched through by Desert Sun warriors and updates will be given. If you are a resident here, please return home immediately. If damage has been done, head to your nearest motel. Anyone else either must organise transport home through the direction of your Alpha or leaders. Find them as soon as I finish talking. Bloodlust, pack-issued cars will be arriving within the next ten minutes to escort you back home. Please move over here," He gestured to an area, "To ensure none of you is left behind. If you are, it's your duty to make your way home. Thank you."

As He turned around, presumably to keep making arrangements, he locked eyes with me. I watched as his entire body relaxed, running towards me without a second thought.

I took a few steps forward before his arms came crashing around me. He held me only for a second before beginning to fuss. Moving my hair around, running a finger over any bits of exposed skin, checking my uniform, any sign that I may be injured.

"You're okay," He breathed, in relief. I was pulled into his chest again. "You're okay. I know, I would sense if something was wrong, but goddess, I was so worried."

I chuckled. "I had it handled. As if some witch could beat me. And fire is fire, worst that's going to happen is I'll get burned."

He only pressed me closer. "Never again, never again." He murmured.

"You held yourself well, ordering them around. You're a natural you know." I complimented.

He rolled his eyes. "Alpha Montgomery was too distraught to do something and his Luna was busy dealing with him. The Fae and Siren rulers have no idea what to do in such a major situation without the advice of their associates and especially wouldn't know what to do in such a large crowd. Someone had to take charge, even just for the moment."

"Still," I said, "Smoothing over the upturned collar on his shirt. "It was kinda hot. You taking control like that. So what's happening now?"

His eyes were dark for just a moment before jumping back into action. "I've organised for Bloodlust, that's all I care about. Vance and Harmony have already left, I sent them off to prepare some things back at the pack. I've organised new vehicles for everyone so we can leave early, and a car for us. Just no chauffeur, which is fine. I can drive easily."

"So no goodbyes to anyone?"

He shook his head. "My priority is my pack and you. Getting you all home safely. I can sort of things like that at a later date. Right now, we just need to get home."

As if on command, the cars with a Bloodlust licence plate pulled into the area, people immediately piling in. Alexanders eyes glazed over, most likely sending out a mind link to the pack members that the cars had arrived. Basically, everyone who I had identified from Bloodlust was ready and waiting in their cars, some had already begun to depart. I watched as Xander ran his eyes over the crowd, double-checking.

"Ok, let's go." He said, grabbing onto my waist and laying his hand on the other side, his fingers brushing against the thinner areas of the leather as he rushed me towards a dark blue Prado sat on the side of the road, just out of view.

I moved from his grip and jumped into the passengers' seat. The car started up straight away, and I watched as Xander moved the gear stick and started to pull the car out of the ditch and onto the road.

I watched as we drove away, leaving the desert sand and the remainder of the Games behind as if it were now a distant memory.

I leaned against the back of the chair, tapping my fingers against the side of the door.

Fear was rising in my stomach, settling quickly and turning my nerves to ice.

Even as we completely left the Desert Sun borders, I couldn't shake away the feeling of dread.

At least I had a reminder, something I had desperately been trying not to think about.

My mission was coming to an end.

--------------------------------------