Royal Games

Chapter 23

Isaac and I successfully find sweets at the entrance gate, along with the second clue. The following clues lead us to the library, an accommodation block, and the theatre. Alone in the theatre, we discover a note that reads:

'Your final clue will not be easy to find. Go to the party and look behind.'

"I guess we're going to the party." Isaac says, giving me a look somewhere between a grin and a smirk.

"But what does it mean by 'look behind'? Could it mean the building? Or maybe the bar?" I suggest.

"It could mean anything, like behind a decoration."

"Well that's just great." I sigh.

"Cheer up. I'm sure we'll figure it out when we get there." He reaches out a comforting hand.

But something bright whizzes between us. We both turn to the source of disruption. I barely manage to duck out of the way of the next magical dart.

Isaac cries out in pain. I spin. His right wing has a hole in it. The surrounding white feathers have been charred black. I spy another spark of magic flying towards me and twist out of the way again. I think I've been found. We have to get out of here.

"Ally!" A familiar voice calls.

Whipping round, I see a sword flying in my direction. I catch it with ease. Without a pause, I ready to fight the attacker.

"Two against one." Liam calls from the direction the blades came from. We both charge for the assailant at the same time.

The attacker is skilled, I have to admit. He manages to fend off both me and Liam. We battle for a few minutes, blades clashing. Sweating and panting. Grunting and continuing. A few hits are landed on all three of us. No major damage.

Cheering alerts me of a gathering audience, presumably trick or treaters. From the excited sounds they make, they seem to think this is all a performance. A show to make the treasure hunt more interesting.

I land a blow against my attacker. He staggers, struggling to stand on his wounded leg. Slashing wildly, the flat edge of his blade connects with my face, knocking me sideways.

The sound of cheering fades away. I don't know why.

Liam takes his opportunity, running his sword through the assailant's heart. He slumps down to the floor. I can't see the fatal wound through his black clothing. But when Lim pulls out his sword, the silver metal drips crimson blood, slimy and ugly. My own sword clatters to the floor. I stare, and stare, and stare.

Gentle hands rest firmly on my shoulders. Sapphire silver eyes fill my vision.

"Snap out of it." A velvety male voice murmurs like a caress.

"He's dead." I whisper to myself. I've never seen someone die before. It makes me feel empty inside. A cold, dark void fills me. I never wanted anyone to die.

I barely manage to push away from the person in front of me before I throw up. Bile claws its way out of my throat, desperate to be free of me. I collapse.

But before I reach the floor, strong hands grab both my arms, holding me up and placing me on a proper seat. Both Liam and Isaac stare down at me with concern twinkling in their eyes.

"It's okay. You're okay." Isaac tries to reassure me.

"You killed him." I say quietly, turning to Liam.

He grimaces, and I notice his skin has turned icy pale. "I'm not proud of it. But I was trained to fight, and sometimes fights can lead to death."

I nod slowly.

"Can you explain to me what I just witnessed?" Isaac asks Liam.

"I'm not entirely sure."

"It must have been one of the assassins who attacked Princess Alyssa." I cut in. Liam gives me a questioning glance. "I must've been tracked here."

"But they're after her." Isaac states. "You only led them away from the princess."

"We can discuss this later. First, we need to clean up the mess." Liam doesn't seem pleased about what I've told Isaac.

The two guys deal with the assassin's carcass, as well as my vomit. I still feel half paralysed. Isaac keeps cringing. I suspect he's trying to hide the pain he must be in from his wounded wing.

"You don't seem too shocked by all this." I comment to Isaac.

"You know the bullies I told you about last week? They had a massive fight this summer. I watched the girl kill the guy."

"That's awful." My struggling mental state doesn't prevent sympathy.

"I stumbled across them at precisely the wrong moment. I threw up too. There isn't as much of an impact the second time round."

"Have you killed before?" I ask Liam.

He hesitates. "No." I wait for him to say more, but he doesn't.

"If you don't mind me asking, who are you?" Isaac questions.

"Liam. A palace guard, from Opa. I've had a few run-ins with Ally over the past year or so."

"That explains your skill with a sword." Isaac turns to me. "But I didn't know you were trained."

"I grew up practically next door to a palace. I often interacted with the guards." I glance around. "Why are we alone? What happened to the crowd?"

"That would be my spell. All unseelies will be deterred from this place for the time being."

"For how long?" I persist.

"Not much longer. We should go." He turns to Liam.

"Come on then."

Mess cleared; we all slink out of the theatre.

"What do you need?" Liam asks me, outside under the moonlight.

"I need it all to stop." I reply.

"Need what to stop?" Isaac asks.

"All of it. The lies. The danger. My mum." A single tear rolls down my cheek.

"You're scaring me."

"Party. Distraction. Oblivion." Each word tastes foreign on my heavy tongue. Each word harder to say than the last.

A cumbersome fog descends over my mind. Everything becomes jumbled. I can't tell yesterday apart from last year. Who am I?

"No!" A male voice screams. It might be multiple voices. I can't tell.

Black clouds drift across my vision, obscuring the world.

I feel the ground disappear from beneath me. There's a sense of déjà vu. I don't know why.

I fall into oblivion.