Behind My Shadow - Book Three

21. Block Out the Noise

I join the rest of my Royal Court on one large balcony that overlooks the enormous, sprawling arena. The sandpit looks like it's full of crushed gemstones that blindingly sparkle in the sunlight pouring down over us.

The Judge is already giving her speech, explaining the rules and outcome of this Labor but I'm hardly paying her any attention. My mind is still weighted down with thoughts of Vyndren's abusive past clouding my attention. I can't believe my poor Dark Rider has only known such darkness and pain! I was hoping that at leastwise maybe his human life had been decent to him but now I realize it was every bit as violent as his Vampire life. God, I wish I would've known half of this stuff when I was with him. I wish I could've -

"Darie!" I startle as I suddenly register Adisonia beside me. By the exasperated look she gives me, I'm guessing she's been trying to get my attention for some time now. "What the bloody hell is with you?!"

"Oh, sorry," I mumble. "I'm just...distracted."

"Obviously," she huffs and snatches a fan from her Knave. "Luckily for you I won't be competing in this tournament otherwise you'd have to worry," she sneers.

"Really?" She has my attention now.

She gives me another exasperated look. "Honestly, Darie, weren't you listening to a bloody thing she was saying?" She gestures at the Judge with her fan. "You're only going to be going up against the Queens and Kings. I won't have to compete in a tournament like this until your daughter turns eighteen and then I might have the pleasure of besting an Alice in the ring." She chuckles smugly.

I roll my eyes. "I am not having any kids."

She scoffs. "We'll see." I shoot her an annoyed look. "What's the matter?" She taunts with a sneer. "Can't Vampires get girls pregnant?"

"Adisonia!" I frantically look around, wildly hoping no one heard that. Doesn't look like it. I snatch her fan from her and whack her arm with it. "Not so loud! And shut up about him, will you? I have enough on my mind." Meaning all my thoughts are already circulating around him.

"Okay, okay!" She cackles as she takes her fan back. It's only a moment later though when she speaks again. "Is that really what you're wearing for a Labor?" She curls her lip with disgust as she looks me over.

"It's travel accommodating," I retort. She's right though, it's not a fancy outfit or an overflowing ballgown like what I usually wear for these ceremonies. I'm just wearing a pair of bright red skinny jeans, a black and white striped crewneck shirt and a varsity jacket with a giant red "18" over my left lapel. My hair is pulled back into a high ponytail but I did do my makeup so I honestly don't know what more she could expect.

"Promised Alice!" The Judge now beckons for me to take the center spot on the balcony. I oblige. "If you are successful in conquering this Labor, you will gain enough strength and power to fuel an army with magic," I smile with disbelief and faintly shake my head. "However after you accomplish this Labor, you must not under any circumstances use any magic or summon any spells until your sixth Labor where you will be challenged to lock in your powers in the Labyrinth of Fate."

I gulp but smile a bit. As daunting as that Labor sounds, I am truly dying to have at it. If I can accomplish my sixth Labor and solve the Labyrinth, my magic will be everlasting, I'll never suffer from another powerdrop ever again. I can't wait for that day. But that day will only come if I manage to conquer this Labor, my fifth one.

"Do you understand these rules?" The Judge asks.

"I do," I gravely nod. Beat the Royals in the spirit duel with our animal souls. Check. Don't use any magic after the Labor or else everything I just gained will avalanche away from me and I'll be weakened for my next Labor. Check. Honestly though, I don't see it being a challenge for me not to summon any magic after today's Labor. I'll be fine! It's not like I'm an addict or whatever and use magic for everything.

"Excellent," the Judge bows to me before facing the crowds again. "May the fifth Labor commence!"

The Royals begin fanning out, heading to their designated balconies placed around mine.

"Remember what I told you," Queen Eastyn whispers to me as she passes me. "Don't go for the obvious weaknesses! These are animal soul spirits!" Her wife tugs her along but she manages to call over her shoulder at me. "They feel whatever you feel amplified through spirit!"

"Thanks!" I anxiously call.

"Eastyn," the Queen of Hearts scowls at the fellow Queen. "You weren't giving the little child any pointers, were you? That's against the rules, you know!" She waves her finger in her face.

Queen Eastyn scoffs and swats her hand away. "Yeah, but pep talks aren't illegal, now are they, Regina?" She curls her lip with disgust before flipping her fan open and briskly waves Regina off. "Good luck!" She calls to me before following Queen Lyna up to their balcony.

"Thank you!" I call. I move closer to the banister and stare down at the pit a few stories beneath me. I can't help but wonder if Vyndren ever watched any of the fights or if he was locked up until it was time to Heal the gladiators.

The Kings and Queens of my Court all begin summoning their animal soul spirits in bursts of sizzling magic. I widen my eyes with equal parts alarm and amazement. First off, how the hell am I supposed to fight all of them at once? And second of all, wow. Just wow. They all look so intense!

The Queen of Hearts' animal soul spirit is an enormous black and green anaconda the size of a building. It hisses viciously as it coils around itself, glowering up at me with chilling pale purple eyes.

I anxiously flex my fingers on the banister as I meet its murderous eyes. That's Adarina's killer, I think with churning pain as I lift my eyes to meet Regina's in her balcony beside mine. You killed my mother. My fingers curl into a fist.

The other Royals' animal soul spirits wait in anticipation for mine to join them in the ring. Queen Eastyn's animal is an impossibly huge white ox, her wife's is a gorgeous swan. The King of Hearts is a bullfrog, and the Kings of Spades are a ram and a silky mink. The Queen of Clubs has a beautiful peacock and her husband has majestic stag. They each look so beautiful and intimidating, I almost panic until I remember what my animal soul spirit is.

I swiftly lift my hand and readily manifest my legendary spirit into its lifeform.

The mythological Angelus Reprobi rapidly morphs from the mountain of blazing white sparkles and now lifts her wings high into the air with grace, commanding the attention of every living creature in the arena.

I smile with pride as I look over the pearly white Jabberwocky unicorn hybrid. The audience is so enamored that they are silent for a moment as they watch my animal soul spirit display her stunning wings and rears back on her cloven feet. Everyone bursts into cheers and thunderous applause.

My Angelus Reprobi is absolutely glowing with pleasure, happily waving her wings at the crowd, basking her moment.

But suddenly Regina's snake springs forward and crashes into my animal, bringing the mighty hybrid to the ground as the snake savagely wraps around her throat and front leg.

I shoot Regina a glare but she isn't looking at me, she is cackling as she pours more strength into her animal soul spirit. I suddenly gasp for breath as I feel something seize my heart. Damn it, I've never been in spiritual combat like this before!

I close my eyes and force myself to dig deep, summoning more conviction from my spirit and finally my hybrid is able to stagger up to her feet and uses her clawed forepaws to wrench the snake off. The hybrid hurls it into the other souls that eagerly rush forward for combat.

Okay, I guess we're really in the throes of it now.