The Unclaimed Throne

Chapter 2

Someone tapped on my shoulder. When I turned, it was the girl Leo had described, and I saw what he meant about creepy eyes. I mean, they weren't creepy, they were just...disorienting. The gold and green flecks looked like they were moving, but I put it down to the strobe lights and possibly alcohol.

"Dance with me?" Her voice was deep and husky, completely at odds with her angelic appearance. I nodded, in a sort of trance, and she pulled me away from Maria and Soledad, who cheered me on before returning to the dance.

"What's your name?" I shouted as she pressed herself onto me and moved to the beat.

"Call me Seraphina," she said directly in my ear. Call me Seraphina? Does that mean it's not her actual name?

"I'm Alyssa," I said instead of asking. She just nodded and I lost myself in the dance. It was wild and energetic, and exactly what I needed after writing a boring paper. The dance floor was so crowded we were pressed together, and her lips lightly grazed my neck every time she moved.

First, the bright lights and techno beat.

Then, a dark closet, her lips on mine, my hands in her silky hair. The music was nothing but a whisper, the only sound of heavy breathing and little sighs. Hard wood against my back, her hands on my waist and chest.

A trailing hand along my arm, and she was gone.

I blinked, confused. I knew I hadn't imagined it, and I saw her down the hallway, hair swaying gently.

An uneasy feeling nagged at my stomach. Weird things had been happening all night, and suddenly I felt like passing out. I shoved my way out of the closet, pulling my phone out of my pocket to call Maria. I didn't know what the hell was going on, but I knew we needed to leave.

"Where are you," I said as soon as she picked up, my voice deceptively calm. "We need to leave. Please."

"Okay. Are you all right?" I heard her say something undecipherable, and I assumed she was talking to Leo or Soledad.

"I'm fine, just... this whole thing feels weird."

"Okay, we'll meet you outside. I have Leo and Soledad." I blew out a sigh of relief as I hung up. I shoved my way through the crowd, but when I got to the door, the bouncer we had seen on the way in wouldn't let me out.

"What do you mean I can't leave? This is bullshit!" I yelled, but she didn't even blink.

"The host is making an announcement shortly. After that you are welcome to choose to leave, if that is still what you want." I seethed, then turned around to find Maria, Leo, and Soledad waiting with resigned looks on their faces.

"What the hell do they think they're doing?" Leo fumed, pacing. "They can't just keep us here."

Soledad and I exchanged a glance. "I...I think they can," she said quietly. "With the contract we signed. Any other inconvenience. I think being held hostage counts as an inconvenience."

"A fucking inconvenience?" Maria finally said. "This is more than just an inconvenience."

"I know," Soledad said patiently. "But a good lawyer would have a hell of a time arguing that it doesn't count as one."

"Ugh, I hate this," Maria whispered, voice wobbling a little bit. Little tears welled up in her eyes. I wrapped my arms around her and rubbed her shoulders gently.

"I know, but it'll be okay, we just have to make it through the announcement. It'll all be fine, alright?" She nodded against my chest.

A mic screeched somewhere in the room, and everyone visibly flinched. "Apologies," a smooth voice said as the feedback and music both quieted. "This'll just take a moment of your time." I turned to face the voice, arm still around Maria's shoulder. It was a young man speaking, maybe in his early twenties.

"What the fuck?" I heard Soledad whisper. I glanced at her but didn't take my attention of the man at the front. This man already gave off bad vibes, and coupled with the fact that Soledad rarely cussed, a lump of dread rapidly grew inside of me.

"Thank you all for coming. We hope you've all had a lovely time, and we'd like to introduce a new...game, of sorts." What? "From every group, one person please come up to the stage. You may have five minutes to discuss and choose." He smiled brilliantly before stepping away from the mic.

"I'll do it," I said immediately. "I'm good at party games."

"Are you sure?" Leo said hesitantly. "It sounds really weird."

"I'll be fine," I said firmly. I gently untangled my arms from around Maria and weaved my way through the crowd up to the stage. I was the first one there, but I lifted my chin and stepped up to the man who had made the announcement.

"Hello," he murmured so only I could hear, shaking my hand. "Lovely to meet you. You may call me Aries. Could I have your name?" Again with the 'call me.'

"You may call me Alyssa," I said, mirroring his phrasing. A look of something akin to disappointment flashed across his face.

"What a pretty name." He finally let go of my hand and I stepped back. Slowly but surely other people trickled onto the stage. Aries shook hands with them, but it didn't take nearly as long as it did for me.

"Heyyy," a drunken man slurred as he stumbled up to me. "You wanna be my partner?" he asked, raising his eyebrows suggestively. I wrinkled my nose and went to stand by two other girls who looked about my age. They nodded at me, and I smiled, but didn't start a conversation. My heart beat against my chest and I had to stop myself from fidgeting with my clothes or hair.

"Well, now that we have all our contestants, I'll announce the game," Aries said. "First, there's something you need to know about the hosts of this... party." His lips twisted into a cruel smile when he said 'party.' "We are they Fey of the Western Coast." At his declaration, a group of maybe twenty people stepped out of the crowd and formed a barrier of sorts in front of the stage, facing the bewildered audience. "Unfortunately, the late King Caelestis has passed into the Land Beyond, despite the fact he had no heir. All the humans gathered upon this stage shall compete to fill his throne." He paused, letting murmurs sweep through the crowd.

"What if we don't wanna," the drunk man slurred at Aries.

"Then you may leave." I hesitated, sensing a 'but.' "But if you do, your life and the lives of your companions are forfeit."