Five Kingdoms

Chapter 4

After rounds of questions, it finally comes to an end as we are sent off to prepare for our physical and mental tests. We are each led into a slightly smaller room filled with couches and armor lined along the walls, and once all six of the potential rulers are within the room, the doors are closed behind us. No guards, no family, just the six of us. Cara sits in the middle of the room on a blue velvety couch, but the rest of us stand, not knowing if we can trust one another. I lean my back against the only bare wall and cross my arms. Vance looks around the room, studying each of us, and glances over at me. His light green eyes evaluate my posture as I raise my eyebrows at him. He doesn't look like his dad as much as Ryn does, instead of a head of snow, he has brown hair with a single white steak in the front, making his eyes pop. It seems that Ryn may have got the white hair but missed the green eyes. Curiosity comes over me as I wonder who his mom must be, for it seems he's a mix between Yarrow and something else. Vance stops evaluating me as his eyes land on mine and smirks, seeming to find something funny. My eyes narrow, but I eventually look away. Ivory is twisting a blade through her fingers, causally, of course. She knows people are trying to read each other, so she puts on her mask, making it seem as though she lives and breathes violence. I've met girls like her before; they are typically the most scared. I look at Ryn playing nonchalant, braiding a tiny piece of hair to lay over his fluffy white locks. I don't see fear in his eyes, and yet I don't believe him to be as calm as he pretends. Cara clears her throat as everyone's glance turns to her.

"Why don't we get to know each other?" She asks, looking hopeful

In the corner of my eye, I see Ryder sit down on the floor, "We could do that." He says as if he's not interested, but I'm sure he secretly is, hoping to learn something to use against us

"Great, why don't we all say our favorite color?"

"I'm sorry, but what kind of question is that?" Asks Ryn, who also decides to sit on the floor as well.

"Well, what do you suggest?"

"What's everyone's worst fear?" He asks

Everyone seems to stiffen, looking away from Cara and Ryn. We all fear our weaknesses.

"Seeing as everyone is opposed to that idea, why don't we state our ages?" Ryder asks

"Easy, 18....and my favorite color is blue, in case...that matters," Cara says awkwardly.

"Mine is green, and I'm 19," Says Ryn

"Red, obviously, and 18," Ivory says as she sits down on the other side of the couch from Cara.

My eyes look around the room, landing on a small round table in the back of the room covered in ice and food. My stomach growls, but I ignore it, looking back at the group of people in front of me.

"Same age as Ryn, seeing as we are twins and purple," Vance says, glancing at me, and I realize he means the exact shade of the dress I'm wearing. I roll my eyes to get him to look away, but he doesn't, so much so everyone looks toward me, causing me to slouch even more against the wall, clearly annoyed.

"18, and I don't have a favorite color," I say

Curiosity laces in Vance's eyes, but I only frown at him and look away.

"What about everyone's type?" Ryder asks

"You mean in romantic relationships ?" Asks Ivory

"What else would I mean." He says with a smirk

"Does it matter? None of you are even close to my type"

"I agree, it's not important right now," I say, looking at Ryder

His pink eyes latch onto mine, "I disagree, darling."

I glare at him with frustration, what an absolute tool.

"Brunettes," Vance says, staring at Ryder with slight disdain

"So yourself?" I ask

He turns to look at me, clearly finding me funny, as he smiles, "Who else would it be?"

I roll my eyes again, hoping to leave this room soon.

"Someone brave," Cara says, looking up and around the room, "Someone better than me."

"Shouldn't we be focused on the tests?" Asks Ryn

"Yes, but we seem to be surrounded by morons," Ivory states

"What about you?" Cara asks, directed to Ryder

"Depends on who's around me"

"How lucky that makes her," I say sarcastically

"Oh, she's very lucky if she can bag me." He says with a smirk

"Sure, just like she's lucky to find out you care more about a quick bang than her."

"Talking from experience?" He asks

I stand up straight and walk over to him.

"Stand up," I demand

"Why?"

"Cause I don't kneel to the likes of you."

His smirk leaves his face as he stands, and I walk in front of him to grab his neck and push him against the wall. I put my mouth by his ear and whispered, "No one, and I mean no one, would ever be stupid enough to mess with me, and if they were," I say, looking into his pink eyes that have gone wide and seem to become an even darker shade of pink. "I can promise a dagger through their heart. You wouldn't want that, would you?"

"Depends on the day." He breathes

"Don't come near me with your suicidal tendencies because I won't hesitate to follow through with them."

"Are you sure about that?" He asks, "Cause you seem lonely, and you haven't even followed through with your own."

"Damn you," I whisper angrily

"You know your weakness? For someone with endurance, it's not hard to rile you up."

"Endurance can mean all kinds of things, for instance, I can endure pain and mental games because know if I do, I'll have the opportunity to get revenge."

"You see, you say that, and yet I don't believe you."

"Really? Cause your eyes tell a different story. You're afraid of me."

"And that makes you happy? You only want me to be afraid to protect yourself."

"You don't deny you are afraid of me"

" You didn't deny your fear either."

"Ummm....guys, I think we are about to begin," Cara says, pointing to the door that is slowly opening

I let go of Ryder and take a few steps back, my mind all over the place as I try to focus. I feel his eyes on me as I look up to the door, ignoring his stare. In walks a guard who seems to sense tension in the air as his eyebrows furrow, "If you could follow me, it's time to test your weaknesses."