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Chapter Twenty Nine

NERISSA

    Anakin saddles up beside me before grabbing me by my arm. "We can go now, we did her challenge."

I frown at his anger. I am pretty positive he is pissed off at something but the way he is clenching his drink makes it seem like he is more pissed at the fact that he isn't drunk. The wine he smells like tastes comforting in my mouth as I swallow the last drop.

Evangeline cuts through the crowd as if she heard Anakin's inclination that it is time to go. I stand in front of her with my head held high. She is smiling, eyes trained on me like a snake, and I can not help but feel like the night is not over.

"That was quite the dance you did."

"Yes," I agree with a smile. "I hope you found it satisfactory."

"Very." Her eyes twinkle.

"So, we're done?"

"It's not over yet, Nerissa, my guests must be entertained."

I look at her, rather conflicted and anxious. "What do you mean?"

My eyebrow raise as she gestures towards the men at the doors. "Bring them in."

The doors open, revealing fifty sea nymphs. They glide over the floor, quiet, and deadly like the arc of a sword coming down. I take in a deep breath before stumbling back into Anakin.

"Your dance was phenomenal." She says before backing her way into her throne. Tai slips behind her, standing where he will forever stand. "But a dance can be much more than that. A dance can be a battle and us gods love bloodshed before all."

"Here I thought you were going to go easy on us." Anakin says snarkily.

Evangeline smiles, "This is easy, gentle warrior."

"Gentle?" He says with a wry smile. "Your mistake is thinking I'm gentle."

"Your mistake is thinking I am blind."

"What do we have to do?" I cut in sharply.

Evangeline's eyes peer into me. "Survive."

"They're trained to kill you." Tai announces, a grim expression on his face. "You must prove yourself and even more so you must prove you know each other."

I clear my tight throat. "I barely know him."

"I don't think that's true," Evangeline says, watching, always watching — seeing more than we see. Tai with his endless eyes staring into me, I have heard of a man with death in his eyes, and as I look upon him I can not help but see a flash of movement. A future that my life will be taken in. Future.

I am Nerissa Solely, I will not die today.

"Fuck this." I hear Anakin's tart swearing as he takes his coat off and draws his dagger. He lowers himself into a stance I know all too well. He's bracing himself to fight.

"They are trained to kill you." Evangeline comments. "They will not stop until you are dead. I suggest you do not die first."

I follow Anakin's lead and get into the same fighting stance as him. I stare at Evangeline, "Why are you doing this?"

"Because you must earn your place."

Her simple words are the last thing that transpires between us as a lash of a whip cracks the air. One of the nymphs tried to take my leg off with a single whip. Anakin and I turn back to back, rotating in purposeful circles.

"I don't know how well I'm going to do at this Anakin."

"Do your best, Princess, our life depends on it."