Loveless/ a POWERLESS fanfiction story

Chapter 30: Blair

At the edge of the forest, I see a crowd of jubilant townspeople. They stand pressed tightly together, their faces alight with anticipation. Cheers rise and fall in waves, mingling with the pounding of drums, their vibrations reverberating in my chest. Imperials line the perimeter, their pristine white uniforms gleaming so brightly that they almost hurt to look at.

They are waiting for the fight.

The Sights have already taken their positions, their eyes tracking every movement, but I do my best to ignore them. My focus is on the faces of the other participants, those emerging from the forest one by one.

And one of them killed my best friend.

My fists clench so tightly that my nails bite into my palms. I wish I were a Mind Reader, able to see into their thoughts and discern who it was.

I want to kill that monster.

Andy, Kai, Jax—they grew up alongside me and Sadie. They could have fought us for victory, competed for the glory. But could they have killed? Braxton... Braxton loved her. That leaves only them. The three strangers from the slums.

And then I see her. The Veil.

Her clothes are stained with blood, and in her hand, she clutches a large knife. The blade glints in the daylight, almost mocking me. Brian's words echo in my mind: She wanted to kill you.

Sadie was an experienced fighter. Her power allowed her to summon twelve spears, each as skilled as she was. In a fair fight, she could have defeated anyone. But what if it wasn't a fight? What if it was an ambush? What if she was attacked dishonorably, treacherously?

Before I rush toward the girl, I force myself to push aside my emotions and scan the crowd for one face. The one person who would understand my pain.

Braxton.

When I finally spot him, he's standing still, his gaze darting around in confusion. He doesn't know yet. I give him a brief nod. Our eyes lock, and in the next moment, he charges toward me, his movements sharp, as if he's about to tear me apart.

My second nod tells him everything.

His face twists with horror. He exhales shakily and stops abruptly. His shoulders tense. We stand among the trees at the forest's edge, no more than five steps apart. I see something inside him shatter, then reassemble into something harder, colder. I recognize that expression immediately.

"Who?" he asks curtly, his voice tight.

I glance at the Veil, then back at Braxton, nodding again. No words are necessary.

And in that instant, out of the corner of my eye, I catch sight of Paedyn Gray raising a bow. The string is drawn, her hands steady, unwavering. She's aiming directly at me.Standing beside her is Enforcer. It seems they've formed an alliance, which means this girl might climb higher than I'd anticipated. She's already adept at playing with the royal heir, and now she's gotten close to another son of the king. She's carving her path to the palace, and it's my job to stop her—by my father's orders.

Braxton attacks the Veil, his steps swift, his movements precise. And I focus all my attention on the Silver Savior.

There are only minutes left until the Trial ends, but she's aiming her bow at me, fully aware that her shot could kill.

Another sсlum rat capable of cruelty?

She draws closer. Deep down, I hope she'll give me a reason to doubt my decision. I wait for her to strike first, but Paedyn merely keeps her bow poised, ready. That's when I decide to provoke her.

"Don't you know that alliances ruin all the fun?" I taunt, my tone dripping with mockery.

Fear pulses through my mind. I want to hear the drums signaling the end of the Trial. I need to hear them before it's too late.

"I would say I'm happy to see you're still alive, but apparently I'm a horrible liar, so why try." Paedyn sighs, her face completely unflinching.

Is she serious?

I take another few steps forward. About ten paces away, light flickers—an Illusionist dispels a false stone wall, and Kai's shout pierces the air as he rushes past, carrying a bleeding Jax in his arms.

Are all sсlum rats this treacherous?

Andy appears beside Paedyn, shifting into the form of a wolf. Together, they lunge at me.

Andy snaps her jaws, her movements sharp and vengeful, and I manage to raise my hand, hurling her backward with a telekinetic pulse. Paedyn charges at me with a dagger, slicing into the flesh of my thigh. Pain tears through me, sharp and relentless, and I cry out, but I refuse to fall.

Everything blurs into chaos: flashes of faces, splatters of blood, waves of agony. Every inch of my body screams in exhaustion, but I don't allow myself to collapse.

I hurl my own dagger at Paedyn, but she dodges, the blade grazing her arm and leaving a deep gash. Her eyes ignite with fury, and I can see it—she wants to do the same to me.

The rhythmic pounding in my ears grows louder, and I suddenly realize it's not my heartbeat—it's the drums. Loud, deafening. But I don't care. Now, I must kill not one but two participants.

Two sсlum rats.

Two savages.

Paedyn lunges at me with the ferocity of a wildcat, and I don't react in time. Her knee slams into my ribs, knocking the breath from my lungs. Pain erupts in my chest, sharp and unbearable. Her face is close—twisted, focused. I try to raise my hand to push her off with my telekinesis, but my strength has deserted me. My head throbs with exhaustion, my thoughts muddled as if a thick fog has smothered my mind.

She grabs my wrist, pinning it to the ground. My palm brushes against damp moss and clinging dirt, but my dagger is gone—left somewhere out of reach. I strain every muscle to break free from her grip, but her weight and strength hold me down.

Sticky fear courses down my spine. My Tele has failed me again.

Her hot, scalding breath grazes my face, and I realize I have no other choice. If I must, I'm ready to sink my teeth into her throat.

But before I can act, she's yanked away, the motion so sudden it disorients me. My body falls back against the ground, my lungs greedily pulling in air, but every breath feels like a blade slicing me from within.

It's an Imperial.

I'm lifted too. Strong arms haul me up by my shoulders, dragging me in the opposite direction. The crowd around us roars like a disturbed hive. Voices shout, but I can't make out the words. Everything blurs, as if I'm viewing it all through frosted glass.

The Trial is over.

I feel my feet barely touch the ground, dragging limply beneath me. My vision sharpens slightly, as though something inside me has clicked into place, and I finally register what's happening around me.

I see a girl's body lying motionless on the ground. Her face is obscured from my view, but I know who it is. Beside the body stands Braxton. I can't tear my gaze away from him, even as I'm pulled farther away. The drums thunder, the crowd roars, voices cry out in celebration, but it all blends into a hollow noise that can no longer touch me. All I hear is silence, heavy with labored breathing and the faint, muted thud of my heartbeat.

The Imperials drag me toward one of the carriages, but before I'm shoved inside, my eyes find Braxton's towering figure once more.

And as I turn away, my lips twist, almost involuntarily. I do something I never thought myself capable of.

I smile. I smile at her death.