The Orcus Games: Mistress V (Book 2 in The Orcus Games Trilogy) - COMPLETE

CHAPTER ONE - LET THE GAMES BEGIN! (Part 1)

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CHAPTER ONE - LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

(Part One)

Watching Ardan fight for his life as he slipped over the edge of the waterfall made me want to scream in panic. ‘Is that your favourite to win? Is that why you’re taking such a keen interest in that one?’ Darcy asked. I took my hand away from the main ‘screen’ and composed myself.

The ‘screens’ were a number of translucent animals resembling large sea cucumbers beaming a live feed of the games through their bodies. Tied to the cave walls to prevent their escape, they floated around, as if they were bobbing in the ocean, as they documented the progress of each prisoner.

Darcy was a researcher on the show for the vampire division, and had always had a little crush on me, from the day he started the job. Young, eager and easily manipulated by my feminine charm, he had his uses - not least when I needed special favours that only an obedient assistant could carry out.

I ignored his question and looked at the other screens to continue monitoring where the other prisoners were in the Orcus Games’ artificial environment. ‘Right, we need to get this information down to Aries so he can start the show,’ I answered coolly as I handed him a fresh leather binder with all of the research, statistics of the contestants and their whereabouts in the jungle.

Darcy grasped the folder and ran out of the cavern as I continued to watch Ardan struggle to escape the rapids. ‘Victoria! You’re needed downstairs!’ one of the guards bellowed, at which I was escorted down the hallway to the doors to each arena.

‘What’s the problem?’ I barked as I regarded his slimy exterior with disgust.

‘One of the prisoners is already dead; we need you to fill in the paperwork on who will go in next,’ he replied. I flicked my long red hair over my shoulder and walked away in exasperation.

‘Please say it isn’t Ardan…’ I prayed, as I walked into the surgery section and witnessed the blood bath before me. Dr. Chronos stood in front of the deep red-stained slab, cutting into sections of the half-covered body, removing the spikes and teeth the hunter had lost during its fight with this contestant. The doctor was no longer wearing a pristine white overall, but a body suit drenched in crimson. I slowly walked over to the massacre scene, avoiding the flesh and organs that now dominated the floor. ‘What do we have here?’ I asked, trying to remain calm and confident.

‘Ahhh, Victoria. How are you today?’ he asked brightly as he pulled his soaked claw out of the body and extended it towards me.

I backed away, not wanting to ruin my freshly painted nails. He laughed at my aversion. ‘I’m fine, Dr. Chronos. Just coming to see who didn’t survive the first zone,’ I replied. He whipped off the saturated sheet, revealing a slaughtered elf with its insides hanging out.

‘Do you want any lunch to take back with you? There’s plenty here…’ A wave of relief swept over me and all I could think about was how fast I wanted to get back to the screens to watch Ardan. I thanked him for his offer, but not even the sweet taste of elf blood could lure me away from the cavern now. Bidding him a goodbye, I promised I would visit more often, and ran as fast as I could back to the office.

His face dominated the screen (and my mind) and I blindly signed the documents that were placed in front of me. I even allowed the workers to go on longer breaks, just so that I could absorb every inch of Ardan.

Sat daydreaming about how our lives could be after he escaped, I started planning trips to Europe, romantic evenings beneath the stars and replacing his daughter with our own designer child - one that we both could pick together to join our perfect family. There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him. As soon as I helped him escape, he would realise this and be in my debt forever, ‘He’s a cutie, isn’t he?’ one of the researchers commented as she joined me in my viewing.

Young, cute and naïve, with just the right amount of feminine allure to help her survive her vampire thirst, she wasn’t a threat - just an annoying pest who would do anything to be like me. ‘Don’t you have work to do?’ I snarled. She jumped back, observing my steely glare.

‘Yes, V - Victoria…’ she stammered and ran over to Darcy, who quickly showed her the door.

‘Where is he now?’ he asked, positioning himself next to me in a feeble attempt to get closer. I smiled at his enthusiastic face and brushed my head against his ear.

He panted with delight as I whispered seductively, ‘He’s in the Abraxas Zone. If you could get me up close and personal with one of the harpies, I’ll make it worth your while…’

He jumped to his feet and looked at me in confusion. ‘Why do you want to go near those animals? They’ll kill you within a second...’

He was right; the Abraxas Zone was the first zone all contestants landed in and it wasn’t an easy section to get through. Set in the swamp section of the virtual world, the bitter crossbred mutant witches killed anything that they could get their hands on. Resentful of any natural beings, they envied pure breeds and took pleasure in killing them, using their body parts as trophies of successful exterminations.

Crossed between witches and devilish harpies, these purpose-bred creatures of the swamp were churned out of the Underworld with the sole purpose to kill in this game.

Constantly tested and tweaked, the harpies in their current form were winged monsters with the bodies of scorpions, attacking with a poisonous, deadly sting. With the oversized wings of bats - which, with one hit, could stun their victims - and the faces of witches, these mutants could also use the darkest magic to help them lure and massacre the contestants.

I sat there, watching Ardan drag himself out of the water, looking for shelter. Deep down, I wondered how long it would be before he encountered the swamp hunters. I didn’t have to wait long. ‘He’s only a mile away from them!’ Darcy squealed and clapped with glee, looking at the other monitors - he was pleased that the object of my affections could be eliminated within an hour.

I started panicking. ‘I’m just going to see Dr. Chronos for a minute,’ I lied, at which point I exited quickly and ran down the corridor. Passing the surgeon’s room, I headed straight towards the main entrance where I was stopped by two enormous, terrifying henchmen.

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