IMPRESS. [Book 1]

Chapter Fifty-Five: The Third Floor.

IMPRESS

Chapter Fifty-Five: The Third Floor.

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Natalya's POV~

The dark was a lovely place, I never knew it could be so pretty and so inviting.

I had yet to fully embrace it but giving the darkness a chance to consume me was making me feel the best I had felt in ages.

Now, a lot of eyes were on me, almost the entire arena had forgotten that there was a stage taking place right in front of them. Instead, they were fascinated by my "beauty", trying to make out who I was.

I kept my head fixed and eyes focused on the world Xander (I assumed) was projecting, refusing to turn around and look up to see the Royals.

As soon as I felt a cold breeze nip on my skin, I knew Zac's eyes had finally landed on me and that was confirmed when I heard him bellow "what could it possibly be-" and stop himself before muttering "never mind..."

I smirked devilishly and faintly laughed at both Zac's astonished-sounding reaction and at Ella who was failing to win stage four.

My poor traitor of a cousin was miserably trying to fight her way from a fierce red-head who seemed intent on killing her.

The biggest wave of happiness struck me when the red-head succeeded, winning the fight after shooting an arrow into my cousin's heart.

I bit my lip unable to restrain the smile that crept onto my face at the shriek that escaped my cousin, whilst at the same time clapping my hands in unison with the audience of IMPRESS.

Rose and Cassandra were left fighting head to head, each desperately trying to reach the end of the maze.

I could feel their frustration every time they turned a wrong corner and accidentally ran into more hunters.

However, as the stage progressed, Cassandra seemed to be the closest to the end because Rose had unfortunately turned a lot more wrong corners than she had.

Throughout the rest of the stage, the coldness never left my body which meant only one thing... Zac's eyes hadn't left me even once since my entry.

"And Cassandra Pierce wins stage four!!" The announcer howled in excitement as the crowds all jumped to their feet when Cassandra had found she had no more corners to turn. "Give it up for the girls of IMPRESS!"

As the announcer spoke, the three girls including Ella flashed out from their positions in the game and back into the real world.

Like I'd guessed Alexander had been the one projecting the stage since the black witch had bailed, and as he shut the world off, I noticed his wandering eyes checking me out from a distance.

I faintly smiled back at him.

Rose waved at the crowds with a grateful smile, Ella groaned with a forced smile and Cassandra bowed with a very victorious smile plastered on her face.

I would've flinched but I think it was the darkness that allowed me not to wince when Zac's voice boomed from behind, "People of Asten! The death of the next girl shall be postponed until later today..."

The audiences chattered amongst themselves before a mixture of responses that consisted of understanding nods, groans, hums, smiles and okays sounded.

"I have someone important I must speak to," I heard Zac add, sounding as if he was eager to see the 'someone important' he was mumbling about.