Secrets

The Choosing

I crept back up to the crowd and took my seat as the announcer, a black, silky python, continued, "Yesss, asss Burlle wasss sssaying, thessse are passst SSSkull Victorsss. Now, now, let usss sssee...Ah, yesss. We have the handsssome Drake, winner of lassst year'sss Game. Very promisssing. But, wait, do I sssee the great Gudya, winner of the four hundred and fiftieth Gamesss? Tough pick. The othersss are none other than Gressseld, Lodin, Werop, Hedratsss--"

I zoned out as he recited all of the Bones. I lazily directed my attention to the crowd, and something caught my eye. In the crowd next to me, where there was supposed to be seats, there was an open plain where a small mousy man was standing in the middle of a group of about fifty men. I slowly inched closer.

The man was saying in a mysterious tone, "You, you there. Yes, you. I believe...that he is a wraith!" Many men turned eagerly toward a broad shouldered man who merely nodded in turn. After this, some men dumped what looked like gold doubloons on a counter sitting next to the trickster.

My curiosity soon perked up for I had just heard Ebony's name being called. I hadn't even realized that I was subconsciously waiting for his name to appear, but oh well. I strained my ears to catch the snake's commentary over the crowd's rumbling.

"Ah, dear Ebony. He had a quick mind, that one. SSSo quick that many wonder how he won the Gamesss. Ebony...any hintsss?"

Someone shouted out in the crowd, "He's supposed to be dead! I can take you to his gravestone right this instant! That's how he won! He's some kind of wraith. Or maybe a ghost."

Ebony held up his right arm where the snake on top of a pile of bones lay and the crowd silenced. He shook with rage. "Lies! All lies!" he bellowed. "Hear I am, risking my whole life on the fact that you scum need to be entertained! I persevered through my last Games, and I never gave up. And what do I get? A man who wishes me dead." The words echoed through the stadium, causing the bleachers to quiver underneath its might. "Might I ask you, did you mean your attempt on my life failed? For I may only assume that from the words 'supposed to'. My dear man, do not go down this path of lies, thievery, and murder. Now, tell me!!!" We all jumped at the last sentence. I knew what Ebony was doing. Shouting to make himself more powerful. I turned to the man who had shouted out.

"N-N-No, I never meant anything of the sort," the man stuttered, "I-I have been to your grave is all. I-I just..."

"You just what?" Ebony demanded, his eyes narrowed.

The man finally retorted sharply, "Is your last name Euglas?"

Ebony's words faltered. He turned and became lost in thought. Finally, he said quietly, "I do believe I know who you are talking about."

My heart fell into my stomach. What was he going to do? The man laughed nervously.

"Are you talking about Ebony Euglas, son of Donir Euglas and Marie Sonnet? Are you talking about Ebony Euglas, brother of Zerriki Euglas and brother to Lilak Euglas? Are you talking about Ebony Euglas, who became a shade and lost contact with his family?"

The man nodded, looking more scared by the minute.

Ebony continued, his temper rising once more, "Because that man is dead. He was my childhood friend who just happened to have the same first name as me. And you accuse me of being him? We look nothing alike! Get glasses!"

The crowd roared with laughter. Quickly, the python cleared his throat. "Yesss, that wasss hilariousss. Now, I believe the firssst tasssk mussst be revealed." He paused, as if daring anyone to interrupt. "The firssst tasssk will truly be revealed when it isss time to do them. I, Pythagorasss, now will tell you of the Riddler. SSShe will give each of you a ssseparate riddle. All lead back to the firssst tasssk. SSShe appearsss in ssseparate formsss, ssso watch out. You may choossse one partner. Outside of the Bonesss. That will be all." And with a puff of smoke, the snake disappeared.

Ebony slowly stalked around the crowd, pausing every few minutes or so to talk to someone. I sighed in disappointment. Of course, he needs someone with actual brains. But still, I wished he would pick me. A man I remembered as Drake came up to me. He was the same man with dust colored hair that spoke to me when I arrived in the Bones' lounging area.

"You available?" he asked, blushing. I raised my eyebrow. Really?

"Um...do you know if Ebony has found a partner yet?" I asked casually, then hastily added, "you see, I am his cousin, so just wanted to make sure."

He nodded and replied, "Ya, some German scientist he took."

I looked around as if surveying the crowd, but really, I was looking for Ebony. At last I found him. He was in deep conversation with a girl about my age. She was blonde, and wore a lab coat.

"Uh, so you are available?" a voice cautiously asked.

I turned to the man and cocked my head. "Yeah, I guess I am. By the way, what's your name?"

He turned and shook my hand. "Drake. And yours?" So I was right.

A couple of girls interrupted me and squealed, "Oh, Drake, can we be your partner?" Drake mumbled something to them and they turned away, crestfallen.

"...my name's Harley," I stated absentmindedly. He beamed at me and I finally got a good glimpse of him.

He was probably my age. His eyes were a majestic dark blue that twinkled and sparkled. He had a lighter complexion than most and, as I previously said, his hair was tousled and was a dust color. As I gazed into his eyes, I realized that this might be fun.

We walked down the bleachers and back into the Bones room. He led me down multiple passages and hallways until we finally reached his quarters. I glanced at the spare bed and was about to ask him where I was supposed to sleep, when something caught my eye.

A beautiful tree wove its way around the room, random branches sticking out of nooks and corners. It was a worn tree, with its bark mangled and torn. But still, it was beautiful.

"This--This tree, it's..." I began in awe.

"I know what you are going to say. It's horrible," Drake sighed.

"No, no. It is beautiful. I love it," I whispered. His expression changed from sour to ecstatic in a matter of seconds.

"Really?" he whispered back. I nodded and he dashed toward me and pulled me into a bear hug. Surprised by his affection, I patted his back as he said, "No one's ever, ever, loved my tree. They keep telling me to get rid of it, but it has been there since I was a baby. You don't know how much this means to me. I--"

He was interrupted by the creaking of the door. We hastily released each other, but the damage was done. Ebony had seen us.

He said stiffly, "You and your partner are to attend the Hall for dinner." I nodded and smiled at Ebony, but he just continued to stare at Drake, as if I wasn't there. He then turned and exited out the door.

"He seems...very protective," Drake said to the air.

"Yeah, we cousins have to stick together," I replied, holding back my overwhelming sadness. He is a shade, I told myself.

"I think we should get going," he said.

I gestured ahead of us and we walked down the various hallways until we reached a grand door made of what looked like gold. We pushed open the door and the light blinded my eyes.

At once, we were thrown to the ground as a voice growled, "Tie them up."