Fireflies And Butterflies (ON HIATUS)

13║First Competition

Czarina's heart thumped gently as she tied her hair into a ponytail. She was staring at herself in the mirror, her face blank. When she was done, she let her hands fall to the zipper of her racing attire—it was brown in colour, with several thick yellow lines running down and up its sides and around the collar and cuffs. She zipped up the top and placed a finger on the embroidered number that was on her right breast; it was the number 15. Under it was an animal that looked like a bee, HORNET written under the logo. Czarina sighed and picked up her helmet. She observed herself in the full-length mirror for the last time before she walked out of the dressing room.

The moment she walked into the hallway, Czarina spotted Lulana and Maimouna. The two of them were in a conversation. From the way Lulana looked—pale, wide-eyed, her eyebrows scrunched up, and her teeth gritted—she guessed that Lulana wasn't the one who had started the conversation, and she was looking like she didn't even want to have it. Czarina huffed and walked to them. When she got closer, Maimouna stopped talking and smiled at her. She bobbed her head in greeting and walked away, her long black dress making her look like a queen of the night.

"What the heck was that?" Czarina hissed as she watched her leave.

"Nothing," Lulana swiftly said in a choked voice.

Czarina raised a brow at her. She rolled her eyes and moved towards the exit. She heard Lulana follow her as she stepped into a side door that led to the room that was filled with the other racers. Their various assistants and helpers were busy preparing them, checking to see if they were ready. Czarina moved to a corner and sat on a chair. She placed her helmet in her laps and watched everybody as they kept on with their businesses.

"Hello Princess."

Czarina started and snapped her head to the side. She lifted her head and her eyes became extremely wide at the sight of her brother. "V-Vladimir."

Vladimir held his smig smirk as he snorted but then glared at Lulana. He stared at her like she was a piece of persistent gum under his shoe before he rolled his eyes and stared at his sister again, his smirk returning to his face. "So... you made it. You still have the guts to go against me don't you?"

She swallowed, her eyes flicking to Lulana. She caught the servant's small frown that she was giving to Vladimir. "It's... I-It's not like that. I... I just—"

"Prepare to be exposed tonight," he said in a quiet, rough voice. "Mark my words." And that was how he left, leaving his words in his place.

Czarina gazed at her brother's back as he marched back to his corner. She found it difficult to breath and started rubbing her chest. She began to heave, gently hunching over. Czarina's vision swayed. She jerked as she felt a cold hand on her shoulder. She looked at the hand and then at its owner.

Lulana flashed a small, incospicous smile at Czarina. "Don't let his words of threat scare you. Yumboes have the ability to feel the emotions of humans. I feel envy from him when the both of you are around each other."

"But why would he be envious of me? What do I have that he already doesn't have?"

"Well," Lulana said, taking away her hand. "We'll find out today."

She stared at her, her brows furrowed. "What do you me—" The loud cheers that filled the place interrupted Czarina. She gradually stood and saw as her father and two other men walked into the room.

The first thing her father said as he stood in front of the small group was, "wow. My company does really make great sportswear." The people laughed loudly and he flashed them a grin.

One of the men, his skin a deep tanned complexion, snorted deeply. He quirked a brow. "Great way to start your speech Sir."

"Oh, thank you Ymir."