She couldn’t even get it out when the crowd went insane, cheering and shouting. People were beginning to worship them the way they did the First Family. Amelia smiled and waited until people began to settle down.
“We have the Chavis family and the only one missing is the Dubois. They unfortunately could not attend nor partake in such a rich tradition here in the Underground as their work is mostly above. We have had years of hiding…”
“Here we go,” Quan muttered as he leaned in close to Isis who quietly nudged him to keep silent.
“Years of keeping our magic, our culture, our traditions to ourselves only to come to a place like the Underground where we’re protected…or so we thought…”
People began booing as I looked around, seeing literal teenagers putting their thumbs down in the air.
“FUCK THE FIRST FAMILY!” Someone shouted. Quan looked back before shouting.
“YEAH! FUCK EM! BLOOD SUCKING BASTARDS!” He screamed. Isis tugged at his ear as he settled back against her and snatched a chicken tender up to eat with a grumpy expression, just like a damn cat.
“This is what you all were led to believe…and follow…and worship…”
The screens around the arena began to show Dr. Holmes feeding on students. It showed Xavier Martin showing his wounds from supposedly being attacked by Maggie. Wilhelmina Holmes attacking a woman in the halls of one of the Drew Collins buildings and scenes of sirens, actual sirens being held against their will.
“You’ve been led to believe all of this is for the benefit of the Underground. For the protection and safety of everyone but you…have…been…LIED TO!” She shouted as her voice echoed and carried. “We of the Southern Five Covenants will stand for you as we are also the unmentioned and forgotten founders of the Underground. The First like to claim that history to themselves but there were others in that church that night. Faes, the high elves, orcs, our grandparents and great grandparents were present during these talks. We will stand for what’s right and preserve the legacy of our magic. My brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, daughters and sons…cousins, nephews, nieces, and aunts, and uncles…. Our skin makes us all family and therefore, we must look out for one another, yes?”
Everyone clapped and cheered like the sheep they are. When I watched some of the volunteers, I recognized from the school passing out snack boxes, I could see some of them standing in awe at the women below. They became emotional just from the speech and her phony words. This was everything to them.
“There is no Gaia…There is no moon God. There is only good and evil, light and dark. Magic moves within the frequency of above?” She raised her hand high before lowering it, “and below. Magic is what we can feel and see…It’s embedded in us from the time we’re born to the moment we transition. They are nothing more than infected predators with white hair and sharp teeth hiding in sheep’s clothing. They choose magic that only benefits themselves, not for the good of our people,” Amelia added. Her tone became more determined. “No more. Let today be the first day of great change…No more!”
“NO MORE!” Everyone shouted.
“MAN, HURRY UP AND START THE FUCKING GAMES MAN!” Quan shouted before Isis quickly clamped his mouth shut with her hand. “We know what they’re trying to do. Just do it already.”
“Be quiet Quan before you get kicked out!” Isis hushed.
“She is literally everything we could ever ask for,” a woman said a few seats down. I leaned forward to see a young girl who looked fresh out of high school with her hand on her chest, crying actual tears at the sight of Amelia Lovelace. “We finally have representation in a position of power for once.”
That was it. That’s what it was for these people. No one could relate to the First Family because it was a rare mythic, a rare trait to have and the symbol of white hair only made it worse. It was something seen as untouchable but these women…women of the craft made it to where everybody could be a witch.
“In light of this new world order that we are creating before you, we’ve decided to introduce our heritage to the Underground by doing something slightly different with the games. Every time, it's the same sports…football, basketball…swimming. Some creative physical test that shows who is the strongest, the fastest, the best at what they do. The mind however,” Amelia said with a tap of her head, “is a terrible thing to waste. This year, the competition will be a Trial of the four elements! Due to a minor incident that recently happened with a student, we’ve decided to change the playing field a little.”
The stage beneath their feet suddenly parted on each side as everyone gasped. I leaned over the edge to see the large square showing nothing but bright blue skies as their feet hovered above in midair. Their bodies slowly began to rise as the cameras followed, showing their smiling faces on the screen.
“The trial of elements and there are several elements we could have chosen. We’ve decided to go with air, water, earth, and fire. This will test your endurance, your physical ability but it will push your mind to limits you have yet to reach. The game officials will explain the rules and I do hope you as a watcher will be ready for this immersive experience.”
We heard a whistle blow as the four women suddenly went poof! Leading a trail of black smoke wisping into the air from their absence, everyone in the stands began to stomp and scream as we watched the official walk onto the field dressed as a referee for a football game. The place was too loud, too hype and too ready to start as we heard cheers and chants from the other side.
“Look!” Isis pointed across the way. We could see a wave of signs flip into the air showing a beautiful mermaid with long twists and braids stretching across the poster as her body wavedup and down, blowing kisses at the crowd. “Do you see Asha?!” She laughed. Of course Asha stood on a chair yelling and going off on anybody who dared to look her way while Solomon sat beside her like a poised king, watching, and observing. “She’s such a nutcase!”
Isis suddenly stood up and attempted to shout all the way across the damn stadium while Quan took the chance to eye her very short skirt. Normally with the school uniforms, there was an optional protective lining of shorts underneath if they were short. However, this bubble skirt did not have that. With a lick of his lips, he reached to pull at the fabric to cover her cheeks while Isis continued to yell. Of course she didn’t flinch or react to his touch. Not when her body was used to it.
“Such a good kitty,” I purred teasingly.
“Shut up, Souxie. Her ass is out, what do you want me to do? Just let her give people a peep show!?”
“When are you going to tell her the truth?” I asked openly. Quan looked horrid at the thought of me mentioning his true identity in front of Isis. “You know she deserves to know so you don’t have to keep suppressing your feelings for her.”
“Stop it,” he hissed. His vertical eyes blinked twice with the film crossing over them like a sliding door. He suddenly leaned in with his hand still covering her while she screamed out with the crowd.
“It’s been years since I’ve been that. I don’t identify as that bloodsucking shit so stop it. This is what I’m choosing to identify as. I barely remember my previous life.”
I grinned.
“You’ve been family this entire time and the one person who can break your curse is sitting right next to you,” I sneeredsneakily with a wiggle of my brows towards Isis. We were both speaking behind her back as she leaned forward some more to scream down at another student, she knows in the level below ours. I could tell she either slipped a pill underneath her tongue or spiked her drink. Isis will always bring the party with her wherever she goes, and it was just starting to kick in.
