AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Sophia shrugged. They knew why she constantly trained like her life depended on it. She trained because the lives of her parentsdiddepend on it.
Over forty years ago, when Casper saved Sophia from the vampire attack on her village, no one returned for her parents in time.
No oneknewto return for them.
It was later reported that almost no bodies were left behind after the fall of Trim and the surrounding fey villages. Whichmeant most of the fey had survived their transitions into vampires, including her parents.
Her parentshadto be alive out there. Though, if they were alive, they were also suffering. Artem was known to be a vicious ruler who showed no mercy to the vampires he enslaved.
Sophia knew she was probably her parents’ only hope, but she also knew how helpless she had been the day Trim was attacked. If she was going to save her parents, wherever they may be, she needed to be ready.
So she trained every fucking day of her life for the last forty years. Unfortunately, she never quite figured out where her parents could be.
But now that The Heart of Aphrodite was up for grabs, Sophia could use that necklace to wish for their freedom.
All she had to do was win The Elaron Games. She supposed it was a good thing she had dedicated most of her life to training..
“I can’t take a break. Not now. You know this.” Sophia told them as the reality of her situation settled in. Soon she was going to participate in a tournament with hundreds of competitors and only one survivor.
She swallowed, trying to ignore the fear pricking at her skin.
Conall and Cauladra were wrong. She didn’t need a break, she didn’t havetimefor a break. She needed to give this tournament everything she had. Her parents’ freedom depended on it.
Sorrow flashed across Cauladra’s eyes. “I really wish you didn’t sign up for this tournament. I know our family hosts it, but I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to sign up for it, never mind my good friend.”
Sophia’s smile was broken. She knew Cauladra meant what she said, which made this conversation all the more uncomfortable. Sophia couldn’t assure her that she’d live, because odds said she wouldn’t.
Conall and Cauladra were great friends to Sophia, their relationship growing stronger with every passing year.
Decades ago, after Sophia finally healed from the attack on Trim, she was given the startling news that Casper was gone and had been for some time.
When she heard that news, it didn’t matter that to her that Casper’s uncle, King Valaris, welcomed her into his home with open arms, because without her friend or a home to return to, she was lost.
She was a fey walking in a foreign land with foreign creatures. To say she was terrified was an understatement.
She needed her friend.
Cauladra and Conall looked after Sophia, guiding her as she adjusted to life among the elves. They showed her the beauty behind the vine covered palaces and massive waterfalls scattered across the island. They eventually began bringing her to many of Elaron’s royal parties. And on rare occasions, they’d venture beyond the palace’s walls and mingle with the townsfolk.
Soon enough, with their help, Sophia adjusted to the new life she had been given.
“Maybe we can convince our uncle to scratch out your name,” Conall suggested.
“No one can opt out of The Elaron Games after signing up,” Sophia reminded him. The contract she signed was binding, by blood magic, no less. There was no way out. Not that she wanted one.
“Yeah, but no one knows Valaris like we do.” He pressed a playful elbow into Sophia’s waist. “So? Can we ask him? No one will know your name was entered in the first place.”
Sophia grinned, pushing his elbow aside. “I appreciate the thought, but you both know I have to do this.” There was no way she could pass up this opportunity.
“Casper’s not going to be happy when he gets word that you signed up…ow!” Conall rubbed his chest right where his sister smacked it. Sophia couldn’t ignore the warning glare his sister gave him.
They knew better than to talk about Casper around Sophia. As much as she wished the topic didn’t upset her, it always did.
After his absence during Sophia’s first few years on the island, he eventually returned. In fact, he returned to the island every few years. Every time he did the two of them acted like the best of friends, which always had Sophia believing he wouldn’t leave again.
But he always did, and always without a word.
Eventually, Sophia learned to stop relying on Casper. He taught her a lesson, really. He taught her that she couldn’t rely on anyone in life except herself.
