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The mood in the room dropped even further. The water around Bloodstone Island was legendary for how dangerous it was. The mermaid clans here were the most bloodthirsty and violent on the planet, and several other creatures had made their home in the bays and along the beaches. Unlike tourist beaches elsewhere, there were no spell boundaries to keep the things away. It was even more dangerous than the jungle. At least out on the island, you could run, jump, climb, and fight. In the water? There wasn’t much you could do but die.
“It appears that you are all as excited as I am about this little task,” Von said. “The first team to get to the other side of the bay will receive a bit of additional help during the next big challenge. The losing team will end up with a penalty for that challenge.” He slid his eyes to Wyatt, and I thought I could see even more malice in the vampire’s gaze than usual. “Speaking of penalties, Wyatt came in last during the obstacle course, and his penalty for that poor performance will come into play during this arena match. Unfortunately, with this being a team event, his penance will affect his entire team.”
Wyatt slumped back on the couch and crossed his arms, glancing at me. He didn’t look surprised. We’d both known he’d pay for coming in last.
“We do have an odd number of contestants, so the teams will be a little lopsided. Names were selected at random earlier. Abel, Chelsey, Tate, and J.D. will be going up against Wyatt, Mika, and Kira.”
I rolled my eyes. I couldn’t help myself. Random, my ass. We’d been grouped together on purpose. The only surprise was that Mika had been lumped in with me and Wyatt. Had his father pushed for that? After meeting the man and knowing the background between the two, I had a sneaking suspicion that he had. Wyatt and I would be in the most danger, and putting Mika on our team had to be a way of getting him eliminated as quickly as possible. Once we were all gone, Chelsey would be the main star. The two people who hadriggedthe game would be out, and the son of one of the showrunners would be out of the way as well.
Right when I thought the show couldn’t be more fucked up, it showed me that it still had ways to be horrible.
Rather than spiraling into hopeless depression, determination surged through my being. I’d be damned if I let these assholes push us around like this. They thought it was a done deal that the three of us would be killed? Well, it was time to change the paradigm. I would do everything possible to make sure we won this challenge.
“For this match, you’ll be equipped with specially enchanted fae weaponry. These weapons will help you fend off the merpeople, sea serpents, and various other beasties. Each member of Chelsey’s team will receive a weapon. Due to Wyatt being penalized, only one weapon will be provided for Kira’s team.”
“Can’t we do this with me being the one without a weapon?” Wyatt said. “Why is my whole team being punished?”
His face was twisted with fury. If I knew anything about Wyatt, it was the fact that he protected people, especially those he cared about. The thought of the others being penalized for something he did was probably eating away at his insides.
“Sorry, Wyatt. Rules are rules. Now, as I was saying, the weapons will be elementally based—wind, water, electricity, fire, and ice.” Von snapped his fingers, and six witches marched into the room, each holding a different item. “Chelsey, your team will receive the wind, water, electricity, and fire weapons. That leaves your team, Kira, with the ice weapon.”
The witches doled out the weapons. Each looked like gnarled tree branches about eighteen inches long, but the tips had been enchanted to look like what each weapon was made to do. The fire weapon had a glowing ember embedded in the tip, and small flames flicked from it. A bright blue gem with a tiny vortex spinning around it adorned the tip of the wind weapon. Strange weapons indeed, and very old-fashioned. The fae weaponry we used in the Tranquility ops was more advanced. These things looked like weapons the fae had used centuries ago.
“Now that you have your supplies, if you all will follow me, we can make our way to the bay. If you all could, please try to look dashing and intense. I want a dramatic shot when we walk out the front doors of the mansion.”
Von led us out to the massive marble-floored foyer and through the front doors, the cameras following. A slight breeze tickled my face as we exited, and my hair fluttered behind me. Off to the side of the stairs, a witch held her hands up. It was all I could do not to roll my eyes. Even the wind was manufactured. When this segment aired, Von would probably replay this shot in slow motion, set to dramatic music.
The ice weapon was heavy in my hand. The heavy gray ice chip that sat at the top spat and sputtered flecks of snow and ice as it swung at my side. What good would it do once we got into the heat of battle? Was it strong enough to freeze an entire merperson? Could it fully freeze the bay’s surface so we could run across it and be done? I’d have to wait and see.
Once we’d crossed the patio and descended a set of steps that led down the hill away from the helipad, the bay came into sight. A huge crescent of land surrounded dark blue water. Three greenish lumps appeared on the surface, then vanished beneath. A sea serpent. Great. The creatures had already come out to play.
Two long rowboats were moored at the water’s edge closest to the mansion. Staff members stood on each boat, holding oars. The beach wasn’t sandy but covered in small, smooth pebbles that shifted as we walked.
“Here we are,” Von said as we reached the boats. “The lovely Bloodstone Bay. Its depths hold much beauty, and even more danger. In these gorgeous azure waters, the Bloodstone Merpeople take refuge. Multiple other creatures reside here with our finned friends. Sea serpents, large carnivorous water scorpions, and possibly a few feral crocodile or alligator shifters.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Tate grumbled.
“Your weapons will be very useful. Keep them ready as you row,” Von said. “And, while I know wolves can be good swimmers, I would caution anyone from attempting to simply shift and swim. Fast as you might be, our friends in the water are much faster. The merpeople will probably have you dismembered before you even have time to drown. Our staff of witches will transport whatever remains of both teams back to the mansion once the challenge is over.
“The winning team may do well not to finishtoofar ahead of their rivals. You will need to fend off any enemies that may attack while you wait for the other team to finish or perish. Have awonderfultime, everyone,” Von finished with a huge grin and wide-open arms.
The witches handed us our oars and we boarded our separate boats. Wyatt pulled Mika and me together once we were seated. “Kira, I think you should keep the weapon. Mika and I are the strongest. We’ll paddle for our lives, push as hard as we can for the opposite shore, and Kira will watch our back with the weapon. Does that sound like a plan?”
“Sounds good to me,” Mika said.
I gripped the ice weapon harder, the wood sliding across my palms. “That’s fine, but I’ll help row until we see danger.”
“Everyone ready?” Von asked.
We all nodded or gave a thumbs-up of agreement, everyone silent as we prepared ourselves.
“Very well. Ten seconds.”
J.D. waved at me from his boat. “Good luck, guys.” He looked more worried than usual.
I smiled back at him and raised a hand to return his wave. “You too.”
Von held his fingers up as he counted down. “Three… two… one. Go!”
