Chapter 12

Anton snarls, as terrified as me, and grows in size, stepping between me and the wraiths that scream as they fall hungrily upon Anna. She shrieks in turn, trying to bat them away, but their insubstantial figures are too many. The screams of fear become those of pain as the wraiths tear at her with their claws, sinking them deep into her flesh, reaching for her very soul.

I moan in terror and agony, my hand slapping over my mouth as I reach for Anton, wanting to cling to him – wanting his support –

The wraiths find what they’re looking for at last and grab onto it, shaking Anna as they set her soul free, pulling it forth – grey and insubstantial – from her body. The body itself falls to the ground in a heap, a dead husk, as the wraiths continue to swarm around her immortal soul. She continues to cry, sobbing and looking down at her body, as the wraiths pull her towards that black door in the center of the room.

The God of Death watches, impassive, as Anna’s ghost is dragged forward and through the door. Still horrified, I shift my eyes to Orion and see that his jaw is clenched, his hands formed into fists at his side.

Still, he makes no move to stop her, to stop them. To make this right.

The shadowy figures haul Anna’s screaming ghost through the door, which slams shut behind them.

Horrified silence rings out in the room.

“Congratulations,” the God of Death says with a cold, horrible smile, looking around at each of us. “For making it to the next round. You will receive further instructions tomorrow, but you should be aware that while your mettle was judged tonight, next it will be your beauty. Yes,” he says, looking over at his son with a sly smile. “My son will have a beautiful bride.”

The God snaps into a low bow and then strides for the door, clearly pleased.

Orion takes a moment to glance around the room at us but then hangs his head and follows his father, slamming the door shut behind him.

I just stand, panting, horrified, staring forward at that door.

That door.

What the hell is behind that door?

Anton whines, low in his throat, and turns to me, worried.

“Are you okay?” I whisper, reaching out for his face, which is even with mine now that he’s all gigantic.

The starlight tingle against my fingertips is oddly comforting, even as Anton gives me a look like I’m crazy, clearly asking if I’m okay.

“I’m fine,” I say, nodding and giving him a weak smile. “I – um. That was too close, wasn’t it? I…I need to be much more strategic with how I move in this world. I’m sorry.”

He turns his head as if pressing his cheek to my hand, but of course neither of us can feel it. I sigh, dropping my hands to my side, and then turning in surprise when someone clears their throat.

Anton turns with me, both of our eyes going a little wide when we see that it’s the girl with the blue and green hair, all covered with pearls and seashells, looking at us quite anxiously. “Um, hello,” she says, her hands raising to tangle in the few strands of her hair which she’s left elaborately curled down around her shoulders, a few intricate tiny braids running through it. “I – um…I wanted to ask if you were okay?”

I peer at her, curious, because while she’s being very friendly and bold she seems so…frightened.

“We’re fine,” I say quietly, nodding to her. Unable to help it. “Why?”

She gives me a flickering half smile. “I just…saw you leave earlier, when the gong rang. You looked upset.” She shrugs.

My heart swells when I realize that this girl isn’t being strange or suspicious – she’s just kind-hearted. I step towards her. “Thanks very much for asking – I just…had a weird start to this whole thing.”

“Oh,” she says, nodding eagerly and then wrinkling her nose. “That sucks.”

I smile back at her, laughing a little at the understatement as I look around at the rest of the girls, each alone, each moving for the door with – to my shock – their own hooded messenger at their side. Honestly, I’d thought Nic was the only one.

“Um…why did you stop to speak with me?” I gesture around to all of the girls who are clearly avoiding each other. “Not that I mind, I just –“

“Oh, I really like your wolf!” she says, visibly brightening as she gestures towards Anton, who lifts his head, clearly proud and pleased to be acknowledged. “I’ve never met a wolf before! We don’t have wolves where I come from.”

“You don’t?” I ask, my eyes widening, interested. “What do you have instead?”

“Oh, like…” she shrugs. “Sharks.”

I laugh, grinning at my new friend. “You shift into sharks?”

“Oh, no!” she replies, laughing when she figures out my train of thought. “No, we don’t do that – just like, as predators! So do you like…turn into that?” she asks, pointing at Anton again. “When you shift? All like…blue?”

“No,” I say, grinning over at him. “He’s separate from me, my wolf is different. She has black fur.” I turn back to the young woman, ready to say more, but then I become aware of people noticing us speaking together and frowning.

“Are…are we allowed to talk?” I ask, stepping close to her and lowering my voice. “Even though we’re like…competition?”

She shrugs. “No one told me we couldn’t and…” she shrugs again, still awkward. “I’m…I don’t really like being alone. I have a lot of sisters at home, and I’ve been here for a week and it’s been…really lonely.”

My heart warms to her yet again. “Well, then we’ll have to stick together, won’t we?”

The smile that bursts across her face does my heart good. “Do you want to come to breakfast tomorrow?” she asks, quite eager. My stomach growls suddenly and I realize that I haven’t eaten all day. Suddenly, breakfast with my new friend sounds great.

“Sure,” I say, nodding.

She looks back at Anton, eager. “And you’ll bring…him?”

I laugh, looking over at Anton, who is clearly loving her admiration. “Yes, he’ll tag along.”

“Great!” she says. “I’ll make my Herald tell yours to bring you to me tomorrow! That will be so much fun!” A hooded man instantly appears behind her as she steps away and I blink, realizing that that’s the name for them.

“Okay!” I call, nodding to her. “Hey, what’s your name?”

“Laila!” she calls back. “What’s yours?”

“Juniper,” I say. She nods, laughing a little, clearly pleased. Then she waves and then turns away, speaking eagerly to her Herald, who dips his head to listen to her request.

I sigh, wondering why Nic isn’t nearly so nice or attentive to me, when suddenly I jump a little, realizing that he’s standing directly to my right. “Can I put like, a bell on you?” I gasp, sick of being frightened.

He just turns his head to me and doesn’t answer.

And I realize, passively, why he might not be as nice to me as Laila’s is to her.

“Are you ready to go back to your suite?” Nic asks.

“Are you supposed to take me back and forth?” I ask, considering him as Anton shrinks down to a normal size and comes to stand at my side. “Why didn’t you come earlier to get me?”

“Because,” he says, his teeth clenched, “I was waiting for you to call.”

“Oh.” My shoulders slump a bit. “Well, you should have told me that!”

“Are you ready?” he asks again, clearly done with me and ready for the night to end.

“Yeah yeah,” I say, looking down at Anton and then back towards that horrible, plain door at the center of the room, flopping my hand out for Nic to take. He does take it, and then a moment later he vanishes us away.

But even as we go, I keep my eyes trained on that door, wondering what the hell is behind it.

And where they took Anna’s spirit – that poor girl that they killed today just because she didn’t appeal to some Prince.

I gulp, wondering if I’ll be next.