Seven

Moon

A s we make it to the end of the trial, I can’t help but wonder why it was so easy compared to the others.

In the first trial, someone tried to kill me. In the previous trial, someone tried to kill me. Before this trial, someone tried to kill me. But somehow during this trial, no one tried to kill me? Suspicious.

Something feels different, I haven’t seen a single Goblin since, well, since the last time I saw a shitload of Goblins.

"Did that seem abnormally easy to you?" I ask Fenrick as we make our way through the exit. I look up at Fen, assessing the look in his dark eyes.

“Yes,” he says, and we both look around us like we’re waiting for something to jump out of the shadows.

Unfortunately, something does pop out of the shadows, but it's nothing fun…hell, it’s not even anything game related. Not the least bit scary, either. Nope, just annoying.

“Moon! Oh my gosh, it looks like we both made it through the last trial, good for you. I didn’t think you would actually be capable,” my trash-ass, self-centered, narcissistic ex says as he and his girlfriend come prancing over to us. The poor girl looks wrecked like she’s doing all the work while Spencer hides behind her. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case.

Fenrick is immediately on edge. He gives Spencer an up-and-down look before turning to me and lifting his brow. It’s a judgmental look that says both, ‘Seriously, this guy?’ and ‘Can I kill him?’

As soon as we left the trial, Fenrick made himself visible. So, Spencer can see him currently, but the look of death in Fenrick's eyes is making me wonder if maybe I should separate these two before things turn bloody…or not.

“Hey Spencer, I’m actually surprised you made it out of that one yourself. Given how weak you are. I figured you would have given up much sooner,” I say this with minimal emotion. The look of pure shock in his eyes is almost worth having to interact with him.

When his girlfriend snickers behind his back, I can barely hold in my own maniacal laughter.

I get the sense that maybe she isn’t with him for the reasons he would want her to be with him. Like, maybe she’s only with him still because she’s down to limited options and minimal allies in this game. Maybe joining this game made her realize that her boyfriend is kind of a douche canoe. After all, he doesn’t show his true colors until he thinks he’s got you locked down.

“Well, that’s awkward.” When I peek around him to give his girlfriend a friendly smile and a little wave, she brightens, and Spencer glares. “Listen, if you need a better ally, I’m your girl,” I say, winking at her.

Sure, I’m not supposed to be gathering allies, since, you know, my goal is to fucking win. I can’t exactly align myself with people and then abandon them. But I might have to, at some point.

“She doesn’t need an ally!” Spencer snaps, trying to put his body between her and me, so I can’t see her anymore.

“Right, because with boyfriends like you, who needs enemies?”

“Um. Yeah, I think I’m gonna go with her. She’s not a bitch at all, and you’re kind of a weasel,” his girlfriend pipes up from behind him, making me and Fenrick bust out laughing.

We all pause when we hear a low growl coming from somewhere behind us. I turn to look over my shoulder and don’t see anything out of place, but the ominous tree line is a bit suspicious.

“Um, we should get going,” I suggest, turning back to my ex's new girlfriend. Although I guess technically now she’s also his ex.

“Are you sure it’s okay if I go with you two?” she asks sheepishly.

“Of course! Fenrick here is a really good guy. He won’t hurt you.” I turn to Spencer, smirking. “However, I can’t make any promises that he won’t hurt you.”

“I would very much enjoy hurting him,” Fenrick adds, making me giggle when Spencer looks ready to pee his pants.

“Can’t say I blame you. I would very much enjoy hurting him as well. We are in the Tournament of Blood after all,” I say, turning to look up at Fenrick, who looks positively filled with bloodlust. Honestly, it’s so sexy.

Spencer throws his hands up defensively and takes a step away.

“Moon, what the fuck? I was just coming over here to say a friendly hello. No need to go all psycho on me,” he deflects like I’m somehow the problem. Like he isn’t a shitty person. Who knows what he’s put this poor girl through? You don’t ditch your boyfriend to go with strangers if you’re in a good relationship.

“No, you were going to be a dick and try to get her eliminated,” his ex says, putting her hand on her hip and staring him down. She looks so over his bullshit. Good for her.

She’s a beautiful girl, and I’m wondering exactly how Spencer managed to trick her into a relationship. Although I suppose he did trick me there for a little while too. We all make mistakes.

“One day, Spencer, someone is going to teach you a lesson. Please get the fuck out of my face before today becomes that day,” I hiss, meaning every word.

“Or don’t, I would very much enjoy ripping your fucking throat out,” Fenrick adds, and I shiver. That kind of threat shouldn’t have sounded so sexy, but coming from Fenrick, as he makes it clear he’s got my back? Shivers in my lady timbers, if you get what I mean. I pause. Sometimes my thoughts are so chaotic, I catch myself off guard. This is one of those times. At least I didn’t say that shit out loud, my gawd.

“I think you probably need some therapy, buddy,” I tease Fen.

“You’re not wrong.” He shrugs, not the least bit fazed.

“I’m gonna count to three, if you’re not gone by the time I get to two and a half, I’m gonna pull you in for a quick dick kick,” I threaten Spencer.

“Fuck’s sake Moon! Fine, I’m going, shit!”

I can’t help but shake my head as I watch Spencer run away. The man looks like a duck had babies with a platypus and a raccoon as he runs. It’s actually extremely entertaining. For such a tall man with conventionally attractive features, he sure is ugly. Ugly to the core.

“Hi, it’s nice to meet you. I’m sorry I thought you were a bitch before I ever even got to know you. Or even met you. My name is Teresa.” She’s got her right arm tucked behind her and is holding her right wrist with her left hand, as her body sways slightly. Her head is tilted down, and I feel bad that she’s visibly ashamed. Anyone can fall victim to a narc’s gaslighting.

“It’s nice to meet you, Teresa. As you already know, my name is Moon. And I’m sure by now you’ve gathered that this is Fenrick.”

“Yep, so I’m not exactly trying to win,” she says, jumping right to the big stuff. “But if you wouldn’t mind helping me survive a little bit longer, I would rather spend the least amount of time in exile possible.” She looks up at me, cringing slightly, “Spencer genuinely downplayed how hard these games are, and I’ll admit I never did any research of my own. That was my fault. But now that I’m here, I’d like to actually survive.” As she waits for my response, she nibbles her lower lip.

“Okay,” I say, frowning. So she doesn’t want to win? Even if Spencer did lie to her about what this Tournament is actually like, now that she’s in it, shouldn’t she at least try to win?

“Yeah, I’m sure you’re wondering what I’m doing here if I’m not interested in winning, right? Honestly? I only joined because Spencer pressured me into it. He said it would be great for our social media. But about eight minutes into the first trial, I realized that he’s probably one of the worst people I’ve ever known. I don’t know how I missed it for months,” she sniffles, and I nod, understanding that feeling. “Our third was a pixie. He–he trapped her in a fucking water bottle. Then he tossed her into the maze bushes. I spent the whole first night going back alone to free her, so he wouldn’t try to stop me. I thought for sure she was going to murder me or curse me…but she…” Teresa swipes at her tears. “She was wrapped up in her tulip, barely alive. I used most of my supplies to hide her in the maze wall and left all of my food and water for her. I knew if I took her with me, he’d just hurt her again, and if I didn’t go back to him, he’d come looking for me, and I couldn’t risk him finding her…”

“Shit, that's fucking dark.” I murmur. “Even for Spencer.” Teresa nods, and I pat her shoulder. I’m not great at comforting crying people.

“Anyway, I don’t need to win because, well…” she pauses for a long moment and her cheeks flush a bright pink. I lift a brow, waiting for her to finish her sentence. “Well, the thing is, um, my dad is like crazy fucking rich. And not just like rich for his realm but like universally rich. I already have rare crystals from the Elven realm. If I won, it wouldn’t mean as much to me, as it would to someone else.” She reaches up, rubbing the back of her neck. “I don’t need to prove how strong I am, or whatever, by winning, and I’d honestly rather not put myself in that kind of spotlight.”

“Holy shit, no fucking way! You have crystals from the Elven Realm? The kind that you can only get from winning the Tournament of Blood?”

“Um, maybe I shouldn’t be broadcasting that information here…”

“Oh no, you’re fine. I’m wearing a necklace that blocks out anything and everything someone says around me.” That’s when the thought occurs to me that I am not in fact touching Teresa, so I turn to look at Fenrick, and he shrugs with a half smirk.

“I mean, it works even if you’re not touching. I just said that because I was hoping you would touch me more.”

I laugh, shaking my head.

“So, see, your secrets are safe with us. Well, so long as you don’t like, betray us or anything,” I add, just in case, since we don’t really know her that well yet.

“Oh, I would never, it’s not in my nature. Plus, I don’t think I would stand to gain anything from betraying my only ally. Not many people want to be friends with a person like me. You know, given that my dad is who he is.” She shrugs her shoulders, looking down at the ground and kicking it with her toe.

“Who is your dad?” I ask because honestly, I’m super fucking curious now.

“That’s kind of complicated. Um, so about 80 years ago, he won the Tournament of Blood. Back when it was a lot bloodier and a lot deadlier. I don’t know why I’m telling you all of this…” she trails off, frowning.

“I’ve been told I have a way with people? Or maybe it’s my adorable face.” I smile at her all crazy-like, making her laugh, and then she sniffles, wiping away a tear.

“Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m fine. It’s just that, it’s rare to meet someone who doesn’t know exactly who my dad is and immediately attempt to exploit me. When he won the Tournament, he became a trainer. But not only that, he is now involved in some seriously shady shit and with some seriously shady people. That’s how he met my mom, the daughter of a goddess…” She takes a step closer to me, and I feel like I’m making a real friend right now.

“Holy shit, you’re part goddess?!” I practically squeal.

“Only technically. My mom is a goddess in the realm that she's from, but she's not a goddess in the context of the multi-realm universe. I guess in the multi-realm, she’d be more like an immortal with special powers, similar to a powerful Witch.”

“Oh, I’m a Witch!” I say smiling brightly at her to which she frowns, looks me up and down, and shakes her head. That's when I remember everyone keeps telling me information that contradicts that statement.

“Umm, that’s not funny. I know you’re not a Witch. I can sense it.” She crosses her arms over her chest, and I feel like I’ve just offended her.

She’s certainly built like a goddess considering she’s about six feet tall, has long brown hair down to her waist, and the roundest brown eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Oh shit, no, I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to be an asshole. Umm, my life’s been kind of chaotic lately. I was raised as a Witch, but I’m starting to think maybe I’m not what I thought I was all this time,” I confess.

“Oh, you literally don’t know what you are?” She perks back up slightly, now that she knows I wasn’t being a dick.

“No. Do you?” She said she could sense me…

“I mean, I couldn’t say exactly, but the vibes I get off of you are similar to those that my mom gives off. Of course, my mom had to give up her powers and immortality, so she could be with my dad. They’ll both live very long lives, but that means that I didn’t inherit her immortality.” Teresa shrugs, not looking all that upset about that fact.

“Okay, so do you know what I am or not?” I ask since that didn’t exactly answer my question.

“Oh, well, so you kind of feel maybe goddess-like. Maybe a little Fae, but not like him.” Teresa points to Fenrick frowning. “He’s plain Fae,” she adds, and Fenrick looks slightly offended by that.

“Well, I mean, Fenrick is a Blood Fae. Since his dad is the Blood King,” I say, feeling defensive of Fen when he pouts.

This makes Theresa frown, but she nibbles her lip, refusing to speak her mind. I lift a brow, cross my arms over my chest, and wait.

“Oh, come on! I know you’ve got something to say, spit it out,” I snap when she remains silent too long.

“It’s honestly not my place to say.” She looks around her like she’s considering running away, and I can’t say I blame her. This conversation is intense.

“Listen, if you’re worried about whatever it is you’re not saying, and you’re not comfortable saying it, you don’t have to. You just looked like you wanted to. Like keeping whatever secret you’re keeping right now is bothering you,” I say, trying to put her at ease, so she doesn’t think that she has no choice here. I’m not gonna turn my back on her if she refuses to spit out whatever it is she’s keeping locked up.

“Okay, just don’t shoot the messenger, but you are definitely not a Blood Fae, and your father is definitely not the King.” She cringes slightly, and my eyes go wide.

“How would you know any of that?” Fenrick asks, his face pale. At least what I can see above his mask.

“It’s part of my power.” She shrugs. “I might not be immortal, but I still have some skills.” She blushes, looking shy about bragging. It immediately makes me like her more. “Listen, we can talk about this more, but I think we should keep moving. The trial is basically over, and there’s gonna be a lot more competitors in this area very soon. I don’t want to spend a significant amount of time in exile.” I look behind us, in the direction Fen and I came from, and wonder where the rest of my men have gone. We keep getting split up and never reunited. First Daire and Lust, then Silas, Arlo, and Tristan. Now Cato and Odas. It’s a miracle that Fenrick wasn’t launched across the games the second the trial ended.

“You’re right, we should get going. But you’ll tell us what you know later?” I ask hopefully. I have so many questions.

“Yeah, definitely! Just one more thing, if we come across one of my friends, would you guys mind not killing him, or you know, getting him eliminated? At least not right away.” She gives me these big, brown, puppy dog eyes, and it makes me chuckle.

“Who’s your friend?” I ask, slightly sus. I can’t help it, but she seems harmless enough.

“Um, he’s someone that I’ve been best friends with since I was a kid. I know he’s in the games. I can tell that he hasn’t been exiled yet, but he isn't exactly a violent person. He’s strong and capable, but he’s also very peaceful. Spencer hated when I’d hang out with him, and I understand why, now,” she explains, and I cringe because that's not what I meant at all. I was hoping she’d say his name, species, and description.

“Okay, do you want to tell us what he looks like? And maybe even what he is, so you know if we come across him, neither of us accidentally maims him or anything,” I suggest chuckling.

“Oh, yeah, that makes more sense,” she giggles. At least she’s sweet.