Chapter One

Raven 

The frigid air kissed at my skin as my eyes drifted around to the guards in the square. They seemed more tense than usual, their punitive behavior becoming more vehement than it had been in months. A scream grabbed at my attention but before I could dare a glimpse of the action, Cassius pushed my head back down to its initial position.

“Keep your head low and your eyes lower. Understood?” He grated out as we forced our way through the crowd. I did what I was instructed, keeping my eyes fixed on the graveled walkway underneath my boots. My eyes scanned the ground around me noticing more sturdy black boots only the guards wore. I counted at least ten in the small amount of time it took us to cross the path towards our small home just on the outskirts of town. Normally, a guard or two held up this end of the village but today was the complete opposite. 

“Why are there so many guards today? Seems like they doubled up.” I remarked and out of the corner of my eye I saw Cassius look around to confirm my statement. 

“The Royal Affray is today which means the royals will be in town.” My stomach lurched at his words, The Royal Affray was a battle to the death for all commoners and if you were unlucky enough to get chosen, you had to go against whomever they selected. Each battle is three rounds, if a commoner wins the initial round they get placed with someone else but if they win all three rounds they get put with a guard.

Each year the commoner loses.

It was a ploy for the royals to maintain the population while stringing along our fear, establishing that they called the shots.

“Hey don't stress it, just remember the rule, and we'll be fine.” I nodded and continued walking behind him, placing the rule he had just spoken moments before in the front of my mind.

We rounded the corner towards our family home simply to be blocked by an outstretched arm hidden in black attire. “All commoners must report to the arena now, disobedience and tardiness will be punishable."

Without glancing up towards the fellow, we turned back the way we entered and I cut my eyes towards Cassius to catch him looking right back at me. His hazel eyes flowed with reassurance. Being my older brother, I knew he felt as if he couldn't protect me in moments like these and I could see by the pained expression his face struggled to cover up. 

A cry echoed out in the midst of the square and I could see a female being shoved down onto the ground. Her thick blond hair was wrapped around the fist of a guard and my stomach churned with anger at the sight of no one doing anything about it. They were all standing around with a causal look about them as if this happened everyday. Well, I couldn't say that because it did happen daily. 

“You think you can drive us into submission?! We aren't little toys for you to play Gods with, we are people! You will fall, all of you! The royals, the guards, their advocates. Every single one of you will burn. Your children's children will feel it coming too, they'll die a simple death. One you won't be permitted," She seethed through clenched teeth and right before my eyes her pure anger turned into frenzied laughter. The cluster of people she gathered all gasped as the guard brought out his sword and cleaved her head clean off. Red stained the grate beneath her body while her head rolled to my feet.

I glanced down at it before I shifted my glare upward to the guard, something forbidden in this hellhole of a village. The evil grin that was daubed on his face made me sick. They loved this, slaughtering my kind one by one. His eyes found mine and his grin slowly sank into a snarl as he pushed through the crowd towards me.

“Raven, what are you doing?!” Cassius snapped before shoving me behind him. My view was impeded by his body right before the guard drew his fist back and struck Cassius, the splitting sound of his knuckles connecting to his face caused me cringe.

“You'd do well to keep your sister in check, Occisor.” The guard seethed venomously before spitting on the ground and stepping away, Cassius spun around and clutched my arm into his grip.

“Are you stupid or just suicidal? Or maybe both huh?” His cheek had already turned an ominous dark red shade, his hazel eyes bore into me while his grasp became tighter. My face instantly shot down towards the head of the blond woman still lying at our feet. 

“Neither, I'm just getting tired of useless deaths occurring on these very streets and everyone turning a blind eye! Everyone has to witness it but no one has a say.” My voice was hardly over a whisper but sharp and I could tell he understood my reasoning. But instead of acknowledging, he just shook his head.

“This is how it is Raven, we have a chance to stay alive if we do as we're told but stepping out of line will land you where she is.” He pointed down to the stiff body of the woman before turning and walking down the street towards the arena. I peered around and noticed people were now looking at me, murmuring to one another. I just pulled my hood on and advanced through the crowd right behind him.

“Welcome back to this year's Royal Affray!” The announcer yelled over the microphone and the entire crowd sat utterly silent, not even a clap erupted. “Alright, Alright tough crowd I see! As you all know, this event is hosted by the royal family themselves. We will start off by having the king choose his commoners to go into the first round.”

My eyes peeked up at the platform over the stadium that occupied five individuals.

The royal family.

The king was the first person I recognized, his massive figure and scolding facial features told anyone who could see that the stories of how callous he actually was were true. His raw, dull eyes raked over the piece of paper in his hand then back over the arena and I adverted my gaze before he got to my section, not wanting to risk it.

“Althea Territ and Bethany Dawn.” His voice thundered over the speakers, I felt my heart rate decrease at the thought of not having to go in this round. I looked over at Cassius and his eyes hardened as he watched the two girls get dragged to the dirt in the center of the arena.

“You should know the rule by now but if you don't I'll happily repeat it.” The announcer smiled deviously, “Survive.”

He laughed as he placed the mic down and shifted his attention towards the two girls. One looked to be maybe a year older than me but the other looked to be in her 40s, this wasn't even close to being a fair match. But the royals knew that already.

Both remained still until the oldest made the first advance.

She heaved her arms out to the side, consuming them in blue flames. The youngest ones eyes grew at the sight and moved to escape a burning ball of fire the woman had sent her way.

“Come on, do something.” I uttered under my breath at the youngest girl, her somber brown hair swayed with her eased movements but her face was full of panic.

Another round of fire blazed towards her and this time she wasn't swift enough, the flame nicking her arm leaving bubbling burned skin in its wake. A victorious smile played on the aged lady's face while the other cried in agony.

“She's about to lose, what is she doing? Why doesn't she use her power?” I frantically call out to Cassius, and he just pushes his head down, staring at the concrete steps we were sitting on.

“She doesn't have a power, Raven. She's a newcomer. They brought her in a few months ago.” I felt my breath hitch at his words and my eyes travel back down to the girl who was now pinned against the concrete wall. Her breathing was frenetic and tears streaked her cheek. The royals knew that she had nothing, yet they called her name for the first round. My skin burned at the surface of my palm and I wanted nothing more than to look away, but I couldn't. My eyes were glued to the tiny girl about to die in front of us all. Before I knew what I was doing, I was on my feet.

“NO!” I shouted but my voice wasn't enough to stop the flames from consuming her entire petite frame. Her skin had turned a charcoal color as the life in her eyes ceased.

A hand gripped at mine, no doubt Cassius, but I tore free. The entire arena turned to me and without thinking I hurtled towards the little girl's body, allowing my feet to carry me since my adrenaline had officially taken over. Gasps left the bodies of people I passed but I overlooked them altogether and made my way towards the middle of the arena. Only to be stopped by a giant fireball heading in my direction.

“Ahh, the second round has already commenced.” The announcer stated, clapping happily but my attention was pointed towards the black haired woman in front of me. Her sinister smile was a sign of how triumphant she felt about her first victory, I felt my blood heat up at the sight.

Closing my eyes, I plunged deep into my mind in pursuit for an element to use. Five strings dangled loosely inside my brain, one for each element including Spirit. I pulled the gray string and felt my body swell with air, chills raked my body as the wind picked up around me and slung my hair wildly around my face. Another fireball spiraled towards me but I halted it, holding the fireball midair before sending it back to her.

She easily sidestepped it effortlessly.

“You foolish girl, oxygen allows fire to grow.” She chuckled but it was cut off by the ring of my winds ceasing, withdrawing the air from around her body. I felt a smile creep onto my lips while I watched her eyes fill with water. Tears threatened to spill onto her cheeks just as the little girl's had done.

“But it can also smother it.” I murmur and watched as she slipped to her knees, gasping at the wind while it diminished. Her hands reached to her throat at the same time her flames went out, I urged it to grow tighter around her and pulled it into a narrower circle so her body had no room to move anymore. Her hair was as still as a statue while her veins protruded. The woman’s eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she collapsed to the ground.

Her rigid body laid lifeless on the ground as her dark hair began to blow once again. The air finally filling back in to the space.

“An air wielder? I thought that bloodline ceased centuries ago.” The king stated and I found my eyes trailing up towards him. I looked behind his bulky figure to find his three children all standing on their feet now, looking down at me. The eldest child's gaze stopped me for a slim second, violet colored eyes boring into my dark brown ones and for a moment I thought I could detect a smirk on his lips.

Turning my attention towards the princess, I dragged my hand up and stuck my index finger out towards her.

“I choose you.” I shout up towards the platform. The queen gasped before mumbling something to the king who wasn't paying any mind. His eyes were cemented on me and before I could speak again he shifted to the princess.

“If she wants a fight, then give her one.”