Chapter 4: The Game

[Atticus]

Laz records the results, documenting this decision in the meeting log and we move on to the next element of the game--choosing the method. As last year’s winner, I get to choose. 

“I thought we’d go a bit ‘old school’ for this year’s game,” I announce as I stand and pull an old deck of cards from the pocket of my jacket. “My father told me about this one year where he just picked 7 random cards from a simple deck, labeled the cards with a word related to the theme, and then everyone picked a card. Because there are always seven of us, they’d try to pick a theme that had seven options. One of their favorite themes was a game they called the ‘Seven Deadly Sins.”

I separate out 7 cards and a pen. Laying them out before me, I write a sin on the top of each card, putting “LUST” on the ace card and going in order from there. 

“Just like in previous games, our actions will be scored by the other 6 Legacies based on a simple point system. 

I pause, to make sure everyone understands before I continue. 

Shuffling the 7 cards in my hands over and over again, I walk around the table, holding the cards out in a wide fan. “No trading, no changing your mind. Once you pull a card you are committing to using this card as the focus of your attack. Agreed?”

Everyone around the table nods in agreement. Not a single hand is raised to question this decision. 

 “Think of yourselves as champions for the sin card that you pull. The rest of us will be watching to see how well your attacks match the sin you are representing and score you accordingly.”

I shuffle the cards one last time and lay them out in a fan in the center of the table, all cards facing down. Starting with Evie and moving clockwise around the table, one by one we each pick a card until there is only one left, which I pick up and hold tightly to my chest. 

Once all the cards are chosen, one by one, each of the seven announces their cards in the same order they were chosen. 

Evie is Wrath

Veronica is Envy.

Lazarus is Greed.

Madison is Pride.

Zephyra is Sloth.

Simon is Gluttony.

Which leaves only one card for me. 

“Lust,” I announce as I hold my card up for everyone to see. It is the ace of spades. Ace, just like my nickname. I almost want to laugh at my good luck. Playing the lust card against Liliana Adare will almost be too easy. 

“I guess I’ll pretend to be her boyfriend this year,” I grin and shrug. Everyone starts to chuckle, except for Evie who is so angry that her body is shaking as her face turns red, then purple.

“You…you…CAN’T!” Evie explodes, her emotion bursting forth and spilling over as she loses it. “This was a setup! You wanted to date her this whole time! Admit it!”

“Now Baby, hold on…” I try to calm her but she pulls away from me. 

“NO!” she shouts. “I can’t believe a single word you say! Ace! Seriously, you pulled the ace card. Of all the cards you get that one? This is some grade A bullshi…”

“But you’re the one who suggested Lily in the first place,” I argue, interrupting her rant. “How would I know that you’d pick Liliana?”

“After your display this morning?” she scoffs and then turns on the rest of them. “Were you all in on this too? You were all awfully nice to her this morning…”

“It’s just a game,” Simon rolls his eyes. “Chill out Evie. You’re boring when you’re angry.”

Evie looks like she is about to crawl over the table, grab Simon by the collar, and hit him repeatedly. So I stand between them, my arms outstretched. 

“There is no secret plan, Evie,” I promise her. “It’s just a coincidence. Besides, none of this is real. You know that. It’s all just a game.”

“ARGH!!!” she screams in a fit, she runs out of the room slamming the door in her wake. 

Sighing, I take a deep breath and follow her. 

I find her leaning against the wall of the hallway just outside the library. She has sunken to the ground, her head on her knees, sobbing quietly.

“Hey, Evie.” I pat her on the shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”

“No it’s not,” she argues through her tears. 

I sit down next to her on the ground and wrap my arm around her shoulders, pulling her into my chest. She melts into me, sighing. 

“Don’t worry Baby Doll,”  I place a quick kiss on the top of her head. “You know you’re the only girl for me. Besides,” I add with a sly wink, as she looks up “think of how much fun you’ll have torturing her every time she looks in my direction. The rest of us might need to play nice to make our plan work, but you’ll be able to hurt her for looking at me all you want. You pulled the wrath card,” I remind her. 

Her pout twists into a smile as she thinks about all the ways she could make Lily suffer.

“So are you ready to do this?” I coax her playfully. She smiles and I know I’ve won. We walk back into the room, hand in hand. 

The games have officially started.