SERAPHINA'S POV
With a determination and driven vigor, I tighten the laces on my boots, tying a bow twice and tucking the loose thread into my shoes to avoid any possible mishaps that could arise with them out.
With another huff again, I secure my shoulder guards fixed to my outfit.
Day 2 of the tournament and I'm completely focused on getting it right this time. No more half-assing or letting anything else get in my way.
Unlike the previous competition, today's event involves mostly survival skills and wits, with each participate kept in a maze with various obstacles.
I like to think that my rough upbringing has equipped me for today to an extent.
"You sure you're okay, Sera?" Olivia asks for the third time since she's come to help me get ready for it.
She hands me a metal chest plate for extra protection before it begins. Unlike everyone else partaking, I have to get extra geared up because of my much lesser durability in the face of danger.
A gash for a wolf would heal in a day tops, whereas I'd need a whole week to recover.
But my thoughts are more focused on her question; am I okay?
Of course, I'm not. No matter how much I try to ignore it or push it behind me, no matter how positive I try to be, the facts still remain, don't they?
There's no one I can trust because I'm a human and the second I do, I will be let down because none of them see me nothing more than a nuisance - even Lucian.
His actions sting worse and then, there's Artemis with his mixed signals and childish outbursts who doesn't want to just let me be.
Every day I wake up, I'm reminded of the crippling fact that I don't belong here and no one wants me.
"Sera?"
"What?" I snap unprovoked, turning to her with an annoyed glance.
She flinches away from me, silently staring for a second until I've realized what I've done.
I've inadvertently lashed out at Olivia while she's just trying to help me, letting my emotions cloud my reasoning. Doesn't that make me the same as Artemis and his gang of bullies, tearing anyone around them just to satisfy their own selfish desires?
The thought of it breaks my heart, and every facade of strength crumbles along with all my walls.
"I'm sorry. I-I, I didn't mean to... I just-" The words don't leave my lips completely before my eyes begin to tear up as my frustration only grows further.
Who the hell am I kidding anyway? Getting dressed in this get-up, looking like a kid going out for Halloween. I can't do this.
I don't know why I ever thought I could.
No one believes I can, so why should I? Why try so hard only to fail?
"Sera!" Olivia yells, trying to grab my attention.
She grabs onto my face with both her hands, squeezing my cheeks together and placing her forehead against mine.
The action alone shuts me up, not expecting her to do that that all of a sudden
"Snap out of it. You can do this!" She says, still screaming in my face.
I look up at her face, her blazing amber eyes staring at me fiercely.
I remember only a few weeks ago she had been the one sobbing when we received the threat from Artemis and his gang about me being a target, and I had to encourage her that nothing would go wrong.
I never imagined in that moment that our roles would be reversed, and I'd need her to console me.
I sniffle, forming a small smile directed solely at her. Suddenly, the heavy weights weighing down on my chest lightens and I can breathe more easily.
"Thank you, Olive." I say, leaning my head against her palm. "I'm sorry for very briefly thinking you were the same as everyone else."
Clouded by my own anger and resentment, I let myself forget the only person that stood by my side and listened to my complaints.
"Apology accepted. I know just how crazy this school can make anyone, just know that I'm here for you no matter what happens in this crazy school - we have each other."
I pull away from her hold and hug her tightly against my chest, suddenly. Words like that, words I was never expecting, fills me with so much warmth.
We hug for a while until I feel completely better and all the tears in my eyes dry away before we pull apart, both smiling.
We share a look between ourselves before we both burst into laughter, laughing at the fact that we were both close to tears seconds ago over the most stupid of things.
A knock on the door to the classroom we're currently in distracts us for a moment, and we both turn just in time for whoever it is to walk in.
The familiar short black hair cut catches my eyes first before his face, and the good mood I'm in sullies immediately.
I instant recognize him as Jasper, one of Artemis' lackeys that follow him around and do his bidding most of the time.
He's also one of his friends that helped him pull that naked prank on me as well, something I'd never forget or forgive.
He sends a wide smile my way the moment our eyes meet, and I glare back at him instead.
"Hey." He greets as though we're friends, waving to the both of us.
"What do you want here?" I ask, immediately on edge and grabbing a hold of Olivia's hand on instinct.
Knowing what his friend is capable of, anything could be thrown at us any moment.
"Relax, I'm not here to fight with either of you." He begins, walking into the room with both hands tucked away in his pockets.
"Everyone's curious to see if the little human has the guts to participate in today's event. I decided to see for myself and hopefully do a formal introduction."
"I don't need an introduction; we've already met." I say bitterly
"Your friend's quite feisty, don't you think?" He says, looking to Olivia whose glare matches mine.
"Anyway, not to waste the time of either of you ladies, I came to wish you good luck, Sera. You'll be needing it today."
"I don't need your good will, you can flush it down the toilet if you don't know what to do with it."
He chuckles at my comment, turning to leave just before winking at me and closing the door behind him.
"Gosh, he gives me the creeps sometimes." Olivia comments, shivering and clutching onto herself and I can't help but agree with her.
Though I don't understand the reason behind wishing me luck today, it leaves me with a sense of foreboding.
Within the next hour, just before the second event begins, the rest of the contestants line up just outside the entrance to a maze built with tall grey brick walls.
Each one of us having an entrance to choose from.
The watching crowds cheers endlessly, waving flags representing each teammate they come to support.
My heart pulses deep and fast, remembering the last time I had come to face them and I was booed off the stage right after embarrassing myself in front of them.
I'm scared of doing all that again, honestly.
Just when I finally calm my breath, I feel a cold sense, tingling down my spine, putting my body on high alert and I immediately know it's him.
My eyes turn automatically behind me as Artemis himself emerges into the open field and the cheering of the crowd only triples, but this time, there's something off about him.
A deep-set frown settles on his face, and despite the cheers and praise he receives, he doesn't for a second break out of his sour mood.
Even now, while I'm nervous, I can't help but be curious, watching him shamelessly. Yet again, even after seeing him way too often, his features still happens to be striking and if I didn't know any better, I'd assume that there might be more to his dark and dangerous appeal. Some kind of deeper mystery to this monster.
While I watch him, he passes right by me, leaving a trail of his familiar scent and only briefly do our eyes meet, striking me way too strongly.
With the faintest whisper that I barely hear under the endless cheering of his fans, I hear him speak only to me.
"Don't be a nuisance today as well."
His voice comes out cold and detached, almost inhumane.
Something must have ticked him off...
Whatever it is isn't my business though.
His words, instead of inspiring fear within me, triggers a driving force, once more switching on my desire to smack that arrogant look off his face.