Page 133 of House of Crimson Hearts
“Yes. You are, Octavia.”
She turns to me, a soft smile on her lips, her eyes glinting as she looks at me. “How did you cope coming down off my blood without me fucking it out of your system.”
“Well, my wrist aches today, let me put it that way,” I say.
She laughs so hard her head flies back as she cackles.
“Perhaps I can find a way to make it up to you.”
But there’s no time right now because Cordelia steps onto the stage.
“Ladies, Gentlemen, hunters and noble vampires, welcome back to my home for the end of the first trial celebration. We have a winner in our midst, and an announcement to make.”
The Chief steps up onto the stage next to Cordelia. The pair of them are rigid, stood next to each other. Both radiate tension. But somehow, Mother is a little less tense than she was the first time they stood on stage next to each other. Perhaps peace or the semblance of it is possible after all. Cordelia hands the mic to the Chief.
“Thank you,” she says, and Octavia shakes her head in astonishment.
“It’s never going to sink in, is it?” I say.
“I don’t think so, the manners are the most shocking part to me. I’m so used to violence and aggression between our kinds. I still feel like there’s something else at play here.”
“Oh, I’ve no doubt,” I say. “I’m convinced it’s all for show.”
Before we can deliberate any more, the Chief clears her throat.
The hall settles into an expectant silence.
“Unfortunately, we lost one of our hunters yesterday during this trial. It is with great sadness that we confirm the loss of Fenella James back to the Mother of Blood. We thank her for her service and send our condolences to her family. There will be a ceremony tomorrow evening where we will burn her body and celebrate her life. But for now, we will proceed with the award ceremony.”
She hands the mic back to Cordelia, her demeanour colder, sharper, carved like icicles now she’s had to confess the loss. She’s pissed; I can tell from the way her eyes blaze like blue fire. I’m not surprised. It’s unlikely any of the vampires will die during these trials. Though, I say that, and if it weren’t for me, Xavier could well have desiccated in the temple.
But the hunters are taking a far greater risk than the vampires in these games.
Cordelia moves to the centre of the stage and brings forward the bowl full of bloodstones. She wafts her hand over the bowl and five stones hover in the air, one representing each of the teams.
“Now, if the holder of the amulet would come forward, we will award the points,” Cordelia says, and the glee in her expression is evident.
She beams, her fangs even drop a little over her lips when she can’t contain the excitement.What are you hiding, Cordelia?I decide I need to talk to Octavia about it. There’s something more we’re not seeing. This all seems… too easy, too staged, too civil.
Gabriel steps out of the crowd, Keir following in his wake. He’s wearing an ornate red suit tonight, it’s embroidered with a filigree pattern. And Keir is wearing a matching black and red suit. They actually look kind of good together.
They kneel at the foot of the stage, and Cordelia raises her hands for them to ascend the stairs.
Keir goes first, Gabriel in his wake. To my surprise, it’s Keir wielding the amulet. He takes it from his pocket and hands it to Gabriel, who drapes it across his palms and presents it to his mother.
Cordelia takes it out of his hands and stares at it. She’s practically vibrating, the glint in her eye is the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the amulet…”
A cheer erupts around the ballroom, vampires and hunters alike clapping and shouting.
“This is the first artefact we need to drop the boundary and reach the door and retrieve the cure. Congratulations, Gabriel St Clair. You are the first trial winner.”
“As is Keir,” the Chief says, her voice like a blade.
“Of course,” Cordelia says, correcting herself. She shifts on her feet, aware of the error she just made. “Gabriel and Keir, you are the winners.”
She waves her hand in front of the glass vials and all five of the bloodstones drop into their jar. Then the Chief steps up to the points pots.
