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Chapter 5

The ceiling must be twenty feet high. Designs of fruit and flowers are carved into the moulding and small, fat children with wings look down at us from every angle. I knew that they were supposed to look like the cherubic angels who were with God at all the time but looking at them it only reminded me of the mischievous fairy named Puck in Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Summit was supposed to begin in ten minutes and just like I had been always taught that either you were before time or you were late.

Vases of blossoms give off a cloying scent that makes my eyes itch. I did not know who had made these decorations but I sure as hell was not keeping vases of jasmine in my room or hall or anywhere near me. That sickeningly sweet smell which teased my nostrils was something that was making me nauseous but I damped that feeling deep down and curtsied before the Council. They had all arrived and all of them were seated at the head of the table.

When I was younger, I had asked Drima once that why were we made to curtsy all the people whom we did not even like. She had said that curtsy is a show of respect, and that is what it is. No one is going to look deep in the crevices of your mind to check whether you really respected that person or not but exhibiting that, always paid off.

Luke was standing proudly by my side. With his presence some of my tension was definitely lesser than earlier.

None of the other candidates were here except me and I supposed that gave me extra points with the Council. Slowly all of them arrived and Rubina immediately scowled at me seeing that I was already standing there. Once all the candidates were standing in front of them Torah stood up from her seat at the end of the Council and spoke in a loud and clear ringing voice.

“Welcome, heiresses to all the Packs. We are really sorry to say that we would miss watching one of our royal members amongst us. It is always a pity when a life so young, vibrant and full of youth is taken away so soon from all of us. But we will mourn her death when the new Queen amongst us is chosen. And you all are here for the same reason and intent.”

I was listening to her words with rapt attention and focus. Behind me, I could feel Drima typing away on her tabs to check what was going on with Serafina in all probability.. I needed her here because there was a lot that I needed to talk to her.

“So we shall begin the Summit. Like always, we will let the Alpha magic choose the first course of the contest and after that the usual games would be following,” said Torah.

Well, don’t get me wrong, I was all in for games but that did not mean that they were talking literally about games. These were deadly tasks where there was a huge chance that all of us would be grievously injured or we might be even dead. So it was all about one motto, Survival of the fittest.

And I saw a woman coming out of the curtains. Her hair was white, like an albino. She was a sorceress. A pureblooded sorceress with access to magic that people like us and our wolves could not even think of. Where from Queen Henrietta had found her, it was still a mystery but I was watching her carefully. Because my best friend and my own pack sorceress looked exactly like her. I did not mean to say as mirror images but Serafina was also an albino and she could never change her appearance but that was not going to be my focus now.

Raksha, the sorceress, looked at the Council and bowed down low to them and then closed her eyes and turned in the direction off all the candidates. Rubina was standing to my right, Ambernette to my left and Blossom was standing to the left of Amber.

“May the blessings of the Goddess and the Queen be with you and upon you,” said Raksha as she created a light orb in her hand, between her palms and the light magic flared to life as there was a sudden implosion nearby. Raksha focused her energy on the ball and then let it dissipate and we could feel that a box was rushing in the direction of the sorceress flying over heads. I ducked instinctively so that I was not clocked on the head and then the box finally reached Raksha’s hands.

“The first task has been chosen,” announced Torah as she rose from her seat at the end of the table and then came down towards Raksha who placed the scroll and the box in her hands.

So this woman was the one who was holding the Alpha magic in the absence of the Queen. And this was why all the members of the Council looked younger than they should. They had siphoned the leaking magic of the Queen Alpha thus depriving the ones who were actually supposed to be bound to the power. The wolves of the packs.

“It seems that Queen Henrietta has herself chosen the first task. The first task is going to be War and Magic Chess,” announced Torah as she opened the scroll. Without even trying my face shifted in a broad grin. This was something I knew that I could win even in my sleep. Drima had made sure that I had been trained for this in absolute surety so that there was no chance of losing at all.

“The maximum points to be earned for this task is hundred. You have to keep your Queen safe and your pack safe with the least amount of casualties and also maintain the control of your land in this game. If the Queen is injured or is hurt in any way then you lose immediately. So we will roll the dice and then choose who is going to be the first one to play. Choose a number from the bowl before you,” spoke Mason, another member of the Council who had come down and was now speaking.

One of the guard wolves was moving in front of us with the bowl of chits. There were four pieces of paper in them. Rubina was the first one to choose and she gave a triumphant smile as she opened her chit and said,”1.”

I opened my chit and said,”4.”

It really did not matter in which position I played I just had to keep my nerves steady and play logically without giving in to my impulse like I had to do when it was war. This was a game of pure strategy where the only focus was to win, nothing else mattered.

Blossom said 3 and Ambernette told 2.

The dice was rolled in front of us on a small marble table and it showed four dots.

“The Heiress of the Red hearts Pack, Synthia will be the first one to play the game. Rest of the candidates will be waiting in the guest room attached to the Hall. Refreshments will be provided. Please follow the guard,” said Mason as he smiled at me.

I had seen Mason quite some times coming to visit my mother with messages, official ones and he always brought cheese ham pockets for me from my favourite place.

“I am glad that you are the first one playing it, Princess. My best wishes are with you,” he said as all the other Council members walked back to the table and Torah gestured Raksha to take the seat opposite to me.

So I was supposed to play the sorceress!!! This was unexpected.

“You need to think that it is just another one of your pack members playing, Sin. Do not let her stress you for once, they are doing this to keep you in a pressure situation and condition both together. So just relax,” said Luke as he sat down near her feet and then lay down quietly. Strength and calmness wafted from him and his touch made me feel that there was nothing to fear at all. I was glad to have him beside me.

“Have a good game, heiress of the Red Hearts,” said Raksha as she stared at me. Her lips were curved in something which could be called a smile but was actually not. It was condescending like hell but I knew that I had to play the game in her way and win.

“You too, Raksha. I imagine that the death of Queen Henrietta would be really hard on you. I knew that she was your friend,” I said in a sympathetic voice. Drima was standing close enough to hear me and I could feel that she was shaking her head.

“That is true. She was my friend,” said Raksha. I could feel the voice cracking and so was the icy glance of her ice but now was not the time to show her mercy. It was time for the kill move.

“And now with her gone, I am really sorry but I am sure you are under a lot of pressure if you are worried about what will happen to your position in the palace when the new Queen is chosen?” I asked with a kind smile. It was a very natural to ask but it affected her and I could see that the panic in her eyes.

“The game starts now,” announced Torah as she placed the clocks on our sides and it was game time.

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