Standing in front of the mirror, Nyx swept her violet hair up into a ponytail. Emory froze, water dripping onto the cold floor. Nyx’s slow smirk made Emory’s skin crawl.
“Well, well, well. Princess, aren’t you looking radiant this morning? Any big plans for this fine day?”
Emory quickly grabbed clothes outside the stall, assessing Nyx. Venom leaked from her; she was like a snake about to strike its prey. She crossed her arms, “Training with Memphis, or that’s what I’ve been told.”
Nyx bared her teeth, mocking, “Of course. But maybe first, I could show you the ropes. After all, time is ticking.”
It was a challenge, plain and clear. Emory should back down and go with Wyatt. She should follow her orders, but it wasn’t in her nature to comply that easily.
Emory shot back, “Of course. What do we do about Wyatt waiting outside those doors for me?”
Nyx threw Emory supple leather boots. “Get dressed, and then we leave the way I came in. Wyatt is stupid to think he knows all the tricks of this place.”
Nyx sensing her unease, raised her eyebrows. “Is there a problem?”
Oh, was there ever. The black gaping tunnel in the wall appeared after Nyx had pressed two loose bricks. She had explained it was a vacuum tunnel that connected right to the ring. Emory gritted her teeth and swallowed down the urge to be sick.
Stepping in front of Nyx, she said, icily, “See you down there.”
Crouching down, Emory tucked in her limbs and sucked in a gulp of air. She threw her body weight forward into nothingness. Free falling at a dangerous speed, the wind howled around her as her body was jerked left, right, left, right. Her scream was stuck in her throat, eyes unable to shut, and suddenly, a hissing noise sounded and another opening made itself visible.
Emory was spewed out, flying, metal jagged teeth that surrounded the ring below her as she slammed into the ring, bones cracking, black spots entering he vision. Nyx wasn’t far behind, hooting, she flew out of the chute, all powerful grace as she landed nimbly on her feet. Emory scrambled up, quite sure now her wrist was either broken or badly sprained.
“What is wrong with you?” Emory asked.
Nyx cocked her head in fake innocence. “Tsk, tsk, Princess, don’t be sour. You agreed to it. Besides, that is good practice for your nerves. You will face worse things in the coming weeks. Now, since we don’t have weapons, how about some hand-to-hand combat practice?”
Emory gnashed her teeth together. “So you have another chance to further surprise me? No thanks.”
Nyx circled her lazily. “Now, believe what you want, but I am here to help you. I’m not living in some fantasy that you would be prepared to even live in this world, let alone survive it. In physical strength and ability, you are a newborn. So, are you ready to change that?”
The few rebels that had been down here attending to the room had now gathered around the ring.
Trying to still her heart, Emory said, exasperated, “No.”
Nyx threatened, “You’re going to have to be.”
It happened in slow motion to Emory. Nyx swung out her leg, trying to sweep Emory’s feet out, making her jump while anticipating this, and Nyx connected her fist with Emory’s jaw. The crowd leered at them, and Emory fell, the copper taste of blood filling her mouth.
“Get up,” Nyx growled, pacing with predatory fixation. This wasn’t a training lesson. This was personal.
Emory’s legs had turned to jelly, and she failed to find her feet. Nyx moved too fast, peppering her with a swift undercut to her jaw, slamming a kick into her gut. Emory fell onto her back, blood flowing down her face from her now split lip. The world spun, as white hot anger flared within her.
Rolling, Emory lunged and grabbed Nyx’s ankle, pulling her to the ground. It felt like time freezing but also jolting faster all at once. Nyx didn’t struggle at all. It was ice and fire running in her blood when Nyx’s power seeped into Emory. It was raw and wild, and Emory, with a thread of fear, realized that she liked it. Nyx had gone limp by this point, her eyes rolling in the back of her head.
Voices screamed at her through her consciousness, making Emory release Nyx, her entire body shaking. With the connection broken, the telekinetic powers started to fade, leaving Emory broken and panting on the ground. Nyx had paled to a scary shade of white.
“What, by flame and fire, is happening?” Memphis’s voice boomed across the room, making everyone freeze. For the first time, it would seem, in her life, Nyx was speechless. Anger flashed in Memphis’s eyes when he took in the state of both on the ground.
Coming to the edge of the ring, Memphis whispered to Nyx, “Nyx. Get her out. Now.”
Slowly helping Emory up, she nodded to a bystander. “Jake, if you will.”
The young man with ashy hair and a grim stature flicked his hands, and gravity didn’t seem to exist anymore as they floated over the sharpened edges of the ring. Nyx nodded at him and limped toward Memphis, Emory swaying behind her. She needed to sit. Now.
Listening to her body, she slumped down on the cold floor, aware of the argument roaring in front of her.
“What were you thinking?” Memphis fumed.
“They needed to see what she is. She is human, and she is weak.”
Memphis yelled now, spittle flying from his lips, “Just weak? Because when I came in, she
