Total pages in book: 42
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 39053 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 195(@200wpm)___ 156(@250wpm)___ 130(@300wpm)
Catching sight of Eryx again, I saw he was still with Kristy and a couple of unfamiliar faces who seemed to deliberately hang back with them. I noted it all with a twinge of disappointment.
Kristy wasn’t exactly my cup of tea, but then again, I wasn’t here to judge relationships—even if Eryx’s choice of women seemed as palatable as spoiled milk. I tucked away this nugget of information with all the rest for later use. My gaze then flitted across the room, seeking another particular head of hair.
Right … there!
Raphael was making his way forward with … Darrel?
Fucking. Darrel.
Oh, the fates could jest indeed. How had I overlooked him? A low groan escaped me. Surely, he hadn’t missed my spectacular entrance.
“Shit. I should have mentioned he was here,” Aisha whispered, quickly catching on to my dismay, her voice laced with regret.
“It’s fine. He’s not going to ruin my day. Probably. Hopefully,” I replied, maintaining a veneer of nonchalance.
“Don’t worry. I’ll handle him before he has the chance to try anything,” Hael assured me.
“You’d handle my light work?” I questioned him playfully.
He gazed down at me with a serious intensity. “For you, I’d do anything.”
“That’s why you’re my absolute favorite, Mr. Sinclair.”
Aisha shot me a knowing look, one that implied I might as well stake my claim on Hael now. My response was a swift, silent communication: not yet. Frankly, I hadn’t decided if he was more than just a tantalizing treat or if I wanted to change our dynamic forever. I hadn’t even taken him for a test ride yet. I straightened up, feeling the pull of the unknown tugging at us all.
“All right, let’s move,” I announced, giving the nod for us to proceed. We arranged ourselves smartly in the middle—not spearheading the group of seventeen other players, but certainly not lagging behind. As we strolled past our three enigmatic hosts, decked out in their animal masks, I couldn’t help but stir the air.
“Lovely to meet you,” I declared grandly, earning a slow once-over from the wolf and a curious tilt from the bear. “Oh, don’t do that, you’ll make me blush,” I teased, laying it on thick with mock bashfulness, which only seemed to deepen their interest.
“Never a dull moment with you,” Hael remarked quietly. “You probably made them blush back.”
“You think so? That would be nice. I could always use more fans.”
Aisha laughed. “Maybe you should just charm all the masked folks into clearing the games for us.”
“Now, where would the fun be in that?”
As we rounded the corner, a new figure in a white cat mask elegantly motioned us through another door. Their movements were fluid, almost dance-like. We transitioned into the next hallway, and the scene shifted dramatically. A dizzying black and white checkered pattern stretched endlessly before us, creating a disorienting optical illusion that played tricks on the eye. The floor beneath us began to subtly shift, propelling us forward like a silent escalator. The door shut with a decisive thud behind us. I glanced back just in time to see it vanish into the wall, its outline completely obscured as if it had never existed.
There was no going back.
Chapter Five
Eryx Draven had somehow wound up right behind me.
I was a little miffed at myself for not picking up on this right away. The nearness of him sent a sharp thrill of awareness zipping down my spine, and sensing his gaze on me made my heart flutter oddly. I glanced back only once and instinctively averted my eyes, caught off guard by my own reaction.
The moving floor swept us from the dizzying checkered corridor into a cinema lobby that felt like stepping into another world. The walls were lined with detailed posters of the city of Goetia, scenes from within the Devil’s Playground, and Project Paradise, the beautifully ominous island itself. Down the line, more posters offered aerial shots of the manor we currently occupied, intriguingly stamped with a Coming Soon that ratcheted up my curiosity. Judicium was infamous for never using the same venue twice.
The Infernal Syndicate took its secrecy seriously.
The details of each Judgment location were heavily guarded to prevent any leaks about layouts or impending challenges. Too many would exploit the information. But this manor was obviously slated for something big in the future. What exactly I couldn’t say, and frankly, it wasn’t my concern. Once I carved my path to blood-soaked glory, I doubted I’d ever see this place again. I was here to make a mark, not to get attached to the scenery.
The murmur of other contestants filled the air, a mix of excitement and speculation peppered with a palpable sense of nervous anticipation. “Do you think they’re dropping hints about what’s next with these posters?” a tiny blonde wondered aloud, her eyes fixed on the depictions of Goetia—a known city within Devil’s Playground.