Chapter 18-Combat invitation (3)

Chapter 18: 18-Combat invitation (3)

The combat arena had never felt so suffocating before in the history of the academy. Thousands of students packed the stone terraces until there wasn’t a single empty seat left.

Conversations had died completely, replaced by the tense anticipation that always came before blood was spilled.

Above the arena, moonlight poured through the enchanted dome that shielded the combat grounds, bathing the black stone in silver. It was beautiful in a haunting sort of way, as though the arena itself had been built to witness tragedy.

At the highest balcony overlooking the battlefield, four seats stood apart from the others. They were reserved exclusively for the student council.

Varitreya walked toward them first, her white uniform immaculate despite the turmoil raging inside her. She sat down gracefully; one leg crossed over the other and hands folded neatly in her lap.

Her expression remained cold enough to make every noble watching lower their gaze. No one would have guessed that her heartbeat had become erratic beneath her composed exterior.

Addessa lowered herself into the seat beside her. She folded her arms to mirror Varitreya’s posture. Her black eyes locked onto the arena below and not once did her face betray her emotions.

Yet beneath the sleeves of her black blazer, her nails dug so deeply into her palms that thin streams of black blood seeped between her fingers.

She welcomed the pain. It distracted her from the much worse pain echoing through the bond.

Lumi quietly sat on Varitreya’s other side. The thick book she always carried rested unopened in her lap and she didn’t even realize she had forgotten to read.

For perhaps the first time in years, she had no interest in books and was only in the new student standing below.

Finally, Zolani took her seat. She clasped both hands together so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Her crimson eyes never left Maisa.

The flower hidden beneath her uniform pulsed gently and it was almost pleading.

Silence stretched between the four of them. It was Varitreya who finally broke it first. "If she dies..." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "What happens to us?"

Nobody answered her because none of them knew.

Lumi swallowed. "There are no records of a quadruple mate bond. I’ve checked every book in the library and didn’t find anything."

"Of course there aren’t," Addessa muttered bitterly. "No vampire has ever awakened alongside four mates before."

Zolani’s voice trembled. "What if..." she hesitated. "The bond forces us to protect her?"

Varitreya’s jaw tightened. "I pray it doesn’t."

The future Queen of the vampire nation couldn’t openly protect a turned redblood. That would send a bad message to the nation and bring her unnecessary problems.

A move like that would destroy centuries of royal tradition and would get the palace asking impossible questions that she didn’t have answers to.

Addessa looked away. "I refuse to embarrass myself for a redblood," She spoke the words firmly. "My mother would kill me if i associated myself with such blood."

Yet even as she spoke, her heart pounded harder as though mocking her resolve.

Across the arena, Maisa stood frozen with her knees feeling weak. The four blackbloods waiting inside the combat circle looked less like students and more like predators.

Each one smiled hungrily towards her that it made her want to run. She wanted to tell Professor Primrose there had been some mistake. She hadn’t accepted anything.

Just then, a gentle hand suddenly landed on her shoulder.

Maisa jumped. Someone leaned close enough for his cool breath to brush against her ear. "So..." a lazy chuckle followed. "You’re the famous late entry redblood."

Maisa turned and her breath instantly caught. Standing beside her was undoubtedly the most handsome vampire she had ever seen.

Deep sapphire-blue hair framed a face sculpted with impossible perfection. Sharp blue eyes shimmered with effortless confidence.

His academy uniform fit him flawlessly, the royal blue jacket embroidered with silver trim that marked him as a blueblood.

Girls from every nearby sections openly stared. Some sighed dreamily and others covered flushed cheeks and even Sapphire gasped.

"L...Luan..." she called out, her eyes completely enchanted by Luan’s face.

Maisa blinked, she had heard of the name but with the current panic, she couldn’t pinpoint where exactly she’d heard it. "Luan?" She repeated.

Sapphire looked utterly starstruck. "Luan Ashbourne..." she almost whispered the words reverently. "Lumi’s twin brother and our year’s heartthrob..."

Luan smiled brilliantly. "I like hearing my introduction," he said and looked back at Maisa. "You’ll learn your place within these walls."

Before she could ask what he meant, he grabbed her wrist and the world blurred. The arena vanished into streaks of color.

Wind exploded around her. Bluebloods weren’t the strongest vampires, they weren’t the deadliest like blackbloods and whitebloods but they were among the fastest.

In less than the blink of a human eye, Maisa found herself standing inside the combat arena. She stared around wildly.

"What have you done?"

Luan released her hand. He flashed a playful wink. "Good luck, Maisa."

Then he disappeared. Nothing but a gust of wind marked where he had been. He reappeared casually in the student council section beside Lumi as though he had never moved.

Professor Primrose sighed heavily. "According to academy regulations..." She struck the staff against the stone floor. "Once a challenger enters the arena willingly or by crossing the combat boundary... the match officially begins. There will be no forfeiture."

Maisa’s face lost every trace of color. "No... I didn’t..."

She spun toward the boundary. Invisible crimson barriers had already risen around the arena. She slapped both palms against them desperate to get away from the death fight. But her banging bore no fruit, the barrier didn’t give way.

"I didn’t agree..." she became breathless.

"It doesn’t matter," Professor Primrose’s voice carried sympathy but rules were rules. "The rules recognize your entrance. The duel proceeds as planned."

Luan stretched lazily in his seat clearly enjoying the show he put up. Lumi slowly turned toward him. "Why would you do that?"

He smiled without looking away from the arena. "I’m trying to earn something."

"What could possible be worth the effort you put in to throw a innocent redblood to her death?"

His gaze drifted past Lumi and toward Addessa. "The attention of the vampire of my dreams."

Addessa finally spared him a glance when she heard what he said. "I don’t remember asking," she replied coldly, the conversation with Luan coming back to her.

She had agreed with him in passing out of anger. She hadn’t meant it literally but it didn’t matter. Luan took her seriously and dug a grave for Maisa.

"I know," Luan grinned. "But I remember you making a promise to me."

Addessa’s black eyes narrowed slightly. Luan leaned back comfortably. "I’ll make sure the troublesome redblood learns exactly where she belongs."

He looked directly at Addessa. "When it’s over... I expect you’ll consider that date."

Addessa slowly turned her head and ignored him. He looked back toward the arena with renewed excitement. "Enjoy the show, my lady."

Down below, Maisa stood alone as four blackbloods slowly surrounded her. Fenwick cracked his neck in an intimidating manner, Brylle rolled his shoulders, Joam smiled viciously and Zaden spun a combat knife between his fingers before tossing it outside the arena.

"We won’t need weapons. She’ll be an easy win."