Demons Heart

Chapter 3

The funeral is now over as I now have to entertain the suitors who will be arriving shortly. I'm not expecting many to show up, if any at all except Aiden, yet I already know he would lose before he begins. He only wants the crown and the games will show that, especially since I've decided to open the games up for speculation from the Cleyan people.

Their next king will affect them as well, so who's a better judge than them? I already heard Benjamin complaining about it, probably because his plan won't run as smoothly as he most likely planned to rig the games in favor of Aiden.

"They're coming, they're coming!" Dina says as she comes running down the hallway, to me. She takes my hand as we run towards the window. I see many cars, far more then anticipated. My heart is in my throat as I feel nervous, not only for myself but for them.

All these men are going to fight for my hand and while I fear for them, I also feel my heart swell. Am I worthy of this? I start to count as each man steps out of their vehicle as I count fourteen.

"Fourteen!?" I repeat aloud as Dina nods her head. "It's a great turn out." "I do hope your man isn't here." "He isn't." "He's taking me out tonight." Dina blushes as I gush over her impending date. We haven't know each other long, barely a week really, yet Dina and I have just had an instant connection from the beginning.

"Come greet your guests." Benjamin mutters as he walks into his room, slamming the door as we jump. "He's more moody than usual." "I'll say." I confirm with her as I walk downstairs and see the men, with their luggage.

"Follow me everyone." I tell them as I take them to the south side of the palace. "Now I will elaborate further at the first game but for now, I will tell you that there will be thirteen games." "That many?" "The games were once called the suitors who die in hell." "Though it was just a rumor really."

I hear a few whispers behind me as I give each suitor a key and a room as they settle in. I'm at the fourteenth room as I turn back around, thinking I'm done when I hear someone clear their throat.

"Your flower." I hear as I turn around and see none other then Vornan standing there, with luggage and a flower in his hand. "Is it real?" I ask him as I observe the brown flower. It's usually black in cold temperatures and warms up to different colors.

"Come with me." I tell him as I take his cold hand and lead him to one of our balconies. Once we're outside, I wait as it turns from brown, orange and then to pink. I see hints of other colors as well as I stare in awe.

"You really did it?" "I got seeds as well, since you didn't specify in which form you wanted them." He says smugly as he hands me the red card. I take it from him as I try not to be joyous at the sight of this flower.

I never thought he'd pull it off. I walk away from him as I smile with my flower, only stopping once we reach the last room down the hallway. I give him a key as he opens the room and walks inside.

I'm about to walk away when he calls for me. "Emory?" "Do you think I've already won?" He asks as I remember his ignorance and stomp away, though holding my flower with two hands as I'm careful not to drop or to damage it in any way.

I'm back in my room as I take the flower out of the pot and plant it in the middle of my garden. I also weed put the few dead flower I have before planting the seeds. This flower is meant to survive all temperatures and with fall coming, I see if it really can. Will it sprout and flourish or die?

I'm called upon early in the morning as Benjamin tells me to start the silly games. I try not to argue with him as I know I'll have to have a calm demeanor with the first game being as intimate as it is.

We even set the mood right by hanging red curtains in the ball room and having the lights dimmed in a romantic way.

"This is the game of senses." I tell all the suitors as I see them all wearing proper attire, except for Vornan. "This game will be intimate and will show whether you're here for the power or for love." "Now the first of the senses is sight."

"I along with five other women who look like me will be wearing the same gown and will be wearing a mask." "You'll have to take one of the hearts I have here and place them at our feet, to determine which one you think is the real one."

"Sounds easy enough." Aiden says to the others as I leave the room and meet with the other women. We all put on a mask and walk back in, standing before all of them, at a distance.

I watch them with the paper hearts in their hands and see the first two pick the first woman. The next three pick the sixth woman, while the rest pick the second. There's only one man who picks three, me, that happens to be Vornan.

We all take off our masks as I look at Vornan. I question whether he has X-ray vision or something. "On to the next one." I tell them as most seem disappointed in getting the first game wrong.

"The next sense is touch and for those who had a chance to dance with me, well this will be easy for you." The men are then told to turn around as all the women and I sit down behind a screen, with our hand through a hole on a table.

"Now each of you will sit down and touch each of our hands." I say as I already have the mask on. The thing no one says about the games is it isn't only for the suitors but for the king or queen as well. This one in particular will show me how each of them would handle me, whether it be rough or gentle and if he can tell it's me with a simple touch.

I wait for each suitor as the sit and hold our hands. A few are rather rough as they seem to be trying to find distinct features and I clench my teeth as I try not to pull away or to tell them to stop.

Aiden in particular is taking his time, especially when he lands on me as I see him with his paper heart, slipping it through the slot on the screen as if to chose me.

I'm surprised he got this one right. We did dance but I don't remember touching him. What I didn't know though is that Aiden knew exactly who it was because he went for the one with the roughest hands. The rest may think her hands to be soft but Benjamin has told him everything and he knows hers would be the most rough with everything she has done for herself.

I watch them struggle to chose and want to cheer as I see Renade get it right as he slips his heart through the slot. The last one as usual is Vornan and he doesn't even attempt to sit at any other table but mine. He holds my hand, kissing it before slipping his heart through.

"Now may the real Emory Cornan reveal herself." I stand up and take off my mask as most of them cheer. Almost all got it right, except for a few that I don't even remember seeing at the ball.

"The next sense will be tricky as all of you will need to be blindfolded." Dina walks over to them all, tying a blindfold around their eyes and head. "What are we meant to do?" Aiden speaks up as I put a finger to his mouth.

"The next sense is smell." "You'll have to pick out my smell from the other women." "This will be up close, hence why the blindfold since I do have a few distinct freckles for those who pay close attention."

I decide to go last in this game as I watch the men lean into the neck of each of the women. Every one of them was given a sticker this time, to stick it on the person they believe to be me. I see the first women get a few and even the fourth, yet Renade, Aiden and Carlon all stick theirs on me.

I'm not even surprised as I get to Vornan and he leans in, placing a chaste kiss against my neck, before placing his sticker there. "My princess." He says as I step away as they all take off their blind folds.

I then turn away as I feel my cheeks flush. What is he doing to me? "We will now have tables brought in as the next sense is taste." "This one will take awhile as I'll be cooking and having you all choose who made which one."

"We've never tasted your food." "Correct." I say as I walk out and into the kitchen. I'm not sure what everyone will like and play it safe by cooking home made pizza with fresh vegetables from my garden.

It isn't exactly a royal food, yet get the chefs in the kitchen to cook the same thing so it will be harder for them to guess. I do make each slice into different flavors as I fear some may like and other will hate vegetables.

Once cooked, I place it on one of our fancy plates as the chefs do the same. I then get the staff to serve them all as I take a seat and watch them all take a bite from each pizza.

I do hope my future husband likes my food, so this game is more about wanting honesty as I will give each of them a card to tell me which one they believe to be mine and to rate each pizza. I know they'll be honest since whichever one they like best, will most likely be the one they choose and they'll give high marks to the one they believe to be mine.

I hear the whispers as they all talk about how good the pizza is. The anticipation is prolonged as I tell them all to place a lid over the ones that aren't it and to leave the one they believe to be mine uncovered.

I see many of them leaving mine uncovered and this time it's Vornan who's first to do so and wonder if the other are copying his movement. They all do seem to be doing so except for Zen. He's someone I never danced with, yet he's handsome, focused and seems to take the games seriously, even if he's yet to get one of the tests in the sense game right.

"Now the chefs will come in and will walk towards the tables who have not chosen her highness's dish." Everyone watches as only one chef steps forward, going directly to Zens table.

"Wow, you make delicious food." Renade compliments as I smile and move on to the next test. "You all may have guessed it by now as the last sense is hearing." "This one may be the hardest of them all as you'll now have to listen to me sing."

"Each of the ladies here today have a very similar voice to mine as they too will sing, while all of you will be blindfolded." "We don't want any cheaters for this round." I mention as all the men copied Vornan in the last task.

"At the end of all our songs, you'll raise your hand as Dina will call out the numbers of each of us." "This test is also be very special to me as we'll be singing a song I wrote when I was in a dark place." I decide to sing second among the women as I hope my voice can match the first as it flows between us all. I don't want this test to be easy for them.

In my sorrow I see light

Dancing on the water

My anchor holds strong, to the floor

As I drown in my desire

You tell me to stay as I ask to leave

Showing me you've cut the chain

As I plead, don't leave me

The sand covers my body

Will you care if I go

Or will you tell me it was a dream

That my purpose was not to be locked away

but to see the crown as I stay

It weighs you down

That awful crown

As it takes away your love

In my sorrow I see light

Dancing on the water

My anchor holds strong to the floor

As I drown in my desire

We each finish our parts as we hear a round of applause. We then shuffle around to confuse them more before Dina now asks them to raise their hands to the number they believe it to be.

"Number 1." Only Zen raises his hand as she then calls for number 2. Vornan is the only one to raise his hand as I shake my head at him. How can he possibly know? Could Jenny have told him enough to know even my voice or is it just luck?

"Number 3, number 4 and number 5." Dina calls out as the rest raise their hands and I sigh as Dina takes off all the blind folds. The women and I line up together.

"Each number step forward in the order you sang in." Nena is first as I'm second and there's a chorus of people sighing as they get it wrong. Vornan gives a smug smirk as he's gotten them all right.

"This now concludes the end of the first game." We wait as the staff clears out everything from the senses game, before spot lights are put on every suitor. "First we invite Vornan to step forward." Dina says as the lights go out, putting the spot light on him.

"You've succeeded in passing all of the tests and will be going through to the next game, you may leave." Vornan strides out effortlessly as the rest of the men seem nervous.

"Aiden Woolen, you may also go through to the next game." "It's your highness to you." He says as he shoves past Dina as I clench my teeth, not wanting to say something in the moment as I give Dina an apologetic look. She nods in understanding before she continues.

She then calls out five more of the men who at least got three right as they too leave the room. The next are the ones who got two, which includes Renade as he gives me a goofy smile before leaving.

We're down to four as most only got one right. "You may head back to your rooms." I tell them as the spotlight is on Zen. "I'm sorry but you didn't get a single question right." "Good." He says with a smile as he's about to walk out, yet I catch his arm and hold him there.

"What do you mean?" "My parents want this for me." " I don't." "Why did you come?" "We never have a choice when it comes to our parents, you don't either." "Mine are dead." I say dryly as he shrugs his shoulders and walks out.

"Well it's back to the next woman my parents will throw me at." "He shouldn't have been apart of the games." Dina tells me as we walk back to my suite together. We laugh about the way Vornan got them all as we turn into my door way, stopping in our steps at the sight of Jenny.

"Jenny?" I question as if she isn't real. I reach out and touch her before wrapping her in my arms. "I'm sorry your highness." "Sorry?" "I never should have told you." "I shouldn't have let him come."

"What do you mean?" "Are you talking about Vornan?" "We straightened it out and he even brought me a flower to enter the competition." I gesture to the flower as Jenny turns around in fear.

"He brought you that flower?" "Yeah." "I had to know he was serious." "He isn't." "He can't be." "Demen said..." "He told me their plans." "He told me everything." "He didn't mean to but I wouldn't stop crying in the cave." "I wouldn't stop begging them to let my family go."

"Why?" "I kept repeating why until eventually he told me." "It's why I came back." "It's why I have to warn you." "Jenny slow down." "You're not making any sense." "Don't trust him."

"They're monsters, terrifying monsters that want nothing but power and death." "You can't be serious." She grabs my arms roughly, shaking me until someone clears their throat and Jenny looks behind me with wide eyes.

"I didn't do anything." She raises her hands in defense. "I didn't say anything." "Why are you afraid Jenny?" "Is it because you're spreading lies?" "I'm not, I swear." "Don't take me back." "I wouldn't dare harm you Jenny." He says as someone steps out from behind him.

He has scars on his face as his demeanor is rigid and cold. "I'll let your boyfriend take you home." "Boyfriend?" She points at the man and smiles. The kind of smile that says you must be joking.

"Come here honey." The man says through clenched teeth as he calls her over. She looks between all of us. "You don't need to go if you don't want to." I tell Jenny as she looks back at Vornan.

His eyes seem to darken as Jenny shakes her head. "I'll go." She walks towards the man. He snakes his arms around her shoulders in a tight grip as I feel the tension in the room rise. "Demen, take her home, would you?"

He nods his head as I watch them leave. "What was that?" I ask Vornan as he seems irritated by the question. "It seems to be an argument between a couple." "Really?" "It looked more like a threat." "It's what all arguments are, aren't they?" "The threat to leave is always there."

"Cute." I say as I know he's playing what just happened as no big deal. "If you won't explain what happened there, how about earlier?" "Earlier?" "How did you get all the questions right?"

"It's simple." "The sight of you is easy to tell, especially when I've held you close and have a good image of what your body looks like." "How can I not know your touch, especially after knowing you like to garden?"

"Your scent, well that's the easiest to know as you smell of sweet flowers, of the earth." He says as he takes a piece of my hair, smelling it before dropping it. "Taste, that comes from knowing you'd be the best cook."

"I picked the dish that was most delicious, like you." "Hearing?" I question as I know he's never heard me sing and even Jenny has never heard me. She wouldn't be able to tell him anything.

"That was tricky, though I listened closely and took a lucky guess." "Luck, you say it was luck?" Vornan couldn't say it but he did none of the above when it came to picking her out.

What he actually did was listen to her heart beat. It quickened every time she glanced towards him. He didn't know the other women, which made it easy to realize that she must be affected by him.

I shake my head at his reasons. I don't believe luck could ever be why this man could pick me out of a crowd. "You don't believe me." "Should I?" I step forward, taking a piece of his hair and tucking it behind his ear.

"Your hair is beautiful." I say as I lower my hand as we gaze into each others eyes intensely. "I could say the same about yours." "Mine has been colored a lot over the years, to hide my natural grey hair."

"Grey hair?" "It would suit you." "You make jokes now." I back away from him as he tries to smile. "Try to be confident princess, you have fifteen, sorry fourteen men fighting for your attention."

"My attention?" "You mean the crown, the money and power." "I'll be lucky to come out with a guy who desires my attention." "The crown comes first for all of you."

"You shouldn't group us together like that, not when you've caught my attention." "Your attention?" "With your beauty, you can have any woman in the world." "I don't desire any other woman in the world, only you."

He leans down as if to kiss me. I close my eyes, waiting for my lips to touch his, only they don't. My eyes snap open as he smiles slightly. "It doesn't feel good, does it?" He turns to walk away. "You enjoy games, nothing more." I say with a hint if anger. "We'll have to wait and see if you get the crown, since I'll have the final say." I shut my door as he continues to walk away.