The Luna Trials

Episode 8

The crisp morning air bit at my skin as I made my way to the valley where the Luna Trials would take place. My heart raced with dread. As I crested the hill, I gasped at the sight before me.

The valley was like an arena. At the bottom, a swamp stretched out, dotted with various obstacles and challenges. But what truly took my breath away was the audience.

Thousands of people lined the upper ridges of the valley, their excited chatter creating a constant buzz in the air. Colorful banners fluttered in the breeze, and I could see vendors weaving through the crowd, selling snacks and trinkets. It was like a macabre circus, and we contestants were the main attraction.

"Quite a sight, isn't it?"

I turned to see Jake standing beside me, his eyes wide as he took in the spectacle.

"I didn't expect... this," I admitted, gesturing to the crowd.

Maria joined us, her face pale. "It's like they're here for a show. Do they not realize what's at stake?"

Before I could respond, a shrill voice cut through the air. "Well, well, if it isn't the peasant and her little friends."

Selly sauntered up to us, her perfectly coiffed hair gleaming in the morning sun. She looked like she was dressed for a garden party rather than a grueling trial.

"Selly," I acknowledged coolly. "Ready for today's challenges?"

She tossed her hair back with a laugh. "Please. I was born ready. Unlike some people, I actually belong here."

As she strutted away, I couldn't help but notice how her high heels sank slightly into the soft ground. This ought to be interesting.

We made our way down to the gathering area at the edge of the swamp. The mud squelched under our feet, and I was grateful for my sturdy boots. Not everyone had been so practical. I saw several girls trying to wipe mud off their shoes, looking dismayed.

A horn blasted, silencing the crowd. Queen Amara appeared on a raised platform, her face impassive as she surveyed us.

"Warriors," she called out, her voice magically amplified to reach every corner of the valley. "Today, you will face challenges that will test your strength, your wit, and your determination. Remember, only one of you can emerge as Luna. May the strongest among you prevail."

With another blast of the horn, the trials began.

Chaos erupted as girls scrambled towards different obstacles. I took a deep breath, centering myself before sprinting towards a towering wall that seemed to touch the sky.

As I ran, I heard a commotion behind me. Turning, I saw Selly trying to navigate the muddy ground in her ridiculous shoes. She stumbled, arms flailing, before face-planting into the muck. Despite the seriousness of the situation, I couldn't help but smirk.

Reaching the wall, I began to climb. The handholds were tiny, barely there at all. My muscles screamed as I pulled myself up, inch by agonizing inch. Halfway up, I heard a scream. A girl to my left had lost her grip and fallen. Guards rushed to help her, but I knew she was out of the running.

"Hey, you!" a voice called from below. I looked down to see a burly girl glaring up at me. "Yeah, you! Aren't you the one cozying up to Prince Harry?"

I gritted my teeth, choosing to ignore her. But she wasn't done.

"So you're the girl who decided to be Prince Harry's slut," she sneered. "Girly, do you really think you're that good to cheat on the trials and win just for s*x?"

White-hot anger surged through me. Without thinking, I let go of the wall with one hand, swung down, and punched her square in the jaw. She stumbled back, shocked, as I resumed my climb.

"Anyone else have something to say?" I called out, surprising myself with the steel in my voice. Silence met my question.

Reaching the top of the wall, I allowed myself a moment to catch my breath and survey the scene below. It was pandemonium. Girls fighting, running, struggling through various obstacles. And then there was Selly.

She had finally made it to the wall but seemed utterly baffled by the concept of climbing. She kept trying to find a way to scale it without actually touching it, as if afraid to dirty her hands.

"This is ridiculous!" she shrieked. "Don't you know who I am? Someone help me up this instant!"

When no one came to her aid, she stomped her foot, causing her to sink further into the mud. Her tantrum was drawing amused looks from the audience.

Shaking my head, I started my descent down the other side of the wall. As I neared the bottom, I overheard a hushed conversation.

"We should team up," one girl was saying. "Take out the stronger competitors first."

"Good idea," another replied. "Let's start with that dark-haired girl who punched Brenda. She looks tough."

I landed softly behind them, clearing my throat. They whirled around, faces paling when they saw me.

"Ladies," I said with a grim smile. "I wouldn't if I were you."

They scattered like leaves in the wind.

The next challenge was a maze with walls that seemed to shift and change. I took a deep breath and plunged in. Inside, it was eerily quiet. I could hear my own breathing, the pounding of my heart. Every turn seemed to lead to a dead end.

As I rounded a corner, I nearly collided with another contestant. She was small and wiry, with intelligent eyes that widened in recognition.

"You're MaryJane, aren't you?" she asked.

I nodded warily, unsure of her intentions.

She stuck out her hand. "I'm Lila. Listen, I've seen you in action. You're good. Really good. I was thinking... maybe we could help each other out?"

I hesitated. Alliances could be dangerous, but they could also be useful.

"What did you have in mind?" I asked cautiously.

Lila grinned. "Well, for starters, I think I've figured out the pattern to this maze. Want to get out of here?"

I couldn't help but smile back. "Lead the way."

As we navigated the maze together, Lila filled me in on some of the gossip she'd overheard.

"Apparently, some of the noble families are furious that commoners were allowed to compete," she whispered. "They're saying it's an insult to tradition."

I snorted. "Because heaven forbid someone without a fancy title might actually be capable."

Lila laughed. "Exactly. Oh, and get this - I heard Selly's father tried to bribe some of the judges. Can you believe it?"

Before I could respond, we emerged from the maze into bright sunlight. We were among the first to complete that challenge.

"Thanks," I said to Lila. "Good luck with the rest."

She nodded. "You too. And hey, whatever anyone says... I think you've got a real shot at this."

As she jogged off towards the next obstacle, I felt a small warmth in my chest. It was nice to know not everyone saw me as an outsider or a threat.

The day wore on, each challenge more grueling than the last. By mid-afternoon, my muscles ached and my lungs burned. But I pushed on, driven by thoughts of my parents and the justice I sought.

I was scaling a rope ladder when I heard a commotion below. Looking down, I saw Selly engaged in what could only be described as a toddler's tantrum. She was sitting in the mud, tears streaming down her face, screaming at anyone who came near her.

"It's not fair!" she wailed. "This is impossible! I demand a redo!"

When another contestant tried to start climbing the ladder, Selly lost it completely. She launched herself at the girl, clinging to her back like a demented monkey.

"If I can't do it, neither can you!" she shrieked, pulling at the girl's hair.

Guards had to physically pry Selly off the poor contestant. As they carried her away, still kicking and screaming, the audience roared with laughter. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.

As the sun began to set, a final horn sounded. Those of us still standing gathered in the center of the training grounds. I was relieved to see Jake and Maria among the survivors, though they looked as battered as I felt.

Queen Amara appeared once more, her face unreadable as she surveyed the remaining contestants. There were far fewer of us now than there had been this morning.

"You have survived the first day of trials," she announced. "Rest well tonight. Tomorrow will be even more challenging."

As we trudged back to our quarters, I caught snippets of conversation from the departing audience.

"Did you see that girl with the dark hair? The one who punched that other contestant?"

"Oh yeah, she was amazing! I bet she makes it to the end."

"No way, did you hear about her background? She's just a commoner. She doesn't stand a chance."

I tuned them out, too exhausted to care about their opinions. Back in our room, Jake, Maria, and I collapsed onto our beds. For a long moment, none of us spoke.

Finally, Maria broke the silence. "Well, that was... intense."

Jake let out a weak laugh. "You can say that again. I think I've got mud in places I didn't even know existed."

I managed a small smile. "At least you didn't have to deal with Selly trying to use you as a human ladder."

We all chuckled at that, the shared laughter easing some of the day's tension.

As night fell, I lay awake, staring at the ceiling. My mind raced with memories of the day's events, strategies for tomorrow, and always, always, thoughts of my parents and the truth I sought.

I thought about Harry, wondering if he'd been watching today's trials. What did he think of my performance? Did he still believe I was his mate? And why couldn't I get him out of my head?