Chapter Twenty-NinePresent day
“Dressed in sombre black, out of respect for her recently murdered brother, the queen of the ring, the mistress of malice—Millicent!”
The arena was dark, the outlines of huddled prisoners were mere shadows whispering and shifting in the oblivion. The walls were draped in black velvet from floor to ceiling, the colourful posters and banners concealed in a veil of sobriety. The hall was silent, eerie in the absence of the pounding music.
The commentator had waited longer than usual to announce Millicent's arrival, leaving the spectators in the dark to soak up the atmosphere that pulsed like a beating heart. On his final word, the lights were turned on. A single ray of dazzling light illuminated Millicent as she emerged from the backstage door. She was wearin
