TW: Description of Violence

“Do I seriously have to wear this?” 

I stared at Anna as she held the edge of my old puke green dress. It was good to see that I now had the perfect excuse. But while I liked getting rid of the horrific dress, I didn’t like the reason why Anna needed the dress.

“Do you have any formal wear on you?” Kan asked as he loosened his black tie before falling back on the couch next to me.

“Master Kan, please don’t do that. The Banquet starts in 5 minutes.” Janeth screeched, her hologram showing an angry face. “I just got you perfect.”

“But why does Runa get to wear that?” Anna looked at my outfit. “That’s not formal wear.”

Kan sighed, threading his hand through his shoulder length hair. “You get used to Runa’s need to be special.”

“Master Kan-”

“It doesn’t matter what I wear, no one’s going to say anything to me.” I stood up, playing a knife into a sheath inside my right knee boot. “What matters is that everyone remembers what to say and do.”

I stared at Anna as I said the last words. Her role at today’s banquet was going to be incredibly important. After the Awards Ceremony, we were told Anna was going to join us for the Games of Styx Banquet. It seemed that while the families respected my rights, they still wanted to see her.

And all because she was a damn cyborg. It was why she was able to run so fast. Her real powers were still a mystery, even to Kan, one of the best information gatherers. We weren’t going to push her to tell us, but from the way powers were normally passed down from family to family, Kan and I guessed it may be a future power.

“Yeah, yeah. I know what I need to do. Stick to you or Kan and respect everyone. Got it.”

I watched the girl as Janeth finished up with her hair. When Kan told me about the whole cyborg thing, I was a little surprised. But it explained her grip when we held hands earlier. It wasn’t that cyborgs were bad, they were just rare in our society.

The families were curious about her because it had been decades since the last known cyborg lived. It’s why they all came, all interested in how she used her power as a runner. Anna had done well in hiding her true power but someone would eventually catch on.

Most people would have a healer repair what they lost, making the need for fake parts unnecessary. The Ministry of Health could heal most injuries and illnesses, even very serious ones. Cyborgs were special cases. At least 70% of their body had to be damaged seriously for a healer to be unable to reverse injuries.

And to think this fifteen-year-old had gone through something like that at such a young age. It made me more determined to destroy the Underworld.

Anna told us that all her limbs, parts of her back and the right side of her face were her cyborg parts. The metal and wiring had been covered with a silicone similar to the one that they used on humanoid androids.  

Her right eye was fake, which was why she had the computer mask. So that people couldn’t take advantage of her blind side. Since I destroyed the mask with the small computer, she was blind in her right eye again.

Anna didn’t mind too much since she was used to fighting with her other senses. The computer was just a special thing she wore for her dad. However, I still felt a little guilty for breaking the computer.

They were quite expensive due to their small size and ability to connect with the brain wirelessly. Janeth, being her angel self, did come to the rescue and somehow managed to arrange computer contact lenses.

As Anna would be getting into more dangerous situations now, having the lenses would help more than the mask.

“Runa, we’re going.”

I lifted my head and realized that everyone was already at the door waiting for me. Guess it was time to go.

***

“I see the other kids are here. But it seems a few are missing.” I whispered to Kan as we walked together, me holding one of his arms. “Honestly, this banquet is a little different from normal.”

It had been ten minutes since the banquet had started and as usual all the families were socializing. As important members, Kan and I had to make our rounds in the ballroom.

So, leaving Anna with Janeth and clear instructions to stay under the radar, we made our way through the ball room, greeting and talking with a few people. We didn’t need to talk to everyone, just a few other important members to keep up appearances.

The room chosen for the event belonged to one of the families. And it seemed they hadn’t spared a uni in decorating and making the event grand. White marble covered the floor with a few statues of the same material. As for the walls, they were covered in a red velvet wallpaper and the ceilings had murals of ‘epic’ battles of the Underworld.

Candle holders mounted on the walls were all made of gold and the three chandeliers were all made of white diamonds. The price tag on this room could feed a small region for a few months easily.

“Since today’s fight was a little special, all the kids who fought you got invited. Some of the ministries are already scouting a few. As for the ones missing, someone put them in a hospital bed.” Kan took a sip of his champagne. “But you’re right. Something’s not right.”

Trumpets suddenly sounded and the ball room went silent instantly. The grand double doors slammed open and Lord Malum entered the room.

Everyone immediately bowed, the ones he walked past bowing lower than others. He wore the same uniform as before, but it was much grander than earlier. Gold thread lined the edges of his clothes.

When he finally got to the one end of the ball room, which had a little step for him to stand above the crowd, he exclaimed in a loud voice, “Let the celebration begin.”

With the words the crowd cheered and then a group of people in white suits came through the same door as Lord Malum had moments ago. I saw the silver and gold lion emblem on their shirts and instantly realized what tonight’s entertainment was going to be.

Behind the group walked a veiled person, chains wrapped around them, guards leading the person to the center of the ball room.

And did I beg it not to be what I believed it to be.