The Luna Trials

Episode 9

A soft knock on the door interrupted my strategizing. I ignored it, hoping whoever it was would take the hint and leave. No such luck.

"MaryJane? You in there?" Lily's voice, sickeningly sweet, came through the door.

I rolled my eyes. What did she want now? After a moment's deliberation, I decided it might be useful to hear what gossip was circulating. Information was power, after all. I unlocked the door, fixing Lily with a cool stare as she entered.

"What?" I asked flatly.

Lily's concerned expression grated on my nerves. "Are you okay? Everyone's talking about what happened with the Queen."

I leaned against the wall, arms crossed. "And? What brilliant theories have they come up with?"

"Some think you've got royal connections, others say you bewitched the Queen," Lily said, fidgeting under my gaze.

I couldn't help but scoff. "Bewitched? These people are more gullible than I thought. The last witch existed way before you or I were born. Wayyy before those before us. The only remants of magic are the spells the last witches cast on the kingdom to defend it from enemies."

Lily shrugged. "People believe anything when they're scared. But I don't think you had anything to do with it."

Her statement caught me off guard. "Why's that?" I asked, genuinely curious.

"I've been watching you," she said simply. "You're different from the rest of us. You're here for something else."

Alarm bells rang in my head. Had I been that careless? I schooled my features into a mask of indifference. "You don't know what you're talking about," I said dismissively.

Lily just smiled, unfazed. "It's okay. We all have secrets. But if you ever want to talk, I'm here."

Before I could tell her exactly where she could shove her offer, another knock came at the door.

"MaryJane!" Jake's urgent voice came through. "You need to come out. Now."

I pushed past Lily, opening the door to Jake's grim face.

"What's wrong?" I demanded.

"Emergency meeting for all contestants," he said. "They're asking about you specifically."

I cursed under my breath. This was exactly what I didn't need. "Fine. Let's get this over with."

As we made our way to the great hall, I could feel eyes on me, hear the whispers trailing in our wake. I kept my head high, face impassive. Let them talk. I had nothing to hide – at least, nothing they could prove.

The hall fell silent as we entered. Lady Amelia, head of the Luna Trials committee, stood at the front, her face as stern as ever.

"MaryJane," she called out. "Step forward."

I did so, meeting her gaze without flinching.

"There are questions about your presence here," she said. "Some believe you may have prior connections to the royal family."

I almost laughed. If only they knew how far from the truth that was. "I assure you, I have no such connections," I said, my voice clear and firm.

Lady Amelia's eyes narrowed. "Then how do you explain the Queen's reaction to you?"

I shrugged. "I can't. Maybe Her Majesty was having an off day."

"And your relationship with Prince Harry?" she pressed.

Heat rose in my cheeks, but not from embarrassment – from anger. "There is no relationship," I said coldly.

A scoff from the crowd drew my attention. Selly, that simpering fool, stood there with righteous indignation. "That's not true!" she exclaimed. "He was in her room last night!"

The hall erupted in gasps and whispers. I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to put Selly in her place right then and there.

"Prince Harry came to my room uninvited," I said, my voice cutting through the noise. "I told him to leave. End of story."

Lady Amelia held up a hand for silence. "These are serious allegations. We cannot allow any hint of favoritism in the Luna Trials."

My heart raced. Were they going to disqualify me? All my plans, ruined because of one nosy prince?

"However," Lady Amelia continued, "we also cannot act on mere speculation. MaryJane will continue in the trials, but under close observation. Any suspicious behavior will result in immediate disqualification."

I nodded, relief mixing with frustration. This would make things more difficult, but not impossible. I'd faced worse odds before.

As the crowd dispersed, Jake and Maria flanked me protectively.

"That was close," Maria muttered.

I shook my head. "We need to be smarter. Find out what really happened with the Queen. It could be useful leverage."

Jake nodded. "I'll see what I can dig up from the castle staff."

"Good," I said. "But be careful. We can't afford any more attention."

As we left, I caught sight of Harry watching me. I met his gaze coolly before turning away. Whatever game he was playing, I wanted no part of it.

That night, as I lay in bed, my mind raced with plans and contingencies. The Luna Trials were more than just a competition now – they were a battlefield, and I was at the center of a storm I'd stirred up myself.

But I'd survived worse. I'd clawed my way up from nothing, endured years of hardship and loss. Whatever these trials threw at me, I would face it head-on and come out on top.

As sleep finally claimed me, one thought echoed in my mind: I am MaryJane, daughter of the murdered Beta, raised by rogues. And I will not be denied.

The next morning dawned bright and clear, a stark contrast to the storm brewing inside me. As I made my way to the training grounds, I could feel the tension in the air. Today marked the start of the Luna Trials, and I was ready to show everyone exactly what I was made of.

Lady Amelia stood on a raised platform, her face set in its usual stern lines. "Warriors," she began, her voice carrying across the field, "your first true trial begins now. This is a test of strength, endurance, and strategy."

She gestured to a series of obstacle courses that had been set up overnight. They looked challenging, but nothing I couldn't handle. I'd trained on worse in the rogue camps.

"You will compete in teams of three," Lady Amelia continued. "The first team to complete the course and retrieve the Luna stone at the end will gain a significant advantage in the next trial."

I glanced at Jake and Maria. At least I had teammates I could rely on.

"However," Lady Amelia's voice cut through the murmurs, "there is a twist. Each team will be given a blindfold. One member must wear it for the entirety of the course."

A ripple of unease went through the crowd. I smirked. This just got interesting.

As we huddled to strategize, I could see the other teams doing the same. Some were arguing, others looked determined. Selly's team seemed particularly confident, which only fueled my resolve to crush them.

"I'll take the blindfold," Jake offered.

I shook my head. "No, I'll do it. My other senses are sharper, and I've trained for this. You two just keep up and give clear directions."

They nodded, not arguing. As Maria tied the blindfold securely around my eyes, I took a deep breath, centering myself. Years of training in darkness were about to pay off.

The horn sounded, and chaos erupted. I could hear shouts, splashes, and the thud of bodies hitting obstacles. Jake's hand on my arm guided me forward.

"First obstacle is a climbing wall," he said low in my ear. "About ten feet high. Handholds every few inches."

I nodded, reaching out to feel the rough surface. With practiced ease, I began to climb, Jake and Maria calling out directions. We made it over in record time.

The next challenge was a series of swinging ropes over a pit. I listened carefully to the rhythmic swoosh, building a mental image of their pattern.

"Now!" Maria called, and I leaped, my hands finding the rope with unerring accuracy. I swung across, my body remembering countless similar exercises in the rogue camp.

We pressed on, tackling each obstacle with determination. The balance beam was a breeze – I'd practiced walking tightropes blindfolded for years. As we neared the end of the course, I could hear the frustrated shouts of other teams around us. We were in the lead.

"Last obstacle," Jake panted. "It's a maze. The Luna stone is in the center."

I nodded, reaching out to touch the hedge walls. "Guide me through. I'll map it in my head."

We moved swiftly, Jake and Maria calling out turns. Left, right, straight ahead. I built a mental map, noting each twist and dead end.

Suddenly, I heard a commotion ahead of us. "It's Selly's team," Maria hissed. "They're stuck at a junction."

A plan formed in my mind. "We'll go around them," I said. "There's always another way."

We backtracked, taking a different route. I could hear Selly's frustrated voice growing fainter behind us. Then, ahead, a faint humming caught my attention.

"Do you hear that?" I asked.

"Hear what?" Jake sounded confused.

I moved forward, following the sound. "The stone... I can hear it."

Trusting my instincts, I led us through a series of turns, the humming growing louder. Finally, my hand closed around something smooth and warm – the Luna stone.

"Got it," I said, just as the horn sounded again, signaling the end of the trial.

As I pulled off my blindfold, blinking in the sudden light, I saw Lady Amelia approaching. Her expression was unreadable as she held out her hand for the stone.

"Impressive," she said, examining it. "You've completed the trial in first place."

A surge of satisfaction ran through me. Of course we had.

As we made our way back to the starting point, I could see the other teams finishing. Selly's group came in third, and the look she gave me could have melted stone. I met her glare with a smirk.

"How did you do it?" I overheard one contestant asking another. "How did you find the stone so quickly?"

The girl shrugged. "We just got lucky, I guess."

But something about her tone made me suspicious. I filed the information away for later – there was more going on here than met the eye.

As we gathered for the post-trial briefing, I caught sight of Harry watching from the sidelines. Our eyes met for a moment, and I saw a mix of emotions flash across his face – admiration, confusion, and something else I couldn't quite name.

I looked away quickly, refocusing on Lady Amelia as she began to speak. But I couldn't shake the feeling that this trial had been more than just a test of our physical abilities. Secrets were starting to unravel, and I had a feeling the real challenges were just beginning.

As we walked back to our quarters, Jake and Maria fell into step beside me.

"That was incredible," Maria said, a note of awe in her voice.

I shrugged. "It was nothing we haven't done before. But it gives us an advantage moving forward."

Jake nodded, his expression thoughtful. "We need to be careful, though. That close call yesterday, and now this win – people will be watching us even more closely."

"Let them watch," I said, my voice hard. "They won't see anything we don't want them to see."

As we reached my door, I paused. "Get some rest," I told them. "Tomorrow, we start planning for the next trial. We can't afford to lose our edge."

They nodded, understanding the dismissal. As I closed the door behind me, I let out a long breath. Today had been a victory, but it was just the beginning. The real challenge lay ahead – navigating the political minefield of the castle, uncovering the secrets lurking in its shadows, and ultimately, avenging my parents and securing a future for the rogues.

But as I looked at my reflection in the mirror, I saw not just the daughter of the murdered Beta, but a warrior forged in the fires of adversity. I was MaryJane, and I was here to win – no matter the cost.