The Time Tournament (Order of the Dragon #1)

CHAPTER 4

Elena

Time unknown

"W ho are you?” I asked, trying to look braver than I felt. “And who are you calling your daughter?”

"All daughters of Chronos are my daughters.”

“Whose daughters?” I was starting to question her sanity. And mine.

“You ask the same questions every time. You truly never change.” She snickered, her dark curls escaping from under her cape. She looked like she had just arrived too.

“Are you saying this isn’t my first time here?”

“No, it is not your first time here. Not even your second or third. Now sit and drink your tea. It’s getting cold.” She pointed at the cup.

“What makes you think I would drink tea from a stranger?”

“Here we go again,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Was she gaslighting me? I didn’t know anything about a first, second, or third time. How could this be something that had already happened? “Are you trying to manipulate me into drinking the tea so you can sell my organs to the highest bidder?”

Her laugh startled me. “This is a new one,” she said, wiping a fake tear. “I always appreciate a bit of variety, especially when everything usually goes the same way. And for the record, you usually accuse me of planning to sell you into sex trafficking, which isn’t that far off from your current assumption. And no, I don’t plan on doing any of that. But for an American from Spokane who just graduated high school, you certainly know how to try my patience every time.”

My mouth hung open, and my eyes darted around the worn-out cabin for answers. “So, we’ve met before.”

“It’s about time you figured that out. But look, the tea got cold. You’ve lost the bet again.”

“Bet?” This had to be some kind of prank. “Did my parents put you up to this?”

“Searching for a logical explanation is still in your character, I see. Which means your fate didn’t change much. That’s good to know. And no, your parents have nothing to do with this. Everything happening to you now is far bigger than your parents and your previous life combined.”

“Listen, lady-I’ve-seen-for-the-first-time-in-my-life, you talk a good game, but I need to get back to them. My parents and sister will worry.”

“Life as you knew it has ended, my daughter,” she said, rising from her chair. “Best to focus on the now. The tea I’ve prepared has special properties that will keep you calm while I tell you everything.”

“So you ARE planning to drug me? And you’re saying it boldly to my face. The nerve.” I took a step back. My plan to look cool and collected could backfire any second now. But before I could reach the door, she grabbed my hand, and suddenly I was sitting in the chair. “How did you do that?”

“Drink the tea,” she demanded, slamming her hand on the table.

“Listen. I don’t know who you are or what your evil plan is, but I’m not sticking around to find out.” Feeling confident, I sprinted toward the door, but it slammed right in my face. My heart began pounding in my chest. I turned to look for another exit, but the wooden blinds slammed shut, plunging us into darkness. A snap of fingers lit the room’s candles.

“Who are you?” I asked, struggling to swallow the lump in my throat. Everything became too real, too fast.

“For the many times we’ve been here, you never gave up without a fight,” she said, looking proud of herself. “I suppose that’s one of the reasons the Fates chose you. ”

“What Fates? Stop talking weirdly, lady-I-wish-I’d-never-met-before.”

“Then start drinking your tea,” she bellowed. “I’m tired of nannying you.”

“Why do you need me to drink it so badly?”

“It is for your sake, my daughter.” Her voice mellowed.

“Apparently, everything happening now is for my sake. And I assume this new life you’re talking about is also for my sake. But most importantly, the tea is for the sake of my sake.”

“Why the Fates chose such a snarky brat, I’ll never know. I always said the sister would’ve been a better pick.”

“My sister? You know my sister?”

“I do, and if you drink the tea, I’ll tell you everything I know about your sister. Or are you a coward?” She raised an eyebrow.

“Fine.” I took the cup and gulped its contents in one go. The revolting taste almost made me puke. “What did you put in it?”

“Nothing much.” She walked closer to me. “Only a few herbs and spices. Now, for the second part of the plan.” She marched toward the door, opened it, and yelled into the depths of the forest, “ Corb , it’s time.”

“Time for what?” I turned, but she didn’t answer. “Time for what?” I insisted.

“All in due time, my daughter,” she said as she sauntered back toward a rundown cabinet.

“Wait. Doesn’t corb mean raven? ”

“Look at you.” She smirked. “Your basic Romanian knowledge did come in handy. Your father must be proud. But it won’t be enough.”

“Quit stalling. Who is this corb you’re talking about? Is it a man?”

“No,” she said in a chipper tone. “It’s what the name implies.”

Not a second later, something swooshed next to my ear. A raven landed on her forearm. “You’ve got to be kidding me. But why—”

“ Corb , it’s that time again. And as always, you need to hurry.” She snapped her fingers, and with it, the golden chain around my neck broke and fell to the ground.

“Wait, that’s mine.” I scrambled to grab the pendant, but the raven immediately snatched it with its beak.

“Don’t forget the book.” The weird lady pulled a booklet out of the cabinet.

My eyes widened when I realized it was my Glinting Book. “How do you have that?”

“I made plenty, considering your sister always messes with them.”

“This is getting out of control. Give me back my pendant.”

“We don’t have time for this,” she said as she “fed” the raven a new version of the Glinting Book. In the blink of an eye, the raven was gone.

As if my swirling thoughts weren’t enough, the walls began spinning as well. “Why do I feel so dizzy?”

“It’s for your own good,” she said .

The closer she got, the fuzzier everything became. “I knew it, you gave me something, you ugly witch.”

“I don’t know about ugly, but I certainly am a witch.”

“Why are you doing this? I don’t even know you,” I said, grabbing hold of the chair.

“You might not know me, but I know everything about you,” she said. “Now sleep.”

“You said you’re going to tell me how you know my sister and everything el—”

“In due time, my daughter. In due time.”

The chair didn’t offer support anymore.

“Give me your hand so you don’t get a headache tomorrow,” she said.

“No, get away from me, witch,” I said, and as I took a step back, my legs gave out, and I collapsed on the floor.

“This girl never changes.” She sighed.

She fooled me even when I knew she would. Now my organs had to pay the price.