Sophie swallowed. “It’s true.”
“One thing’s for sure. Won’t be picking that witch in a challenge again.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because now that I found my princess, I won’t let her go,” said her prince, gazing into her eyes.
Sophie suddenly felt sad. “Even if it means waiting a lifetime for a kiss?” she said, almost to herself.
“Even if it means waiting a lifetime for a kiss.” Tedros answered, taking her hand. Then he cocked his head. “I’m assuming this is a hypothetical question.”
Sophie laughed and buried her head in his shoulder in time to hide the tears. She’d explain one day. When their love was strong enough.
On the balconies of the two schools, the faculty watched the lovebirds nuzzle in the sun. The Good and Evil teachers gave each other dark looks and went back to their chambers.
Sitting in chilly shade, Agatha didn’t make any sudden moves either. Like the teachers, she knew this romance was doomed. Something was in their way. Something Sophie had forgotten.
Something called Trial by Tale.
“To win a Trial by Tale is one of the greatest honors at the School for Good and Evil,” Pollux declared, head back next to Castor’s on their massive dog’s body. With the fifteen Forest Group leaders behind him, Pollux peered down at the students, gathered after breakfast in the Theater of Tales.
“Once a year, we send our best Evers or Nevers into the Blue Forest for a night to see who lasts until morning. To win, a student must survive both the School Master’s death traps and the other side’s attacks. The last Ever or Never standing at dawn is declared the winner and given five additional first-place ranks.” Pollux raised his nose snootily. “As you know, Good has won the past two hundred Trials—”
Good burst into a chant of “EVERS RULE! EVERS RULE! EVERS—”
“ARE STUPID, ARROGANT FOOLS!” Castor boomed, and the Evers shut up.
“Now a week from today, each Forest Group will send its top Ever and Never into the Trial,” Pollux sniffed. “But before we announce the competitors, let us briefly review the rules.”
“Heard Beatrix took first in Good Deeds yesterday,” Chaddick whispered to Tedros. “That Nevergirl turning you soft?”
“You try mending a dove wing with my strength,” Tedros retorted. Then his face softened. “Do the boys really hate me?”
“Can’t be messing with a Never, mate,” Chaddick said, gray eyes stern. “Even if she is the fairest, smartest, most talented girl in school.”
Doubts sank Tedros into his seat. … He bolted upright.
“I can prove she’s Good! I can prove it in the Trial!”
“Beatrix or Agatha might have your group’s spot,” Chaddick said.
Tedros’ chest tightened. He caught Sophie beaming at him from the Evil pews. Their future together depended on him making the Trial. How could he fail her?
“According to the rules, there can be more than one winner of a Trial by Tale,” said Pollux. “However, those who last until dawn must split the first-place ranks. Thus, it is in your interest to eliminate your competition. Naturally the School Master prefers a single winner and will conjure as many obstacles as he can to ensure it.
“For the rest of the week, all classes will be dedicated to preparing these 15 Evers and 15 Nevers for their night in the Blue Forest,” the dog continued, as students twittered over who these would be. “In-class challenges will be restricted to these competitors only. Those with the worst scores for the week will enter the Trial first, while those with the best will enter significantly later. This is, of course, a tremendous advantage. The less time you spend in a Trial by Tale, the more chance you come out alive.”
Students stopped talking.
Pollux realized what he said and forced a laugh.
“It’s a figure of speech. No student dies in a Trial. How ludicrous.”
Castor coughed. “But what about—”
“The competition is completely safe,” Pollux said, smiling down at the children. “You will each have a flag of surrender. If you find yourself in mortal danger, drop it to the ground and you will be rescued unharmed from the Blue Forest. You will learn more about the rules in your various classes, but now I cede the floor to the Forest Group leaders, who will announce this season’s Trial competitors.”
A tiny lily nymph in a dress of emerald vines stepped forward. “From Group 9, Reena will represent Good and Vex will represent Evil!”
Reena curtsied to Ever cheers while Nevers grumbled that Vex and his pointy ears were lucky to be in a weak group.
An ogre announced Tristan and one-eyed Arachne from Group 7, followed by more leaders who named dark-skinned Nicholas and Anadil from 4, Kiko and green-hued Mona from 12, Giselle and Hester from 6 …
Sophie goggled at Tedros through it all, daydreaming of life as his queen. (Would Camelot have enough closets? Mirrors? Cucumbers?) Then Yuba stepped forward. Sophie looked over at Tedros and Beatrix, both hanging on the gnome’s next words. Please let him beat that sour cream puff, she prayed—
“From Group 3, Tedros will represent Good,” Yuba said.
She exhaled in relief.
“And Sophie will represent Evil.”
Sophie massaged her ears. She’d heard wrong surely. Then she saw the smirks.
“Suppose that’s the problem with dating a villain,” Chaddick said. “It’s all love and kisses until you have to kill them.”
Tedros ignored him and focused on his plan to prove Sophie Good. Thank God his father was dead, he thought, sweating through his shirt. What he was about to do would have stopped his heart.
As Evers left through the west doors, Nevers through the east to trek back to Evil, Sophie remained shell-shocked on a blackened pew. A shadow moved into hers.
“All I asked is that you stay out of my way …”
Hester’s breath chilled the back of her neck.
“And here you are, #1 Villain, making fools of us all. Well, you forgot a villain’s story doesn’t end happily, dear. So let me remind you how it ends. First you. Then your prince. Dead.”
Cold lips grazed Sophie’s ear. “And that’s no figure of speech.”
Sophie whipped around. No one there. She jolted to her feet, slammed into Tedros, screamed—and collapsed in his arms. “She’s going to kill us, you then me or me then you—I can’t remember the order—and you’re an Ever and I’m a Never and now we fight against each other—”
“Or we fight with each other.”
Sophie blinked. “We … do?”
“Everyone will know you’re Good if I protect you,” said Tedros, still a bit sweaty. “Only a true princess can earn a prince’s shield.”
“But—they’ll target you! Everyone thinks I’m Evil!”
“Not if we win,” Tedros said, grinning. “They’ll have to make you an Ever.”
Sophie shook her head and hugged him tight. “You are my prince. You really are.”
“Now go win your challenges so we enter the Trial at the same time. You can’t be in there without me.”
Sophie drained of blood. “But—but—”
“But what? You’re the best Never by a mile.”
“I