Chapter 171-Test Begins.

Kathryn's POV.

I was so nervous, but I made sure I hid it from him, I didn't want him to feel burdened about the fact that I am scared for this test that was about to happen, I couldn't hide it from Lyn, though I successfully evaded him during the burial, I kept staying close to Matteo, so he would distract me with his usual sarcastic self.

It really worked during the burial, but my heartbeat beat louder when I knew it was time for the test.

We all left the house immediately, candidate's family were aloud during the test, everyone got nervous, no matter how many times we tried to hide it by saying things to congratulate him, or telling him to be careful, the scary feeling in everyone's mind were evident on their faces, I could see it even in Matteo's constant sarcasm, he was worried for his friend, he made constant jokes that made everyone laugh on our way there, but it didn't stop the stupid feeling I had in me, as much as I laughed outwardly, inside me I knew the turmoil, how scared I'm feeling, how my heart beats became more intense, I kept smiling at him whenever our eyes met, his grandfather already told me about distractions being bad for anyone competiting.

My father also said something of that sort, when they discussed the test and how everything would be, the discussion further intensify my fear, I kept thinking about what would happen if he didn't come out of the test alive, he's a very powerful vamp, but the test was an ancient formed test made by the first ruler and the one who made us all, it was carved to pick out worthy rulers later, and it was made to destroy whatever and whoever won't pass it.

The discussion passed between the elders, I couldn't do anything, as much as I didn't want to hear it, hearing it made me get more scared, but I knew hearing it will help me more than I can imagine, it'll help release the little tension I have in me, at least I'll know more about it than be shocked or told later.

"I'm sure everything would be alright, you'll come out successful." Bas's father said and I sighed, I want to be optimistic in everything, but the little optimism I have in me didn't stop me from feeling perturbed about the test.

"Yeah, but remember no one comes out of that place unscathed, no one in history has , some even die there."  The vampire who joined us pointed out, everyone stared at him like he has gone mad, he was telling us what we knew but didn't want to admit, what we knew but want to think otherwise, what I knew and I what I should worry about, but couldn't, because I didn't want to distract him in any way.

Reaching the palace had my heart beating than I could ever imagine, I tagged along Matteo, so as to keep calm, he also joked along the way to keep calm.

I couldn't control myself when I heard the candidates being called to the field of the stadium in the palace where everything takes place, I grabbed Bas and kissed him like my life depended on it, and he kissed me back, I made sure I dominated this kiss, the way I felt, the terror in me that I won't see him again, if something happens to him in there, that this would be my last kiss with him, I kissed him hungrily, biting his lips na leaving him speechless.

I sat down on the seat close to Matteo when he left to join the other candidates, my hands shook and I clasped them together telling myself to be strong ,I had to be, it was important than I needed to be strong, Matteo nodded at me with a small smile, I know he could sense my fear, we could all sense each other's fear, we let it show when he left, we made sure we hid it from him, at least he didn't get the chance to see it, it would have distrubed and unnerved him and no matter how scared we were, we didn't want him unnerved in any way when he went inside.

"We have come here to witness the test for the future King as we always do, the candidates that passes this test, would move to the choosing test,this test last for an hour." The Announcer said and I shivered, it was really starting, the bad thing was that we couldn't even see them, we could only seat, and maybe hear their voices, we weren't allowed to see what was going on in there.

"Now it may sound as a simple test, but this has choosen our past kings for years now, we don't create it, it chooses itself or it's form every year, now it's time." The Announcer added.

I straightened when I heard the buzzer sound, it was alarming,it made me more scared than I've ever been, the Announcer pressed something and a black cloud covered we couldn't see the candidates anymore, we could only see the tracker they told them to wear, we could see the red dots of the candidates moving.

The screams I heard had me standing up immediately, looking around I could see others stand eyeing the red dots,the red dots were now thrown in different directions with different screams from the candidates, my heartbeat became frantic immediately, I don't why but it wasn't his scream I heard, I knew his voice, I consoled myself with the fact that I didn't hear his scream, he must be fine, Matteo Kept staring at the black cloud like he could see Bas, but I knew he was worried, his father also stared at the cloud, Lyn shut her eyes tight, mummuring softly with her mom.

The next scream I heard had me jumping up from my seat, my brother held me tight,I felt like going in there because I knew it belonged to him.

I sat back down, looking at the black cloud like I could see him, though I knew it was so impossible to begin with, but that didn't stop me from looking,I sat straight immediately and ideas came to me, I don't know how the competition is done, or what they do inside, but all I do know was the bond I had with him, even when we didn't mate completely we spoke with each other, now we mated, we were bound together than anything, and I could feel his pain, whatever made him scream hurt really bad.

I didn't care if he becomes the next King, but all I wanted now was to reach him and know he was okay, if I know that then I'll be calm, I'm sure I will be, all I wanted for him was to pass the test, the choosing wouldn't hurt this much, the red dots were scattered now, and it felt like a scrambling was happening in there, with the way the red dots assembled and scattered and join back again, it felt like it was throwing the candidates against each other.

I saw a red dot disappear and I heard a scream of despair, I looked around and saw a name disappear from the candidate board list, the family of Mr Drean cried, my family and Bas's family stared at each other with worry in our eyes.

Forty minutes were over already and it made me glad, I couldn't wait for the remaining twenty minutes, the test would be over soon.

The test sounded unbearable when it was left with twenty minutes, the screams I heard made me shiver, and the groans of pain, it felt like the test became tough, another name disappeared from the list and my heart beat faster, the candidate's family cried, and I prayed I won't be the next person crying too, I don't know how I'll fair, but I wouldn't take it at all, I'm not sure I would take it, if anything happens to him.

I couldn't take it anymore, I decided to try soothing him through our connection, if I couldn't reach him, as the test they took block them, I would at least comfort him, all I wanted for him, was for him to pull through, I soothed him through the barrier and I hope it reached him and he felt it.

I smiled when I saw it was left with five minutes, it would be over soon, "yes ,just five minutes left." Gabriel said and everyone nodded, we kept timing and checking the candidate name list and the black cloud.

I paused when I heard the trumpet that sounded whenever a candidate died, I looked up and I felt cold all over, Bas's name disappeared from the list, I felt numb all over, I could hear Lyn crying already, I couldn't breath, but I don't know why, what was in me, all I knew is, he wasn't dead, I could still feel a little energy in me from him through our connection.