Fire_Demons, Dragons, & Djinns by Rhonda Parrish

Author:Rhonda Parrish [Parrish, Rhonda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Anthology
ISBN: 9781928025917
Amazon: 1928025919
Publisher: Tyche Books Ltd.
Published: 2018-08-14T00:00:00+00:00

“OKAY. THREE ROUNDS. Winner takes all.” Flick said, announcing the rules to the crowd that had gathered around our table. There were at least two hundred people here—more than the room could legally hold. Every inch of space was taken, every seat occupied. Even the tables and bar were crammed with people, all elbowing their neighbours to get a better view. Nobody was really listening to Flick; they were too busy placing their own wagers on the outcome of the game with chancers who’d heard about the challenge. Others were shouting at the harassed-looking barman for drinks. I bet he’d never seen his hall so full of people.

Nervous, I sat at the table surveying the room and sipping a glass of burning liquid. Flick had poured me an oily fingerful of whatever he was drinking. “To calm your nerves,” he said as he slid the glass over to me. It was vile, whatever it was, but it was free and the burning in my chest soothed my nerves.

The ultimate gamble.

Flick raised a spade-like hand and the rumble in the room quieted. The excitement was so electric that the air crackled like moments before a storm. “Three rounds. Winner takes all,” Flick repeated.

“Winner takes all,” I said, my lips numb.

Flick’s eyes darted over to mine. The corners of his mouth curled up and I knew he was about to announce something unplanned. I held my breath as he said, “And we’ll play the element of fire.”

There was a moment of absolute silence and then the room broke into an excited roar. If we played the fire element, it meant only fire or ice demons could be used. Water and air would be nullified. Normally, that would cut any deck in half, if the player was savvy enough to keep the elements equal in his deck. I wasn’t savvy; I liked playing water, which meant my playable deck had been reduced to a paltry seven cards.

Seven cards . . .

Shit.

Ironically, my blood turned to ice. My chances had been significantly reduced. I blinked, considering Flick’s announcement. Poole met my eyes, his own fear as clear as day in his expression. He knew of my preference for water. Flick looked over to me, his expression smug. He was hoping that he’d unsettled me so, to prove a point, I gave an approving nod. “If that’s how you want to play it, fire’s more than fine with me.”

I’m sure I saw his smile falter a little. Maybe I imagined it, I don’t know. But even the thought that I’d unsettled him made my confidence soar. I could do this. I didn’t need seven cards; I needed three well-played ones. I leaned forward, smiling. “Okay, your round first.”

“Oh no,” Flick answered, wagging a meaty finger at me as if I was a naughty school child. “You first, old hoss.”

“Not a chance,” I said, meaning it. I would walk away from the table before that happened. “The challenger always lays first. You know that. Besides, I went first in the last round.

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