章 33: This is going to be epic
The moment our names were announced alongside Seraphine and Riley, my stomach plummeted into an abyss of despair. I stood frozen at the edge of the sand court, staring at the match board as though it might spontaneously change its mind.
My heart pounded harder than it had during any previous game, not because I was intimidated—okay, maybe a little—but because our moms were our next opponents.
The Demon Queen and the Human Diplomat. Versus us.
Rowena, of course, was over the moon. She was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet, her grin wide and eager. "This is going to be epic," she said, clapping her hands together.
"Epic?" I hissed, grabbing her arm and pulling her closer so no one could overhear my panic. "It's going to be a massacre! Do you know what Mama's reaction time is like? She's basically a volleyball assassin!"
Rowena just laughed. "Rhiannon, chill. It's not like they're going to kill us. It's a friendly game."
I stared at her, incredulous. "Friendly? You think Mama knows the meaning of the word 'friendly' when it comes to competition? And Mom she's all strategy and precision! We're going to get annihilated."
Rowena shrugged, unconcerned. "Maybe, but at least it'll be fun to watch them work together. They haven't played as a team in forever."
Fun. Sure. If your definition of fun included being humiliated in front of an audience.
My mind spiraled into overthinking as we stepped onto the court. The sun beat down mercilessly, turning the sand into a heated carpet underfoot.
The crowd had grown, their chatter buzzing like a swarm of bees, and I could feel every pair of eyes locked on us.
On one side of the net, Rowena and I stood in our swimsuits, looking like the scrappy underdogs we clearly were. On the other side, Seraphine and Riley.
Mama—Seraphine—looked utterly serene, her fiery red hair glowing in the sunlight, horns glinting as though they were polished jewels. She exuded an effortless power, every step on the sand measured and confident.
Mom—Riley—stood beside her, her brown hair tied back in a practical ponytail, green eyes sparkling with mischief.
Where Seraphine was regal, Riley was relaxed, but that didn't make her any less intimidating. She had this way of smiling that made you think she was harmless until she absolutely wrecked you with precision and wit.
"They look like they're here to have tea, not play volleyball," I muttered under my breath.
"They're just lulling us into a false sense of security," Rowena replied, grinning as she stretched her arms. "Classic psychological warfare."
A referee stepped forward to remind everyone of the rules, including the no magic restriction. I silently thanked every higher power in existence for that one. If Mama had been allowed to use even a fraction of her magic, we wouldn't have stood a chance.
But even without magic, they were terrifying.
The whistle blew, and the match began.
Rowena served first, her hit powerful and precise, sending the ball sailing over the net. Mama moved like a shadow, her body low and swift as she lunged to bump the ball.
It sailed effortlessly toward Mom, who spiked it back over the net with a force that made the crowd gasp.
I dove for it, barely managing to save it with my forearm. The ball popped into the air, and Rowena took over, setting it up perfectly for me to spike. My heart raced as I leapt, slamming the ball down with all the force I could muster.
It wasn't enough.
Mama blocked it with ease, her hands forming an unyielding wall above the net. The ball ricocheted back onto our side, landing with a sharp thud.
Point to them.
"See?" I groaned as I picked myself up from the sand. "This is why we're doomed."
Rowena just laughed, brushing sand off her legs. "We've got this. They're just warming up."
Warming up. That was the terrifying part.
The match continued, each rally more intense than the last. Mama's movements were elegant yet devastating, every step calculated to cover ground with minimal effort.
Mom, on the other hand, was everywhere at once, her agility unmatched as she dove, set, and spiked with unrelenting precision.
Despite everything, Rowena and I held our ground. We'd played together for years, and our synergy was our saving grace.
Rowena's spikes were ferocious, and my saves were just barely enough to keep us in the game.
At one point, Rowena smashed the ball so hard it whizzed past Mom, barely missing her head. The crowd erupted in cheers, and Rowena fist-pumped the air triumphantly.
"Yes! We're in this!" she shouted, her grin infectious.
I couldn't help but smile, even as sweat dripped into my eyes. "Don't get cocky," I warned, though my heart swelled with a flicker of hope.
The next rally was brutal. Mama served with such precision that the ball curved mid-air, forcing me to dive headfirst into the sand to save it. I barely managed to bump it back to Rowena, who set it high and sent it flying back over the net.
Mom was ready. She leapt higher than seemed humanly possible, her hand smashing the ball down with a force that sent it hurtling toward me. I reacted on instinct, throwing my arms up just in time to deflect it back into the air.
"That's it, Rhi!" Rowena yelled, positioning herself for another set.
We were gaining momentum, pushing them harder than I'd thought possible. But just when I started to believe we might have a shot, it happened.
Mama spiked the ball, her movements a blur of power and precision. The ball came straight at me, and I had maybe half a second to react.
It wasn't enough.
The ball hit me square on the forehead with a resounding thunk, knocking me backward into the sand. Stars exploded in my vision, and for a moment, all I could hear was the muffled roar of the crowd.
"Oh, no!" Mama's voice cut through the haze, filled with genuine concern. "Rhiannon! Are you okay? I didn't mean to hit you!"
I groaned, pressing a hand to my forehead as I sat up. "I'm fine," I mumbled, though my pride was anything but.
Rowena crouched beside me, her expression torn between concern and barely-contained laughter. "You good, sis? That was...uh, quite the hit."
"Thanks for the play-by-play," I muttered, squinting up at Mama, who looked genuinely apologetic.
"I really didn't mean it," she said, her hands clasped together.
"It's fine," I said, waving her off as I climbed to my feet. "Just...maybe aim somewhere else next time?"
The crowd laughed, and I tried to shake off the embarrassment as the match continued.
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