Total pages in book: 131
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145402 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 727(@200wpm)___ 582(@250wpm)___ 485(@300wpm)
Neil looked over at his teammates. Nicky drummed his fingers on his hips as he took it all in. Aaron stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Katelyn, knuckles white with how tight he was holding her hand. Andrew looked unimpressed by the madhouse they'd stepped into, but his calm gaze tracked the crowd for threats. Renee was fiddling with her cross necklace, gaze distant as she prayed. Dan and Matt stood arm-in-arm behind her, twin pillars of strength ready for a fight. The rapid tap-tap-tap of Allison's heel against the asphalt gave her unease away but she wore a contemptuous look.
At Neil's side, Kevin was untouchable. Kevin had shown off his new tattoo as soon as they'd gotten on the bus. The team's celebration made it hard for Neil to sleep, but he couldn't begrudge them their excitement. Wymack hadn't reacted with more than a quick, tight smile, which meant he'd known about it before any of them did. Neil thought of the tribal flame tattoos on Wymack's arms and wondered if Wymack recruited his own artist for the job. It would at least explain how Kevin got back into the dorm last night when he could barely walk.
Neil didn't know what the last straw was to break Kevin's chain, but apparently last night's spectacle wasn't born of drunken grandeur. Kevin had committed; there was no going back. He faced Castle Evermore now like it was just another worthless stop on his way to glory. Neil didn't know if that determination was genuine or pure force of will, just as he didn't know how much of that disdain was a front for the press to pick up on. Neil had a feeling Kevin's defiance was at least nine-tenths truth, and that was enough to keep Neil's nerves at bay.
Two women collected the Vixen squad. Four security guards escorted the Foxes from the bus to the stadium while another six stood guard along the short route. It was a little excessive, perhaps, but Edgar Allan's board wasn't taking any chances. Cameras flashed as the Foxes went by, and it was only a matter of time before someone realized Kevin's ink had changed. An incredulous shout got all attention on Kevin's face, and suddenly ten guards seemed entirely insufficient. There was a chorus of boos on all sides as the news swept through the crowd, but breaking through that vicious disapproval were a few scattered shouts of "Queen!" Kevin endured all of it with a haughty expression locked in place.
It was Neil's first time in Evermore's Away locker room. Kevin had warned them about it on the ride up, but words couldn't keep Neil from feeling like he'd stepped into a tomb. It was twice as large as the Foxes' locker room but it seemed a hundred times smaller. The walls were bare of any decoration and everything was pitch black from the floor to the ceiling. It took an immediate toll on the Foxes and they spread out as quickly as they could, slinging orange bags into every corner of the room to try and break up the crushing illusion.
"Edgar Allan extends its welcome to tonight's opponents," one of the guards said when the team stopped moving. "The stadium has sold out, as have the towers. State and school officials are in North, the Court is in South, and the ERC is in West. We are hosting twelve representatives from the major leagues and six from professional teams. You will not approach any of them unless you are invited to do so by a member of my staff."
He waited a beat to make sure they understood. "You have free use of the inner ring for the next half-hour, at which point the Ravens will arrive on the Home side and you will be restricted to your half of the stadium. Do you have any questions?"
Nicky raised his hand. "Yeah. Who's in the eastern tower?"
"East is reserved for Moriyama guests and business clients," Kevin said.
The guard nodded confirmation, looked around for any other questions, and left.
"Well," Dan said when the door closed behind him, "this is what we've been waiting for."
"Let's do it," Matt said.
They left their gear and went into the inner ring. Outside it'd seemed like no one was on the Foxes' side, but the stands were broken up by small clumps of students and fans in every shade of orange. The Foxes waved at every friendly face they could see, earning ragged cheers and enthusiastic fist-pumping. The Raven fans were fast to retaliate, leaping to their feet and roaring boos at the tops of their lungs.
Halfway up each section was a fan dressed in red and black stripes, and one after the other they thrust a hand into the air. The closest one was still too far for Neil to clearly see what she was holding, but he thought it looked like a bike bell. It made no sense until five seconds later, when the entire section, floor to rafters, jumped as one. As they landed the next section jumped, and the thundering wave circled the stadium. It was a deafening cacophony and more unsettling than Neil wanted it to be. The striped fans put their arms up again as the wave made it back to them and signaled a second go-around.
"Jesus Christ," Nicky said, barely audible even though he was standing right behind Neil. "I don't think I can—Erik!"
Nicky darted around Neil and bolted for the stands. The first row was empty, with a security guard standing to either end, but a man had just shown up to present his ticket. How Erik Klose heard Nicky over the noise from the stands, Neil didn't know, but he turned away from the guard immediately and leaned over the security railing to give Nicky a fierce hug. Nicky clung to him like it'd been years since they last stood in the same room, oblivious to or completely unconcerned with the looks he was attracting.
The rest of the Foxes' guests showed up only a couple seconds later, since Wymack had arranged van transportation from the airport for them. Wymack dismissed his team, knowing how badly they needed friendly faces right now. Allison hadn't brought anyone, but she followed the upperclassmen to the stands. Aaron headed for the Vixens to talk to Katelyn. Neil stayed behind with Andrew and Kevin and simply watched.