We Need A Plan. No, Not That One - Sarah McCormack (Me) (world of reading txt) 📗

mother. Her long blond hair that was never wavy or curly, her crystal clear skin, her stunning, yet soft blue eyes and her voice was soft.
Persephone's father had chosen both of his daughter's names. He named them because of their meaning, just like everybody else was named by their parents, according to the meaning.
They usually named them with the meaning of what they hoped their child to be when they were older, or what traits they hoped their children would have. Persephone's name meant Spring. She never understood how her parents had come to that name. Faith's name meant To Trust. Which was true, Faith was the most trust worthy person Persephone, or anybody else, had ever met
Faith had always looked up to Persephone and when she was scared after their father had passed away, she would always go to her. She had been the one to start calling her Sephy because she could never say Persephone properly. Her father had given her the idea, but Faith was the one that had always called her by her shortend name. The two sisters were closer than anyone else.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Sephy had always known that Eragon would eventually pick one of the two girls for his sadistic Tournament, but she had always hoped he would choose her, not wanting to think about what would happen to her younger sister if they were seperated.
As she paced she began thinking of ways to maybe swap positions with Faith, but Eragon would never go for it, and she herself knew that most men would prefer Faith's softer and less aggrassive personality to Sephy's.
“Sephy, it's okay, I'm going to enter it.” She stopped pacing and looked at Joshua. Joshua's name meant Jehovah is salvation, or else just saviour. Figures, she thought. Sephy remembered reading in one of her father's books about how the power of one's name can actually make them what their names mean. But how could Sephy be Spring?
At sixteen Joshua looked and acted a lot older than other sixteen year old boys. She knew it had something to do with his past, but never asked Faith about him. He looked older and acted older, but she had seen the size of the men that enter the Tournament, and frankly, she didn't know if he would make it past the opening arena which was usually the most vicious part of the Tournament, except for the last round, anyway.
“Joshua, I don't want you to get hurt. I'm going to talk with Eragon and see if he'll swap me for Faith.” She told him.
“And if he won't?” Sephy looked over at him and met his eyes. She could see how scared he was, even if he was trying not to show it. Trying to be brave when he knew there was a high chance of him not making it out alive from the Tournament.
“Plan B.” She said and smiled to herself as a plotted plan crossed her mind. One that would be dangerous, stupid, reckless, irresponsible and wild, but most importantly exceptionally brilliant and against the rules- her favourite kind.

As Sephy walked into the court house like room, which was situated off the left side of the mansion, she took in the fact that not only was Eragon present but so was his court team and her own mother. Faith didn't seem to be present, however.
Joshua hadn't come with her. He had tried to get into the court room but Sephy knew it would only cause havoc if Eragon knew about their relationship.
Sephy's mother sat in one of the seats where the Jury would usually sit. She had her head down, picking at her manicured nails; something she always done when she got nervous or anxious. Eragon sat in the Judge's chair with a 'welcoming' smile smacked across his face. Sephy wasn't nervous, she wasn't scared like other people would be and she definatly wasn't happy.
As soon as Joshua had left the mansion, Sephy had pounded on Eragon's office door, ignoring the protests of his assitants and secretary. She stormed in and demanded him to change the arrangments he had for Faith.
“Sephy.” Eragon said, his voice calm. Even his tone of voice was annoying her.
“Persephone to you, Eragon.” Sephy replied. The court room felt cold even though there had to be at least eight heaters inside of it. Eragon just nodded at Sephy.
“Okay, Persephone. What have you come here for today?” He asked her in that same calm tone.
“Don't pretend to not know what I am here for. You know right off that I am here because I want you to releave Faith as the prize of the Tournament.” Eragon nodded again and didn't stop smiling once.
“You don't think Faith would play the part well?” Persephone looked around the room. She saw all of Eragon's court team who did most of his job for him. To any passer they would look professional and serious, but to Sephy who had always been good at reading people, they all looked exaushted, frustrated and downright fed up. But none of them would be brave enough to go up and complain to the Ruler about it. Especially Eragon who was both ruthless and vicious.
“I want you to swap me for her.” This surprised Eragon, but he tried not to show it. He kept that smile on his face, not letting the cracks open wide enough for anyone else to see. Sephy heard her mother gasp and then Eragon shot a short glance her way.
“That's interesting. I would have guessed you to be the selfish one.” Sephy didn't respond. She just kept a hold of his eyes while he dared her to look away first. He sighed and sat back in the leather seat. “Persephone, I appriciate you and what-”
“Don't even try to start with the crap. The only person you appriciate or even care about is the person staring back at you when you look in the mirror.” Eragon narrowed his eyes at her and ran his tounge along his lower lip.
“Okay...” He sat forward again and leaned over so he could get closer to Sephy. “I didn't want to have to say this because it might hurt your feelings, but to be frank I don't think we would have very many contenders for the Tournament if what they won was you.” Eragon said, the fury that he had tried to hide seeping into his malicious voice. “Look at you Persephone, you're a mess.” He waited only seconds before adding, “and it's Ruler Eragon, to you.” It was only less than a minute before Sephy was leaving the court room and pacing back and forth in her room again. She knew that it would have been hard to get Eragon to do the exchange, but she had at least thought she would have been in there for more time than she had been.
Now she had to find Joshua and tell him what had happened. Tell him what was going to happen. She checked her reflection in the mirror before tying her hair back and changing into a pair of denim shorts and a brown tank top. Looking at her watch she saw that it was going to be late when she got back, so she put her keys into her pocket and left.

She had only been to the Vistic Homes bar twice. One of the times she had been dropping Faith off to meet with Joshua, and the second time was to just get as drunk as she could before someone told on her.
Not many people recognised Sephy as the step daughter of the Ruler. Not many people noticed her at all really. But Faith. Faith was always noticed and recognised as the step daughter or Eragon because of her beauty.
Inside the bar was noisey. People all over were shouting and laughing and just having fun. She slipped under the arm of a drunk man and bumped into a barmaid.
“Sorry..” She mumbled and continued on.
The bar had several benchs fixed to the walls and had lanterns everywhere you turned, giving the place a dim glow. It smelled of beer and perfume rolled into one, and there was a pool table through an arch way, left of the bar.
Sephy looked around until she saw Joshua. He stood at the pool table with a que stick in his hands. She made her way over to him.
“Joshua..” She said. He seemed to be in his own little world. He jerked his head up quickly in surprise.
“Sephy? Wh-what are you doing here?” Sephy shrugged.
“I had to talk to you and I thought you'd probably be here seen as Faith is always talking about how you spend your spare time here.” She explained.
“Oh, yeah that figures. So uhm, why'd you come?” He asked Sephy.
“I talked to Eragon.” Joshua's eyes lit up. She knew she shouldn't feel offended by his entusiasm about the thought of her being the Prize and not Faith. “He refused.” Joshua slumbed back down. He tightened his jaw a few times.
“I'll enter.” He finalised.
“No, you won't.” He looked at her in confusion.
“But wouldn't you rather I won than someone else?”
“Of course I would. But I don't want you to enter because you aren't strong enough, or fast enough.” She said. Joshua waited for the punch line. “And because I'm going to enter.” Sephy added with a smile.

* * *

Gage glanced down at the two cards he held in his hand and then back up at the five cards laid out on the green velvet table top. He twisted the silver coin under his fingers and around each one of them as he looked at the pile of money on the centre of the table.The pot was now over flowing with coins that he needed. Well if he wanted to eat, anyway.
He looked around at the four men that were also eyeing the cards, or maybe it was the money they were checking out. It didn't matter either way.
Rooney sighed, giving away his position. Gage knew the eighteen year old too well. He slid the coin around his fingers once more before flicking it with his thumb and making it land on top of the other coins, exactly where he had aimed.
“I fold.” Rooney placed his three cards down, facing the velvet. “Screw that. I need to eat.” He muttered. Chase, across from Rooney tried to stifle a smile, but he wasn't quick enough and Gage caught him as he quickly brought his hand up to cover his mouth.
“You all right, Chase?” Gage called from his seat. Chase hadn't been surprised and just offered a