Dead End: The Labyrinth Games

:: Chapter Three : Parvati Charm

Parvati burst through the door of Avel's room, her face bright with excitement. She had let herself in through the back door, tiptoeing quietly, carefully upstairs to his room.

"Avel! Surpri—" Parvati trailed off. "Avel?"

"Oh my god … " Parvati held in a scream, willing herself not to cry—not in front of Avel. Damn it, she refused to give him and that whore the pleasure of seeing her break down in front of them.

She rubbed furiously at her eyes, trying to wipe away everything she had just seen. No … It couldn't be true.

"I … Avel." Parvati stuttered, her mind unable to form words.

Today was Avel's seventeenth birthday, and she had been so hyped up—so eager to spend the day with Avel. God, she had been so naïve.

Parvati had meant to surprise him—had come here to surprise him, but today, it was her that was surprised. Today, the joke was on her.

Although really, it shouldn't have been such a surprise. She should have at least expected it. After all, he was the self proclaimed playboy—and unofficial high school heartthrob—of District One.

Parvati had been completely taken in with his golden good looks, his smoldering, sexy blue eyes, his tousled, honey blond hair, his chiseled cheekbones and that defined jawline that could cut glass … God, Avel was so sexy—so irresistible, it was almost impossible to stay mad at him. The operative word being almost.

Really, it wasn't such a shock that some other girl had fallen for his many … charms. Not such a shock that Avel had betrayed her. Right. And she was stupid.

In fact … Parvati looked more closely at the girl. Long, titian red hair, creamy skin flushed an almost delicate pink, deceptively innocent, doe brown eyes, freckles everywhere … Candace—Candace Lepore. That slut … The absolute nerve!

Candace … Parvati blinked back tears. She couldn't believe that Avel had done that to her … and with the District whore.

Parvati wasn't blind, despite what everyone else might think of her. She knew all about Candace's … other exploits, her laughing, easy ways that the other boys so adored. She was Avel's feminine counterpart, but with supposedly less morals, if she had them at all.

She just couldn't take it anymore. Parvati turned, breaking into a dead sprint. She just wanted to escape—to forget.

Let that slut have him, they deserved each other … A match made in hell.

"Parvati … I can explain." Avel called after her, his voice desperate. Avel's eyes were so blue—the exact stormy, conflicted shade as the sky in District One—yet so haunting in their faux sincerity.

Fuck him. Just … fuck him. Fuck society and all its expectations.

Parvati stumbled onto the street, her navy blue eyes filling with tears.

"Parvati? Is that you?" Parvati hesitated. Cy? Cy Thessaly? Her best friend since third grade. It was him, in all his familiar, boy next door glory. Sandy brown hair that fell messily into concerned, moss green eyes, all tanned skin and blindingly white smile.

"Charm!" He enveloped her in a warm hug, his green eyes crinkled with worry.

"Are … Are you all right? I don't mean to intrude or anything, but …" He trailed off, hesitant. Cy was so sweet … nice, in a land where chivalry had been long since dead.

"I … Yeah, I guess. Avel—" Parvati stopped.

He stroked her hair softly. Go on … Avel?

This was the start of Charm and Cy, the fair lady and her knight in shining armor. But as we all know, Lancelot and Guinevere, their love had ended in tragedy. And so would theirs, the golden couple of District One.

But for now … paradise. Heaven on earth, at least so for Parvati.

Until one day, when …

"So, dinner at my place?" Parvati asked, turning to gaze lovingly at Cy. Her boyfriend.

"Actually … Well, it's just … I don't think we should be together anymore." Cy said uncomfortably.

Parvati was incredulous. "Are you breaking up with me?" To think that he, Cy Thessaly, dared to break up with her, the thought was simply inconceivable.

In the past, she had always been the one to break things off, but … Cy had always been different. He was her Cy, and that made him special in a way no one else had ever been.

"Well … Yes." Cy hated to do this to her, but it couldn't be helped. Yet, gazing into Charm's seemingly fathomless blue eyes, as enigmatic to him as they had ever been, he couldn't quite bring himself to go through with it. That was the effect Charm had on people. Charm was charming.

"I …" As Cy looked on, those dark, long lashed blue eyes began to well with tears. He couldn't help but to feel awful for doing this to her …

Parvati shrank away. "Get the fuck away from me!" She spat, her eyes flashing with angry, almost bewildered hatred.

Whoever had said hell hath no fury like a woman scorned … Well, Charm was that woman.

"What the fuck?" Cy backed away, holding his hands up in surrender.

"What the fuck?" Parvati mimicked, her voice saccharine sweet. She shook her head in disgust.

"See? That is exactly why I broke up with you!" … You spoiled, materialistic bitch! He finished in his head.

"What?!" Parvati shrieked, her pretty face flushed red with anger. Oops, maybe not so private after all …

"You want mean? I'll show you mean!"

"Fuck you!"

"Hey, you know you want to … Fuck … Charm, oh god! I'm going to come! Charm!" Parvati mocked. "Sound familiar?"

"Even motherfucking Avel was a better lay. You would know, wouldn't you?" Bad idea. Charm really should have known better.

"Damn it, you—" Cy exploded.

And then … "Are you fucking kidding me? Avel … Avel. Fucking. Paris!" Cy bit out.

"I really thought I knew you better than that, Charm." He shook his head in disbelief. "Well, what do you want me to say? Have a happy fucking life."

With that, Cy Thessaly walked out of her room—and out of her life.

And well, that was the end of Charm and Cy, the jilted lady and her knight in not so shining armor.