Planning

"Let's make dinner at my home," I said before everyone could decide on a place, "we don't want to eat something outside that can make us sick tomorrow."

"True that", Arina agreed and that was a good thing. Even one supporter can tip the opinion on your words for a few seconds.

"Let's head to your house, Selene!" Said Connie excited, it was odd as he had been there before and if I was him I wouldn't go back to a rundown house with just one induction. "I loved it there! I swear to god I never had as good a sleep as I had at your house when we crashed that day!"

My lips opened to answer how ridiculous it was but then again they were tired that day with a sleepless night in search of us, he was bound to have a good sleep.

Diana had a confused look, "when did you go to her house?"

"Yesterday," Connie replied, "everyone was so tired searching for Selene and Suzan that we went to sleep at her house. You know, that's why we missed Channing's trials!"

"Oh! Well, we headed home straight instead of searching for you guys, sorry Selene" Diana's hand came confronting on my shoulder and I gave her a warm smile,

"I understand Diana, it's okay. Let's get going or we will reach home late, also we need to buy everything from the market to cook" My hand weirdly played with my hair, "You know my place has nothing"

Everyone laughed except Diana as she was the only one who hadn't seen my house. "Leave that to me," assured Sam, "you guys go ahead."

"I will help you carry it", said Diana and joined Sam while the rest of us headed to my house.

After dinner we were all sitting on the bed in a circle, discussing the colourful balls that we got. I was holding the red one, turning and twisting it around figuring out how to open it.

Arina had gone home as she got a call from her mom, asking her to return for something. So it was just Me, Connie, Diana, and Sam.

"Do you think this has some kind of key?" My question broke the silence that was floating in the air. Everyone was observing and the only thing discovered till now was, there was a thin joining line that had a small hole on one corner.

"I think we will get the key when the competition starts tomorrow," said Sam, drinking the beer he was holding. Sam was the only one who drank today, as a habit to have something with food.

He threw his ball on the bed sighing as there was nothing we were getting apart from that.

I hummed and continued to sit in silence. Sam was finishing his beer, Connie was already half-asleep and Diana was still disturbed observing the condition of my house.

"Is it gonna be tough for us with a handicap?" I finally asked, there was no way they didn't feel unlucky enough with an extra task to do. Anyone would feel angry to pull the short end of the stick!

"Don't worry about that," remarked Diana, "If there is an extra task, then there is also an extra member to do it. As long as that thing is fulfilled perfectly, nothing will feel like a dead weight"

Her words did put it positively but her discomfort was evident in them. They did feel like the situation could bring on dead weight. I simply smiled emptily in response.

Sam smacked my back getting me straight in an instance, the voice resounded making everyone look at his red eyes and drunken state. "Selene stage one requires teamwork, we have already discussed a good and simple strategy. If we stress on an unknown situation 'dead weight' then we won't win"

My head nodded and my eyes went down to the small red orb in my hand, Sam was right and so was Diana. We had pulled the short stick and everyone was aware of it, but this stage required teamwork.

We already had a simple strategy of keeping Diana's abilities active throughout, so the other teams don't find our position just because of leaking thoughts. We had an even number of people so pairing up was another plan which was decided.

It truly felt like teamwork with the strategy designed. It was better to have joined Winterwells instead of Waterwoods for my mission of ending the war between them; The Alpha there, Fang Warchild, would have eaten me alive before I got the chance to start with the mission.

Of course, gaining their pack's trust was the next thing on my list and Fang would make it tough any which ways. But at least I will have a booster here, when the time comes I will face Fang as well. Because as a Princess this was a bare minimum I needed to learn how to keep pesky yet useful people twisted around my finger.

"We should probably go to sleep, we have to report early tomorrow", I didn't want to go there with a headache for not completing my sleep properly.

"I'll head back home", said Diana.

Sam got up as well waking Connie, "Let's go home Connie, I'll drop everyone."

Connie was barely able to walk with his eyes closed and Sam practically carried him outside. "Bye Selene, see you tomorrow!"

"Bye, goodnight" They left, closing my bedroom door behind them.

I took a deep breath sloping down on my bed and checked the clock. It was nine and I decided to go to sleep immediately.

Before sleeping I took my phone and searched for Dandeline, she was my personal servant back in the castle. Dandeline never fell short on her duties, even when I was in prison here, she planted a maid to take care of me.

I called her and she picked it up at the second ring itself, "Hello Princess... sorry Ma'am! I'm so glad you called, when are you coming home? I have been waiting to meet you since your release!"

"Calm down Dandeline," I smiled at her excitement, "it is a bit tough for me to come back to the condo as of now. But I need some help from you"

"Anything Ma'am", replied Dandeline.

"I'm falling short on clothes here, bring some casual wear along with those long cotton dresses tonight", I was really falling short with my only pair of jeans destroyed last time I turned.

"Okay ma'am, it will be done," She replied as if her ears were craving to hear an order from me.

"Thank you, I'll try coming back to the condo in the next few days", Saying this I cut the call.

Dandeline was a loyal servant, when asked she would even give away her life to save me. That is why I treasured her like a sister, I always made sure she was happy and she did the same for me.

I set an alarm for 4:30 in the morning and switching off the lights slipped into my slumber. It was no use thinking about what will happen tomorrow, right now sleep was the more important part.