Total pages in book: 108
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108768 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 363(@300wpm)
“Thank you.” She gazed around. “Because. . .no lie, but. . .I’m pretty overwhelmed already. I think if it were tons of people all around, possibly looking at me, it would have been a lot.”
“Then, I’m glad I did it. However, we won’t be able to avoid everyone in the palace most of the date, but I did buy us a lot of time.”
“Aww. That’s sweet. I really appreciate it.” She gestured at the vases. “By the way, these flowers are so freaking beautiful.”
“We have staff members whose only job is to make sure the entire palace has fresh flowers every day.”
Monique looked at the paintings. “These are amazing too.”
I stopped her at one. “This was my mother’s favorite.”
The image was a captivating spectacle of two dueling dragons.
On one side, a magnificent sky-blue dragon soared gracefully through billowing clouds. Its scales shimmered with every shade of blue imaginable—from the palest azure to the deepest sapphire.
The creature’s wings were spread wide, catching the sunlight and making it appear as though it was gliding through a sea of clouds.
Its eyes were a piercing ice blue.
On the opposite side of the canvas, was a fiery red beast. This dragon embodied the very essence of fury and power. Its scales were a vivid crimson, like smoldering coals, with streaks of bright scarlet that glowed as if lit from within.
The red dragon’s body was coiled in an aggressive stance. Blood dripped from all the wounds on its muscular body.
Still, those eyes burned with rage.
I looked at Monique. “Remember that I told you that my father loves symbolism?”
“Yes.”
“Every painting will give you the history of the Four Aces.”
“Oh.” She turned to me. “So, this is the battle between the East and the West?”
“Yeah.” I blinked. “You know about that?”
“Well. . .I happen to have. . .checked out your history.”
Secret, hidden history.
I chuckled. “Then, tell me what happened?”
“Back in the day, your father was able to make great sales to the West. They always bought his weapons and even gave him big bonuses to remain his sole customers. That happened for a while.”
Duck definitely gave her the ancient texts. But I’m impressed that she read it all.
A wicked grin spread across my face. “So if everything was fine, then what would make them battle?”
“The Killer Crows didn’t mind buying guns from Leo but when he eventually rolled up to Paradise City with hundreds upon hundreds of people and started settling them in the East, it made the Killer Crows very nervous.”
“It’s the odd nature of humans to always want to hoard resources, territories, and possessions.”
She shook her head. “Yeah, but the Killer Crows also had a bit of PTSD from others coming through and destroying their ancestors’ homes.”
That was always Dima’s response. Interesting. Maybe, he will be a good advisor for her after all.
She continued, “Then add that Leo appeared to the Killer Crows to have a never-ending supply of guns, explosives, and ammunitions.”
“It terrified them.”
“It did.” She gazed back at the canvas. “So Leo and many others from the East gave the West a little Pow Pow to make them chill out.”
I quirked my eyebrows. “Pow Pow?”
“It’s when you respectfully kick someone’s ass. Basically, they’re bugging so you want to put them in their place, but you also want to be friends afterwards. Therefore, you don’t take it too far.”
I laughed.
“What?”
“That’s a good summary of what they did.”
Smiling, she gently shoved my side. “Don’t laugh at me.”
“But you’re right. It was a little Pow Pow. No one died, but many were injured. However, soon they were back to being buddies again.”
Monique’s eyes traced the fierce expressions of the dragons. “This painting is both terrifying and beautiful.”
To my shock, sadness hit my chest. “My father’s a great artist.”
“What?” Monique glanced at me. “Stop it. Leo painted this?”
I pointed to the signature LEO in the corner, written in a deep, vibrant gold. “He did every painting in this hall.”
“No fucking way.” She scanned the space. “These are all masterpieces.”
“They are.”
“He should have gone into the art world.”
“That had been the plan when he was young, but then he saw my mother. . .” I guided us away.
We continued forward.
I couldn’t help but notice how the light from the chandeliers played off Monique’s features, making each smile, each look of wonder, even more captivating.
She pointed to a large painting on the left. “What’s this one about?”
I stopped her next to it.
The image showed a war between demons and humans. The demons, with their grotesque features overpowered the humans, their victory almost certain.
Monique tilted her head to the side. “This doesn’t make me think of anything in the history of the Four Aces.”
“Because this is about the constant struggle between good and evil. The demons represent the darker side of human nature, and their victory over humans symbolizes how easily we can be consumed by vices.”