Total pages in book: 54
Estimated words: 52437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 52437 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 262(@200wpm)___ 210(@250wpm)___ 175(@300wpm)
One true ruler to enforce and oversee it all.
And if you don’t like the ruler, then anyone can issue a challenge for the throne.
And here’s where I come in: Because the creatures of Monsterland vary in physical size, sheer numbers, and overall intelligence, they agreed that it wouldn’t be fair to pit a troll, the size of a grain of rice, against, say, someone from the War People kingdom, like Alwar. To level the playing field, the kingdoms agreed to select one human bloodline each to act as their gladiators to represent each kingdom.
How did they choose these human families?
I don’t know, but over the centuries, all but two bloodlines have died off, leaving only the Norfolks, who proxy for the War People, and the Wessfolks, who proxy for the Blood People. I am told the other family is down to one member, as is mine. I am the last Norfolk.
Now Alwar, who lost the throne to Benicio, wants it back. He wants me to fight the other proxy—whoever the hell that is—in what they call the Blood Battle. A fight to the death.
He thinks I’ll win. I think he’s crazy. But he says I can spare the other proxy’s life, and as the victor, I’ll be entitled to make one request. Alwar wants me to demand a reset, that new bloodlines are selected by all the kingdoms. Basically, this would restart the Proxy Vow for everyone.
But if I don’t win the Blood Battle, it’s game over. Alwar wouldn’t just lose his opportunity to be the king of Monsterland again, but then there would only be one proxy left.
That’s where this gets tricky.
If there’s only one proxy left, it would void the treaty because Monsterland rules state that if any vow is impossible to carry out, it’s no longer valid. Null and void. In this case, how can anyone issue a challenge for the big throne with only one remaining proxy? There must be two to fight the Blood Battle.
That’s why Benicio wants me dead. He wants to end the Proxy Vow and be free to kill off anyone who stands in his way of taking down the wall. He’s not happy merely being king of Monsterland when there are so many delicious humans just waiting to be enslaved over here.
So then why not kill me when I was his “guest,” and he had the chance?
Great question.
The Proxy Vow prohibits killing proxies. Yours or another kingdom’s. That would be cheating. If Benicio murdered me, he’d be dragged away by the No Ones for breaking the law. That’s why he used a loophole and found a human man, unbound by the Proxy Vow, to take me out. I escaped Benicio’s palace before the assassin could get to me.
“Lake, I must go,” says Gabrio. “So if you have any idea where the keys are, you need to tell me.”
“I don’t. That’s the honest answer. Grandma Rain could have stashed them in her office or buried them somewhere on the property. I don’t know.” Of course, I don’t know a lot of things. For example, why did Grandma Rain keep the main bridge open if she was so afraid of monsters or of me getting involved with the Wall Men? Why were the Wall Men chained to the wall at one point?
“I will take Master and do a search. Perhaps he has some ideas.” Gabrio nudges Master, who’s lying next to me on the couch like a furry lump.
“He’ll want food first.” Master rarely moves unless it’s to eat. “There should be some canned stuff in the cupboard.”
“I thought you did not speak his kind’s language,” Gabrio says. “It’s a very ancient, complex form of—”
“No. No…” I hold out my palm. “I’m not doing this right now. Master was my grandma’s dog. Now he’s my dog. I can’t handle him being anything else. Not yet.” Alwar alluded that Master is from his world, not mine. And frankly, I don’t want to know. I need some sense of normalcy, or I’m going to lose my mind. “Master is a dog. Period. End of discussion.”
Gabrio nods his head. “As you wish.”
“I do wish. And while we’re on the subject, I don’t want to know if there are any other beings, monsters, or weird creatures residing here, especially if they’re those sick-ass masturbatory pervert beasts I came across in your woods.”
There’s a loud knock at the door, and I jump in my seat.
Master lifts his head and sniffs before offering a growl.
“Lake! You in there?” Dave’s voice calls from outside.
Dave? My ex? What’s he doing here?
CHAPTER THREE
Gabrio hovers like a sentinel in the open doorway, making it clear that Dave’s not welcome inside the cottage.
“Lake, what the hell is going on?” Dave peeks around Gabrio’s wide shoulders. He’s wearing a dark purple suit, pink tie, and green striped shirt. I bet the outfit cost a fortune. Sad because he looks like an Easter egg. But that’s Dave, right down to his expensive veneers.