It has to end. We need to go our separate ways. Now more than ever.
I walk out in front of the table. “I refuse to allow this. Cutting a child and bleeding her is not a battle, it is torture of someone weaker. The Proxy Vow is over. The Blood Battle is over.”
“You do not get to decide this, human,” Benicio growls.
“It’s over!” I yell.
“You come here and sit,” he orders.
Unlike the last hundred times he’s given me a command, I’m able to resist.
His confusion is instant, followed by his rage. “You will do as I sa—”
“Shut up.” I lower my voice. “You don’t rule me anymore. You don’t rule any of us.” I turn toward the room, ready to make the only move I have left. It’s a huge risk.
I’m going to tell the truth.
“The No Ones are done. They won’t come for you anymore if you break a vow,” I say loudly. “The punishment for a betrayal, for breaking laws, for harming those who are under your protection will lie squarely in your hands. If you don’t want this world to descend into the Dark Ages again, then I suggest the kingdoms come together and set your own rules. New rules. Make them fair. Vote for your rulers. Limit the time they can stay in power. Figure out how to sustain your citizens without preying on the weak or other kingdoms. And make sure you plan a way for water to be stored and available to everyone.”
I’m about to tell them that the water will be cut off and the bridges will be closed if they don’t comply, when Benicio lunges for me.
I try to push him back as Alwar sounds off. “Do not touch her!”
The room erupts in chaos, yelling and roars.
I hold Benicio away with my hands, but he’s strong. So strong. I push with all my might and feel something pop in my eye while I strain to keep him from ripping out my neck. A blood vessel maybe, but all I see is red in one eye.
“Get off her!” Uhrn is on Benicio’s back, snapping at his neck.
He swipes with his razor-sharp fingernail, slicing through her throat. She falls to the floor, and there’s a moment where he pauses to stare down at her.
Is it regret? Is it anger that she came to my defense?
I don’t know, but it’s my only chance. I bite down on his arm.
His eyes go wide, and I watch as the scriptures detach from his body and rise into the air like a floating crossword puzzle.
“You fucking cunt! I’ll kill you.” He plunges his razor-sharp fingernail into my chest, spearing my heart.
The pain shoots through my chest, and my vision blurs. I can’t see. I can’t hear. I just know he’s biting me, too.
My mind is once again on that cloud, and I inhale deeply, loving the sensation of feeling so free. I’m in heaven. I never want to leave. I never want to go home where there’s nothing but loss. My parents, Grandma Rain, Bard, even Dave. Stupid dick.
I dream of a world that belongs only to us—the humans and the billions of creatures we share our lives with. It was an imperfect world, but we had a lot going for us. Compassion, for one. The hatred of corruption and absolute power. The understanding that freedom is essential to happiness. Dogs. We also have dogs.
“God, I love dogs.”
Hey, where’s Master? I haven’t seen him. With all the drama I forgot to ask. “Bye, mutt. Be good.”
“Lake, can you hear me?” A strong hand massages my arm. “Are you ready to wake up now?”
“She is ready,” says a deep voice. “And she will be hungry.”
My eyes flutter open to a blood-orange sky and a circle of Fliers soaring above. My mouth and nose fill with the scent of rotten eggs—sulfur. Sadly, I’m still in Monsterland, but why does the air smell stronger? Why is the sky brighter? It’s hurting my eyes.
“How are you, my queen?” Alwar’s giant head appears over me, thankfully blocking out the sun.
“What happened?”
“A lot. A lot has happened.”
I sit up, feeling dizzy. “No. I mean, what happened at the feast? Where’s Benicio?”
“Dead. Your bite proved fatal.”
He’s dead, and I don’t feel a thing? No sense of loss. No burning desire for his venom. Has the spell been broken?
“And Uhrn?” I remember Benicio slicing her neck.
“Dead.”
My heart sinks. Uhrn gave her life trying to protect me. “And the little girl?”
“Safe.”
“Well, at least there’s that. The poor little thing.” I run a hand through my sticky long hair. My fingertips are tingling. “Why do I feel so strange?”
“You died,” Alwar says bluntly.
“Oh.” I nod, my head whirling with images, sounds, and sensations I can’t place. “Wait. What?”
“You died.”
Confused, I float my hands over my body. “I don’t feel dead.”