Total pages in book: 151
Estimated words: 147649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147649 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 738(@200wpm)___ 591(@250wpm)___ 492(@300wpm)
“You thought you were the ‘slave caretaker.’ Two words to describe one thing. But what if you were the ‘slave-caretaker?’ One hyphenated word that means something different.”
“Well, I like the idea that I take care of slaves better than the idea that I am a slave taking care of something.”
“Could you be both?”
She sighs, frustrated. “I don’t know. But assuming I am the caretaker of the prisoners in the prison, what the hell do I do with them?”
“You could set them free.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Why wouldn’t you do that?”
My question appears to stump her and she frowns, but then rallies again. “Speaking of freedom, how come you’re free?”
I pan my hands wide to encompass my dungeon. “Do I look free to you?”
“Well, you’re not locked inside a tomb. And don’t tell me you’re locked in here. You go upstairs. You went into town. It’s definitely not the same living conditions as the prisoners of Saint Mark’s.”
“Part of that was an illusion. Part of that was magic. Part of that is still a mystery. But I wasn’t a real person until you came. I was more ghostly. Non-corporeal, if you will. Then you showed up and presto. I was whole.”
“Why though?”
“How should I know? None of the titles at the end of my name include the word ‘caretaker.’”
She blows out another breath of frustration.
“Is there anything else?”
She tilts her head at me. “You know, that’s twice now.”
“Twice what?”
“Two times that you saved the sanctuary from outsiders.”
“Hmm.” I smile. “I did, didn’t I? First time I burned the whole place down, second time I burned the town. But it’s not gone. Only the people are. That’s so interesting, don’t you think?”
“Not sure I’d choose that word specifically. No. Pell has been there and he says there’s a devil waiting in the bar.”
“Oooooh. Sounds volatile.”
“Yeah. I guess it does. We’re gonna have to figure that out.” She nods her head to the corner. “And her, Tomas. What if they come looking for her?”
“Madeline’s kin are not coming to look for her, Pie.”
“Why wouldn’t they?”
“They don’t want her. That’s why she’s here. The sanctuary doesn’t let any old monster in. There’s a selection process.”
Far away, coming from high up in the main floor, a name floats through the air.
“Pell is calling for you.”
Pie’s eyes dart upward, then over to the corner again. “Is she OK?”
“She’s lovely. Gorgeous. Beautiful. Perfect. And she will be the mother of my dragons.”
“So. Many. Questions.” But Pie’s eyes once again drift upward.
“Later. Come back another time when you’re not so busy.”
She sighs. “OK. But you don’t have to stay down here, right?”
“You tell me, dear Pie. You’re the slave caretaker.”
“Right. I’m gonna need that book of yours.”
“I’m sure it’s in the Bottoms library with all the rest. When you’re done with it, bring it down. I’d love to reminisce.”
“Well, OK, I guess I need to go see what’s got Pell all grumbly. And you two…” Pie stops. Blinks. And then blurts out, “‘A girl, a boy, a brand-new home. Eggs forged out of stone and bone. The dragon blood lifts you higher and the dungeon walls flow red with fire.’”
Neither of us moves. Or speaks. Or breathes.
Then the walls of the dungeon begin to sparkle with red bursts of light. It flashes so bright, I have to cover my eyes for a moment. But once the flash is over, I squint at them, trying to see what happened. “Rubies? Are those rubies sparkling in the walls?”
Pie blinks, then laughs. “I totally meant to do that. Congrats to… both of you. Just a little housewarming gift from us to you. And… well, yeah. I gotta go. See you soon, Tomas!”
She turns on her heel and trots away before I can even process what just happened.
I watch her disappear up the winding, stone stairs, then look around at the walls. There must be hundreds of gemstones embedded in the rock. Maybe thousands. And they emit a soft, and quite nice, light.
“Thank you!” I belatedly call in the direction of the stairs. “We love it!”
Then I turn back to my Madeline.
I walk over her and bend down. The eggs are placed in a massive dish-shaped dent in the stone ground. Our nest. Madeline’s body is draped over two of the eggs, looking very maternal. When I push the hair away from her scaly face, she opens her eyes.
She looks terrified.
CHAPTER TWO - PELL
I come out of my tomb alone.
Which is not how it’s supposed to be. When a man has a woman, as I have a woman, should a man not have that woman by his side when he leaves his tomb?
Is this caveman thinking?
Because I think it’s reasonable that Pie should not wander alone around a fucking frat-house sanctuary filled with horny satyrs and half-naked wood nymphs.
All these monsters have been doing since the girls arrived is drinking, and smoking, and having sex.