Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116875 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 584(@200wpm)___ 468(@250wpm)___ 390(@300wpm)
* * *
Kaiser
* * *
My bride runs from me, into the dark house. Her pale skin flashes ahead of me in the gloom.
She wants me to chase her. I’ll always give her what she wants.
“Come out, come out, little one.” My voice is distorted because of the mask. The straps hold it tight to my face, but at least I don’t have another headache from the fucking candles.
I spent a week getting her to let her guard down. I needed to outwit her. It’s the only way she’ll respect me.
“I can smell you, little bride.”
There’s an excited whimper from around the corner by the stairs.
Bingo.
I stomp forward, letting her know I’m coming. Drawing it out. I’m the monster in her story, right? She loves this game we play. She also likes it to feel real. I can do that for her.
Happy wife, happy life.
I shove a table with a vase on it out of my way. The vase falls, and I catch it before it hits the floor. If it breaks, it might shatter, and she could step on it with her bare feet. Can’t have that.
“I’m going to make you sorry, baby girl. But you’ll like it. You always do.” I pause and listen closely. I hear her breathing quicken.
I let my feet fall heavy on the floorboards, turning into the lumbering oaf she thinks I am. I need all the surprises I can get with this girl. But it’ll only work once. She’s too quick and catches on too easily. I see her eyes shining in the corner. She thinks that I can’t see her, but the moonlight is falling in such a way, it’s like she’s lit up. Excitement ripples through her. She loves this.
She loves the challenge. The thrill of facing a worthy opponent.
I’m going to prove to her that I am husband material. Make her obsessed with me like I’m obsessed with her.
I’m her first, and I’ll be her last. Her only.
I will have her for my wife or die trying.
And death is an option. Who knows what other traps my bride has set for me?
“You said that I’ve been holding back. Maybe I’ll give you a taste of the cane. It has a wicked bite.”
She lets out a squeak. She can’t hide her emotions, and I love that about her.
“I could punish you for days. Years. We have a lifetime together, remember?”
I can practically hear the pitter-patter of her heartbeat.
I jump out from behind the corner. “Got you.”
She shrieks, as I knew she would, and darts for the stairs. I follow her, letting her get ahead of me. I don’t want her going too fast in case she trips and falls.
Once we’re downstairs, I’m not holding back. I chase her through the living room and into the dining room. She pushes a chair in my path, and I narrowly avoid it.
I curse, and she giggles like a maniac, speeding away.
There’s a creak in the kitchen, then a crashing of silverware. The pantry door’s swinging, but she wouldn’t be so silly as to go in there and get trapped. No, she’s faking me out. She’s squatting in the shadows by the cabinet, hoping I’ll pass her hiding place without spotting her.
I walk past her, pretending to do just that.
I pause out of sight, near the door to the greenhouse. That’s where she’ll head. Her territory. I’ve got to catch her before then. If she gets her hands on more poison, I give myself only thirty minutes to live.
I can’t let her win this round.
I’ve beaten every other opponent I’ve ever faced, but I fell prey to her. I underestimated her, but I will not make the same mistake again.
She is the deadliest opponent I have ever faced. And she might be the death of me.
I can hardly wait to see how this ends.
Bella
* * *
I crouch in the corner of the kitchen, holding my breath. My house has become haunted by a gas-mask-wearing monster. He just lumbered past me.
Should I grab a knife? No, that would be stupid. He’s a fighter for a living. I need to keep this benign, in case he catches me.
He’s gone.
If I run, I can get to the door to my greenhouse. I count down in my head. Three, two, one—I spring forward, making a break for it—
A shadow falls on me. “Got you.” Kaiser slams into me, wrapping his arms around my middle, lifting me right off my feet. I shriek, kicking.
“Behave,” he orders, and I freeze automatically. His voice is so creepy.
He tosses me up into his arms, carrying me like a bride back up the stairs. I stare at the creepy gas mask.
What happens if I lift it off?
Before I can touch him, his muscles flex in warning. He growls, “Now you’re in for it.”
I squeal, half in horror, half delight.