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“It could help us expand the enchantment line of the property.”
“Eh,” Armand makes an unenthusiastic noise before asking, “and what would we do with the barren land outside of these walls? I have no use for the extra space. If anything, we would be unintentionally creating a sanctuary for outsiders. We’d basically be inviting the barbarians to camp at our doorstep.” He gives Kai a frown. “That was the best offer yet, but I still reject it.”
Kai doesn’t realize how pointless this negotiation is. Unless he starts offering people—more specifically, fresh meat to torment—I don’t think Armand is going to accept any exchange.
Suddenly, he takes out his magnifying glass. After withdrawing the enchanted tool from his robe pocket, he peers through the warped lens at Kai with slitted eyes.
He tilts it. Turns it this way and that. Straightening up and sitting forward, he brings it closer to his eye as if he needs to study something he finds very enthralling.
For several seconds, his unnaturally pale iris is enlarged as his lips flatten and twitch.
Then he smiles, showing his sharpened incisors. His grin spreads into something bigger, creepier. He’s downright delighted as he chuckles to himself.
“Oh, what fun we’re going to have.” He bounces excitedly as he puts the magnifying glass away. “Do you like games, Kai?”
“No.” Kai’s response comes quickly.
Amused, the evil overlord is still smiling. “Don’t be such a sourpuss. You don’t even know what game I’m proposing.”
“Whatever it is, I want no part of it.”
“Are you telling me you doubt your abilities?”
“Abilities to do what? To act like a child? Games are for children.”
“No, it wouldn’t be childish. It would be the opposite of childish. It would be violent, frightening, and almost impossible to beat. Come on, Kai. Every fae loves a good challenge, and you can’t tell me that’s not true.”
Kai nibbles at the bait. “What kind of challenge?”
“Think of it as an obstacle course that will test your strength. It would be a set of three challenges.”
Standing from the throne, Armand wears a thoughtful expression and paces a bit as if he’s just now coming up with the idea.
In reality, I’m positive he had this plan before he walked into this room.
If Kai won’t give him a new toy, Kai will be the new toy by default.
It’s exactly what I’ve been fearing.
“You’ll be tested physically, mentally, and emotionally…” Armand pauses dramatically. “A test of the body, the mind, and the heart. All you have to do is win each one.”
Kai crosses his arms. “That’s it?”
Smiling deviously, Armand seems pleased that Kai is underestimating the proposal. “That’s it.”
“And where is this taking place? In here?”
“Goodness, no. Way too messy. In the maze.”
I close my eyes as a wave of nausea hits me. That bread and water I ingested is like heavy stones in my stomach.
Since I’ve been here, two servants who made minuscule mistakes have been sent into that maze as punishment. Neither ever came out, but I heard their agony.
Their screams kept me up for days. Guttural, throaty shouts. The kind of sound someone makes when they’re in the throes of absolute terror. Then, they eventually stopped, and somehow the silence was worse.
Unaware of the danger, Kai deadpans, “You want me to go through the maze?”
I pin him with a serious gaze. “Don’t take this lightly. It’s not like a normal maze. It’s a death trap.”
