The Game Of Prospe

The Second Champion

Karina looked at Love curiously with her cornflower blue eyes.

"Prospe? That's​ just a legend though."

Love simply laughed, a pleasant sound much like a bird song.

"You're talking to Love, my dear. I hardly think that Prospe being real is too far fetched."

"My lady, I just find it hard to believe that the legendary city of Hope, the place only one man claims to have been, exsits."

Love smiled. "I assure you my dear, it's there."

The corners of Karina's lips turned downwards slightly.

"So all I have to do is go to Prospe and befriend the people there? Then I'll-"

"You'll be beloved by everyone who knows you, you'll have a close group of friends, and I will-"

Karina raised an eyebrow. "What do you get out of this my lady?"

Love looked taken aback. "Why, the satisfaction of helping you, my dear!"

"Oh, alright then," she replied.

Love's smile looked more forced now but Karina didn't take notice, she trusted Love. Why wouldn't she? Since Karina had lost her parents, all she'd had was Love. Love had taken her in as her own, why shouldn't she trust her?

Love removed the ribbon from Karina's blonde curls and started styling them in an elaborate up-do, similar to her own.

"Karina, I should warn you, not everyone you meet there will have your best interests at heart. One of them will be a young man with dark hair. Befriend this young man quickly, but don't trust him."

Karina's eyes widened in fear. "I understand my lady, but why would you send me somewhere I'd be in danger?"

Love's expression softened. "My darling, there are many things you do not understand. I am required to send you to Prospe by the laws of my people. You are my champion, therefore you must travel there.

Karina nodded, questioning her no further. Surely if she had anything to be worried about, Love would tell her.

***

Karina looked around the tiny room she'd spent most of her life in and sighed.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye."

Karina took her meager belongings and packed them into her bag.

I wonder who I'll meet, Karina wondered. I can't believe I'm leaving this place after all these years! New places, new people, it's just so exciting! And yet...

She paused her packing and looked at the battered, gold, square shaped locket she wore around her neck.

I'm going to miss home...I've spent my whole life here just waiting to leave but now...all I want is to stay.

She opened the locket and removed a folded piece of parchment.

Dear Karina,
My darling girl, I had hoped you would see me and your father. I had hoped that we could all be happy. I had hoped to hear your first words. But with his death last month and my own end approaching as this illness spreads, I feel that it is only right that I leave you this note in my locket.
I love you my dear, please know that and please stay strong
-Mommy

Karina bit her lip as her eyes carefully read each miniscule word. The closest thing she'd had to a mother was Love, but the closest thing she had to her mother was a tiny note in a beaten locket.

She shook her head. C'mon Karina, stop being foolish. You have your whole life ahead of you...

Her thought trailed off, she heard a man's voice outside.

"I swear officer! I saw a dark skinned woman with auburn curls leaving here! She looked like royalty!"

Karina quickly hid, peeking through a small hole in the one of the house's old wooden boards, the village believed this house abandoned.

The officer outside looked around and even peeked into one of the windows. "I don't see anyone and the whole place looks like it hasn't been touched in years, you're losing it old man."

The men left and Karina breathed a sigh of relief, no one was supposed to be living in this house and she had every intention of keeping the village in the dark about her whereabouts.

***

Love paced back and forth in her palace, lost in thought. Karina isn't ready...it's too soon, she'll die for sure.

Love had left her with instructions only an hour ago but was already panicking, she'd picked her because she would become a beautiful and kind young woman with proper guidance. Love hadn't taken into account teaching Karina self defense skills, she'd taught her things like compassion and how to sing.

She's doomed! Death's champion, that dark haired boy, he'll kill her for sure!

Love thought of the house she'd raised Karina in, if Karina knew the truth of that house...no, she wouldn't find out. And she wouldn't let another champion down.

***

Love heard a knock on the door of her palace late that night. Her long curls were now free of their complicated updo as she was going to go to sleep.

Who could possibly be knocking at this hour?

She sighed and started downstairs, tripping over her nightgown and nearly falling down them.

"AAAH!" She barely caught the railing before falling down completely, picking herself back up gracefully. She went down the rest of the stairs very carefully and went about opening the door for her late night visitor.

Agh! Why does this happen?!

She shook off the trip and opened the door.

"Did you fall down the stairs again, Love? Really dear, you're much clumsier than you'd have people believe."

Love stood paralyzed as a chill swept over her, staring at the shadowy figure before her in fright.

The figure laughed. "What's with that face? You've seen me before, and it's not like we've never met at night. Remember the time you asked me to get rid of that girl's parents?"

Love gripped the doorknob tighter, trying to fight the urge to slam the door and run.

"Why are you here?"

Death stood in her doorway...and smiled.

"I have a proposition."