The House of Grey- Volume 2 by Collin Earl Read Free Book Online Page B

once, Monson caught these gentlemen ogling the girls. There were just too many wealthy, beautiful girls at this school to avoid making an event of this.   Again , thought Monson, leave it to the rich to make something bigger than it deserves .
    The tryouts, the media, the cheerleading squad—all of it came as a great shock to Monson, who had never seen anything resembling this before. His astonishment reached a new level, however, when Taris and Indigo, both wearing cheerleading attire, seemed to compete for his attention after their practice.
    “ So what do you think?” Indigo asked him as she twirled in a circle, holding the skirt with the tips of her fingers. “I look good, don’t I?”
    During the cheerleading performance, Monson had found himself thinking how good she did in fact look. It was just difficult to answer when Artorius was so obviously affected by her.
    “ Uhh…yes, I think you look rather nice.”
    She beamed.
    “ Monson! There you are!”
    All three of them turned in unison and spotted Taris Green.  
     “ Where have you been, Grey? I’ve been looking for you.”
    Monson gave her a confused look. Where had he been? He had been there the entire time.
    “ Taris, what—”
    Taris cut him off.  “And who is this?” She glared at Indigo.
    Indigo gave her a very nasty sneer but did not answer.
    “ Anyway,” said Taris, continuing as if Indigo wasn’t even there, “Monson, what were you saying? Oh that’s right. You were telling me how good I look in my outfit.”
    Indigo prevented Monson from answering. “He was telling you, or you were forcing him to do so?”
    The conversation devolved from there. Finally Monson and Artorius were able to extricate themselves from the polite yet furious girls. Monson made a mental note to try to keep those two away from each other in the future.  
     
    *****
     
    The hours flew by. Before Monson knew it, evening was upon them and the sun began to descend between two of the four mountains that made up Coren County. Sunlight broke through distant rain clouds, creating a colorful, shadowy show upon the ground.
    Perched on one of the grass knolls surrounding the Yard and Battlegrounds, Monson looked around as the sky darkened. The tryout venue was a very different sight now that all the reporters were gone—and presumably now partying at one of the reception halls. Monson wasn’t sure why he himself was still lingering around the stands. He needed to leave; Casey and Artorius were probably waiting for him. But he was reluctant to do so. The breeze was slightly scented and refreshing, and while he had every reason to get up and leave, he had all the more reason to stay. It was quiet here.
    Voices interrupted Monson’s musings.  It sounded like an argument. Curious, Monson stood up and followed the sound. The voices were…musical, unlike any he had previously heard. They drew him to them. Unable to resist, he walked slowly away from his spot on the hill away from the lighted stands.
    He stepped from the path, using the glint of the full moon through the foliage as guidance. A spot of light loomed on the path in front of him. The voices came from that spot.
    “ It is my place to act. You know this; it is the task that has been set before me,” said a female voice.
    A gruff and cold reply, one that made Monson cringe, followed. “You are but a fragment, a whimsical sliver without greater purpose. I will not—”
    A third voice echoed, distant yet firm, “We have no choice—you know that we have no choice. Such circumstance is unknown—the barrier is strong, but not strong enough.”
    The gruff, cold voice became angry. “Then let us bear down upon this barrier, let us destroy it with our own hands so that all may become whole.”
    The female voice interceded. “He is not ready, he would surely die—just like the last instance.”
    “ He is of the House of Grey! I shall not tolerate—”
    Monson had had enough. Feeling compelled to do so, he rushed