The Dark of Letum by Julianne Kelsch

Author:Julianne Kelsch
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Dark Fantasy, Dystopian, metaphysical, female lead, morally grey characters
Publisher: Phoenix Rose Books
Published: 2021-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 45

Kyra’s Imprisonment

The Council of Malic’Uiel stationed in the city of Passus met in a formal circle, their discussion focused on Kyra. The Master of the Malic’Uiel had traveled to Passus to understand the anomaly she presented. No human in all their years of occupation had been able to resist the fear and persuasion of the Malic’Uiel—put another way, the human mind always succumbed, the independence and tenacity broken. Once these traits disappeared, humans easily swayed to sympathize with, accept, and willingly join the Malic’Uiel cause. The moment that willingness was expressed, the transformation from human to Cadaver was complete and that soul was a servant of the Malic’Uiel.

Kyra did not follow this pattern. She continued to resist and even defy the attempts of the Malic’Uiel to gain control of her mind.

“What steps have you taken to ensure your success?” the Master asked the group.

“We have followed the path we’ve used for the others. Isolation, breakdown of the memories, creating a swirl of fear. We’ve caused her to sever any bonds tied to love or affection by turning her loved ones against her. Her mind has been entirely reprogrammed, as we’ve done with the others.”

“And yet, she resists.”

“Yes, she does. Not often, but it comes when she loses control of who we’ve created her to be. It’s as if her soul refuses to bend.”

The Master bowed his head in understanding, but when his eyes rose to meet those of his comrades, they were almost joyous. “She’s what we’ve been looking for,” he said, his voice a dark whisper. “Her independence, once broken, will enable us to open the doorway to Lumen.”

The Lord of Passus’ face seemed to infuse with the lust of power. “She holds the key?” he demanded.

“No,” the Master answered. “She is the key.”

The Lord of Passus stepped forward. “I don’t understand.”

The Master seemed to stare through him for a length of time before he blinked slowly. “Have you not questioned why we haven’t advanced to Lumen?”

“I have.”

“The entry point to Lumen is found in the mind—in one mind. This mind is set apart from the others as a gatekeeper to Lumen. It is passed from mother to daughter through generations, and is given to the firstborn of the gatekeeper. Every gatekeeper will fight to live as a perfect expression of who she is, which is why you find this human resisting the way she is. She’s fighting for her soul.” He smiled, bringing his fingers together in a point before tapping them on his lips. “As our entry into Spero had to come from one human, so must our entry into Lumen.”

“And you believe Kyra will do this?”

“Yes. She has the power to. If she doesn’t, she will succumb with the rest of them. If she does, we will force her to give us her mind, to unlock the door, and then destroy her.”

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