PuppetMaster (The Vale Chronicles Book 1) by Joel Abernathy

Author:Joel Abernathy [Abernathy, Joel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-06T18:30:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Arden

There was a stillness that felt like death, and Arden had spent enough years on the other side of it to know. There was peace in the silence. The whiteness that encompassed everything and existed as nothing.

Arden knew this place of everything and nothing. It felt like home. Or rather, it felt like where he belonged.

He opened his eyes and found himself wrapped in a cocoon of pale blue light that looked like crystal. When he reached out to touch the facets, they stretched like a membrane. The cocoon glowed and warmth washed over him, making it harder to keep his eyes open or even remember how he’d gotten there.

The memory of Harding lying on the floor was enough to jolt him out of the strange reverie. He pushed hard against the cocoon until it burst and he went tumbling down a crystal slope to a garden of beautiful purple flowers. The same ones from Dusk’s garden. Chrysalus blooms.

Arden lifted his head and looked around, realizing that he was no longer on the surface. He wasn’t even sure he was in the Vale, for that matter. There was no sky, only crystal for as far as the eye could see, and it was difficult to tell which way was up. Gravity didn’t seem to be as solid in this realm.

“Little one,” an androgynous voice called from somewhere in the distance. Arden turned around, but he couldn’t tell where it was coming from. He was naked, but it was impossible to feel exposed. Everything here felt safe and right, even if he knew it wasn’t. Even if he knew it wasn’t real.

“Who are you?” Arden demanded.

“You know me,” the voice answered, clearer and closer. “You are of me.”

Arden froze. “The Chrysalus?” he asked doubtfully.

There was no reply, but Arden knew. He knew that voice better than his own, but he felt himself waking up. Someone was speaking to him. Calling his name.

“Come back and find me when you’re ready,” the voice urged. “I’ll be waiting.”

Waiting for what was the question. The world of crystal dissolved and when Arden opened his eyes, he was chained to a bed in what looked like a five-star hotel room. His head spun as he regained consciousness and he realized someone had dressed him carefully in clean, comfortable clothes and placed a bandage on his neck.

The room wasn’t empty, which he only realized when he heard the sound of breathing. He jolted, lifting his head enough to see the Prince sitting in a chair across from the bed.

“Good morning,” the elf said pleasantly, crossing one leg over the other. “My apologies for the restraints, but it’s obvious that your time with the Brotherhood took its toll.” He gave Arden a seductive smile. “Can’t have you running back to your kidnappers before your Master gets here, now, can we?”

“Eric?” Arden’s voice was hoarse, but he couldn’t hide the hope he felt even through the grief over Harding’s death. Ever since he’d been cured, the sheer emotional range he was capable of had been bewildering.

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