Rayna's Sacrifice (The Katori Chronicles Book 3) by A. D. Lombardo

Author:A. D. Lombardo [Lombardo, A. D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nichols INK
Published: 2020-03-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

The Black Soul

Kai awoke. The darkness of his room surprised him, then he remembered where he was. The moment he moved, the Lumen-empowered crystals brightened the windowless cave. He dressed in the ambient blue light. From memory, he retraced his steps back to the main living space. A black pot of porridge dangled on a wrought-iron arm. Water bubbled in the kettle dangling over the fire.

“Good morning, Kai. I hope you slept well.” Benmar dropped his armful of split wood into a copper bin.

“Good morning, grandfather. I slept well, thank you.” Kai sniffed at the warm meal.

“Breakfast is ready. Grab our bowls and cups.”

On the modest shelf, Kai found what they needed. Together they enjoyed a pleasant meal. “Do you live here alone?” Kai asked, looking around for signs of others.

“When Liam, my other student, is not here, it is just me. There are a few others that live within the mountain. Old-timers like me. People who fought in the war. Many find it difficult to be around others after all the violence. That or they simply won’t follow the rules of others.”

“You fought in the great war?”

“I did.”

Kai leaned forward. His eyes locked with his grandfather’s. “So, if I may ask, how old are you?”

Benmar chuckled, hearty and deep. “Mind you, age is only a number, but by today’s calendar, one hundred and seventy-five. But who’s counting.”

“You don’t look a day over fifty!” Kai stammered. “How is that possible?”

“Questions, questions. Let go of your traditional sense of time.” Benmar poured them both another cup of tea. “Why are you here, grandson?” He raised one eyebrow.

Kai thought about his answer. “A vision directed me here. Everyone told me to seek you out, but if I am honest, I came seeking answers. I think you are the person capable of giving them to me. Not to mention my crystal is white, and nobody knows what to do with it.”

His grandfather patiently waited.

Kai tapped at the table, collecting his thoughts, his mind a jumble of questions. “I have too many questions, I am not sure where to start. I read your book, but that was all made up, right?”

“There was more truth than fiction in my book. My life was a great adventure. It was a different time, but I don’t think that is the right question. What do you really want to know?”

Silence fell between them. Kai pursed his lips. “Tell me about Keegan, my so-called father. How could he turn against this way of life? Why did he kidnap my mother? Why did he turn…?” Kai let his voice trail off.

“Bad? My poor lost son…” Benmar took a deep breath and stood. “Keegan, your father, has a black soul. If you’ve seen his crystal, you know it’s true. It was once white as snow like ours, now it is black as coal.” Benmar moved to a more comfortable chair near the fire, offering the adjacent seat to Kai.

“Long story short, Keegan was unable to learn my power to become invisible.

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