Category: Character Insights

In this scene from Bringer of Chaos, Pietas is in a stasis pod, but instead of being put into cryogenic sleep, he is held captive, awake and aware, with no food or water, and no way to communicate.

30 Days of Chaos: Day 15

To celebrate the launch of Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas I’m sharing 30 Days of Chaos. Each day during April, I’ll post one excerpt from the book, along with a poster of a quote by Pietas. On the final day, members of my Romance Lives Forever Reader Group will receive a full color book containing all the quotes and posters. Unlike my website, the book posters will have only a quote and a beautiful image. Look for another giveaway at the end of this post.

Shut Up!

The infernal, cheerful whistling began again. Pietas tried in vain to escape the sound. Shackled at the ankles, hands bound behind him, he remained flat on his back. There were no comfort choices inside his pod.

No. Not his pod. He would never claim such a place.

The prison pod. The nightmare pod. A casket for the living.

Would that whistling never end?

Whoever guarded him whistled, night and day. He must have lips made of steel. How a human kept that up day after day was beyond him. Or perhaps… Did an Ultra guard him? Had one of his people come to free him?

Pietas opened his mouth to call out, and clamped it shut.

If it were one of his people, he needed to wait for them to act. They would do so when the time was right. For now, he suffered bouts of agony as feeling returned to his hands and then left in repeating cycles. His metabolism healed him, but brought pain. He focused on that, accepted the pain, welcomed it, and examined every step of its journey through his body. What one understood, one could bear.

An Ultra does not seek to escape pain. If one inflicts pain, one must bear it. Pain must be borne. Pain is a warrior’s ally.

He hovered in a nightmare-filled, windowless, endless monotony of thirst and hunger.

Punctuated with unending lilts of bouncy, alert, happy, chipper whistling.

At first, he’d welcomed the sound. The rising and falling notes broke the tedium of everlasting darkness. It stopped for brief periods, but began again soon after.

He’d considered calling out and asking them to stop. He had gone so far as to open his mouth. But asking implied weakness. He acknowledged no tool of torture.

Beg mercy from humans? Never.

This was not stasis. Stasis meant cessation of thought. Of emotion. A dreamless kind of sleep. The end of awareness. A not-time.

They’d frozen his people in these pods, but they’d imprisoned him.

Or perhaps his blood ran so hot, no human force could freeze him.

The tune changed.

For the love of all that’s holy, will you shut up!

Blessed silence fell. But then light blared in his face like a blast of horns.

What fresh perdition was this? They’d tortured him with darkness. Now they’d torture him with light?

Pietas tried to force his eyes open, to face the torture, but after so long in darkness, the light stabbed his eyes. He twisted his head to avoid it.

“You– you’re awake?” The startled voice hovered close, muffled by the pod. “Security! Security! Prisoner Six-Six-Six is out of stasis! I say again, Prisoner Six-Six-Six is out of stasis!”

The alarm in the male voice gave Pietas a measure of pride. Even imprisoned, he engendered fear. They had taken away his name, and given him a number that among humans meant a demonic beast.

Let the legend of Pietas–by name or by number–bring fear straight into the heart of man. No… let it bring terror.

The alarmed voice led him to another thought. Had they not known he was awake? No. These vile creatures had readouts of every type. How could one mistake his beating heart and steady breath for anything other than wakefulness and life? They meant to keep him aware and suffering. They knew.

But whoever was guarding him hadn’t. Pietas might hate humans, but he knew the difference between genuine alarm and fake fear. He’d been instigating the real thing for centuries.

Interesting. He could use that.

His eyes adjusted to the light, and he focused on the face hovering over the small window above him.

Was that…Ghost Six?

The light cut off, taking with it the familiar comfort of sight. Pietas bit the inside of his cheek to keep silent.

First Conqueror, War Leader of the Ultras, did not beg.

He did not. He did not.
—
Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas
Immortal. Warrior. Outcasts. Traitors took everything. Except their honor.
Preorder on Amazon http://amzn.to/1R8DAbb (Out May 1, 2016)
Read now in print on CreateSpace http://bit.ly/boc-origin-csp

Giveaway – Free Download

Download and print three PDF Bookmarks. The first features Six, the human warrior. The second is Pietas, the immortal warrior. The third is the two, back to back.
Six https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-six.pdf
Pietas https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-pietas.pdf
Pietas and Six https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-pietas6.pdf
Download a free adult coloring book you can print and share. Relax and color with friends. It’s fun! https://kayelleallen.com/media/pietas-coloring-book.pdf

In this scene from Bringer of Chaos, we meet VASH, but also one of the traitors, a man who seeks to destroy Pietas.

30 Days of Chaos: Day 13

To celebrate the launch of Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas I’m sharing 30 Days of Chaos. Each day during April, I’ll post one excerpt from the book, along with a poster of a quote by Pietas. On the final day, members of my Romance Lives Forever Reader Group will receive a full color book containing all the quotes and posters. Unlike my website, the book posters will have only a quote and a beautiful image. Look for another giveaway at the end of this post.

Meet Vash

At the guard gate on the space station, he waited while security forces identified him. He had been the one to terminate the Ultra ship and help imprison their council. Yet after a mere three months away, no one knew him.

How soon humans forgot their benefactors.

He reined in his thoughts. There were rumors a few telepaths had survived the purges of the Human Pure movement. Best not to reveal he was Ultra.

At last, the two guards who’d been eyeing him stepped aside for the one who returned. A tall, slender young man in a blue jumpsuit accompanied him.

“Your ID is in order, sir. May I ask you to state your full name for VASH, please?”

“VASH. That wasn’t here before. What is it?”

“Voice Analysis Security Hallmarking. It’s a system that identifies your voice. Once entered, no one can imitate it and fool security.”

“Is that necessary?”

“Some Ultras imprisoned here are natural mimics. Others are illusionists who can duplicate your external image and voice. VASH will identify your voice and brain pattern while you speak and compare it to what we already have on record. It’s a precaution.” He gestured for the young man to come. “Meet VASH-T, the AI who’ll be escorting you. He has full access to the station, same as you’re allowed. Go ahead and tell him your name.”

A flesh-encased android. Rheault had heard of them but never seen one. The android’s eyes had tiny, human-looking red-colored blood vessels within the white sclera, and blue irises with brown flecks.

“The skin and eyes are quite human.”

“Thank you, sir.” The android inclined his head. “Welcome to Enderium Six.”

“Can you detect emotions?”

“No, sir. Only lies.”

That settled that. “I prefer a human escort.”

“I do not take breaks,” the android responded. “I cannot be bribed, and I can protect you from an Ultra. I have the strength of one. I am immune to their illusions and empathic weaponry. Please pronounce your name for me, sir. Once I hear it, I will never forget it, or you.”

And wasn’t that the real problem?

He looked to the human security officer for help, but the man gestured for them to enter the secured part of the station.

He’d passed as human for a long time. No reason to think his hard work–and luck–wouldn’t continue. He entered the door beside the android. “I’m Rheault ap Kirin. My first name is pronounced roe, like fish eggs.”

“Pronunciation established. Thank you, Rheault Like Fish Eggs.”

Rheault chuckled. “Just the word roe. I was defining the term.”

“Thank you, sir. I have adjusted the name. You may call me Vash-T. This way, please.”

Beside Vash-T, he entered a lift.

The android placed a palm against a panel, and both his hand and the device lit up in blue. The car rose.

“Where are you taking me?”

“My supervisor said you were to inspect the ship where the Ultras are detained.” The doors opened. “Section six is this way.” He exited and turned right.

Built to hold a million Ultras, the ship’s bulk filled the sky. A gangway sealed the ship to the opening ahead. The name of the vessel showed through the vast windows.

Rheault slowed, and then halted, transfixed by the sight.

Vash-T stopped and came back. “Sir? Is something wrong?”

“Are you aware of the significance of this ship’s name?”

Vash-T glanced at the giant letters in white against the black hull. “One moment, sir, while I access historical references. Ah, yes. Shall I explain it to you?”

“I understand already.” Long-stifled emotions within Rheault fought to rise, but he drove them back. “Let’s do this, shall we?” He walked with Vash-T.

Outside, in the cold of space, spotlights traced the hull of Charon’s Boat.
—
Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas
Immortal. Warrior. Outcasts. Traitors took everything. Except their honor.
Preorder on Amazon http://amzn.to/1R8DAbb (Out May 1, 2016)
Read now in print on CreateSpace http://bit.ly/boc-origin-csp

Giveaway – Free Download

Download and print three PDF Bookmarks. The first features Six, the human warrior. The second is Pietas, the immortal warrior. The third is the two, back to back.
Six https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-six.pdf
Pietas https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-pietas.pdf
Pietas and Six https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-pietas6.pdf
Download a free adult coloring book you can print and share. Relax and color with friends. It’s fun! https://kayelleallen.com/media/pietas-coloring-book.pdf

When every avenue fails, Pietas realizes he will have to get his people out of this mess on his own. While his family and the council prepares to enter stasis as part of their surrender, Pietas makes other plans.

30 Days of Chaos: Day 11

To celebrate the launch of Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas I’m sharing 30 Days of Chaos. Each day during April, I’ll post one excerpt from the book, along with a poster of a quote by Pietas. On the final day, members of my Romance Lives Forever Reader Group will receive a full color book containing all the quotes and posters. Unlike my website, the book posters will have only a quote and a beautiful image. Look for another giveaway at the end of this post.

See his Defiance, his Pride

Mahikos railed and punched the wall, showing enough anger for everyone in the room.

Pietas remained near the door, removing himself from the drama.

Above them stood silent sentries, a row of human-shaped silhouettes.

At last, around the barren room, the casket-like stasis tubes hissed, sealing the council members inside. These tubes wouldn’t jettison like lifepods to protect against implosion or the hazards of space. They were the Ultras’ prison. Who knew how long they’d lie trapped within them, or if they’d ever be released.

Pietas lifted his head, willing anyone who watched to see his defiance, his pride. His determination never to surrender. He guarded the door, daring anyone to enter. All had been sealed inside his or her pod except his family, but Pietas remained vigilant.

Mahikos accompanied Dessy to hers. Though it was common knowledge his family was on the council, Pietas refrained from any show of affection in public. Enemies needed no details as to who was more–or less–fond of whom.

Besides, all of them were empathic. He felt their love, or lack of it.

“Pietas.” Dessy spoke, but did not look at him. “You were right.”

“This one, Dessy.” Mahikos patted the middle of three empty units. “Between your mother and me. Close to family. We love you.”

How like their father to throw all caution to the wind and show his weakness to everyone. Yet he would expect Pietas to defend him if attacked.

The tube they expected him to occupy sat isolated from the others, nowhere near family. As usual, his father had isolated him.

Dessy climbed nimbly into the unit. “Love you all. Stay safe.”

The pod sealed. Through its small window, his sister’s face showed. Her eyes closed. Her color paled. Within two minutes, she was frozen, as good as dead. Gone.

For no reason would he let them do that to him.
—
Bringer of Chaos: the Origin of Pietas
Immortal. Warrior. Outcasts. Traitors took everything. Except their honor.
Preorder on Amazon http://amzn.to/1R8DAbb (Out May 1, 2016)
Read now in print on CreateSpace http://bit.ly/boc-origin-csp

Giveaway – Free Download

Download and print three PDF Bookmarks. The first features Six, the human warrior. The second is Pietas, the immortal warrior. The third is the two, back to back.
Six https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-six.pdf
Pietas https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-pietas.pdf
Pietas and Six https://kayelleallen.com/media/boc-bookmark-pietas6.pdf
Download a free adult coloring book you can print and share. Relax and color with friends. It’s fun! https://kayelleallen.com/media/pietas-coloring-book.pdf