In this scene from Bringer of Chaos, Pietas is still imprisoned inside a steel and copper stasis tube. He uses the word “never” seven times. Freedom lies straight ahead. If–a big if–his captors release him. It opens with Six speaking.
30 Days of Chaos: Day 20
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.
Never
“Pietas! Can you hear me? I hope you can hear me. We’re coming in. The planet is dead ahead. It’s Sempervia. We’re there! We land today. The strobes you’re seeing–if you can still see–those are alerts. We’re landing!”
Joy and terror flooded Pietas in equal measure. Joy in the hope this repugnant nightmare might soon end. Terror he’d be marooned on this detestable world but never released, never found. They’d leave him to spend eternity alone in a hellish existence of eternal night.
No! No. He would be free. He would. Freedom was his birthright. He had not suffered this long to be denied freedom now.
Every part of his body hurt. Every finger, every toe, every tooth. Every eyelash.
Hunger no longer ravaged him. Did he even have a stomach anymore? In an earlier stage of hunger, it must have eaten itself. That pain had stopped long ago, and moved to every extremity.
Thirst, however, thirst haunted him, a creature from nightmares.
Once he got out of this pod, he’d throw himself into a river and drink it dry. Wait, instead, he’d drink some of it, and then let the river soak into his bones. He’d never go thirsty. Never be dirty.
And he would eat. It would be good to have food. Any food would do. Once he found food, he’d stuff his face full. He’d stop being picky. Whatever there was, it would be good enough. He’d never refuse food. He’d break bread with his family every chance he got.
The thought of family made his heart hurt. He’d hug Dessy, wrap both arms around his mother, and never let her go. He’d even hug his father.
And Six. He’d spend time with Six.
They would fish, as Six had promised. They’d sit by a river, cast lines, kick back on the bank, and watch clouds roll by. He hadn’t gone fishing since he was a boy. Fishing with Six at his side sounded like heaven.
It was true that Six had threatened the sole person Pietas could not and would not lose. Yes, Six had helped capture him. But that had been duty, and hadn’t Six proven his mettle and his true heart a hundred times since?
A klaxon sounded. The ship must be going into port.
—
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
