Page 69 of Celestial Bodies

Julen was interrupted by a haunting voice. No, it wasn’t just one voice; it was two—two voices speaking simultaneously as one. Whatever made the sound stepped closer, and the table beneath Julen shuddered with each step. The sound had come from his left, and he shifted his gaze to see what it was.

A massive creature with translucent skin exposing the organs undulating about its torso stood beside Julen. It had three fierce claws on either hand and a ghostly face with curved horns shooting from either side of its head like a ram’s. Although its face looked humanoid, its eyes were black. Somehow, this awful creature reminded Julen of something.

It sneered as it spoke, “Another act of treason from the abomination that I sired.” A monstrous groan mixed with a familiar second voice. Julen looked at the creature in disbelief; he had never seen anything like it. Why was its voice familiar?

The beast continued, “Pity you manifested like this. I was almost impressed as you were trying to kill me. No matter. You will do well with the others.” The creature laughed. “Oh, and bartering with Carnufor will do you no good.He was sent here under Morab’s rule as punishment for experimenting with the Black Arts. He’s now my expert on such matters. You could say he is indebted to me for releasing him from the jaws of hell down in the mines.”

It was his father. His father’s voice was in the beast…

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Chapter 30

Julen

Julen gasped when he awoke again. He had forgotten why he had passed out for a moment, but his breath hitched as he recalled the beast.Did I dream that?He tried to sit up but felt the tug of the straps that locked him in place. He broke out in a cold sweat as he looked up at the stalactites above. What had he just witnessed? What was that creature?

Julen could feel himself on the verge of hyperventilating, but he had to keep his wits about him if he was going to get out of there.

Cajoling hadn’t worked with Carnufor. There had to be another way to escape. Manifest! He could try and use his power to free himself. Perhaps he could lift himself and the table off the ground? His power had been so strong at the castle. Could he do it? Or could he shoot windshards to pierce the manacles? His mind raced with the possibilities.

Julen closed his eyes and envisioned Dacias, his blue eyes sparkling in the sunlight. He could feel it. Crisp air washed over him, and the rest of the world faded away.

The air grew louder in his ears. He closed his eyes and tried to move his fingers to manipulate the wind with the little movement his shackles would allow. Nothing. He closed his eyes again, this time thinking of his bastard father, the rage, the desire to finish what he had started in the castle. Thegurney he lay on trembled slightly, but that was it. Then there was nothing.

“You’ll find that manifesting is out of the question.” Carnufor slithered back into view. “Naturally, we couldn’t let someone with powers like yours just throw about your wind and do unforeseen damage. This is a laboratory for Vexora’s sake. We must take precautions.” Carnufor strode back to a metal table where a tray of glowing serums sat. “A healthy dose of malachite mixed with a bit of tourmaline does wonders for ensuring bad little boys can’t wield anything against Dr. Carnufor.”

Fucker!Julen looked at the tray of vials containing luminescent liquids. “Is that why I am here? Are you going to test those minerals on me? My father wants to know which ones kill, I imagine. Why not experiment on the son he detests, huh?”

Carnufor crooked a smile. “You’re correct that you will be part of a test. But I have no intention of killing you. Far from it, actually. I hope someone with your ability will withstand what I am about to do to you. Or at least, better than the other humans we tested.”

Other humans?What was that thing?“There are beings here that are…that are not human. That thing that approached me, what was it?”

The revolting grin that Carnufor released sent bile to the back of Julen’s throat. “Beautiful, wasn’t it? Can you imagine? Such a creature existed for who knows how many years, perhaps thousands, right under our noses.” Carnufor dipped closer and whispered, “Those petty children’s stories have a bit more truth than we originally thought.”

Julen squinted his eyes at the man.Children’s stories? Could he truly be referring to creatures from Caligon? Like those ridiculous stories described? Monsters roaming about the forest?This man is insane.

“I don’t believe you. You made that thing. It’s some kind of demented experiment. You’re using minerals to turn humans into monsters, and that’s what you will do to me! I won’t let you! Do you hear me, you sick bastard?” Julen wanted to shout, but his voice was hoarse, and his throat burned.

Carnufor shot an amused smirk at Julen. “You don’t believe me? Even after witnessing it with your own eyes? Even after hearing your father’s voice come through thecreature?”

Rivulets of sweat dripped down Julen’s face, and his limbs went numb. He wanted it to be a trick of the mind.

“Why? Tell me why I could hear him.”

“I’ll do something better. Let me show you.”

Carnufor unlocked the wheels and pushed the gurney through a hallway. They arrived in a dark room. Julen sensed Carnufor moving about and unlatching something near his feet. Soon, the doctor cranked the cot upright. He heard Carnufor step to the far corner of the room and winced as a curtain opened, revealing white glowing stones. Julen blinked at the brightness, and his stomach dropped at what stood before him.

Five creatures stood upright beneath the lights, manacled to gurneys just like Julen’s. The original, the translucent beast with horns, was directly before him. To its left were two creatures. The first had skin that looked like dry sand. It had long, grotesque limbs, black eyes, and a gaping mouth. The next creature appeared to be female. From the waist up, she appeared humanoid, but her bottom half was that of a snake with black and white scales. Its eyes were large, the size of fists, and black as night. All of the creatures had black eyes.Are they dead?

To the right stood a monster Julen recalled from his childhood stories—the Multarmirus. It looked like a bear with a goat’s head. It had ten arms in all, and its hands had massive claws. To the far right was a child. Its skin was light blue, green hair flowed down its back, and pointy ears peaked from the strands.A fae! This can’t be real. These are stories.

“What are you showing me? What are they?”

Carnufor walked in front of the menagerie of creatures, brushing his hands along them like they were treasures. “They’re your fellow soldiers, dear boy! Creatures from Caligon. Caught by your father’s men. They strayed beyond the protection of the wards created by the fae. Or at least that’s what we assume.”

Wards? This is preposterous!

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