Goodbye 2015, and Hello 2016!

Wow. What a year 2015 has been. I laid out a plan for myself back in April, and I think things are coming along rather nicely. Of course, I'm not even halfway through the Baker's Dozen Experiment, and completing that will be my main goal for 2016.

So far, I've published 3 items, a total of 5 short stories in those publications. I've also posted 21 chapters of Chains of Nect to Wattpad and my blog. Here's hoping I can keep the momentum going through the next year.

Of course, I had to sit down and reassess some things. The Baker's Dozen Experiment will continue, however, I've decided to pause my progress and posts on Chains of Nect. I have other projects that I feel need to be moved to the forefront, especially since my reception on Wattpad hasn't been strong. This doesn't mean I'm not willing to change my mind, if enough people request for me to continue Chains of Nect. Feel free to post here or use my contact form to request I continue it sooner rather than later. If enough people ask for it, I'll definitely shift things around!

I will have one final chapter of Chains of Nect that will be posted to Wattpad on January 1, and subsequently posted to my blog on January 6.

Aside from that change, here are some highlights of my goals for 2016:

❧ Publish 9 more short stories for the Baker's Dozen Experiment
❧ Publish my novel Mind Behind the Mind to finish off the Baker's Dozen Experiment
❧ Complete a revision of Dead As Dreams
❧ Write a Fractured Fairies Christmas story for next December
❧ Start writing Thorns Entwine the Blade, the sequel to Mind Behind the Mind
❧ Draft 2-3 other short stories
❧ Find some beta readers for the Mind sequels (if you're interested please contact me for more info - you do not need to be a writer to be a beta reader!)
❧ Blog once per week - stay tuned for The Adventures of Karriya the Wizard!
❧ Continue critiquing, participate more in Broad Universe and on Kboards
❧ Read, read, and read - I'd be happy to take any recommendations

So, here's hoping 2016 is as productive as 2015. May the toddler be an angel, the eldest child not whine, and the kittens become fat, lazy non-tree climbing cats. Oh, and the house self-clean itself. Too much to ask for? Nah, I don't think so (as I listen to the toddler freaking out at her older sister).

Also, if you're a writer who would like some camaraderie while working toward monthly goals, please join us in the Writing Quest group on Facebook. I'm now running it as a group instead of separate monthly events, and anyone is welcome to join!

I hope everyone has a happy start to 2016. What are your hopes and dreams for the year to come?

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 21

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 20

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 21

Bishop quickly dug through Damian's wardrobe once he had left. He was right, the T-shirt and pants he wore would be out of place. Damian's clothes were a bit tight on him, and the button-up shirt made him feel like he was suffocating, but they'd work.

Then he slipped the book, the one with the rune of Turss shimmering on the cover, behind the books on one of the endless shelves. Not the best place to hide it, but he couldn't carry it around with him--he'd have more of a chance to lose it that way.

Once that was done, he exited the room. It sounded as though some of the Guardians stirred, but he didn't see anyone. Carefully, he retraced his steps and walked back down the stairs to the entrance of the courtyard.

He heard voices and ducked behind a pillar. Both Damian and Sid passed by, heading down the stairs. Probably talking about him, too. He didn't catch their words and they eventually disappeared down the hall.

Maybe he should have waited to venture out in the evening. No, Damian would be in the room, likely, eyes on him. Now was the best time. He shouldn't dally in Nect longer than he needed to. Information, that was his main goal, and then finding a way to open the gate to report back to the Blink. Then they'd help him decide what to do next.

And Damian had absentmindedly told Bishop which building housed the main library as they traveled to the room earlier. He'd find all the information he needed there, and it was easy to hide among the shelves, as long as he didn't stand out too much. Hence the clothes change.

Before Bishop went back into the courtyard, he looked up at the mural above him. The thing was amazing, but old--even from this distance he saw peeling and chipping paint. Sad the Guardians hadn't kept it up. No matter the age, it solidified all the stories he'd been taught. One central world, a nexus of sorts, connecting to many other worlds, Turss a small blip. Clearly inconsequential with all of the other worlds that existed.

What made this world so special? Why did the Ancients use this place as the anchor to all of the chains? Not like he could raise an Ancient from the dead and ask. Maybe he'd find the answer in the library.

Bishop entered the courtyard, the rising sun making the array of gates look like a brilliant maze of arches. So many. He never imagined this many. And there was no telling if this was all of them. He guessed not. No reason to have all of the portals in one spot if there was a whole world to build them in.

He wove around them, using them as hiding spots as needed when he saw a Guardian--he had no qualms about touching the things. The few Guardians he saw looked even more uptight than Damian. No, he definitely didn't want to get caught by them.

Finally, he reached the library, but he strode past it. The Turss gate--he had to see if he could trigger the magic. The loss of the power felt as if he'd lost a limb. He entered the strange hill, now completely hidden from anyone who passed.

Light filtered from the opening above--it looked as though a battle had been fought here. Blood stained the ground near the gate and a bit further away. Sid's and Damian's? Probably.

He touched the portal, the stone arch still as cold as before. And again, he was just as disappointed. No magic, no call. A longing seized him, to be back home, tending to his flowers around the cabin, never having seen or sensed the two otherworlders. He'd allow the desire of the gate to wash over him, to follow him about his business.

Somehow, feeling the pain of that desire was better than satiating it when it meant ending up on this side and severing himself from such senses. Well, he'd get back. He would. But not until he was finished here.

So Bishop pulled himself away from the gate, reluctantly leaving it behind, promising the arch on the other side that he'd return for it.

Then ducking a few Guardians, and what had to be dedicants in white robes, he entered the library. Three stories high, and a heck of a lot of books.

Well, he had to start somewhere.

Bishop wound his way to the top level, pulled a book off of a shelf, and started reading.

❦

Obsidian waited for the, "I told you so," from Damian. The fact that he was right wasn't what stung the most, but the feeling that Bishop's disappearance was a betrayal of sorts. She'd trusted him. No clue why, but she had.

Oh, yes, she'd been a fool. Not only with her feelings toward Bishop, but also the stupid stuff that came out of her mouth when talking to Damian--she had felt like she needed to say something, and she had made a silly comment about visiting his room. Probably just Ama's words getting to her.

Yes, a complete fool. No more. Never.

Instead of accusing her, though, Damian tossed the food on his bed and threw open his wardrobe. "Quick, look for the book."

"He probably took it with him." It was a waste of time to search, had to be.

"Possibly." He poked through his hanging clothes, the shelf on top, and two drawers on the bottom. "Hm, he took some of my clothes. He's no idiot. What would be worse than us getting the book back?"

Sid had to redeem herself, prove that she wasn't a complete ninny and able to form proper thoughts and ideas. "The other Guardians finding it."

"And he knows that." He closed the wardrobe drawers and started to toss his bed, some of the fruit rolling off onto the floor.

"He could have hid it elsewhere, to make sure we also wouldn't find it." That made more sense to her, but even she couldn't think of anywhere safer. She hadn't been in the House of Portals for long, and she still felt the best hiding place was somewhere close and easy to access--like under her dresser. "I guess that doesn't make much sense since he doesn't know the grounds well." She peeked under Damian's dresser. Not there. Guess he didn't think like she did.

Damian ducked into the bathroom.

She was reluctant to look inside the drawers--that felt like an invasion of privacy--so she moved onto the bookshelves. First, she skimmed the spines. What better way to hide something than in plain sight? Nothing popped out, though, and Damian moved out of the bathroom and started digging through his dresser drawers.

"It has to be here." He growled.

Such desperation--Bishop had sneaked off, that was all. That didn't mean he was about to burn the whole House of Portals down. And if he did, Damian should have been searching for him, not the book.

All the books were arranged so neatly on the shelves, the spines of every single one right up to the edge. Sid carefully felt behind the books on each shelf, going right to left and bottom to top. She'd gone through most of the shelves, proud of her idea, but disappointed by the time she reached the last shelf, highest on the left.

And then her fingers bumped into it. She stretched onto her tip-toes, trying to fish it out. Perhaps it was just a book of Damian's that had slipped behind the others, but if it wasn't she didn't want to ask Damian for help, even if he was taller. He'd never give her the book back.

"Did you find something?"

He'd noticed her struggling. Damn it. She grasped a corner, slowly pulled it up, then she lost her grip and it fell back with a thud. "You did. Watch out." Damian rolled up his sleeves and nudged her aside.

Drat. But she didn't fight him. He wouldn't hand the thing over to the Council yet at least. Not until he made sure Bishop was back in Turss. And by then, perhaps she could convince him to let her have it back. Or at the very least to not give it to the other Guardians.

He reached up and pulled the book out from behind the others. There it was, the rune for Turmoil, or Turss, emblazoned on the cover. He touched the script with hesitancy. "Yes."

"If you give it to me, I can hide it where he can't get to it."

The wandering eyebrow shot up above his glasses. "Oh, really?" He pressed the book to his chest. "I'm guessing somewhere in your room? Because you don't have many options for hiding places. Not only would it be risky for Ama or Enid to find it, but as a dedicant, you shouldn't have this anyway."

It had been worth a try. "It is my book, you know. I'm the one who found it."

"About that. Where exactly did you find it?"

Oh, crud. Sid had to start considering the words she used more carefully. Again. Because she used to be fine--she'd hid everything and kept the secret of the book and gate for so long. Now, Damian--and Bishop, for that matter--had completely destroyed her composure and thought processes.

She pulled herself up to her full height. "None of your business."

"But it's completely my business. I'm a Guardian."

No truer words. "Well, Mr. Guardian, shouldn't we be looking for the interloper? You know, to protect the House of Portals? Just because he doesn't have the book doesn't mean he can't cause havoc. If he's found, we're all in deep."

Damian opened his mouth. Here it came, the scolding she probably deserved. Then he clamped his jaw shut, rummaged in his wardrobe again, producing a leather bag with a long strap, and shoved the book inside it.

At least she'd managed to distract him from his line of questioning. She picked the fruit up from the floor and set it on the bare desk. Clearly she'd lost this round of Whose Book Is It Anyway. Right now, it was Damian's, punctuated by him throwing the strap of the bag over his neck so it rested against his chest.

"Eat something," he said. "Then we head to the library. You'll study while I look for Bishop."

"Wouldn't it be better if both of us were looking for him?" After all, two pairs of eyes were better than one, especially when one pair had to wear glasses to see well enough.

He grabbed some bread and cheese from his bed and nibbled on both. "Yes, if you want to attract the attention of the other Guardians. You're a dedicant, and your job is to study, to learn the precepts and how to read the script."

"Already got the latter down." In less than a day, even. Ha. At least it hadn't taken her a year.

Damian glared at her. "Don't get smart with me. The Council would have a conniption if they found out you'd learned to read the runes so quickly. You know that. If you're off doing something other than studying, someone is going to question it. Especially if you're off by yourself. I at least have the ability to stick you in a study room and go about getting some of my own tasks done elsewhere without others questioning my actions."

Damian one, Sid zero. Actually, he probably had more than one point, but who was counting?

"All right. I'll be a good little dedicant and study for now. As long as you promise not to kill Bishop when you find him." She still felt responsible for him, and even though his slipping out hurt, she didn't want any harm to come to him.

"I thought we already determined that I'm not capable of such things." Damian shoved the rest of the bread and cheese in his mouth. Once he finished chewing and swallowing, he said, "But no promises I won't drag him around by his hair a bit."

Obsidian picked up an apple and chomped into it to stop herself from groaning. It would be a wonder if all three of them came out of all this alive. If the Guardians didn't get them, Damian and Bishop were sure to kill each other without even trying.

* * * * *

Chapter 22

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 20

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 19

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 20

Bishop entered Damian's room, not surprised that most of the personal items within consisted of books neatly lining several bookshelves. They were probably arranged alphabetically--or with some other complex system.

No windows either. Claustrophobic. "Don't you ever want a little fresh air?"

"That's what stepping outside is for." Damian opened his wardrobe and pulled down a pillow and blanket from the top shelf. "It was a window or a larger room, and I opted for the later. The bathroom is right through that door." He pointed to the only other way out.

More room for all of his boring books. Bishop hoped those books would at least be somewhat useful, though he doubted Guardians were allowed to keep the important stuff in their own rooms.

"Sorry, but you'll have to sleep on the floor," Damian said. "My bed isn't big enough for two of us, unless you'd like to get up close and personal."

"You expect me to sleep right now? I'd much rather explore."

Damian threw the pillow and blanket at Bishop. "There will be no exploring. You don't belong here, and anyone who sees you will know it. This House is only for Guardians and Dedicants, and you're neither."

"I came all this way, though." This Guardian wouldn't stop him from poking around. He had to find something to help Turss, to take back and stop the wars, or to blackmail the Guardians. "And you agreed."

"I agreed to bring you through the gate. Nothing more. You're here. Don't get comfortable." Damian pulled off his shoes, then slipped under his covers without changing, placing his back to Bishop.

Mistake. You never wanted to show your back to someone who might just bury a knife in it. Too bad Bishop didn't have a knife--he should have taken the one Sid had offered.

And Damian had nothing to worry about comfort. Bishop was far from comfortable. He missed the beat of the gate in the back of his mind, the hum of its call--he felt dead without it. And he didn't know how to get back, to open the gate on this side. Since he couldn't feel the power, he wondered if he could cast the spell, even if he could read the words in the book.

The book. His heart had sunk when he looked at it and what Sid had said was true. He couldn't read any of the words, not even in the half where he found the information on Turss. That first half, though--his mind reached out for it, thirsting, wanting to learn how to piece it together.

And he would learn. He wouldn't just lie here doing what Damian told him to do. Oh, no. He came here with the intent on taking a little back of what the Guardians had stolen. Or to gather enough information to help the others now surely gathering in Turss near the gate.

Bishop tossed his pillow onto the floor next to the bed, tucking the book under it, and pulled the blanket over him. He was smart enough to face Damian, not expose himself to an attack. Then he waited for Damian to leave for the day, sleep the last thing within reach.

❦

Damian didn't want to look at Bishop, which is why he rolled over even though he didn't intend to sleep at all. If he saw the man, he'd have to acknowledge the horrible situation he was in.

He had to get that book back. And he needed Obsidian's help to do it.

Once he got her alone, he was sure he could convince her to see reason, to see the foolishness in all of this. They had to push Bishop back through the portal--keeping him here was too much of a risk.

Damian wasn't sure he knew where he stood anymore with the precepts, with following them exactly like a proper Guardian ought to, but he did know he didn't want to be banished, stripped of all he'd known. He was a Guardian, one who'd stumbled, but having that taken away from him would destroy him.

So, yes, he had to convince Obsidian. Especially with how she seemed to be taking to Bishop. Foolish girl. He wanted to see that powerful woman she had metamorphosed into in the courtyard the day he first met her. Not acting like some lovestruck adolescent.

Damian threw his covers off. He couldn't just lay there doing nothing. He didn't really want to leave Bishop alone, but the inaction had him crawling out of his skin.

He entered the bathroom and scrubbed off as much of the blood in his hairline as he could, then quickly changed clothes.

It looked as though the stranger slept, eyes closed and mouth slightly parted, however Damian knew better. This man couldn't fake the heavy breathing of true sleep. "They'll be serving breakfast soon. I'll bring you something." Perhaps that would keep him in the room, knowing that he'd be checked in on shortly.

Damian exited the room. It was actually still too early for breakfast, most of the House just waking up, or still fast asleep in their beds if they were smart. First, he circled his floor, hoping the exercise would burn off some of the crazy energy inside of him. It failed to do so--pacing the halls was still a form of inaction because what he needed to act on was removing Bishop from the House of Portals, from all of Nect. He didn't belong here.

So, he climbed the stairs to the next floor and stood in front of Obsidian's door, about to knock.

"You know, you ought not play games with that girl," a woman said from behind him.

He jumped then spun. "And you are?"

She beamed at him and offered a hand. "Ama. Sid's roommate."

He reluctantly shook her hand. "What games?" If anyone was playing games it was Obsidian--she still had secrets buried, and he knew it. But uncovering those would have to wait until Bishop was safely back in Turss.

Ama giggled. "Men." She opened the door. "Sid, you have a visitor."

"How can anyone get any sleep with all of this racket? I can't wait until I'm a full Guardian and have my own room." A scowling blonde pushed past him and went into the bathroom.

"Don't mind, Enid," Ama said. "She's just dedicated."

More like perfect Guardian material. Sid had mentioned a roommate was having difficulty with the script. Sadly, it was probably Ama--not many Guardians offered smiles so generously around here.

Sid approached the door, hair a knotted mess. "A little early. Those two may be awake, but I haven't slept a wink." She offered a level stare, as if trying to remind him how much they had recently been through.

As if he could forget. "Unfortunately, we have things to discuss. Things that can't wait."

She sighed. "Fine. Give me a few minutes." She slammed the door in his face.

Truly, if he could allow her to sleep for a week after the ordeal they'd been through, he would. Not only did they have Bishop to deal with, but they needed to make sure that their actions weren't too different from usual. No mentor would allow a dedicant to take a week off--even a couple of days was out of character.

After some time, she emerged from the room, her dedicant robes hiding the cut on her arm.

Damian pointed at her head. "Did you forget something?" Her hair was still a rat's nest.

"If it's so urgent to discuss things, I figured you'd rather me not take the next fifteen minutes trying to comb through this mess. After last night though, I think cutting it off might be the wiser option."

No, she couldn't cut it. She was joking, right?

She laughed. "The look on your face." Then she did some weird twist with her hair and pinned it up with the same hair pins that had etched script in both the grounds of Nect and Turss. It still looked disheveled, but less so. "After you."

They walked down the hall side-by-side. Once they reached the stairs, he thought it safe enough to talk, not many people in earshot, though more dedicants and Guardians were in and out of rooms and bathrooms. "We need to get the book back from Bishop."

"So eager to send him back?"

Seriously, she couldn't think that he should stay here. "Of course he needs to go back. There's nothing here for him. Except trouble--for him and us."

"Well, perhaps we should first find out why he wanted to come with us."

Her head was in the clouds, that was the only explanation he had. "Isn't that clear? He wants to find something to sabotage the Guardians. Or he could even be here to kill everyone."

Sid stopped halfway down the stairs and he halted a few steps below her. "You can't think he's that cruel and devious. He did save us."

"That's just because he needed us to get here, to gain knowledge."

She planted her fists on her hips. "If you're so sure that he has horrible plans, then why didn't you let go of him when we were crossing through?"

He looked down the stairs. "I couldn't. I just couldn't do it."

"Oh, Damian." She placed a hand on his shoulder.

Her touch sent shivers down his arm, and something sparked deep inside of him. At least she no longer thought him a wretched person for considering killing someone. At least he hoped not.

He continued down the stairs, disengaging from her touch. "No matter what you think his intentions might be, he can't stay here. It's not safe for any of us."

Sid caught up to him once they reached the bottom floor. "Then let's grab something to eat for all of us and talk to him. See what he wants here. And after that, then we can convince him to return home."

Finally, she spoke some sense.

They made their way to the cafeteria and grabbed what they could--fruit, bread, some cheese. The hot food hadn't been prepared yet. Damian snagged two extra glasses for water since he only had one in his room for himself.

Then they wound their way back up to his room.

"I never thought I'd get to see your room like this," she said.

"What?" Why were the women saying such confusing things this morning? Or he was just too drained, physically and mentally, to comprehend any of it.

"Never mind." She shook her head. "See, we'll have a nice meal together and figure things out. Shouldn't be too hard."

Hoping Obsidian was right, Damian opened the door to his room.

But Bishop was no longer there.

* * * * *

Chapter 21

This Is Where I Stand Snippet

Tales of Chyraine released yesterday! It includes two stories, "This Is Where I Stand" and "Cold, Oh So Cold." Right now, it's available via Amazon, and like the last two releases, you can read it for free using Kindle Unlimited or the Kindle Owners' Lending Library.

If you're interested in a snippet from "Cold, Oh So Cold," I'll be sending one out in my Newsletter tomorrow - so Sign Up Now if you haven't yet! But I won't leave you completely hanging. Here's a bit from "This Is Where I Stand."

❦

This is where I stand: in the kingdom of Ambrosia, within the palace, in my spacious yet suffocating room, before an open window which faces northwest. A broadsword rests on the stone windowsill, my sword, once my father's sword. My hands are upon the steel blade. I can just see over the palace walls, beyond to the rolling hills dotted with wildflowers and groves of trees.

This is where I wish to stand: further northwest, over the wall, beyond the moat, across the hills, and through the trees, where lies an invisible line with the forests Destiny to the east and Feargate to the west. My spirit brushes the trees that tower over the passage and shadows that line, into the kingdom of Trugor.

But that desire is irrelevant, for I am the Queen in Waiting, the one of all the young female warriors of Ambrosia to emerge victorious in competition. Sometimes I ponder what the waiting means. Waiting to become Queen, waiting to be recognized, waiting to have all the weight of a kingdom's people on my shoulders, hanging on my every word and trusting me implicitly... waiting for the old Queen to die. And in turn, one day another Queen in Waiting will be waiting for me to die, when I'm old and wrinkled, and the people cry out for fresh blood.

❦

This Is Where I Stand

A warrior torn between obligation and desire.

Zenya fought for and won the right to be Ambrosia's next queen. Now, she waits for the current queen to die and she finds the honor her aunt forced her into is instead a burden. She longs for her childhood home, Trugor, where magic drifts on the winds and infuses every blade of grass.

Those in Ambrosia think magic an abomination. If the reigning queen discovers Zenya's heritage and thoughts, a quick death might follow. Possibly that would be the kinder fate, since her desire to return home and breathe in the magic consumes her. How can Zenya rule a people she despises?

Cold, Oh So Cold

Hearts of men as frozen as the kingdoms they live in.

Hear the static of a radio? Feel the chill sink into your bones and refuse to leave? Then you must be in the three Ice Kingdoms of Chyraine. No matter where you turn, the icicles can be seen forming in the hearts and minds of all the inhabitants. Or being driven into their backs and throats by their enemies.

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 19

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 18

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 19

Damian couldn't do it. He hadn't fully wanted to do it in the first place, but when Bishop had said those words, he just couldn't leave him in that icy wasteland. Even if it wasn't a sure death, no one deserved to wander that cold for the rest of their existence.

His conscience was going to get them all killed, though. He'd have to think of something else to get Bishop back to his own world, sooner rather than later. First, he had to get the book.

"Looks like the time difference worked in our favor," Damian said. "It's only a few minutes past the shift."

"Amazing." Obsidian plucked the candle from the well and shoved it in that hidden pocket of hers--it must have gone out on its own when they passed through the first time. "I'd love to explore more of Turss to see more of the differences."

She never learned. Damian had to make sure she didn't wander off the proper path again. Even if he wasn't sure what exactly that path was anymore.

"Sorry," she said. "You know, if that eyebrow of yours climbs up any higher, it's going to get stuck like that."

Damian wanted to slap her and laugh at the same time. He restrained himself from doing either and ignored her statement instead. "Please hand over the book, Bishop."

The man barked a laugh. "I don't think so. I'm guessing holding onto this would be in my best interest, if I want to keep my hide."

Obsidian put her hands on her hips. "It's not like you'll be able to read any of it, anyhow. Holding it hostage will do you no good." She stepped closer to Bishop. "Be smart and hand it over to me, though. Not him."

Bishop cracked the book open and furiously paged through it. "You're right, I can't read any of it. How is that possible?"

"Magic," Sid said.

"Whether I can read it or not, I think I'll still keep it." His mischievous grin was unnerving.

Damian should have let go when Bishop almost lost his grip. That would have been so much simpler. Then the book could also be lost in the ether, and all of his problems would have been solved.

No, he had to feel bad about killing someone. Make his like more difficult.

Well, trying to get the book now wasn't going to happen, and they were wasting time arguing. "We need to get out of here before anyone else wakes up and finds us. We'll deal with the book later." And here was yet another horrible decision. How to hide Bishop. Only one option for now. "Bishop, you can stay in my room for now."

"I'd rather go with Sid."

Oh, yes, that was just what they needed, Sid falling all over this outsider and losing her head even more. "She has roommates, who would notice you. I, on the other hand, have my own quarters. No one but me enters."

"No one? Kind of lonely." He snickered.

Hypocrite. "Something I'm sure you're already plenty familiar with and used to."

Bishop shut up.

"If we're going to go, let's." Sid slipped through the gap in the misshapen hill, differently formed than before they entered the gate to avoid the shift.

Damian and Bishop trailed after.

"Bless the All-Seeing Eye," Bishop said. He'd stopped just outside the gap.

Damian forced himself to stop as well. This interloper was his responsibility, and he couldn't leave him behind. "Problem?"

"See you tomorrow, boys. I'm heading back to my room." It seemed Sid couldn't get away from them fast enough. Guess it was the only option now that she didn't have the book to help her through another gate. She wove around the portals which soon blocked her from view.

"So many gates. I mean, I knew there were other worlds, but I couldn't have imagined this many. And so close together."

Small mind, then. "You did force us to bring you straight into the Guardian compound." He considered warning Bishop about the shifts at night. But if this man decided to poke around where he ought not, he deserved anything he got. At least if he got sliced in two by a shifting portal, Damian couldn't be directly held accountable for his death.

He still felt kind of slimy for holding back, though--and the thought of Sid's disapproving glare over his thoughts. Perhaps he should just mention it.

"How many Guardians are we talking about?"

"I never counted. A couple of hundred, at least."

Bishop whistled. "Guess we better be off so you can hide me then." He walked forward in the direction Sid had gone, clearly expecting Damian to follow.

Keeping this man hidden would be a difficult task, indeed. Damian had a feeling he'd refuse to stay put.

❦

Obsidian tip-toed into her room, careful not to wake Ama and Enid. Thankfully they both seemed to be heavy sleepers. She undressed, bandaged the cut on her arm the best she could, then crawled completely under her covers.

She wanted to sleep for a week.

But the magic wouldn't allow her. Right when she had stepped back into Nect, the power had washed over her again. And the Turmoil gate struck up its call once she looked up at the script. It beat a rhythm in her head almost similar to the sensation she had felt when she touched the chain in Turss.

It wanted her to open it again, step through.

Sid covered her head with her pillow, but that didn't lessen the tug. No, she wouldn't let it take over her mind again--she had to gain control, maintain it.

Not like she could go back through, anyhow. She didn't quite remember all of the strokes needed to etch the proper words in the dirt, and her mind hadn't retained the exact ones she needed to speak as well. She was horrible at memorizing most things to begin with, but when she pictured the writing in the book, the edges of everything were fuzzy.

She dug her fingers into the pillow, stopping herself before she ripped it open. The last thing she needed was to have to explain why there were feathers all over her part of the room.

Not only was the magic tugging at her mind, insisting she listen to it, to save Turss from whatever turmoil the portal was so labeled for, she didn't know what to do about Damian or Bishop.

Damian had insisted Bishop should be left behind, but he hadn't actually let go of him. Had Bishop hung on tight enough, over-powered Damian? It hadn't seemed that way once they had finished the crossing. Damian would have been angrier than he already was.

Perhaps he hadn't wanted to lose the book as well. Who knew what was going on in that mind of his. Not her, that's for sure.

And Bishop. She had to get control of her feelings around him. There was no reason for her to be simpering, and that was all she could label it as. She didn't know him, even though he'd saved her. He also tricked them into taking him with them on their return trip.

She knew what was going on in Bishop's mind even less than Damian's.

The biggest problem--this entire mess was her fault.

It was probably good she didn't have the book back. There was no saying what she'd do if she had it. Perhaps she'd completely fall off the horse and go on a rampage of opening all of the gates in the courtyard, letting unknown horrors step into Nect. Or her body would snap under all the pressure and she'd jump out her window, bludgeoned to death by a gate as she fell.

That would be a fitting death. Especially since a gate dragged her onto this path in the first place.

"Sid, are you okay?" Ama, sweet Ama. She must have woken her with all the thrashing.

Sid peeked from underneath her pillow. "Just dealing with a bit of inner conflict."

Ama rolled to her side. "Ah. I was wondering why you weren't in bed when I got back to the room. Is it about your mentor, Damian? Have you been sneaking off with him for other things other than studying?"

All Sid could do was offer a dumb-founded look. At least she assumed it was dumb-founded because this was the last thing she thought anyone would speculate. True, it was better than thinking she found a book detailing the opening of gates, then actually opening a portal, walking through it, and finally coming back with an other-worlder in tow.

"Well?" Ama asked. "Don't leave me in the dark." The rising sun filtered into the room, accentuating her smile.

"Um." What in the Ancients could she say? "Yes. I've been sneaking off with Damian. But nothing has happened. I swear. We've just watched the gates in the courtyard shift a couple of times. Under the stars." Just saying the words made acid rise into her throat. All this girl stuff was not her thing, not at all. "I don't think he feels the same for me as I do for him, though."

Ama's smile transformed from eager to knowing. "Give him time." She threw off her covers and slipped out to the bathroom.

Obsidian ducked back under her pillow. Give Damian time. Ha. Should she give Bishop time too? Her heart thudded in her brain, right alongside the throb of the magic.

* * * * *

Chapter 20

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 18

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 17

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 18

Bishop wove his way through the grasses, the two Guardians keeping close behind him, knowing exactly how he'd play things once he reached Nect. Not things, no, but Obsidian.

She had a thing for him, and aside from the flush of her cheeks when he was close to her, the warning she had offered him only confirmed his suspicions. Damian planned to cut ties with Bishop, abandon him to the abyss of the portal.

Not that he was surprised. Deception was expected from a Guardian--that's what they were best at.

Sid's reaction, though--now that hadn't been expected. Good thing he'd saved her. Soon enough, he'd have her doing things for him that she'd never dreamed of. Betraying all the other Guardians for a start.

Not that he was an expert at manipulating women. His studies had kept him from any real social interaction, aside from his tutors. They'd plucked him from his family young. That was the best way to build and nurture magic--start early.

That wouldn't stop him from playing Sid like a piano. Or at least trying.

They stepped up to the edge of the abyss. Though Bishop couldn't see the gate due to the fog and darkness, he heard it. It sang out to him, caressing him with its song.

Open me. Enter me. Make me live.

Gladly. And he finally had the tools to grant its wish.

"No crawling this time," he said. "Be confident. Walk across as though you own the chain. That shouldn't be too hard for a couple of Guardians."

"Obsidian isn't--"

"So you've told me." Damian was a man who preferred to conform to rules, set guidelines. No wonder why he didn't want Bishop to cross through. "You first."

Damian leveled a stare at him that would curdle most people's insides. Bishop wasn't most people. "Fine." He strode out onto the first link, not even lifting his arms for balance. Bishop had to admit the Guardian had courage. Or he was just stubborn and wanted to show off for Sid.

"You next, Not Yet a Guardian." He offered his hand. "I'll be right behind you, to keep you safe."

Sid looked at his hand and her lips twisted as if she'd bitten into a lemon, then walked passed him and onto the chain, following close behind Damian's methodical footsteps.

Maybe he had been wrong about her, read the signs wrong. Or he'd have to change tactics on how he addressed her. That had to be it--something distasteful had come out of his mouth. No more pointing out her weaknesses. He'd try that.

The chain's heartbeat vibrated under Bishop's feet, quickening as he traversed it. The thing loved him. If he asked nicely, he could probably convince it to knock Damian off. Take care of him first.

Unfortunately, that would likely turn Sid against him. And if she wasn't a full Guardian yet, it might prove difficult once they reached the other side. No, he needed Damian. He'd just have to be extra careful. And like Sid had said, hold on tight.

They all crossed safely without a tiny rumble from the chain. Sid's body relaxed when she looked up at the gate. No matter how she had acted, clearly she had been terrified to venture onto the links again.

He wondered if she felt the same pull that he did. And here, right in front of the portal with Nexus scrawled in ancient script at its pinnacle, the yearning enveloped him, as thick as the fog they had passed through. For once, he could fulfill that desire.

Bishop walked up to the gate and stroked the arch, the magic twirling around his finger and winding up his arm. Oh, how wonderful it would feel to open it, to experience its full power coursing through him.

Damian yelped.

"You think you own the gate now?" He should have shoved the Guardian off of the chain.

"No. But old habits die hard." Damian placed the lantern in the well beneath the arch. "When you've been taught to touch a portal is the worst punishable action, even greater than murder, seeing someone touch it evokes a certain response."

A law forbidding people to touch the gates. What had happened to cause the Guardians to act so drastically? Bishop knew there were other worlds out there aside from Turss and Nect, but he had never imagined the Guardians had ceased to visit all those worlds. Can't plunder if you remain on your own ship.

"Take us home, Bishop," Sid said. Her voice was quiet, almost a whisper, as if all the energy had been sapped out of her.

"As you wish." He removed the unicorn hairs from his pocket and twined them around the lantern. Then he flicked it on, the light casting ominous shadows around the portal. He had made the correct choice, right? Those shadows looked as if they would leap up and sink their teeth into him.

All in his head. This was what he'd wanted ever since he first laid eyes on the gate. And it would be grand to go to Nect and return a hero. He had turned the phone off immediately after pressing send, tucking it back under his pillow. To risk detection from Damian and Sid, that's what he'd told himself.

But he knew he didn't want to see the response, to possibly see the order to stand down and hand over the Guardians and book to the Sect. They wouldn't take away his glory, or his chance to open the gate.

"Everything alright?" Sid asked.

Bishop jolted out of his thoughts, realizing he stood there with his hand on the lantern switch. "Yes, fine." He turned to her. "A hair pin, please?"

She handed one over.

"Give me some space while I do this."

They both backed up. "Just don't hit me on the head with the book," Damian said.

"What?" But when he glanced at them and saw the intensity of Sid's glare at Damian, he realized the statement was clearly a jab at her. That must have been how he had gotten the dried blood in his hairline. What he would have given to know exactly what events unfolded to lead to their arrival in Turss.

Bishop shook his head and put the two of them out of his mind. He needed to concentrate, no distractions or interruptions, or this spell wouldn't take hold, and the poor portal would weep and moan at him more than it already did.

First, he wet his fingers with spit and turned a small amount of dirt into mud. With this, he wrote the symbol for Nexus on the outside of the lantern, making the shadows it cast look even stranger.

Then he knelt and carefully drew the words in the dirt right before the gate, each stroke perfect. With the correct completion of each word, he felt a jolt at the tips of his fingers through the pin. The power of the magic made him giddy, but he needed to keep his emotions in check, or it would all fall flat. And if it did, that loss of magic right when he was on the edge of glory would rip his heart out.

The final stroke, and the pin in his hand trembled.

Yes, done.

Now to solidify the script. This had to be perfect as well. He squeezed the book under his arm, hoping he could handle the onslaught of magic as he completed the spell. A spell that only Guardians had been allowed to cast until now. Did the two behind him realize that? Damian would have a stroke if he knew he allowed another rule to be broken.

No matter.

He stood, careful not to mar the words he'd just painstakingly etched in the ground. "A single chain connects to the next world. And that world pulls all chains toward it." As he spoke the words, the gate's song grew, a beautiful aria, a long note crescendoing, waiting for the next. "Turss beckons, forever an appendage, a part of the whole."

The next note hit a pitch so high that he thought his ears bled, but when he touched one, there was nothing there. If he wanted peaceful music, he had to finish. Not as if he knew much about peace, though. Not in Turss.

"The life of one world feeds the life of all. But the life of the one I call to must flourish, lest all the other worlds die." The note pierced his brain and the portal begged him to finish it, to end its pain, push it over the edge. One more word. "Nexus."

And the gate's song struck ecstasy. The ground rumbled beneath Bishop's feet, a wall of magic slamming into him, both things causing him to stumble backward. A small swirl of fire started in the center, then expanded until it reached the edges, a glorious whirlwind.

He wanted to feel this power forever, to bathe in its flow, its pounding against his body.

But he knew that wasn't possible, not if he still planned to become a hero. The portal couldn't remain open forever, though it was the one thing he was taught to do, to desire. Someone had to pass through, from either side. And when that happened, it would close, and the magic would be gone.

"Time to go," Damian said, approaching Bishop.

No, a moment longer. He wanted to bask in the power. Did this stupid Guardian not feel it? Or maybe he just didn't care.

Damian offered Bishop his hand. "We need to be connected."

Bishop's goal and immediate danger snapped back into his mind, pushing away the magic he'd happily drown in if he was allowed to. He needed to hold onto Sid, not this fool, but he found himself accepting the offered hand. Let this Guardian try to kill him. "May we all pass through the fire unscathed."

For a long minute, Damian met his gaze. Something deep in his eyes seemed to falter, a quick pulling together of his eyebrows, wrinkling the spot between them. So brief that when it was gone, Bishop wasn't sure if he'd actually seen it or not. "You first, Obsidian." Damian grabbed her hand when it looked like she was about to protest. "We need to go before someone on the other side notices the gate is open."

Sid sighed, retrieved the pin from Bishop, tucking it into a pocket inside her cloak, then walked toward the swirling flames.

They all followed, links, just like the chain.

Bishop whipped his head around for one last glance of his fog covered world. "I'll be back," he muttered. Then held tight as he plunged into the fire.

The sudden cold shocked him, his instant reaction loosening his hold on Damian. That was it, the Guardian would take advantage of this misstep, and Bishop would be lost in this wintry in between forever.

Instead, Damian squeezed tighter, his fingernails digging into Bishop's flesh.

And then the cold subsided, only the normal feel of night air touched his skin. Now, Damian released him. They were all safe on the other side.

Bishop watched the Guardian, who was looking around and above, then bending over to touch the ground. Either Damian had changed his mind about releasing Bishop or Sid had lied to him. He wasn't sure why the former would be true--an added mystery to the last couple of hours of new experiences.

But if it was the latter, it was possible Sid had tried to fool him, to get him to think she was enamored with him. Clearly he needed to reconsider the possible machinations going on inside her head. He'd assumed she was harmless. With the magic flowing inside of her though, there could be a lot more to her than he realized.

Speaking of magic, he turned to the gate, watching the swirling fire dissipate down to nothing.

That's all he could do, though, was watch. He felt nothing. Not even a hint of power.

And once the portal completely closed, all it was to him was a stone arch--it didn't call to him like it had in his world. Not a single note. The song had ended.

That loss raked Bishop's chest. He looked up at the script over the gate, the one that clearly said Turss, and he wondered if losing the call of the magic was worth becoming a hero.

* * * * *

Chapter 19

NaNo 2015 Results

I figured I'd post one update at least. I had wanted to do more, but too many other things seemed to take precedence.

Anyway, NaNoWriMo 2015 is now over. Amazingly, I didn't come down with my usual NaNo Cold (maybe getting sick so much the couple of months before had something to do with it). And nothing major stopped me in my tracks. I definitely realized early on, though, that 50k was not going to happen with a toddler at my heels. I figured that would be the case. Heck, I'd rather be napping with her right now, I'm just utterly exhausted.

So, right, no 50k. However, I did reach 20k! I burned through almost 3k yesterday, just so I could hit the 20k mark at least. OK, it's not the hopeful 25k (though it was close), however, it's over 5k more than I ever managed to write for NaNo in previous years. I feel accomplished. And even though I didn't hit 50k, I am not a NaNo Failure. I completed two short stories as well as adding a bunch of words to Chains of Nect.

Of course, the words don't stop flowing because NaNoWriMo is over. Nope. Got to keep chugging along!

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 17

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 16

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 17

Bishop slipped the phone from under his pillow and rested it on the open book where Damian and Sid couldn't see it. They were too wrapped up in the computer and whispering between each other to notice anyhow. He was sure they plotted to make sure he wouldn't come with. The woman might not be a Guardian yet, but she had that air about her.

Well, he'd just have to be one step ahead of them. The book was in his hands now, and he'd make sure it stayed that way. Insurance. They probably had others, but Sid seemed intent on holding onto this one--she wouldn't leave it behind.

It amazed him that they couldn't read the words in this book. The Guardians seemed to have fallen far from the days they had walked the ground of Turss last. He'd help to make sure they fell farther, though.

True, the first half of the book was completely out of reach to him. He had peeked at it as he walked back to the cabin. Likely the text that had gotten them here. He'd piece it all together once they crossed into Nect.

Sid tapped on the computer screen.

Bishop wondered how she'd react if he turned it on. That one, she piqued his curiosity. He hadn't sensed any magic coming from her since she had struggled to keep her grip on the chain. Maybe she didn't even realize what she had inside of her.

The power of the All-Seeing Eye--the one to spawn the Ancients who built the gates. Sadly, the latter were long dead and the former blinded to the tumult of Turss. At least, it seemed that way, since not a lash was fluttered in their direction to help end the war.

It would be amazing if Obsidian truly had the blood of the Ancients flowing through her veins, albeit diluted. Power like that could create great things. And cause horrible destruction.

She turned away from prodding the computer and smiled at him. "Finding what we need?"

Bishop returned the smile. "Oh, yes. It's all quite clear."

He swiped the phone to unlock it once she had returned to her conversation with Damian, then typed in a message: "Portal opened. Two young Guardians came through. Going back with them." Quickly, he hit send. His hand shook as he typed in the next bit. "Prepare a blink and wait for my return at the gate."

Bishop hesitated, his finger hovering over the phone. Finally, he tapped send again, hoping he had chosen the right path.

❦

Sid wouldn't be part of plotting to kill a man. That's what it was--true they didn't know for sure what would happen if lost inside the gate when it closed, but how could it be anything other than death? "I won't do it."

"You have no choice." There was an edge to Damian's voice that she'd never heard before. He'd been so patient with her, even if a little cold. Now though, the words sounded like a demand and a threat rolled into one.

Everything she had thought about him, she never imagined he was a man willing to end someone else's life with such little care. "You're a rotten person."

He drew back. "I'm only . . . I don't have to explain myself to you."

"Problem?" Bishop asked. "Lovers' spat maybe?"

Sid whirled on him. "I assure you there's nothing like that between us. Never."

Damian did her the favor of keeping his mouth shut for once.

"OK, then. Not only are you demanding, but defensive too."

Her heart took up its pounding again. If it kept this up, she'd die of a heart attack in no time. She shouldn't have been so agitated over Bishop's suggestion. It wasn't like she'd considered Damian in such a light, even if she had felt amazingly safe in his arms when he had saved her from the shift or that he had grounded her mind when she had lost it and opened the gate.

But she felt the insane need to make sure Bishop understood that she wasn't interested in Damian.

All these years she had been so focused on finding a way to open her portal, to becoming a Guardian, to reading the text of the book that was no longer in her possession, that she'd avoided the distraction of boys, of falling in love. Now she was stuck in a room with two of them and clearly the maddening thud of her heart thought she had waited too long to explore any such desires.

Stupid heart.

"Shouldn't you be figuring out how to open the gate instead of nosing into our business?" Damian crossed his arms over his chest. "If you want a better chance to survive, to not get caught by the other Guardians in Nect, we need to be quick. Dawn isn't far away."

Bishop tilted his head and his eyebrows drew together. "But night only began a few hours ago."

"We entered the portal only a couple of hours before dawn in Nect." Sid pulled out the chair at the desk and sat. "Unless . . . what if time passes differently there than it does here?"

"Then we all may be doomed," Damian said. "If time moves more quickly there while it drags here, we'll be missed. There's no telling what time, or even what day, it will be when we cross back."

"But if it's the other way around, and it passes more slowly in Nect, we may be able to get back before most of the House wakes." Sid had to hope that was the case. She didn't want to disappear, not like the one person had in her neighboring county back home.

"No way of knowing." Damian grabbed the back of Sid's chair. "Make haste."

Bishop turned pages more quickly. "Alright, alright."

Sid looked up at Damian. "Perhaps they won't miss us at all. Are you required to check in with anyone daily?"

"No."

"What about your parents?"

Damian barked a laugh. "No worries there." Then he looked away, studying the ice box that had started making noise again.

His mother must not have hugged him enough as a child--that must have been why he was willing to entertain ending someone's life. Sid had to find the reasoning behind his actions or she'd lose her mind. Again.

"Here we are," Bishop said. "I think I have all of the required materials. Good thing, too, because it would take at least a week to have someone deliver anything." He tucked the book under his arm and headed for the small kitchen, then rummaged through a cabinet. "Yes. This." He pulled out a strange looking lamp. There was no spot for oil, but it had one of the bulbs similar to what was above their head inside of it.

"What is it?" This world was amazing, and Sid wanted to take everything in during the short time she was here. Part of her even wanted to stay, to explore all the differences between Turss and Nect, and to see what that computer could do.

"Just a lantern." Bishop flicked a switch and it lit up, then turned it off again. "Good. I don't have to replace the batteries." He handed the lantern over to Damian who held it up in front of him as if it were going to burn him.

Sid pulled out the knife and hair pins from her pocket. "Will these be helpful?"

"Ah, the pins, yes. Did you have to write in the dirt as well?"

She nodded. This side didn't seem to need any blood to ignite the magic. Probably a good thing--her arm still hurt where she had cut herself.

Bishop pulled open a drawer and pulled out some fine strings. "Unicorn hair. We're in luck I enjoy gardening. These little things help the flowers flourish."

"Unicorn?" Not only did they have strange humming ice boxes in this world, but creatures she'd only ever heard of in fairy tales as well.

"Your Nect is an odd place if it doesn't have lightbulbs or unicorns." He shoved the hairs in his trouser pocket. "That should be all we need to open the portal. Just let me get a backpack of supplies together before we leave."

As Bishop filled his bag, he made sure to keep the book near him. Sid could have tried to grab it, but she had a feeling he wouldn't let her. So instead, she watched his movements, his arm muscles tensing as he reached up to grab something in his wardrobe. With all the time he claimed he had, he must have stayed fit. It surely wasn't magic that made him able to carry her across the chain with ease.

The chain.

She'd soon have to cross it again. Oh, how she'd rather just sit here and continue watching Bishop instead.

Damian kicked the leg of her chair.

She peered up at him and pursed her lips.

"Sorry."

Doubtful.

"Ready for an adventure." Bishop's grin nearly took over his whole face.

"Are you so nonchalant about risking your own life?" Damian asked.

"Hardly. But when you've been cooped up in this cabin and the general vicinity around it for a few years, you'd be itching to escape it too, no matter the risk."

"Whatever." Damian exited the cabin, lantern held safely away from his body.

Bishop made to follow.

"Wait." Sid had to warn him, even if it meant betraying Damian. Even if the thought of that betrayal stung the corners of her eyes. It shouldn't--what he planned to do was wrong. But she couldn't explain her own reaction.

"Scared of falling from the chain?"

She stood. "No." Well, she was, but that wasn't why she was stalling. Now she was tempted to say nothing since he felt the need to poke at her insecurities. That would be petty, though. "When we go through the portal, hold on tight. Don't let go for anything."

A bemused look skittered across his face, and he leaned in toward her. "I promise. I won't let go of you."

Obsidian felt the heat of his body, and a heat mirroring it blossomed deep inside of her. It took all of her will to stop herself from making some unseemly sound. His reply tumbled around in her mind, which only made the warmth heighten.

This had to stop. She stepped back. "Good. I wouldn't want you to get lost." Then she drifted out of the door with as much decorum as she could muster.

* * * * *

Chapter 18

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 16

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 15

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 16

Damian didn't trust Bishop. And not just a healthy dose of the usual skepticism when dealing with a stranger. No. This man didn't have honorable intentions. He knew it.

And he also didn't like how Obsidian looked at Bishop. She was still her stubborn, demanding self, but he caught glimpses of something else, like awe, or attraction. Nothing better than returning to Nect and leaving this savior of theirs behind. The last thing Obsidian needed was another distraction.

But unless they wanted to spend the time to unravel the script--Damian knew he could, eventually, however they didn't have a year to devote to puzzling out some text--he had to agree to have Bishop come with them.

He could agree, and promptly summon the Council to take Bishop into custody. That would hang himself and Obsidian, though. So, if he brought Damian through, he'd have to hide him. If they passed through at the wrong time, they'd all be in trouble. He didn't think Sid's implication of death was a possibility, but excommunication was a surety.

What a mess.

Time forced Damian's hand. "Fine. You can come with us." And then he'd make sure to send the man back the first chance he got.

"Really?" Sid's eyes widened.

He really needed to take her aside and remind her who the Guardian and who the Dedicant was. Though it probably wouldn't matter. She'd grown too comfortable with challenging him. And he'd allowed it to happen.

He'd allowed all of this to happen. "Yes, really."

"But, how are--?" There she went again, questioning him.

"Let me worry about it." He tried to give her his best respect-me look.

She shrugged and reached for the book.

Bishop pulled it out of her reach. "Splendid. I'll just keep this for now. After all, I'm the one that'll be figuring things out. Best we get out of this tall grass, though. Follow me." He walked off.

"Hey, that's mine," Sid said and stalked after him.

Damian grabbed her arm. "No, it's the Guardians'. You never should have had it in the first place."

She wiggled out of his hold. "All they'll do is burn it."

Of course, she was right. He didn't want that either.

"We better catch up, or we'll lose him." She strode off, aiming for the waving grasses that Bishop had disappeared in.

For a beat, Damian watched her walk away, her hair swaying along with the grass. She hadn't included him in that they. He felt less and less a Guardian the more he followed her into this muck. If he didn't want the book destroyed, how could he wear the title of Guardian without guilt? But being a Guardian was more than the precepts. Wasn't it?

He had to stop this questioning. Only days ago, he had thought he knew exactly what his position was in life, who he was, what he would become, and what he believed in. Now it was all scrambled after meeting Obsidian.

She vanished from view, and he jogged to catch up, hoping Bishop wasn't leading them into some trap. Even though she seemed to trust him, she shouldn't. He'd already tricked them into agreeing to take him with them.

Damian should have figured out a way to say no--should have thought harder to find a way out without this stranger's aid.

Bishop led them to a small cabin, an unassuming wood building surrounded by a brilliant array of flowers. They made rainbow patterns, as if they were carefully placed there. The tall grasses were also cut back to barely nothing. Nature didn't do this.

"So beautiful," Sid said.

Bishop chuckled. "I have a lot of time on my hands."

"Is there anyone else around?" Damian asked. The building seemed too small to house more than one person.

"Nope. Just me. They don't feel it necessary to have more than one person watching the gate, especially since it's been inactive for so long. And most people prefer not to live near the edge of the world." He opened the door and motioned them inside.

All Damian saw from out here was darkness, the night wrapping the little cabin up like a shroud. There could still be a trap in there, more people to capture them, no matter what Bishop said.

Obsidian slipped through the door and into the blackness.

Not hearing any protests from her, he sighed and followed.

Bishop came in and closed the door, then Damian heard a flick. The entire cabin flooded with light so bright that he thought the sun hung from the ceiling. That wasn't gas lighting like they had in the House of Portals. He wanted to look closer, but the brightness stopped him from seeing anything but a round bulb.

"You Guardians are a strange lot," Bishop said. "Never seen a lightbulb before?"

Damian straightened. "Of course." He wasn't sure why he lied, but he felt a fool. This world clearly had advances that Nect didn't.

As expected, the cabin only housed enough for a single person. A messy bed was shoved into one corner, a simple nightstand next to it. Then there was a large, tall chest, much more intricately carved. Several shelves held innumerable books which looked well-read.

But the items on the other side of the large room confused Damian. The oven didn't seem to be operated by gas, just like the light. The icebox was also quite large. And it hummed. Most curious of all though, sitting on a desk next to a closed door was a box with what looked to be a mirror. No, not a mirror--it didn't seem to reflect enough.

Damian officially didn't like this world, about the same amount as he disliked Bishop.

"What's that?" Sid pointed at the strange box.

"A computer."

"A what?"

Bishop smiled. "Nevermind."

Now Obsidian was making them look fools. And Bishop knew it--that annoying grin of his.

Well, even if Damian didn't understand some of the things in this world, he wasn't stupid. All the differences were just another reason to be more cautious. And to find a way out of their agreement. They couldn't take this man back with them.

Sid approached the computer. "But I want to know what it does. We don't have such things in Nect."

"Shocking, since you Guardians stole everything from us." A soft snarl punctuated his statement, then he coughed. "Sorry. You're guests in my home. Where are my manners? A bathroom is through there if you need it." He motioned toward the closed door.

Damian honestly didn't want to see if there were any differences in the bathroom compared to Nect. He'd rather prod more out of Bishop--his facade had dropped for a moment, and there were clearly things bubbling in his mind. A man who hated Guardians. Definitely someone to keep out of the House of Portals.

Sid peeked into the bathroom, curious as ever. All Damian saw over her shoulders before she closed the door again were shiny, white fixtures.

"Well, I must admit Turss is quite interesting from what I've seen so far." She beamed. "And I'm sorry to hear the Guardians were so horrible to your people in the past. It was a long time ago, though. And we aren't going to steal anything. Promise."

The world was not built on promises, but truth. Promises are made to be broken. No one can shatter the truth.

The truth was Damian wanted to steal Bishop's knowledge on how to read the script, then leave him here to collect dust with his computer and hatred.

"Forgive me if I have a hard time trusting the words of a Guardian," Bishop said.

Damian cleared his throat. "She's not a Guardian. Not yet."

That earned a glare from Obsidian. Let her glare.

"Ah." Bishop cracked open the book and stretched out on his bed, ankles crossed. "Make yourself at home while I read through this. Sorry that there's only one chair, but I never have guests, unless you count the occasional delivery person."

Someone who spent most of his time alone with a lot of time to think definitely wasn't to be trusted. Even Guardians couldn't live such a solitary life. It wasn't natural.

Sid studied the computer, and Damian joined her. He leaned in, speaking quietly so Bishop wouldn't hear. "We're not taking him with us."

He had to give her one thing, she knew when not to react surprised. She just continued looking and touching the strange box with the semi-reflective front and whispered as well. "That wouldn't be nice. You said you would. Is a promise nothing to you?"

"I made no promise. And we can't trust him."

"What's to trust? He'll be walking into our world. A den of vipers, that. His neck."

"And if the Council finds him and he fingers us as the ones who brought him in via a portal?"

She sighed. "I see your point, but I still don't like it. Anyway, he has to tell us what we need and what to say. How are we supposed to leave him behind?"

"We need to be linked to all pass through, or the gate will close." He honestly didn't want to say it. There was no telling what would happen if a portal closed when someone was in the middle of it. But it might be the only way to shake this stranger. "Make sure he's last. Then let go as we pass through."

Obsidian's jaw clenched and she tapped the shiny, dark surface with a fingernail. "You know that'll likely kill him."

Damian's stomach churned. He never thought he'd ever consider killing someone. Even this stranger, who he couldn't fully explain not liking, didn't deserve to die, and especially not by his hand.

But Damian didn't know what else to do. He had to protect Obsidian, as well as himself. And all of the gates in the House of Portals. "He did say he was willing to risk his life."

* * * * *

Chapter 17

Dreams in Shadow Snippet

Yes, another release! Dreams in Shadow came out this past Friday. It's the first in a planned 78 short story series called Fortunes of Fate. All the stories will be somehow interconnected, but it won't necessarily be in serial form. There will be lots of different point-of-view characters. Dreams in Shadow can be found for purchase on Amazon and can also be read for free via Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owners' Lending Library.

Interested in a taste of the beginning? Here you go!

❦

Tilly swung her mud-caked bare feet over the edge of the cliff. She enjoyed sitting on the precipice after a long day of playing, watching the purple leaves in the valley below flutter in the wind. It gave her ideas.

And the one that popped into her head that day was a grand one.

The leaves nearby rustled, and a gray cat emerged from the underbrush. It rubbed up against her, smearing its damp nose on her arm.

"Ew," Tilly said.

Ew? the cat voiced in Tilly's mind. You're covered from head to toe in dirt, and you can't stand my wet nose against your skin. Aren't you particular?

"Sorry." Tilly scratched the cat under the chin.

My speaking doesn't alarm you?

Tilly giggled. "A servant once told me a chicken begged for its life before she chopped its head off. This is Fate, after all."

Home.

"Huh?"

Nothing.

Tilly leapt up. "Time to go."

Where, might I ask?

"On an adventure!"

❦

Fortunes of Fate Series

For every card, there's a story.

The three cat sisters, Joslyn, Mia, and Amber, are world-hoppers. They're in search of a world to call home, and they finally find it in Fate.

However, they've grown fond of Earth as well, and they stick their noses into the lives of people from both worlds. From Fools to Magicians, the three cats are witnesses to the stories that unravel.

Dreams in Shadow

Twelve-year-old Tilly is the epitome of a little Fool. The moment she meets Mia, a cat who speaks into her mind, she decides on a whim that it's time for an adventure. Unfortunately, her carefree romp in the world of Fate is cut short by the willful Tillnea, a spoiled brat who won't take no for an answer.

As Tilly's adventure unravels, Mia seeks a way to get them both back on the proper path.

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 15

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 14

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 15

Obsidian screamed when the chain started its rumbling again. Damian had her by the wrist, but he couldn't pull her up--he wasn't strong enough. And if he held onto her much longer, he'd slip off too. He barely had his balance the way it was.

She caught movement off to her right. A man walked along the chain toward them, as if he strode on perfectly flat, stable ground. He reached them and knelt next to Damian, who jolted, almost tumbling head first into the abyss.

The man stretched a hand down to her. "Grab it."

Sid didn't have time to consider who this person might be, what his intentions were. Take his offered help, or die. She definitely didn't want to die--at least not until she finally opened the gate back home.

She strained to swing her loose arm up to him and his hand enveloped hers, a strong grip.

He nodded, then rested his other palm on the chain, muttering something unintelligible under his breath. And then he stroked the link he knelt on as if it were a pet.

The chain stilled, and if it were truly a cat, Sid would have expected it to purr. No purring, though, just that throb in it, like a heartbeat.

Turning to Damian, the man said, "Help me pull her up."

Between the two of them, they dragged Sid back onto the link--the stranger clearly pulling more of the weight. She clung to the metal, or creature, whatever it was, unwilling to let go.

"Careful now," the man said. "Don't injure the chain. I can calm it, but we don't want it to get started again. Let's hurry to the other side."

Oh, how Sid wanted to be on firm ground, not suspended over an unquestionable below. But she couldn't move. "I can't." And Damian was stuck behind her.

The man sighed. "Fine then." He scooped her up like she weighed nothing and glided across the remaining length of chain, depositing her in the tall grasses on the other side.

Damian crawled his way across and to her, placing a hand on her back. "Are you all right?"

She nodded. But she wasn't really. Her fingers and shoulders throbbed from hanging off of the chain so long, and her heart thudded in her chest as if it wanted to compete with the thing she just crossed.

"I'd expect a couple of Guardians to know how to surpass the chain." The man sounded annoyed.

Sid looked up at him, tempted to glare, but that would be rude to someone who just saved her life. He almost seemed as surly as Damian first had when they met.

Then the stranger grinned. And she had thought a smile lit up Damian's face. This man, it changed his sour mood to joy instantly and accentuated his deep brown hair tumbling to his shoulders, brought a shine to the eyes that nearly matched his hair.

Where Damian's features were light, this man's were dark. Even his skin looked as if it had been out in the sun often, soaking up the rays and turning his skin a light brown.

"I'm Bishop, by the way. What brings the Guardians to Turss after so many centuries?"

What, indeed. Some foolish woman who allowed the magic to take control of her, that's what. Surely she couldn't tell him that.

"A mistake," Damian said, standing. He didn't offer a smile in return, and his lips almost curved in a scowl--he needed to work on his manners. At least he didn't directly blame her. Small favors. "And we need to get back before we're missed."

"Then why did you bother crossing the chain?" Bishop's smile vanished when addressing Damian.

Great, not only was she stuck in an unknown world--Turss was what Bishop had called it--unable to get back, but now she had to deal with two men who clearly didn't like each other. Who needed love at first sight when you had hate at first sight?

Not to mention, she didn't want to cross that damned chain again if she could help it. And now she really didn't want Bishop carrying her back across it. Her face flooded with heat from the sudden embarrassment. How could she allow herself to be treated like a helpless child?

Damian looked back across the chain, the gate now hidden by the mist. "We don't know how to get back."

Bishop laughed and scooped up the book at their feet. "You have this, don't you? Got you here, I assume."

Damian glared.

Sid sighed--it was time for her to stop letting Damian deal with this mess she got them into. "We weren't prepared. Something surprised us, forcing us through the portal. We didn't intend to step through. And the script in the part of the book that likely tells us how to get back is unreadable."

"She speaks." The corner of Bishop's mouth twitched.

How she wanted to see that wonderful smile again. Foolish thoughts. The last thing she needed to be thinking about was some stranger's handsome face. Especially one who rescued her as if she were some damsel in distress.

Rescued or not, now he was being mean. Sid pushed herself up from the ground, her legs still trembling. "Excuse me if it took some time for me to catch my breath from nearly falling to my death." She snatched the book out of his hands and paged to the section she assumed would detail this world and the way back, shoving it into his face. "If we could read this, we'd happily be on our way and out of your hair." She felt the urge to run her fingers through said hair. Ugh.

"Is that all?" Bishop plucked the open book out of her hands. "Well, I can read this. Shocked you Guardians can't." He laughed, an intoxicating sound.

Sid's heart, having calmed down some from her near death experience, hammered harder. This man had her completely flustered. Perhaps it was just her recent experiences that had her head thinking stupid things. Yes, that was it--they'd passed through a portal, traversed a living chain, and nearly died. That had to be it.

She sucked in a breath. "Then tell us what it says."

"Wow." Bishop slammed the book shut. "Demanding, isn't she?"

"Welcome to my world," Damian said, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

Scratch that--she'd rather them hate each other, especially if agreeing on something meant they were ganging up on her.

"You enter Turss, where no Guardian has crossed into for centuries." Bishop's face grew darker with each word. "Send a bunch of magic tumbling toward my cabin, disturb the chain connecting the island to the gate, make me rescue your hides from falling to your deaths, don't even offer me your names after I offer you mine, and then demand I tell you what this text says." He barred his teeth, ever so slightly. "I guess the histories weren't far off the mark about the Guardians."

Sid squeaked. She'd gone from thankful he saved her life to completely rude in the matter of seconds.

And when she was about to apologize, Damian beat her to it. "We're sorry," he said. "This is Obsidian. And I'm Damian."

"Sid," she muttered.

Damian rose that eyebrow at her briefly, then returned to talking to Bishop. "Clearly we're a bit shaken at the events that recently unfolded. We'd appreciate your help in getting us back home. Honestly, we never meant to be a bother. We weren't even sure we'd find anybody on this side when crossing over."

Bishop studied both of them for a few minutes. "Eh, a Guardian willing to admit his lack of knowledge. I'll tell you, I didn't expect that." He looked at the book, tracing the script on the cover which now said Nect. "Nexus."

"What? No. It says Nect," Sid said.

"To you maybe. But here, this is the word for Nexus, the script above the portal you just came through."

Interesting. She guessed it made sense, though. All of the gates leading to many different worlds in Nect. He'd probably look at the script above the gate on the other side and say it said Turss instead of Turmoil.

"OK, I'll help you. But on one condition." Now that grin she had hoped to see again looked a bit sinister. "You take me back with you."

Sid glanced at Damian. He'd never agree to that, but they had no choice. The Council would surely know of their mistake if they brought someone back with them. "You risk your life if you come with us," she said. Not to mention her own and Damian's.

"I'll take that chance."

Oh, dear.

* * * * *

Chapter 16

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession - Chapter 14

DISCLAIMER: This is rough draft material. Don't be surprised if you fall into plot holes, trip over inconsistencies, and get hit in the head with direction changes. I've done my best to read through several times before posting, though, to make sure most spelling and grammar errors are corrected. Any constructive comments are welcome for when I revise this novel. Thank you for reading!

All current and previous chapters for Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession can also be found on Wattpad. And for an easy to access list of all chapters that have been posted to Born to Write, please visit the Table of Contents.

A new chapter is planned to be posted to Wattpad every Friday, and that chapter will then be posted on Born to Write on the Wednesday after.

Chapter 13

* * * * *

Chains of Nect: Obsidian's Obsession

Chapter 14

Bishop waited.

That was pretty much his job description. A thankless and lonely one, since his last five predecessors had died having never seen what they waited for. He'd only officially taken over about three years ago, and his mind was already numb.

No one, especially him, ever expected to see the day that his efforts and those before him would succeed. It had been centuries.

Bishop woke with a start, sweat pouring down his face, soaking his sheets.

It couldn't be.

He pushed off his sopped sheets and went outside, the cool night air chilling the sweat on his skin. But it wasn't just the wind. No. The hair on his arms stood on end and electricity tingled up and down his spine.

Magic.

The gate was open. And it called to him more than it ever had before.

He'd visited it many times, feeling the vibrations of magic coursing through the stone arch, breathing in the power, and listening to its pleas to be released. He and his predecessors were chosen because they were especially sensitive to the magic--it was a job requirement.

Unfortunately, he couldn't fulfill the request. No texts existed on how to open it, not from this side. All the wretched Guardians had taken that knowledge with them so long ago, before they closed the gate for good.

The people of Turss hadn't believed the Guardians' threat real, that they'd be back eventually. Those unbelievers were now dust in their graves, and their descendants knew the Guardians had spoke true.

Until now.

Bishop ran inside and grabbed a shirt, pants, and boots to throw on, then went back outside, picking his way carefully through the tall grasses and toward the portal. The magic raced along his skin, sinking into his pores. A rope of power wrapped itself around his waist and tugged him toward the island.

No denying it. Even if he didn't want to succumb to its pull, he had no choice. The magic was that strong. His mind raced on what to do next, once he reached the open portal. He might have to face Guardians. If he did, he'd make sure to take whatever book they had with them. They wouldn't leave him and his people stranded again.

Especially since they had taken from Turss--now it was time Turss took back. Anything to help squelch the war raging since the Guardians had left.

Bishop dreamed of the day he'd rise to the level of hero, saving his world, finally completing a job that so many before him had been unable to complete. Every drip of magic skittering across his skin mixed with his excitement, fueling it.

And then the rope severed just as quickly as it had twined itself around him.

No.

Loss wrenched at his chest. Just a taste, that's all he had gotten. A tease. The true potential of the gate had been released--everything he had waited for, yearned for.

His dreams crumbled. The Eye giveth, and the Eye taketh away.

Either the Guardians who opened the portal had wised up and closed it, or someone had passed through, entering Bishop's world. No way to tell unless he checked.

So, he continued his cautious path toward the chain, his disappointment pounding through his body.

Those miserable Guardians. They'd pay for everything they'd put his people through, pay for kindling the War of Magic and Tech. It was all their fault--false gods with false promises. More like charlatans and thieves.

Shouts echoed from the distance.

Bishop froze. Had to be Guardians who had passed through the gate. No one else existed on this outer edge of Turss aside from himself. And his only visitors were those that delivered supplies once per month. One had stopped by a week out. Plus none of them would go near the portal, which is where the voice came from.

He heard another voice, this one quieter. Then he felt the slight vibrations under his feet. The chain trembled. Stupid Guardians didn't even know how to cross it without its anger descending upon them. He should leave them to their fate, hope the chain knocked them off into oblivion.

No matter how satisfying that would be, he couldn't. If they had a book, he needed to retrieve it.

So, he continued forward until he was close enough to peer through the grasses at the end of the chain. This close to the gate, he felt its call, its pleas. It sobbed to him, sad it was open for only a short time, urging him to ignite it again, to feed its desire.

Bishop took a deep breath and walled himself off from those cries--they would only distract him.

One Guardian hung from the second link out--looked to be a female. And the other, a male, was at the end of the first link, crawling on hands and knees toward her. The chain shook with pain and anger. They must have injured it. Her grip probably still pained it.

Fools.

He'd have to save them, just to get what he needed. A few more steps forward and he saw it--right at the edge of the pit rested the book. Unattended.

Perhaps he didn't need to save them after all.

Bishop crouched and crawled forward, making sure the grasses hid his approach, though they probably wouldn't notice him with their current troubles.

The chain calmed for a moment, which gave enough time for the man to reach the woman. He grabbed her wrist. "I'm not going to leave you. What kind of mentor would I be if I let my dedicant die?"

Dedicant? Bishop studied them, and now that he was close enough to see more detail, he noticed just how young both were. Not the aging Guardians the histories of Turss mentioned, but mere babies. He knew he shouldn't think them as such--he probably wasn't much older than them. By the sounds of it though, as well as the inability to cross the chain properly, these two were ignorant whelps compared to the fearsome and powerful Guardians of lore.

No matter. The book was nearly in his reach. He inched forward a few more feet. Right there.

The chain shook again, and the woman cried out.

A cry so heart-wrenching, that it almost sounded like the gate. Magic burned inside that one.

Bishop glanced at the book, then looked back at the dangling Guardian. Her desperation called to him, just like the portal. Hard to ignore.

He should snatch the book and run, leave them to the depths. But part of him couldn't, part of him wanted to answer her call. He was programmed to respond to such magic.

Not to mention, perhaps if he saved them, he could gain some information. More than what he could glean from the pages of the book. With his training, and their youth, they shouldn't be able to overpower him.

Heck, they could have just been messing around and stumbled into Turss without truly intending to. Perfect prey.

No, he couldn't think of them that way. He hated Guardians as much as he loved Turss, but he couldn't ever bring himself to torture anyone. Especially people who looked so similar to him. All the histories made the Guardians out to be giants, creatures almost human, but not quite.

These two, they could be his cousins. Nothing odd about their features jumped out at him.

What was he doing? Debating the value of saving a couple of Guardians?

The book, that's what was important. As long as it was the text that got them through the gate to begin with, it would surely get him to the other side. Well, the armies of Turss once he handed it over. Now that he thought about it, unless he took more of an active roll, he'd probably become a footnote in the histories, not a hero.

Bishop crawled to the edge of the pit and stood, the book at his feet. Both Guardians were oblivious to his existence, dealing with the throbbing and rattling chain.

Time to make a decision, before it was taken from him by the oblivion below.

* * * * *

Chapter 15