Burning Skies (65 page)

BOOK: Burning Skies

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dying blood n.
Blood extracted from a mortal or an
ascender
at the point of death. This blood is highly addictive in nature. There is no known treatment for anyone who partakes of dying blood. The results of ingesting dying blood include but are not limited to: increased physical, mental, or preternatural power; a sense of extreme euphoria; a deep sense of well-being; a sense of omnipotence and fearlessness; the taking in of the preternatural powers of the host body; et cetera. If dying blood is not taken on a regular basis, extreme abdominal cramps result without ceasing. Note: Currently there is an antidote not for the addiction to dying blood itself but for the various results of ingesting dying blood. This means that a
death vampire
who drinks dying blood and then partakes of the antidote will not show the usual physical side effects of ingesting dying blood; no whitening or faint bluing of the skin, no beautifying of features, no blackening of the
wings,
et cetera.

folding v.
Slang for “dematerialization,” since some believe that one does not actually dematerialize self or objects but rather one “folds space” to move self or objects from one place to another. There is much scientific debate on this subject since at present neither theory can be proved.

grid n.
The technology used by
Central
that allows for the tracking of
death vampires
primarily at the
Borderlands
on both
Mortal Earth
and Second Earth. Death vampires by nature carry a strong, trackable signal, unlike normal
vampires
.

Guardian of Ascension pr. n.
A prestigious title and rank at present given only to those
Warriors of the Blood
who also serve to guard powerful
ascendiates
during their
rite of ascension
. In millennia past Guardians of Ascension were also those powerful ascenders who offered themselves in unique and powerful service to Second Society.

High Administrator pr. n.
The designation given to a leader of a Second Earth
Territory.

identified sword n.
A sword made by Second Earth metallurgy that has the preternatural capacity to become identified to a single
ascender.
The identification process involves holding the sword by the grip for several continuous seconds. The identification of a sword to a single ascender means that only that person can touch or hold the sword. If anyone tries to take possession other than the owner, that person will die.

Militia Warrior pr. n.
One of hundreds of thousands of warriors who serve Second Earth society as a policing force for the usual civic crimes and as a battling force, in squads only, to fight against the continual depredations of
death vampires
on both
Mortal Earth
and Second Earth.

mind-engagement n.
The ability to penetrate another mind and experience the thoughts and memories of the other person. The ability to receive another mind and allow that person to experience one’s thoughts and memories. These abilities must be present in order to complete the
breh-hedden.

mist n.
A preternatural creation designed to confuse the mind and thereby hide things or people. Most mortals and
ascenders
are unable to see mist. The powerful ascender, however, is capable of seeing mist, which usually appears as an intricate mesh, a cloud, or a web-like covering.

Mortal Earth pr. n
The name for First Earth or the current modern world known simply as earth.

nether-space n.
The unknowable, unmappable regions of space. The space between dimensions is considered nether-space as well as the space found in
the darkening.

preternatural voyeurism n.
The ability to “open a window” with the power of the mind in order to see people and events happening elsewhere in real time. Two of the limits of preternatural voyeurism are: The voyeur must usually know the person or place, and if the voyeur is engaged in
darkening
work, it is very difficult to make use of preternatural voyeurism at the same time.

pretty-boy n.
Slang for
death vampire,
since most death vampires are male.

rite of ascension n.
A three-day period during which time an
ascendiate
contemplates ascending to the next higher dimension.

royle
n.
(Term from an ancient language.) The literal translation is “a benevolent wind.” More loosely translated,
royle
refers to the specific quality of having the capacity to create a state of benevolence, of goodwill, within an entire people or culture.

royle
adj.
(Term from an ancient language.) This term is generally used to describe a specific coloration of
wings:
cream with three narrow bands at the outer tips of the wings when in full span. The bands are always burnished gold, amethyst, and black. Because Luchianne, the first
ascender
and first
vampire,
had this coloration on her wings, anyone, therefore, whose wings matched Luchianne’s is said to have
royle
wings. Having
royle
wings is considered a tremendous gift, holding great promise for the world.

Seer pr. n.
An
ascender
gifted with the preternatural ability to ride the future streams and report on future events.

Seers Fortress pr. n.
Seers
have traditionally been gathered into compounds designed to provide a highly peaceful environment, thereby enhancing the Seer’s ability to ride the future streams. The information gathered at a Seers Fortress benefits the local
High Administrator.
Some believe that the term
fortress
emerged as a protest to the prison-like conditions the Seers often have to endure.

spectacle n.
The name given to events of gigantic proportion that include but are not limited to: trained squadrons of DNA-altered geese, swans, and ducks;
ascenders
with the specialized and dangerous skills of flight performance; intricate and often massive light and fireworks displays; as well as various forms of music.

Supreme High Administrator pr. n.
The ruler of Second Earth. See
High Administrator.

Territory pr. n.
For the purpose of governance, Second Earth is divided up into groups of countries called Territories. Because the total population of Second Earth is only 1 percent of
Mortal Earth,
Territories were established as a simpler means of administering Second Society law. See
High Administrator.

Trough pr. n.
A slang term for a dimensional pathway. See
Borderlands.

Twoling pr. n.
Anyone born on Second Earth is a Twoling.

vampire n.
The natural state of the
ascended
human. Every ascender is a vampire. The qualities of being a vampire include but are not limited to: immortality, the use of fangs to take blood, the use of fangs to release potent chemicals, increased physical power, increased preternatural ability, et cetera. Luchianne created the word
vampire
upon her
ascension
to Second Earth to identify in one word the totality of the changes she experienced upon that ascension. From the first, the taking of blood was viewed as an act of reverence and bonding, not as a means of death. The
Mortal Earth
myths surrounding the word
vampire
for the most part personify the Second Earth
death vampire.

Warriors of the Blood pr. n.
An elite fighting unit of usually seven powerful warriors, each with phenomenal preternatural ability and capable of battling several
death vampires
at any one time.

wings n.
All
ascenders
eventually produce wings from wing-locks.
Wing-lock
is the term used to describe the apertures on the ascender’s back from which the feathers and attending mesh-like superstructure emerge. Mounting wings involves a hormonal rush that some liken to sexual release. Flight is one of the finest experiences of ascended life. Wings can be held in a variety of positions, including but not limited to: full-mount, close-mount, aggressive mount, et cetera. Wings emerge over a period of time from one year to several hundred years. Wings can, but do not always, begin small in one decade, then grow larger in later decades.

St. Martin’s Paperbacks Titles by
Caris Roane

ASCENSION

BURNING SKIES

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

BURNING SKIES

For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

ISBN: 978-0-312-53372-4

St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / May 2011

St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.

eISBN 978-1-4299-8044-9

First St. Martin’s Paperbacks eBook Edition: April 2011

Don’t miss the first novel in this spectacular new series from Caris Roane

ASCENSION

ISBN: 978-0-312-53371-7

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