City of Gold (31 page)

Jade shrugged. “Because that dumb book chose Cody and not me.”

“Wrong! Do you want to know the real reason?” he lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, “
Fear
.”

The King stood. “They were afraid that your enlightened mind would see right through their truthless mask. Afraid their lies and false beliefs could not blind you like everyone else. You saw them for who they really were.”

The Golden King pressed his finger against Jade’s forehead. “Which is why they used the forbidden High Language to tamper with your thoughts.”

Jade grasped her forehead. “What are you talking about? How can they do that?”

“Fear can motivate the most unthinkable acts. The fear of those who accuse them of being monsters can lead one on a path to become the very monster they sought to deny.”

“But I don’t feel anything different,” Jade stammered.

The King traced his long finger across her forehead as he stepped even closer. “That’s the danger of it. I had hoped when we rescued you from Atlantis that it wouldn’t be too late, but the damage was already done. Whatever dark creation technique they used, your brain has been caged in a dark shroud.”

As the King spoke, Hansi reached out and grabbed Jade’s shaking hand.

“Can you help remove it?” she pleaded.

The King looked Jade straight in the eyes. “Yes…but it won’t be pleasant. Is this what you want?” She nodded firmly. The Golden King placed his fingers on the sides of her head. “You may feel a bit of a sting….”

He began whispering in a language unrecognizable to Jade. She flinched as something pinched the back of her neck. Her head felt tight pressure and she grimaced as something began to worm its way toward her brain. She squeezed Hansi’s hand as the sensation burrowed deeper and deeper into her skull.

The Golden King’s ruby eyes burned as he continued to whisper. She felt his words slither over her brain and her head began to quiver. There was a searing pain.

Jade screamed in anguish.

76

The Desire to Kill

THE WALLS BLURRED ON BOTH SIDES as Cody sprinted down the palace corridor. Flying around the corner he collided with two servant girls coming the opposite way. “Sorry!” he called over his shoulder as he continued his mad-dash.

Jade, where are you!
She hadn’t been in her chamber, and by the look of her things, she appeared to have left on short notice. It was unlike Jade to leave things untidy. She had too much of her military father in her.

Cody cleared a lengthy staircase with one soaring leap. Throwing out his arms to regain his balance, he continued to run. On the other side of the room he spied a familiar face; the servant who often assisted Jade. “Wait! Over here!” he shouted as he rushed toward her. She looked to him and the commotion he was causing.

He grabbed her shoulder and spun her around to face him. “Have…you seen…Jade?” Cody asked between heavy breaths.

The girl’s face was full of concern. “I saw her not an hour ago…” she looked both ways before leaning forward, “she’s been taken to the Golden King.” Cody’s heart dropped. The King’s chamber was on the opposite side of the palace. He took off running.

I’m coming, Jade; I won’t lose you again.

Anger…Fear…Jealousy…Glee…Passion…Pride…Happiness…Disappointment…

A carnival of emotions wheeled through Jade’s head. They were like faceless spirits taunting her from the corner of her mind, just out of sight. She heard laughter; it was cruel and mocking. The pressure on her brain increased. She screamed but made no sound.

All of a sudden her father appeared before her as though passing through an invisible cloud. He knelt to his knees and began waving her toward him. His mouth was moving but his words didn’t make any sense. Jade ran toward him as fast as she could but she never seemed to get any closer. He stood. His eyes were sad. Jade screamed at him as he turned away but he didn’t seem to hear her. Then he was gone.

Shame…Guilt…Joy…Envy…Hope…Worry…Desire…Regret…Hatred…

Jade’s body was shaking. Each of her muscles was contracting. Then Cody was in front of her. He looked different somehow, but she knew it was him. He was smiling. There was someone standing beside him. It was Tiana. Cody pulled her toward him and they began to kiss. Jade tried to turn away but her head was locked in place.

Hatred…Revenge…Envy…Hatred…Jealousy…Bitterness…Hatred…

She was so angry. She wanted to punish him. She wanted to kill him.

Then it was over.

Jade collapsed forward in her chair. She grabbed at her throbbing temples. The pain was gone. Sweat trickled off her burning forehead. She raised her tired eyes toward the chamber’s entrance. Standing in the open doorway was Cody. He looked normal again. Jade felt a wave of emotion in her. She was furious at him…but she couldn’t remember why.

“An…
unexpected
surprise,” the Golden King uttered, his eyes fixed firmly on the doorway. “To what do we owe the honor?” Cody was crouched over with his hands on his knees panting for breath. He looked at Jade in relief.

“I…uh…I just wanted to say I’m ready to continue my training in the Books,” he stammered breathlessly. The King’s silent rage drained. It was replaced by a satisfied grin.

“You will not be disappointed…trust me.”

The Golden King’s eyes remained transfixed on the door long after Cody and Jade had scampered away. Hansi waited patiently. He knew better than to interrupt his father’s silent thoughts. He had learnt the hard way as a child.

At last the King pivoted and paced back to his position in front of the large window.

Hansi stepped forward. “Father…?”

Unexpectedly the King began to laugh. The sound sent a chill over Hansi.

“It worked. At long last, it’s
mine
….”

Hansi took a step away. The warmth in the room evaporated. “Father…what are you talking about?” The Golden King turned. His eyes were as cold as tombs.

“
The-Creation-Which-Should-Be-One’s-Own
—I’ve found it.”

77

The Dream Ends

CODY WAS STILL PANTING as he and Jade reached Cody’s chamber. They had not spoken a word. They entered the room and Cody quickly closed the door behind them. He exhaled a deep sigh of relief. “That was too close.”

“What happened?” probed Tiana as she emerged from an unknown hiding spot. Cody glanced to Jade. Her face was damp with sweat. She looked frail and exhausted.

“I don’t know. The Golden King was doing something to her—something terrible. I was able to save her just in time.”

Jade’s face contorted and she shoved Cody. “I don’t need saving!” she shrieked. The next instant she returned to her feeble state, but her eyes were wide with fear. “I don’t know why I said that just now. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean…” Cody wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest.

“It’s time to go. I won’t let him mess with you again. I journeyed from Atlantis to El Dorado to get you out of here. It’s about time I did.” Jade didn’t respond, but Cody felt her slow breathing against his chest.

Cody quickly recapped his experience in the orb monument and in the underworld. “This whole city is one gigantic lie, a big illusion. These people aren’t happy—they’re imprisoned. This city is like one giant house of horrors. We’re not safe here.”

He grabbed Jade’s hands and stared into her deep green eyes. “Jade, I know I don’t always act like it, but you know I care about you more than anyone in the world. You’re my best friend. We might not always agree—but I really need you to trust me on this.”

Jade didn’t blink. After several moments she squeezed Cody’s hands. “Okay, I trust you.”

“Finally!” Tiana blurted, destroying the moment. “So, what do we do now? We need to get out of here. But how?”

“It’s impossible. The Golden King has every part of the city on constant watch. There is zero chance that all three of us could go missing without suspicion. Not to mention Dace and the others still in prison. We need a plan. Everything will need to be perfect—we’ll only get one chance at it. Tallsin told me to await further contact from The Resistance.”

“Can we trust them?” Tiana asked.

Cody took a deep breath. “It’s our only chance. Until then, we must continue on as normal. We continue to play along with the illusion. The King can’t get any clue that we are onto his act. If we slip up it’s over.”

Tiana nodded firmly. “I’ll need to stay in hiding. If the King discovers I’m still alive our cover is blown.”

Cody turned to her. “We still haven’t talked about how you managed to escape the Hunter. Or how you correctly knew that Jade was in danger….” He let the enquiry hang, waiting for Tiana to bite.

Her face hardened. “It doesn’t matter,” she responded sternly. Her fingers drifted to her eyes and she thoughtlessly rubbed her eyelids.

Cody titled his head curiously. “Tiana did you…
see
someone?”

Tiana dropped her hands as though remembering she wasn’t alone. “I said it doesn’t matter. I’m safe. End of story. We need to focus on getting out of this cursed city.”

Cody examined her for another moment before relenting. “Okay.” He made a mental note to ask her again.
Had she seen the eyelid-less man, too?

He looked out the window over the city. “Then we wait…and pray for the impossible.”

78

An Intimate Connection

IT HAD HAPPENED. The worst thing Cody could have imagined. He walked slowly down the long hall, delaying the inevitable, unwanted destination.
Me and my big mouth.
He stopped in front of two large double doors, and stood motionlessly.

The Golden King had summoned him. He had been awakened at the first sign of morning light and informed that the King desired his presence for a training session in the Great Hall—immediately.

Does he know?
The timing seemed too precise.
I was too careless last night saving Jade.
If the King suspected something Cody knew he was dancing on thin glass. Then, completely on their own accord, the two doors inched open, beckoning him to enter.

“You seem…nervous,” the King said, his voice a slithering viper.

Cody felt his heart gaining speed.
Keep your cool.
Stay calm!
He forced his tense shoulders into a shrug. “Just anxious about my training today,” he replied in a wobbly voice.
Relax, Cody, relax!

The King swooped around him, appearing on Cody’s other side. “Then let’s begin. ” The King glided across the room with one smooth motion and stood beside the podium. As always
The Key
sparkled, casting bright colors against the pillars of the Hall. “I think the time has come to do that which has never before been done.” The King grinned. “Let us unite the Books!”

Oh, no
. Cody felt the weight of the Book in his backpack.
Not now!
“I don’t know if I’m ready,” he stammered.

The King strode toward him like a tracking leopard. “No? But you seemed so…
eager
…to continue your training last night. So much so that you burst into my chamber unannounced. Or was I mistaken about the purpose of your visit?”