Regius

By Nas Peters

After Solenum’s disappearance, Galax runs away from his home, breaking all the rules, with the intent of finding the one Seer he knows may be able to help him find her; Vervaine. But it will not be easy to get to the Meadows of Serenium when the entire Pallium society and Altor army are hunting him down, unless he can find an ally.

Is Calycanthus strong enough to face the dangers that lie ahead and save Solenum from the Regius dungeons? Can he count on the support of Datura, or has the Death Speaker been left with irreparable damage after the attack of the Regius tracker?

Meanwhile, in quiet Lithium Village, Delph befriends someone unexpected and ends up traveling to Cobalt City where they accidentally run into a Ranger who reveals a little too much about the underground war. As Delph learns what has been kept from him, he is determined to reveal the truth to each and every Civilian in Zinc. But first, he wants to make the Altors pay.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Nas Peters
• Release date: Aug 26, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301569656

Nas Peters

She was born in the Netherlands, 1989. Her mother is French and her father Dutch. At age fourteen she moved to France and became fluent in French, Dutch and English. It's also then that she started to illustrate.Behind every illustration is a story and after experimenting with short stories, it seemed like a logical step to move into the world of Zinc. It took some time, and a lot of planning, but she finally completed her book. Which today are four installments in the Zinc Chronicles.Currently Nas works for a graphic media website and does freelance work. She recently moved away from France and now resides in the UK.

Book preview

The far off sound of footsteps resonating through the long, brick filled alley had Galax's heart racing, but even if this meant the Altor soldiers were closing in on him, he had his fear under control. Cypress had his men working twice as hard, which Galax couldn't fault him. Were he in the District Leader's position, he too would be extra cautious over his territory after a Regius attack.

Galax allowed an annoyed growl to escape his throat when the alley turned out to be a cul de sac. There were so many of those in Cobalt City, it shouldn't have surprised him he'd ended up trapped in one. Either he climbed upwards and risked being spotted by other soldiers, or he broke into the house in front of him. Gritting his teeth, he grabbed the doorknob and could not silence the nagging thought of having had to use his strength more often than usual as he crushed the lock system with only his hand. Flux would not be pleased with how he was behaving at the moment.

Stepping into the small house, Galax gently closed the door behind him all the while scanning the room he found himself in. He noticed a small kitchen in the right corner, a fireplace that served as stove to the left and beside it was a round table where the owners of the house most likely ate their dinner. It had a pile of laundry on it and he noticed that the fire was toned down, nearly dying out.

He moved silently after seeing the small bed on the opposite side of the room with the child sleeping in it. Civilians. He could only count that as a good thing.

Crouching before the fireplace, he grabbed one of the coals that had rolled out of the warm, roaring fire and rubbed it between his hands until they were completely black. His blood didn't allow him to dye his hair successfully, but he could dirty it up and disguise it for at least a little while. Running his hands through his hair, he was glad to see that they were darkening thanks to the coal, but he didn't stop there, continuing to smear some coal dust on his face in hope that the royal mark wouldn't be as visible.

His heart jumped into his throat when the child turned, letting out some sleepy noises and most likely having sensed his presence, but far too deep in slumber to wake. Knowing he had been in the house too long already, Galax stood and picked the neatly folded cloak, likely belonging to the child's father, off the table and wrapped it around his shoulders, neck and hiding the lower part of his face. With all these tweaks, hopefully the soldiers roaming the Cobalt City streets like hawks would mistake him for a Pallium or a Ranger and not feel the need to turn on their Altor vision to do a check up on the color of his heart.

Who was he kidding, they were probably all sporting the vision constantly at the moment. Cypress would have ordered it. Again, Galax couldn't fault the man, he would have done the same thing. But at least he could hope that the attire would have them do a double take, giving him a head start.

Before leaving through the opposite window to a new alley and hopefully not another cul de sac, Galax took one of the chairs from around the table and moved it towards the front door so he could shove it under the handle and have it behave as a make shift lock. You never knew in cities as large as Cobalt. After all, he had broken in.

Silently opening, climbing and closing the small window, Galax breathed in the warm night air while looking left and right to make sure no Altor soldiers were around. So far, so good. When he started walking, he cringed at the sound of the small heels beneath his shoes echoing. The cringe was replaced with a grimace as he lifted his leg and used his Regius strength to tear them off. At the rate he was going, he would soon forget logic and use his strength on everything he could. The many years Flux spent teaching him self-control and breathing methods to tone down his violent reactions would go straight out the window.

While that thought would have halted him before, he only walked faster now, successfully pushing the idea to the back of his mind. He would give in to the nature of the Regius if it could save Solenum.

* * * *

Why he hadn't gone to the Rangers Tavern instantly, Galax didn't know. He should have known he would find the obnoxious pirate there. Isa was either up in the sky, tossing back beer after beer in the tavern or, through recent discoveries, harassing his girlfriend. Isa didn't have the finesse to kidnap Solenum as expertly as it had been done, and while the pirate's devoted interested in Solis made him want to rearrange Isa's face, it also told him that he wouldn't harm her.

Galax knew it had to have been Digitalis or Rhamnus who had taken Solenum. He didn't know why, and for his sanity, he didn't want to know. All he wanted right now was to find his way to the only Seer he knew and have her show him the way to Solis. No matter the cost. But to get to the Coliseum in the Meadows of Serenium, he couldn't take the boat like any normal person would. Flux must have noticed his and Solenum's lack of presence in the garage and warned Cypress about it. If he stepped into Cobalt's harbor, soldiers would take him down and drag him back to Pallium territory.

His adoptive father may believe he and Solenum had run off, ignoring his order of having to stay in the garage, but Galax had made sure to keep them in the loop by writing his sister a note. 'Solenum was kidnapped. I'm going after her', is all it said. No details or else they would be after him in a matter of seconds. He could have included them in the plan to get her back, but they would have kept him locked away for his own safety, fearing Xania and the Regius would get to him. He was not going to sit and wait around while the others tried to find his girlfriend. Or more accurately, he would not sit and listen to them say that Solenum was most likely already dead.

He could guess why the Regius had taken her. They must have somehow found out what she meant to him and he could see the logic in Xania's move. Take Solenum and Galax will follow. He would, but he would do so through some calculated moves and with the help of a power grander than any other power known in Zinc. Vervaine.

Tucking the cloak more securely around his face, Galax stepped inside the Tavern and was instantly washed over by loud music with a dark melody. The place smelled like sweat, smoke and alcohol and due to the lack of space and the many people in it, he felt slightly suffocated. But the atmosphere was joyous. The Rangers were laughing, singing, conversing and arguing enthusiastically, most likely letting one another in on their recent adventures up in the sky.

When Galax stepped into the light, several Rangers stopped in their doings and allowed themselves to scan him over. He knew those were the ones that had needed the trigger and had obtained the Altor vision. But even if his heart was blue and this was normally perceived as danger, these weren't Altors any longer. The Rangers were used to interacting with the Regius, so Galax could only breathe out a sigh of relief when they simply returned to their own business.

He spotted a couple of crew member's belonging to Apnea and Juglan Kish. While the captain himself was not present, he saw Dell McDuffy, Apnea's techie, playing darts with other pirates. Guo Jivan, Apnea's mast monkey, was playing guitar up on the small, wooden stage and then finally Galax's eyes landed on Isa. Juglan's first and heir to Apnea when the Captain deemed it time. If Juglan had chosen Isa, it meant that the pirate had leadership qualities that were worthy of the captain title, which was hard to get since Juglan's standards were high. It also meant that Isa had an I.Q. high enough to man a skyship. Galax knew he was forced to believe it as Juglan's word was law, but he couldn't quite picture Isa being that valuable. After all, their relationship was strained. Even if they'd known each other for years, they'd never gotten along because Isa always had the tendency to remind Galax of his origin. And if it had been salvageable before, due to Isa's driven need to mess with his girlfriend, it definitely was not anymore.

Marching over to the bar where Isa was buying another beer for a cute fellow Ranger, Galax made sure Isa couldn't swallow the last of his drink by grabbing the cup and forcefully planting it back down on the wooden bar. To say the pirate was surprised was an understatement, more so when Galax continued to grab the guy's wrist and used his strength to make sure Isa couldn't break free and was forced to wobble off of his stool and follow him out of the tavern. Galax found it slightly amusing that nobody was surprised Isa had seemingly gotten in trouble again.

Hey! The pirate tugged, but quickly realized Galax wasn't about to let go. Wait till I tell your daddy about your lack of control. Galax rolled his eyes and tossed the guy out of the tavern, glad that the loudness of the music and overall noise of the place drowned out when the door shut behind him.

My behavior is none of your business, Galax growled.

Isa wrinkled his nose, rubbing the wrist that was most likely aching. What crawled up your ass? He paused. And what the fuck are you doing here? You never leave Pallium territory. Isa looked around them, the frown on his face deepening. Where are your bodyguards?

The irritation, frustration, anger and worry that had settled inside of Galax ever since he'd found out Solenum had been kidnapped, momentarily broke free. Letting out a noise of rage, Galax gripped the pirate's collar and shoved him up against the wall that belonged to the tavern.

The sound of your voice is enough to make me want to kill, so if I were you, I'd start using it only when it is truly necessary.

Although Galax could hear that Isa's heart beat had marginally quickened and that the pirate's blood was flowing faster due to slight fear, Isa made sure not to let his discomfort show on his face.

Ah, I see. You've finally figured out that taming the Regius within is impossible, and since I'm the biggest pain in your backside, you went out of your way to find me so you could unleash the cruelty. The pirate grinned. I'm touched, your highness. The lengths you've gone through to finally hurt me the way you've wanted for years is flattering.

Xania had Solenum kidnapped. Galax punched the wall beside Isa's head, swallowing down the pain with ease even though blood seeped out of his scratched knuckles. I'm here because I need you to convince Juglan to ignore his truce and longtime friendship with my father and bring me to the Meadows of Serenium so I can have the Seer help me find her. Isa's eyes had widened at the news of Solenum's situation and the fear that had been pooling inside of the pirate's body before had been replaced with deep concern for Solis.

The Ranger gulped. I- Yeah- He nodded his head frantically. Of course. I'll do everything in my power. Galax breathed a sigh of relief at Isa's promise, suddenly a tad grateful for the pirate's deep interest in his girlfriend. Without it, Isa might not have helped. Are you sure there is still time? Isa edged.

Galax pulled away from the wall, beginning to pace and trying to remember the breathing techniques Flux had taught him when he was but a child to tone down the rage that came with the blue blood.

All I know is that I am not going to sit and wait. Dead or alive, I will find her and I will bring her back to me. Galax directed his fear filled gaze to Isa. If she is dead, I need to know.

The pirate's eyebrows shot away into his hairline. She is your light? Isa was more resourceful than he had believed him to be.

Galax halted in his pacing, giving the pirate a careful nod. She is. And if she is dead, it means that I will follow. He paused. Are you willing to carry some of the responsibility that may or may not be the death of the Regius heir? If it comes to that, you will be tried for treason not only by the Regius, but also the Palliums and the Altors.

Dead or alive, Isa placed a hand on Galax's shoulder, squeezing it. I will help you find her.

* * * *

Chapter 2 – Calycanthus Esquivel

"Conversations"

Keep talking to him, Dandi.

Ivy? Opening my eyes, I hissed and quickly closed them again when all I could take in was a blinding light. I was about to panic, but then I felt soft hands pushing the hair out of my face and gently stroking my cheek.

Dandelion, I breathed in relief.

That's right, sweetie. I'm right here. Everything is okay. Contrary to her words, her voice was concerned and triggered a shot of fear. No! She pushed me back onto what I assumed was a bed when I tried to sit up. I opened my eyes again, this time prepared for the light. My vision was slightly blurry and everything was grey. But I could make out Dandelion and Ivy's figures looming over me and on the opposite end of the room I could make out Ilex and Iris.

What happened? I croaked out, sitting up again, only slowly this time as Dandelion allowed it. I- Remembering some, I touched my neck and winced as I could feel the thin cut Rhamnus had made beneath my fingertips. Did you use that stuff to force me to sleep again? I asked, guessing it was why I felt so groggy. Despite that, I felt intensely healthy and well rested. Although the cut was sensitive, the rest of me had never felt so great before.

Rhamnus triggered you, believing your Seer side would put you to sleep and make it easier for him to kidnap you. I blinked in surprise at the new voice, a voice that I hadn't expected in the Altor Coliseum.

Nudging Dandelion aside, I looked around until my eyes landed on the grey figure of a man. Aram? I hadn't seen him since that day he'd left me with Acacia and Lupinus in the boarding house. What was he doing here?

I'll talk to him, He said to the other Altors present in the room, implying they should leave me and the Elder on our own. Ilex offered a reassuring smile before he closed the door. Feeling a tad concerned, I managed to sit up properly and offer Aram the attention he apparently needed out of me. He walked over to the window, closing the thin curtain so the sunlight streaming through wouldn't be so harsh.

Thank you, I murmured, nodding at him when he mutely asked if it was alright if he sit on the edge of the bed.

After the attack, Ilex had everyone move to the Coliseum due to the influx of raids by the Regius, Aram grunted. Stop blinking, it won't turn it off. You need to relax for your vision to return to normal.

But I am relaxed, I answered stubbornly, trying not to blink at all anymore.

The Elder rolled his eyes. You may feel that way because the trigger balanced out your inner system, making you feel as strong as you've never felt before, but recent events still need to catch up with your brain. Your memory is battling to remember what exactly happened. He paused. What do you remember? I opened my mouth to speak, but fell silent when I realized I could not answer that question without putting some effort into it.

Take your time, Aram said. Nodding my head uncertainly, I tried to slow down my breathing and focus on what had happened before Rhamnus had nicked my skin.

I was sick, I murmured and when the Elder nodded, I allowed myself to dig deeper. Ilex and Datura said I was delirious and said I was part Seer.

Yet... Aram trailed off, beckoning me to find the rest of that memory.

I gulped. Yet I became aggressive during the trigger, which is normal for an Altor soldier, but not for one that is part Seer. Thinking that over, I saw flashes of myself trying to fight Rhamnus. But before that Datura was trying to hide me, or have me escape. Rhamnus burst into the training room before I could leave through the underground tunnel. Looking around the room, I noticed that everything was made out of pale, large stones. It was cold. There was no heating system or fireplace to bring warmth, but someone had covered me with numerous blankets to prevent me from shivering or feeling uncomfortable.

You are in the Coliseum, Aram assured. Juglan has been forced to use the liquid that puts one to sleep time after time over the past week.

I frowned deeply. Why?

Because every time you woke, one of them was forced to give you an answer about what happened to Datura.

No matter how many blankets there was, it couldn't stop the cold now. Where is Datura?

In the Valley of Death, He answered, leaving me confused as I didn't understand why they'd need to put me to sleep after having heard that. He was the Keeper of the Dead. It made sense that he was there. He was slowly dying, and every time someone told you, you turned aggressive again, Aram explained.

But he's okay now, right? I pressed, deciding that I couldn't sit here and have people tell me he was alright when I could simply walk out of here and find out for myself.

He should have died, Calycanthus. I ignored Aram's tone of discomfort entirely.

But he didn't. I remembered everything now. The sickness, the delirium, Datura trying to keep me safe, how I'd almost kissed him...

I have to go to him. Jumping out of the bed, I laughed when color returned to my vision and not even the memory of Rhamnus' face could kill my mood now.

While my origin was still unclear, it was a sure thing that I was more Altor than Seer. And no matter what they said, it couldn't trump the fact that I was having no visions of the past or future. Close contact with people didn't threaten my health like it did Vervaine. Rhamnus may have cut me, but it wasn't much worse than a paper cut and it is that very cut that had ended my sickness. I felt better than ever, more so because Datura was alive and kicking and around another day to confuse the ever living sanity out of me with the mutual and intense attraction we had towards one another. The only thing that could make my happy mood rocket even higher would be if Solenum were to walk into the Coliseum right now.

Clearly you aren't willing to delve into the mystery of his miraculous recovery, Aram said dully, standing and tossing a pair of pants my way when I couldn't find them myself. You may have to wait on his return for a long while. The Palliums were under attack the last couple of days and Datura has to clean up the deadly mess caused by it in the Valley.

I shrugged all the while pulling a shirt over my head. I can wait.

You are not interested in hearing that you carry the blue blood cell and that now you have been triggered you are expected to train to become a soldier? Aram opened the door for me.

I stopped in my tracks to spare him a glance. Don't you have better things to do than lecture me? Like spending time with your daughter?

Who told you? He asked.

Nobody. Vervaine may have her mother's golden eyes, but otherwise she's all you. I patted the Elder on the arm and then rushed out of there before he could change his mind and stop me from delaying my duties towards the Altors.

* * * *

Why can't you just wait for Datura at the Coliseum? Dandelion asked again, rolling over on her sleeping mat for the hundredth time, clearly not happy she was forced to sleep outside. I'd told her I didn't mind waiting by the crack in the earth that led inside the Valley on my own. But with all the attacks that had occurred, everyone was being extra cautious. The fact remained that even if I was now a triggered Altor harboring more strength than a Civilian, I wasn’t fully trained yet. They took turns watching me and bringing me food, all of them asking why I was so hard pressed to wait right here for Datura instead of at the Coliseum, yet none of them forced me to go back.

If you and Jatrop were in the same situation, wouldn't you wait for him right here instead of at the Coliseum? I murmured as I stared up at the stars in the dark blue sky. I understood her discomfort; it was indeed not the best to sleep outside on a mat, but it was worth it.

She grunted, turning again, but this time she pointed her gaze at me. Well, sure, but you and Datura aren't married. She paused. Or in love. She paused again. Right? I smirked at her attempt to subtly nudge answers out of me. She'd been trying this all day.

I'm very impressed with your behavior, Dandelion. I started laughing when she smacked me.

You are one tough nut to crack, Cali! She chuckled with me. Please, to make guarding you less annoying, give me something. When I remained silent, she groaned. Look, I knew something was going on between you two. Him trying to kiss you, you punching him, the obvious sexual tension.

Hey. I frowned. "There isn't that much tension." Just because I'd accepted the attraction I felt towards Datura and was more than willing to give into it, didn't mean Dandelion could be so... crude.

Prude. Now I smacked her. "Okay, fine. I'm just saying that while I knew there was something, I didn't know you felt that strongly about him." She meant my driven need to stay right here.

It was always there, Dandi, I murmured. I just didn't want to admit it.

And now you do, She said. I feel surprised, but I know I shouldn't. The moment Datura saw you in the house, something changed in him.

Really? I whispered shyly, looking into her blue eyes.

She smiled. Yeah. He started living again. Like, he finally figured out that he is a living soul himself, not just a tool to guide the dead. The sigh that escaped her was one of contentment. You are the puzzle piece that makes Datura complete.

Clearing my throat uncomfortably, I looked back up at the sky. Is Aram gone?

Sure, change the subject. Dandelion snickered. Yes, the Elder has left the Coliseum. But you, Jatrop, Datura, Ilex, Caltha and myself will be staying there for a while longer. The Regius have been particularly active these last couple of weeks, and with the interest they seem to have in you, it's better if we all stick together and stand strong.

I nodded in understanding. What about the Palliums? Are they recovering from the attack?

The Pallium Leader reported that the Regius didn't manage to breach security and find the tech room or the Regius heir. I nodded absently at her words, my eyes drawn back to the crack in the earth, checking again to see if there was any change. There wasn't.

Who is guarding me tomorrow? I yawned, moving around to settle myself comfortably for sleep.

Ilex, Dandelion answered. Hey, before you fall asleep. Will you at least tell me why you are so open about your feelings for Datura now?

I sighed, but instead of ignoring her, I decided to answer. It was never about you or the others, Dandelion. My feelings for Datura were in no way stopped because I was afraid of admitting to the public that I am attracted to men. I got over that fear before Ilex brought me here. I smiled as I remembered Sol looking at me in a way that had made it more than clear she wasn't about to let that stop me from falling in love. When something scares or bothers me, I need to think. It's what I do and it's how I function. The entire idea that was Datura was so overwhelming; I had needed time to absorb it all. But then the process had been slowed down because he had made one wrong move by trying to kiss me too early and the others had kept pushing me to explain what I was feeling.

"What were you afraid of?"

Loving someone other than Solenum. Admitting that I need more than just her in my life and that she and I may not want the same things for our futures. I gulped. Lupinus and Acacia's faces flashed through my mind. Admitting that our guardians were right. And of course, feeling as though this place, the Altors, you, Datura- I breathed out shakily. It feels like Ilex brought me home. Everything makes sense here, whereas in Lithium Village, the only thing that made sense to me was Solenum.

"You want to be a soldier," Dandelion said, the smile in her voice was clear.

I do. I want this life because I feel wanted and useful. I've never felt this good about myself as I do now after the trigger. It's like I understand my body, which I didn't before. Datura was guiding me to this point since day one, continuously showing me that it is okay to want things for myself even if Solenum doesn't want the same thing, or isn't here to want things with me.

So Datura represents more than just a love interest. She stated rather than questioned.

He is as much my puzzle piece as I am his.

I felt Dandelion pat my shoulder sympathetically. Then I completely understand why you were terrified to let him in.

* * * *

I gratefully took the cup of tea Ilex handed to me. He'd managed to convince me to at least go on a run with him for an hour in the meadows, and I could honestly say that it had been quite satisfying to work up a sweat and get rid of the excess energy. Now that things made more sense to me and I was willing to let him and the other Altors teach me all they knew, he'd taken advantage and explained a few things.

The extra strength didn't come free. If I didn't train, it could take its toll and return me to the aggressive state I'd been in during the trigger. As though the power