The Winter Key (Keeper of Fate #1)

By CS Patra

Ruled by the Empire, the world is filled with people, prosperity, and magic. For years, all three things have learned to exist with one another. Peace was in the world and everything was good. No one ever expected a change and they trusted their emperor.

Then one year, Ciel Delune bought a necklace with a key for his girlfriend, Krystale Rose. That would be the beginning of their lengthy adventure. Not soon after this, they are attacked by the Empire and forced to flee the town they live in with their friend, Alexis Dune. It is then they are told of the Empire's true intentions; world domination. There are five gates to unlock and five keys of fate. Whoever gets all five keys and unlocks the gates will become the keeper of fate. They alone will be granted the power to control anything they wish. The key that Ciel gave Krystale was the Winter Key, which can freeze and slow down time. It also holds the Winter Mistress who will grant them any wish they want when she's unlocked. All the keys are hidden in different places and now they need to find them before the Empire does.

Together with the help of some new friends, Ciel, Krystale, and Alexis are headed for the adventure of their lives. Will they be able to survive or will the world fall into the wrong hands?

• Language: English
• Publisher: CS Patra
• Release date: Mar 4, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310607844

CS Patra

Grace Templeton has been writing for a long time and is the author of many series. Her books include the Operation: Genome series, The Reaper's Apprentices series, Cirque Macabre series, The Portman's Creamery Mysteries, Patterns and Parallels series, and the recently added Ghosts of Burning Inn. She currently lives in NC.

Book preview

Keeper of Fate

Book 1: The Winter Key

CS Patra

Also By CS Patra

Taming the Thief

Last Dance of the Roses

The Roses Were Red

The Reaper’s Apprentices

#1 Awakened

#2 The Contracts

The Patterns & Parallels Saga

#1 Hearts Under Ice

#2 Paper Hearts

Ghosts of Burning Inn

#1 Into the Limelight

#2 A Taste of Fame

Cirque Macabre

#1 The Show Must Go On

#2 The Vanishing Act

Cover by Amygdala Art

Edited by radar7

Formatting by sputzie

To those who still believe

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 1

This is the story of how the world came apart and how it was saved. It wasn’t any natural disaster that caused this but rather someone with a lot of power. Everyone wanted to get that power but it fell into the right hands at the right time. In order to properly tell the story, it has to start from the beginning. It has to start with the world as it used to be.

It was a world of magic and people living as one. It was ruled by an Empire that they believed had absolute power over everything. Everyone believed that the Empire was there to protect their well-being. At a young age, people were learning about magic and how to use it. It was now becoming a compulsory class for people to take at school. It didn’t matter if a person had magical abilities or not; they could still learn about magic.

Ciel Delune was one of those students who barely had to do anything and he would still come out on top. He looked like a complete mess but he was a genius on the inside. The rumor was that his mother accidentally dropped him on his head as an infant and he became smarter as a result. Ciel didn’t know the truth but he was sure that wasn’t the case. Some of this stuff just came easy to him. Getting into Varuna University was no problem for him. It was the top university and magic school in the world and he could have filled out his application with his eyes closed.

He took a quick look at himself in the mirror and found the clothes that he wanted to wear. A long sleeved dark blue shirt underneath his black vest. This vest was made of the finest material out there and it was also bulletproof and magic proof. No one could hurt him while he wore it. On his legs were his black jeans with the chain hanging from his hips.

Ciel found the collar on his dresser and snapped that around his neck. His name was stitched on that collar in gold thread. It was almost similar to a collar that would belong on an animal but his didn’t have a name tag on it. It rested right below his Adam’s apple as he finished getting dressed. Today was another one of those days at school. It would take forever and he would be bored in class but he had to go to them. Attendance was a major factor when it came to grades. He already had the top grades and he wasn’t about to let anything slip.

He ran a comb through his dark blue hair. He had dyed it a few months ago, much to the dismay of his family. He didn’t care because it seemed to fit him. No one else had a problem with it. It didn’t hinder his studies in any way. He was still one of the best students in the university and a powerful magician. However, he didn’t like to use magic as much and focused his talents on making weapons and machines instead. He wanted to be a well-known mechanist and inventor one day. So far, he was well on his way.

He looked down at his schedule for the day and saw that it wasn’t a long day for him

10:15-11:10    Black Magic IV

11:25 -12:20    Potions and Poison V

Lunch

1:30-2:25    World History from 1200 to 1750

It was only three classes but he would survive. The history class was something that was required in his field. He needed an art or history elective so he picked that one because Alexis Dune, his best friend and boyfriend, was also in that class. The two of them sat together and had already planned to do their final project with each other. Everyone on campus knew that they were a thing. What some people didn’t know was that there was a third person in this relationship as well. She was their lifelong friend, Krystale Rose, and she was just as much as theirs as they were hers. The three of them had been in a relationship for four years now and they were still going strong.

Since Krystale had been feeling a little left out and blue over her latest grades, he thought about getting her a little gift. He went walking through the town one day and came across a peddler who was giving away jewelry for a low price. Ciel saw one thing that caught his eyes; a thin chain that had a blue key hanging from it. It looked like something that was going to suit her so he picked it. He gave it to her right after she came out of her first exam. She knew she had failed it so the key made her feel a little better.

You and Alexis are far too good to me. She told him, putting the necklace on. Why did you get one with a key though?

It just stood out to me, Krys. No other reason. He said, taking a look at it. I can’t help but feel like it was meant for you.

Well, I think it’s sweet. She gave him a hug. You are very sweet. I need a thicker chain for this though. I’m afraid it’ll snap and I’ll lose this.

That was where the conversation ended and Krystale went off in search of a thicker chain. He didn’t know if she had found one yet but she was definitely keeping that key close to her. She called it her good luck charm and hoped that it would be able to help her pass her classes. Above all else, she needed it for her magic class. That was where her troubles lay and if she could get past it, she would be home free.

Ciel decided to stop thinking about the past and finish dressing up. He shoved his feet into his long combat boots and laced them up. Alexis had already left for his first class so he was alone to take his time getting dressed. He wished at times that Krystale could live with them too but girls weren’t allowed to share dorms with boys. They could visit but they could not sleep over. Ciel was more than willing to bend the rules and let her stay with them. Unfortunately, Alexis was a bit of a worrywart and didn’t want to see either of his lovers suspended over this.

There was a photo on Ciel’s desk that was of the three of them. He was sitting down on a red couch with Krystale resting her head on his left shoulder and Alexis resting his hand on his right thigh. The three of them had taken that picture right before they came to college. They had agreed back then that they would never leave each other. It was true back when they were children and it was true now. When picking schools, they all knew they wanted to come here. If possible, they wanted to live together.

He picked up the photo and looked at all their smiling faces. They were so young even though it wasn’t that long ago. Back then, they had the whole world in front of them. They had been raised together and believed in the Empire to keep them safe. It was what every child out here believed. They were going to these schools because they knew that the Empire would raise them to be good humans one day.

Once outside, he did a few somersaults on the grass and received applause from the audience nearby. He bowed before them and the claps grew even louder. Ciel knew that he could get attention very easily. Men wanted to be him, women wanted him, and neither side could have him. His heart belonged to only two people in the world.

Ciel had many friends throughout the school but his best friends would always be Krystale and Alexis. Those two could keep all his secrets. They were also the best lovers that he had. Most people often asked him to pick one but he couldn’t. Krystale and Alexis were both fantastic in bed and everywhere else they made love. He had the best of both worlds when he was with them. He wasn’t going to settle down anytime soon and when he did, it would be with them. It was always going to be them.

Right now, Krystale was struggling with black magic. She just couldn’t seem to get the spells right no matter how hard she tried. She desperately wanted to be a healer instead since she was good at white magic. However, her family told her that she had to learn black magic or they wouldn’t pay for tuition. The main reason she had gone to Varuna University was because her boyfriends would be there. When they applied for that school, so did she. After being on the wait list for a few months, they finally accepted her. Her family told her that it was fine to go but she had to study black magic. It was just an unfair situation. She had already failed Black Magic I the first time around and was on probation. From the looks of it, it didn’t look like she would pass it this time around either. Even though Ciel and Alexis helped her out, it just didn’t’ seem to sink in or interest her. She just wanted to be a white magician and things would be fine. She would be able to pass her classes with no problem.

I wish I had your brains. She told Ciel. I don’t think this school is for me. I’ve tried my hardest to fit in and I just can’t do it. I don’t fit in with anyone. I just have you and Alexis at my side.

You make it sound like we’re a bad influence.

Not at all. I think I would have gone crazy without you. I only came to this school because you two were going to be here. I didn’t want to be alone. I know I got in because they had room here. It wasn’t for my intelligence.

Krystale, you know you are very smart. You just have intelligence in a different area. Ciel reminded her. If you want to study white magic, you should. You are one of the best healers out there. You could do so much if they allowed you to study that.

That’s the problem. They won’t allow me. They will only pay for school if I study black magic. She hated having this problem. It was an issue she had dealt with before she got into school. At the moment, I’m unable to find a job so I can’t pay for my own schooling. Throw in the fact the Empire is planning to change our school and I’m screwed. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me in the future.

Ciel felt terrible for his girlfriend because her self-esteem had taken a nosedive since she started classes. She struggled to get up sometimes and go to the classroom. When she was there, she couldn’t understand what was happening. The problems were too complex for her. She would understand everything during lectures but when it came to the exams, her mind went blank. He wished that he could sit in the classroom with her and keep her calm while she did her problems. Unfortunately, they were not in the same class. He had already moved up to Black Magic IV while she was still on the first course. That was part of the reason he had given her that new key necklace. Just like she said, he hoped that it would bring her some good luck.

He looked down in his pockets to see how much milpa he had to buy food. It would be enough for him to last the week. Milpa was the currency they used here and it came from the town of Milipen. A drink in the machines was worth 10 milpa, which wasn’t a lot. Right now, Ciel had about 2000 milpa on him and that was enough to get him through the month.

As he walked towards the vending machines to get something to drink, he found his boyfriends over. He recognized him by two things; his auburn hair and his shoes. Alexis had the same pair of boots only his weren’t as dirty as his boyfriend’s. Ciel had scuffed his boots up from kicking walls, doors, and anyone that dared to make fun of Krystale or Alexis. Not only had he been one of the smartest kids in school, he was also one of the toughest. No one would dare to say anything about his lovers if they knew what was good for them. Ciel looked friendly and sweet on the outside and he usually was. It was when it came down to Alexis and Krystale that he became protective. Everyone could see that angry fire being stoked whenever someone looked at Krystale or Alexis the wrong way. God help them if they insulted both. That was when Ciel’s fury was unleashed. It got him in trouble at times but he didn’t care. He lived to defend Krystale and Alexis. In fact, he lived for them.

Ciel saw Alexis bent over by the drink machine so he snuck up and slapped his boyfriend on the behind. Alexis nearly jumped straight to ceiling when he felt the sting against his rear end. Ow! Ow, what the hell?! What did you do that for?!

Good morning, sunshine.

That’s it? That’s all you can say?

Well, what else do you want me to say? It was nighttime, I’d say ‘Good evening’ but it’s not. There’s still a sun out.

Go away! Alexis waved him off. You’re lucky I didn’t have my blade with me.

Oh, come on. We’re not allowed to carry our weapons around on campus anyway. The only places we’re allowed to use them is in training areas.

"All the same, don’t