Keeper of Fate #2: The Summer Key

By CS Patra

The Keeper of Fate series continues as our heroes make their way through different towns. Along the way, they make more friends to join their fight. They become fugitives in the land and are trying to stay one step ahead. However, evil is not too far behind and they end finding themselves racing to evade the enemy and keep their world safe. The only thing that can help them is one of the keys from the Keepers of Fate, the Summer Key. Will they be able to survive and find the summer key before it's too late?

• Language: English
• Publisher: CS Patra
• Release date: Nov 21, 2016
• ISBN: 9781370114672

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 #2: The Summer Key

CS Patra

For the fans

Cover by Amygdala Art

Editing by Emma Mack and Fred Crooks

Formatting by exnihilo

Chapter One

It was a cold night in the city of Trinate and most of the folks were now holed up in their homes. The howling wind outside was the only sound that anyone could hear. The few people that were outside didn’t stay there for long. They ran to find shelter from the freezing temperatures and tried to ignore the soldiers that were standing guard outside. These soldiers were from the Empire that was supposed to protect and take care of them. Normally, they would not be in a town like Trinate, but they were after someone. If they had bothered to look in any of the inns, they would have found just who they wanted.

Ciel Delune was now on the run with his boyfriend and girlfriend, Alexis Dune and Krystale Rose. They weren’t just his friends, but his lovers as well. People always asked him to pick one of them, but he couldn’t do that. He loved them both equally and he intended to keep it that way. The three of them had grown up together and they had grown to love each other in the process.

As he worked on his latest inventions, some visors to help fight in battle, he decided to record everything that had happened so far. He had no idea what day it was or how long they had been gone.

My name is Ciel DeLune. I was a student at Varuna University. If you’re listening to this right now, you have found my recordings. I’m trying to put my thoughts together, even though they’re pretty spread apart. I suppose I should start from the beginning. I was at school one night with my two best friends, Krystale Rose and Alexis Dune. Well, they’re not just my friends, they’re my lovers as well. We’ve known each other since childhood. We were hanging around campus one night when soldiers and machines from our Empire attacked the school. My friends and I barely made it out. We were saved by a man named Artis, who told us what was really going on. The Empire was not our friend. It wanted something from us, so it could gain absolute control.

Ciel was careful not to reveal what the Empire truly wanted. He wasn’t ready for the listeners to know about it yet. Since the night of the attack, we’ve been on the run. We’ve been traveling from place to place. Along the way, we’ve made some new friends. Sky Fontana, an underground reporter, is able to get us in and out of any place without anyone knowing. He also has some incredible fighting skills with his fists and feet. Then there’s Dame Rosmarie Senestra, a former knight of Kilkes Castle. She used to work for the Empire until they burned Kilkes Castle down and killed everyone inside, including her family. I’ve never met a swordswoman as honorable or powerful as her. Then there’s Nicola, a girl we know very little about. She was raised in the woods, but has learned to how to survive on her own. She is also an excellent fighter and very loyal to us. Together, we are working to find out just what the Empire wants and we’ll bring them down once and for all.

He stopped recording and went back to his invention. It was a cold night in Trinate and everyone else was bundled up in front of the fire. Ciel, on the other hand, was busy with his latest inventions. He knew the group wouldn’t be too thrilled with the new visors. Rosmarie, in particular, was not very technologically savvy. She had a code of honor and believed that hand-to-hand combat was far more powerful than machines. However, Ciel knew that if she just tried it, she would be impressed.

Ciel! Hey, Ciel! Aren’t you cold over there?

It was Krystale calling out to him. His friends were all having tea and chocolate by the fire. Ciel was feeling cold, but he kept warm by welding. He didn’t want them to worry about him.

Ciel! You’re going to catch a cold! he heard her say.

Ciel! Ciel! Come here! Nicola added. Me give you chocolate!

Ah, forget it, Krys, he heard Alexis say. Ciel’s busy and you know how he gets when he’s got something new to make. Nothing else matters at that point.

Ciel lifted his goggles and turned to the group by the fire. I can hear you, you know.

Then come over here, Sky suggested. Aren’t you lonely?

Not really. I’m trying to finish these visors that’ll help us target the enemies in the dark, he said, holding one of them up. I’ve also got a new invention that I need to work on to help us to move through tougher terrain. I have to finish those.

Rosmarie took one look at the visor and groaned. Ciel, I appreciate you doing this. I really do. However, I feel that technology, helpful as it is, will never be able to replace true honor in combat. She held out her sword to prove her point. Besides, I can nail any enemy in light or dark with my sword. I don’t need extra help.

Ciel’s face fell at that. You could at least try it, Rosmarie. If you don’t like it, then you don’t have to use it. I get what you’re saying, but at least see what I’ve done.

Yeah, go easy on the kid, Sky said. I, for one, am looking forward to trying this out. If it can help with my fighting skills, so be it. He threw a few punches in the air. You never know, Rosmarie. You might actually find it useful.

Me wanna try it! Nicola ran over to Ciel and handed him some of her chocolate. Eat! Eat!

To please her, Ciel bit into some chocolate. Thanks, Nicola. I was feeling a little hungry.

How about some tea? Artis asked, coming from the kitchen. He had a tray of tea for everyone. You’ve been hard at work ever since you came to Trinate. I’m not even sure you took a second to breathe.

That’s Ciel for you, Alex said. He won’t breathe until he’s done.

Ciel took a cup of tea from Artis. Thank you. Tell me, when is the best time to explore Trinate?

Explore Trinate? Rosmarie cut in. This is not a vacation, Ciel. We’re trying to stay one step ahead of the Empire in case you forgot.

How can I forget? It all happened because of me.

He hated to admit it, but it was true. It had all started when Ciel had gotten Krystale a small key from a street peddler. At the time, he didn’t think much about it. After all, he got presents from peddlers all the time. He had bought that for her because he felt that she was being left out. He loved her and Alexis equally, but it was hard to spend time with them. He and Alexis ended up spending more time due to the fact they lived together at Varuna University. That wasn’t the case with Krystale. To make her feel better, Ciel had brought her the key. Krystale was pleased with it, although she was wondering why he picked this of all things.

It turned out to be the wrong thing to get her. No sooner had she gotten the key, their beloved Empire attacked them. No one understood what was going on at first. They couldn’t see why their government that had protected them was now after them. It didn’t take long for them to learn the truth; they wanted Krystale’s key. That key was known as The Winter Key, which was one of the five keys that could alter the fate of the world. Inside each key was a mistress. Each one was named after the seasons and time itself. Whoever could unlock her would be deemed the Keeper of Fate. They would have the ability to do whatever they wanted with the world.

He listened to his recording again to make sure he didn’t leave anything out. So far, he had mentioned everyone important. Along their adventure, the three of them had made some new friends; former knight of Kilkes Castle Rosmarie Senestra, a girl raised in the wild named Nicola, and an underground reporter Sky Fontana. They learned the story of the keys from a man named Artis. He had been the one to find the three of them after their school had been put on lockdown. He put them back together and told them that they needed to get out of Varuna. Now they had a target on their backs and the Empire would do anything to get a hold of the Winter Key. Now both sides were on a race to find the other keys and save the world from doom.

Now they were in the frozen town of Trinate in hopes of locating the Summer Key. This was difficult for everyone to get used to, especially Ciel, Alexis, and Krystale. The three of them had been born and raised in the desert lands of Helias. They were used to warmer climates, so Trinate was something new for them. They were now bundled up and sitting in front of the fire where Ciel was trying to work on his newest project. He knew that the old vehicle they had, the Wanderer, wasn’t going to last very long on these icy roads. He needed something that would have better traction. Another thing he had been hoping for was something that could drill through the frozen slush and ice. However, this drill was going to take some time to make and he knew he was the only one who could do it. The others had offered to help him, but he didn’t know how much they could do. For now, he was going to ask a few of them to go into the junkyard and get him what he wanted.

I’ve made a list, he said, handing it over to Alexis. I want you to go and get me the things that I’ve written and drawn there. They shouldn’t be too hard to find.

Are you sure you’ll be okay back here? Krystale asked. She, Alexis, and Rosmarie were the ones who were headed to the junkyard. Everyone else was to stay behind and help Ciel draw out his blueprint. I’m sure only one of us will be necessary.

No, he’s got a point, Artis said. Those junkyards are very dangerous to go to by yourselves. There are so many slimy creatures and robots that come functional once they notice life. You will be much better if you go as a team. Three of you should be good enough.

I agree, Rosmarie said, holding out her sword. We should be able to take care of any creature that comes our direction. They will not be able to stand a chance against my blade. I will make sure of that!

Then why are we still hanging around? Alexis asked. Let’s get moving!

One thing at a time, Alexis, Sky said. It’s way too dangerous move out in the daytime when there are soldiers guarding this area. You will have better luck moving around at night. You don’t want to draw attention to yourselves while you’re here.

Going to the junkyard is fine, right? Krystale asked.

Oh, yes, I don’t think anyone is going to bother you while you’re there. Be careful, though.

We will. What are you guys going to do while we’re out?

I’m going to finish up my invention, Ciel said. Sky, if you could find a way out of Trinate with no one noticing, that would be the best thing ever. Nicola, you stick with Sky.

Yes. Nicola nodded.

Great, I’m babysitting. Sky sighed. It’s okay, though. I’ll take care of her and we’ll go shopping for some new stuff.

All right, why are we still hanging around here? Rosmarie asked. Let’s go.

The three of them took a quick look outside to make sure the coast was clear before heading out. It was the first time in a while that they had been outside. The sun was bright, but the air was still cold. Artis made sure they were bundled up before sending them out. Although they had no reason to bring their weapons, they took them anyway.

In this world, they didn’t know what they would run into next.

Chapter Two

The junkyard was filled with far too many spare parts. Ciel’s drawings were good, but they couldn’t find anything that looked like them. Rosmarie kept staring at them and rolling her eyes. She didn’t want to sound flippant when it came to technology. It just wasn’t something that she cared that much about. She left machines to the people who could work them. For her, there was no better weapon than the sword.

This is going to be very difficult, she said. I don’t even know what half of these things are supposed to be. How does he expect us to find them?

"Well, we’ll look and see