Cryos & Jade: Whispers: Cryos & Jade, #3

By Luke T Barnett

A kingdom under the strangle-hold of evil. A princess stalked by death. A gargoyle who is far more than he appears.

 

Jade and her gargoyle protector, Cryos, have found another treasure, nearly losing their lives in the process. But as she resumes her role as Princess Beverly of Thoral Island, she notices something is wrong.

 

The people are acting strangely, breathing conspiracy against her. Whispers that only she can hear carry on the wind. Nightmares torture her in her sleep. A dread of darkness closing in on every side plagues her mind. Something is after her.

 

Powerless to protect his mistress, Cryos finds his only choice is to go against Jade's wishes; a choice that will cause him to question who, and what he is.

Through it all, Jade suspects the jade dagger that has been her lifeline may be the very thing seeking to consume her.

 

Can Jade escape what is after her and save her kingdom or will she succumb to the darkness seeking to infect her soul?

 

The third chapter in the Cryos & Jade saga, a short story series by Luke T. Barnett. Get it today and find out that nothing is as it seems.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Luke T Barnett
• Release date: Jul 18, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393131717

Luke T Barnett

Luke T. Barnett grew up playing RPGs (both pen & paper and video game) and watching any fantasy movies he could get his hands on. All those sessions inspired him to write a series based on his gargoyle character Cryos and his favorite RPG class, the rogue. Writing since childhood, he has grown his craft over the years and continues to do so even to this day. He is kept very busy living on the shores of Lake Erie with his awesome, beautiful writer wife, his two story-loving sons, and his dragon-slaying, princess-loving daughter.

Book preview

Whipsers

Cryos, look out!

Cryos leapt off the rock wall and spread his wings. A second later, a pair of claws slammed into the rock, sending debris flying. Cryos collapsed his wings and dove at the creature. The two tumbled down towards the sea, the half-bird creature letting out its ear-piercing screech. Jade pulled a hand away from the wall and attempted to cover both ears.

She should be climbing. She knew that. She could do nothing to help him. But her eyes refused to leave the two as Cryos again spread his wings, caught an air current, and sailed the two of them straight into the side of the cliff. A cloud of dust and debris rose and was swept away by the wind.Echoing roars and screeches were heard as the two traded blows, the creature pinned against the cliff face.

Another shriek sounded, this one much closer. Jade turned to see another of the creatures swooping towards her.

Forgot about that one.

She drew her dagger, wedged it into a crack above her, and leapt up, avoiding the thing’s strike by a hair. Her foot struck out, but it was like striking stone.

That’s because it is, you fool!

A forward claw clamped down on her ankle and pulled. Her dagger came loose and she felt herself falling back. In her fall, she turned and thrust the dagger forward, not caring where it struck. It found home in the center of the thing’s chest,stabbing into the creature as though it were made of flesh. The thing screeched and flailed. Jade wanted to cover her ears, but instead held her grip on the knife, twisting it inside the thing’s stone body. The creature screeched so loudJade squinted at the pain in her ears. Green cracks spread through its body, and the thing finally exploded.

Jade was launched out away from the rock wall, her body spinning.

Sky.Ocean.Wall.Sky.Ocean.Wall.

The landscape tore by her in a dizzying panorama until her feet hit the surface, and she was engulfed in water and pain. Something pulled at her neck, dragging her down. She flailed her arms to reach the surface. But the more she struggled, the more she sank. And then Cryos was there, his thick arm about her waist, pulling her up...up...up.

Jade gasped as her face broke the surface. Her hands gripped Cryos’ wet hide, clawing away from the death that nearly took her yet again.

You’re cheating death.

Even in her panicked state, she could hear that voice, the voice of reason, the voice that told her this life would kill her.

***

Cryos landed in Beverly’s chambers and folded in his wings. The moment her feet touched the floor, she darted for her privacy screen as Cryos moved to his position in the center of the room. She grunted, hurrying to change out of her wet clothes and pull on the dress she was to wear that day.

She emerged and crossed to the wash basin, drying her hair with the towel there.

The amulet, Cryos said.

Beverly looked down at the amulet she had