Chrysalis

By Drew Kientz

Juniper Appleblossom is a drug addict, self-appointed rock star, and unknowingly one of the most powerful Enlightened ever to walk the Earth. After meeting Dr. Tuppence Buckingham at gunpoint, she is dragged into a world of secret societies where people with special abilities jockey for power while holding back threats who prey on mankind.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Kingston Publishing Company
• Release date: Mar 17, 2021
• ISBN: 9781645334842

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Copyright

Chrysalis is a work of fiction. All names, characters, locations, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

CHRYSALIS: A NOVEL

Copyright © 2021 by Drew Kientz

All rights reserved.

Editing by KP Editing

Cover Illustration Line Art by Nolan Ruiz

Cover Illustration Color by Mary Yunting Yu

- www.facebook.com/marribun.art/

Cover Design by KP Designs

- www.kpdesignshop.com

Published by Kingston Publishing Company

- www.kingstonpublishing.com

The uploading, scanning, and distribution of this book in any form or by any means—including but not limited to electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—without the permission of the copyright holder is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized editions of this work, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

Playlist

Dedication

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Extras

Acknowledgements

About the Author

About the Publisher

Playlist

-Juniper’s headphones & ambient music-

Sia – Elastic Heart (Clams Casino remix)

William Davies – All Eyes on Me

Lady GaGa – Born This Way (Country Road version)

Evanescence – Never Go Back (live)

Bear McCreary – Passacaglia

Depeche Mode – Personal Jesus

Alanis Morisette – Eight Easy Steps

The Pixies – Where is My Mind?

Of Monsters and Men – Thousand Eyes

Aerosmith – Seasons of Wither

Sublime – What I Got

Stevie Ray Vaughan – Pride and Joy

The Rolling Stones – Gimme Shelter

The Black Crowes – My Morning Song

Beethoven – Moonlight Sonata

Sneaker Pimps – 6 Underground

Evanescence – What You Want

Metallica – Hero of the Day

Lykke Li – I Never Learn

Karliene – Boudica

Bush – Machinehead

Halsey – Control

Ray Smith – Right Behind You Baby

Dorothy – Raise Hell

Lacuna Coil – To the Edge (live)

The Crystal Method – This is Not a Game

Skylar Grey – Wreak Havoc

Halsey – Gasoline

My Chemical Romance – Welcome to the Black Parade

Shawn James – Through the Valley

Evanescence – The End of the Dream

Fiona Apple – Shadowboxer

Blues Traveler – Hook

Incubus – Warning

Jetta – I’d Love to Change the World

DragonForce – Through the Fire and the Flames

Justin Timberlake – My Love

Halsey – Hurricane

Deep Purple – Smoke on the Water

Cage the Elephant – Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked

Whissell – Old Souls, Young Bodies

James Blake – Retrograde

Fleetwood Mac – Gold Dust Woman

Alessia Carr – Here

Chiasma – Enemy

Halsey – Young God

The Pretty Reckless – Just Tonight

Kehlani – Gangsta

The Black Crowes – Only a Fool

Lindsey Stirling – The Phoenix

Amy Van Roekel – O Death

Dedication

For my wife Ara

Strong alone. Stronger together.

Chapter One

Don’t Out-Dance the Go-Go Dancers

Juniper nearly choked on her wine when Tuppence came strutting back into the pristine and orderly living room, wearing a strapless, mid-thigh length, skin-tight dress that shimmered like diamonds as she moved. She was rocking a pair of black stiletto heels and as she leaned against the wall, she playfully twirled a very long, gleaming silver necklace around her finger. Her platinum blonde hair was perfectly straightened. Her makeup was bold, but not overstated. The mascara especially made her green eyes seem more bright and crystalline than usual. With one eyebrow raised she grinned and asked,

See anything you like?

You clean up real good, Juniper observed, exaggerating her Southern accent for maximum effect. She took a big swig of her bold pinot noir, letting its fruity and spicy bouquet fill her nostrils, then brought Tuppence’s glass to her.

Tuppence held her right hand up high above her head and posed, one hip out, slightly leaned over, complete with her eyes looking up and a quirky smile on her face.

Okay, now it’s a little sickening. You’re too damn pretty. Time for some music, said Juniper.

Juniper held her left hand out, wrist turned up. She made a quick turning motion with her arm and the slim, glossy black bracelet on her wrist beamed a projection of her phone’s screen onto her forearm. She started scrolling through her playlist for some tunes.

You and your gadgets. Seriously Juniper, I could never pull off that whole rock star look you have going on there, Tuppence said as she walked over to the wine rack.

Rock star? Juniper laughed.

Tuppence took a heavy drink of her wine before continuing, Oh come on! The super long, twisty violet hair, the aviator shades, the leather, your boots, piercings! Just everything.

Don’t forget tattoos!

And bloody tattoos!

Juniper looked over Tuppence’s condo. Modern lines, sleek appliances and furniture, complete with choice selections of art; it was everything you’d expect from a successful, young, and quite British doctor. It was immaculate. She respected Tuppence’s game, but it was definitely not her style.

We are kinda complete opposites. I bet you’re a super freak in the sack though, mused Juniper.

Juniper! exclaimed a mortified Tuppence.

The quiet ones always are!

They stared at each other for a moment before they both burst out laughing. Juniper crossed the living room and set her glass down on the gleaming mahogany bar. She turned to face Tuppence and asked in a serious tone, Are you ready to cut loose, Dr. Buckingham?

I’m overdue.

Then follow my lead, said Juniper, giving Tuppence a theatrical stage bow.

The two friends grabbed their handbags and went out the door. When they made their way down to the parking deck Juniper turned to ask Tuppence, Are we taking mine or yours?

We’ll take mine. Tuppence took out her keys from her handbag and pressed a button. A wicked looking pearl white Mercedes-Benz roared to life a few spots down from where they stood.

Juniper’s jaw dropped as she slid her mirrored aviator sunglasses up to her forehead. The Benz was an AMG, which was Mercedes’ high-end performance line. It had an aggressive stance, gorgeous aerodynamic lines, and was a stellar example of German engineering. Tuppence reached over as she walked past and gently closed Juniper’s mouth.

Please don’t drool on the leather, Miss Appleblossom.

When Juniper reverently opened the passenger door to get in she heard a trance-style remix of Sia’s "Elastic Heart already playing through the stereo. The new car smell mixed with hints of lavender. As Tuppence gracefully stepped into the car Juniper asked her, I haven’t heard this remix before. Who did it?"

Clams Casino, I think, Tupp responded as she casually and expertly put her car in gear and got them underway. She glanced over at Juniper and couldn’t help but laugh. You’re staring.

Tuppence didn’t live very far from downtown but they did have time to chat before arriving.

S-sorry. I just- you know- well I mean…

Well spit it out, Juni. Tuppence applied a little more gas and easily overtook some cars lagging behind the herd.

"I had no idea you had this whole, you know, side to you."

Oh, I’m multi-faceted, Juniper.

When I first saw you, I mean, I just didn’t know.

Are you referring to when we first met? When you drew a bloody gun and tried to mug me?

Juniper didn’t respond and stared silently out the window. After a moment, she quietly said, I’m really sorry about that, Tuppence.

Tuppence reached over with her gear hand and gave Juniper a little shake before she said, Hey! It’s okay! We’re working through it. We Enlightened have to stick together. There aren’t many of us out there you know.

Why do you call us that? Juniper asked. It sounds so pretentious.

Because we’ve achieved a higher level of human consciousness, answered Tuppence, as if this was as obvious as the color of the sky.

Juniper looked over at Tuppence for a moment before gesturing at herself and sarcastically asking, Do I look like a girl who’s achieved a higher level of human consciousness?

There are different levels of achievement, smiled Tuppence.

That right there, are you just making this up as you go along?

Of course not. What do you want to know?

First off, can I smoke?

Tuppence knew she couldn’t expect Juniper to go cold turkey on everything so she agreed before adding, …but I swear, if you burn anything it’s your ass.

Juniper fished out a cigarette from her leather jacket, pushed a button to roll the window down some and asked, Got a light?

Uh, no, they stopped…

No matter. I got this. Juniper held her fingertip to her cigarette and focused for a brief moment. The tip of her finger glowed cherry-red and plumes of smoke were being exhaled from her nostrils right after.

Wait, what was that? asked Tuppence.

You’re seeing my Enlightenment in all its glory, Juniper laughed. I can light very small, flammable objects on fire. Real ‘next-level’ shit right there.

Oh no no no, Juniper. You’re holding out on me. You broke out of my telekinesis when we first met like you were snapping a tree branch. No one has ever done that to me. No one. Tuppence used her gear hand to point out the last two words for emphasis.

I don’t know. I was really scared. It was like I could feel it somehow… where it was. I don’t know how to describe it. What all can you do, anyways? I’m presuming you can do more than toss would-be druggie muggers around.

Well, I’m a Sanamancer, meaning I can heal people by regenerating their lost tissue and cells. I can sense rhythms in bio-electricity. It’s like a patient’s, well, a person’s body can communicate with me. I do understand why you have a hard time describing what you did the other night. For me so much of it is intuitive, and I get stronger and more proficient with it the more I use it.

Jesus, Juniper marveled.

Well he most likely was a lot of things.

No. Wait. What? I didn’t mean the Son of God. Or as I call him, ‘the late JC’.

Tuppence laughed at Juniper before continuing, the telekinesis developed out of my healing abilities. Part of what makes it work is making the body do what I want on a cellular level. Molecular, sometimes, even. I began to realize shortly after I learned Empathic Transfer that I can affect the very environment around me.

Empathic- what?

Empathic Transfer. It’s when I take someone’s wounds onto myself.

Why the hell would you do that?

It’s much easier to heal myself than someone else.

Oh. Does it hurt?

Tuppence’s smile faded a bit. Yes.

Juniper tapped a bit of ash off out of the window. So, you being a doctor and all. How does that work?

Very well, I’ve found.

I mean how can you do the things you do and no one notice? If people knew what you could do, people from all over the state, the country, hell the world even, would flock to you. Speaking of messianic figures…

Well that’s just it, isn’t it? I’m just one woman, Juniper. I have my limits. We, I should say, have our limits.

Oh, right, I know if people knew I could light cigarettes with my finger I’d never be able to go to a club or a bar again without being hassled.

There’s more to you than just that. I know this. Tuppence tapped her forehead.

What, like mind reading?

Mm hmm.

Bullshit.

Okay so clear thoughts don’t come through very often but I can usually tell what someone’s intentions are before they actually say or do them. I can see what someone is dreaming. Even go into their dreams. That is an ability I’m far more proficient at.

I’m assuming there’s a fancy term for this too.

Yes. Oneiromancy.

Take this next left. Juniper was feeling a bit overwhelmed. Intimidated, even. A new question dawned on her, How did you learn all this, Tuppence?

The basics I learned myself. The rest I learned from my Order.

What’s that?

Aren’t you a curious one tonight? Tuppence observed.

I’ve been living my entire life thinking I’m the only freak out here and come to find the world is full of them. And you’re suggesting that there’s whole organizations of them? And that whole line about Christ? That rocked my world.

I was only teasing. But you never know. Your world is about to get a lot bigger. Um, where should I park?

They were approaching the club. It was already hopping and the line out front was trailing a little way down the sidewalk. A big, flashing,  LED sign surrounded by squiggly lines out front proclaimed the name of this place "Aftershock".

Just park right out front, Juniper said as she checked her appearance in the vanity mirror before closing it and slipping down her sunglasses back over her eyes. She grinned at Tuppence and said, "Your world is about to get a lot bigger." There was already a valet walking towards the driver’s side as Tuppence pulled right up near the front door.

Juniper stepped out of the car and raised her arms as if to say, "Look at me, I have arrived," and strolled up to the bouncers. The biggest one, who almost certainly played football at some point of his life, was a towering behemoth of a man. He was clean shaven, bald-headed, and once you got over the sheer size of him, you could notice he could pass for handsome. His features were enhanced by the crisp, navy blue suit he wore.

He smiled and rumbled at Juniper, "Hey there, J! God damn. Who is that?" Tuppence had just stepped out of her car, tipped the valet, and was walking towards them like a runway model. She looked positively dazzling with her dress catching all the nightlight and sparkling like a diamond. All the men in line, and a few of the women, were outright staring.

Oh her? My date. Say ‘hello’ to Mike, Tuppence.

Tuppence beamed radiantly and nodded, Hello!

Mike the Bouncer stammered something and quickly reached to open the door.

No fights tonight, J, warned Mike.

That S.O.B. had it coming, Mike. Love ya! Juniper waved as she led Tuppence inside.

Fighting? Really, Juniper? Tuppence asked, her British accent getting heavier since she was having to speak up over the music in the blacked-out hallway leading to the main door.

I was just defending a friend. I don’t pick the fight…usually.

Usually? Tuppence was alarmed. What kind of place is this, Juniper?

"My kind of place! And you look fucking gorgeous, Doctor Buckingham! First, drinks to loosen up, then dancing. I own this place, hot stuff." Juniper impulsively grabbed Tuppence by the shoulders and kissed her on the cheek. She then looped her arm with Tuppence and guided her through the rest of the darkened entryway, entering the main floor of club Aftershock like she did, in fact, own the place.

There were actually two floors to Aftershock, the main one having no less than three bars completely covered in inlaid faerie lights that flashed in time with the bass from whatever song was playing (at the moment, as if on cue, was William Davies’ "All Eyes on Me"). The real technological wonder of the place was that the entire floor and walls were a massive network of television monitors all synchronized to display all manner of special effects. The entire room was covered in artificial flames. Projectors matched this effect on the ceiling. The smell of hot bodies, countless open containers of booze, and marijuana filled the air.

In one corner, there were two rows of pool tables. Alcoves lined all the walls, where people could escape with their friends to sit and eat, drink, have a conversation that wasn’t completely drowned out by music, or just simply catch their breath. Tuppence’s ears were currently under assault from the wall of sound. Hell, she could feel the bass in her heart, but where was it coming from, she wondered.

As Juniper maneuvered them through the throng of people to the first bar, they were stopped at least a dozen times by people all wanting to say hello. For Tuppence the names quickly became impossible to remember or hear correctly, but she smiled and gave it her best go anyways. A few people leaned over to shout something in Juniper’s ear. Juniper would respond by signaling various hand gestures. When whatever business was concluded she’d give them a fist bump and they would continue on through the crowd. Once they reached the bar Juniper signaled the barista with a kind of swirly motion using her index finger then held up two fingers.

What did you get us? shouted Tuppence.

Hurricanes, Juniper answered. She turned around and leaned back against the bar.

This place is really cool! I didn’t know Little Rock had anywhere like this.

Yeah! It’s nice, right? Juniper was getting another cigarette from her jacket.

Were all those people your friends?

Uh, no. Juniper found a more traditional method of lighting up: a pack of matches from the bar. As she struck the match and lit up her cigarette, she noticed Tuppence was still staring her down, waiting for a better answer. Not all of them. More staring. What’s with the twenty questions if you can read minds?

Like I said it’s kind of hit or miss. Plus, it’s so loud in here I can barely hear my own thoughts. Juniper, I’m not trying to pry, I was just wondering who all those people were. That’s all. Her open expression and smile had a way of disarming Juniper. Just as Juniper opened her mouth to answer she noticed the bartender, Dazzle, was coming with their drinks.

Dazzle was her stage name at work. It was just Dorothy in the real world. She was wearing a Club Aftershock t-shirt that had rippling soundwave designs all over it that were illuminated by black lights hidden behind the bar. Her arms were covered in full sleeve tattoos that also had fluorescent ink glowing from the black lights. She had her hair in a pixie cut with gel to spike it up in the back, giving it the appearance of a mini peacock crest on her head. Throw in a few eyebrow rings and a septum nose piercing and she was busy to look at.  As she set down their cocktails, Dazzle said, That’ll be twenty bucks, J.

Juniper nodded, grabbed some cash from her jacket and slapped hands with Dazzle, quickly and discreetly sliding an extra bill in exchange for a couple of extremely potent hydromorphone tablets. She looked down and away for a quick moment, making a show of putting her money away. As she did so she popped both of the tiny white pills in her mouth, chewed them for a couple of seconds, and swallowed. What a waste, she thought, those would have been fantastic in my rig.

She had promised Tuppence no more heroin and those kinds of needles. She never said anything about pills though. These on top of the wine from Tuppence’s place with a drink or five from here and she should start feeling as right as rain in about a half hour or so.

I could have paid for these drinks, Juniper, Tuppence said, leaning in closer so she could be heard.

My treat! Cheers, good doctor, Juniper beamed at Tuppence as they gently tapped their tall glasses together. They both took heavy sips. The hurricane’s concoction of seven different types of liquor masked by various fruity beverages caused Juniper to moan in the back of her throat. Tuppence immediately coughed and fanned her face.

Juniper laughed and said, My bad, my bad. Dazzle, she gestured with her thumb over her shoulder at the glowing bartender, knows to make ‘em strong for me.

I’m going to be radioactive in the morning, Tuppence said. Just as Juniper was about to say something, Tuppence damn near killed the rest of her drink in one long pull.

Juniper grinned and asked, Did they teach you that at med school?

Undergrad, sure. Oh my god, Juniper, I have been to a party before. Don’t look so amused.

Juniper held her hands open in front of her towards Tuppence and said, Look out! We have a badass over here! Well, not to be outdone… she grabbed her drink and matched Tuppence. She embraced the pleasant burn like a good little alkie and leaned far back, guzzling the potent cocktail until there was nothing but ice cubes clacking against her teeth. "Whew! Damn, those are stronger than usual. Yum. Okay, dance time!"

She took Tuppence’s hand and started to pull her away from the bar. Tuppence quickly finished off her drink and leaned over to set the glass on the bar. They made their way through the crowd, Juniper leading and guiding them through like a serpent. All at once the crowd opened up and Tuppence finally saw where the music was coming from. There was a huge opening in the floor surrounded by railings that revealed a huge dance floor absolutely packed with people in the basement underneath them. There was an open-air booth slightly elevated a few steps up like an oversized preacher’s podium with the DJ’s intricate spread of equipment lit up like a Christmas tree.

There were several female go-go dancers wearing tiny club Aftershock bikinis who were covered in fluorescent black light ink in all manner of bright colors and designs. Tuppence didn’t recognize the song but it was a fast tempo beat that was rising to a crescendo. The crowd underneath and above raised their hands to the ceiling and jumped up and down in rhythm, the DJ egging them on by waving one of his hands.     

All at once the DJ hit the trap section of the song and dropped the bass, hard. At that very instant, all the monitors displayed virtual sound waves and cracking glass as a small man made earthquake shook through the entire building. The crowd went nuts. Bloody hell, Tuppence breathed. She found out why the place was called Aftershock.

Juniper led them to the stairs nearby that took them down. All around the dance floor there were more alcoves and narrow hallways leading to different sections of the club. It was noticeably darker downstairs and fog machines were pouring sweet-smelling smoke across the floor from hidden spots in the walls. The industrial-strength air conditioning was blasting cool air to keep the masses of bodies from overheating too much. When they passed by one of the larger alcoves, Tuppence saw that there were people sitting on stools that were shaped like big glowing orbs. After maneuvering through the outskirts of the main crowd Juniper looked back and shouted, Let’s do this! Into the fray they went.

Juniper was in her element and after about fifteen minutes or so of dancing, jumping, and cheering, the painkillers she bought from Dazzle were kicking in. Any negative thoughts she had melted away and an overall sense of well-being, covered with her own personal euphoria and topped with unfiltered bliss set in. For a long while she would switch from dancing with Tuppence to random guys that would appear from the clusters of moving human bodies. She’d occasionally glance at Tuppence just to see where she was and how she was holding up but any concern for her friend began to evaporate as the six or seven shots from her cocktail earlier entered her bloodstream. The dank mix of a hundred different colognes, perfumes, and body odors blended erotically together to make a scent that Juniper recognized as the beginning of one hell of a party.

At some point, she had worked her way to the edge of the stage. A couple of guys hooting at one of the go-go dancers kept trying to get her attention. Eventually she opened her eyes all the way and shouted, What?! They mouthed something at her and pointed up. The dancer wanted Juniper to get up on stage with her.

This should be fun, she thought. The special effects monitors in the floor and the wall had storm effects going on, complete with massive rumbles of thunder and lightning erupting from the many speakers, amps, and subwoofers installed throughout the club. When the dancer pulled her up on stage, the rush of cool air from being out of the small sea of humanity invigorated her. The DJ pressed a few buttons and green lasers shot everywhere in time with the music. The crowd looking down from above and from all around cheered.

One of the other scantily clad go-go dancers made her way over from the edge of the stage and was doing some especially aggressive ass-shaking. I dub thee, Fishnets and Skank 1, Juniper thought. She was just starting to settle back in to her groove again with Fishnets grinding against her from the front and Skank 1 slapping her ass from behind when she felt a hand dip into her back-left pocket for one of her stashes.       

As her adrenaline surged and her temper boiled over, she felt something new course through her. Her very skin felt like it was trying to split apart. It took a lot to get her this furious. Even when she was in your run-of-the-mill bar fight she managed to keep a modicum of cool and stay collected. Not this time. She whipped around and led with her fist. Her hand felt as if it was about to vibrate right off her arm. As she connected with Skank 1’s face a bright white light that momentarily burned into Juniper’s retinas erupted and the dancer spun like a top, immediately sprawling over the edge of the stage. That release. It felt good. Really good.

Chapter Two

Baptism by Fire

Everything was going in slow motion. Juniper could feel the very life force of a few hundred other people smothering her senses. She could see electricity flowing through all the monitors along the wall, the floor. Heart beats set to beating against her ear drums. She covered her ears with her hands but it did nothing to stymie the near-deafening humming noise against her skull.

She had to get out of here. Juniper quickly jumped off the stage and aggressively pushed her way through the crowd. Some people tried to talk to her but she couldn’t focus on them right now. As alive as she felt, she was also incredibly overstimulated. Hiding her eyes with her sunglasses barely helped.

She worked her way upstairs and her vision shifted. To her. everyone was glowing. Their brains were shining out from behind their eyes. Juniper stumbled her way through the throng, messily bumping into people and softly whimpering to herself when they’d shout something in protest. Other people ignored her. Just another stupid white girl too wasted to walk normally.

When she made her way outside, Mike the Bouncer said something to her but she couldn’t make it out. Whereas she was normally very friendly with the huge man, this time all she could manage was shrieking, Get away from me! at him as she made a beeline for the alley next to the club. It was dark there. She needed dark. Once she stumbled about halfway down the alley she fell to one knee and focused on her breathing for several minutes. After what seemed like an eternity she stopped seeing the pulsing lights from electrical currents flowing through the club’s wall and the incessant sound of a few hundred heartbeats wailing on her ear drums.

The pain was sharp and hot before her jaw instantly went numb. Before she realized