King of Spades

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The melting ice on top of the mountain was slippery. One misstep, and he could land at the bottom of the canyon, awaiting his death. But he kept advancing against the blizzard despite an inner voice screaming inside his head, “Turn back, Bran! It’s not your fight!”

But he knew in his conscience, it was his fight. Bran LeBlanc, king of Eudaiz, the universe that promised its citizens safety and happiness. What kind of a king would he be if he left a newborn alone in this dangerous situation?

He wasn’t foolish. He knew the Daimon Gate wasn’t his territory. Neither was it his jurisdiction. The huge canyon in front of him might be merely an illusion. The bone-chilling cold and the haunting howls emanating from space creatures somewhere could easily defeat weak souls.

But not him.

He would never give in to a group of soulless and heartless space creatures who wanted nothing more than to terrorize his universe.

He had to find and save the child at any cost.

“Stop!” he yelled at a shadow running past him. He needn’t look nor ask—he knew it was Kyle Wolf, the traitor of Eudaiz.

Kyle was Sciphil Four, one of those Sciphils that had several talents and so much potential. Bran had seen the potential and had gone against the advice other councillors had given to appoint Kyle.

The shadow didn’t stop, so Bran gave chase. In no time, he had forced Kyle up against the slippery edge of the canyon.

“Leave the baby, and I’ll let you live. Go away. Never come back to Eudaiz again, Kyle,” Bran said, gauging the basket Kyle was carrying.

“You don’t have to the play head games with me, Bran. I’m young, but I know forgiving isn’t part of your human DNA,” Kyle snarled.

“You’re right, I’m not forgiving you that easily. But let’s not put an innocent child between us.”

“Innocent?” Kyle laughed bitterly. “Maybe now . . .”

“Madeline is innocent. How is taking Chiara’s child going to earn you her love, Kyle?” Bran asked and slowly approached Kyle. Behind Kyle was the sharp edge of a cliff.

“Love?” Kyle laughed harder and waved the basket in front of him. “You think this is about love? I’ll never have Chiara. I know that for a fact. I’ve come to terms with that.”

“So why did you take the baby?”

Kyle’s laughter faded, and his eyes sparked with rage and insanity. “She’s not just any baby. Madeline will one day become a female Sciphil…” He lowered his voice to a growl, “What I don’t have, no one can have . . .”

“A Eudaizian can never have the kingship—”

“No . . . no, you’re mistaken. Kingship is given. Silver Blood is what I want. It’s what you want as well, isn’t it?” Kyle said.

“Silver Blood is a myth!” Bran snarled.

“Really? So you’re mentoring Ayana out of the goodness of your heart? Is that what you’re saying? She’s your protégé, and you’re not building her up to take the first fall for your Silver Blood?” Kyle smirked. He approached Bran. “That foolish girl is going to do anything for you. You think you’re brilliant, but you know nothing, Bran. There are people much more powerful than you. Much worse. They want Silver Blood more badly than you. They want Eudaiz more than you. And they’ll get it.”

Bran drew his sword, pointing it at Kyle’s chest. “I don’t take Eudaiz for granted.”

Kyle reached out the hand in which he held the basket with the baby inside, dangling it over the cliff. “You wouldn’t want to hurt me, Bran. My hand might slip. Let me go. I never said you take Eudaiz for granted. I know you’ve worked hard for it. So hard that you will need Silver Blood to protect it. You’ll fight for it at any cost.”

“Ayana is a rightful Sciphil. You say one more word to smear her reputation, and I’ll pierce this sword through your heart. That is what I will do at any cost.”

Kyle laughed and took a step forward. Bran said nothing further and swung his sword at Kyle. Kyle jerked back to avoid the deadly blade. The smile had vanished from his face. He pivoted quickly and kicked the snow so that the ice blasted at Bran. Bran staggered back. Seizing the opportunity, Kyle fled.

Bran couldn’t let Kyle go free. He disliked attacking a man from behind, but Kyle had given him no choice. He thrust the sword forward toward Kyle’s back, but Kyle suddenly turned back toward him, placing the baby basket right in the path of the sword.

Bran withdrew immediately. He shuddered. It had almost been too late. Before he could wield another attack on Kyle, he felt the impact of Kyle’s foot on his abdomen. His body flew over the edge of the slippery cliff. He dropped his sword and used both hands to grab a small piece of frozen rock protruding several feet down.

He dangled, hanging onto the piece of ice with his bare fingers. From the top of the cliff, Kyle looked down at him. “The Silver Blood is more real than ever. Now that you will die soon, I might as well return to Eudaiz and claim the kingship and the Silver Blood. Thanks for the opportunity, Bran.”

Kyle stomped on the edge of the cliff. The ice cracked, broke, and fell to the base of the canyon. Along with Bran.