Chapter 1
Trans Dimensional Passage
Lynrexs (Full-warmth), 5512
The corridor was long. Green vines grew everywhere, obscuring the ceiling with their leaves. Bracken had walked in this place before, yet each time its lushness became more alluring. The verdant growth formed an oval around him as if it had been spun on an organic loom. Ahead, the passage veered to the right and sloped upward. He followed it, his nostrils filling with the wet, pungent scent of moss. Rivulets of water ran between his toes, refreshing his feet with their cool currents. He had shed his boots along with his coat and leather belts before departing. Now he wore only a light shirt and pants and carried a bag over one shoulder.
Just minutes before, he had been in Oak Forest, lifting one of the glowing Mingus stones from its container. The gem’s brilliant rays had cast gleaming streaks across his chiseled features as he lifted it to his mouth and swallowed. He had taken one of the most potent gems. He knew it was powerful enough to carry him and his ensemble farther into this realm than he’d ever been before. In fact, farther than most had ever gone.
The effects of the Mingus gem, the substance that had lifted him to this realm, tingled in the tips of his long fingers. Looking down at his arm, he could see the pale outline his com-patch had left on his tan wrist. For some reason, communication devices would not transition between dimensions. Instead, they mysteriously vanished and then reappeared once he returned to his world.
Now he was deep within the stone’s spell. Miniature pools of light vibrated in his blue pupils as they widened under the stone’s power. His mind responded immediately, carrying him beyond the natural plane. Guided first by his awakened perception, his strong but lanky form had followed, his senses surging with delight. Moments later, his whole body—along with his clothing and bag—had rematerialized in this higher realm.
Tiny creatures chirped in the background, their call a warm, sensual melody. He had often wondered why this link between the dimensions was so inviting. This time, though, he had more important questions concerning the death of his friend Silas.
He often struggled with memories of his friend, standing on the edge of the cliff in Oak Forest just before he jumped. Why hadn’t he realized what Silas was about to do? Why hadn’t he done more to stop him? Flashes of the scene rushed up at him as if he’d been the one plunging into the canyon.
He remembered how they’d both been drawn into the deception that had destroyed his friend. They were on the deck behind Roon’s house, which overlooked Crysar Canyon. A faint single moon was the only witness to their ordeal.
A stream of ethereal fog drifted from the dwelling where the band was playing. The strange substance emanating from the music captivated them both but especially Silas. It surrounded them, finally cascading over the edge of the canyon, forming a large pool of glistening light at the bottom.
Both Silas and Bracken followed the mysterious current as it spilled over the edge of the deck. Bracken wondered if it was real or another surreal effect of the gem’s power. Then he thought of Lisha, and he felt a slight tug to be near her, like a tether between them that had become too taught. He went back to find her.
When he returned, Silas was stripping off his clothes and calling to him. “Do you see him, Bracken? Look, he’s calling me to join him,”
Bracken had also seen the glowing face, beckoning them from the swirling fog below. But then he doubted. He rejected the call from the shimmering being even as it spoke in his mind. “I am comfort, I am home. Come, I’ll help you. You have no need to fear.” It pulled at him with a promise of peace.
Silas climbed on top of the deck’s railing and declared, “It’s beautiful, don’t you see it, Bracken? So sparkling … I’ve got to dive in.”
Bracken moved to stop him, but he was too late. His hand caught air instead of his friend’s arm. Stretching out toward the glowing face, Silas dove toward the shimmering pond.
For a brief second, he had hung in the air, hovering like a bird in an updraft. But then in a perfect swan dive, he plunged into the pool of light, its wisps of white swirling around his ankles as he disappeared into its vapor.
For a moment, all was quiet as Bracken stared in disbelief. Then the fantasized bubble of beauty popped, the swirling miasma vanished, and the dream was over. Silas screamed just before his body crashed into the rocks below. Instantly the glistening cloud faded and all was silent again.
In shock, Bracken had gazed for a long time at the broken body of his friend until the reality of the moment finally hit him. Why? Why had he jumped? Who had called to them? It tormented him even now. He struggled to come back from the nightmare.
Gathering all his thoughts, he encouraged himself. I will find the answer. I will know why. I will know what really happened. He focused until peace returned. Dipping his hands in the moisture at his feet, he lifted them to his head and ran his fingers through his dark hair, pulling back the loose strands that tended to fall across his brows. His deep-blue eyes seemed to brighten as his long lashes brushed aside the drops of water that fell on them from his hair. Refreshed now, he smiled, flashing a row of white teeth, each as straight and sturdy as his fresh conviction. Then he closed his mouth and clenched his jaw, its sharp lines pointing the way forward as he continued his journey.
Dazzling light flooded the passage as Bracken reached the crest of the slope. Light filtering through the open places in the branches above him struck small motes of dust, turning them to brilliant jewels. The air had its own radiance as it sparkled, quivered, and scintillated around him. He breathed in the scent of mint, and then the smell of jasmine met it somewhere in his brain and created a whole new fragrance.
The light increased until it formed one glistening yellow wall. A small emerald door appeared in its center. It opened at his touch, and he walked through.
Another tunnel stretched before him, longer than the previous one. He walked on. Purple flowers bloomed among the ferns and vegetation around him, fluttering in the slight draft. He paused to touch one. Its texture was flesh-like. Each nerve in his hand responded with delight as he stroked its surface.
Then without warning, The Fear came—a foreboding so strong it was painful. He and his friends had called it that: The Fear. Because once it forced its way into your consciousness, the terror could dominate you. You could struggle with it, but it always seemed to come back, stalking, waiting, and silently pursuing you. He sensed only a hint of warning before it overcame him. Pleasure quickly melted into anxiety. Evil crept up on tiptoe and then shouted at him.
Was someone watching him, lurking just beyond his view? He searched the green plants and twisting vines for a clue to his panic. They were still. He listened intently to the clicking he’d heard since beginning his walk. At first it had been pleasant, like the sound of crickets chirping, but now it haunted him. It sounded like unkind laughter. He felt as if someone was secretly scrutinizing him, playing with his mind and mocking him.
He placed his hand on the side of his bag. He could feel the oval forms of the remaining energy eggs Ley Os, the gem dealer, had given him. He could always rely on them if things got desperate. Their explosive power could stop half a dozen assailants if he used them soon enough.
His ears opened wider as he listened … laughter … he concentrated more … chirping … then laughter again.
He forced away dark thoughts with purposeful words. I won’t be distracted. Silas’s death must have a reason. I won’t let fear keep me back. It’s only my imagination. As he reassured himself, the laughter faded. He continued to gather his courage. I will find the answer. I will know the truth. His anxiety eased as he ignored the thought that he was being watched.
Then The Fear was gone. It left as quickly as it had come, and he could once again feel the warmth of the Mingus Effect. It was filling his whole body now. Each pore seemed to breathe the air, which had suddenly become charged.
He pulled his thoughts together and reminded himself of why he had come. He knew he must press on and find the Zyphon level. That’s where Os had told him he’d find answers.
Yes, he had to find the Source! Find who or what had drawn Silas to his death. What evil had deceived and seduced him. Memories of his friend’s broken and twisted body flashed through his mind again. How long would they haunt him? Would his quest never end? Would he have to live without an answer?
He shook himself and walked on. The world suddenly changed around him. The green vanished. The tunnel became golden. Light radiated from light. He walked, almost skating on liquid brilliance, its radiance so bright that it surged under his feet like an incandescent tide. With each step, he felt waves flowing away from him, swirling, cresting, and pooling again like schools of iridescent water creatures playing in the eddies his footsteps created.
The smell of mint had vanished and was replaced by a scent of cinnamon. It tickled his nostrils and sent explosions of delight surging up through his mind, causing the neurons and axons in his brain to dance around one another.
Then he pulled back, ignoring the pervading pleasure that beckoned him to lose himself. This time it would be different. Not like before, when he had spent hours wandering, merely to fill his senses, his mind, and his emotions with pleasure. “I must find the source,” he whispered under his breath. “There’s some key beyond this level.”
As if cued by his confession, the light ahead faded, but as he came closer, he realized it was only an opening into another room. Entering, he looked up. Crystalline panels rose around him like the walls of a cathedral, their apex somewhere beyond his sight. Abruptly, the light beneath his feet swirled and solidified into a marble-like substance, its glow fading. In the distance a figure materialized, drifting toward him like a gossamer angel. It was the only thing glowing now as darkness closed in around him.
Trans Dimensional Passage
Lynrexs (Full-warmth), 5512
The corridor was long. Green vines grew everywhere, obscuring the ceiling with their leaves. Bracken had walked in this place before, yet each time its lushness became more alluring. The verdant growth formed an oval around him as if it had been spun on an organic loom. Ahead, the passage veered to the right and sloped upward. He followed it, his nostrils filling with the wet, pungent scent of moss. Rivulets of water ran between his toes, refreshing his feet with their cool currents. He had shed his boots along with his coat and leather belts before departing. Now he wore only a light shirt and pants and carried a bag over one shoulder.
Just minutes before, he had been in Oak Forest, lifting one of the glowing Mingus stones from its container. The gem’s brilliant rays had cast gleaming streaks across his chiseled features as he lifted it to his mouth and swallowed. He had taken one of the most potent gems. He knew it was powerful enough to carry him and his ensemble farther into this realm than he’d ever been before. In fact, farther than most had ever gone.
The effects of the Mingus gem, the substance that had lifted him to this realm, tingled in the tips of his long fingers. Looking down at his arm, he could see the pale outline his com-patch had left on his tan wrist. For some reason, communication devices would not transition between dimensions. Instead, they mysteriously vanished and then reappeared once he returned to his world.
Now he was deep within the stone’s spell. Miniature pools of light vibrated in his blue pupils as they widened under the stone’s power. His mind responded immediately, carrying him beyond the natural plane. Guided first by his awakened perception, his strong but lanky form had followed, his senses surging with delight. Moments later, his whole body—along with his clothing and bag—had rematerialized in this higher realm.
Tiny creatures chirped in the background, their call a warm, sensual melody. He had often wondered why this link between the dimensions was so inviting. This time, though, he had more important questions concerning the death of his friend Silas.
He often struggled with memories of his friend, standing on the edge of the cliff in Oak Forest just before he jumped. Why hadn’t he realized what Silas was about to do? Why hadn’t he done more to stop him? Flashes of the scene rushed up at him as if he’d been the one plunging into the canyon.
He remembered how they’d both been drawn into the deception that had destroyed his friend. They were on the deck behind Roon’s house, which overlooked Crysar Canyon. A faint single moon was the only witness to their ordeal.
A stream of ethereal fog drifted from the dwelling where the band was playing. The strange substance emanating from the music captivated them both but especially Silas. It surrounded them, finally cascading over the edge of the canyon, forming a large pool of glistening light at the bottom.
Both Silas and Bracken followed the mysterious current as it spilled over the edge of the deck. Bracken wondered if it was real or another surreal effect of the gem’s power. Then he thought of Lisha, and he felt a slight tug to be near her, like a tether between them that had become too taught. He went back to find her.
When he returned, Silas was stripping off his clothes and calling to him. “Do you see him, Bracken? Look, he’s calling me to join him,”
Bracken had also seen the glowing face, beckoning them from the swirling fog below. But then he doubted. He rejected the call from the shimmering being even as it spoke in his mind. “I am comfort, I am home. Come, I’ll help you. You have no need to fear.” It pulled at him with a promise of peace.
Silas climbed on top of the deck’s railing and declared, “It’s beautiful, don’t you see it, Bracken? So sparkling … I’ve got to dive in.”
Bracken moved to stop him, but he was too late. His hand caught air instead of his friend’s arm. Stretching out toward the glowing face, Silas dove toward the shimmering pond.
For a brief second, he had hung in the air, hovering like a bird in an updraft. But then in a perfect swan dive, he plunged into the pool of light, its wisps of white swirling around his ankles as he disappeared into its vapor.
For a moment, all was quiet as Bracken stared in disbelief. Then the fantasized bubble of beauty popped, the swirling miasma vanished, and the dream was over. Silas screamed just before his body crashed into the rocks below. Instantly the glistening cloud faded and all was silent again.
In shock, Bracken had gazed for a long time at the broken body of his friend until the reality of the moment finally hit him. Why? Why had he jumped? Who had called to them? It tormented him even now. He struggled to come back from the nightmare.
Gathering all his thoughts, he encouraged himself. I will find the answer. I will know why. I will know what really happened. He focused until peace returned. Dipping his hands in the moisture at his feet, he lifted them to his head and ran his fingers through his dark hair, pulling back the loose strands that tended to fall across his brows. His deep-blue eyes seemed to brighten as his long lashes brushed aside the drops of water that fell on them from his hair. Refreshed now, he smiled, flashing a row of white teeth, each as straight and sturdy as his fresh conviction. Then he closed his mouth and clenched his jaw, its sharp lines pointing the way forward as he continued his journey.
Dazzling light flooded the passage as Bracken reached the crest of the slope. Light filtering through the open places in the branches above him struck small motes of dust, turning them to brilliant jewels. The air had its own radiance as it sparkled, quivered, and scintillated around him. He breathed in the scent of mint, and then the smell of jasmine met it somewhere in his brain and created a whole new fragrance.
The light increased until it formed one glistening yellow wall. A small emerald door appeared in its center. It opened at his touch, and he walked through.
Another tunnel stretched before him, longer than the previous one. He walked on. Purple flowers bloomed among the ferns and vegetation around him, fluttering in the slight draft. He paused to touch one. Its texture was flesh-like. Each nerve in his hand responded with delight as he stroked its surface.
Then without warning, The Fear came—a foreboding so strong it was painful. He and his friends had called it that: The Fear. Because once it forced its way into your consciousness, the terror could dominate you. You could struggle with it, but it always seemed to come back, stalking, waiting, and silently pursuing you. He sensed only a hint of warning before it overcame him. Pleasure quickly melted into anxiety. Evil crept up on tiptoe and then shouted at him.
Was someone watching him, lurking just beyond his view? He searched the green plants and twisting vines for a clue to his panic. They were still. He listened intently to the clicking he’d heard since beginning his walk. At first it had been pleasant, like the sound of crickets chirping, but now it haunted him. It sounded like unkind laughter. He felt as if someone was secretly scrutinizing him, playing with his mind and mocking him.
He placed his hand on the side of his bag. He could feel the oval forms of the remaining energy eggs Ley Os, the gem dealer, had given him. He could always rely on them if things got desperate. Their explosive power could stop half a dozen assailants if he used them soon enough.
His ears opened wider as he listened … laughter … he concentrated more … chirping … then laughter again.
He forced away dark thoughts with purposeful words. I won’t be distracted. Silas’s death must have a reason. I won’t let fear keep me back. It’s only my imagination. As he reassured himself, the laughter faded. He continued to gather his courage. I will find the answer. I will know the truth. His anxiety eased as he ignored the thought that he was being watched.
Then The Fear was gone. It left as quickly as it had come, and he could once again feel the warmth of the Mingus Effect. It was filling his whole body now. Each pore seemed to breathe the air, which had suddenly become charged.
He pulled his thoughts together and reminded himself of why he had come. He knew he must press on and find the Zyphon level. That’s where Os had told him he’d find answers.
Yes, he had to find the Source! Find who or what had drawn Silas to his death. What evil had deceived and seduced him. Memories of his friend’s broken and twisted body flashed through his mind again. How long would they haunt him? Would his quest never end? Would he have to live without an answer?
He shook himself and walked on. The world suddenly changed around him. The green vanished. The tunnel became golden. Light radiated from light. He walked, almost skating on liquid brilliance, its radiance so bright that it surged under his feet like an incandescent tide. With each step, he felt waves flowing away from him, swirling, cresting, and pooling again like schools of iridescent water creatures playing in the eddies his footsteps created.
The smell of mint had vanished and was replaced by a scent of cinnamon. It tickled his nostrils and sent explosions of delight surging up through his mind, causing the neurons and axons in his brain to dance around one another.
Then he pulled back, ignoring the pervading pleasure that beckoned him to lose himself. This time it would be different. Not like before, when he had spent hours wandering, merely to fill his senses, his mind, and his emotions with pleasure. “I must find the source,” he whispered under his breath. “There’s some key beyond this level.”
As if cued by his confession, the light ahead faded, but as he came closer, he realized it was only an opening into another room. Entering, he looked up. Crystalline panels rose around him like the walls of a cathedral, their apex somewhere beyond his sight. Abruptly, the light beneath his feet swirled and solidified into a marble-like substance, its glow fading. In the distance a figure materialized, drifting toward him like a gossamer angel. It was the only thing glowing now as darkness closed in around him.