Fractured Past (A Talnarin Novel Book 1)

by D. E. Chapman

  Oh shit. He knows everything. Malik knows I’m a fraud, a monster, a freak dressed like them. What am I supposed to do now? Where do I go from here? I don’t even know if I want to go on. Malik or Zeke will probably kill me now to ensure the safety of the talnarins. Perhaps they’ll let me live, locked away forever in some metal box. What kind of life is that? What kind of life do I even have now? Is fighting worth it anymore?

  I thought this journey would help to get answers, but it’s left me with more questions than before. I had a purpose, something keeping me going, and now I have nothing. I don’t see where I can go from here. I’m drowning in my memories and my mistakes. You never realize how you could have it, until it’s gone with no hope of ever returning.

  How I wish the Gods of this planet would return me to the moment I made that decision to leave. I would punch myself in the face for thinking such stupid things. But the Gods aren’t listening to me, they never have. How can I trust in these so called higher powers when they have done no favors to me in my lifetime? Rather, I’d say I’m cursed. Everything I do somehow backfires. If that’s not a curse, then I don’t know what is.

  But, it’s not just about me anymore. It’s no longer just about my revenge. There’s so much more to it now, so much I didn’t see before. It’s all connected somehow, for some greater purpose, even He admitted it Himself. It isn’t just my village that’s been targeted by these evil talnarins. Who knows how many other groups of talnarin are out there experimenting on innocent and unsuspecting humans. He said I wasn’t the only one out there. Maybe there are more ‘successful’ mutations like me. Maybe I’m not alone after all. If these other monsters like me need help, perhaps I can give it. They may be all alone now and wandering these lands. There may even be some who haven’t gotten free yet.

  What could Their reasoning’s be behind these awful experiments? What purpose? Why? What do they plan to do with the ‘successes’ once their done with their sick injections? What’s their end game?

  And why were Malik and Him so surprised with each other? He looks the same as the rest of them. I’m missing something. Something doesn’t add up and I intend to find out what. Malik and his men know more than they’re letting on.

  Whatever it is that they’re hiding, I intend to uncover it. They won’t be able to keep their secrets for long, I plan to attach myself to them like an extra limb. I will follow them wherever they plan to go until I get the answers I need.

  I have a new mission, a new plan. My revenge seems insignificant compared to the grand scheme of His plot. I’m going to save other humans and talnarins from this fate. No one deserves this life, and I’ll make sure to stop these rogues as best as I can. If following Malik and his gang is what is takes, then I’ll do it.

  I won’t let Him win, no matter what. I won’t let him kill us all.

  The story will continue in Spilt Secrets: A Talnarin Novel Series Book Two. Continue reading for a sneak peek at Chapter 1!

  Thank you to all my readers, if you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving an honest review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. Your opinion is important to me and it helps others decide if they want to read this book too!

  Spilt Secrets

  A Talnarin Novel Series Book Two

  Written by D.E. Chapman

  Chapter 1

  I’ve stalled enough. It’s time to face Malik. I climb to my feet, ready to make my way back to the talnarin village. I don’t even make it three steps before four large muscular talnarin men enter my line of sight. I guess they got tired of waiting for me to get my shit together. Fair enough. I stand tall and look them straight on. I won’t show anymore weakness and I won’t beg for mercy.

  Whatever they have come to say, I can face it. I must.

  Soon enough, they stand a few paces away, staring with identical unreadable expressions on their faces. Zeke and the two other talnarins stand with their arms loose at their sides. Malik, on the other hand, has crossed his, his muscles bulging. It makes him appear much more intimidating, which I’m sure is the intended effect.

  We simply stand there, tense, staring at each other in silence. I’m not sure how much time has passed before I break the awkward silence. “Well? Where do we go from here?” I’m rather impressed with myself, my voice only wavered slightly.

  A muscle ticks in Malik’s jaw. “Why didn’t you speak of you past before now?”

  Is he kidding me? I put a hand on my hip before saying, “And what? Risk you talnarins killing me??” I huff out a breath. “I wasn’t about to forfeit my life like that, not when I still haven’t gotten my revenge.”

  All four talnarins look mildly offended, it would have been funny if it wasn’t so serious. “No talnarin would have you killed you at Craforian.” He says it so firmly, like I should simply accept what he says as truth.

  I scoff and nearly roll my eyes. “Well, if you were standing in my shoes, what would you have though? My only exposure to your kind was when They slaughtered my village and family. Not to mention turning me into a fucking monster. I’m sure you wouldn’t be so quick to trust any others either. I didn’t know who to trust, I still don’t.” My stare turns hard. “Shit, you made it extremely clear that if I stepped one toe out of line, you would end my pathetic and miserable excuse of a life.”

  His face hardens. “Fair enough.” The silence grows again as Malik says nothing more.

  “Who was He to you? You looked like you knew Him. Who-”

  He cuts me off mid-sentence with an abrupt, “I don’t.”

  I narrow my eyes at him suspiciously, “But-”

  “I don’t. We’re heading back to Craforian come morning.” He gives me a pointed stare. “There you’re going to spend your time training. We are going to test the extent of your abilities and what else you might be capable of. But this time,” he smirks dangerously, “You’ll be working with me.”

  I huff loudly. “Do I have a choice in any of this?” Doubtful.

  “No.” His smirk widens as my face darkens.

  “Fine then, why didn’t you just say that from the start?” I mutter sarcastically. I don’t know when things changed, but I no longer feel like I need to sugar coat my words for fear of retribution. Somewhere along the way I simply stopped caring about the delivery of my words. Louder I say, “Well, are you going to kill me?”

  The smirk is wiped from his face instantly. His demeanor grows cold and I can’t help the shudder that racks my body. “Not yet.”

  I gulp audibly. “But you will? When? Why?”

  “Nothing is certain yet. There are still too many unknowns about you, even if I did believe your story.”

  “So, you’re telling me you don’t buy what I said?”

  “I didn’t say that.” His stare is unreadable. “While you were… collecting yourself, my men searched the village for any documents or data retaining to the experiments preformed here but came up empty. What the fuck did they do to the humans here?”

  I narrow my eyes. He said what They did to humans in general, not me. Despite what he said about believing me or not, it’s evident he doesn’t. Fine. “The equipment from the manor was similar to what they used here.” Emotion chokes me. “They hooked up the wires to every part of my body. Little needles at the end of the wires stuck into my skin. Then, They attached the golden vials to the other end of the wires.” My eyes glaze over as I recall what They did. “They pushed the liquid into my body, little by little. I don’t know how long it went on for, there were no windows to show the passing of the sun. But it seemed never ending. The liquid burned everywhere it touched. My eyes, neck, legs, no place was left untouched.” I trail off slowly.

  Malik takes a few steps closer. “What was in the vials, and what did it do to those injected?”

  I flinch and look down at my feet. “This golden liquid. They never told me what it was or what it did exactly.” I gulp audibly. “All I know is that it mutated the others. They seemed to be rotting from the ins
ide out. They became mindless and aggressive, nearly impossible to control.” I look back up with tears in my eyes. “I don’t know why I turned out this way and what made me so different. I don’t know why I maintained some semblance of sanity compared to the others. I don’t know why my hair changed, why my ears changes, and why my eyes changed.”

  Silence reigns in the forest. Even the animals seem to be holding their breath for not even the rustling of leaves can be heard. The wind has died off and not even a trickle of air moves the fallen leaves across the forest floor.

  Finally, Malik breaks the silence with a tense sigh. I watch as he rubs his hand over his face in exaggeration. “Well, at least we know more than we did prior to coming here, although it’s not much.” He looks at me with such a serious expression, it makes me tense. “Over the course of your stay at Craforian, you will be under constant watch and will be expected to answer all the questions I ask. Is this understood?” I swallow hard and nod. “Good. I still have my reservations about whether or not you are working with the rogues but, we will come to that soon enough.”

  “What? I’ve already told you, I’m not working with those bastards.” I nearly yell. “What more do you want from me? What else can I say to convince you that I want to kill those bastards, not help them?” I fling my hands out in frustration, wishing I could pull out my hair.

  “It doesn’t matter.” His expression once more unreadable. “We will know more once we return to Craforian regardless.”

  “If you don’t believe me now, how is going to Craforian going to change your mind?” I ask, exasperated.

  He smirks a devilish smile that promises trouble. “Well, you are bound to mess up eventually if you’re under constant watch. It’s only a matter of time before the real you is revealed. Besides, with my charming personality, you’ll show your true colors sooner than later. I’ve been told I bring out the best in people.”

  I scoff under my breath and mutter, “The worst you mean.” The knowing tilt of his lips tells me he heard me and merely finds it amusing. Suddenly, I blurt, “Why aren’t you asking more?”

  All four talnarins freeze in place and their expressions turn cold. The fact that this all happened in the span of a few seconds in perfect sync is unnerving. My nerves surface in a flurry of activity and my palms start to sweat. Standing here under the keen eye of these talnarin is enough to make my shift uncomfortably on my feet. The oppressive silence that reigns over them and this forest sets every instinct on fire. My body screams for me to flee while my mind demands an answer. My desire for answers evidently wins out as I remain in place with my fists clenched. I don’t understand this reaction to my innocent question. It’s not as if it’s an unreasonable one to ask after all.

  Besides, Malik has hardly asked me a thing about the past I had just spit out less than a few hours ago. The reason I told him about my past in the first place was not only to get it off my chest, but to convince him that I’m not working with Him. Yet, telling Malik didn’t reduce this great weight over my chest and heart. And it sure as Hellvian didn’t convince him in not working with Him. If anything, I would say Malik and his men are even more suspicious of me, for whatever reason.

  To be fair I’m not entirely certain I would believe a story as outlandish as the one I told. Had I not actually experienced that place for myself, I wouldn’t be quick to trust the one you told such a story either. Even though it pains me to say this, I can understand where Malik and his men are coming from. But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

  Now if only this insufferable silence and tension would cease. It’s fraying my nerves.

  Miraculously as I think it, Malik’s deep rumbling voice echoes through the silence. “Gather our rides, we leave now. Ready them for flight.” With a quick nod from the other three talnarins, Malik looks back to me just as my mouth drops open.

  Flight? Ready them for flight? No. No way. In my panic, I blurt, “I can’t fly one of them. It’s not possible. At all. No. I’ll die.”

  Malik does the last thing I expect, he laughs. I stare at him dumbfounded for a few minutes before I snap to my senses. It’s not like I haven’t heard the bloody talnarin laugh before. Granted it’s only been once or twice but still. I cross my arms over my chest and huff out a coarse “what?”

  Malik chuckles. “You really think I’d be stupid enough to let you fly a capalt all by yourself? That’s cute.” He looks down at my condescendingly as he crosses his arms across his chest, mirroring my position. “No, you’ll be flying with me where I can keep a close eye on you.”

  My mouth drops open. “What? No I don’t want to ride with you.” I shake my head vigorously. “If I have to ride with someone, I choose anyone but you. I’ll go with Zeke.” I snap my fingers and point. “Yeah, that’s it, I’ll go with Zeke.” I look to Zeke expectantly and find a highly amused talnarin trying his best to hold back his laughter. I flip by head back to Malik and find him highly amused as well.

  He rumbles out, “You’re going with me and no one else.” Malik twists his lips into a mocking smirk. “Just think, by the time we arrive at Craforian, we’re going to be such good friends.” The sarcasm drips from his words.

  Face serious, I say, “I’d rather fall to my death.”

  “Now you’re just being cruel.” Malik’s lips turn down at the corners now in a mocking frown. “You’ve hurt my delicate feelings.”

  I scoff loudly. “Yeah, real delicate, I’m sure.” His smirk returns. I watch as Malik looks to Zeke, who had been watching the entire interaction with great amusement on our part. Malik sighs dramatically and flings an arm across Zeke’s shoulders.

  “Alanna doesn’t believe me. I’m crushed.” Zeke gently pats Malik’s back in a show of support, all the while snickering. Luckily, I’m saving from responding at the return of the other three talnarins. Behind them, the capalts trot obediently behind them, their great wings gently trailing along the forest floor. I groan, wracking my brain for a way to stall. Coming up short, I watch the beasts prepare for flight in what seems like seconds.

  The capalt I had riding here is saddled up with extra packs from the other four beasts. I assume this is to reduce the weight load during flight for the capalts carrying talnarins. It appears Malik was speaking truth about me riding with him. Great. One capalt is completely removed of all packs and storage items and moved to mine. I assume this beast is the one Malik and I will ride. With two talnarins on its back, the extra weight from luggage is a hindrance despite the larger size of the beast, especially if Malik wishes to arrive in Craforian by early morning.

  I look to the sun to read the time; it’s mid-afternoon. According to the map I read over the previous days, this village is at least a six day ride out. How fast do these capalts fly? This thought makes me sweat and I clench my fists together.

  Here we go.

  Glossary

  Alpoh – Seedless, purple, rounded fruit

  Arb – Pale yellow, star shaped vegetable

  Arcons – Term for birds

  Berka – Large aggressive creature, single horn above eyes, bear like body structure

  Bhria – Bird like creature, can fly, small and fragile, very colorful blue feathers, docile and shy creature

  Bylir – Name of planet

  Capalts –Used for riding, size of horse, scales all along body, leathery wings, large saber teeth, have twisted horns curved over top of head, allows rider to grip, docile and obedient creatures

  Cerla – Two tailed cat, size of lion, saber teeth, variations in fur color and patterns

  Craforian – Talnarin and human village, coexist but separated from each other by barrier

  Dol Trees – Like oaks but twisted trunks, very tall, many branches

  Dragonian – Humanoid, water manipulator, gills, webbing, tails and scales

  Elestal Affinity – Electrical energy manipulation

  Firvo Affinity – Fire energy manipulation

  Flokil Affinity
– Flora energy manipulation

  Freal – God of mercy and love

  Gran – Light brown, long and rounded vegetable

  Hedra – Goddess of trickery and mischief

  Hellvian – Hell, where forsaken souls reside, birth place of rayns and other wraith-like creatures

  Inkberries – Smooth round black berries with dull coating, non-poisonous

  Joult – Human village

  Mazir – Giant insect, lives underground, has hard exoskeleton, eight legs, pinchers, destructive creatures

  Mindula Affinity – Mental energy manipulation

  Mintas – Term for rodents

  Nahann – Human village

  Naviha – Limbo

  Nerio – God of creation and life, reigns over other Gods

  Nifarion – Humanoid, shadow manipulators, tails with sensory hair, not much else is known

  Nightberries – Smooth round black berries with shiny coating, poisonous

  Porg – Vegetable, tan and square, edges are rounded

  Povios – Term for insects

  Ramic – God of death and pain

  Rayn – Demons/evil creatures, shadow like wraiths, souls forsaken by the God Nerio

  Sonya – Goddess of wisdom and arts

  Sugavan – Humanoid, air manipulators, long ears and furry, wings

  Talnarin – Humanoid, energy manipulators, green/orange/red/yellow/purple eyes, pointed ears

  Tolsi – Human village

  Treli – Grilled dish with various starches, vegetables, and berka meat

  Tulio – Orange, rounded and grainy starch

  Valina – Heaven, afterlife where Gods reside

  Velto – Red and round vegetable with faint grooves circling it