The Search for Truth Read Free Page B

had been for nothing. He had finished two of the twelve quests that would let him become king. Around his neck hung the Amulet of Virtues which had appeared after his first quest, marking the number of quests he had done. Two of its twelve segments glowed with color. He had finished these quests even though he’d had serious doubts about being a king at all. But he knew what would happen otherwise. The Stain triplets, Baskania’s helpers, would become kings and would destroy Alypium. And Baskania would be in charge. He couldn’t let that happen.
    Unfortunately, Erec had more than doubts about becoming king. He was terrified of it. Because he knew that if that happened, he would be given a scepter. As much as he wanted one, as much as he craved a scepter after using King Piter’s, he knew it would corrupt him completely, turn him as evil as the Stains, and Baskania himself. What would be worse, letting his enemies crush the world or doing it himself? He still was not sure.
    Erec pushed with all of his might against his chains, but he could not budge them. He dug his heels into the chair. Maybe he could slide his way out. Sure enough, after shimmying against the vinyl seat, he managed to inch just high enough to free one of his hands.
    At that moment the ghost surgeon appeared with three others just like him. Erec froze. They did not seem to notice that he had slid upward in the chair.
    Each of the ghost surgeons tried various ways to remove Erec’s eyes. None was able to touch him, though, with anything they picked up. A short, paunchy one ran a hand up and down over Erec’s arm. “Look at this,” he said to the others. “I can’t even come close to this pathetic boy at all.”
    They launched into a discussion, referring to Erec as a “rotten human” and “waste of space.”
    â€œWe must figure out how to fix this ourselves,” one said. “If Baskania finds out there is a problem, we’ll all pay the price.”
    â€œWait,” another said, pointing at Erec. “We cannot touch him. But is he really protected from everything? Or just from us silver ghosts? Let’s try calling in a human doctor to take his eye out.”
    Erec’s heart sank. They had figured it out. How would he get out of here now? Even if he worked his way through the chains, he would never escape all of the people in the Green House—especially Baskania—once they knew he was free.
    The ghosts went out into the hallway to find a human doctor. Why had he been so stupid? If he had just controlled his thoughts in the Substance Channel he’d be safely with Bethany now, warning her not to make her deadly mistake.
    There were still things he wanted to learn about himself, but now it was too late. He would never meet his father, whoever he was. And his birth mother. Where was she? And why did she leave him? Now he’d never know why he had been chosen to be king and do the quests. He would die knowing nothing about himself.
    Erec tried to push farther through the chains, but he could barely move. He wished he had a cloudy thought now to save him. Why wasn’t he getting one? Maybe there was no way to save himself. If only he could escape, fly out the window or something.
    Erec bit his lip. Fly out the window…Maybe there was something he could do. Something that had saved him once before. At least he could try.
    But first he needed to bring his dragon eyes forward. He took a deep breath and focused as hard as he could on one thing. Love. The love that was deep inside him. He thought of Aoquesth and all that the dragon had done for him. His family, his friends. But mostly justlove for the world. Because that was what he had to protect now.
    Soon he felt his eyes turn in his head. Everything became a vivid green. Thick white ropes hung throughout the room. It was the Substance. Now that his dragon eyes were out, he could see it again.
    Not much time was left