The Pawn and The Puppet (The Pawn and The Puppet series Book 1)

Once word spread of Chekiss’s first words in twenty years—I was called into the office of one of the six council members of the asylum.

Judas.

His office is on the top floor, and after many stairs, I enter his cave-like dominion.

It’s dark, with only the dim flickering of candles on sconces illuminating paintings on the walls, landscapes of the forests surrounding us, just like Aurick’s cottage in the North Saphrine forest.

And in the soft shimmering glow of the room, I remember him. His jet-black hair, five o’clock shadow, and cleft chin. He was on the steps the morning of my interview.

“Please, have a seat.” He waves me in. Places his long hands on the dark cherrywood desk. “My name is Judas, and yours is Sky.”

Skylenna.

“A pleasure to meet you.” No, it isn’t. You permit the torture. You allow the evil.

“I won’t waste our time on pleasantries. I’m a man who favors bluntness.” He leans forward, holding eye contact. “Scarlett shared with me her vision. And you accomplished part of it only days after your training, that’s quite a feat.”

What? She told him her theory that compassion outweighs pain? Her dreams of tearing down the cruel treatments?

“After I heard she died in that fire—I was—well, I was saddened that her dream would die with her.” He leans back in his chair. Sighs. “I don’t suppose you’d like to make the same deal that I had offered her?”

“Deal?” She never told me. Why wouldn’t she tell me this exciting news?

“Each member of the council may implement a new practice of their choosing every year. Most usually choose a new method of—treatment. But I’d like to give you access to each patient room, in hopes you can make progress with them, by using Scarlett’s theory.”

Wait. I would be the only one allowed to do this? I would be a new method? A new treatment?

“What would be in it for you? What’s the deal?” I ask cautiously—quietly.

He narrows his eyes. “I’d like to prove to the council that there is a new way. And if approved—I’d like you to work your way into the thirteenth room. That would be the most effective way to prove this point.”

Without hesitation—without even a breath to consider—the word tumbles out—“Deal.”