Read Online The Iron Butterfly by Chanda Hahn - Free Book Online

the mad rantings and experiments of a half-crazed human.” Kambel looked around at the confused expression on Pax's and Breah's face. Rolling his eyes at the ceiling, he quickly filled us in as he stroked his beard in thought. “A human known as Lord Horden had lost his only son in a terrible accident and went crazy with grief. He tried to force a young Denai to bring him back to life but the Denai couldn’t. Lord Horden infuriated began conducting secret experiments in trying to bring the dead to life. He documented everything until he ranted that he had found ways to become more powerful than the strongest Denai. Of course, his lab was investigated and they found the remains of his first attempts. Lord Horden was immediately imprisoned for his heinous crimes against humanity, but his notes on his experiments and findings were never discovered. Even after many trials, and bribes, he refused to tell anyone where they were hidden and he was eventually executed.” Kambel slowed down to catch his breath before intoning slowly, “There wasn't any proof that he succeeded, but there wasn't any proof he didn't.”
    Silence filled the room, no one stirred or moved. My mouth dropped open as I sat frozen in my chair afraid to move lest I bring myself to their attention. I was happy when Kambel spoke again breaking the awkward silence.
    “So they forbade any further testing and experiments. They burned down his lab in hopes of destroying his hidden journals.”
    My mouth went dry and I swallowed nervously, as I watched closely the reactions of the Adepts.
    “It sounds like someone found the Horden Journals and is trying to duplicate Lord Horden's experiments. I’m just not sure to what end though?” he continued.
    “But that’s against the law!” Pax shouted, his heavy hand pounding the table with a closed fist. “To do any kind of experiments is inhumane, especially to a child.”
    There it was again, the statement that I was a child.
    “The people of Calandry wouldn’t stand for it,” Pax growled.
    A nervous swallow escaped Kambel. “Yes, it is against the law here, but she was found in the river which borders Sinnendor and Calandry.” His mind was spinning with excitement. “What if she was over the border of Sinnendor?”
    “But the people of Sinnedor hate Denai since the war. The country is anti-Denai,” Breah spoke, the worry in her voice making her sound younger than her years.
    “Exactly, so it would be the perfect place to do these kinds of tests. Sinnendor might even be in league with them,” Kambel stated.
    “But that would be implicating that King Tieren knows that this was going on,” Adept Lorna said, leaning into the table. “It could cause a war. No! We have to keep that idea to ourselves. We must look at all aspects and directions before we accuse a neighboring country. Especially when we have a strenuous treaty as it is. But at least we know that it was unsuccessful? Right, Thalia?”
    It took me a moment to register that I was being addressed. “Believe me; I’m still the same person,” I answered with hesitancy. When really I wasn’t sure if that was true. I looked around the room at the worried faces of the Adepts and I suddenly felt tired and old.
    “But why can’t I remember anything from before?” I asked dejectedly. I was getting answers but so far none of them were encouraging. Slumping down in the chair I started to pick at the table.
    “I tried to look farther back into your memories when I was testing for the truth,” Lorna answered. “I really did, but there is nothing there. You have no emotional memories before your capture. They are gone.”
    “But how can that be, Lorna?” Breah pondered aloud. “You’re the strongest when it comes to reading minds.”
    “I can’t read what isn’t there. There is the space where they existed but nothing more. Like an attic that once was full of dusty boxes, and then when you remove them, the boxes are gone but the outline of the