Prologue

“Shall we dance?” The gentleman’s dancing partner rose up to take his outstretched hand. Her face held no emotion as they flowed onto the dance floor, her glassy eyes shifting their gaze hither and thither. They were moving in perfect synchronization with one another. But they had never met each other before, nor did they know each other’s names. But names did not matter much for the girl was dead.

Lord Kleitos, the Puppet King, always held a ball on the nights of new and full moons. The court of the ethereal always attended this Dance of the Dead. His puppet partners were always beautiful, be they man or woman, human or of their court. Fays, celestials, elementals, faeries, lycans, vampyres, magick-casters, even the Emperor of the Ethereal himself attended this wondrous occasion.

No one dared to miss this if they had the chance. To cross Lord Kleitos would bring certain damnation. He certainly wasn’t called the Puppet King because he looked like wood (which he didn’t). He could easily control anyone he so desired. He’d tried once to have the Emperor dance with him, only to end up with both of them on the floor in a tangled heap. Dancing with someone who resists will often lead to that. That only made the Emperor come more often. Knowing he could be controlled that easily terrified the Emperor. He knew better than to make a powerful enemy.

Now this night was a special occasion. The night was that of the blue moon and to celebrate, everyone who attended was given a partner. Now because the dear reader has never attended one of Lord Kleitos’s balls, it is important that the dear reader knows how they usually go. Upon arriving to the ball, all are welcome to dance. But once all have arrived, it is Lord Kleitos’s turn. He enters the ballroom with a procession of his dancing partners. Each little puppet is dressed in fine clothes, donned in make-up and expensive perfume, echoing the master’s footsteps. Once he has entered, the corpse puppets sit like the fine ladies and gentlemen they are dressed up to be (regardless of whether or not they were while alive). But one is always left standing and he or she is first. And once the Puppet King releases his control on the rest, they slump against one another like discarded dolls. After each song has ended, he will discard his partner and choose another until he has danced with them all. Now, as was stated earlier, this was a special occasion. Lord Kleitos would not dance this night. Instead, the corpse puppets would dance with his guests. Despite the joy of the dance, this action terrified all who attended. Not only would they dance with the soulless dead, but this was an example of the Puppet King’s power. If he so desired, he could control an army of the dead to take over the Ethereal Kingdom. And so, the ethereal court put on joyous expressions as they waltzed with the toys of the Puppet King while Lord Kleitos sat and watched all his guests enjoy the dance.

He did not desire power, control, or the Emperor’s crown. All he wanted was to dance.