Spoiler Alert!! If you haven't read The Last Shaman!
Chapter
1
Beatrice pulled the young child close to her breast and whispered reassuring sounds in his ear. The child snuggled against her and soon fell asleep. The strain of being mortal weighed on her mind. She belonged to the small percentage of woman able to bear children with Fallen Angels. The seclusion was tolerable but separation from her family caused sorry many times. She recalled the terror she felt after waking in the late night hours to find this magnificent figure standing at her bedside. He was the most beautiful image ever conceived in her dreams and when he touched her, she surrendered body and soul.
After she became pregnant, her magnificent husband would visit her several times a month and he promised her the protection and privileges that accompany the title of his wife. She knew nothing of his business or comings and goings and only longed for the times he would visit.
Her limited understanding of the Fallen Angel Empire was gleaned thru servants and emissaries but she knew the male child she birthed had the true blood of the Watchers. She gazed lovingly at the small child and tears fell freely.
Just five years old now and fatherless with a future marked with uncertainty and fear. How will the child develop to his full potential without his fathers influence and training? Destined to reign and rule over a vast kingdom but all seems lost with the death of his father.
How will the others react when they come to test the child and they will come? Will he be accepted as the heir apparent and assume his rightful place or brutally murdered so another child crafted in deceit can usurp the throne. She weighed these thoughts in her mind and drifted to sleep.
A loud knock on the door woke the child and Beatrice at the same time. She knew the officers and elders wouldn't arrive this early so caution prevailed and she carefully hid the young child in a closet.
“Stay here and be very quiet until I come for you. Do you understand me Quentin?”
The young child whispered, “Yes.” She quickly went toward the front door and ask, “Who's there?”
“We are with the elders, came the reply, open the door and let us test the child.”
“Why are you so early,” Beatrice asked? “You are not scheduled to be here for three more days.”
“That doesn't concern you, the voice replied, now open the door and let us enter.”
“I will not open the door and my rank allows me that privilege as the wife of the supreme ruler. With that title, I will ask you to leave until verification can be made concerning this change in plans.”
She walked away and reached for the phone to call elder Jamison but the door flew off its hinges from the force of two large men throwing their bodies against it. They stepped aside and a tall rough looking man stepped inside.
“I am Jackson Pierce representing the middle Appalachia family and I will test the child now.”
“I know you are an elder, Beatrice said, but I will follow protocol concerning the child. A circle of seven elders will be present when the child is tested and by my rank as wife of the supreme ruler, I demand you leave.”
“Enough of this nonsense,” Jackson yelled as he slapped Beatrice across the lips knocking her to the floor. “Your husband failed and suffered the consequence of his failure. He was drunk with power and taking you miserable humans as his personal bed partners was a grave mistake. The spawn you produce has weakened our race across the globe and allowed the noble bloodline to become polluted. He was deceived by his own arrogance and allowed that poison to assure his own destruction.”
“The masses need a new ruler, one with wisdom and the desire to finally end this subservient existence we are forced to endure. I will be the great ruler of the kingdom and purge our noble birthright of the repugnant stain caused by mingling with humans. Your child does not hold the power at this age and I will start my global cleansing with him. You see I guarantee he won't live long enough to develop any power, actually he will die this night, now where is the child,” he screamed
“Do you actually think I will let you hurt my child,” Beatrice asked? He will be the next ruler of our people and you cannot change that. The elders will know if anything befalls the child ahead of his testing and you will be found out.”
“Accidents happen all the time, Jackson replied. The child could let's say fall out a window or down the stairs.”
Beatrice picked up a knife from the kitchen table and stood glaring at the three men. Jackson laughed and focused his energy on the knife and obeying his mental command the knife flew from Beatrice’s grip and sliced thru her foot wedging it securely to the floor. The pain combined forces with the emotions of her husband’s death and the possible murder of her only child, manifesting itself in a scream that pierced the surrounding area. She screamed for help until Jackson laughed and said, “My men killed all the neighbors within hearing distance and besides, this is New York City, do you possibly think anyone will even care about a few screams?”
He advanced toward her and stood face to face with the sobbing woman. A look of pleasure canvassed his face and he slapped her hard across the mouth several more times.
Blood poured freely from the busted lips and flowed downward covering her neck and breasts. He was mesmerized watching the blood turn her body deep red and slowly began licking her neck. Beatrice tried to back away from him but the pain in her foot held her prisoner to his advances. He ripped the clothing from her body and eagerly watched as the white skin was covered in red. This seemed to ignite his passion and Beatrice knew what was going to happen as he ordered his men to wait outside.
She screamed again with all her might repeating over and over, “Don't do this,” as he touched forbidden places. He was like a ravenous animal as he explored the hidden pleasures of the helpless woman. He fumbled at his pants but a small voice said, “Don't hurt my mother.”
Jackson turned and cursed when he saw Quentin standing in the doorway. Containing his passion he pulled away from Beatrice whispering in her ear, “I'll finish the fun with you later.”
He walked toward Quentin and said, “I won't hurt her anymore as long as you do what I say, do you understand?”
Quentin remained silent as he gazed on the knife in his mother’s foot and the blood that now soaked her nude body. An ever so slight grin creased the young face as he turned his eyes on Jackson.
“I am going to take you to the window boy and let you stand on the ledge, view your kingdom if you will, then we'll come back and fix up you momma. First thou can you tell me something? What did your father teach you? I know he taught you something now boy so fess up and tell me. Did he teach you to fly he asked as he motioned to the window?”
“No, Beatrice sobbed, don't hurt him.”
Quentin continued to stare at Jackson but spoke not a word. Jackson knelt down and screamed in his face, “You better be afraid of me boy. I'm going to kill your momma if you don't talk to me and I'll hurt her real bad before she dies.”
His anger grew faster than his patience and he slapped the young child in the mouth. Quentin fell backward but quickly rose to his feet and focused his stare back on Jackson.
“I'll throw you little ass out that window boy,” Jackson yelled.
Quentin’s slight grin grew larger.
“All right you little freak,” Jackson yelled as he advanced on the child again. A slight gasp from Beatrice caused him to turn his eyes on her just in time to see the knife free itself from her foot and sink violently into his chest. He fell on his knees with a look of confusion and terror as Quentin walked toward him.
Quentin got close to his face and with a voice of maturity beyond his years he said, “My father died at the hand of our enemy and instead of giving honor to his noble life, you come here to steal what is my legacy. My mother lies bleeding and abused at your hand but now here you kneel before me as it should be. Tell me oh great leader, what should become of you for this act of treachery? You wanted to test me, well feel the power given to me by my father.”
Jackson groaned in pain as internal organs began to convulse inside his abdomen. Blood gushed from his mouth and his bowels let loose as the internal carnage continued. Jackson managed a scream in between the convulsions and soon his men ran through the door. They both ran toward the boy cursing but Quentin looked at them and yelled, “Rise!”
They immediately were suspended in mid air two feet off the ground. They pointed their guns but screamed in pain when the barrels melted in their hand. Their bodies rotated until they were back to back then slowly they were moved to opposite sides of the room. They begged for mercy and cried until they were propelled forward at an astonishing speed. The crashed into each other and the force of the impact slammed their heads together. Blood oozed from both their ears as slowly the bodies floated back to the corners of the room. Again the explosive acceleration slammed them together and the massive force crushed the heads together. This continued for several minutes until the heads were nothing but bloody stumps on top of a jagged spinal column.
Jackson cried and begged as the young boy once again turned his gaze upon him.
“Well great ruler, what is your command,” Quentin demanded of Jackson?
“Please boy, don't hurt me. I made a mistake and will be your loyal servant if you let me live. It was Berith, he told me to do this so he could become the Supreme Ruler. He couldn't risk exposure being an elder so he promised I would be second in command. I will take you to him and expose him for the traitor he is but stop this torture. It's his fault Great Ruler, not mine.”
Quentin looked at his bloodied mother and asked, “Queen Beatrice, what is your pleasure?”
With rage and disgust searing her gaze, she yelled, “Make him suffer Quentin!”
Jackson screamed as Quentin approached him again.
“You wanted to destroy me giving no thought to the power that may rest inside me. My strength comes from my father and another force your puny reasoning cannot comprehend. Now feel the wrath of my combined power and believe me you will not die until I command it to be so.”
Jackson screamed in pain and horror as a finger ripped off his hand followed by another and another. His eardrums blew out like balloons and burst, spraying blood and fluid on the wall. The pressure inside his body forced his eyes out of their sockets but he still watched in agony as the flesh on his legs ripped off in large chunks. His chest exploded exposing his beating heart and Quentin stood over him and stared.
“You dared to defy me and the power of my father?”
“I will end your miserable life now only because I tire of this and your stench sickens me.”
He watched amused as Jackson’s heart began to swell. With every beat it grew larger and larger and with every beat Jackson screamed in agony. Finally unable to expand any further, the organ exploded with such ferocity it covered the entire wall in blood.
Quentin stepped backed and stood silent as the expression on his young face softened and he ran to his mother clutching her around the legs.
“It's all right, she said as she stroked the back of his head. Lets get cleaned up and I will call the elders to come and help us.”
The elders sent people and the apartment was quickly cleaned and bodies taken away. A drug addict's body was dumped on top of one of the murdered neighbors to throw any suspicion away from Beatrice or Quentin. After Beatrice told the story of Jackson and the many things done at the hand of Quentin, the elders overwhelmingly accepted the young boy as the Heir apparent and Supreme Ruler of their kingdom. She was to bring the child to the hall of the Elders in two weeks to finalize the ceremony and present the young boy to the masses.
Beatrice bathed Quentin and laid him on the sofa before attending her foot. She crawled into the large claw foot tub and let the hot water wash away the blood and disgust she felt from the touch of Jackson. If she ever had doubt about Quentin’s power, that was gone forever. Never before had the child demonstrated any hint of the power of his father and she accepted that he may be a soldier, a worthy call in itself but tonight not only was the power demonstrated but the hint of something new was birthed from the boy’s lips. No longer a Supreme Ruler with limited authority but a King would dominate and rule the globe.
She felt safe now and the promise of co-rule with Quentin ensured her position in the kingdom. She recalled the surprise and exhilaration she felt when the young child addressed her as Queen Beatrice.
She soaked in the warm bath for 30 minutes before getting out covering herself with a long robe, the one Quentin liked to snuggle. She sat down on the sofa besides him gently nudging the boy awake.
“I want to show you something Quentin.”
She put a CD in the player and turned it on.
“What is it mother,” he asked?
Just watch she replied.
A prerecorded newscast came on the screen. It was coming from a mountain range in Europe and the reporter was interviewing people on the street of a small village about a horrendous storm that pummeled the mountain for a few days. Three figures walking out of town with their backs turned toward the camera caught the young boy’s attention. They looked exhausted and bruised but had a look of victory in their stride. One was a woman with blonde hair with a sword on her back and walking beside her was another woman with black hair and pistols on her side and between both of them holding on to their hands was a small girl child.
Those are the people that murdered your father,” she screamed. “Those three girls are the ones that killed the great Shemjaza!”
The young boys gaze carefully scrutinized the three figures on the screen and his facial expression again changed to someone much older. “I will kill them all,” he whispered.
“My father’s enemies are my enemies and I will kill them all!”
The television exploded as glass and smoke belched out from the object of Quentin’s rage.
Beatrice stroked the back of his head whispering, “All in good time my son, all in good time.”
Chapter
1
Beatrice pulled the young child close to her breast and whispered reassuring sounds in his ear. The child snuggled against her and soon fell asleep. The strain of being mortal weighed on her mind. She belonged to the small percentage of woman able to bear children with Fallen Angels. The seclusion was tolerable but separation from her family caused sorry many times. She recalled the terror she felt after waking in the late night hours to find this magnificent figure standing at her bedside. He was the most beautiful image ever conceived in her dreams and when he touched her, she surrendered body and soul.
After she became pregnant, her magnificent husband would visit her several times a month and he promised her the protection and privileges that accompany the title of his wife. She knew nothing of his business or comings and goings and only longed for the times he would visit.
Her limited understanding of the Fallen Angel Empire was gleaned thru servants and emissaries but she knew the male child she birthed had the true blood of the Watchers. She gazed lovingly at the small child and tears fell freely.
Just five years old now and fatherless with a future marked with uncertainty and fear. How will the child develop to his full potential without his fathers influence and training? Destined to reign and rule over a vast kingdom but all seems lost with the death of his father.
How will the others react when they come to test the child and they will come? Will he be accepted as the heir apparent and assume his rightful place or brutally murdered so another child crafted in deceit can usurp the throne. She weighed these thoughts in her mind and drifted to sleep.
A loud knock on the door woke the child and Beatrice at the same time. She knew the officers and elders wouldn't arrive this early so caution prevailed and she carefully hid the young child in a closet.
“Stay here and be very quiet until I come for you. Do you understand me Quentin?”
The young child whispered, “Yes.” She quickly went toward the front door and ask, “Who's there?”
“We are with the elders, came the reply, open the door and let us test the child.”
“Why are you so early,” Beatrice asked? “You are not scheduled to be here for three more days.”
“That doesn't concern you, the voice replied, now open the door and let us enter.”
“I will not open the door and my rank allows me that privilege as the wife of the supreme ruler. With that title, I will ask you to leave until verification can be made concerning this change in plans.”
She walked away and reached for the phone to call elder Jamison but the door flew off its hinges from the force of two large men throwing their bodies against it. They stepped aside and a tall rough looking man stepped inside.
“I am Jackson Pierce representing the middle Appalachia family and I will test the child now.”
“I know you are an elder, Beatrice said, but I will follow protocol concerning the child. A circle of seven elders will be present when the child is tested and by my rank as wife of the supreme ruler, I demand you leave.”
“Enough of this nonsense,” Jackson yelled as he slapped Beatrice across the lips knocking her to the floor. “Your husband failed and suffered the consequence of his failure. He was drunk with power and taking you miserable humans as his personal bed partners was a grave mistake. The spawn you produce has weakened our race across the globe and allowed the noble bloodline to become polluted. He was deceived by his own arrogance and allowed that poison to assure his own destruction.”
“The masses need a new ruler, one with wisdom and the desire to finally end this subservient existence we are forced to endure. I will be the great ruler of the kingdom and purge our noble birthright of the repugnant stain caused by mingling with humans. Your child does not hold the power at this age and I will start my global cleansing with him. You see I guarantee he won't live long enough to develop any power, actually he will die this night, now where is the child,” he screamed
“Do you actually think I will let you hurt my child,” Beatrice asked? He will be the next ruler of our people and you cannot change that. The elders will know if anything befalls the child ahead of his testing and you will be found out.”
“Accidents happen all the time, Jackson replied. The child could let's say fall out a window or down the stairs.”
Beatrice picked up a knife from the kitchen table and stood glaring at the three men. Jackson laughed and focused his energy on the knife and obeying his mental command the knife flew from Beatrice’s grip and sliced thru her foot wedging it securely to the floor. The pain combined forces with the emotions of her husband’s death and the possible murder of her only child, manifesting itself in a scream that pierced the surrounding area. She screamed for help until Jackson laughed and said, “My men killed all the neighbors within hearing distance and besides, this is New York City, do you possibly think anyone will even care about a few screams?”
He advanced toward her and stood face to face with the sobbing woman. A look of pleasure canvassed his face and he slapped her hard across the mouth several more times.
Blood poured freely from the busted lips and flowed downward covering her neck and breasts. He was mesmerized watching the blood turn her body deep red and slowly began licking her neck. Beatrice tried to back away from him but the pain in her foot held her prisoner to his advances. He ripped the clothing from her body and eagerly watched as the white skin was covered in red. This seemed to ignite his passion and Beatrice knew what was going to happen as he ordered his men to wait outside.
She screamed again with all her might repeating over and over, “Don't do this,” as he touched forbidden places. He was like a ravenous animal as he explored the hidden pleasures of the helpless woman. He fumbled at his pants but a small voice said, “Don't hurt my mother.”
Jackson turned and cursed when he saw Quentin standing in the doorway. Containing his passion he pulled away from Beatrice whispering in her ear, “I'll finish the fun with you later.”
He walked toward Quentin and said, “I won't hurt her anymore as long as you do what I say, do you understand?”
Quentin remained silent as he gazed on the knife in his mother’s foot and the blood that now soaked her nude body. An ever so slight grin creased the young face as he turned his eyes on Jackson.
“I am going to take you to the window boy and let you stand on the ledge, view your kingdom if you will, then we'll come back and fix up you momma. First thou can you tell me something? What did your father teach you? I know he taught you something now boy so fess up and tell me. Did he teach you to fly he asked as he motioned to the window?”
“No, Beatrice sobbed, don't hurt him.”
Quentin continued to stare at Jackson but spoke not a word. Jackson knelt down and screamed in his face, “You better be afraid of me boy. I'm going to kill your momma if you don't talk to me and I'll hurt her real bad before she dies.”
His anger grew faster than his patience and he slapped the young child in the mouth. Quentin fell backward but quickly rose to his feet and focused his stare back on Jackson.
“I'll throw you little ass out that window boy,” Jackson yelled.
Quentin’s slight grin grew larger.
“All right you little freak,” Jackson yelled as he advanced on the child again. A slight gasp from Beatrice caused him to turn his eyes on her just in time to see the knife free itself from her foot and sink violently into his chest. He fell on his knees with a look of confusion and terror as Quentin walked toward him.
Quentin got close to his face and with a voice of maturity beyond his years he said, “My father died at the hand of our enemy and instead of giving honor to his noble life, you come here to steal what is my legacy. My mother lies bleeding and abused at your hand but now here you kneel before me as it should be. Tell me oh great leader, what should become of you for this act of treachery? You wanted to test me, well feel the power given to me by my father.”
Jackson groaned in pain as internal organs began to convulse inside his abdomen. Blood gushed from his mouth and his bowels let loose as the internal carnage continued. Jackson managed a scream in between the convulsions and soon his men ran through the door. They both ran toward the boy cursing but Quentin looked at them and yelled, “Rise!”
They immediately were suspended in mid air two feet off the ground. They pointed their guns but screamed in pain when the barrels melted in their hand. Their bodies rotated until they were back to back then slowly they were moved to opposite sides of the room. They begged for mercy and cried until they were propelled forward at an astonishing speed. The crashed into each other and the force of the impact slammed their heads together. Blood oozed from both their ears as slowly the bodies floated back to the corners of the room. Again the explosive acceleration slammed them together and the massive force crushed the heads together. This continued for several minutes until the heads were nothing but bloody stumps on top of a jagged spinal column.
Jackson cried and begged as the young boy once again turned his gaze upon him.
“Well great ruler, what is your command,” Quentin demanded of Jackson?
“Please boy, don't hurt me. I made a mistake and will be your loyal servant if you let me live. It was Berith, he told me to do this so he could become the Supreme Ruler. He couldn't risk exposure being an elder so he promised I would be second in command. I will take you to him and expose him for the traitor he is but stop this torture. It's his fault Great Ruler, not mine.”
Quentin looked at his bloodied mother and asked, “Queen Beatrice, what is your pleasure?”
With rage and disgust searing her gaze, she yelled, “Make him suffer Quentin!”
Jackson screamed as Quentin approached him again.
“You wanted to destroy me giving no thought to the power that may rest inside me. My strength comes from my father and another force your puny reasoning cannot comprehend. Now feel the wrath of my combined power and believe me you will not die until I command it to be so.”
Jackson screamed in pain and horror as a finger ripped off his hand followed by another and another. His eardrums blew out like balloons and burst, spraying blood and fluid on the wall. The pressure inside his body forced his eyes out of their sockets but he still watched in agony as the flesh on his legs ripped off in large chunks. His chest exploded exposing his beating heart and Quentin stood over him and stared.
“You dared to defy me and the power of my father?”
“I will end your miserable life now only because I tire of this and your stench sickens me.”
He watched amused as Jackson’s heart began to swell. With every beat it grew larger and larger and with every beat Jackson screamed in agony. Finally unable to expand any further, the organ exploded with such ferocity it covered the entire wall in blood.
Quentin stepped backed and stood silent as the expression on his young face softened and he ran to his mother clutching her around the legs.
“It's all right, she said as she stroked the back of his head. Lets get cleaned up and I will call the elders to come and help us.”
The elders sent people and the apartment was quickly cleaned and bodies taken away. A drug addict's body was dumped on top of one of the murdered neighbors to throw any suspicion away from Beatrice or Quentin. After Beatrice told the story of Jackson and the many things done at the hand of Quentin, the elders overwhelmingly accepted the young boy as the Heir apparent and Supreme Ruler of their kingdom. She was to bring the child to the hall of the Elders in two weeks to finalize the ceremony and present the young boy to the masses.
Beatrice bathed Quentin and laid him on the sofa before attending her foot. She crawled into the large claw foot tub and let the hot water wash away the blood and disgust she felt from the touch of Jackson. If she ever had doubt about Quentin’s power, that was gone forever. Never before had the child demonstrated any hint of the power of his father and she accepted that he may be a soldier, a worthy call in itself but tonight not only was the power demonstrated but the hint of something new was birthed from the boy’s lips. No longer a Supreme Ruler with limited authority but a King would dominate and rule the globe.
She felt safe now and the promise of co-rule with Quentin ensured her position in the kingdom. She recalled the surprise and exhilaration she felt when the young child addressed her as Queen Beatrice.
She soaked in the warm bath for 30 minutes before getting out covering herself with a long robe, the one Quentin liked to snuggle. She sat down on the sofa besides him gently nudging the boy awake.
“I want to show you something Quentin.”
She put a CD in the player and turned it on.
“What is it mother,” he asked?
Just watch she replied.
A prerecorded newscast came on the screen. It was coming from a mountain range in Europe and the reporter was interviewing people on the street of a small village about a horrendous storm that pummeled the mountain for a few days. Three figures walking out of town with their backs turned toward the camera caught the young boy’s attention. They looked exhausted and bruised but had a look of victory in their stride. One was a woman with blonde hair with a sword on her back and walking beside her was another woman with black hair and pistols on her side and between both of them holding on to their hands was a small girl child.
Those are the people that murdered your father,” she screamed. “Those three girls are the ones that killed the great Shemjaza!”
The young boys gaze carefully scrutinized the three figures on the screen and his facial expression again changed to someone much older. “I will kill them all,” he whispered.
“My father’s enemies are my enemies and I will kill them all!”
The television exploded as glass and smoke belched out from the object of Quentin’s rage.
Beatrice stroked the back of his head whispering, “All in good time my son, all in good time.”