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« on: November 11, 2019, 10:41:16 am »This snip-it is from another WIP. (work in progress) It s the beginning to the third book in The Cup and the Blade series. Working Title: Infernal Coven
Infernal Coven
Prologue
Year of Our Lord: 1692
The Reverend Samuel Paris gathered the men together in the clearing near Jerimiah’s cabin in the forest. The glow of the bonfire in the center of the group cast shadows across their grim faces. Samuel opened his arms and spoke to the assembled. “I welcome you!” He found each set of eyes staring back at him and approved. He spread his hands wide and turned, as if to offer himself to the group. But they knew better. One of them had brought the infant child, screaming his anger, his fists flaying in the air.
“He shall be The One. Yet what we are about to attempt has never been done before. We are the GROUNDBREAKERS” Samuel’s voice rose as the wind began whipping the branches of hardwoods and evergreens around them. The scent of rain permeated the air as he continued. “We will live on through this child. He must accept all our power and more than live. He must thrive and yae build upon what we bestow upon him now. If this child survives, we will send him to a time where we will rule the world with our power. Wealth, Property, and Prowess shall be ours. Whatever wish and it will be granted! Prepare yourselves!”
Beyond the ring of sorcerer’s a snuffling and snorting mussed with the fallen pine needles and leaves, searching for grubs and other morsels. His Master had been imprisoned, her child lay within the ring of his mutilators. Creature. She called me her Creature. His deformed body ached with each movement. Slumped to all fours, his hands morphed to clumps of flesh with claws. His teeth, ground down in the back of his mouth, yet the front constantly tearing at his formless lips, pointed and jagged from the change. As he walked, his misshapen back rolled like the muscles of a tiger, yet bulged like a bear. What tufts of hair remained on his body wisped in the summer warmth. His blue eyes enlarged, dripped with infectious poison. He kept circling the group as they worked their magic. The rage within him growing.
Each sorcerer threw his cloak to the ground with theatrical flourish. They raised their hands to mirror The Reverend and began chanting. Tiny little orbs of transparent black bubbles sparkling with starlight shot from their extended fingers, floated around the child creating a vortex of malignant energy. As the power slipped from the sorcerer’s bodies, they changed. It began with the fingertips, puckering and shrinking. Their faces became gaunt, eyes haunted with the knowledge of sacrifice.
Samuel waved his skeletal hands, and cried out, “At the time of the last transfer, set to your minds the year 1996. Engrave to your memory the image of mother and birth. Feel the pain of her labor as your power shifts and is reborn to the world that awaits. Give to the child. Through HIM we shall be reborn.”
The sparkling bubbles, like tiny floating galaxies drifted down to the sobbing child. Each little bubble of energy hovered above the baby’s head, then descended as if suddenly overcome by gravity. As they hit the infant there was an audible POP and the sparkling energy encompassed the tiny body with an inky film, which slowly seeped into the babe’s skin.”
“Now gentlemen, think, while I summon the Master for the final act.”
Samuel’s hands waved through the air as he began to chant. The Creature, though fully aware and able to understand the things going on around him, could not discern what the sorcerer was chanting but it caused aches in his body. The temperature around the area dipped until condensation puffed out of the man’s mouth with each syllable. The Creature trembled with hatred.
The bonfire gave a loud crackling SNAP as it burst higher into the air. Something began to form within the flames. A shadow at first, if you can call darkness within a burning light shadow. The flames coalesced into a being, such a being that had never been seen in New England, yea on earth, and terror gripped the hearts of the men before it. It’s eyes were dark pools of black fire, as the rest of the wavering flames formed a torso; arms spurt forth in a shower of embers as the head formed around the already present lidless eyes.
Samuel fell to the ground in supplication. His hands stretched out on the ground before him. He spoke to the earth, yet his voice carried about the clearing. “We have gathered before you, ready, willing and able to complete our final task. Our power has been transferred, and the babe is ready. We ask only that you deliver the child to the time of destiny, the future year of 1996. Let the babe be born, and we will gather before you again when The Chosen has reached his potential.”
The fiery being leapt toward the sky, then it fell into a dive, landing upon the child in a brilliant rush of heat. As the flames died, and the area grew dark once again, the infant’s screams ceased.
The child was gone.
*
1996
Mrs. Putnam was in labor. Mr. Putnam stood beside his bride, her hand clasped inside his like a vice grip. “Come on, Honey you can do it! One more push!”
His wife screamed as the babe’s head crowned. “I can see your child Putnam’s! It’s coming! Push now, push!”
Mrs. Putnam gave a final howling cry as the Doctor pulled the pink baby from between her legs. Mr. Putnam smiled as his wife held their son for the very first time. “He’s perfect darling! You did a wonderful job!”
Mrs. Putnam was cooing at her son, as she pulled down her gown to bare her breast. As the baby boy latched on she grimaced, then smiled. “You do the honors…” She whispered to her husband.
“Caleb. His name will be Caleb Jerimiah Putnam.” He smiled down at his new born son and wife. His little son’s eyes sparkled with a dark blue light, as he suckled and stared at his mother. Jerimiah was filled with love.
“He’s perfect. My little Caleb.”
“That’s my boy!” He whispered down. He is my boy.
“He will certainly grow strong and proud, just like his papa. Give us a kiss, Daddy.”
“With pleasure my love.”
Mr. and Mrs. Putnam kissed each other, then took turns holding the new baby, Caleb.
*
Present day June 30, 2016
A darkness is gathering. Like a brewing storm in the heavens, a creeping black mist settles upon the river. The river not only bordered Kensie’s land, it wound around and down through to where Caleb lived. He could see the gathering darkness and Jerry taunted him constantly about it.
“They’re hereee…..”
Shut up! It’s just fog. There’s always fog on the river.
“But not this kind of fog and you know it! They are coming for you. It is OUR time now.”
If you don’t stop this incessant…
“You’ll what? Kill me? How are you going to accomplish that one? Oh you could kill yourself maybe, and just as you were to complete the task, my energy could take your weakened state over! Do it! Kill me! Kill you! They won’t have a problem with me. I’m ready!”
Caleb shook his head determined to stop entertaining Jerry. He wasn’t thinking of killing himself at all, but if he was honest with himself, he knew the fog wasn’t just fog.
Infernal Coven
Prologue
Year of Our Lord: 1692
The Reverend Samuel Paris gathered the men together in the clearing near Jerimiah’s cabin in the forest. The glow of the bonfire in the center of the group cast shadows across their grim faces. Samuel opened his arms and spoke to the assembled. “I welcome you!” He found each set of eyes staring back at him and approved. He spread his hands wide and turned, as if to offer himself to the group. But they knew better. One of them had brought the infant child, screaming his anger, his fists flaying in the air.
“He shall be The One. Yet what we are about to attempt has never been done before. We are the GROUNDBREAKERS” Samuel’s voice rose as the wind began whipping the branches of hardwoods and evergreens around them. The scent of rain permeated the air as he continued. “We will live on through this child. He must accept all our power and more than live. He must thrive and yae build upon what we bestow upon him now. If this child survives, we will send him to a time where we will rule the world with our power. Wealth, Property, and Prowess shall be ours. Whatever wish and it will be granted! Prepare yourselves!”
Beyond the ring of sorcerer’s a snuffling and snorting mussed with the fallen pine needles and leaves, searching for grubs and other morsels. His Master had been imprisoned, her child lay within the ring of his mutilators. Creature. She called me her Creature. His deformed body ached with each movement. Slumped to all fours, his hands morphed to clumps of flesh with claws. His teeth, ground down in the back of his mouth, yet the front constantly tearing at his formless lips, pointed and jagged from the change. As he walked, his misshapen back rolled like the muscles of a tiger, yet bulged like a bear. What tufts of hair remained on his body wisped in the summer warmth. His blue eyes enlarged, dripped with infectious poison. He kept circling the group as they worked their magic. The rage within him growing.
Each sorcerer threw his cloak to the ground with theatrical flourish. They raised their hands to mirror The Reverend and began chanting. Tiny little orbs of transparent black bubbles sparkling with starlight shot from their extended fingers, floated around the child creating a vortex of malignant energy. As the power slipped from the sorcerer’s bodies, they changed. It began with the fingertips, puckering and shrinking. Their faces became gaunt, eyes haunted with the knowledge of sacrifice.
Samuel waved his skeletal hands, and cried out, “At the time of the last transfer, set to your minds the year 1996. Engrave to your memory the image of mother and birth. Feel the pain of her labor as your power shifts and is reborn to the world that awaits. Give to the child. Through HIM we shall be reborn.”
The sparkling bubbles, like tiny floating galaxies drifted down to the sobbing child. Each little bubble of energy hovered above the baby’s head, then descended as if suddenly overcome by gravity. As they hit the infant there was an audible POP and the sparkling energy encompassed the tiny body with an inky film, which slowly seeped into the babe’s skin.”
“Now gentlemen, think, while I summon the Master for the final act.”
Samuel’s hands waved through the air as he began to chant. The Creature, though fully aware and able to understand the things going on around him, could not discern what the sorcerer was chanting but it caused aches in his body. The temperature around the area dipped until condensation puffed out of the man’s mouth with each syllable. The Creature trembled with hatred.
The bonfire gave a loud crackling SNAP as it burst higher into the air. Something began to form within the flames. A shadow at first, if you can call darkness within a burning light shadow. The flames coalesced into a being, such a being that had never been seen in New England, yea on earth, and terror gripped the hearts of the men before it. It’s eyes were dark pools of black fire, as the rest of the wavering flames formed a torso; arms spurt forth in a shower of embers as the head formed around the already present lidless eyes.
Samuel fell to the ground in supplication. His hands stretched out on the ground before him. He spoke to the earth, yet his voice carried about the clearing. “We have gathered before you, ready, willing and able to complete our final task. Our power has been transferred, and the babe is ready. We ask only that you deliver the child to the time of destiny, the future year of 1996. Let the babe be born, and we will gather before you again when The Chosen has reached his potential.”
The fiery being leapt toward the sky, then it fell into a dive, landing upon the child in a brilliant rush of heat. As the flames died, and the area grew dark once again, the infant’s screams ceased.
The child was gone.
*
1996
Mrs. Putnam was in labor. Mr. Putnam stood beside his bride, her hand clasped inside his like a vice grip. “Come on, Honey you can do it! One more push!”
His wife screamed as the babe’s head crowned. “I can see your child Putnam’s! It’s coming! Push now, push!”
Mrs. Putnam gave a final howling cry as the Doctor pulled the pink baby from between her legs. Mr. Putnam smiled as his wife held their son for the very first time. “He’s perfect darling! You did a wonderful job!”
Mrs. Putnam was cooing at her son, as she pulled down her gown to bare her breast. As the baby boy latched on she grimaced, then smiled. “You do the honors…” She whispered to her husband.
“Caleb. His name will be Caleb Jerimiah Putnam.” He smiled down at his new born son and wife. His little son’s eyes sparkled with a dark blue light, as he suckled and stared at his mother. Jerimiah was filled with love.
“He’s perfect. My little Caleb.”
“That’s my boy!” He whispered down. He is my boy.
“He will certainly grow strong and proud, just like his papa. Give us a kiss, Daddy.”
“With pleasure my love.”
Mr. and Mrs. Putnam kissed each other, then took turns holding the new baby, Caleb.
*
Present day June 30, 2016
A darkness is gathering. Like a brewing storm in the heavens, a creeping black mist settles upon the river. The river not only bordered Kensie’s land, it wound around and down through to where Caleb lived. He could see the gathering darkness and Jerry taunted him constantly about it.
“They’re hereee…..”
Shut up! It’s just fog. There’s always fog on the river.
“But not this kind of fog and you know it! They are coming for you. It is OUR time now.”
If you don’t stop this incessant…
“You’ll what? Kill me? How are you going to accomplish that one? Oh you could kill yourself maybe, and just as you were to complete the task, my energy could take your weakened state over! Do it! Kill me! Kill you! They won’t have a problem with me. I’m ready!”
Caleb shook his head determined to stop entertaining Jerry. He wasn’t thinking of killing himself at all, but if he was honest with himself, he knew the fog wasn’t just fog.
