The Dragon's Den

Here I am with a Literacy Nation hosted Author Showcase, featuring (From left to right) Avasta Honyouti, Myself, William Stieglitz, & Tony Weaver, Jr. We all were here to do one thing; show librarians that our books are here, and they are necessary to know about to spread the messages we want to share.

The American Library Association was a grand event… and I have so many books now, and a lot of information on where to begin searching for publishers to help spread the word!

So far, I’ve been held back from doing many creative endeavors. The summer job has made things a lot… more hectic. Where I’m working at the moment requires my utmost attention, and, for the time being, I’ll be slowing down on making lore videos for a little bit. I’ll update the lore vids in time, I promise.

As for readings… I would like to provide a preview of what’s to come. A preview of Book Two will be listed below!

Keep an eye out for more updates!

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“All rise.”

The audience of vacant stares followed the command of the prophet, Noah. Bringing in his outstretched hands, he folded them below his torso.

“Let us pray. Father God, we gather today as we do all days to seek Your wisdom and guidance…”

Noah paused and stared past the light centered in the middle of his podium, the glow from the sacred box piercing through the yawning hole in the ceiling of the church. Splinters of broken wood covered the scattered bibles on the ground, all desecrated by that boy and the devil that clung to his soul like a vice. Closing his eyes, he continued his prayer.

“Father God, it has been two months since we have been transgressed and entrenched upon. We had hoped that boy could have reached out to you before the devil stole him from your grasp, Lord. Yet, we are reminded that Your love and mercy are greater than any act of defilement. We ask for Your strength to forgive and to heal, to rebuild not only our church but our spirits as well.”

Flies and bees flew into the domain, curiously slipping from front to back. Not one parishioner moved from their silent prayer, even if one landed on their hand. A testament to their conviction, they would not allow even a single creature break their connection to their God.

“We ask of you to reach out to that troubled soul and—”

Suddenly, his voice caught and his head twisted and jerked. Breath squeezed in his lungs as he clutched the box in his hand. The light distorted, splitting from a single stream to a mesh of needles that stretched across the room. Those in prayer did not open their eyes. They did not stop their orison. Seconds passed before the throes finished and the box was released. 

“May You continue to guide and bless us,” he continued without hesitation, “not only for ourselves but for all who seek Your truth. In God’s name we pray. Amen.”

The congregation echoed the final “Amen”. Eyes all opened, each person awaiting their next direction. Noah looked to his right, his deacon, young and smooth-faced, walking to his side. “I must commune with my apostles. Go forth into the world and spread His word.”

The clergy in their flock immediately turned to abscond. It was as if their souls returned to their bodies, only briefly lifted from their mortal forms to worship. The priest took the box and both he and his deacon traveled to the stairway, down into the lightless depths. Past the doorway of the small room, five of the apostles were already awaiting the two. A small, round wooden table set before them. Atop the table, a second box covered in polished mahogany awaited its offering. As the five apostles acknowledged the approaching priest with a solemnity that cast a heavy weight among them all, the priest set the glowing white box down into the second. Closing it, he sighed as one of the apostles, a young, bright-eyed follower, began.

“We heard what happened,” she said, her voice as light as a gentle breeze, “We could have taken action far sooner.”

“Apologies, my apostles— My Angels.” The priest rasped, clearing his throat of phlegm. The room was still so damp. “Preparations were necessary for our mission.”

“Perhaps it were wiser to send Joseph to speak with him first instead of Abner,” said the tall apostle, holding the hand of their smaller one, “Abner’s human desire was what made him shatter in the first place.”

“That was an oversight,” The priest grumbled, “Abner’s actions were unlike Christ to be wracked with fear to the point of hostility.”

“I’d say David got it right,” a gruff, fuzzy faced apostle muttered, “Kill the demon and be done with it. David must have known something was amiss when Abner was vanquished.”

The priest grumbled, but nodded all the same. “David was indeed one of our strongest angels among us. His loss is deeply felt, especially in times like these.”

“Then why wait?” The stalwart one asked, their body barely able to fit in the room, “We had ample time to strike.”

“We’d scare the other humans, Ms. Judith.” The small apostle said, holding a taller one’s hand tighter, “Some were already scared and left.”

“Then we get more.” The armored Judith snapped. “Now, shall we destroy him in the name of God? Will we not heed the commandments? He has already fallen too far into the pits of hell, so unless we—”

The priest raised a hand. “No, my brethren. God spoke to me. Though the boy has violated our chambers deeply, He has said that his soul is not beyond redemption.”

“Seriously?” The deacon snapped, “He’s destroyed an angel and an apostle within months of each other! If that dragon’s not separated from that fool—”

“Ease, Luke, God has planned for this to happen,” Noah chided, touching the deacon on his shoulder. “This is a trial that He designed, it would not be so simple.”

Luke, scowled, but said nothing more. Noah regarded him with a gentle nod, turning to address the others. “Yes, it is a trial for us all. We must remain steadfast in our faith and trust in God’s plan, even when it seems beyond our understanding.”

“Well then, what’s the next move?” Luke asked, “Where is he now?”

The priest straightened, folding his hands behind his back. “The boy is preparing to travel overseas. In a week’s time, he will be away from our homeland and beyond our immediate reach. Our deadline is still a fair ways away, but we cannot afford to waste any time, as close as we came to salvation.”

“Tell us what we must do, Father,” The small apostle said, holding the taller one’s hand tighter, “As the Lord’s faithful soldiers, we will see your command through.”

The priest looked around the room, meeting each apostle’s eyes with a steady gaze. With a deep breath, he turned his head, twisting his thoughts around carefully. Seeing no other way of extrapolating his plan, he inhaled, and spoke. “We require Jonah.”

The apostles all gasped in unison, the mere utterance of the name causing the somber silence of the room to erupt in chatter. 

“Jonah?”

“For this? Truly?”

“Is it really that time?”

“Yes,” the priest confirmed, his voice steady despite the murmurs of shock and awe from the apostles. The comments died down. “God will allow the boy a place in Heaven, but he must repent for his actions before that is possible. Jonah will see that we both rehabilitate him and return the Lord’s last beast to whence it came.”

“Oh, I get it,” Luke nodded, chuckling mid-way, “It’s a fantastic plan.”

“Then I take it we will be joining Jonah?” The tall one asked. The priest nodded. 

“Once the boy has come to understand his place in the world, he will call on us to take away his greatest sin. You will perform your duties as your soldiers would while within the whale.”

“And should he fight against us?” The little one asked. The priest raised his head above the apostles, his cold gaze ensured they heard him.

“Then like a lamb to the slaughter, you are to spill his blood, without hesitation.”