Chronicles of Ara: Perdition Read online

  Tolkien biographer Thomas McFee is sent overseas at the behest of his publisher, Denise Watkins. The Beowulf documents have not remained hidden; word is they have made their way to eccentric antiquarian Donovan Bradley’s bookstore in London. Sensing an opportunity, Denise sends Thomas, her bestselling writer, to Bradley and Son Bibliotheque for the world exclusive.

  Meanwhile, a boy known only as X (that would be me), informs the media over and again that the catalyst of human inspiration has been discovered, and its essence is corrupted. He has decoded Ara’s plan through a Lewis Carroll-influenced mathematical equation, but is condemned as a “clown” and a “conspiracy theorist.” The implosion of the world is imminent, the End of Wars will bring with it a new dawn of time . . . and nobody believes him.

  Ara’s victory is at hand.

  There is, however, one way out and one way only. X alone knows the answer, but he has not been treated well or fairly. It’s up to me, er, X, to disclose that information.

  We resume from here . . .

  NEW AND CONTINUING PLAYERS

  (BEING THE MAIN AND MAIN SUPPORTING PLAYERS

  THROUGH THE CONCLUSION OF THE CURRENT VOLUME)

  THE MIRKWOOD ERA

  Ara, a muse. She alone inspires the entirety of man’s art and invention, and she has become corrupted following the death of Eron.

  Eron, a dragonslayer. As a mortal, he has no knowledge of the existence of the immortal muse who loves him. Eons following his passing, he returns to earth as an Over-dweller, a restless spirit with a progressing agenda.

  King O’n, the first king of Mirkwood and Eron’s father. His kingdom is destroyed shortly following his son’s death. O’n makes a final plea to Ara, with whom he has been able to communicate, though he does not understand why.

  S’n Te, a mystic. He who constructs the sweord that takes the life of Eron, who has turned it against himself in an unexpected act of self-sacrifice. S’n Te may be neither god nor man.

  Taebal, a dragon. Taebal has been Eron’s constant companion, following a siege that killed the dragon’s parents. Upon Eron’s passing, Taebal is adapted as a slave to Ara.

  NINETEENTH CENTURY ANNO DOMINI

  VOLUME ONE: CREATION

  Lewis Carroll (January 27, 1832 – January 14, 1898), author of Alice in Wonderland, whose work will one day lead X to an unprecedented discovery with universal repercussions.

  Alice Liddell (May 4, 1852 – November 16, 1934), as a child, a distinct inspiration. For all intents the Alice in Alice in Wonderland, she inspires Lewis Carroll to compose his greatest work.

  VOLUME TWO: PERDITION

  William Godwin (March 3, 1756 – April 7, 1836), a political philosopher and author best known for the works An Enquiry Concerning Political Justice and Things as They Are; or, The Adventures of Caleb Williams. Father of the future Mary Shelley, he is an unapologetic proponent of political anarchism and aristocratic privilege. William becomes reclusive upon the angry reception of his Memoirs of the Author of a Vindication of the Rights of Woman, a well-intended remembrance of his late wife, Mary Wollstonecraft, that exposes her various premarital affairs and suicide attempts.

  Mary Wollstonecraft (April 27, 1759 – September 10, 1797; in absentia), a feminist philosopher and author of A Vindication of the Rights of Woman. Mary dies of puerperal (childbed) fever when the future Mary Shelley, her only child with William Godwin, is ten days old.

  Mary Jane Vial Clairmont Godwin (assumed 1768 – June 17, 1841), second wife to William Godwin and Mary Godwin’s (Shelley’s) stepmother. Mary Jane is loathed by Mary for not espousing the philosophical virtues of her birth mother, the late Mary Wollstonecraft.

  Claire Mary Jane Clairmont (April 27, 1798 – March 19, 1879), an aspiring writer and daughter of Mary Jane Vial Clairmont Godwin. Claire is the mother of Lord Byron’s daughter, Allegra.

  Francis “Fanny” Imlay (May 14, 1794 – October 9, 1816), the illegitimate child of Mary Wollstonecraft and American speculator Gilbert Imlay.

  Mary Godwin Shelley (August 30, 1797 – February 1, 1851), author of Frankenstein, a novel that will influence technology that will change the world. Daughter of William Godwin and the late Mary Wollstonecraft, who died when her namesake was ten days old.

  Percy Bysshe Shelley (August 4, 1792 – July 8, 1822), a poet, author, and renowned atheist, the radical Percy is husband to Mary Shelley. Among his best known works are the poems Prometheus Unbound, The Revolt of Islam and Adonais: An Elegy on the Death of John Keats, Author of Endymion, Hyperion, etcetera.

  Harriet Westbrook Shelley (August 1, 1795 – assumed November, 1816), the first wife of Percy Bysshe Shelley.

  George Gordon (“Lord”) Byron (January 22, 1788 – April 19, 1824), a poet. Lord Byron, writer of Don Juan and Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage, is fated to become one of the most widely read and influential of all British poets.

  John William Polidori (September 7, 1795 – August 24, 1821), a physician and writer. Dr. Polidori, friends of the Shelleys and Lord Byron, published The Vampyre in 1819, considered the first vampire story.

  Carlo “Collodi” Lorenzini (November 24, 1826 – October 26, 1890), author of The Adventures of Pinocchio.

  Robert Louis Stevenson (November 13, 1850 –December 3, 1894), author of Treasure Island, Kidnapped and, most relevant to the present proceedings, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (original title).

  Fanny Stevenson (March 10, 1840 – February 10, 1914), wife of Robert Louis Stevenson.

  David Bradleigh, an employee (not the owner) of Bradleigh Books and Ephemera.

  TWENTIETH CENTURY ANNO DOMINI

  VOLUME ONE: CREATION

  J.R.R. Tolkien (January 3, 1892 – September 2, 1973), author of the Middle-earth saga including The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Inspired in part by the legend of Beowulf, Tolkien is afforded a rare opportunity when asked to authenticate its storied “missing” piece.

  Edith Mary Tolkien (January 21, 1889 – November 29, 1971), J.R.R. Tolkien’s wife and primary inspiration for Arwen Evenstar and Lúthien Tinúviel, characters in her husband’s Middle-earth legendarium.

  (CONTINUING)

  Franklin McFee, a frustrated writer and father to Thomas McFee. Franklin is one of the team members, along with J.R.R. Tolkien and Peter Levin, who authenticates the previously missing sections of Beowulf.

  Peter Levin, a college professor. It is Peter who delivers the final word on the authenticity of the Beowulf find, calling it a “never-before-seen introduction” to the original work.

  Donovan Bradley, Sr., an eccentric antiquarian and proprietor of Bradley and Son Bibliotheque, a London shop of extraordinarily rare literary treasures.

  Donovan Bradley, Jr. (in absentia), Donovan Sr.’s son and former partner of Bradley and Son Bibliotheque, who perishes in a fire of mysterious origin.

  TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY ANNO DOMINI

  (CONTINUING)

  X. In time, you’ll know the rest.

  Thomas McFee, an author whose biographies of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien have become runaway bestsellers. He has recently completed a sojourn with Donovan Bradley and has returned stateside with troubling knowledge brought with him from London, courtesy of Donovan and others. He has sequestered himself for two years, to study this dangerous information and to write his first fiction.

  Samantha McFee, Thomas’ daughter. Samantha works at the U.S. Embassy in London in a secretive capacity and is aligned, mysteriously, with X. Married to Daniel Baxter, she has recently reunited with her estranged father.

  Daniel Baxter, Samantha’s husband and former military who last served in Iraq. Now discharged, he is faithful to his wife, but may be working for another, opposing side.

  Elizabeth McFee, Thomas’ late wife and inspiration, who has passed of cancer.

  Beleth, a demon-king of Hell.

  Denise Watkins, Thomas’ publisher and owner of New York’s SCARP Publishing. Single, Denise’s relationship with Thomas is platonic, much to her chagrin. She is
close with Samantha and is responsible for Samantha’s ill-fated reconciliation with Thomas. Presently, she lies in a hospital bed following what appears to be an attempt on her life.

  Sidra Ghioto, a photographer. On the side, Sidra works as a substitute high school aide and, discreetly, as a dancer for extra income. Sidra is also an alcoholic; when she finds herself involved with the enigmatic Matthius Alexi she realizes his presence brings with it far more than she can handle.

  Dr. Francine Rawling, Sidra’s court-appointed psychologist.

  Esme Chaconte, Denise Watkins’ former housekeeper and associate (and onetime romantic interest) for Professor Searle. Esme is the birth mother for the Ara incarnate, Adriel. X blames Esme for stealing his research.

  Jerry McConnell, business owner of multiple clubs, who employs Sidra part time.

  Selu Hobbins, a “social archaeologist” who tends to agree with X’s conclusions but is considerably more media-friendly. He assumes the credit for X’s diligence; he is paid handsomely for his work and is sponsored on his excavations by benefactor Lucius Mann.

  Marlo, a young handicapped girl and companion of Brikke’s, unintentionally killed by the giant in an act of compassion.

  Snow, a high school student and intern for the television show Hotseat.

  Lucius Mann, a wealthy benefactor.

  Koloq Fa, Egyptian associate of Lucius Mann. Responsible for team matters in the Middle East.

  Officer Neil Franks, a police officer trainee from New York’s 1st Precinct.

  “Mother” Billie Clance, head bishop of Brooklyn’s wealthiest disenfranchised Roman Catholic church.

  Officer David Michael Palatnek, known as “the short cop of the 1st Precinct.” David becomes obsessed with Sidra and her “hidden secrets.”

  Dr. Michael Katz, chief of staff at New York’s Kingway Hospital. Involved in several high profile indiscretions, which continue to elude the media.

  Aragranessa Flameleaf, an eccentric older lady who may hold the solution to The End of Wars.

  Charlie King, X’s decoy on the New York subway, arrested for being “The London Bomber” as X escapes without incident.

  Brikke, a giant with a questionable identity. Is he man, or is he god?

  Empyrean, host of the television program, Hotseat.

  “The Editor,” a television professional engaged in a covert multimedia operation.

  Professor Edward Searle, proprietor of a school for prodigies and X’s former mentor.

  Adriel, the first mortal incarnate of Ara, taken by the Over-dwellers Eron and Taebal to an unknown destination, possibly the realm of the gods.

  Freak, a young woman, a wanderer of no memory and no known past.

  PERIODS INDETERMINATE

  (CONTINUING)

  Matthius Alexi, senior manager of the Algonquin Hotel by vocation, a painter by avocation. There is evidence that exposes Matthius as a philosopher and a biblical scholar, though he has no recollection of either.

  A HYMN FOR X

  (BEING A RARE HUMANE E-MAIL

  RECEIVED BY YOURS TRULY,

  PROVING THAT REASON

  IS NOT YET DEAD)

  “I understand.

  There will be an End of Wars,

  a war that will pit ideas of man

  against ideas of man.

  I understand.

  In that sense this war

  will be no different than any other.

  I understand.

  The wounds have finally caught us;

  such is the contrast,

  and now we are out of days.

  But I also understand,

  as with every cloud of blood,

  there is also light.

  For every tunnel,

  is an opening.

  And it follows . . .

  For every calamity, a way out.

  For every way out, a deaf ear.

  For every deaf ear, a new step

  towards catastrophe.

  Will you listen now?

  Will you listen to me now?”

  – Anonymous

  Table of Contents

  BOOK THREE

  On the Third

  Measure of Creation

  Percy Bysshe and Mary Shelley

  A Monster

  A God

  Order

  1

  Disambiguation

  15

  Reconciliation

  57

  Variance

  88

  Ascension

  143

  Faith

  157

  Root

  178

  Reason

  214

  BOOK FOUR

  On the Fourth

  Measure of Creation

  Carlo Collodi

  The Woodcarver’s Gift

  An Uprising From the Depths

  Heresy

  227

  Prophecy

  253

  Wrath

  267

  Anomaly

  273

  Alchemy

  278

  A Tenuous Accord

  281

  A Precious Affair

  292

  Legacy

  304

  PRELUDE

  PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

  Finally.

  As the window to the basement of his Park Slope apartment shudders then shatters and an ocean of blood seeps through its bars and Thomas McFee without fight drowns in the ephemeral stew, all he could ponder before his eyes closed was the word: Finally.

  The word. All things begin, and all things end, with the word.

  He was a writer after all.

  Let there be light . . . I’ll swim to the light . . .

  The muse had become corrupted. Just as X or, rather, the young black teen vaguely inspired by Malcolm Little (X) who appropriated the letter for his own purposes including, apparently, some semblance of identity theft.

  Measures of Creation . . . Nothing is as it appears . . .

  Why X comes to Thomas’ mind as the writer attempts to evade any manner of human remains, and worse, will remain a mystery. He swims in the flood, eyes open, always the writer. Not battling. Noticing, in whatever time he has left.

  Certainly, he will not let this opportunity pass him by, though he understands he is not immune to his fate.

  His understanding, anyway.

  Neither are Matthius Alexi’s masterful paintings of the muse, Ara, immune to the calamity. They are each presently in the writer’s possession, save for one. However, the creation and subsequent revisions of that singular piece—an ever-evolving, “innocuous” ninth work based upon a less obsessive but equally provocative vision—will soon figure within the most tragic Measure of Creation of them all.

  ~~~

  There was a period just prior to his nearly two-year sabbatical when Thomas’ publisher, Denise Watkins, convinced her then London-based bestselling client to “attack social media” in an effort to further awareness and sales.

  “You’re not happy with my numbers?” he asks.

  “I’m happy. I’m still waiting for my orgasm.”

  “Keep waiting.”

  “I’m a patient woman.”

  “I’ve sold more books than anyone in this company.”

  “Relative. We’re a small company.”

  “You’re a midsized company. Because of m—”

  “Not good enough.”

  Again, he thinks. Same old, same old.

  “Your ambition will kill you, you know.”

  “My ambition made you, you know.”

  He pauses, choosing his next words carefully. “Don’t you ever get tired of this?”

  “Tired of what?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Clearly not.”

  Thomas sighs. “You expect Chronicles of Amber numbers, that it? Or Lord of —”

  “Chronicles of . . . something.” She palms the air in frustration. “Something new and always . . . just on the
tip of my tongue, and then I seem to lose it, and . . .”

  “And?”

  “And . . . so of what, I’m waiting on you. I know that’s the title I want . . . I have no idea what the title is—”

  “You’re asking me to quickly deliver another book so I can compete against myself, that it?”

  “Exactly,” she smugly responds. “I said I’m waiting on you.”

  “As always . . . I’ve sold more books than anyone in this company,” he repeats, exhausted.

  “Think of how many you haven’t sold.”

  He couldn’t fight that one. So he posted. Never about his books directly, always something relative to one of his themes. His idea of building a social foundation without prostituting his efforts.

  The Facebook post for which he received the most notice: Top 10 Deathbed Regrets.