Review: The Book of Paul by Richard Long---A mind-bending, fast-faced horror novel. Loved by Stephen King

 Author’s synopsis:

In the rubble-strewn wasteland of Alphabet City, a squalid tenement conceals a treasure "beyond all imagining"-- an immaculately preserved, fifth century codex. The sole repository of ancient Hermetic lore, it contains the alchemical rituals for transforming thought into substance, transmuting matter at will...and attaining eternal life.

When Rose, a sex and pain addicted East Village tattoo artist has a torrid encounter with Martin, a battle-hardened loner, they discover they are unwitting pawns on opposing sides of a battle that has shaped the course of human history. At the center of the conflict is Paul, the villainous overlord of an underground feudal society, who guards the book's occult secrets in preparation for the fulfillment of an apocalyptic prophecy. 

 The action is relentless as Rose and Martin fight to escape Paul's clutches and Martin's destiny as the chosen recipient of Paul's sinister legacy.  Science and magic, mythology and technology converge in a monumental battle where the stakes couldn't be higher: control of the ultimate power in the universe--the Maelstrom.

The Book of Paul is the first of seven volumes in a sweeping mythological narrative tracing the mystical connections between Hermes Trismegistus in ancient Egypt, Sophia, the female counterpart of Christ, and the Celtic druids of Clan Kelly.

Note from the Author:  The Book of Paul is not for the faint-hearted. There is graphic sex, sadomasochism and gore. There are also plenty of laughs along the way, often sucker punches that ease the tension only long enough to make the revelations even more thrilling and chilling. The aim of it all? Question everything.Magic and mystery and wonder are everywhere. So are cruelty, sadness and terror. 

I purchased The Book of Paul a while ago and it took its place on my to-be-read pile? Or in an eReader age is that “in the to-be-read file”? Life has a way of draining the life from you, and the last year has been that in spades. So when things finally settled into some semblance of a new routine, I picked up this complex, well-written novel and dove in. I am glad I did not try to start it sooner, the intricate plot and characters, the references to myth, religion and science and the action of the novel required close attention.

The novel weaves Druid, Christian, Gnosticism and a dose of modern science in a pre-apocalyptic story. The plot is revolves around Martin and Rose, modern day seemingly unknowing keepers of ancient “truth” and traditions. It is non-sequential and mystical while at the same time raw and real. It is the first book of what is to be a series and weaves endtimes with horror, love, redemption, reincarnation and sex.

Of course given my own fascination with Celtic/Druid mythology, as incorporated into my own work, I was hooked from the beginning by the warring Clans.

Mr. Long writes flawlessly from a grammar and mechanics standpoint. I was initially put off by the multiple point of view shifts that occurred, sometimes mid-paragraph. I reached out Mr. Long who confirmed my suspicion that it was indeed a deliberate choice to create a sense of the disjointed reality consistent with the book’s themes. My one criticism is that he was not consistent in his inconsistency. There are stretches where the point-of-view was clear, strong and singular while n other places it resumed fragmentation. These global shifts within the novel did not seem to mirror plot arc. There is also an unnamed narrator who pops in an out. All of which, despite my own personal issues with this as a distraction, Mr. Long carries off well.

This is a novel that was very good on a first read and like other such multi-dimensional stories (in more ways than one) should get better with future re-reads, which I recommend and plan on---as soon as I whittle the pile down.

About the author: 

Richard Long is the author of The Book of Paul and the forthcoming young-adult fantasy series The Dream Palace.  He lives in Manhattan with his wonderful wife, two amazing children and wicked black cat,

Merlin. Visit Richard on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

I give The Book of Paul                 

       and look forward to the next part of the cycle.   

Forbidden Bible meets Horror. The Book of Paul by Richard Long

Please enjoy this interview with Richard Long, author of the nail-biting supernatural thriller,The Book of Paul. Then read on to learn how you can win huge prizes as part of this blog tour, including a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.

1. Tell us about the spark of inspiration that eventually grew into The Book of Paul.

The initial inspiration for The Book of Paul came when I wrote the first line of the first chapter calledExercises: “He practiced smiling.”  I wanted to explore a character who had been so damaged by childhood trauma that he could no longer feel compassion, joy, affection, and had, accordingly, committed all kinds of horrible acts. I wondered if such a person could ever regain his emotional capacity and be redeemed by love.

2. What was the research process like for this book (which can at times deal with some pretty heady and—frankly—grotesque goings-on)? Any horror stories to share?

There are many aspects to the story, so the research was really extensive. I love doing the research almost as much as the writing, so it’s a joy for me to read and learn so many new things. The creation mythology literally goes back to square one and builds from there, tracing the history of Hermetic and Gnostic philosophy, alchemy, druidism and pagan mythology–particularly Egyptian, Greek and Celtic traditions. There’s also a strong science fiction element involving quantum physics, artificial intelligence, life extension and what’s known as The Singularity. Other lines of exploration involved Irish genealogy and what I call the pain culture: tattoos, elaborate piercings and body modifications.

I made some gruesome discoveries along the way. The most disturbing was the Extreme Body Modification website I stumbled upon, which is one of the most horrifying things I’ve ever seen. I first saw it in the early days of the Internet, which is pretty amazing in itself. I checked recently and it’s still there, though I didn’t have the stomach to peek inside again. I’m actually as squeamish as some of my readers about certain things, which is probably why the horror comes across so vividly. If something scares the hell out of me, it’s easy for me to convey that fear and revulsion.

3. Tell us about Paul. Who is he and what is his book about?

The Book is a 4th century codex, the only one of it’s kind. How and why it was made and what it contains is one of the central mysteries of the series, so I’m not going to spill those beans. Paul is every bit as mysterious. When he is first introduced you might think he’s a serial killer involved with the occult in some way. As the story progresses you discover some really unexpected things about him. One thing is clear from the outset – he is one very nasty piece of work. I’ve always felt that any horror novel or thriller is only as good as the villain. I definitely aimed for the fences with Paul.

4. There is a strong tarot undercurrent to this novel. The protagonist even makes his living by reading the cards. Why did you decide to work it into The Book of Paul, and how does it surface throughout the course of the story?

I actually did tarot and numerology readings when I lived in the East Village many years ago. The tarot led me to a lot of dark occult explorations, which are mirrored in William’s journey. I was lucky enough to pull out of that nosedive and hop over to the Buddhist side of the fence. William is not so fortunate. The reader gets drawn into William’s world through his first person narration as he talks about becoming a collector of ancient occult manuscripts, which leads him to the tarot. Then he gradually reveals more through his journal entries, which contain the meat of the mythology and all the Hermetic and Gnostic lore. Finally, he discovers that the tarot is actually related to an apocalyptic prophecy, which Paul is determined to fulfill by any means necessary, which is very bad news for Billy.

5. At almost 500 pages, this is not a short novel. From start to finish, how long did it take you to write, revise, and ready for publication?

I’ve written over 2,000 pages for The Book of Paul and the series. The first draft of this volume was close to a thousand pages long. I cut out eight characters and their storylines in the second draft, which netted my first agent. She wanted a lower page count, so many of the narrator’s interior musings were cut. Those were actually some of my favorite sections. Then I moved to another agent and he wanted more of the mythology put back in, so it grew close to this size. After six months he hadn’t sold it, so I got sick of the whole process, wrote it the way I wanted, and published it.

6. The concept of synchronicity plays heavily in this novel. What attracts you to it, and has it proven a heavy influence in your own life?

I’ve always been a spiritual seeker. I was raised as a Catholic, but the nuns effectively beat those beliefs out of me quickly. Even as a kid, I couldn’t accept the idea of God as the big guy in the sky with the white beard. Science and mythology and my own imagination showed me all kind of possibilities. I first noticed synchronicity when the number eleven kept showing up for me all over the place–addresses, hotel rooms, etc. Someone suggested I get a book on numerology and I discovered that eleven was my “name number” and also a power number. I started noticing all kinds of things after that, coincidences that were just too weird to brush away. Then I read some Jung, and when I got into quantum physics that sealed the deal. Synchronicity for me now is the manifestation of interconnectedness in the universe. There is nothing you can perceive that isn’t connected to you. As the Buddhists say, “no separate self.”

7. Paul is… scary (we’ll leave it at that). How were you able to effectively become this deranged character, and how did you hang on to your own humanity after the fact?

I would imagine it’s much the same as when Anthony Hopkins played Hannibal Lecter. He was very disdainful of method actors who got all caught up in identifying with their characters. There’s a famous story about Laurence Olivier and Dustin Hoffman on the set of Marathon Man. Hoffman was a method actor and he stayed up all night before their torture scene together and Olivier said something like, “Why don’t you try acting, dear boy?”

That being said, I’m not immune to being disturbed by these things. When I wrote the traumatic scenes of him and Martin–well, I cried when I wrote them and they stayed with me for days. So maybe the method is working for me too.

Paul is great to write because it’s like letting my Id out of a cage. I get to play out my most evil imaginings and nobody gets hurt. I also had to find Paul’s humanity to make him really interesting for me. I didn’t want him to be some cartoon monster. Paul is also in a lot of pain; he was traumatized as a boy and his life was changed forever. By the end of the story you get to see many other sides of him. And of course, there’s a lot more to come.

8. Irish mythology is woven into The Book of Paul, and at one point, Paul even makes a sarcastic quip about the luck of the Irish. Why Irish, and how all does its culture influence the story?

When I’m writing, I go into a daydream state where I imagine the character and what he or she looks like and where they are and what they’re doing. No outline usually. I sit back and watch and listen. If it’s great the way I imagine it, then writing the dialog is like taking dictation. When I wrote the first chapters with Paul, I was surprised because I kept hearing him speak with an Irish brogue, but his accent went in and out – sometimes really thick, sometimes a little lilt, sometimes no accent at all. So I’m thinking, what’s that about?

I come from Irish American stock, but my parents told me absolutely nothing about their parents other than to say they were cruel. So that’s the starting point with Paul. He’s the ultimate bad dad. The more I explored Paul, the deeper it led me into Celtic mythology, Irish genealogy and history. I suppose I’m trying to find the missing links of my own heritage. My grandmother was born in Ireland, so I have dual citizenship, even though I haven’t been there yet. I’m thinking I’ll go next year when I’m writing the third sequel.

9. The Book of Paul is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and in that way, it can be difficult to classify. So tell us, who is your target audience for this novel?

Given the fact that there are some rough episodes in the story, you might think that the so-called target audience would be men who are into horror, thrills and mayhem. But women actually seem to be my biggest, or at least, my most vocal fans. I’ve been getting some really enthusiastic reviews from men, but even more so from women, who surprisingly seem less squeamish than some of the male reviewers.

The Book of Paul doesn’t fit into any neat, tidy genre. It’s very complex and like you say, unlike anything I’ve read before either. There’s a Pulp Fiction element to it, with quirky characters in a seedy environment. There’s a major religious/mythological mystery for the Dan Brown crowd. It’s very funny, but incredibly poignant. It’s very disturbing, but there are lots of fast-paced action scenes. There’s romance and kinky sex. Something for everybody.

10. Why did you decide to self-publish The Book of Paul, and how has the journey been so far?

Read above. The traditional publishing industry in general is like a boxer on the ropes in the tenth round. For fiction it’s even worse. Add first-time novelist to the list and sprinkle on an unclassifiable genre for a little seasoning. I had two agents who were well known and successful, and very enthusiastic about the book. But the editors they reached wouldn’t take a chance on it. I could have kept trying, but frankly, I ran out of patience.

How has it been so far? The book is out in the world and it’s just the way I wanted it. I have complete control over everything I do, including the cover art, which is also exactly how I want it. The marketing is a lot of hard work, particularly the social marketing, which I had never done before. But that’s turned out to be a lot of fun too. I’m meeting so many great people–other authors and readers–and getting such a strong response on the book that it feels like a vindication. See? I told you so. Nyah! Nyah! Nyah!

As part of this special promotional extravaganza sponsored by Novel Publicity, the price of the Book of Paul eBook edition is just 99 cents this week. What’s more, by purchasing this fantastic book at an incredibly low price, you can enter to win many awesome prizes. The prizes include a Kindle Fire, $300 in Amazon gift cards, 5 autographed copies of the book, and a look into your future through a free tarot reading performed by the author.

All the info you need to win one of these amazing prizes isRIGHT HERE. Remember, winning is as easy as clicking a button or leaving a blog comment–easy to enter; easy to win!

To win the prizes:

1.      Purchase your copy of The Book of Paul for just 99 cents

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About The Book of Paul:  A cross-genre thriller that combines the brooding horror of Silence of the Lambs with the biting humor of Pulp Fiction.  Get it on Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

About the author: 

Richard Long is the author of The Book of Paul and the forthcoming young-adult fantasy series The Dream Palace.  He lives in Manhattan with his wonderful wife, two amazing children and wicked black cat, Merlin. Visit Richard on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or GoodReads.

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Sample Sunday: Fixing Collateral Damage

I recently joined to a local writing group. About half are non-fiction, technical writers wanting to branch out into fiction.  So when the group leader suggested everyone try their at a short story, it was intriguing. When the word count max was set at about 1000, I bit my tongue.  They really wanted a short short.  Okay I was game. At the same time, I was experimenting with formatting checks and balances. So I could kill two birds with one stone.  A short piece for the assignment that also lent itself formatting experimentation. So here is the rough draft of my modern horror take on an old fairy tale.

It's pretty much a first draft, but was fun to write. I may expand it out into a longer short-

What do you think?

DON'T FORGET, DARK DEALINGS, is on SALE for Kindle until 7/31 with 50% of royalties going to Kick Cancer Overboard--links to the right >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

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Once upon a time there were three pigs.  One lived in a house of straw, the other lived in a house of sticks and the third lived in a house made of brick just outside Branson, Missouri.  Well, they weren’t real pigs, just very sloppy. And the first house wasn’t straw but it was a double-wide with a straw tiki bar out back.  They had each been featured on the reality show “Hoarders”. That is where he found them.

Brad was the star of The Fixers. He and his crew would swoop in and do an intervention.  It might be a bad relationship, or a home in disrepair.  Brad had met the Poricy brothers when a neighbor had emailed his producer, Mike, about the state of their three adjoining properties.

The producer, Brad and the station hired psychologist, Lila Hood had met all three siblings separately and together. The vote was two out of three, Lila was her usual soft-hearted self.  Brad thought maybe if he could get the hot Caribbean redhead in sack, she would come around. He and Mike agreed that the brothers had no idea they needed help. They were a wash out, lazy shuffling brain dead wastes. Lila insisted that their apathy was part of the disease.  Majority ruled, ratings ruled.

But Brad and Mike had other plans. While the reality of human networks were ratings.  Brad’s pack wanted order.  Packs thrived on order from their members and those in their territory.   And the Poricy brothers lived in their territory.  As alpha wolf of his pack, Brad had to set the tone.  Mike was his second, his sergeant-at-arms.  The neighbor who had called the station was Luke Farkas, a beta looking to advance.  Brad had to admire his initiative, as long as he didn’t over-reach, then Brad would have to take him out.

Brad and Mike decided they would smoke out, George, the youngest Poricy. He lived in the tiki-bar trailer and his brothers didn’t appear to be home. If he stumbled into the woods, they would be waiting under the light of the full moon for him. The pack would eat well this night.

But George didn’t behave as expected. He dragged his slow sorry ass over to his brother, Sean’s clapboard house. No problem.  As Alpha, Brad was patient. So the next month passed.

One Friday after a staff meeting, he stopped Lila in the hall and suggested dinner.  He was not surprised when she said yes. They always did, eventually. What was a surprise was when this flame-haired bombshell suggested they go to the rib place south of town on Route 65. Even better was the way she chowed down. He half expected her to suck the marrow out of the bones. The downside was when she left him at the curb. “You know,” she said, “I don’t shit where I eat.”  He would get her past the work arrangement. In fact, after he was done with the Poricy Brothers, he would consider turning her. Her argumentative spirit was a pain in a human but would be an asset in a mate.

During the day of the next full moon, Brad had Mike and a few betas adjust the electrical system at Sean Poricy’s house and disconnect the ground wires.  The weather forecast was for a line of violent thunderstorms to move through that night. It would be blamed on lightning. A loud boom and the pounding of rain on the roof of his F350 pick-up set the stage for what was to come.  Brad checked his watch and counted down the seconds.  As if planned a bolt split a tree halfway down the street. Within moments, the dance of flames could be seen in the windows of the wooden clapboard house.

“Two down, one to go.”

“Sir.” Mike had dropped his head into a submissive position even as he gestured toward the house. “You might want to look at this.”

“Shit. They are too brain-dead to die.”  Brad watched as George and Sean Poricy stumbled across the side yard to big brother, Seabrook’s house. They swatted at each other trying to smother the flames that ate away at their limbs.  A silhouette, Seabrook, appeared just off the porch. He doused his brothers down with a hose like he was watering the lawn. The three vanished inside Seabrook’s brick walls.

“Sir, what shall we do now?”

He thought about Lila and his plan to turn her.  “We will not wait until the next full moon. You and I will handle this tomorrow.”

Mike nodded. “This is a tougher hunt than we thought it would be.”

“And all the sweeter for it.”  Maybe he should turn Lila now, he thought, so they could share this kill together.

Lila was “on location” for a special report when Brad looked for her the next day. He shrugged as he headed for his office. There would be other meals they could share, other full moons.

Just after moonrise, Brad, Mike and Luke Farkas, the beta and neighbor, crept across the lawn of Seabrook’s house.  The soft glow of table lamps created shadows of figures behind the curtains. Brad counted three, then a fourth figure moving around. The fourth was clearly not a Poricy; it did not shuffle or slouch.

Luke must have spotted the figure. “There’s someone else in there. Shouldn’t we wait.”

“Collateral damage is to be expected.” Mike answered.

Brad saw Luke’s nearly imperceptible flinch. “Luke, if you are ever going to more than a beta lackey you must commit to the cause. Packs survive on order and authority. Humans must learn that as well.”

“It’s time.”  Mike opened his door.  Brad as Alpha took the lead. Lessons would be learned tonight by the humans and by Luke. The men carried no human weapons. Once inside the house, the plan was to shift and finish this business in their wolf form.  If Luke was unable to shift outside of a true full moon, as a powerful Alpha Brad could force the change on him.

As they climbed the porch, the door swung open and Lila faced them.  Her eyes glowed with dancing flames. She had shed her corporate garb for a flowing robe of Caribbean hues and patterns.

“I’ve been expecting you, gentleman. Please come in.” She extended her hand to Brad and Mike as they entered. Clearly, she understood Luke’s status in the pack.

Brad looked at Lila and then at the brothers. They stared back at him with dead-eyes. Saliva dripped from their snapping jaws. Zombies.

A fog began to settle over his brain. He turned in time to see Mike slide to the floor.  Brad tried to shift to counteract whatever Lila had done to them, but couldn’t.

“Don’t bother, Alpha. Lila’s magic is too strong. All it took was a touch of her hand.”  Luke laughed and then raised his voice in a howl of triumph.

Lila leaned over Brad. Behind her, Luke stood only his hands had shifted. Brad couldn’t remember how had he gotten to the floor. He heard Mike scream in pain and looked to see Seabrook rip flesh from Mike’s abdomen.

“Why?” Brad asked. He struggled to stay conscious as her lips moved. But he caught only pieces.

“… power of groups… control.. humans.”

Luke caressed Lila’s hair with his claws as he leaned in close.

The last voice Brad heard before Sean and George tore into his flesh was Luke’s

“Collateral damage.”

Chapter 2 of May 23 Release of Dark Dealings

The eBook release for Dark Dealings is right around the corner! On May 23^rd, it will be available on Amazon, B&N and Smashwords (for all other e-readers). I am currently working on a print version through CreateSpace and expect an update on when that will be available soon.  I found CreateSpace interior formatting to be fairly straightforward. Setting up the cover,however, is a challenge. I would welcome any advice I can get.

I find it fun and ironic that Dark Dealings will release around the same time as the Dark Shadows movie. Those who know me can tell you that Dark Shadows is a large part of the root of my fascination with paranormals.

A few weeks ago I posted the first chapter of Dark Dealings for your enjoyment. Today, I want to whet your appetite some more with the second chapter.

What is Dark Dealings?

At thirteen, Micaela was found wandering an Irish pasture after a mid-air explosion. Now, a successful investment banker, she discovers Wall Street has real fangs and claws. When international power brokers, creatures hiding in plain sight, threaten her and those she loves, will this heiress to a Druid legacy deny her power and let loved ones die again? A global thriller of money, monsters and murder.

For your reading pleasure:  Chapter 2

Una and Mrs. Ryan disappeared down the path, leaves swirled around their feet. Micaela pulled the sweater around herself in an attempt to chase away a chill that came from inside. She had never tried to call the knowing, in fact just the opposite. She had worked hard to block the images. Now, when she needed them, would they come? If they did, could she put them away later?

Samhain and a full moon. If she could believe the stories, tonight was her best shot to make the visions happen, not just let them happen. It had started with the brief vision of Reece. Hugging Peggy opened the door a crack, so contact was important. She couldn’t touch Peggy again. The poor thing was swamped by emotions and hormones. Maybe Adam; he’d been on the mountain with Reece. Would he cooperate or shut down? Well, he'd asked for her help. As she crossed the threshold into the kitchen, she thought: that’ll teach him.

Adam stood over the sink washing dishes and strategizing with the other searchers. She crooked her finger at him to follow her outside.

“What’s up, Micaela?” He eased the screen door closed behind him.

“I’m not sure how to start this conversation without sounding like a lunatic. I’ve worked years to avoid what I’m about to say and do.”

“Spit it out. Our families have known each other for generations, you can trust us. You can trust me.”

Micaela stared out into the oaks. “Things were said about me when I was a teenager…. I was different, I saw things.”

“I was little, but I kind of remember. Is that what Peg was talking about?”

“I thought it was gone. That I’d outgrown it. That I could be like everyone else.”

“But something happened in there.” Adam made it sound more like a statement than a question.

“I've opened Pandora’s Box. But if I can help find Reece, I can’t close it now.”

Adam leaned on the porch railing. She watched the emotions play across his face. His eyes lost focus and he seemed to go somewhere inside.

“Micaela, I understand, more than you know, what we’re asking of you. We’ve looked for Reece for hours. Time’s running out.” His eyes were haunted. His voice was barely a whisper. “It was my idea to go out tonight. I said it would be easy to hunt by the light of the full moon. Reece didn’t think we should ignore the Elders.”

“I can’t guarantee anything, Adam.”

“But you’ll try, that’s all that matters.” He pushed off the porch rail and faced her. “Tell me what you need.”

“I’m not entirely sure. For starters, I think we should sit, in case someone passes out.” She moved to the bottom step. After the dizziness brought on by her brief contact with Peggy’s mind, she didn’t want too far to go if she went down.

“Now what?” Adam sat beside her.

“Take my hands.” They faced each other. His large hands swallowed hers in their grip.

At first nothing happened. Micaela struggled for a way into the vision. What happened in the kitchen had been so sudden and violent. She had been overwhelmed by the emotions. That was it --- Peggy’s strong feelings acted as a trigger. It must have been Reece’s own emotions that brought the vision on the highway. Micaela would have to ask Adam to relive the event and the sensations. She wished she could protect him from them, but she didn’t know how.

“Adam, I need you to think about the last time you saw Reece, about what happened up on the mountain.” And I need to stop resisting, she thought, for now.

He chewed his lower lip, his dark eyebrows knit together. Micaela exhaled and focused on releasing the stress in her shoulder. She opened herself to the magic. Images slammed into her. She could see through Adam’s eyes. She was Adam.

Reece and the other four men headed into the woods. The temperature dropped as the sun set. She reached beyond their muted voices. The forest air filled with the hoot of an owl, the skitter of small feet, the final screech of a small rodent, and the snap of branches as larger things moved.

Adam signaled to Reece that Henry had spotted a six point buck. She felt Adam’s confusion turn to concern when Reece wasn’t bringing up the rear as usual. Adam retraced his steps. At first he scanned the path, then whispered Reece’s name, no reason to spook the buck. But another noise and a different scent drove the buck deeper into the woods. Silence was no longer necessary.

The men called out to Reece, but there was no answer. They retraced their steps but couldn’t pick up Reece’s trail. Micaela needed to get past what Adam saw and to Reece’s vision. She would not leave another child fatherless. How could she find Reece without touching him? Then, in Adam’s memory, a gift from the gods, Adam found Reece’s rifle at the edge of the path and picked it up. The same rifle he’d used since he was a teenager. The stock of the gun was infused with Reece’s sweat, his skin cells, and his energy. Micaela followed the energy into Reece’s mind. Chaotic images flooded her. The part of her that was separate and logical hoped Adam couldn’t see what she saw.

The hand clamped over her mouth was barely human and covered with hair or fur that scratched her face. No, not hers… Reece’s mouth. She struggled to keep her mind apart from Reece’s. She sensed danger if she was sucked in too far. Reece fought back against the beast until it dropped him to the ground. A blow to his head left Reece dazed. The creature dragged him into the forest, threw him over its shoulder, or maybe its back, Micaela wasn’t sure, it didn't feel like it walked upright. The image was lost. Reece had blacked out.

Every nerve in her body strained to regain the thread of contact. If she didn’t, Reece was lost. I don’t know how to do this, I’m not strong enough, she cried out to the darkness in her mind.

Voices chanting seeped into her from beyond the blackness. Barely audible at first, they grew louder. She heard the crackling of a fire. Una whispered through her mind, “We are here. We will help you until you can make the journey alone.”

A new image appeared. Adam was gone, the others were gone. She stood alone outside Joshua’s Cave. They had played as children in this cave tucked into the side of a ravine. As she walked in, a low moan reached her ears. She knew she hadn’t left the porch, yet she felt the mat of pine needles under her bare feet. Where had she lost her shoes? She reached out to touch the damp moss covered rock, her hand passed through it.

Another moan. She couldn’t see more than a few inches ahead. In the darkness she'd never find Reece or know if the beast was still here. She held her hand out again in what she knew was a futile grope in the dark. This time a small glowing orb formed in her palm. She curled her fingers around the edges of the softball-sized object. It was bright but cool to the touch. It allowed her to see several yards out. In the light, she saw Reece naked and propped against the rough cave wall; his head lolled to one side. His torn and bloody clothes were scattered around the cave. She could smell the air; it reeked of blood and beneath it the musky scent of sex. A new vision of what had already occurred materialized before her. A vision within a vision. Whatever it was stalked into the cave with the unconscious Reece. The beast was definitely female, but more wolf than human. Unable to stop what she saw, Micaela screamed in frustration.

The beast stripped away Reece’s clothes, inflicting the first set of wounds. Reece jolted from unconsciousness and he tried to scramble away. The wolf creature overpowered him and began to use its hand-paw to arouse him enough to force him into her. It made a sound that was a cross between a hum and a growl. It sounded like a chant. Reece’s eyes glazed over and he stopped struggling. Had the beast somehow gained control of his mind? The beast mounted him and ground itself into him until he climaxed. Micaela watched helplessly. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Reece regained awareness. His face twisted in horror and rage as he swung at the she-wolf. She lunged at him again, this time clamping her jaw into his shoulder. He brought his knees to his chest and kicked up with his two feet to gain leverage. She lost her grip and staggered back. She howled, a furious sound, and slashed at him, tearing into his chest and flinging him against the cave wall. Without a further glance at him, the creature turned and left the cave. The air shimmered and Micaela was back in her original vision of Reece dying in the cave.

Reece’s eyes fluttered open. “Micaela?”

“You can see me?” If he could, there was hope. She smiled at him.

“I never thought you’d be the last face I saw.” Reece’s skin was pale, almost translucent.

“You are not dying.” She hoped she sounded optimistic. Two of his ribs jutted out from under the torn chest muscle.

“Could have fooled me.” He coughed out a laugh. Blood sprayed from his lips as he struggled for air.

“Hang on, please.”

“Don’t tell Peggy what the she-wolf did to me. Peg doesn’t understand the power your totem animal can have over you. How it can make you do things.” Reece squeezed his eyes shut.

“I won’t. I know how hard these things are to explain.” She tried to reach out and take his hand, but like the wall her hand passed through his.

His voice was a broken whisper. “I know you two aren’t close anymore, but promise me you will tell Peg that she’s the only one I ever loved.”

“Tell her yourself. No child should grow up without a parent.”

“Child? Peggy’s pregnant?” A red-tinged tear trickled down Reece’s cheek.

“Yes. Hang on, I’m going for help.”

“I’ll try to be here when you get back.” His head slumped forward.

Copyright 2012 Karen Smith  Published my permission by Three Worlds Productions LLC