by Robert Ross
SENTINELS OF CREATION
SENTINELS OF CREATION
A Tale of Two Gardens
ROBERT W. ROSS
Copyright © 2017 Robert W. Ross
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 1546575200
ISBN-13: 9781546575207
Library of Congress Control Number: 2017909366
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
North Charleston, South Carolina
Cover Illustration by George Patsouras (www.cgmythology.com)
To my wife who is the love of my life, the guard at my back, and the partner by my side. She is my own Scottish lass who both loves and fights with equal passion. I’d have it no other way. Thank you Rachel, for saying yes those many years ago.
Contents
Chapter 1: Prologue
Chapter 2: Dragon Con
Chapter 3: The Herricks
Chapter 4: The Gift
Chapter 5: Out of Time
Chapter 6: A Return to Glenn Ferry
Chapter 7: Eden
Chapter 8: The Council of Havilah
Chapter 9: Vatican Heist
Chapter 10: Spear of Longinus
Chapter 11: The Seal of Solomon
Chapter 12: Party with the Devil
Chapter 13: The Road to Hell
Chapter 14: Jarvis
Chapter 15: Through a Portal Darkly
Chapter 16: Demon Hunter
Chapter 17: Search for the Cabal
Chapter 18: Sphinx
Chapter 19: A God Revealed
Chapter 20: The Second Garden
Chapter 21: Lucifer’s Gift
Chapter 22: Epilogue
Author’s Note on Pop Culture, Easter Eggs, and Historical Accuracy
A Few Words About Audiobooks
Author’s Bio
Chapter 1
Prologue
Lucifer looked down as the surf foamed about his feet. He curled his toes feeling the moist sand seep between them, crouched, and gave his cuffed jeans another turn to ensure they didn’t get wet from the spray. A few lonely bubbles popped through the wet sand and Lucifer absently scooped up a handful, then straightened. He wiggled his fingers letting it slip though until all that remained was the small sand crab.
“Hello little sand flea,” Lucifer said with a smile as he continued, “I reached down my hand and removed you from all that you’ve ever known. Are you impressed? Are you fearful?”
The small creature waggled its eyestalks nonplussed and Lucifer chuckled. “Neither, huh? Well, my tiny friend I must tell you that—“ Lucifer broke off as he felt someone approach.
“What do you have there?” came a female voice.
Lucifer sighed as he turned toward the voice. She was still several paces off and there was no moon, but the fallen angel could see her clearly while knowing she could not yet discern his features. She was tall and toned with long, flowing black hair that cascaded about her shoulders. She wore a bikini that accented every curve and a wrap about her hips that Lucifer noted drew, rather than deflected, attention.
As she continued toward him, he counted backwards softly to himself, “Three…two…one…” She paused staring at him, now close enough that the starlight bathed him in sufficient light for her to see him fully. He watched the expected intake of breath, heard her pulse quicken and saw her eyes dilate slightly.
Lucifer glanced over the woman’s shoulder and up the dunes where tiki torchlight illuminated the gathering. He wondered absently what could have caused her to leave it.
The woman stammered, “I’m, I’m Sam. Samantha really, but some people call me Sam. I don’t really know why. Sam’s a boy’s name and I am not a boy. I mean you can see I am a grown woman, right. You, um, wow, has anyone told you that you are a dead ringer for David Bowie. I mean 80s Bowie. You know, when he was so—“ She trailed off as Lucifer’s blue eyes locked on her.
“Hello Samantha. Yes, I can see you are, indeed, a grown woman. And, yes, I do get the Bowie comparison more than one might think.” He tapped a finger along his chin and looked up thoughtfully, “However, it is worth pointing out that I looked like him long before he looked like me. As for your initial question, I was just talking with a sand flea, although I must confess he is not much of a conversationalist.”
“Huh? Sand. Flea?”
Lucifer smiled. “You asked what I had in my hand?”
Samantha recovered slightly, “Oh, oh yeah.”
Lucifer held out his hand. “Sand flea. Or Sand Crab. Mole Crab. They have lots of names. They hide beneath the sand as the tide comes in, but as the water washes over their little burrow you can see air bubbles if you look closely. I scooped the little guy out to have a chat.”
Samantha smiled wolfishly and drew close sliding her hand inside Lucifer’s open shirt and brushing aside the linen as her hand traced down his chest. “Wouldn’t you rather talk with someone more interesting than a sand flea?”
The fallen angel took a half step back. He gently grasped Samantha’s outstretched hand, turned it, and placed the sand flea in her upturned palm. Lucifer looked into her eyes and arched an eyebrow. “My dear, you have no idea how hard it is to find a conversation more interesting than one I could have with that little crab.”
“Well, maybe you’ve been talking to the wrong girls. Or, maybe,” Samantha drew close again while allowing the sand crab to fall and scurry away, “you should try doing something more interesting than talking.”
Lucifer showed is teeth, “Oh, and what might that be, Samantha?”
“Oh, I don’t know—“
Lucifer’s smile broadened, “I think you do, Miss Trelane. But, don’t you have a fiancé up above and isn’t that your engagement party?”
Her expression didn’t change at first and Lucifer just waited patiently. He saw the awareness slowly wash across her face and she seemed to shake her head slightly.
“Yes. Yes, my fiancé’ is up there. David is up there. But you are so—“
Lucifer broke in. “David is up there and he will notice you are gone. You should return to him.”
Samantha Trelane took a step back. “I—I should return to him. But I don’t want to return to him. I want to stay with you.”
Lucifer narrowed his eyes. “But, Miss Trelane, I do NOT want you to stay with me. It seems I am finding it harder and harder to be alone with my thoughts without one of you stumbling into me. How did you even come to this beach? There are no airports on this island.”
The woman opened her mouth to speak but Lucifer silenced her with a wave. “No, this is faster.” He reached out and held her chin between finger and thumb then stared to her eyes. She gasped slightly and her lips parted, but Lucifer ignored the reaction. A moment later he sniffed derisively, and turned back looking out to sea. “Chartered sea plane. I wish you had never learned to build those things.”
“Come back to the party with me,” She whispered softly.
“No.”
Samantha became more insistent, “Yes, I want you to.”
Lucifer whirled around and the young woman gasped as she stared into his glowing red eyes. “You want me to go back to your human party so you can introduce me to your human lover and tell him that we are going to run off together? You are glamored, Samantha, because your little ape brain can’t properly comprehend me. You tell me what you want, well do you know what I want? Do you, Samantha?”
She shook her head and began to tremble as Lucifer closed on her, his face scant inches from hers. “I want my servant back. I want Asmodeus.
I want him to have been less implacable, to have evolved with the millennia. I want him not to have gotten himself destroyed. Do you know what that feels like? To lose someone who you’ve been with since time began? No. No you do not, Samantha. Oh, and he isn’t just dead. Dead I could do something with. He’s gone! Obliterated. His very essence converted to something new and used up.” The fallen angel could feel the anger welling up, ribbons of red chaotic energy playing about his body.
“So, leave me Samantha Trelane! Go marry David and become David and Samantha Griswold. Have your three children. Live your lives and then watch David die at 76, but don’t worry, you will live to the ripe old age of 94 before your end comes. From this day to that remember one thing. Every day you live is because I suffered it to be so. I restrained myself from snuffing you out like the guttering candles you humans are.”
The woman stood paralyzed, eyes wild with fear. Lucifer gave an exasperated growl turned and gestured. A thin line of light appeared in the air, inches above the sand and revolved into a glowing blood red portal through which could be seen an elegantly appointed room with paneled walls and richly carpeted floors.
Lucifer stepped though and turned back to Samantha, his voice more measured but hard as ice. “Unless, you’d still like to be with me? Care to join me here, Samantha?”
She was reflexively shaking her head in negation, but managed to stammer, “W-Where?”
“Where am I? Come and find out.”
“No!”
“See, you ARE capable of making good decisions. You decided not to join Satan in hell.”
The portal closed and Samantha Trelane fell to her knees, wrapping her arms about herself and rocking as she heard the distant sound of people calling her name.
Chapter 2
Dragon Con
A woman’s voice cut through the din like a knife. She yelled, “Kellan! Sentinel. Kellan! Shannon! Look over here.”
Kellan Thorne turned toward the sound of his name and squinted at the plump woman standing near the hotel entrance. He turned to Juliet in confusion and asked, “Who’s that and why is she calling my name.”
The young woman grinned at him mischievously and said, “She’s not even looking at you, maybe she’s calling to another Kellan.”
The woman continued facing away from Kellan and Juliet, but waved her hands frantically and called again, “Kellan! Shannon! I want a picture.”
A tall man with tousled brown hair, black pentagram t-shirt, and faded jeans turned to the woman and smiled. He reached out for the hand of his flame haired companion and both looked toward the woman who raised her camera. His eyes were bright green and enochian runes ran down his arms as he extended both hands in an exaggerated aggressive stance. The woman, likewise, struck a pose, freezing for a moment after filling each hand with a dagger from one of the many sheaths strapped across her hips and legs.
Kellan stood still, mouth open in a slack jawed expression that somehow managed to convey both shock and dread. He pointed mutely as the camera flashed several times after which the duo smiled again in response to the thanks offered by their admirer. Juliet turned to him, laughing, and said, “I told you she was calling to another Kellan. C’mon, let’s go talk to them. This is so cool!”
He seemed far less excited. “Juliet, no. This is decidedly not cool and we should—“ He trailed off as she stopped for a moment, spun around, and grabbed him tightly on the arms.
“Listen very carefully, Kellan. This is important. For the next ten minutes you are not Kellan.”
“I’m not?” He said questioningly.
She shook her head. “No, for the next ten minutes you are Kevin. Got it. Kevin.” Juliet then spun her her heels and scampered toward the two departing figures shouting, “Kellan. Shannon. Hold up a sec.”
“No it’s a wig. I got it from Arda so it’s pretty nice. I wish I had hair like this. Mine’s a lot thinner and brown.” Juliet nodded understandingly as Shannon looked past her.
“Oh,” Juliet began, “this is my friend, Kevin. Really kind of a wonky uncle, but none of my friends wanted to come to Dragon Con this year so Kevin’s the closest thing I could find.” She smiled and gave Kevin a playful punch on the arm. “Isn’t that right, Kevin?”
He grunted something that couldn’t be understood.
Juliet ignored him and turned to Kellan. “Tell me about your eyes, they look so cool?”
Kellan, who had been quietly allowing the girls to chat suddenly became animated. “I know, right? I found them online and they actually have some iridescent flakes in them that gives this glowing effect. They hurt like a son-of-a-bitch though after a couple hours and I have to take them out. Oh, hey. Do you see the flecks?”
“Not really?” said Juliet.
“Look closer,” he said insistently.
“Why?”
Shannon gave a small sigh, “Just humor him, Juliet. He wants you too look at them and see each tiny fleck of green. He’s very proud of them.”
Kellan leaned down and Juliet peered closely into his eyes. Sure enough, she could just make out tiny specks of green that seemed to catch the light and reflect it outward. “Wow, that’s impressive. Did they come that way or did you modify them yourself?”
Kellan straightened and smiled. “Modified. I had to use watchmaker’s opticals to see close enough and embedded crushed synthetic emerald. That’s why they hurt. But sometimes you have to suffer for cosplay, right?”
“So true.” agreed Juliet.
“Hey, we’re about to head to the Con-Suite and grab a drink, you guys want to come with?” asked Shannon.
“Hells yeah,” shouted Juliet.
“No!” growled Kevin. It’s almost 10:30 and I really want to get back to my room and chill a bit before Dragon Con strikes crazy time. You guys obviously know about Dragon Con After Dark?”
Kellan and Shannon both absently glanced at smartphones to confirm the time then nodded gravely. Shannon brightened. “You know what they say, ‘what happens at Dragon Con after 10:30 stays at Dragon Con.’”
Kevin smirked. “Do they really say that? Well, nice meeting you guys. We gotta go. Juliet…please.”
“Hey,” shouted Kellan as if having just having made a critical realization “Juliet…your name is Juliet and you kinda look like her.”
“You think,” asked Juliet, “Really?”
Shannon’s eyes widened, “Oh my god, You do, Juliet, you really do. I mean you have the same kind of buttony nose. You even have freckles like she does.”
“Same blue eyes too,” added Kellan, “You could totally cosplay as Juliet and hang out with us.”
Juliet glanced up at Kevin, face splitting into a fierce grin, “Wow, that sounds like a great suggestion. Should I do that? Should I Uncle Kevin?”
“No, Juliet. No you should not. Besides, I doubt anyone would recognize you. I have no idea who these folks are cosplaying.” He paused. “No offense.”
“Oh, none taken, dude,” responded Kellan slipping into a millennial bro accent. “It’s a pretty new graphic novel and not many people have read it yet, but they will. You see, we’re on the leading edge of cosplay here.”
“We’ve had about five people stop us,” offered Shannon. “That’s pretty good since this is the first *Con since the book came out.”
Kevin narrowed his eyes and felt his molars grind. “Book?”
Kellan and Shannon exchanged a glance, “Well, not a book—book. You know a graphic novel, like Doctor Strange, but darker.”
Kevin looked stunned but managed, “What’s this thing called?”
“Sentinels and Demons,” they responded together and Shannon continued, “It’s written and inked by a guy named Richard Rumpkins.”
“Who?” asked Kevin.
“Richard Rumpkins. It came out last March. I downloaded it from ComicFire for free.”
“For free, huh? Must not have been very good if he had to give it away.”
“That’s a really cynical way to live your li
fe, man. It was a limited special. Rumpkins does that from time to time. There’s also a printed version, but that’s nine bucks.”
“Merciful Tehlu!!” exclaimed Kevin and glared at Juliet then back to Kellan and Shannon. “Nine whole dollars. That’s just way too much. Anyway, nice to meet you two. We gotta go. Any minute now Leeloo Multi-Pass wearing orange electrical tape or Sulu with an Enterprise shaped codpiece will be jaunting about and I’m not ready for that.”
Kevin turned to leave and caught Juliet waving goodbye out of his peripheral vision as she joined him walking down the hotel hallway which was festooned with all manner of British Scifi geekery. The placards outlined the events which were scheduled for each conference room. They all currently displayed, 11:00pm - 2:00am, Doctor Who Ball. Be sure to bring your banana to the party, Rose.
Kevin paused reading the placard. Juliet nudged him with her shoulder. “You totally want to go to that don’t you?” She paused and added, “Kevin.”
He turned and glared at her. “Elevators, now.”
She snickered but kept quiet until a few minutes later when door to the little two room suite clicked shut behind them.
“You seem stressed, Kevin.” She lowered her voice to a rasp. “Why so serious.”
He rounded on her, “What the Fu—Frak was that? And stop calling me Kevin!”
Juliet collapsed into one of the sitting room chairs, kicked off her shoes and pulled her feet into the chair with her, peering at him over her knees.
“What was what? Kellan?” she asked innocently.
“You’re gonna do it aren’t you. You are going to make me unleash a torrent of profanity and then rub my nose in it. You will then threaten to share my tirade with your mother which will, of course, result in one of her famous lectures on how profanity is the last bastion of those with limited vocabulary. You know how much I hate her lectures so will use that as leverage convince me to go to the Doctor Who Ball instead of the Heroes and Villains Ball. I know exactly what you are trying to do and it’s not going to work, little miss thang. Like I told you last week, just go by yourself and when it turns out to be lame, you can come to the Heroes Ball later. I’m not gonna budge on this. I’m in complete control of my night.”
