The Alchemists: A Paranormal Steampunk Thriller (The Guild Chronicles Book 1)
Page 22
“What a gentleman,” Rose said as she strode out of the room.
10:20 A.M. Air Liner Zeus Colonial Coast of Ireland
Royal Marines assisted the three police officers off of the longboat and into the open bulkhead door on the side of the airliner. This was unlike any airship Rose had been on, while the Victoria was much larger it had a spartan feel, and the Peregrine was old. Once inside the Colonial it was like being in Gilchrist Manor: plush carpets, dark wood and polished brass, a posh environment.
A marine officer was there to meet them. “Detectives, thank you for coming so quickly. We have done our best to not disrupt the scene but the initial crew did a thorough search for survivors.”
“And,” prompted Dolly.
“None, I need to warn you the scene is truly shocking, I have had a few of the boys break down and these fellas were in Crimea. You might want to pause here ma’am while the gents look around,” cautioned the officer.
Rose clenched her jaw and put her hands on her hips.
Dolly laughed, “Major, she’s seen horrors that would make me piss in your pants, why don’t you show us what has you so concerned?”
“Detective, our biggest concern is that if whatever caused this may still be on the ship,” the marine whispered, “a confirmation is required before we moor the ship near a population.”
“Understood, Major, now let's see what we came to see,” pushed Dolly.
“Follow me, you’ll get the picture when you see the main dining room,” the officer finished as he walked them to a set of double doors. The doors were glass, but both doors had sheer curtains so the interior of the room was hard to make out. The soldier opened the door, and shock hit them.
“Oh my God,” gasped Burton.
Rose stepped into the room to the first dining table. It was a table of eight, each seat filled with a mummified corpse. Every seat, over one hundred were grey desiccated bodies in fine evening gowns and dinner jackets frozen in the act of eating or talking. It was if they had died instantly, fossilized like the dead at Pompeii. The condition of the bodies dried and dusty looking with wrinkled leathery skin made one think these people had died back when Vesuvius erupted in seventy-nine AD.
Rose leaned in to look at the woman fixed in the process of placing a fork in her mouth. The morsel had rotted as was the other perishables on the table.
“And everyone aboard is in the same condition?” asked Rose.
“Everyone, crew, patrons, every soul,” the soldier replied.
“Oh, there are none of those left,” Rose said noticing a waiter laying on the floor, she could tell from the body position he had been standing and after his death had fallen over. She toured the room taking it all in seeing others that looked like tipped over statues.
“None of what?” asked Burton.
“Souls,” replied Rose.
“The cuisine is going foul. I would say this took place at least three days ago,” added Burton.
“That would corroborate with our estimation of when the Colonial went off course. The engines were still running when she was intercepted,” offered the Major.
“Rose, is it me or does this remind you of …” started Williamson.
“Chilton and Moya,” Rose finished Dolly’s thought.
“But she’s dead, you saw Angelica die.” Detective Williamson stated with a tone of a question.
“I did, and as powerful as she was she could never do this. Look, no one felt a thing they don’t have that same tortured look that Moya or Chilton had. This was sudden and a mass effect on all those aboard,” Rose spoke as she continued to observe the scene moving from one body to another.
“You have seen this before?” asked the Marine.
“Yes, I have, this is what a body looks like when its life force, the soul is ripped from it. Dolly, how fast can we get this ship to London. I will need all my equipment to begin our investigation.”
AUTHOR NOTES & HELPFUL MAPS
Here are links to vintage maps to help with the setting. While I would love to provide the exact locations and mark up these maps most these archives have strict copyrights pertaining to commercial use and even when requesting commercial use I could not even get a reply email. I give you close approximation and some general direction to give you the gist of the where of the who, where and when of this tale.
London This great map gives you a feel for the whole city
Rose’s New Home No. 4 BlandFord Square Regents Park, St Johns Wood, & Paddington
Königsberg This is a city whole map. Lorelei’s lab and Kraft werks on to the east on the larger island in the Pregel River. The Crucible an Gas Works is on the eastern side of the city north of the river along the railroad.
Berlin Kopernick Castle is outside of this maps boundaries. Humboldt University and the other locations are in the city proper.
Constantinople This is a city whole map. The mosque is labeled.
THANK YOU
Thank you for taking the time to join Rose, Preston and Azul on this adventure. You have some new friends in Lorelei, Reidun, Pāora, and let’s no forget Dolly who was back at the home office. If you enjoyed this tale please take the time to leave a review. Reviews help other like minded readers to find these books.
Every ten reviews I will select a member of the JM Bannon Readers group and send them a good happens to you good happens through you bracelet or an autographed copy of the book. You choose when you win!
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ALSO BY J M BANNON
While each book stands on its own there is a very large mind map that lays out plot, sub-plot, and multiple arcs that make up the world around Rose Caldwell. Expect more characters, intrigue and tightly wound stories that link, clash and collide. In its current state what started with Dolly Williamson asking Rose to join the Metropolitan Police Service will span at least another seven books.
The Untold Tales of Dolly Williamson: The prequel to the Guild Chronicles.
The Guild Chronicles
A three book series following Rose Caldwell, “The White Witch of London”, as she finds her purpose and takes a leadership role in a loose band of eclectic characters known as the Libertines.
The Alchemists
The Necronists January 2018
The Mechanists 2018
The Aether War Saga Begins 2018
Drifter
Parasite of the Soul
Enochian Verses
Summoner
Savage Planes
GOOD HAPPENS TO YOU AND THROUGH YOU
Paora’s Talisman
Yes I wear one! This talisman is a daily reminder that good thing hidden to you and through you. When life has you wondering why, this is a excellent wearable reminder that there are forces in the universe working for you and through you to bring you what you need.
The exact Bracelet is available here
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J M Bannon is the author of the Guild Chronicles. When not writing then the time is spent reading or walking the grounds of the sanitarium where on a clear day you can see all the way to Prague Castle.
Feel free to reach out by email. All emails are read by the staff of the Brookhaven Sanitarium and will be answered by J M Bannon or Doctor Gustav Kreppelin the Physician in charge at Brookhaven.
If you also have witnessed strange events that have occurred in the Non-Newtonian Universe and would like to help others to understand it’s true reality write JM and learn how you can contribute as an advanced reader or writing in the NNU.
Learn More:
https://cuxllc.lpages.co/alchemistlander/
jmbannon@cuxllc.com
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Table of Contents
1. Friday, the 25th of May 1860
3. Monday, the 28th of May 1860
4. Thursday, the 31st of May 1860
5. Thursday, the 11th of January 1849
6. Friday, the 1st of June 1860
7. Monday, the 4th of June 1860
8. Saturday, the 6th April 1849
9. Tuesday the 5th of June 1860
10. Tuesday, the 5th of June1860
11. Thursday, the 7th of June 1860
12. Thursday the 7th of June 1860
13. Thursday the 8th of June 1860
14. Thursday The 8th of June 1860
15. Friday The 9th of June 1860
16. Saturday the 10th of June 1860
17. Saturday the 10th of June 1860
18. Sunday the 11th of June 1860
19. Monday, the 12th of June 1860
20. Monday the 12th of June 1860
21. Monday the 12th of June 1860
22. Monday the 12th of June 1860
23. Monday the 12th of June 1860
24. Monday the 12th of June 1860
25. Tuesday the 13th of June 1860
26. Tuesday the 13th of June 1860
27. Tuesday the 13th of June 1860
28. Tuesday the 13th of June 1860
29. Tuesday the 13th of June 1860
30. Tuesday the 13th of June 1860
31. 300 BC
32. Tuesday the 13th of June 1860
33. Wednesday the 14th of June 1860
34. Thursday the 15th of June 1860
35. Monday the 19th of June 1860
36. Wednesday the 21st of June 1860
37. Thursday the 22st of June 1860
38. Thursday the 2rd of July 1860
Author Notes & Helpful Maps
Thank you
Also by J M Bannon
Good Happens To You and Through You
About the Author