In Eden's Shadow
Page 1
-The Twisted Trilogy-
Amanda Churi
Book I: A Lapse in Time
Book II: The Dark Materials
Book III: In Eden’s Shadow
The Twisted Trilogy - Book III:
-In Eden’s Shadow-
- Amanda Churi -
Copyright © 2019 by Amanda Churi Menichello
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted without the express consent of the author.
Cover design by Kevin Filanowski
Printed and bound in the United States of America
First edition
10 digit ISBN: 1722236248
13 digit ISBN: 978-1722236243
Dedicated to Isabella Jacovino:
Because without you, this story would still be a file instead of a book. You are my eternal mentor with a light that shines bright enough to fill the world… Thank you for giving my future in writing the steps needed to grow.
Notice:
This book does not reflect the author’s religious views and is not trying to impose religious scenarios on the reader in any way, nor is it a representation and/or explanation of what is left unknown; it was solely created for entertainment purposes.
The Twisted Trilogy is not intended to offend any spiritual beliefs; the religious aspect of this story is molded to fit the trilogy, not the life we live to this day.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Thank you.
“Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils.”
Hector Berlioz
Timeline
Prologue
1 ~ The Gates
2 ~ On and On
3 ~ A Devil’s Pilgrimage
4 ~ Resting in Pieces
5 ~ From Insanity
6 ~ To Dynasty
7 ~ Runaway Ghoul
8 ~ Deviant
9 ~ Sensible
10 ~ As it Seams
11 ~ Human
12 ~ Lost in Fire
13 ~ Phantome Limbs
14 ~ Ascension
15 ~ Wings of Stone
16 ~ Faceless
17 ~ Revolution
18 ~ Stolen Voices
19 ~ Break Them
20 ~ Flyers
21 ~ Death’s Rain
22 ~ Cry Wolf
23 ~ Stairway to Hell
24 ~ The Golden Years
25 ~ Guardian of Angels
26 ~ The Great Deception
27 ~ Uprooted
28 ~ Ashes to Ashes
29 ~ Blindsided
30 ~ Moonfall
31 ~ Tumbling Down
32 ~ Essence
33 ~ Forget Me Not
34 ~ Act V
35 ~ As Daylight Dies
36 ~ Children of Time
37 ~ Revered
38 ~ Our Place
Epilogue
Prologue
“So… The time has come, then.”
“Twelve years after we were first banded… It’s hard to believe, but it’s all right there. Victory is at our fingertips.”
“Control yourselves,” came a tired, anxious voice. The men crammed around the table turned to face the head. “Being cocky is no way to win, especially not when the stakes are so high.”
Confused gazes shifted from one commander to the next, the men emotionally staggered by her odd tone. She had her hands cupped over her mouth with her elbows pressing down on the worn dining table that was personalized with graphite and crayon. Drawings were scattered about the tiny house, many tacked onto the homely cabinets and walls, while books from all corners of the globe flooded the countertops. The drapes in the kitchen were drawn for privacy as a candle slowly burned and flickered in the center of the table, illuminating the doubtful faces of all.
“Azuré…” one spoke up.
The queen threw up her hand. “I don’t want to hear it. Just tell me that the setup is currently underway while Gavin and the twins are out in the fields.”
“Well, it is in the process,” someone confirmed. “The letter from General Zeir has been successfully forged, and Desmond is currently looking for an opportunity to plant the evidence.”
“Make sure it causes as much collateral damage as possible,” Azuré stressed. “I want the scene to be gruesome enough so that those of you left behind can function without me by having the elements of fear and irrationality at your side.”
“And what of your son? Have you decided on a course of action?”
Azuré did not speak, pressing a hand to her forehead and staring down at the picture before her. It was drawn on a scrap piece of paper, but nonetheless, the amount of thought that her son put into it warmed her chilled heart. A childish drawing it may have been, but his stick fingers wrapping around hers that protruded from a potato-like figure made her smile. She didn’t expect it to be this hard… She had him solely for the purpose of spreading the curse, for domination, yet he turned out to be the greatest gift of all—and it wasn’t because of his destiny; it was because he truly adored her from the moment he opened his beautiful blue eyes to the woman who would protect him no matter what.
What a terrible assumption.
“…I have decided to leave him behind with Gavin,” she strained, shocked eyes lighting up. “He is too young to come with us.”
“B-but Azuré!” a soldier protested. “So many things can go wrong if we aren’t here to protect him! You know that Gavin doesn’t care whether he lives or dies! We can keep him safe just fine! We can—”
She slammed her fist down on the drawing, snapping her sharp eyes to the soldier. “Elip. You aren’t his mother. Don’t tell me what’s best for my child.”
“Queen,” another grunted. “With all due respect, that child houses a core far more powerful and sinister than yours.”
“Why do you think I named him Eero?” she shot back. “I recognized the eyes the moment I caught a glimpse. I know how strong he is, as well as vulnerable if he loses control too early; it’s why I decided to raise him how I did—so that he could steer clear of his true identity for as long as possible. I can control my Essence right now, even with a good bit of fledglings awake, but you all know as well as I do how hungry his will be… Even without the strongest demons awake, he will struggle to control himself. The longer we deprive him of energy, the better, and there is no telling what the time travel shall do for either of us.” She paused. “For all we know, we could die when we step through that portal. Anything and everything can go wrong.”
“But Azuré—”
“I will go through on my own to keep the concentration of energy as low as possible. There is no reason to heighten the risk any more than necessary.”
“…But will you be able to come back?” Elip tried again. “We don’t know if there will be a parallel portal… The experiments at the laboratory aren’t always consistent.”
“And you must be careful in the medieval era,” another warned. “If you meet the wrong person and mess up the timeline—”
“I’m aware. But remember why we picked Phantome: a cursed fiefdom with no foreign aid; a goner, due to be wiped out by the plague. What we do should not affect the future so long as we keep close watch.” She turned her head to Elip. “And I understand your concerns, but so long as the algorithms and coordinates align, another portal should be constructed below the surface in the salt mines. As long as you keep it flooding with Eyla, I should have no trouble getting back.”
“And if you don’t return?” someone demanded.
Azuré loo
ked back at her bunched hand and the drawing beneath it. “Then you take Eero, and you work day and night until you have a foolproof way of traveling back…”
“…And Coruscus?” Elip inquired. “We can’t touch, let alone control it. Your spell is the only thing that keeps them separated, and should you not come back to break it…”
Azuré nodded once. Yes, that was another problematic piece… “It will remain here until I return. When we depart together as planned, I fully intend on taking it to the past with me, and I will decide on my next move there. On the off chance my excursion should go awry, I suppose I should take extra measures to pacify it prior to departure… But in the end, once it lifts, you will have no choice but to stand back and let Fate take the baton.” She ran her hands over her face, exhausted. “But if I do indeed fail, no matter what, put Desmond in charge, and raise my son as the prince he is. Twist his innocence that I have been growing, and raise him to be a mold of me—and once his human body matures, make sure he seeds a child so that we may try again. Because no matter what…” She slammed her hand down. “I will get what I want, and I don’t care how long it takes!”
“MAMAAAAA!”
The door to the small home barged open, a short, thin, distraught boy stumbling through the doorway and into the living room. He was heaving for air, struggling to fill his puny lungs, and sweat consumed his face, along with abrasions and splotches of blood. One of his eyes was swollen and blue, and his nose was smashed, the blood from that and his split lip running together. “Mama! Mam—!” He stopped dead when he looked into the dining room; busted eyes ballooned, and battered legs racked as he stared at the enemy swarming the only place he thought of as safe.
The Noble force was still for a moment, unsure what to do as they stared at their unclaimed prince.
“Eero!” Azuré exclaimed horrifically, shifting mindsets and personalities as quickly as her brain would allow. She sprung to her feet, ready to bolt over to her son, but a Noble stuck his arm across her chest, restraining her.
“Did we say that we were done here?” he growled.
“Can’t you see that I have a child to tend to? Just take your crap, and get out!”
“Why you—!”
“Let it go!” Elip exclaimed dramatically, rising to his feet as the other soldier backed off. He shot Azuré a death glare, a smile burning beneath. “Fine, we’ll take our leave, but next time, we expect double!” Swiftly, he reached under the table, hoisting a large crate of thread and cotton into his bulky arms before turning his back on his leader. “C’mon,” he growled, motioning toward the door with his head. “We’ve got other bastards to collect from.”
Pushing forward as a powerhouse with head held high, Elip stormed to the door, shoving Eero on the way out.
Eero crashed onto his back with a squeal, staring up in horror as Elip flashed him a smug smile. Azuré’s nostrils flared, her stomach churning as her ally overdid the act, but Elip paid her no attention, escorting himself out with the division leaders in tow. The door slammed behind them, leaving the disguised creatures alone.
“…Stupid soldiers…” Eero moaned, struggling to sit up.
Azuré sighed, taking a moment to collect herself before making her way over to Eero. She whisked a cloth off the table, crouching beside her son and brushing his sweat-drenched hair aside. “I’m sorry, honey,” she cooed, spitting on the cloth and proceeding to dab his bloody face. “You know how they are…”
“Yeah, stupid,” Eero reinforced, wincing painfully.
“Sorry,” Azuré apologized. “But, Eero, what happened? I send you out to get thread and needles, and you come back like this? I’ve seen better-looking prey dragged in by a cat!”
Eero sniffled, his red eyes that were filled with physical pain turning over and giving way to emotional turmoil. “Mama… This town is full of meanies… I don’t have any friends. Everyone hates me because you like the Nobles—”
“I don’t like them, but I would rather be on their side now and save myself from getting squashed when they take over.”
“But everybody hurts me because of it!” Eero wailed, pushing her hand away. His eyes shook, and his shoulders trembled, sobs racking his body as he struggled to control himself. “Those kids beat me up again, and their parents just looked away! I’m tired of getting hit because of you!”
“Eero!”
“No!” He swatted her hand again as it tried to reapproach. “I’m so… So mad! Why do they call me a demon, Mama? Why?! What have I done?! It’s not fair!” He tucked his chin into his chest, his blue eyes darkening. “I hate this place. I hate them all. I want to go home.”
Azuré blinked, surprised. “Home? Eero, honey, this is your home.”
“My real home,” he snarled, stretching his knuckles. “Take me back, Mama.”
Azuré leaned in closer, watching every movement her son made. “Eero,” she began slowly, grabbing his shaking hand and holding it tight. “You’ve never lived anywhere but the farm. You’ve never even left Raddison.”
Eero blinked, his face twisting uncertainly as he struggled to process his mother’s words. His eyes retreated from their hostile state, utter confusion taking hold. “But… No, I’ve… I lived somewhere else?” He looked back at his mother. “I have, haven’t I? I know I have. I can see it.”
“…Come on, let’s go for a walk,” she offered, standing up and gently pulling her son with her. Confused, Eero stumbled out of the door with his mother, eyes broad and staring off into unknown realms as he tried to separate reality from fantasy. Azuré kept him close, continually keeping watch of him through her peripheral vision as they stepped off their porch and ventured into the vast, beautiful field.
She kept her mind walled off from her face, refusing to let her thoughts shine through and give away what she guessed was taking place. She did not talk as they walked, and neither did Eero; she simply enjoyed the radiant sunset closing in on the distant mountains, listening to the chirps of overhead birds and feeling the cool, evening breeze brush across her neck.
Such a shame… A glorious, picture-perfect world ruined by the very flesh that covered her bone. Hopefully, once remade, the creation of man would be skipped this time around.
She lowered her head in defeat as she continued to secretly eye her son. It was faint, blurry, but she remembered… She remembered his final, screaming wish before he was condensed into a core.
She only hoped he meant it.
“Reina!”
Azuré whipped her head to the source upon hearing her name—the one she not only chose for her human disguise, but the one that was her first real name, the one that she used before it was unwillingly ripped away.
Her eyes found Gavin standing in the garden, who leaned on his hoe as he stared down his fraudulent wife with narrowed eyes. Briven and Tyler lifted their heads and paused their intensive labor, turning to look at their mother while wiping the sweat from their eyes.
Gavin puckered his lips and scanned Eero from head to toe, whose eyes never veered from his feet; the child looked as though he had just seen a ghost, unresponsive to the shift in context as he reflected on what was solely occurring within his brain. “It’s getting late,” Gavin started, a dark, threatening undertone churning beneath calm, casual words. “Where are you two going?”
“Just for a walk,” Azuré answered coolly.
Tyler scoffed, shaking his head in amusement. “Took another bashing, did he? Jeez, Mom, should’ve had him working out here with us instead of keeping him all soft inside.”
“Knock it off!” Briven scolded, smacking the back of his brother’s head.
Gavin bit his lip. “I’m not sure I feel comfortable with—”
“Gavin, for goodness sake, would a simple walk hurt the boy?”
Gavin leaned back, his sight traveling to a mound of dirt as he grabbed his hoe, sowing the earth with a hefty swing. “Whatever. Come on, kids, back to work.”
Tyler rolled his eyes, following his fathe
r’s lead and striking the soil. “Yeah, yeah, let the little dork get away with everything, why don’t you?”
Gavin glared at him from the corner of his eye. “Watch your mouth, or it will get you killed someday.”
Tyler scowled. “I’d be so damn lucky.”
Azuré stared at her adopted sons for a moment longer before resuming her journey and continuing to pull Eero along, who still could not escape the prison of his mind. His lips moved quickly, but no audible words left them, all while his sight darted back and forth, struggling to find the actual earth on which he walked.
It’s getting stronger, Azuré mused, intrigued as she matched his lip movements to that of the Underworld curses. She had to intervene and divert his attention—fast. “So, Eero, what is this home you see?”
The question slightly jolted Eero’s brain, his robotic head rotating to his mother. His face remained straight. “Red.”
“Red?” Azuré repeated.
“Red. Dark… Hot.” His neck steered his head away again. “But pretty.”
Azuré nodded. She brought their long walk to an end next to the barbwire fence that separated her home from the forbidden land, watching… Watching the thick mist lurk low, swirling beneath the heavy leaves and through the trunks of trees, chilling the forest and pulling down a dooming cloud. Silent, Azuré looked on, patiently waiting for Eero to lift his head and look up, which he eventually did after receiving the cold shoulder for an ungodly length of time—but it was a length that Azuré would not test, giving him all the time he needed. After all, she needed to prepare too.
Puzzled, Eero looked up at his mother, the queer situation slowly decompressing his strained face. “Why are we at the forest? We can’t go in.”
“No, we can’t,” she confirmed, keeping her head straight and chin high as night descended.