The Unbegotten: Yesterday's Kingdom

By James Gordon

The fifth book in the Unbegotten saga.
Hell hath no fury!
Finality. The moment she has dreaded has finally come. Vanifera has fought against her destiny, hoping there was another path she could take in order to sway the hand of fate. But, when she uncovers the tragic truth about her unborn son, she is left with no alternative but to embrace her inescapable future and embark upon a journey that will bring her face to face with her nightmares and her inevitable confrontation with the Vul Paux. With nothing more to lose, one question remains. Can Vanifera defeat the Vul Paux and bring an end to the Eternal War?

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Gordon
• Release date: Dec 14, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465799579

James Gordon

About the author:James Gordon - author, producer, promoter, composer, artist and entrepreneur. In 2003, he published his groundbreaking fictional work entitled, The Unbegotten, the story of the begotten daughter of God and her trials in dealing with the fate she was destined to face. Since then, Gordon has released and revised four more books in the series entitled, Cataclysm, Sacrifices, Apocrypha and Yesterday's Kingdom. He has also created a literary soundtrack to the book.James Gordon has also released Mandarin Rose, Curse of the Black Lotus, Lady Dragon and Neon, which tell the story of a young prostitute named Kitty fighting to survive in a futuristic socialist America.Nationhood is the powerful novel about a spy named Mbaku Bolo fighting to save his country from a terrorist threat twenty-five years after the Affirmative Action Policy is ruled unconstitutional.Mocha Heat and Palmettos in Moonlight are thrilling suspense romances that deal with lust, love and terrorism. In Mocha Heat, Stacey and Donavan fight to maintain their love thought they are both in separate relationships. When one of them discovers they are involved with a terrorist, more than their relationship is jeopardized.In Palmettos in Moonlight, Francesca Del Clair tries to right the wrongs of her life as she attempts to rid her life of the very people who forced her into a life of terror. When a writer named Braden comes into her life, she finds that her toughest battle isn't against her enemies, but with her heart.Entice Me is a collection of eleven erotic short stories of people indulging in their most exotic fantasies. Filled with amazing sexual encounters, each story will explore a facets of sex and love with gritty, raw stories exclusively made for today's urban market.In 2012, James Gordon collaborated with his son, Kyle, and released their first graphic novel entitled Incursion. Its multicultural cast creates new and interesting heroes fighting to save the world from an extraterrestrial threat.You can learn more about these and other products by going to www.madsquareonlime.com.

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PROLOGUE

The Vul Paux was freed from the Omega Realm and managed to entrap Vanifera in an alternate world comprised of evil duplicates of those she once knew. Freed by Gabrielle and Barhim Hajj, she was taken back to a Hierarchy office where her memories were restored. She also learned that she was pregnant, but the Vul Paux had abducted the essence of her child when he briefly possessed her body. While attempting to recover from the shocking news, one of the Vul Paux’s creations attacked the city of San Francisco, a humongous minotaur-like creature called Gauzamier Brahma.

Realizing that the creature was sent to confront her, Vanifera prepares to combat the beast knowing that defeating the creature will send a clear message to the Vul Paux. The message was she was coming to get her son back and nothing was going to stand in her way. Before she leaves the headquarters, Gabrielle arms her with the sword Vanifera’s father, Desmond Christi, used to protect the Messiah.

Vanifera confronts Brahma and after a vicious battle she defeats the beast. Immediately after her victory, the Vul Paux appears and threatens to destroy her. However, she vanishes before he can take action, leaving the observing Hierarchy members clueless as to her whereabouts.

Vanifera then discovers Jophiel and Carmiel, two angels sent by Jehovah to rescue her, had transported her away from the scene. She was now in the one place the Paux would not harm her, the sanctuary known as Heaven. Once there, Vanifera is reunited with lost family members and friends, namely Kyra, Denise and her mother. As they got reacquainted, Vanifera learns that each of them knew about the potential abduction of her son while his spirit was still in Heaven, yet did nothing to stop it.

An explosion rips through the Sanctuary, causing Vanifera and her mother to investigate. She discovers a massive serpent-like dragon named Zeviathan had breeched the Gates of Heaven and led an army of gods to seize the island compound. She engages the dragon in mental warfare and is forced to see horrific representations of her fears. However, she manages to remain strong and puts her fears to rest.

She then turns the table on Zeviathan and enters the dragon’s subconscious mind. There she meets a little girl who turns out to be the essence of who the dragon once was. After making her remember who turned her into the horrible beast she is now, Vanifera unlocks her mind from the dragon’s and prepares to slay the beast.

When Zeviathan’s father, Lord Raiden, pleads for his daughter’s life, Shiva assists in transforming the child back to normal. Shiva then takes Vanifera to a hut that teleports them into space where she learns how humans were created from the original twelve civilizations. She also learns about the human’s destructive potential and it quickly becomes clear that the Vul Paux intends to use them as a weapon to destroy all of creation. The only way to stop them is to bring back some of the most powerful gods and angels ever made. With that said, Vanifera, Shiva and Raiden head to the resting place of all celestial beings, Zandora.

As the trio near their destination, Vanifera is approached by Despair, the abstract companion of Death. She informs Vanifera that she must be prepared to deal with the loss of her son in order to truly combat the Vul Paux. She then finds herself confronted by a massive Hydra and Vanifera learns that she must sacrifice her life in order to enter the land of the dead. Only then can she save the individuals needed to stop the transformed human souls and bring down the plans of the Vul Paux.

Meanwhile, Gabrielle and the rest of the Hierarchy discover a disturbance taking place in Japan. They quickly learn that the Paux had finally made his move, beginning his path of destruction by toppling the famed Tokyo Tower. After ruthlessly murdering a young woman, Gabrielle prepares her organization to do battle with the Anti-God. However, they quickly find out the depth of the Vul Paux’s power when they are forced to witness him sinking the entire island of Japan right before their eyes. And now…

CHAPTER ONE

San Francisco. The fires had been extinguished, leaving the smoldering soot-covered shells of former businesses. The waterfront looked as if a bomb had been detonated. The air was suffocating, filled with dust, smoke and fumes. Emergency crews raced about trying to assist those who’d been injured during the hellacious battle that had taken place earlier between Vanifera and Gauzamier Brahma.

Amidst the chaos, one individual went seemingly unnoticed. Barhim Hajj stood at the exact spot where Vanifera disappeared. He’d been searching the area for an hour hoping to find a clue that could lead to her whereabouts. He combed the combat site, sifting through tons of debris and rubble. He checked every crevice and analyzed everything that seemed unusual. Sadly, he could find nothing that would give him a hint as to her location. Frustration was beginning to surface in Hajj for he felt that there was something there, something he was missing, something that would lead him to Vanifera.

He continued to search and scan the wreckage. He checked and rechecked everything in the area. His results were coming up the same. Finally, Hajj discovered an object that piqued his curiosity. He knelt to the ground and picked it up. It was a single white feather.

He sniffed it, then ran it across his tongue. He frowned and began looking around as if he were searching for something or somebody. The emergency workers were still assisting the wounded, loading them onto gurneys or wrapping their wounds with bandages. Hajj turned his eyes back to the feather; his brow still furrowed.

This is an angel’s feather, he said. But why would an angel be revealing its wings here?

Hajj pondered for a moment. None of the Hierarchy were allowed to reveal their wings on this plane of existence. Yet someone had, and he was sure that whomever this feather belonged to knew where Vanifera was. He placed it back into his mouth and closed his eyes. A flood of images instantly filled his mind; images that revealed the possible whereabouts of the Gaian.

He saw the Paux and how he attempted to smite his former vessel. He reared back his hand and was about to deliver a killing blow. Then Hajj saw something that truly surprised him. A vortex appeared just behind Vanifera. A hand reached from the inside, grabbed her by her collar and pulled her into the pale void. Moments later, the portal was gone.

Hajj opened his eyes and removed the feather from his mouth. Along with the graphic vision, he saw the face of the individual who abducted the Gaian. At last he found the clue he’d been looking for.

So, Jophiel. It was you that grabbed her. Will wonders never cease? At least I now know where she is. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to the Sanctuary. It looks like this is just as good a time as any, said Hajj.

He turned and began walking toward the Golden Gate Bridge. This was the earthly portal that connected the Heavenly Realm to the Physical Realm. As Hajj made his way from the scene, a pair of slit eyes stared at him from the top of a building. It was the Griffin. It glared at Hajj as if he were prey. He was about to leap from the top of the building and intercept him when the beast suddenly heard a voice.

Calm thyself, noble Griffin. Let him take his leave.

Lord Paux, said the Griffin, with a throaty growl. He knows where the vessel is. I was only going to persuade him to give me that information.

The need is not. I knowest where my former vessel cowers. Had it been my will to smite her, I wouldst have succeeded by now. She seeks to fulfill the supposed providence. Yea, I say unto thee, the fruition of her accursed crusade shall never see the light of day.

What will you have me do now?

Nothing, yet. The sacred plan hath been placed in motion. E’en now I have sewn the seed of destruction. The under dwelling shalt know thine wrath as yon souls transfigure into thine own essence?

The Griffin frowned.

Your essence? What do you mean, Lord Paux?

I am the Omega, and control all the power in this realm. Behold, a portal comprised of thine own essence of antimatter hast been opened in Hell near the city of Sheol. The humans hath made the sacrifice and merged their essence with my own.

So, you’ve opened an antimatter vortex in Hell—a fitting way to destroy that realm. Would you like for me to oversee the cataclysm?

Nay. Instead I bid thee go to the rim of the Heavenly Realm and wait for thine orders. The time of the Ragnarok is almost upon thee.

Very well.

With an effortless leap, the mammoth Griffin flew into the sky and within moments had disappeared from sight. The presence of the Vul Paux faded as a chilling wind swirled across the rooftops. The smell of death drifted in the air and the howling death song of a doomed planet commenced.

CHAPTER TWO

After hearing the news that Despair delivered as well as the appearance of the Hydra, it was clear that another battle was about to commence. I slowly removed the Aracron from its scabbard. The creature continued to hiss, glaring at me with menacing yellow eyes. It was as if it was surveying me, soaking in my weaknesses.

A scan around me showed that I was alone. Despair, Shiva and Raiden were nowhere to be found. It was just me and the Hydra, two combatants on the verge of combat. I’d already had my fill of confrontations. Gauzamier Brahma and Zeviathan had already taxed my physical and mental limits. Perhaps this creature would listen to reason.

I do not wish to do battle with you. Please, let me pass, I asked.

The Hydra sneered.

It may not be your desire to fight, but I must have my revenge! it replied.

Revenge? What have I done to you?

The serpent coiled and slithered in place. You took my life!

Suddenly it occurred to me. I knew who this creature was. I’d fought something just like her once, back when all of this started. It was Caliestra. She was the Hydra. As she continued to coil herself before me, certain things were starting to make sense. Raiden said that this was the place where souls confronted their past sins. Even though he also said that I had no sins I needed to atone for, it didn’t mean that those who’d sinned against me wouldn’t be confronted. Perhaps she was traveling across the marsh and was somehow detained until I arrived in order to face the sins she’d committed.

So, Caliestra. I see that your deeds have brought you to the waters of remorse, I said.

I see you remember me. Yes, it would appear that it was our destiny to meet again. Now there’s nothing that can stop me from ripping you to shreds, she hissed.

Shouldn’t you be trying to make amends for your actions?

You have it wrong, Gaian. I want revenge, not absolution.

With the utterance of her words, I instantly felt a change come over me. My mind switched modes, going from a calm and peaceful state to a cold and sinister one. I was now ready for combat, the exact frame of mind I was in when I fought Gauzamier Brahma. It was my Gaian half taking over, yet I was fully aware of what was happening.

Caliestra unleashed the first attack. One of the heads lunged toward me—mouth opened and fangs revealed. I leaped to the right and dodged the first attack, rolling in the mud and crouching on my feet. It was then I saw just how huge Caliestra was. Her tail was massive, surrounding me on all sides. I also saw that her attack wasn’t an attempt to strike me, but to place me in a position where I had nowhere to run.

As you can see, it’s only a matter of time before I have my revenge, Gaian! she threatened.

Caliestra launched another attack. This time two of her heads lunged toward me. I swung the Aracron, nailing each of the heads in the temple. They swung in opposite directions and I quickly repositioned myself for another counter attack. Caliestra slithered away slightly, shaking off the effects. She turned all seven of her heads to face me and leered at me with contempt.

You will suffer for that!

That last move was done out of instinct. It wasn’t a conscious maneuver and I honestly didn’t have a clue as to what I should do next. It was as if I couldn’t think or stay focused. Fear was numbing my mind and reducing me to a terrified, cornered animal. I stared wide-eyed at Caliestra as she finished regrouping. A smirk appeared on all seven of her mouths and the look in her eyes seemed to indicate that she could sense my fear.

She lifted her right hand and pointed it toward the shadows beneath a huge tree that stood behind her. The shadows began to move, assuming the form of tiny demon-like creatures.

These are the monsters that loom in the dark, waiting for the unsuspecting travelers who stop and rest from their journey along the bayou. They attack the mind as well as the body, causing unspeakable trauma. They are called the Shadow Drones and they are going to tear you apart, said Caliestra.

The tiny demons quickly flew toward me. They swirled around like a swarm of bees, whipping through the air with tremendous speed. Their dark wings flapped like bats. Their echoing screeches confused and disoriented me. I couldn’t get a fix on any of them. They flew faster and faster until a swirling black veil surrounded me.

Caliestra raised her hands in the air and brought them down swiftly. This, undoubtedly, was the signal for them to attack. With the swiftness of a hurricane wind, the Shadow Drones pounced upon me like a pack of rabid dogs. Their demonic cheeping echoed throughout the swamp as they latched on to my body and bit into my flesh. They ripped and clawed at me as if they were trying to skin me alive. I screamed in pain, fighting desperately to escape their clutches.

Caliestra watched, smiling with delight at the pain these creatures inflicted upon me. Grimacing, I began flinging my arms wildly, throwing the small demons to the ground and against the trees. With every fling and toss, they returned in droves, continuing to tear at my body.

Get off of me, you little abominations! I screamed.

By now there were hundreds of drones swarming around me. As I flailed my arms, I knew that if I didn’t think of something soon I would be eaten alive. It then occurred to me—an idea of how to kill these drones. It would be my only chance and I prayed that it would work.

Gripping the handle of my sword, I used all of my concentration to block out the pain from the creatures’ bites and clawing. With one supreme effort I commanded the Aracron to release a burst of its energy. A huge fireball erupted from the blade of the sword. The blast was so intense that it engulfed the surrounding swamp in a plume of fire. The light from the flames illuminated the dense foliage, piercing the darkness like a lightning bolt illuminating a stormy sky.

The sudden burst of light left no shadows in the marsh and the drones quickly burned and crumbled into dust. Within seconds they were gone, every one of them. The light had driven back the darkness, destroying the creatures it spawned. It was inconceivable that something so simple could vanquish such a menacing clan.

I dropped the Aracron on the ground and fell to my knees, tired and badly injured. Cuts and bruises covered my body and I felt as if I was about to pass out from exhaustion. My clothing was shredded and tinged with blood. However, I knew I could not stay down for long. I still had to deal with Caliestra.

I attempted to shake off the effects of my injuries, using the power of the Gaian to hasten my recovery. The sheer fact that I was still alive after that onslaught was a testament to the power I harnessed. I could feel my strength returning and the pain from my injuries was starting to lessen. I pushed myself from the ground and stood to my feet.

Caliestra stared at me with a hint of amazement. Perhaps she was a little surprised that the Shadow Drones didn’t do more damage to me. She saw me regenerate, which meant she now knew that I was one with the Gaian. I looked at her, still feeling the fear tugging at my spirit. She had delivered the first shot and I’d survived. The thought gave me a degree of courage.

That…was strike one! I announced.

Caliestra readied herself for another attack. She charged toward me, slithering across the ground as if she were moving across ice. I quickly stretched out my hand and commanded the Aracron to come to me. The sword levitated from the ground and rested in my palm. I secured my grip around the hilt and lifted the sword above my right shoulder like a baseball player holding a bat.

Caliestra lunged toward me with her claws pointed directly at my chest. I delivered an uppercut swing. The sword sliced a gaping gash from her stomach to her throat, just as I had done to Gauzamier Brahma. Pushing the sword upward, I lodged her chin on the tip and tossed her into one of the massive trees that was still burning.

She smacked against the trunk and fell to the ground. Caliestra bellowed in pain as blood spurted from her chest. The flames from the tree ignited her flesh and she wallowed and writhed on the ground trying to extinguish them. She finally managed to put it out, but her blood continued to pour from the gaping wound in her chest. Burned and badly injured, Caliestra lowered all of her heads and examined her wounds. She then looked at me. The edges of her mouths curled up.

Amazingly, the huge gaping wound closed almost instantly like a zipper. Her smoldering body quickly returned to its green, scaly and slimy texture. She had fully regenerated and she’d done it at a much faster rate than I. In fact, she looked stronger than ever.

Upon seeing this, I couldn’t deny that my fear had escalated off the charts. I searched my mind trying to come up with a way to kill this creature. The Aracron didn’t work and now she was ready for round two. I was certain she could see the confusion on my face and the fear in my eyes. She was soaking it all in and plotting her next attack.

Is it becoming obvious to you that you cannot defeat me? Your putrid effort was a waste of energy! You can still defy me and maybe prolong the inevitable, but it will only bring you more pain in the end! I must say, though, that having the opportunity to gain my revenge upon you is such sweet poetry and I can’t wait to taste your blood! she said with a hissing tone.

Then I invite you to try! I am the Gaian, vessel of the Anti-God! I will not go down to the likes of you!

As the words left my mouth, I couldn’t help but feel shocked. I could not believe that