Origins of the Black Idol

By Michael Diamond

An artifact hidden for centuries...

A power man was not meant to wield...

A horror unlike anything ever unleashed...

Postgraduate student and Renaissance man Julius Godom uncovers the legend of a mysterious artifact rumored to hold the key to human understanding. He sets off on a journey that will take him around the world to India during the Roaring Twenties, chasing the only thing that will quench his thirst for knowledge.

Adventure turns to horror as Julius discovers he isn't the only one searching for the Idol, and the power it contains may be more than what he’s prepared to deal with.

From the monsoon-swollen banks of the Ganges to heights of the Himalayan mountains, the search for the Idol threatens to possess Julius’ mind with fiery desire. The knowledge contained within is unlike anything he has ever experienced, and now he cannot be without it...

But a shadowy coterie of assassins has other plans.

Julius must navigate steamy markets, lush jungles, and perilous mountains to track down the Idol before it's used to unleash an ancient horror that will rip apart the world with its own carnal desires

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michael Diamond
• Release date: Oct 14, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311747426

Michael Diamond

Michael A. Diamond is an up and coming author from northern Illinois, where he lives with his dog Zelda. All his titles can be found at www.thediamondwriting.com. “Tales of Greatness” began in 2011 as a gaming blog. It evolved into a series of short stories based around characters who unearthed items of amazing power. These tales led to the creation of Origins of The Black Idol, the first book in the “Mythos Division” series of novels.

Book preview

ORIGINS of the BLACK IDOL

Published by Michael Diamond

Copyright 2013 Michael Diamond

All rights reserved.

Discover other titles by Michael Diamond:

Shattered Gods (Book Two of the Mythos Division Series)

Echoes of the Deep (Book Three of the Mythos Division Series)

Stitches: A Story of Lies

Agents of the Beyond

This book is available in print at all major online retailers.

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Foreword

Every creative struggle I’ve experienced in my life has led me here. I have been supported and inspired along the way by my family and a great circle of friends. The hours spent writing would be for nothing if my editor, Darius, had not lent his professional expertise and time to this project. I was lucky to have them all along as willing participants on my journey.

For my boys. You’re too young to read this now, but someday you might wonder why Dad spent so much time in front of the computer. This is why.

PROLOGUE

The spring wind bent the long blades of thick grass as the two vacationers moved toward their final destination. All around them the wind whipped and beat against the rocks of the lonely island Travel to this place was uncommon since the end of the war. All that remained of times less joyous was an old military fort and shipyards attached to it That time was over now, and all the vacationers had on their minds were the contents of the picnic lunch they carried and the passion they shared for each other’s embrace

The flames of summer already beat hot in their hearts, fueled by the cloistered nature of collegiate studies and the pastoral nature of the community surrounding them. This was the third time they’d traveled to the island for an escape from their lives. The boat knocked against the small pier as the wind fought hard to take it away, but to no avail. The ropes he’d secured it with would not relent to the wind’s desires today.

They set out across the island to find their favorite hiding spot. The clouds that covered the sky kept the sun from adding to the warmth of the day, which was well warmer than their two previous trips had been. The last trip he covered them in a wool blanket after their picnic lunch. It served a dual purpose - keeping them warm and sheltering them from prying eyes when they’d finished their bottle of wine and began to warm to each other’s touch. Neither one of them left the same way they had come

It had been a week since they last came to the island, but the stirring of spring had already begun on the eastern shores. The grass was thicker and greener than it had been and the heads of blue violets were already beginning their yearly advance up the slight slope of the island’s largest hill. As they walked, the two lovers edged closer to each other. A stolen glance from one to another betrayed their true desires and each step they made closer to their secret place heightened their pulse for each other.

The wind continued to blow as they stepped down below the hillside, each footfall placed with care as hands came together for support on the uneven terrain. The secret place gave them a picturesque view of the open ocean and its light gray backdrop. In the distance, gulls sang out in the harbor, impatient for the fishing boats to arrive with their bounty.

Arriving at the bottom of the hill, they set about spreading out the yellow cotton blanket over the soft spring grass Placing the basket down, he opened it and began withdrawing what she packed Fresh sliced ham, cheese wedges, and grapes were arranged with care on simple white plates Next came the bottle of white wine, the same vintage they’d shared last time He felt her draw closer to him and watched as her hands went toward the basket to pull out glasses.

Diana Johansson, I believe that you may be the death of me.

She blushed at his whimsical banter. It was the way he’d gotten her to talk to him at their first meeting, a college social.

Her eyes stared up at him, while the wine glasses in her hands waited below, eager to be filled. She was younger than him, but only by five years. Her blonde hair was long and curly, having not bent to the flapper style that was sweeping most of the cosmopolitan cities. Diana was filled with a wild spirit that pulled at his heart and wound him up inside. He mashed the corkscrew inside the top of the wine bottle and began to twist He glanced down at her and gave an approving smile, which made her blush even more. Her pale skin was brushed with freckles, each one the size of a mustard seed. Her nose was small and came to a sharp point, which he found attractive in comparison to the other girls he’d seen around campus.

A rush filled the air as the wine cork gave way after a final tug. Tipping the bottle, he filled the glasses for each of them and relaxed back against the hill. Diana took her small plate and curled up by his side. Her light blue spring dress invited his eyes to the neck line, which was covered with a white shawl to shield the eyes of perverse men, like the one she was with Their first time together had been the appetizer for the meal he was hoping to have today

I might be, but how sweet will that death be?

She took a small bunch of grapes from her plate and leaned into him, gesturing for him to open his mouth. He complied, eager to put something in his stomach before the rain came

In the years he’d spent near Newport, he’d seen the weather could change with but a moment s notice. For now, he watched the clouds part in the eastern sky and rays of spring sunshine land on the white-capped waves of the Atlantic

He felt his body fill with satisfaction.

The past two years at Brown had been some of the best academic times he’d experienced. His professors marveled at his understanding of Egyptian and African history. He excelled in his studies of language, art, and American history. He could feel the professors challenge him during exams and read their notes on his papers, each one better than the last

It will be a fine death indeed if I find it at your hand. Or mouth.

He coaxed a sweet laugh from her again as she fed him the last of the grapes in her hand. The weeks he’d spent with her after spring semester’s end had been something out of a dream. A young girl who worked at the local grocery and taken lessons at a finishing school had arrived for a formal dance on the eve of finals week. The president of the college presided over the event and most of the fourth year students attended. Formal social guidelines were enforced in every detail, including dance pace and hand placement. The ushers carried long wooden rulers for anyone that thought to test the rules spelled out before the ladies arrival. Even with all these constraints, oversights were made

The staff of Brown tried hard to keep promiscuity from befalling their guests that evening. Once the dancing began, people slipped away into other parts of the college to engage in free thinking and acting, both of which were forbidden at a Baptist university. That s where he’d met Diana, in the alcove above the ancient histories lecture hall. She was flanked by two of his contemporaries, each one giving her their best rehearsed stories and jokes. It took him a few moments to realize they were failing to find mark with her, and he swept in to save them both from humiliation.

He began their conversation in French, a language he knew to be taught at the finishing schools that dotted the Providence area. His mother had made a point to teach him French from a young age, in hopes he would become a poet or painter and study abroad. In practice, he tended to use it to impress women and study texts from the fourteenth and fifteenth century. It did not fail to impress Diana and, after the first few sentences, he had her undivided attention

The shards of ice that twinkled in her blue eyes captivated him, and they left the group of students moments later to walk the grounds of Brown. She had never seen the Van Wickel Gates or the rest of the grounds that stretched across Providence, so he took it as a personal quest to show her all Brown had to offer. Their tour was short lived though, as several other graduate students had seen them leave the party and informed the staff. They were caught minutes later outside the John Hay library, but the trip had been intoxicating. Diana had marveled at the vastness of the campus and at his tales of the great men that had come to Brown before him

He had managed to uncover the address of her school and promised to write her the next day, in hopes they could see each other again. A week passed until he got her reply, but it was well worth the wait. Diana and some of her friends were leaving for Newport for a weekend She invited him to come to Newport where they might be able to have dinner

Their romance began with a simple spark, but blazed into a bonfire.

Before the sun was overhead, they were in each other’s arms again, letting the power of their passion direct each movement and touch. He never felt as alive as when they were connected, her body moving in rhythm with his, cradled only by the soft, cotton blanket. Their movements brought on gasps of pleasure from both of them, until only the crash of the ocean waves against the rocks of the island offered any sound.

Julius, what will you do when I am gone?

The subject had come up more than once in their meetings. Diana was scheduled to board a train bound for New York in the coming weeks, where her family owned property They had sent her to the school in Providence to get away from the less than reputable social clubs of New York. Julius knew from their first dinner that her family had a strong Protestant background, and that could spell trouble for him if she ever revealed their relationship.

I will write you and do my best to keep in touch until I am finished at Brown. I haven’t been to New York in years. Perhaps I could meet your family after we’ve been properly introduced.

She laid back against his chest and stared off into the ocean waves, letting a heavy sigh float from between her pale lips. Her long, curly hair blew in the spring breeze and he could feel her naked form shiver next to him. Her hands and feet searched for warm places on his body to make their new home Cradling her on the hill, he covered her with more of the blanket and rubbed her shoulder with his hand.

I hate my family. They would never understand what we have. I can imagine what they would say, what they would call me.

He knew what she meant, and he knew that she was right If her family found out they were lovers, she’d be punished, perhaps even disowned. If her family was as influential as she’d said, it was even possible for them to come after him for reparations, or worse, get him kicked out of school.

The professors at Brown were his only challenge left. With his parents in lucrative positions in Ivy League education, Julius didn’t want for anything material. He had a lofty expense account, which afforded him a motorcar, a world class education, and all the privilege he needed.

All of those things, and they couldn’t put him any closer to what he really wanted

Knowledge was Julius’ one true desire. He burned for Diana in the moment, but he knew from the start it was infantile to believe it would last. This wasn’t his first college romance. He knew one day she’d leave, and in that moment he would be saddened by the loss of her, and then he’d find his head in a book the next day - back at his studies once again.

What’s this? she asked, producing a small yellow card out of his jacket pocket

It’s a letter I found in my mailbox today. I don t know who It’s from, but I think someone at the school is playing a trick on me.

Diana opened the letter, smiling at him as she sought out its contents. It took her a few moments to read, but Julius could see that she didn’t understand what the letter said She tilted her head and then looked at the back for anything she might have missed

I don t understand. What does this mean?

The numbers on the left and right hand side of the note correspond to the decimal system for cataloging books the Brown library uses. Whoever wrote this note wants me to search out these books, and discover some ancient story or text contained within.

Why would someone do that to you?

I study ancient history, archeology, and anthropology in my courses at the college. For a student in my studies, this might be considered a fun exercise to entertain me during semester break, Julius said buttoning up his shirt. Diana slipped back into her dress as they prepared to make their way back to the boat. The weather was cooling off and the clouds had taken on a deeper shade of gray. Once they had the basket cleaned up and the blanket folded, she reached out to take his hand as they started back to the boat.

I hope that I am enough to entertain you during your semester break, Diana said, a wild grin painted across her young face.

Oh you are, my dear. Trust me.

The walk back to the boat was filled with laughter and joy as the two of them reveled in the moment, for as long as it lasted

Chapter 1

August 15th, 1921

Himalayan Mountains

Digging his fingers in only made the pain in his shoulder worse, and any further strain on his back from the pack he’d put together might keep him from continuing up the mountain. There wasn’t any time for whining or complaining though, plus no one around him was likely to listen. Like some crazed animal, he kept digging his fingers into the rocky hillside, doing what he could to ignore the pain.

It had been months since he’d done any serious climbing. Straight out of Brown he’d spent the summer months relaxing near Wittenberg Mountain preparing for this climb, which, in hindsight, hadn’t been good enough. Swinging his tall frame over the closest ledge, he rolled onto his side and inhaled