Heart of Stone

By Arwen Jayne

A hundred thousand years ago the immortal commander of the Malakim’s galactic defense fleet, fighting to protect the planets of this dimension from an invasion force, was turned into stone and plummeted to earth. Unable to use his immortal powers to free himself he must wait through the eons until a human is born with enough unconditional love and compassion to form a mystical bond with him and free him. The prophecy of a young immortal boy is his only hope "The heart of stone by love be free." In the meantime his enemy, the Din, have established themselves on the planet he sought to save. Possibly the oversouls of dinosaurs, they have demonic powers to possess another being by inhabiting their aura. They've built themselves a global economic empire, living in comfort at the expense of those they've enslaved.

The story does not belong to any one genre. It mixes mythology, paranormal romance, conspiracy, sci-fi adventure and is a light-hearted introduction into non-dual consciousness. One reader called the adventure "an expansive swirl of fantasy, sci-fi inter galactic battles, new age mysticism and more than a little in the way of lusty encounters involving a vastly experienced, endowed, ageless shape shifting spirit being and an initially sedate...librarian."

Tyra, the librarian, is called in to view the remains of her uncle who seems to have been slaughtered by a wild beast. She finds out that she belongs to one of the guardian families and has a prophecy to fulfill. She's worked for years at her desk in the city's library. Haunted by dreams of an alien warrior and a mysterious sage she's never been interested in having an intimate relationship. Now she must learn enough about tantra to free her destined mate and enough of martial arts to survive until she does, cross more than a few taboo boundaries along the way. Some bondage scenes, neo-tantra and menage sex.

This is the first book in the series called Left hand adventures. Lefthand Adventures is the business Simon trades under in Heart of Stone, until he sets up his new security firm. Lefthand also designates one of the many spiritual evolutionary paths the Malakim follow. Simon follows left hand path, using ecstatic experiences and shamanic practices. Whereas Thex follows the warrior’s path of justice and the protection of the innocent. Tyra adopts the middle path of love and compassion but that doesn’t exclude her from learning the ways of ecstasy or becoming a warrior in her own right. Other books in the series so far are A Lick of Immortality (Book 2) which focuses on John, Sally and Arion’s stories. Trust and Destiny (Book 3) is Michael, Sarah and Kiana’s story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arwen Jayne
• Release date: Jan 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310655289

Arwen Jayne

My passion is writing paranormal fantasy romance with a metaphysical twist. When I'm not writing I'm either reading other people's romance and erotica novels, gardening or learning about the myriad of things that interest me: meditation, brain change, metaphysics, linguistics, genetics, myths, magic and the odd bit of science and engineering.

Book preview

Prologue

100,000 years ago, more or less

In a galaxy far far away...

Shimon saw the big adult, Meta, coming to their house. He ran to his mum finding safety as she knelt down and cuddled him close to her. Ma!

The beautiful young woman, delicate but self-assured, gently caressed the top of his head. It's alright little one. They need you.

Meta stood at the doorway, a picture of majesty. Come Shimon, you are equal among us, there’s nothing to fear. He gently but firmly grasped the little boy’s hand in his own and led him up the path to the shining white temple on the hill.

Shimon turned to look over his shoulder, his mum was waving reassuringly. He took a deep breath, finding his resolve. He could be a man.

Shimon had never been inside the temple. The great white marble pillars supporting the outer circular structure looked like giants rising into the heavens. Once through the outer ring they entered under a great domed ceiling. In the center of the dome a clear crystal covered opening filtered shafts of light into a rainbow of colors dancing on the floor of the temple.

Meta seated himself cross legged on the floor to one side of the temple, motioning for Shimon to sit beside him and then they waited.

The men and women of the high council entered, followed by the mages, the academy's elite scholars and scientists and then the galaxy defenders.

Shimon saw the great commander of the defenders among them, tall, straight backed, piercing dark eyes that seemed to take the measure of everyone and everything in the room. His blue black war braids hung down his back, marking him as a follower of the right hand way, a fighter for justice, law enforcer and protector of the weak. Such was the awe and respect in which he was held everyone just called him Thex which meant simply 'right' and few outside his own family remembered him ever having another name.

Each person sat on the floor, completing a circle, a circle of equals.

When everyone was there Meta rose, indicating he would take the right to speak. Sisters and brothers of the Malakim. I have called you here today to hear the words of the all-spirit. For the past few nights I’ve had dreams of foreboding. Others of you have told me that you too have felt the disturbance in the ether. I have asked young Shimon Aris to come here today, as our equal. As was foretold at his birth he has great ability listening to the will of the all-spirit. Meta sat back down and smiling reassuring warmth turned to Shimon, arise Shimon, turn your mind inwards and listen to the all-spirit for us.

Shimon stood. Closing his eyes helped to remove the intimidating presence of the adults. He sent his focus to the top of his head and listened.

Suddenly Shimon's eyes rolling back in his head, Meta catching him as he fell to the floor. The Din are coming! All is lost if you flee. All is lost if you stay. But lose and you will endure. Great is the suffering. Great is the pain. But Hearts of Stone by love be freed.

With worry creasing his brow Meta placed a blanket over the young boy and put him in a fetal position so he could rest safely, The all-spirit has given its prophecy. He turned and faced the others, Go now and prepare for battle, the all-spirit is within you and watching over you.

Thex, the battle commander for the galaxy, scowled, It would seem the all-spirit is about to desert us.

Meta sucked in his breath at the blasphemy. The all-spirit always has its way in the end, the world to come depends on it. It’s not for us to question.

Thex humphed, I’ll leave faith and prophecy to the philosophers and mages, Father. If your dreams are any indication then there are some demonic lizards out there that are about to enter the lower worlds, with who knows what agenda. We are sworn to protect those worlds and I for one will not consider defeat. Turning to his team, the dozen men and women of the Malakim who made up the elite force of galaxy defenders, time for us to go and kick some mean scaly ass.

The team rose swiftly from their seats and nodded to Arion, the second in command, to speak. Resolution was upon his face he raised his fist and beat it on his chest We are with you Commander, always.

As everyone left Meta thoughtfully nudged the young boy on the floor. Come little one, I think I have a job for you.

A little while later...

In a Malakim battleship far out in space. Arion yelled into his communicator, continuing to fire his laser weapon at the ferocious lizard beings who were trying to round up his team and slashing with their saber sharp claws and teeth those who resisted Commander, we’ve been breached, requesting backup.

Shit came the swift reply, hold them off a bit longer, I’m coming.

Thex left the command deck.  He headed to the transporter hold and rounded the corner only to find himself pinned to the wall by a giant lizard, its grotesque face almost lion-like except for the scales. Bloody Hell! This can’t be happening.

The lizard quickly secured Thex’s hands with some kind of metal restraint that snapped ominously in place. Move and you die like the others, speak again and I will rip out your tongue.

Thex glanced around the hold that had become the enemys’ beachhead. Corpses of friends, brutally slashed, entrails spilling from slashes, necks hanging loosely by threads. Surrounded by their dead comrades were six badly bruised and bloodied, heavily bound survivors: Arion, Orea, Kiana, Zex, Trian and Kaleem. The lizard yanked forcefully on Thex’s restraints and dragged him to the others.

Thex tried to mentally teleport himself away but something in the restraints blocked him.

One of the lizards made a guttural barking sound and the other lizards in the glider bay became rigid, as if frozen in whatever position they were in at the time.

A larger lizard stomped ponderously into the room, the floor shaking with the vibration of his steps. His eyes like fire gleamed with an evil pleasure.  He sneered at the prisoners, For your crime of attempting to thwart our takeover of these worlds I sentence you to the long death. Your material bodies will be descended into sama crystal and thrown into space to land on the planet below. If you survive re-entry, which you probably will, since sama is the strongest known material in our parallel universe, your souls will be trapped forever, your awareness intact, alone through the aeons, contemplating your defeat.

The survivors looked in horror at each other but daren’t speak.

You! The lizard commander pointed at Thex. You are their leader, yes?

Thex just nodded, he hadn’t been given permission to speak.

Good. The lizard laughed insanely. We’ll do you last. I want you to remember the pain and horror on each of your team’s faces and you can take that with you into your eternal prison. He turned to the lizard beside him. "That girl first!

Orea, the Malakim’s beautiful but feisty chief of communication for everything from code breaking to computers to managing the ship’s transceivers, rose to her feet and head butted the lizard trying to grab her. I’d rather die.

The lizard commander raised his weapon and shot both her and her captor with a stun ray. Afraid not. He turned to the other captives. Now if anyone else would like to dispute my verdict I’d be more than happy to remove their limbs before the procedure. I thought not. Well we’ll leave the girl until she comes to. I still look forward to seeing her suffer. You then. He pointed at Arion.

Arion glanced sorrowfully at Thex, his clear pale green eyes saying his goodbye to his longtime friend and commanding officer. Just as he was placed in position he remembered something and quickly mouthed The prophecy. At that moment a blast of absolute cold black light surrounded his body and he screamed. When the light disappeared all that remained was a gleaming piece of crystal, a rock the shape of a man, frozen in his scream.

The rock was pushed aside and the next captive put in place.

Thex watched in horror as one by one his team were reduced to stone. He held himself rigid in defiance and deadly calm yet the single tear coursing down his face betrayed him.

Finally the lizard commander turned to Thex. So, any last requests? His face made more hideous by his laugh.

Thex glared at him, holding the lizard’s gaze. Your name.

Ha! I don’t know what good that will do you but very well. I am simply the enemy but you can call me Sakla. Are we done then?

We are done. Thex calmly stood himself in position and braced himself for the rays impact. Until we meet again Sakla of the enemy.

And then there was only rock.

Sakla shook his head. We won’t meet again.

A little while later seven large rocks were pushed out the bay doors and fell as meteorites to the planet below. The sama crystal held its hyper dense structure intact, surviving the entry into the atmosphere and impact. Buried in the ground the only sign of where they landed were the craters made as the impacted earth gave and rippled out in circles.

1

Tyra Aguila Goodwin woke with a start. That bloody dream again! One day I’ll have to write it down and maybe then it will go away. Dream was being too kind to it as it was most definitely a nightmare. But she wasn’t sure she wanted it to go away, she loved the dark haired man in the dream. Loved him for both his deadly calm and his compassion. She hoped one day she would dream a better ending for the man and his warriors.

A loud knocking at her front door roused her from her musing. Who’d be knocking at this time of the night?  It’s three in the morning.

Quickly she threw on her trackies and a t-shirt and made a run for the door yelling I’m coming! Ha, that’ll be the day! Now fifty years of age Tyra doubted she'd ever have a lover. She had never managed to so much as snuggle up to a guy without thinking of the man from her nightmares. By no means frigid she’d ‘got by’ on a hearty diet of romance novels and discovering that with the right fantasy, usually featuring supernatural warriors or powerful mages, she could occasionally have an orgasm, or two. She wasn’t entirely sad though on missing out on the whole expensive wedding, white picket fence, two screaming kids and cleaning up after a guy thing. She had a good life, had travelled some and enjoyed her low paying but rewarding job as a research