The Stones Of Elrath: The Stones Of Elrath, #1

By Jake Hawke

Joshua thinks he's merely the son of a brutal gangland boss, but rescued by Dolan he discovers that he is the prophesised chosen one. The one true heir to the throne. Destined to save the universe from the evil wrath of the devil and his son the Demon KIng. With the help of freinds, including a former hell demon named Jack, he sets of on a quest of unparalled proportions, fraught with death dealing monsters and untold dangers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jake Hawke
• Release date: Feb 22, 2015
• ISBN: 9781533724885

Book preview

CHAPTER 1  HELL IS A PLACE CALLED HOME

Trembling with fear Joshua sat quietly in the cold darkness of his hiding place. He flinched as he heard his violent, abusive, alcoholic, drug addled monster of a so called father shout out his name.

Joshua where are you, you little shit. Where are you boy, I’ve got something for you.

Joshua knew that the offered something wouldn’t be a nice gift, but a well placed fist in his face or gut if his father caught him. His mother wouldn’t care, as by now she’d be in her nightly routine of chasing the dragon. Throughout his fourteen years of life Joshua had already had a lifetime of pain and suffering that no child should ever have to endure.

Thanks to his father it began when Joshua was six years old. At the time his father had owned his own electronics company, but after losing a main lucrative contract to a rival firm the company could barely keep afloat, quickly spiralling into serious debt. It was at this point, when he was so desperately trying to keep the liquidators from taking it all, including the family home, that he started drinking heavily. When he drank he turned into one nasty son of a bitch and would often fly into violent rages. Often Joshua’s mother would take the brunt of it, but if Joshua was unlucky enough to be caught in the crosshairs of his vision, then a heavy slap or punch was the boy’s reward.

Forty eight hours before the creditors set loose the repo-men, Joshua’s father met a well known man in certain circles, Mr.G.Curtis. Mr Curtis agreed to help the company out of trouble and settle all of its debts. In return for which he would use the company as a front for his nefarious interests. Namely money laundering and the distribution of illegal narcotics. He’d offered Joshua’s father ten thousand pounds in cash a month, an offer which he couldn’t refuse. Bastard.

That’s how Joshua’s father’s career as a criminal began. Quickly rising through the ranks, he became a somewhat heavy hitter in the criminal underworld, eventually becoming second in command to Mr Curtis. A respected and feared figure he gained the nickname the Hyena, an animal known for its vicious bite. He was mostly feared due to the side effect from his love of snorting cocaine. The pure white powder made him unpredictable and volatile, which didn’t help his temper any to say the least.

Eventually the Hyena became tired of being a lousy second to his boss, he wanted it all. After launching an extremely hostile takeover bid, bloodbath style, he became the head of Mr Curtis’s business empire. Making the Hyena’s reputation for violence spread even further.

Joshua’s mother wanted out of the marriage, but her so called husband told her that if she attempted too leave him or file for divorce, he would have both her and their son killed. Knowing that her husband would stoop so low as to commit such an unholy act, she’d unwillingly backed down, having no choice but to stay.

To escape the nightmare marriage she turned to one particular drug, namely the destroyer of so many lives, Heroin. Which in the Hyena’s soulless empire was in plentiful supply and he was only to happy to give it her. He completely held sway over her miserable life and if needs must, her death as well.

At the tender age of ten Joshua already knew that the mansion they lived in, the fast cars that his father owned and everything else that was paid for, was bought with blood money. Money made from an evil empire selling drugs, prostitution, and forced extortion.

As Joshua sat there freezing, shivering in the cold night he vowed to himself that one day he would kill his father and end his reign of terror.

He was pulled from any thoughts of revenge when a cold clammy hand suddenly grabbed his leg, dragging him out from under the raised wooden decking. Joshua desperately dug at the cold damp earth, leaving an imprint of clawing fingers. It did him no good to struggle, he was trapped, doomed to the inevitable arrival of pain. A face of pure evil loomed over him.

There you are boy, I was worried about you, smiled the Hyena sweetly.

Joshua squirmed trying to pull his leg free, but his father had a fast hold of him. Joshua knew all to well what was coming next.

You didn’t come to me when I called out your name. I’m going to have to teach you some respect boy. You know I’m going to have to punish you, don’t you boy?

Joshua stopped his squirming having resigned himself to his fate and looked up at his father with pure hate in his eyes. Letting go of his leg his father lifted him by the scruff of the neck and violently shook him. Joshua felt like his neck was going to snap. Answer me boy when I ask you a question, his father shouted angrily.

At first Joshua didn’t answer, wanting the beating to be quickly over with. But for some reason a little voice deep inside of himself told him that it was high time he fought back. And so, Joshua stared into those wide, drug fuelled eyes and said plain and simply, I’m going to kill you one day.

For a brief moment his father was slightly taken aback, relaxing his grip upon the boy, but then the grip retightened iron hard, making Joshua wince. He bought his face close to Joshua’s, a few drops of cold drug sweat dripped from the end of his nose. Maybe you will one day boy, but that day is somewhere way, way... way off into the future, he said mockingly. Balling his free hand, forming a solid fist, he gleefully took aim.

Time seemed to slow as the fist struck Joshua full in the face, impacting with such force it almost rendered him unconscious. Fortunately for Joshua the next strike did, making the next two punches feel relatively painless.

*************************************************************

Light years away there existed a world where magic filled the air and magical beasts, legendary warriors, roamed the lands. But all was not light and the world had been plunged into dark and dangerous times. A terrible evil had been unleashed threatening to destroy the entire universe. Hero’s were sorely needed to defeat the hordes of darkness and the chosen king must take the throne. Otherwise the universe would be plunged into an eternity of perpetual evil.

On top of Mount Essand stood an ancient temple in which a mysterious cloaked figure, holding a black metal staff in one hand, was staring into the burning pit of fire. Show me the one, commanded the figure, raising the staff into the air.  Crackling and spitting the orange red flames of the fire danced, conjoining, merging to become a single large bright blue flame. Within the flame a clear image formed. Dolan, the figure called.

Dolan who’d been patiently waiting outside the chamber, padded past the two fearsome looking guards, and through the open heavy wooden doors. You called for me Zurlan? he asked in a gruff voice.

The figure solemnly nodded. I’m afraid the time to act is upon us. The prophecy must be fulfilled and a new beginning born. You must seek out the boy and quickly, otherwise I fear his time may be brutally cut short.  Zurlan then proceeded to give Dolan instructions on what was to be done.

Dolan listened intently. Very well, and so it begins.

It will be a long and highly dangerous journey. Do not fail or this world and all others will burn in demon’s flame.

I won’t fail, grumbled Dolan.

I have faith in you. Good luck old friend, said Zurlan, then banged the bottom of his staff onto the stone floor. The staff reverberated with a musical chiming sound that bounced off the solid stone walls, echoing around the chamber. Holding the ringing staff in both hands Zurlan raised his arms calling out to the elemental essences. The surrounding air fizzed and sparked with the growing conjured power, drawing the energies of the fire out of the pit which joined with a gathering vortex of tremendous forces. Suddenly it felt like the air itself, to an almost deafening degree, was being torn asunder, causing the mix of air and fire to violently implode. Creating an open gateway.

I can’t hold it for long, go now my friend shouted Zurlan, his face contorted in great concentration and pain. His long dark hair danced and swirled around his head and face, with his deep red cloak billowing about him like a broken sail in stormy seas.

With a single leap Dolan jumped into the gateway and vanished. With a grunt off effort Zurlan lifted the staff up and banged it straight down again on the flagstone dissipating the powerful energies. With a booming thunder crack, the gateway closed, and the pit was once again returned to its calm fiery state. Zurlan stretched backwards to help relieve the tension of his immense efforts. At the edge of his vision he saw a monk enter, carrying two crying babies in his arms. Pray to the forces of light that you succeed Dolan, whispered Zurlan and turned to greet the monk with a sad half smile.

CHAPTER 2  NEXT DAYS PAIN 

Joshua awoke, only to be half blinded by the morning rays of sun streaming in through the leaded windows. Groggily shielding his eyes he looked about, finding himself lying on the floor of his own bedroom.

Painfully struggling to rise, the aftershocks from the previous nights beating made his head swim. His father must have dragged him here, leaving him carelessly sprawled out on the carpet. Opposite him there was a full length mirror hanging on the wall. Joshua slowly walked over to it, wondering what damage had been inflicted upon his body this time.

His nose was bloodied and felt sore, one side of his lip was split and swollen plus a nice black eye had formed over his left eye. The eye was puffy and half closed. Joshua noticed his blood stained shirt and gingerly lifted it up, seeing large blackened bruises on his right hand side. He winced as he touched his ribs, painful, but at least none were broken this time. He spat some blood out onto the not so pristine white carpeted floor. The cheap cord textured carpet already had an array of previous blood stains which only served to remind Joshua of the savagery of his life every time he looked at them.

Having an en-suite bathroom in his bedroom had proven to be a god send at times like this. It also saved him from bumping into anyone in the middle of the night, should he have a need to pee. Removing his soiled clothes Joshua wearily turned the shower on and stepped into the glass cubicle. Luke warm water flowed out. He turned the heat dial to hot in the hope of burning some of the pain away. 

As the hot water cascaded over him, Joshua began to cry. The heat of his tears blended with the water as it ran down his aching battered body. Thoughts of running away filled him, but he knew it was impossible.

After what felt like hours Joshua finally got out of the shower and towelled himself dry. Getting a fresh set of clothes out of the double wardrobe he dressed himself in an outfit consisting of  black trunk shorts, a plain red t-shirt, black hooded sweatshirt and a pair of dark blue jeans. He then reached under the double bed, pulling out his old, comfy, plain black surf trainers. Slipping them on he felt marginally better, but only just.

Glancing across at the alarm clock sat on the small table next to the bed, he saw its red digital display reading 7 o’clock. Lisa, who had the role of the household cook, generally started work at six thirty. Joshua knew that she’d be downstairs in the kitchen making breakfast for the family and guards. Even so, his parents wouldn’t be up yet. Hopefully, Joshua thought, as he had no wish to bump into his bastard of a father this sorry morning.

Lisa took pity on Joshua, because she’d often saw the boy covered in bruises. But with Joshua being the son of a brutal gangster she knew it was more than her life was worth to say anything. Besides Lisa there was also Maria the young pretty housemaid, and old Willie, who looked after the large expanse of garden.

The mansion and garden were surrounded by high stone walls, with a surveillance team watching over the property twenty four seven. Being a well known gangland boss has its downsides. Its the kinda role that comes with the occupational hazard of making enemies who may on occasion try and kill you. The Hyena was more than a little paranoid about this small fact, which wasn’t helped none by his daily uptake of narcotics. Even though no one had so far tried to put an end to his life he still insisted on having a security team guard him twenty four seven.

We’ll maybe that’s not quite true. A couple of years ago a kill contract was put out on the Hyena. Unfortunately the designated job went disastrously wrong, ending with the hit man being caught. The poor bastard was subsequently tortured and murdered by the Hyena and his goon’s. Before dying under extreme duress, he’d willingly, minus his fingers and toes, gave out the name of the person who’d ordered the kill, a rival gang boss called Steven Jone’s. Fuck client confidentiality was the hitman’s motto that night, not that it did the him any good, he was dead either way.

The Hyena decided to make an example out of Stephen Jone’s who was, compared to the Hyena, a tiny fish in a shark infested pond. No mother fucker tries to kill the Hyena, so a murderous plan was hatched.

One night the Hyena, along with some of his most deviously immoral henchmen, all out of their minds on angel dust, stormed Stephen Jones’s luxury home. They captured Stephen, his wife and three children.

Stephen and his wife, with a gun at their heads, were forced to their knees. Stephen pleaded to the Hyena to let his family go. They’re innocent in all of this, it was nothing to do with them. Do what what you will to me, but let them go, he’d cried.

Fuck you, no one get’s away, was the Hyena’s reply. Then the devil was in session and the torture began, although hell was nothing compared to this.

One of the men had just so happened to bring along a chainsaw to the party. He pulled the starter cord and revved it up, waiting for the go ahead. The Hyena wanting a captive audience noticed the mother of the children close her eyes cringing with terror. He couldn’t have her not watch the show, so calling a halt to the pre meditated murders, before they’d even begun, he searched around. Finding a staple gun in a side draw in the kitchen, he’d then gotten two of the men to force open the husband and wife’s eyes. Taking the staple gun he stapled their eyelids open. Satisfied with his little handiwork he bade the chainsaw man to proceed. The buzzing chainsaw came down again and again. Mother and father could only watch and scream in horror as their offsprings lives were so violently ended.

The wife was next, although she’d been reduced to a bubbling wreck. Stripped off her clothes, all the men used and abused her in every inconceivable evil, wicked way. Then, when she was begging for death the Hyena granted her wish and hacked her to death with an axe. Stephen Jone’s wept, filled with guilt and remorse at what he’d unwittingly unleashed upon his family. He shook with terror at what these so called men had done to his beloved family.

The Hyena got his men to hang Stephen upside down and strip him naked. With hunting knifes they’d roughly cut away his designer clothing not caring if the blades caught the mans flesh. By the time they’d done this short deed the man was covered in shallow bleeding cuts. They’d then beat him with rubber pipes, followed by the Hyena skinning him alive and scooping out his eyes so that they were left dangling on their optic nerves. For good measure he also cut out his tongue and watched, waiting for him to die. Stephen last few minutes of life was one of pure untold agony.

The Hyena stood pondering the dead man hanging before him as a sculptor would, waiting for inspiration, the coup de grace that would make his masterpiece complete. Smiling, he clicked his fingers as it entered his mind. One of his men stepped forward handing him a vial filled with pure uncut cocaine. The Hyena tapped some out on the length of his middle finger and raised it to his nose. With a long sniff he snorted it up his nostrils. He passed it around to every man and they each took a hit. Mixing in with the angel dust still in their systems the combination gave them all a head banging rush of morphing, crazy ecstasy.

Taking hold of the blood soaked chainsaw he pulled on the starter whirring it to life. With an evil maniacal grin he cut into the corpse from groin to head, slicing it clean in two as if it was merely a slab of meat, whilst his men whooped in diabolical glee.

The Hyena literally had the police in his pocket. He paid them handsomely to lose evidence here and there and give him information that would prove invaluable to his organisation. Blood money it seemed made the world go round. The murders