Keep Evolving - Episode 4: Paradise Lot, #9

By R.E. Vance

Keep Evolving - Episode 4 ...

After Jean-Luc failed to stop the apocalypse from happening, he has only one chance to stop it. Except some choices are too hard to make ... apocalypse-be-stopped or not.

The gods are gone. All of them.

Since they left, mythical creatures of all shapes and sizes have been forced to Earth as refugees dependent on the goodwill of humans. Trouble is most humans don't have much goodwill ... 

Then there's Jean-Luc, a struggling hotelier who promised to help these wayward 'Others' live in this new GoneGod world. It's a promise that just might get him killed. In the past year alone, his hotel was blown up, his best friend - a drunk fallen angel - picked a fight with an Other hating gang and, oh yeah, the world almost ended (again). 

But things are finally starting to look-up for Jean-Luc. He’s dating Medusa, most Others respect him and his new hotel has just been booked for the biggest event of the century. Sadly his good fortune takes a turn for the worse when his guests accidentally set off the apocalypse. 

It seems that when the gods departed, they left behind their WMDs: Weapons of Mass Destruction—or rather, ATDs: Apocalypses of Total Destruction. 

Now Jean-Luc is forced to face-off against Ragnarok, Revelations and a creature he’s pretty sure is the Kraken. 

All in a day’s work in Paradise Lot. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.E. Vance
• Release date: Aug 23, 2016
• ISBN: 9781536514063

Book preview

Bonus Content:

OK—so we’re accumulating quite the cast and growing quite the world ... a world that cannot be contained by just following Jean-Luc’s story. That’s why I’m in  the process of writing a series of short stories that will NEVER BE SOLD, and are reserved for fans of the series.

CLICK HERE IF YOU’D LIKE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO PARADISE LOT CONTENT

Part 4

C:\Users\Ramy\Dropbox\Paradise Lot - Keep Evolving\Cover Images\Keep Evolving Fish.png

Prologue

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Gilgamesh’s Last Days—

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Once-upon-a-time, were you to ask Astarte if she could love anyone, let alone a mortal, she would have laughed.

Yet Astarte has loved not one but two mortals—Gilgamesh and Enkidu. The three of them have formed a bond that could not be severed by sword, guile or magic.

Of course, Atargatis sent other assassins to kill Gilgamesh—Enkidu was not the last. But between the three of them, no warrior’s blade pierced Gilgamesh’s heart, no thief’s poison passed his lips.

Nothing could hurt him. And nothing could hurt them. Astarte, Gilgamesh and Enkidu—the inseparable rulers of Uruk. Together they pursued knowledge, worshipping the gentler, more humane principle of Nature.

The Assyrian valley experienced a rare peace that thrived for many years until Atargatis, still angry from being dethroned, sent her most powerful Champion to dispose of the wayward king. The creature has many names: the Beast, the Four Horsemen, the Bull of Heaven. Astarte knows this monster by another name, the name given to her by her mother—Tiamat.

Tiamat was birthed to punish mortals who offended the gods of Chaos. It was the being to consume all, and it would have if not for Enkidu’s sacrifice. His death sacrifice saved both Gilgamesh and his city from ruin. But sacrifice comes with a steep price: death.

Astarte hates death for its cruel indifference. Over time, she and Gilgamesh have learned to find happiness without their beloved friend.

One evening, forty-seven years after Astarte first met Gilgamesh and eleven years after Enkidu died, the Queen of Lust feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand to attention. She knows who is coming.

The balcony window is open, and despite it being midsummer there is chill in the air.

You missed your wedding, a voice says in the shadows.

Astarte says nothing, does nothing. She just waits for the voice to speak again.

"You’ve changed. I must admit, had circumstances been different, I would’ve loved this new you. But as we stand here—in his bedroom—the sight of you ... new or old ... disgusts me."

Are you here to try and kill my husband again, my dear sister Atargatis?

No ... the Bull of Heaven was our last failure. Chaos will not send another Champion. Not after that foolish Enkidu sacrificed himself. We are fallen gods now, Atargatis grits her teeth, and forever.

What of Poseidon and that union? Astarte asks, and she knows the answer from the way her sister’s shoulders slump.

You didn’t come, so I stood in your place. Not that doing so has changed what we are to become.

Astarte touches the pendant that Gilgamesh gave her once-upon-a-time. We lost long before any of this started, sister.

Perhaps you’re right.

And what of Gilgamesh? Will you try to kill him again?

Atargatis brims with hate. Let time have him, she says, and let uncertainty have you. That’s my curse upon you. That’s how I shall punish you.

Astarte does not understand what Atargatis means by uncertainty. It will be years until she does. And with the dawning of her sister’s curse, Astarte will hate her sister more than ever.

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Many years pass. Gilgamesh is old now. His body is frail yet his spirit is as strong as ever. Oh, how Astarte loves him. Gilgamesh invites her to join him by the fire. He sips from his wine.

Have I lived a meaningful life? he asks.

Astarte nods. More so than most humans.

Have I made a difference?

More so than most humans.

Have I been loved?

Again Astarte nods. Your people love their king.

They do not know me any more than I know the gods. A dribble of wine stains his white beard deep crimson. Have I been loved? he asks again.

Yes, Astarte says. I have loved you. And Enkidu—he, too, loved you.

Good, Gilgamesh says, putting his glass on the table.

There is a long silence before Astarte works up the courage to ask what is in her heart. She looks into the fire and says quietly, Have I been loved?

Gilgamesh does not answer. His silence cuts her deeply. Still, she is Astarte, the demigoddess of lust, the queen of succubi and the wife to the greatest king the world has ever known. She is not one to give up easily. With a more determined tone she asks, Do you love me?

Still there is silence, and what was once hurt is now anger. She turns to face him, seeking to ask the question again, but is stopped by what she sees. 

Her king, her lover, her husband—is dead.

Such is the way of mortals, she thinks. A single tear runs down her cheek.

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The death of Gilgamesh is felt everywhere in the world. Kings and princes, creatures of