Ashes & Raven Feathers Extended Preview Edition

By T. C. Clover

During a hedonistic party in a Manhattan mansion, Zigmund Archuleto learns that his childhood friend is going to be killed by an anarchist business group. The murder is scheduled to take place at a sporting event, and it is to be carried out by one of the participants. Archuleto finds himself in the dizzying position of betraying the people who provide his lucrative lifestyle to save the life of a man that bullied him in high school. Adding to the stakes are his wife and four-year-old son, along with his reputation for discretion in all matters of the criminal world.

Artimus Ray Rothschild is a senator from New York who has no idea that his son Draymont is in danger from the very group that he founded. Although the senator has complicated morals and worships the chaotic movements of the universe, he still has tremendous love for his prized son. This mysterious character operates in the undercurrents of society, plotting modern conquests and a continuation of the antiquated American Manifest Destiny. When gravity begins towing these characters into the paths of one another, it is anyone's guess as to whether they will survive the riptides and psychological fallout.

• Language: English
• Publisher: T. C. Clover
• Release date: Sep 26, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370439461

Book preview

Ashes & Raven Feathers Extended Preview Edition

Copyright 2017 T. C. Clover

Published by T.C. Clover at Smashwords

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

I. Differentiation

II. Archuleto

III. The Guest in 336

IV. Artimus & Hailey

V. The Odd Hours

VI. Destiny’s Fifth Symphony

VII. Tender Loving Spurs

VIII. Prom King

IX. Quantum Hysterics

X. No Draymont No Cry

XI. Wings of Affections

XII. Non-Celestial Bodies

XIII. Dray’s Penthouse

XIV. Montclair New Jersey

XV. Refresh

Other books by T. C. Clover

Connect with T. C. Clover

Acknowledgements

Dedication: For Tatyana Alexandra Khorishko, a genuine warrior of incredible passion; my inspiration, and someone I love very much.

To my father and siblings (in alphabetical order): Robbie Griffith, James Sellers, Jodi Sellers, and Shane Sellers.

To my mentors Jacque Turner-Schettler and Don Miles. I hope this work does justice for the wisdom that you have shared. I’m grateful.

To Tierney Roberts for your beautiful and inspired cover artwork. Please visit: www.TierneyRoberts.com for some incredible designs.

Twitter: @TierneyRoberts

I. Differentiation

R. H. R. R. Harrington relaxed his fifty-two-year-old body against a cheap plastic seat at a beach cafe in Paris, France. It was a bittersweet morning for the best-selling author, and he wasn't excited for another interview to promote his most recent novel. Richard fantasized about a twenty-five-year-old woman who propositioned him at a book signing ten days ago in Alabama. In the midst of this fantasy, he unconsciously slid his right hand between the buttons of his white shirt and began playing with his left nipple. Memories of her dark hair and animated brown eyes were haunting him every few hours as the author imagined the pleasures she could have afforded his ego.

Richard Harrington? A voice called out from a few feet away.

Richard froze in the white plastic chair, realizing that he was biting his lip and rubbing his chest with his eyes closed.

Yes, one moment, he replied without opening his eyes, pretending that his eyelids were some form of a public dressing room.

The shamefaced author slid his hand out of his shirt and used it to scratch the underside of his chin. He opened his eyes as his fingernails dragged against the beard hairs on a jaw that went unshaved for three days. Richard's expression shifted to confusion when he noticed that the interviewer from Publishers Weekly was more fashion savvy than he.

Good to meet you, Richard, I'm Ronny Hibiscus, the middle-aged journalist stated as he sat down opposite his subject in a similar plastic chair. Should we get started talking about your new book? Isn't it entitled UTR Cults and Their Followers?

Boy, you get right down to business, don't you? Richard posited anxiously. Don't we usually talk about my childhood and how I got established?

Ronny trained his eyes on the author in a manner that made him shift his weight away from the journalist. The interviewer had a strange and captivating body language, and he changed his expression every few seconds like a boxer trying to keep his opponent off balance. Richard held his breath during an uncomfortable silence between them, wondering if he saw the man give him a threatening look before breaking into a broad smile, or if fatigue was getting the better of him.

We already have a story on file about your childhood, Mr. Harrington, the journalist assured him. Apparently, your agent told my office that you'd like to keep this short so that you can get back to relaxing. Isn't this also a vacation?

Yes, by all means, let's keep it brief, the author agreed with a forced smile. Charlie is a good man; I owe a lot to him for his dedication and tenacity.

I'm sure Charlie is a good man, but your agent's name is Katia, Ronny said with bemusement. Have I passed the test, sir? Can we begin your interview now?

Okay, what do you want to know about the book? Richard inquired as his chest relaxed and his gaze drifted into the distance. I'm all yours, Publishers Weekly.

The journalist leaned in closer to his subject, and his eyes became bright with a hunger for knowledge as he clasped his hands together on the tabletop.

There's one particular under the radar cult that I'd like to explore, the journalist began, using his tongue to moisten his lips. In your book, you call them The Lords of Atlas - a cult that worships the universe and its movements.

Was there a question in that sentence? The author redirected after a short pause, defensively folding his arms.

No, Ronny confirmed and unclasped his hands to rest them atop the table. You mention that every cult has a moment of crescendo, where the leadership implodes, like a black hole, taking all of the members with him or her. Why does that happen?

During my research, I found that cult leaders have sociopathic tendencies, and those tendencies become more self-serving over time. Richard began with a thoughtful gaze, keeping his attention fixed on the crowd of pedestrians. Their selfishness expands like gravity; it pulls in and destroys everything that they cared about...until they need to escape from the horrors of their actions.

Your book talks about stages of implosion, the journalist stated with a twist of his neck, and you describe an incident with The Lords of Atlas, but you don't elaborate on it. Why?

My computer was hacked, and all of the files were stolen! The author exclaimed with a shrug. You could have read about that without getting on a plane. He added and chuckled.

Were the files actually stolen? Ronny challenged with a callous stare. Because I heard that you were shaken almost to the point of cardiac arrest by a member of that cult. Didn't they do something to your family?

No, my sister's abduction had nothing to do with my work, the writer fumed, tilting forward and back in his chair, and she's back at home safe with her husband. That ended months ago! How dare you bring that up? I'm going to call your editor when I get back to the hotel! He growled and ran his right hand over his soft, white hair.

What if you were wrong about the structure of the cult? The interviewer proposed with his right index finger pointed at the center of the table. After all, these groups can't be universal, and you don't seem to know much about them. What if the cult leader had someone to oversee his or her activities?

That's not possible, Richard blurted out, causing the interviewer to raise his eyebrows, the cult leader would destroy anyone who undermined his authority. There’s no balance of power when you deal with these people. The leaders always devolve into their animal desires and destroy everyone in the group. Why don't we move on to one of the other cults, in the interest of time?

The other organizations are of no interest to me, Mr. Harrington; nor are you, or your pithy career.

There was the faint wail of sirens coming from about three blocks away, and the interviewer got to his feet, staring