ETERNALS Books 1 & 2: Lucy's Nightmare & The Raven Mocker

By Vincent Roberts

The Eternals are a superior race of supernatural beingswho have roamed the earth for thousands of years searching for peace. These vampire-like creatures don't require blood to exist. Instead, they absorb the life force from their human victims in order to remain young and powerful. After settling into a new home, Paris (once a scientist and explorer from ancient Greece), Paulo (once a soldier to Nero in the Roman Empire), and Selene (once a handmaiden to Cleopatra in ancient Egypt), discover Lucy, a young, battered wife living in the mountains of post Civil War northern Georgia. The Eternals find it imperitive to help Lucy out of her critical situation before it's too late.

Life then unravels for the Eternals once again as Selene is plagued with puzzling glimpses of the future and a mysterious redheaded woman, Paris is struck down with debilitating headaches that can't be explained, and Paulo vanishes into thin air and can't be found. Soon enough, the Eternals are forced to face off against the Raven Mocker and the Scarlett witches of Savannah, all culminating in a horrifying battle for existence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vincent Roberts
• Release date: Aug 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781393551454

Book preview

1

It was the middle of the year 1876 and they’d journeyed a great distance to northeast Georgia with the confidence of finding the peace and tranquility they’d longed for, the solace they’d strived for, but had never quite found. Hostile and foreboding years had proven to be as challenging as the ominous cloud that seemed to loom over them. They believed Covington Park might deliver a different result for them.

Selene had an overwhelmingly good feeling connected to their new transition. She hadn’t experienced a feeling of that kind of awareness in hundreds of years. Every place they’d lived before turned out to be a bad decision in the end. The three of them tirelessly progressed from city to city, state to state, country to country and continent to continent for thousands of years but never established that one place where they could permanently settle down. The three roamed the earth, both together and separately, and explored each region praying for a place they could call their own Shangri-La.

Paris noticed the cities on the North American continent were growing at alarming rates. The normal day to day life was hurried and chaotic. Crime and corruption were on an alarming upswing. People weren’t taking care of their own. He saw the family unit was beginning to break down and collapse. This wasn’t the world he imagined it would be two-thousand years before. The simple pleasures in life were waning rapidly. Brand new inventions and discoveries were making life easier but, at the same time, they were also making the human race cold and unkind. He hoped, if he continued his quest, that ultimately there would be a place he could call his own Utopia. It would have to be a place surrounded with solitude where most of the world was locked out.

Selene managed to locate a long-standing mansion that was positioned on the outskirts of Covington Park. It was the only plantation in the area that had survived the fiery ravages of the War Between the States when the union troops burned and looted virtually every large home they could find. The mayor of the town had formerly owned the elaborate dwelling. It was noted for being the grandest home in three counties.

In July of that year the they established residency at the manor. Their entrance into the town was noticeable as their majestic Clydesdales thundered down the clay roads like two men marching in a procession, and then suddenly, roared to a halt. They pulled their luxurious black carriage, ornamented with gold and red trim, to the front of the house. The rear section of the carriage was overflowing with garments, sculptures, and trinkets they had collected throughout the many vexing and dismal centuries.

Paulo was the first to step onto the grounds. He stood, with his hands on his hips, and admired the attractive emerald lawn and colorful landscaping that seemed to continue for acres. Rose gardens hugged the front pathway that was finished off in white steppingstones. There were more than a few old oak trees that soared thirty feet above his head. Paulo could feel a sense of harmony. He inhaled the kind Georgia air, and then exhaled. He closed his eyes and repeated this several times. After he meditated for a few minutes, he returned to help Selene disembark from the carriage. He proved repeatedly that chivalry was not dead.

Her day dress was white with an elegant black bodice. The train of the dress stretched several feet. She extended her arms into the fragrant air and gazed at the mansion with all its lush surroundings as she exclaimed, Isn’t she a magnificent property?

Paulo grinned at her as he nodded with approval. Paris approached them from behind the other side of the carriage. He crossed his arms. Desperately needing this to be the paradise they had so long searched for, he told Selene, who always sought his support, You’ve done very well my dear. You should be proud that you found such a remarkable place. The home, the grounds, the small township ... this could be the one we’ve been searching for.

The entrance of the house displayed four white pillars leading to a fifteen-foot glass door that was engraved with trees and a sunrise scene. The doors led to a great room decorated with green vines hand painted on the white walls. To the side of the room was a vast wooden staircase that led to the second and third floors. The rooms on the first floor were garnished with dark, gold fringed curtains. Each room was well equipped with a hand-carved fireplace to provide warmth through the cold Georgia winters. The low hanging chandeliers were lavish and uniquely ornamented with crystal.

Selene observed anxiously as Paulo and Paris unpacked her delicate statuettes. These objects were rested, for the time being, on tables in the front parlor. Sporadically, she would firmly advise them, Please, be cautious of my treasures. Try not to break anything. You know how important they are to me.

A second wagon pulled to the back of the manor. It was filled with women that Selene had employed days before. After the numerous hired women scoured the house from top to bottom, Paris, with minimal help from Paulo, took it upon himself to hang the striking portraits throughout the rooms. Next, he advanced to the study and emptied crates filled with books, his books, hundreds of books all kept in pristine shape. These were books Paris loved to read over and over, including some he had written. Selene emptied the trunks that were filled with clothing and placed each item carefully into designated bedroom drawers and closets. She’d attend to the smaller knick-knacks sometime later.

The trio observed as four more wagons rambled down the dusty road. These were the wagons that carried their furniture and loftier objects. Once the wagons stopped, several men sprang out. These handsomely paid men proceeded to unfasten the hulking items and carry them cautiously into the home.

In the progression of the first three days, most of the populace of Covington Park strolled down Victory Lane in order to get a glimpse of their newest townsfolk. No one actually stopped to say hello. They’d just smile, give a slight nod and a wave as they continued moving along on their way. Some, after passing by, walked down to the newly built train depot. The Southern Georgia Railroad had recently added Covington Park to its list of stops. In a short time, the luxury of having the railroad nearby would also bring about the problems of increased population, poverty and crime.

The townspeople were awed. The three newcomers appeared to be foreigners from some exotic county. No one else in the area looked quite so Egyptian or Roman or Greek. The fact that they’d been alive for two millennia had given them unlimited knowledge and skills. However, a keen observer that spent any length of time with them might claim that they possessed great powers.

Selene, with her long dark hair and olive skin, would give a slight wave back to the townspeople and observe them as they as they moved by. Her Mediterranean appearance captivated them. The woman stood only five feet three inches tall and possessed a slender frame. Her lips were full and her shadowy eyes were as dark as her hair. She wore several golden bracelets on each of her wrists. Her necklace was adorned with an Ankh amulet. Her need to blend into the modern world was often overshadowed by her desire to display the pride of great antiquity. She understood that remembering her history was important to building her future.

Paris stood about a half a foot taller than Selene. His face had the classic ancient Greek bone structure with a finely chiseled nose and chin. He walked tall and proud when he moved about. It was important that he maintain the flawless manners of the Athenian nobility of the past. His hair was sandy-colored with a slight wave. His cerulean eyes were piercing to anyone who dared to stare into them. In early times, he was often told that he bore a striking resemblance to the statues and depictions of the god Apollo that ornamented many Greek cities.

Paulo was unquestionably a child of the Roman Empire. His warrior-like stance and demeanor were a tribute to his days as a soldier under the rule of the notorious Emperor Nero. He was only slightly taller than Paris but the ex-soldier was built like a well-oiled machine. His arms and legs were pure muscle. His hair was dark and curly. His big eyes were coffee brown and constantly scanning the world around him. Paulo had worn a beard and mustache everyday over the past eighteen hundred years without fail.

Everyone was curious to see who could afford to live in such a lavish structure. It appeared the whole town of approximately one-thousand inhabitants found some silly motive to saunter down that street to study their new neighbors.

The hired men and women left the house with a great sense of accomplishment. They saw to it that every wall and floor was spotless, every piece of furniture placed exactly where Selene suggested it be, every fine carpet gently laid out in each room. Paris made sure that each worker was paid generously for their labor. Once finished, the wagons left the property and the threesome began to make themselves comfortable.

Several weeks had passed and they finally felt like they were settling into the house. The men elected to stay close to home except for the rare evenings Paulo traveled to the nearby town for provisions. The supplies they required were not food or water or candles. The necessities they needed were the people of neighboring towns. Paulo’s excursions happened once every twenty-eight days. They had been given the gift of an eternal life with everlasting beauty, but at a price. The curse they lived with was the need to feed from the living when the bright new moon lit up the black evening sky. They could feed at other times but that only gave a minimal amount of nourishment. Their only means of survival was to feed on the souls of humans to regenerate their strength and youth.

2

Selene detested the vulgar noise and filth in the big cities. Instead, she appreciated the true splendor of nature—the fauna, the local wildlife, the colors, the smells, the feeling. Like the others, she had a great desire to live a simpler existence. She loved embarking on lengthy walks through the dense Georgian woodlands. These walks fulfilled her need for freedom. She would stroll aimlessly for hours and hours picking berries and enjoying the silence and the solace and the peace she believed she had finally found.

There at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains she would watch the rabbits and deer and other animals feasting on the rich green plants near her feet. She could smell the lush wildflowers as their fragrance danced all around her. She’d spend time gathering the berries and other fruit that grew wild in this forest. She put her treasures into a yellow pail that she carried with her. The abundance of trees, wide and tall, provided Selene with ample space to sit on the cool ground, lean against a trunk and take a little break each afternoon.

The heavily wooded terrain was quite the stark contrast from the blazing white and desolate sands where she had been raised. She recalled the hundred-degree rays that had pounded hard on her skin. It was a place where finding a shady spot was constantly a fight and frequently next to impossible. The dry air and the gusty desert winds had often made her daily life into a living hell.

One mild September day, after walking nearly a mile from the manor, she spotted an old abandoned shack in the distance. It appeared that to have once been somebody’s one room house many, many years ago. No one could possibly live in a house that was in such poor condition. She could see the dilapidated structure was nearing its final days. Some of the tiny glass windows had been cracked and the rest were missing entirely. The boards on the roof were rotting and collapsing. The front yard was covered with dry dirt and large rocks. Half of the front fence had buckled due to lack of upkeep. She looked to the right and observed the back pasture as being a grubby, neglected wasteland.

Selene recognized this place was even further from the center of town than her own home. She could not imagine living so far off the beaten path every single day. She kept her distance from the structure. She didn’t know if there were any hungry animals that had made it their home, and wildlife carried disease. Disease could strike her kind down if they were in a weakened state. Selene was a cautious woman and refused to ever put herself at risk. She was wise enough to keep her distance.

Each time she strolled the paths from the mansion she’d take this same route. On one particular afternoon, Selene spotted a young woman hiking up from the river. She watched the weathered woman trudging along, holding something in her arms. She was stunned to see the woman walk to the shack. The woman had chestnut hair that was pulled back in a ponytail and her timeworn black dress that appeared to be grayer than it was black. The fraying on the bottom of the dress showed its true age.

She noted that the object she had been carrying was a large brown wicker basket with water dripping from the bottom of it. She watched as the woman set the basket on the rear porch, took a dirty cloth from her pocket and wiped her forehead. Then she entered the dwelling.

Selene was greatly dumbfounded by what she was watching. She couldn’t comprehend how a human being was able to survive in such squalor and decay.

The woman walked out the back door to the wicker basket and lifted it again. She paced to a feeble old clothesline near the back pasture and set the basket down on the ground. As she removed the wet garments from the basket, she systematically draped them on the line. Selene took notice that the woman was barefoot and her feet were muddy and calloused. She also noticed one of the woman’s wrists was wrapped with a dirty bandage. She watched quietly as the chestnut-haired woman completed her daily laundry chores.

Selene became enthralled by the woman. She remained a good distance from the shack but she was still close enough to see that the young woman looked tattered and drained. She guessed that she must have been in her late twenties but the wear and tear made her look as if she was much older, maybe in her late thirties.

She sat on the ground with her pail of berries and steadily nibbled on them as she watched the woman coming in and out of the front door. She watched as she gathered eggs from the nests of the three chickens that lived under the rickety front porch. The woman was the only living soul Selene saw there. No one else came to the shack. The woman with the chestnut hair must have lived there in complete isolation.

After several hours had passed, Selene realized the time had slipped away from her. She knew she had to get back to the mansion before nightfall. It was the evening of the new moon. She appreciated how much effort Paris and Paulo put forth to make this day the perfect day and she refused to disappoint them. Selene knew she was ready to be nourished by a human sacrifice. She felt that inner starvation that only exposed itself in full force once every twenty-eight days. It was time to feed.

She sprang up from the cold ground and brushed herself off. Then she dashed back to the house trying to beat the sundown. In her hurry, she left her yellow pail with the remaining berries lying on the ground.

On that evening, Paris, Selene and Paulo took their three captives that were kept in cages in the basement. Paris clutched the first man by the back of the neck and put his face next to his own face. He locked his lips with the man and inhaled his breath...all of his breath. As moments passed, Selene and Paulo watched the life force being sucked out of the victim and into Paris. The man’s body slowly deteriorated and then incinerated into a small swirl of ashes that eventually landed on the ground in front of them.

Paris stumbled backwards with a smile on his face. The ecstasy of the process overwhelmed him so much that he almost fell to the floor. Paulo rushed to assist him to a chair. Paris sat back and allowed the feeling to linger as long as it would. He wiped his mouth, tilted his head back and closed his eyes. He knew the hunger he had been cursed with was satisfied for the next twenty-eight days.

Selene took hold and fed on the second man. She also reclined in a chair making noises that could only come from someone who was feeling great sensations of pleasure. Soon, Paulo took his turn and finished the third victim. When the feedings were complete, Selene took a broom to vigorously sweep the ashes from the floor.

The sensual vibrations remained in each one of them for several days. These were the days Selene would stay at home creating stunning paintings and sculptures. Paris would retreat to the library to read or write something prolific. Paulo would plan his next journey to acquire their next three victims.

3

A little over a week passed before Selene returned to her usual daytime activities in the lush woodlands. She had sensed that it would be early winter that year. There was a slight coolness in the breeze as she strolled along with feelings of fulfillment that only a feeding could bring. She knew she’d be all right for three more weeks. There was no food or water that could satisfy her like the gratifying meal she would undertake on the night of the new moon. It stayed with her like a shadow.

As she walked, she searched the paths for her yellow pail. She was sure she had put it on the trail near the old shack the last time she was there. When she reached the place, she saw the pail sitting on the ground exactly where she had left it but the berries were gone. Some wild animals must have gotten to them. I’ll just pick some more.

Just as she picked up the pail and turned to leave, she observed a man walking in the front door of the shack. He was a tall and lanky man wearing old denim pants over a torn and stained union suit. He wore a shabby straw hat that covered nearly all of his blonde curls. Selene moved closer and closer to figure out what was going on inside. As he exited and then re-entered the house, she could determine, by the way he was stumbling, that he was drunk. At first, there was talking, then more demanding tones. She could hear an intense argument beginning to erupt in that insignificant shack in the woods. She could not hear the words clearly but, as it grew louder and more intense, the words became more distinct.

He shouted, Why does this have to happen every night of the week? What the hell is wrong with you? Can’t I ever just get one minute of peace without you hounding me? It’s like you have to watch every move I make!

The woman apologized, I didn’t mean to upset you. I just wanted to know if you remembered to get milk while you were in town today.

I have a lot of stuff to remember every day woman! I got to go out and find any kind of work I can get! Then I got to do whatever they tell me to do! On top of that, I got to take whatever pennies they decide to pay me ... like a beggar! I ain’t got time to worry about your god damned milk woman! Worry about the milk yourself!

Even though she was fearful of how he’d react, she returned, You had a good steady job at the lumber mill. You used to make a good amount of money there. Then the drink took over and they fired you. That’s why you’re out looking for day jobs. That’s why we can’t even afford to buy some milk.

His voice got even louder. I’m so tired of your complaining woman! You been nothing but a thorn in my side since the day I married you! I wish you was gone! I wish I could just get rid of you for good!

Selene could tell by the woman’s voice she was crying and frightened. She’d seen this kind of abuse before. She knew the woman was most likely standing there in a self-protective stance just waiting for him to strike like a deadly cobra. She was most likely unsteady and trembling as he crept even closer to her. Her breathing was probably shallow and quick as her eyes strained to follow every move he made.

The argument continued for thirty more minutes until Selene heard a noise that sounded like a hard slap. She was positive that he’d struck her. She contemplated breaking down the front door and helping the woman but she knew she couldn’t. Part of the reason for coming to the Georgia Mountains was to seek solace. Selene recognized that if she put herself in the middle of a domestic squabble, she’d be exposing herself and the men to public scrutiny. She loved Paris and Paulo too much to put them in the middle of that kind of circus.

Soon enough, Selene heard shrieks coming from the shack. A loud crash sounded like pots and pans hitting the wooden floorboards. She heard the woman scream several more times. She heard grunting sounds coming from the drunken bastard. Selene wanted to tear him apart limb by limb. Then she heard a quick, loud thump. She wasn’t sure if it was the man striking the young victim or her unconscious body hitting the old wooden floor.

She feared that she’d hear news the next day of a young woman dying and her body being discovered somewhere in the woods. It took great strength for her to turn a deaf ear to the cruelty and walk away. With each step she took, her eyes filled with tears. Guilt, sorrow, anger and finally rage were gripping her as she darted faster and faster toward the mansion. Her palms were sweaty and her heart was pounding harder with each step. Her mind was volleying back and forth. She found she was angry and disappointed with herself. Selene knew she needed to get back to the house and alert Paris to what she had just overheard. She’d always consulted with him before she made any hasty decisions.

As she hurriedly entered the mansion, she searched frantically down each and every hallway, calling his name several times before she eventually discovered him relaxing in the study, reading a good book.

When he saw the anxiety and the rage on her face, he stood up from his chair and rushed to her. He questioned, I can see it on your face. Something’s wrong. What is it Selene? Why do you appear distraught?

It’s that little house I told you about. The one I found in the woods. I was there again today. She paced the floor as she tried to explain what happened.

What about it?

I told you there was a young woman who lived there alone. Well I discovered today there is more than just the young woman living there.

Paris was interested so he laid the book down on the table next to him. Why don’t you tell me more.

I just left there and I saw that she has a husband and he’s a drunkard. He’s a large and disgusting drunkard!

Continue, Selene. Paris remained calm as he listened to her story. He poured a glass of brandy for both of them.

I know he was hurting her. I’m sure he was hitting her. I remained in the woods but I heard the entire confrontation as clear as day.

Paris handed her a glass. Selene accepted the brandy with a partial smile and then hurriedly gulped it down. She was still out of breath. Paris stated sternly, That’s none of our business, Selene. We can’t interfere in others’ lives. We won’t interfere in others’ lives. We can’t take that chance ever again!

She paused for a moment. I think he may have killed her. Their conflict seemed to be moving in that direction.

Paris walked back and forth across the room several times during the conversation. He stopped in front of Selene and stared into her eyes. What has happened between them has most likely happened a hundred times before. I don’t think one night will change anything. We can’t compromise our place in this community.

Showing signs of frustration, she said, But I can’t just sit here and do nothing when I know there’s something that I can do to help her.

Selene implored over and over as she poured another brandy. Paris ordered, It’s not your place to take care of this woman. You know we can’t get involved in this matter. We can’t afford to be exposed again like we have been in the past. You remember what we’ve been through. You know how many have been lost through stupidity and raw emotion. This woman’s life is none of your business.

But, Paris, we have to do something. I feel her agony and her torment and it’s bottomless. I don’t believe I became what I am just to watch helpless people get hurt. We can protect ourselves but we have to find a way to help others, like her.

Paris seemed surprised at Selene’s words and her empathy toward the abused woman. He’d rarely heard this kind of passionate appeal from her. He questioned, Why her?

Why not her?

Why does it have to be this girl, Selene?

Selene calmly tried to explain. She’s different. She’s a special person. I don’t know why but I can just feel it inside.

He glanced up to the vaulted ceiling and then back at Selene. What do you think it is that makes her different and special?

Selene sat on a chair as she finished her second sifter of brandy. As I said, I can’t explain it. I wish I could, but I can feel her abounding presence even from two hundred feet away. It’s a strong presence, the likes of which I’ve never felt in anyone before. Oh, Paris, I know you’d feel it too if you were close to her.

What are you saying? What do you want us to do?

Nervously, Selene muttered, I think you know what I’m asking, Paris.

Are you saying that you want to make her into one of our kind?

We have to get her out of that house and rid her of that husband.

Her domestic squabbles have nothing to do with us.

Once you meet her, you’ll know too, that she belongs right here in our little circle. She should be one of us.

Paris warned and instructed her that there was no point in bringing Paulo into the scenario unless it was absolutely necessary. He’s a far too emotional man to deal with this. He thinks with his heart too often. He’s no longer the great Roman soldier who crucified Christians for a living. He’s become weak.

Besides, Paris knew Paulo’s sole function within the group was the pursuit of sacrifices for the next new moon. He told Selene that he shouldn’t be distracted from his job. We can take care of this problem without his assistance. I’ll send Paulo a few counties away in the morning. He can find our next feedings when he’s there. If he finds humans in other towns it should keep suspicion at bay in this area.

Selene walked up to Paris, smiled, and said, I thank you and I promise you it will all turn out for the good.

Suddenly, an evil