Until Chelsea Rises: The Chelsea Trilogy

By Colton D. Epperson

For two years, The Jester Erzabet has spent developing a new machina for her beloved Dante. Many truths have been revealed, and The Light Bringer has reigned over earth for twenty years. New demons have emerged, along with the infamous four horseman. In this installment, the final lines of the prophecy emerge. When Chelsea smiled, the curse was named. As Chelsea fell, a hero was born. Until Chelsea Rises, God will not fall. The Jester Crow will have his vengeance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Aug 27, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514400425

Colton D. Epperson

Colton D. Epperson was born in the town of Modesto California. He had moved from town to town due to economic issues in the housing market and financial problems crossed with family issues; though he has never really had any problems getting along with his kin. During his sophomore year of high school, he began to see an Angel with Black Wings and a bleeding smile. At first he was under the impression that this was his guardian angel, but soon learned it was nothing more than a reflection of himself. When he turned eighteen and started to attend college, he began to write the story of the character who would eventually be known as The Jester Crow. After his first semester, financial issues caused him to drop out of college and pursue a career in the US Army as a Cryptologic Linguist. When he graduated basic training and attended the Defense Language Institute for Korean, his writing hiatus came to an end, and his first novel When Chelsea Smiled was finally completed within his first month of DLI.

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Copyright © 2015 by Colton D. Epperson.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Rev. date: 08/26/2015

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Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1    Sealed Away

Chapter 2    Gorgeous Nightmares

Chapter 3    Blood Of My Brothers

Chapter 4    Cruelty Of Fate

Chapter 5    Catching Up

Chapter 6    A Chance At Ascension

Chapter 7    Her Father’s Footsteps

Chapter 8    The Subordinate, The Scientist & The Sister

Chapter 9    Unbroken Oaths

Chapter 10    Bitter Reunion

Chapter 11    Invitation To The Whipping Haus

Chapter 12    Passion Left Unholy

Chapter 13    Cry Of The Nephilim

Chapter 14    Promises

Chapter 15    Why Dance With The Devil?

Chapter 16    A Message Of Peace, Spreading Like Fire

Chapter 17    With Friends Like These…

Chapter 18    To Become God

Chapter 19    God Will Not Fall

Chapter 20    Casualties

Chapter 21    A Lock of Black Hair

Chapter 22    The First To Fall

Chapter 23    This War Is Ours

Chapter 24    Two Steps From Hell

Chapter 25    He Has Fallen

Chapter 26    Born For Battle

Chapter 27    Our Name Is Legion

Chapter 28    Harvester

Chapter 29    The Rise

Chapter 30    The Pale Horse

Chapter 31    In The End

Chapter 32    The Eternal Tree

Epilogue

For Alex and Alli Kocher.

Beloved Reader,

At last the time has come. The time when all nobility and bouts of chivalry form a revelation in this cacophony of despair. The cornucopia of pain and hatred, tainted with the slivers of compassion and mercy will finally surface for the third and final time. Left in a state of agony and immobility, The Jester Dante Ibarra whom you now know as The Jester Crow, will no longer be the main focus of this scripture. So many veils have been torn, and these truths will not go unaddressed. What you may recall from the previous installment continues to haunt dear Erzabet. Left to carry her lover’s child, she will not be able to bear the pain for much longer. Until the time comes, where her beloved Dante can be brought back from his coma inducing seal of The Chakrino Tree, she will be left grieving, mourning, weeping, searching for a cure to bring him back, so his quest for vengeance can finally be fulfilled. But much more awaits the two. A succubus paired with the beast of the sea, the truth of Dante’s Nephilim blood, and how he was born from the womb of The Fallen Jester Chelsea. Many tangled webs lie within the binds of these folds. So once again, I ask you… Turn the pages… For the final time…

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Prologue

One can imagine the struggle the human race goes through just to survive. Our lives, being one with Deus, were never so burdensome. The effects of a fruit did not curse us, nor were we to be doomed to eternal damnation because of our forefathers. However, the same could not be said for my own son. My dearest Dante Ibarra, descendant of Alejandro Ibarra. My lusts and affairs would be the beginning of his demise. I never meant for any of this to happen. Deus had been merciful, giving him a life in his Kingdom, and the title of Guardian Jester.

Before The Light Bringer had cursed me with this grin, I lived a life much like Dante had. Most of my time was spent within the limbs of a Chakrino Tree. The bark was white, and not a leaf grew upon its branches. Yet the fruits it bared, the sweet scent of the pearls; I don’t think there is any other form of matter capable of bringing euphoria to one’s senses.

There was a specific man I found myself hopelessly in love with. It wasn’t during this time that I had realized it, but already he was madly in love with me. Boys always tend to be the first to fall into love’s hopeless web. Then again, all of us women know it to be the brain below the waste they rely on most.

You are quite the avid fighter, Lady Chelsea.

Already the man complimented me. The one I would be doomed for… The one to curse my own son and me.

Please, Light Bringer, I retorted, A swarm of Undead Nephilim is far from an appropriate challenge. One should be able to take them on without the use of their wings.

Passing through the glistening gates of our Kingdom, we were welcomed by a crowd of Jesters, praising the work of our squad. With us were great warriors, soon to become Arch-Jesters among the ranks. The Jesters Uriel, and Gabriel were the first in line to be anointed with such a great blessing. With us were also others, Raphael, Eligos, Murmur, Samael, and Astaroth. Of course, none of them would ever be as strong as I had become. Although I was a woman, gender roles did not apply to our kind. A woman could either be a submissive wife (should she ever take a man’s hand) or she could train to be one of the fiercest warriors of her kind. That was what I wanted to become; strong enough to surpass even The Light Bringer.

Be sure your tongue is capable of climbing if you wish to point it towards the sky, he said, laughing, Pride is nothing more than a pathway to darkness.

Perhaps the men of this world would learn to keep their tongues in their own mouths, I said snidely, Rather than between the legs of those whom are not of our kind.

There was a loud laugh that could be heard from Eligos as I spoke those words. It was impressive he could even be heard over the entire roaring and cheering. I always appreciated his somewhat morbid sense of humor.

I truly pray to our Lord that whatever new race he chooses to create will not have the same adulterous addictions with our men, Eligos exclaimed, But if it is a challenge their offspring will bring to us, then what is the point in making them divine?

The whole reason, The Light Bringer speared in, Is because they are the future of our world. Their love is what fuels Deus’ power; it’s what gives them life to begin with. Without Deus, we would never cease to exist.

I could understand why we were left to protect the beings forged under Deus’ reign. But the more He created, the more I found myself feeling lethargic. The missions were all the same; save a selfish race that has no capability of loving our Lord and be praised for it like a true hero. No matter how strong I grew. I could never find a reason to maintain my heart.

When the calamity had finally ended, and the merry making came to a halt, I did what I always did after a long battle. The spring had emerged in our kingdom, and every flower was in bloom. Winter had come to an end, and the seasons were producing beauty with their own little touch. As my legs moved throughout the tall grasses, I could feel the soft dirt shift under my boots. The soil had become saturated from the heavy snowfall, filling the treads with mud.

I felt as if the stroll I took throughout the meadows of Deus would leave me alone to my thoughts. Yet for some reason, I did not feel my head was together. My mind was in a twisted state that I could not understand. I was born to be a fighter, take on any challenge that would face me and tell them to hit me harder. Yet in my heart, there was that empty feeling… That feeling of being alone.

Why do you burden me with this stone muscle, my Lord? I asked the heavens above, I cannot tell what it is you wish for me to feel. Is there a problem with shutting out everyone I know? Do you wish for me to give into The Light Bringer’s feelings?

What kind of stupid question was I asking myself? Would a warrior let her heart’s desires get the better of her? Of course not. Giving into emotion was the first step into a spiral of chaos. It was an emotion that would be completely alien to me for the time being. I was a dealer of death, nothing more, nothing less.

Maybe it isn’t a question you can answer for me, my Lord, I said, gazing towards a tulip growing by my foot. Maybe there is someone else out there, who could heal my heart’s cankerous sores.

It’s strange how the mystery of The Holy Ghost works. Just when you decide to abandon all hope, your call for grace is answered. From the moment those words left my lips, the tulip by my feet began to glow with a red aura. From the pistils within, scarlet pollen began to blow with the wind and increase in proportion. I took a step back as it began to take on the silhouette of another being.

I fell back from where I stood when I saw the being taken on more humanoid features. It was already clear to me that the spirit of Deus was amongst this entity and me. Above my head, the three lights of our creator glowed with great intensity. When they began to spin around the being, its form began to complete itself. From the tulip of the first spring bloom, a new female Jester had been born.

My Lord Deus? I called out to the lights, yet no response was given.

From the creation of our God, was a beautiful and divine woman unlike any I had ever seen before. Her hair was long and black, and her bare skin was paler than the snow still covering the ground. As she got up from her fetal position and raised her head, her long black hair covered most of her body; all except her deep brown eyes.

My dear girl…

She was truly a sight to behold. But without her being clothed, it almost felt as if I were committing a sin by looking upon her beauty. Without thinking, I placed my hand around the closest red tulip, and manipulated it into taking on the form of a Crimson-Red fabric. With a snap of my wrists, the materials wrapped themselves around her body and slowly took on the form of a beautiful Dress. It was a rather fitting touch for someone such as her.

Erzabet… The voice of our Lord Deus said from within the lights. You shall be called The Jester Erzabet, for you shall soften the hearts of those whom you draw close.

Erzabet? she said as she stood upon her feet, Such an odd name. I wouldn’t have picked it myself.

Her voice sounded as if a noble family raised her, and the etiquette she was displaying was more mature than what most Jesters would reveal. I stood up on my feet and slowly approached her.

Oh my dear, how rude of me, she said as she took my hand in hers. I’m so very sorry. You’ve been here this whole time and I haven’t even given you the smallest sliver of mannerist introduction.

I… Uh…

There was no way this girl was real.

That’s okay. I haven’t done the same either. I-I am called The Jester Chelsea.

Chelsea, is it? she said as she brought my hand to her eyes, So you are a Jester then. Well I know I’ve just been born, but already your anatomy is giving me the most curious of interests. Tell me, what is the average healing factor of your kind, and what is it like to have wings? Oh, can you also tell me how it is you are given weapons? I know this is all new to me, but designing weapons sounds like one of the most peculiar subjects next to your species and their biology.

I was thoroughly experiencing an episode of denial. No way in hell could this girl be real. Let alone someone who would soften my heart of stone.

Well then, I said as I pulled my hand away, If this is the one I’m to call my sister, then so be it.

Chapter 1

Sealed Away

The grasp of time between the world of humans and Jesters is nearly impossible for our kind to determine. I’ve tried running observations from the Northern gate to observe the lives of humans, but the data would never match itself. Earth was thought to have been made over billions of years ago with the forefather Adam coming to life after the terraforming process had been completed. But when the planet made its first revolution on its axis, a barrier was broken between us both.

When the humans took from the Tree of Good and Evil, Deus’ protection from the being known as Sin was lost. The origin of Sin was a complete mystery to us all. Even my uncanny methods of obtaining knowledge couldn’t unveil Sin. No Jester was smarter than I, for I was blessed with Deus’ ingenuity and innovation. Every facility constructed, every weapon within a warrior’s hand, even the medical practices; they were all my creations. But in all my years of service, only one creation has ever failed me.

We meet again… My Little Crow.

Every week I was unable to unseal my beloved Dante from the tomb of his own doing, I brought him an offering of a red tulip, and a Chakrino Pearl from the tree we lived within while we resided on Earth together.

I’m so sorry this is taking so long, Dante, I spoke to the tree as I knelt down before it, The Deus Ex Machina took me so long to develop the first time. I spent nearly a millennium working on it, as soon as Chelsea was cast out…

I still hadn’t let in the fact that Chelsea was Dante’s birth mother. No Jester female had ever been impregnated before her, and it was never by a Male Jester’s doing. Chelsea had fallen in love with a human Male on Earth, and gave her virginity to him. When it was discovered she was pregnant, the male was plagued with Leprosy, and Chelsea’s son was severed from her womb. To add insult to injury, the one who cursed her, our own Light Bringer, had given her son the same curse when the rebellion of the Fallen erupted. Both of them would know what it felt to share a grin, carved into their face that would force them to feel the pain of others by tenfold. No curse could ever be so merciless.

It’s still nearly impossible to believe he’d do this to himself.

Within my presence, I could sense Dante’s best friend, The Arch-Jester Michael, had come to pay his respects as well.

The man was a Nephilim all along, and we never suspected a thing. Who would have thought the son of Chelsea would live amongst the masses?

What difference does it make if he’s a Jester or Nephilim? I asked Michael out of spite, He was the only one I would ever fall in love with, and the only one to break my heart. Now his child grows within me, and she can never be born unless he is here with me.

I truly am sorry for this loss, Lady Erzabet, Michael said, Living as an Undead Nephilim is a terrible way to go. Yet he was able to overcome the blind rage and seal himself within the Chakrino Tree’s core. There can’t be any will stronger than his.

The only reasons he has a strong will is because that bastard is so damn stubborn, I said as a smile formed on my lips, He never knows when to give up, and refuses to accept defeat. Warriors should still know their limits.

Michael placed his hand on my shoulder and knelt down next to me.

If a warrior admits to his limits… He said, trailing off, Then he would only find more methods of growing stronger to overcome that limit. In a sense, there is never room for weakness in our minds.

Michael’s words had great proverbial writing to them. Although he was known for being self-obsessed and arrogant, he was an Arch-Jester for a reason. Dante’s first mission was to help Michael achieve his title of Arch-Jester, and aid him in the disposal of a Nephilim named Goliath. In the process, Dante was nearly killed, but after showing his faith to Michael’s leadership, it was decided that he would still receive his title.

I haven’t cut my hair since the day we came back to this kingdom… I said as I reached for the hair that reached past my lower back.

It’s been almost two years in our world, and I haven’t touched it at all.

Is there a reason for this fasting? Michael asked me.

When it was short, I said as I stood up and traced my fingers through Dante’s frozen body, He seemed to look at me all the time. Never once would his eyes come off of me, and he would stare at me with his beautiful white irises.

Maybe if you dedicate yourself more to bringing him back, Michael said as he stood back up as well, You’ll finally have the chance to get his opinion on that.

I’ve tried everything, Michael, I said as the tears began to flow from my eyes, I’ve tried forging the element of Arch-Jester blood, developing an alternative energy source, even replicating the original model as Deus suggested. No matter what I do, the trials don’t ever show themselves to be 100% promising. The technology was forbidden from the beginning. I feel as if Deus is punishing me for my disobedience.

Erzabet… Michael said, as his voice grew soft. Are you giving up this easily? It’s been nearly two years, but we both know Dante isn’t truly dead. You keep trying to solve this problem from the outside. But don’t you believe the answer lies within his tomb?

What was Michael getting at? The hypothesis didn’t seem to make any sense to me at all. I was certain that the answer lied with creating a new Machina. I even consulted Yehushua, the Son of Deus, on this idea. He suggested that creating a new model would be the key to everything… Or did he?

I do have a new model already designed. I said to Michael. But every time I run a trial through the simulator, it shows up as a negative result. If I were to use it on Dante, there is a good chance it would only bring back the Beast hidden away from his Nephilim blood.

You and I both know there is more to him than what a simulator says, Michael retorted, He sealed the monster away when you told him of the daughter you two would have together. That alone shows even though there is a monstrous abomination wrapping its skin around him, his will can overcome that power.

What Michael was starting to propose was beginning to make more sense. When I screamed out to Dante that he shouldn’t give up on himself before he saw his child born, he stopped his claws from crushing me. He was given his name for what he would endure. No ordinary man could overcome such trials.

I still need the element of an Arch-Jester’s blood though… I said as my hopes suddenly fell. The amount required would bleed you out, regardless of your Innamorta.

Michael began to laugh at my discouraging statement.

Are you forgetting that there are four Arch-Jesters in this Kingdom? He asked, We are all indebted to you, Lady Erzabet, for the contributions you have given to our people. The weapons you’ve forged, the wounds you’ve tended to; why not just ask us to slit our wrists and give you what you need?

Although the offer was less than flattering, I knew that the Loyalty of Arch-Jesters knew no limit. Dante was a hero to us all. He went mano-e-mano with The Light Bringer for the damage he caused us all. He atoned for the sins of the innocent, and unknowingly planted the seed of faith in the hearts of unlikely followers. The Jester Dante Ibarra was an Angel we all needed in our lives.

I placed my hand over my womb. I could feel the life force of my daughter, Evangeline Aiden Ibarra, thrive through the blood in my veins. Evangeline could not be born until both Dante and I were together again, and the love we shared guided us to the birthing sight. Deus made an exception for Chelsea by sparing Dante, and letting him be born from the Chakrino Tree. But I wanted us both to see our little Eva… Together for the first time in nearly two years.

Looking back at Dante’s frozen face of solid Chakrino Wood, I felt the desire for his touch burn within my heart. I wanted to feel his lips against mine, and be cradled within his embrace once more. I wanted my love back.

Dante, my Little Crow, I said to him, I promise you… You will return to us all.

Chapter 2

Gorgeous Nightmares

Twenty years on Earth was not nearly enough for The Light Bringer’s wrath to fully unfold. He had done what was originally believed to have been impossible. His greatest adversary, The Jester Crow, had been defeated with nothing more than the works of deception, and a blade to the back of his head. The sins of his mother, had in truth, been the death of him.

Before The Light Bringer, stood a large pillar of black smoke that rose from the crater where Crow had sealed himself away. Although the Chakrino Tree that held Crow’s body was no longer there, it just made the perfect location to construct a shrine to the Entity known as Sin. The black smoke was the breath of Sin; pain and misery flowed from its very essence, and fear would strike any normal Jester with a mere glance. The Light Bringer was the only being powerful enough to hold an audience with Sin’s true aura.

"My Lord