As Chelsea Fell

By Colton D. Epperson

One year has passed since The Jester Crow had fought his unnamed enemy within the mountains core. Out of mercy though, he did not end The Light Bringers life. Instead he had followed an old method of revenge; an eye for an eye. Within his year of peace, he has lived within the Chakrino Tree with his beloved Jester Erzabet. But soon, a reunion with their enemy leads to a misfortunate discovery. Crows Machina is dying out. Should he not find an alternative power source, he will surely die. But more mysteries lie within. More demons will rise, along with a reluctant truce formed with an old enemy. But the plight to be unfolded lies with one fallen Jester; Chelsea. Who is she? Why is she here? And what is her connection with Crow? All will be revealed in the story of this tragic hero.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 2, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493197460

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 © 2014 by Colton D. Epperson.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-4931-9747-7

                eBook            978-1-4931-9746-0

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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.

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Rev. date: 04/22/2014

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Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1   Serenity

Chapter 2   Atonement

Chapter 3   He Who Sleeps

Chapter 4   Nephilim

Chapter 5   Aftermath

Chapter 6   Eternity’s Depletion

Chapter 7   Ghosts In The Waters

Chapter 8   A World Falls Apart By Chance

Chapter 9   Decisions, Decisions

Chapter 10   Familiar, Loving Faces

Chapter 11   High Voltage

Chapter 12   Origins & Descent

Chapter 13   The First Succubus

Chapter 14   Kiss of the Serpent

Chapter 15   Forbidden Lust

Chapter 16   Terror Of The Sea

Chapter 17   Hollow Cure

Chapter 18   An Idolized Savior

Chapter 19   Well Kept Secrets, Kept To Yourself

Chapter 20   Seismic

Chapter 21   21 Gun Salute

Chapter 22   The Cross, The Crow, And The Thief’s Eye

Chapter 23   What Now?

Chapter 24   All Is One, One Is All

Chapter 25   Glasgow

Chapter 26   The Descendant Of Ibarra

Chapter 27   Craving A Traitor’s Kiss

Chapter 28   A Servant, A Slave

Chapter 29   Plains Of Oblivion

Chapter 30   Goliath Reborn

Chapter 31   The Bleeding Tree

Epilogue

For PFC Jacob Ernst. When you get to the 14th floor, Don’t Jump. Get back up and take your life back.

Beloved Reader,

You thought the story was over? Well, it does not pain me in the slightest to let you know you couldn’t have been any more wrong. For you see, revenge has more than just the purpose of pay back. You learn that when you fight your enemy, you may be forced to kick him while he is on the ground to prevent any further conflicts. The Jester Crow did not do this though. However, cursing The Light Bringer with The Chelsea Grin was a kick in the teeth, it didn’t stop him from getting back up. So now you must ask yourself a series of questions that beguile the inner stitching of your mind. What will The Light Bringer do? How are Dante and Erzabet living their lives in solace? Truly by now you have discovered the serene life of peace is but a fraction of the American dream. But the mystery to unfold may lead you to hate me, it may lead you to love Crow all the more, and maybe you will shed that tear of pity for him. Who knows? The most I can do for you is warn you once more, that the tales I have recorded in this novel are not for the faint of heart. Laced with melancholy and pain, but tabbed with virtuous vendettas. So go ahead, turn the page… I dare you.

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Prologue

The earth on his kingdom was firm under her shoes. She had worn high heels that day, as she did with any other. Her favorite dress’ hem split trailed off with the winter breeze flowing through every stitch. But today, it was not a crimson-red dress upon The Jester Erzabet’s attire; for today was a tragedy. She stood just on the edge of the River Styx where the wicked souls continued to sweep away in the current. Her mascara stained her cheeks as it ran down with every tear she was shedding. The Earth was no longer being protected by her dear friend… The Jester Chelsea.

Lady Erzabet? My tears stopped and I turned to see my subordinate, Lilith, approaching me. You can’t stay out here. I understand that what you’re going through is devastating. But you have to move on from this. It just isn’t healthy grieving over what is now lost.

How can you ask that of me? I mumbled as I turned back towards the cosmos across the river. I don’t even understand why he allowed her to fall. Chelsea was a true guardian, more loyal to the human race than anyone. She would never betray us.

It is what it is, Erzabet. She said trying to console me. I would never wish such a curse upon anyone. But he is second only to Deus, meaning The Light Bringer’s judgment can be trusted. Humans are savage creatures, and why she would even sacrifice her own health to aid them in spirit is a reason I shall never be able to fathom.

It didn’t matter anymore. Lilith was right. Grieving over the dead was a sin against their way of life. So it was the same for those whose powers were robbed of them. It was on this day we had given a forbidden curse the infamous name of The Chelsea Grin. I didn’t understand what it was she had done to provoke Deus into casting her out of his kingdom, let alone to give her such an unbearable fate. But why couldn’t he have had the gall to do it himself instead of having the man I admired so dearly do it for him? I thought I loved The Light Bringer. But in knowing that even he was so merciless he would deface one of my own sisters, was a crime I would never forgive.

I was tired of mourning. I faced back towards Lilith and forced a smile. I supposed false motivation was better than none at all. There was work I still had to do. I was so close to coming upon a powerful technology that would forever change the way we saw Innamorta. We lost many good Jesters on the battlefield because they had yet to prove themselves worthy of conquering death. This would be the closest they would ever come.

I walked back into the gates of my home with Lilith trailing behind me. She had already removed her black garb and was now adorned with a leather outfit. How she was able to move in that was a mystery to me. The Department of Research & Development was not far from my own home. I stopped by my chambers and put back on my favorite red dress. It always felt right wearing this outfit. Not many people envision a researcher in this kind of attire.

I stepped back outside to see Lilith had already made her way back to my laboratory. I told her not to wait up for me anyways. This was actually her first time taking my suggestion as a direct message. I wanted to be alone for a while. At least she was willing to respect that. I made my way down my steps and out into the open plain. The snow fell from the sky and melted against my skin. I couldn’t help but feel a bit childish and stick my tongue out, catching the snowflakes as they fell. However, I could sense that I was no longer by myself.

I brought my gaze down towards the ground and turned my view to witness three bright lights were floating towards the ground. I didn’t have to think twice about whom it was I saw.

Lord Deus? I asked the lights.

There was no response from them. They were silent. But as I called out to them, a stream of black energy came out from in between these lights and flowed like smoke. They met together and glided with the snowflakes into the blanket of ice that enveloped the earth. When the smoke hit the ground, a white stem grew from the snow and began to grow. Was Deus creating a Chakrino Tree? Were there not already thousands of them in our kingdom? And why was this one so Isolated from all the others?

As the tree grew, I could see what appeared to be the profile of a young man within its limbs. I fell to the ground in shock. Deus wasn’t just creating a new tree; he was giving life to a new Jester. I quickly got up to my feet and walked quickly to where the tree was growing. I could see the outlines of his face grow from the bark of the tree and his body slowly began to form within the trunk. I placed my hands on his chest and felt his skin’s texture soften. He started to fall from the tree; I hesitated for a moment while trying to support him as we both fell to the ground. I let his body lay on my knees and looked upon his shimmering face. His hair was white yet short, his skin was pale, and as he began to open his eyes, I could notice his irises were white as well. But what struck me as the most surprising, were his wings. They were black as the night sky, like the black wings of a crow. I couldn’t help myself in saying this.

Please, wake up little crow. A smile grew on his face; I was almost smitten by how beautiful he was.

I felt the presence of the Deus was among us. I looked towards the sky and saw the branches of the Chakrino tree covering us. Already the snow had covered the dead limbs, yet it was harboring fruit at such an early time. There were no leaves to be seen, and the bark was still rough and breaking.

Dante Ibarra… The voice of Deus called out. Was he speaking of the man I now held in my arms? You shall be named The Jester Dante Ibarra. For you will endure the hardships that most would chose to turn away from. You will bear truth and allegiance to those you care for, and protect the weak in times of need.

Dante? It was a beautiful name, for a beautiful boy. I looked back into his eyes and smiled back at him. For once in my many centuries of existence, I almost felt whole once more.

Chapter 1

Serenity

My life on earth wasn’t as mundane as I perceived it to be at first. I had everything I could have ever wanted. My beloved Erzabet, the tree I lived within, in a region where the sky was always covered by the clouds and the snow glazed over the ground. There was nothing more I could ask for. I still lived with the curse Lucifer had left me with. The smile that split through my face, giving my appearance that of an undead harlequin. I would never be able to escape from it. During the mornings when I would awaken and fly out to the lake side, my reflection would glance back at me from the still waters, constantly reminding me of that tragic day.

Lucifer, or The Light Bringer as we all called him; he got what he deserved. My battle with him in the center of Mt. Hood was a hardship no one would ever be able to endure. That’s why Deus gave me the name Dante. There was nothing I couldn’t face. For true courage wasn’t being without fear, it’s having the will to face your fears to overcome the trials of our existence. But when the time came, and I had brought my enemy to his knees, I couldn’t find the wrath within me to take his life. I knew what the consequences would be if I did. I would have lost Deus’ trust, and my life would have been forfeit… But above all, I would never be able to see my beloved Erzabet again. So, instead of ending The Light Bringer’s life, I acted upon an old method of revenge; an eye for an eye, or in this case, a smile for a smile.

How long must you keep me waiting, Dante? I looked up from the waters to see my love out in the shallows. She was wearing her red dress as she always did, but it appeared she decided to swim with it on. I know it’s winter, Crow, but you have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to see the bottom of the lake.

What she said would have been considered madness if either one of us were actually human. A Jester cannot die from old age, and if they were given the gift of Innamorta from our lord, then death would be nothing more than a laughing matter. I wasn’t given the same gift as her, for she had lived hundreds, if not thousands of years before me. She had already proven herself worthy of eternal life. However, because of her, I could fulfill her wish to see the bottom of the waters.

Erzabet was the reason I was still alive to this day. Her breakthrough in nano-technology was what kept me from suffering from the Chelsea Grin’s most dreadful afflictions. I was no longer able to feel my own pain. Normally when a Jester is cursed by another Jester with the Chelsea Grin, he is forced to feel the pain of others, as well as his own by tenfold. But Erzabet’s success had brought me closer to Innamorta. I could no longer feel my own pain, and my body would heal at a rate faster than any other. Her mind and her invention were both truly spectacular.

Is it really wise of you to swim in that…

She was already a step ahead of me. She ditched her dress and cast it towards the lake side. She was now wearing nothing but black lingerie. I was beginning to feel that she was doing this to provoke me, or just lure me into the water like a sailor to a siren’s call.

I’m tired of waiting, Dante. She said teasingly. Did I not teach you the proper etiquette of courting a woman?

This is far from courting a woman in an attempt to make her a bride, Erza. I called out to her.

She smiled as she winked at me, then dove down into the water. I stood up from the shore line, removed my white dress shirt, and followed after her. As I passed through the water, I could feel the air in my lungs rest still. The Machina were doing exactly what Erzabet designed them too. The lake was dark at the bottom where I managed to find her, but with the snap of her fingers, and a glowing red light materialized from her fingertips and floated just a few meters above our heads. The lake’s floor was lit, and for miles we were able to see the natural architecture thousands of years of erosion had done unto it.

It truly is beautiful, isn’t it? Erzabet said to me as the bubbles of air left her lips. All of this will be untouched by the humans. It’s the one place where Deus’ magnificence remains safe.

I still questioned why Erzabet was willing to stay with me after everything she had seen me do. After all the pain I caused her, hiding my true feelings for her, leaving her out of shame and guilt the day I was cursed, even when she saw me kill her former subordinate, Lilith, right before her eyes. It had appeared to me, that there was nothing I could do to shatter her love for me.

There is only one other thing I could find that would be more beautiful… I said to her

Don’t even start playing that line, lover boy. She said back. Unless you speak of yourself. Then again, I’ve never known you to be that conceited.

Is it so hard to take a compliment from me? I asked her. You know everything I feel about you to be true.

Using that silver tongue of yours again just to make my heart skip a beat… She stated as her cheeks turned red. Why am I not gifted with poetic verses? It’s not fair. Even I want to weave words that will sweep you off your feet every now and then.

I swam closer to her and placed my finger under her chin to meet her gaze. The red light she cast glistened against her skin, even in the water. Her brown eyes sparkled, and her short black hair floated with the slow moving current. If there was ever a more beautiful being in all of existence, they would still never have a hold on my heart like she did.

What are you waiting for, Little Crow? She asked me with a smirk. You don’t need my permission just to- I felt it better to finish her sentence with the appropriate action. Although blood from my grin still flowed and lifted into the water, she was always willing to press her lips against my own.

I wrapped my arms around her, then beat my wings against the water and brought us up to the surface. The night was now upon us, and the moonlight was beaming from the heavens, painting a portrait of itself where we emerged. I went past the surface of the water with her and flew into the night sky, far beyond the Earth’s atmosphere and into the starry night sky. She held on tight to me, almost sinking her nails into my skin and her face firmly against my chest. I knew she was thinking of where I was taking her, to the place where we truly fell in love for the first time.

Erza… I whispered in her ear. You can open your eyes now.

Erzabet lifted her eyelids and gazed of into the void. Before us, was the galaxy Deus breathed life into on our special night. I was apparently wrong about her knowing where it was that we were heading.

Crow… She paused for a moment, just to let a tear flow from her eye. It’s been so long since I have gazed upon this place. It’s still so… Are there any other methods you have to making me fall any more deeply in love with you?

If only I had told her sooner. All those years I spent in the limbs of the Chakrino tree, I could have been winning her heart. She was the first Jester I looked upon the day I came into existence. Who would have guessed it would have been her I fell in love with.

I can think of a few methods. I responded. But I will save them for another time.

This is a beautiful place, Dante… Her words lingered as they left her lips. But is it possible that I may spend a more intimate moment with the man who holds me in his arms on this night?

Why would I even be so cruel as to deny her of this request? After all, she was already mostly undressed. I shifted back towards the earth, in the direction of our beloved home. We flew through the clouds, engulfed in a ball of fire, like a star falls from the sky. I reduced the speed and spread out my wings, followed by my feet touching the ground with her wrapped in my arms; much like the bride of a newly-wed groom.

The Dead White Chakrino tree had just sprouted a new pearl from its branches that Erzabet quickly reached up and plucked from its stem. She was never used to having it smell just like her. But it was the scent that brought back the memories I always held dear. The time we spent together in her lab in the Department of Research & Development, the night we spectated as Deus created a whole new Galaxy, even when she professed her love to me over Lilith’s slain corpse, and how there would never be anything I could possibly do that would make her stop loving me.

Was all of this an attempt to bring me to bed? She asked me. Displaying your charm, weaving words of eloquence, have I not already told you that you need not my permission?

A gentleman would court a woman, would he not? I asked her, mocking her mannerism.

Well, even I should know when my lady like etiquette has been compromised. She replied. Please don’t keep me waiting any longer. I’ve been yearning for this all day.

A man could make love to over a million women. But the perfect woman was all I would ever want.

Dante… I can never stop loving you.

Chapter 2

Atonement

The kingdom of Deus was always kept to its glory and magnificence. Although it never took much effort to keep a perfect city perfect. When all the power of the universe is at your disposal, you have two choices; enforce the standard by your own hands, or leave it to your creations. The way Gabriel saw it, everything was balanced by both forces at work. Every Jester participated in maintaining their little piece of Heaven.

On this day he felt somewhat melancholic. It had been nearly a year on Earth’s time since he had learned of what The Jester Dante Ibarra had done to The Light Bringer, Lucifer as he was now known. Ever since the discovery of his coup against their kingdom, he had been given a vast inquiry of names. Beezlebub, Mamon, The Great Adversary, Satan, but the name that stuck with the human’s most of all, was The Devil; better to be known as The Great Accuser.

Gabriel strolled through the great kingdom with his head looking up towards the sky. When The Light Bringer fell, winter had never ceased to stop. He often wondered if this was the manifestation of Deus’ great sorrow and pain. Deus loved The Light Bringer almost as much as he loved his own son, Yehushua. For a father to lose his son, was considered the greatest pain for anyone to bear. So long it had been since that dreaded day, the day The Light Bringer brought down a third of The Jesters, the day he had chosen to steal from the Tree of Good and Evil, and the day he had carved the forbidden Chelsea Grin into The Jester Dante Ibarra’s face, his pain never ceased, and the snow continued to fall from the sky.

What is it that troubles you, Gabriel? A voice said from the emptiness. Gabriel turned to face the one who spoke. A man with brown hair and a beard, dressed in a white robe stained with blood, and a hole pierced through both of his hands stood before him. Gabriel immediately dropped to his knees and pressed his