Anakim of the Sun: Specter of a Messiah: Specter of a Messiah

By Dan Gonzalez

Anakim of the Sun: Specter of a Messiah is the sequel to Anakim of the Sun: Being Human and picks up where the previous novel left off. Fr. Antonio Rivera, the vampire priest, finds himself with a tag-along boy who views him as a cure. Meanwhile, other vampires and werewolves view the priest as a messiah sent to cure them of their disease. Being attacked by hunters and Anakims alike, the priest finds himself in a lost between his responsibilities as a priest, a hunter, and as the caregiver of Justo Roldan.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jan 27, 2014
• ISBN: 9781493166527

Dan Gonzalez

Returning to The Church, author Dan Gonzalez began studying exorcisms and possessions; two areas of the religious life that had always been a facination for him. Dan has also been a fan of Anime growing up… and to this day. In an attempt to break into the comic book industry, Dan Gonzalez brought the two worlds of his personal interests together in the story of Vlad, the lead character of “The Witch in the Garden”, just after the new millennium. Dan is a practicing Catholic of the Roman rite and the author of “The Anakim”, later republished as “Anakim of the Sun: Being Human”. Writing and drawing have always been passions for Dan, and they both come together in this novel and the story of “The Witch in the Garden”.

Book preview

Anakim of the Sun

Specter of a Messiah

Dan Gonzalez

Copyright © 2014 by Dan Gonzalez.

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.

Rev. date: 01/23/2014

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

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553018

CONTENTS

DEDICATION

TWENTY TWO

TWENTY THREE

TWENTY FOUR

TWENTY FIVE

TWENTY SIX

TWENTY SEVEN

TWENTY EIGHT

TWENTY NINE

THIRTY

THIRTY ONE

THIRTY TWO

THIRTY THREE

THIRTY FOUR

THIRTY FIVE

THIRTY SIX

THIRTY SEVEN

THIRTY EIGHT

THIRTY NINE

FORTY

FORTY ONE

FORTY TWO

EPILOGUE

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DEDICATION

This novel is dedicated to all of those who encouraged me to write. I hope and pray that all of you enjoy Specter of a Messiah more than you enjoyed Being Human. Thank you… and God bless you.

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TWENTY TWO

Lexington Nightclub—Roof

Lincolnwood, Illinois

12:46:15am

The ashes of Michael Lebeau covered the pale face of Father Rivera. His tears ensured the remains of his brother would not be taken away by the winds. Sulfur and smoke filled the nostrils of the priest as he quietly prayed for what passed as the soul of his dearly departed. He tried to breathe as much of his friend as possible in the hopes of saving some part of him.

Antonio’s body convulsed over the remains of Michael. His body heaved in pain and confusion. It was difficult for him to remain Human, but it was also difficult for him to remain as an Anakim of the Sun. Rivera was covered in a feverish sweat from his transformations… . For the first time since he gave his life to Christ, Father Rivera wanted to be an Anakim of the Sun; but he did not know how to achieve his true and natural state.

The sounds of footsteps, growls and curses caught the priest’s attention. In his grief, he had forgotten the dozen Anakims of Darkness that were gathered for his return; all of whom wanted to kill a priest. Viewing Father Rivera as a traitor who slew many of their friends, they were determined to end the priest’s life before the rising of the morning sun. Putting his heart aside, Antonio lifted the golden blade of Hikaru Yuki and braced himself for battle. The frosty midnight air sent shivers through his Human Body. Master, began the priest in a low whispered prayer to The Lord, give me strength.

Like water being poured from a faucet, Anakims of Darkness filled the roof top and rushed the priest. His limbs moved quickly in the hopes of prolonging his life. They were many and they were fast. Rivera ducked, rolled and leapt in attempts to flee, but he was blocked every time. Claws, blades and the cold cut his Human flesh faster than he had time to react to his surroundings. Antonio was overpowered inside of a minute and expected to die a painful death.

An Anakim of the Sun grabbed the priest by the neck and held him high for the others to see. Because you removed Michael for me, and made it possible for me to take his place, I shall kill you quickly… painfully, but quickly.

Father Rivera fell to his knees as the Anakim of the Sun’s arm was severed and crumbled in ash. The priest’s eyes fell on the roof closest to The Lexington Nightclub and saw a group of men in dark blue leather holy armor. Although he did not recognize the hunters, he recognized the armor: Lutherans. They stormed the nightclub’s roof and cut through the sea of Anakims to save the priest. You Catholics like to live on the edge, said the field-leader.

It’s all or nothing, stated Rivera as he regained his strength. Thanks for the help.

Give me Yuki’s sword and we’ll call it even.

If you wanted the blade, you should’ve waited thirty seconds before engaging the enemy, began the priest half playfully, because it’s staying with me. Vigor was restored to the priest as he gained his second wind. He moved with speeds that turned his limbs into blurs. The scent of blood from the Anakims of Darkness and the Human hunters filled his nose. The cold of the winter’s night no longer affected him. His fever broke as his eyes grew brightly with the desire for battle. Saliva from an Anakim of the Moon clouded the priest’s face like a misty fog. The breath of the hairy beast passed through the priest like a warm breeze that came from a garbage dump. Rivera inserted the golden blade into the beast and twisted the sword in the monster’s belly. He then removed the sharp metal and pushed the Anakim of the Moon away from him, causing the monster to fall dead.

A mortal demon, stated one of the hunters.

Father Rivera noticed he was in his natural state. The Lutheran hunters were all that were left on the roof with the priest, and they were ready to fell Antonio just as they felled the other Anakims of Darkness. Taking a deep breath, the priest began, Now listen, I can explain… .

You’re one of them.

No, I used to be one of them.

That’s not possible.

Antonio dropped Hikaru’s blade and stepped away from the hunters. We’re all men of God and men of reason here… just let me explain and you’ll see I’m on your side.

An Anakim of the Moon rushed onto the roof from inside the nightclub as a perfect hybrid of man and wolf. No, I need him alive, stated the beast. He stormed past the hunters, grabbed Rivera by the neck, and leapt to a nearby roof with the priest.

The Lutheran field-leader picked up the golden blade as the two Anakims vanished into the shadows. Leave them; we have business here first. I want a clean sweep of the club and apartments, everyone. Then we’ll contact our superiors and inform them about tonight.

Saint Raphael’s House of God—Church

Chicago, Illinois

01:50:33am

Justo Roldan emerged from The Sacrasty behind The Altar. He wore two white Altar Server gowns with a tied red rope around his waist. His bare feet slapped against the tile floor as he approached the priest. Justo was young, in his late teens. His hair, like his eyes, was coca in color and parted from left to right. His body was thin, like a swimmer, and his face was round. Roldan was light skinned but ethnic in features; especially his wide nose and thick lips.

Rivera sat on the floor beside the Altar in frustration. With his head in his hands, Antonio announced,