8 Eden & Jude: 8 Chronicles, #2

By S.M. Rune

In 2008, 

a Queer teenage runaway 

on the streets of San Francisco 

discovered an Elsewhere. 

This is his story.

 

On the planet Eden, 

on the Vulpen Island of Crescent, 

Arthur Avalyn and his family 

plot a secret war against 

Godfather Adam and his hellish forces.

 

Meanwhile and far away in the land of Nod, 

Lilith plots her revenge.

 

When angels and demons gamble with human souls, 

and the fate of destiny itself is at stake, 

who will win, who will survive, and at what cost?

• Language: English
• Publisher: S.M. Rune
• Release date: Jan 28, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215699461

Book preview

8

Chronicles

Eden & Jude

––––––––

by

S.M. Rune

First Brandon, my love,

who believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.

Without you, this novel wouldn’t exist.

Thank you.

Beau, Brad, Benjamin, Kyle, Nick, Christopher, Shane, Tim, Lincoln, and Lalo, thank you for touching my life. I love you, always.

Ryan, Daddy, you already know.

Tiffany, Steph, Lailah, Will, Keith, Tom, David Jude, Jonathan, Cooper, and Brendan, thank you for bringing light and color into my life and reminding me of the beauty in humanity.

And a big thank you to Larkin Street Youth Services

and Castro Youth Housing.

These organizations gave me a bed and a roof and a job

when I had nothing and knew no one.

Copyright © 2023 by S.M. Rune

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

S.M. Rune asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

S.M. Rune has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is,

or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used

in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks,

and registered trademarks of their respective owners.

The publishers and the book are not associated

with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the

companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.

To learn more about the Humdrum scavenger hunt, visit

https://www.nonchalance.com/jejune.html

First edition

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Learn more at 8Chronicles.com

Table of Contents

Book I - Eden - Prologue

Chapter 1 - The Serpent - 15

22 - April 2008 - San Francisco

Chapter 2 - Apple - 29

34 - May 2008 - Jes & Dante

Chapter 3 - Crystal Caverns - 42

52 - August 2008 - Dani & Nathan

Chapter 4 - The Wasp - 62

67 - January 2009 - Humdrum - Part 1

72 - February 2009 - Travis

78 - March 2009 - Community Convention

Chapter 5 - Rowan - 88

97 - April 2009 - Humdrum - Part 2

108 - May 2009 - Debrief

Chapter 6 - Lilith - 111

Chapter 7 - Rowan & The Fallen - 115

119 - May 2009 - Morgan & Jude

121 - December 2002 - Law of Averages

Chapter 8 - Sanctuary - 127

139 - New Year’s Eve, 2003 - Genesis

Book II - Jude

Chapter 9 - Morgan - 155

160 - June 2009 - The Mass Invite

Chapter 10 - The Holy Ghost - 166

177 - June 2009 - Humdrum - Part 3

Chapter 11 - Azazel - 202

216 - July 2009 - August & Oliver

225 - August 2009 - Happily Ever After

Chapter 12 - Caught in the Snare - 227

Chapter 13 - Firefox & the Shadow - 242

247 - October 2009 - Tandy

Chapter 14 - Legion - 249

Chapter 15 - Time Dragon’s Hollow - 261

Chapter 16 - Morgan & Azazel - 267

275 - April 2011 - Castro Station

Chapter 17 - Blood Baptism - 278

Chapter 18 - Alive & Unbroken - 286

296 - December 2011 - Oklahoma

Chapter 19 - Love During Wartime - 300

Chapter 20 - The Wedding - 307

317 - December 2011 - End

Epilogue 1   Epilogue 2

Book I - Eden - Prologue

I'm here to pick up a ticket to San Francisco, I told a wizened woman behind a Greyhound kiosk. She had a glassy, faraway look in her eyes, blinking twice at me before resigning themselves to the lifeless allure of a boxy computer screen.

ID, please, she sighed at the screen. I handed mine over.

As she typed in my information, I looked around.

Fluorescent lights flickered over grimy beige floors. Arcade machines lined the walls, where a man slept, hunched over the handlebars of a motorcycle game. The smell of urine lingered menacingly. A man in many jackets slept on the floor next to a portable stereo blaring Que Sera by Wax Tailor.

Gears crunched out my ticket, bringing my attention back to the listless Greyhound attendant, who ripped the ticket off and slipped it into an envelope. She picked up a black Sharpie and wrote a large number 8 on the back, circling it twice before handing it to me.

Get in the line behind Door 8, she muttered.

I said thanks and grabbed my threadbare grey suitcase, supporting my backpack with my other arm, and walked into the crowd of poverty that is a Greyhound bus station. People with money travel by plane or train. Poor people take the bus, so naturally, you encounter a wide swath of humanity.

Travelers of every color and background filled the cramped, neglected room. Several carried their belongings in black trash bags, unable to afford a suitcase. My clothes were deliberately nondescript: faded blue jeans and an oversized black cotton coat.

I got in line behind a round man in a cowboy hat, then took out my spiral ring notebook. It would be a few minutes before bus 8 was ready to board, so I closed my eyes and went to Eden.

Growing up, my family moved almost yearly, so I didn't keep many friends. Instead of friends, I had books. Fantasy stories, mostly, but also history.

Years ago, I read about monks who built 'memory palaces' in their minds. They would imagine a castle or a church, for example, and then imagine building it, brick by brick, so they knew every crevice, every room.

My 'memory palace' was a planet. Eden. I'd go to Eden whenever the real world was too awful, or when I was bored and waiting for a bus. Eden had a history, two continents, islands, people, drama, and adventure.

In my spiral ring notebook, I wrote about Inari, an island volcano, boiling graveyard of the firefox people, destroyed 30 years ago in His Holy Crusade against magical creatures.

Boarding, door 8 to San Francisco. A screeching speaker brought me back to Earth, as the cowboy in front of me shuffled forward. I sat in a window seat and hoped no one would talk to me. My long legs bumped against the seat in front of mine.

A woman in her early 50's sat next to me. Hi, I'm Hellen, her voice was soft and deep. Silver streaks framed her face, reminding me of my mother. I nodded once.

In the seat across from hers, a skinny woman with mossy brown hair looked over at me. Hellen, you got a cute one! the woman said merrily.

My cheeks reddened. I wasn't used to being complimented and didn't know how to respond. Aww, and he blushes! That's adorable! she giggled in delight. I buried myself in the window.

Oh, don't mind her, love, Hellen said. How far are you going?

For a furious moment, I wondered if I could ignore this seemingly-friendly woman. San Francisco, I responded curtly and continued looking out the window, hoping she'd take the hint.

Oh, my daughter lives there! You'll love it. It's really something, she said, undaunted. I'm getting off in Portland. My son's getting married!

Congratulations, I said flatly, still looking out the window.

Oh, bless you, she answered. I cringed. What's bringing you down to San Francisco?

It's far from my family, and that's good enough for me.

She paused with great concern. Why do you want to get away from your family?

I don't see how that's any of your business.

She blinked several times. How old are you, dear?

I hated that question. I'm nineteen.

You're a baby!

My irritation must have been evident, as she felt the need to apologize.

Oh, I'm sorry, dear. It's just that I have grandkids almost your age. Tell me, do you have a job lined up there?

Not yet. I bought my ticket last night. I'll apply to places once I arrive.

The lines on her face bunched together in concern. I think you'll find that more difficult than you're expecting.

I ignored her observation and picked up my spiral ring notebook. Hellen seemed hurt, but I pretended to not notice. Instead, I looked out the window. The bus was pulling out of the station. In the distance, I saw Mount Rainier, a sleeping volcano, Seattle's everlasting monument to doom and beauty, commanding the skyline. I imagined it erupting, spewing fire and stone into the sky. In my mind, it became Inari, and I was back on Eden.

The smoking, boiling ruins of Inari could be seen from the nearest Vulpen Island, Crescent, a jungle of ancient trees with two urban spaces: a marketplace on the harbor of the bay and the slope that led up to Castle Moondial.

Built and carved into the stone at the highest point on the island, Castle Moondial towered over the rest of Crescent and cast a long shadow on the ocean below. Outside the castle, a crowd cheered wildly as two combatants faced off in a square.

The crowd surged like a wave as Rafael Avalyn yelled a battle cry. Rafael was only fourteen, yet he had a strange magnetism. The audience held their breath as he attacked his opponent, feinted, parried, then danced around, spinning his staff beautifully.

The sun was high and bright. The ocean breeze, cool and refreshing.

Above the square and crowd, on a balcony built into the castle wall, sat Crescent's stewarding family. They could see the entire island of Crescent from their seats.

Steward Arthur Avalyn wanted to watch his son compete, but his attention was needed elsewhere. Captain Reynard was escorting an unfamiliar guest to the shaded balcony Arthur shared with his daughters Morgan and Lyn and his mother Henrietta. Only Arthur and Morgan stood to greet the man. Lyn was young enough, and Henrietta was old enough, to get away with remaining seated.

Welcome to Crescent, Good Brother. We're honored by your presence, said Steward Avalyn. Captain Reynard stepped back to observe.

Brother Timothy was short and gaunt, with strawberry blonde hair and black robes. A simple-looking man, except for the eye. His left eye was a vertical slit, like a cat's eye. It had a soul-chilling effect, like looking into the eye of a killer.

The pleasure is all mine, Steward Avalyn, said Timothy with a grin, and Arthur believed it. Expectancy lit Brother Timothy's face. The man was ecstatic, eerily so. They held hands in greeting, and a chill ran through Arthur's body like ice down an empty stomach.

Your... arrival takes me by surprise, Good Brother. Of course, accommodations will be prepared. Perhaps you wish to retire before we discuss this new change in policy? Steward Avalyn offered, hoping the good brother would leave so Arthur could cheer for his son. Arthur heard the audience groan in unison but stayed focused.

No, not at all. I insist on watching the show, said Timothy.

Morgan vacated her seat for the Good Brother and moved to sit beside her grandmother.

Timothy dropped into Steward Avalyn's right-hand seat with pomp, still grinning. I've been looking forward to this conversation. I'm here to inform you that the Lord Father assigned me to be your new Holy Advisor and your children's new governor.

Arthur's response was immediate and well-rehearsed. Of course, I bow to the wisdom of the Holy Father. Might I ask, why now? Steward Avalyn chose his words carefully. I only ask that I might serve Him better.

The good brother remained silent, staring into Avalyn's eyes with a grin. Arthur glanced toward his son and saw Rafael was in the corner.

Dutiful of you, Timothy quipped finally, demanding Arthur's attention again. It's the Lord Father's wish that all five Islands of Vulpex be consolidated into a single domain with a single emissary. Rafael is being considered for that position. I'm here to determine if he is deserving and, if he is, advise him.

That's—wow! That's wonderful. We'll prepare your room for an extended stay, then?

I suspect I'll stay here for the rest of my life, Timothy grinned.

Arthur turned again to watch his son nimbly spin in the air, with the tip of his staff barely striking his opponent's hand, breaking several bones. The man's staff fell to the floor, and Rafael knocked it out of the square.

Captain Reynard's voice magickt in Arthur's ear, He's trying to provoke a reaction out of you. We need to find out what he knows. I'll send Apple to spy on him.

Excellent, Arthur cheered, but his mind was preoccupied. Good Brother Timothy was a snake if ever there was one, and Arthur invited the snake into his home! Not that he had a choice in the matter. Refusing an emissary of the Holy Father was suicide. The only response available to him was gratitude and humility. He hated it. Timothy's smug smile burned into Arthur's mind like an ugly brand.

Meanwhile, the crowd below was chanting Rafael's name. He won.

––––––––

April 2008 - Greyhound

What's that you're writing, dear? Hellen's question brought me back to Earth. The sunset reflected off Pacific waters. The toilet in the back of the bus was no longer in service, and the smell of human waste permeated. My back was stiff from sitting for hours.

I looked at Hellen suspiciously. No one had taken an interest in my writing before. But in her silver-framed face, I saw she was simply bored and trying to pass the time.

It's just a fantasy story. You'd probably find it tedious, I answered.

Nonsense. I have eight grandchildren, she said, and I love hearing their stories. Besides, still another hour or so before my stop. Tell me your story. What's it about?

Well, I guess it started as a story about Adam and Lilith, I said.

Who?

Lilith. Adam's first wife, before Eve.

I haven't heard of Lilith.

"That's probably because she isn't in the Bible. The earliest references I could find of Lilith were in Jewish myths, as a demon who ate babies. She was later reappropriated in a profane book called the Alphabet of Sirach, which details her banishment from Eden for demanding equality with Adam.

The book was lewd and satirical. It wasn't supposed to be taken seriously; yet priests and rabbis took the story and re-reappropriated it as a cautionary tale for women who might rebel against the patriarchy. It's kinda funny because these days, she's been re-re-reappropriated as a patron saint of feminists. You might have heard about the Lilith Fair.

That's interesting. No, I haven't, said Hellen.

Yeah, I'm full of interesting, useless information.

So your story is about Lilith, then?

"More like she's pulling the strings. Lilith was banished to Nod, which is this harsh, bleak place where she lives underground because the winds are so deadly.

Meanwhile, Adam and Eve rule Eden. They were made perfect, so they're immortal, but because they ate the Forbidden Fruit, their children grow old and die. Millenia has passed. Adam is obsessed with breaking the curse that kills his children. Lilith is obsessed with revenge against Adam and even God. My characters live in Eden under Adam's rule.

Hellen smiled widely. That's fascinating! And you know the Bible! How wonderful. It's so nice to see young men who read the Lord's book.

No, I've never read the Bible. My mom raised me, and she claims to be Christian, but she isn't, really. She took us to church a few times, but I don't believe in the Christian God.

That surprised Hellen. She looked offended. Then why are you writing about Bible stories?

Because I grew up on them. They're what I know, and they're entertaining, but I don't believe in Jesus any more than I believe in Superman.

Hellen wrung her hands. It's disrespectful to reduce our holiest icon to pop fiction. Even if you don't believe, can you at least show a little respect for those of us who do?

Mm. No. See, because Christians systematically wiped out entire cultures. You devoured pagan myths and plagiarized them as your own. You demand the respect you deny others. So, no. The most I can offer you is my sympathy, and that's only when I have the patience to give it.

Hellen was white in the face, stunned to silence.

I leaned in for the finisher, whispering, And by the way, I'm gay as Hell. That's why I chose San Francisco: I'm gonna go fuck some guys. Like a train of guys. It's gonna get weird.

Then I picked up my spiral ring notebook and mechanical pencil, ignoring Hellen again. It was awkward for a minute after that. Thankfully, the bus pulled into Portland, where Hellen and her friend got off.

I'll pray for you, she said in lieu of goodbye.

Save your breath, I hollered back. No one sat next to me for the rest of the trip.

As the Greyhound bus carried on to California, the ocean waves outside my window carried me back to Eden.

Chapter 1 - The Serpent

The crowd surrounding the square erupted in cheers of jubilee. Crescent hadn't won the Perigee Tournament since before Rafael was born, and to be victorious at only fourteen years old was a remarkable achievement.

Everyone was ecstatic. Well, almost everyone.

Gwendolyn Avalyn, Lyn to her family, was in many ways a typical 8-year-old. She had been sitting for several hours and grown restless as the tournament dragged on. Whenever her brother fought, Lyn got excited, but the final match was over, and Lyn was eager to leave.

It was Apple's duty to take care of, manage, and interpret for Lyn, and she was devoted, not that Apple had a choice in the matter. Apple was a capuchin monkey familiar, given a higher sentience by Godfather Adam Himself.

Some creatures spent their lives wondering about their purpose in life, but not Apple. She was blessed and cursed to know precisely why: to serve the Avalyn family and interpret for Lyn.

Apple was given to Lyn when the girl was just two years old. When Godfather Adam heard news that Lyn had been born deaf, He created Apple to be Lyn's lifelong companion.

Steward Avalyn graciously declined, but the Godfather insisted. Apple would be Lyn's teacher and interpreter, and that was the end of discussion. Steward Avalyn could say nothing more but offer his gratitude for such a generous gift. After all, no one else on the island of Crescent could afford a familiar.

Although today, a few wealthy visitors brought their familiars with them. By accessing the Aether, Apple could 'remember' their memories. The Aether connected Apple to every familiar on Eden and to their memories, knowledge, and experiences, living or dead. When Apple first arrived on Crescent six years ago, Steward Avalyn forbade her from sharing her memories. But Apple could still access the public memories of other familiars.

Presently, Apple was trying to distract her ward by describing the memory of a visiting lion familiar who witnessed a man falling face-first onto a pile of horse manure. Lyn chuckled at the story but kept glancing nervously at the Good Brother seated next to her father. Something about him clearly upset her.

Apple told Lyn not to worry, but the stranger had a malevolent aura about him that made Apple's fur rise. Something about the creepy smile that never left his face.

'The tournament is over,' Lyn signed. 'Let's go play in the garden.'

Apple could think of no compelling reason to stay, so she told Lyn's grandmother Henrietta their plan, then followed Lyn as she snuck quietly away. No one would question their sudden absence. It was Lyn's prerogative to disappear for hours at a time. She was a wild, solitary child, prone to emotional outbursts. Most of the castle staff ignored her. And though her family loved her unreservedly, they were so busy with matters of state and duty that they rarely had time for Lyn.

Consequently, Apple was more than simply Lyn's servant and interpreter. She was Lyn's best friend, her ever-present shadow, and even a surrogate mother. It was a responsibility Apple cherished dearly.

They ran downstairs and crossed the castle courtyard to reach the garden. It was lush, beautifully maintained, and several acres wide, with tall trees and an array of native flowers. Bees and butterflies filled the air and flew out of reach of the island princess.

Lyn was in high spirits again, far from the unnerving, smiling stranger. She spun in circles and laughed, basking in her sweet return to freedom and relative solitude. The bright sun made her short black hair shine like onyx. Lyn's dress, a formal blue-green skirt, spun around her, aloft in the breeze, as if it might lift and carry her away, a flower petal on the wind.

She stopped and looked at Apple; a pure, child-like grin lit her face. 'Let's play Hide and Seek,' she demanded. 'Close your eyes and count to 20, then come find me.'

Hide and Seek was one of Apple's favorite games. Despite her vast intelligence and magical sophistication, she was still an animal and loved to hunt and play. They played several rounds, taking turns, finding each other in trees, behind bushes, and under garden supplies. In time they grew hungry, and Lyn decided they should sneak into the kitchen for supplies.

Stealing food from the kitchen was another game they often played. They knew every corner of Castle Moondial, every secret path and shortcut - or at least, they thought they did. One such hidden passage led to the kitchen.

Lyn and Apple waited patiently until the guards had passed, then darted down the hallway, stopping abruptly to open a small grate before crawling into the small, dark opening in the wall. It was built to allow fresh air to flow to the deepest rooms of the castle, but they were small enough to fit. As she crawled on her hands and knees, Lyn calmly brushed a mouse aside and more than one spider out of her hair.

They turned several times, having memorized the labyrinthine paths of this particular crawl space long ago. Finally, they saw the lights of the kitchen shining before them, like the sun at the end of a tunnel. They looked out into a spacious room lit by an enormous fire.

The cooks and kitchen staff were hard at work preparing the feast Steward Avalyn had ordered for Rafael's celebration. Delicious smells of cooked meats, vegetables, and sweet and savory desserts filled the air and made both Apple and Lyn's mouths water. Apple had her eyes on a fruit torte, and Lyn pointed at a pecan pie with a greedy expression. But, of course, they couldn't simply grab their spoils. They needed a proper diversion.

Together they carefully removed the grate that separated them from their objectives. They were beneath a chopping table. The kitchen staff were all busy at their tasks. Now comes the challenging part. If they failed, Lyn's father would be angry and send them to bed without dinner. It was all or nothing. Apple would provide the distraction while Lyn stole the food.

Apple waited patiently and chose her moment carefully. When she was sure no one was looking, she dashed out from their hiding spot to slide under the center table where the chefs were preparing food. It was cramped, even for her, so she crawled on her belly to the other side of the room and waited once more for the perfect moment to strike.

Several minutes passed, but her opportunity presented itself in the form of a young assistant. He entered the kitchen with his arms full of clean pots and pans. He couldn't see the ground at his feet, so Apple jumped out from under the table and screeched in agony as if he had stepped on her tail. The young man jumped and hollered in surprise, dropping one of the pans in his arms, making a loud clamor, and surprising the entire kitchen.

Be careful! Apple yelled at the poor boy, who turned bright red in the face and profusely apologized, looking confused and a little scared. Apple felt a stab of pity for the boy, who would no doubt be reprimanded, but not too severely. She ran out the door before anyone could say another word and sprinted down the hallway to where Lyn would surely be waiting with their spoils.

She found Lyn next to the grate opening with a mouthful of pecan pie, two fruit tortes, and an enormous grin on her pecan-smeared face. Lyn even nabbed a fistful of caramel crickets, a favorite of Apple's, and together they munched happily, laughing all the while.

Apple! Someone shouted. Apple looked up to see Captain Reynard marching toward them with purpose. At first, Apple thought they would be reprimanded for stealing from the kitchens, but Reynard didn't seem to care about their stash of desserts.

I have a task for you, he said. Apple began interpreting Captain Reynard's words, but he told her to stop. This would be a secret mission, and Lyn didn't need to know. Apple felt confused and uncomfortable but did as she was told, as always.

But in all her life, Apple had never failed to interpret anyone's speech for Lyn. Not doing so now felt like a terrible betrayal. Everyone ignored Lyn from time to time, but never Apple. The young girl reacted in anger, charging Captain Reynard and beating him with her tiny fists, but he hardly seemed to notice. The captain simply grabbed her arm and held her away from him, firmly, not with cruelty, but without question. Lyn tried to break away, but his grip was like steel. She jerked violently in vain, then, from the bottom of her lungs, she summoned an angry, frustrated shriek.

Captain Reynard waved his hand and cast a spell to silence the girl, then resumed addressing Apple, ignoring Lyn. Apple watched helplessly, knowing Lyn felt violated, ignored, and silenced.

Rage and passion swelled in Lyn's tiny body until it found a new form of release. All the candles and lights around them began to brighten. When Lyn realized she was releasing her fury, she doubled her efforts to punish Apple and Reynard. The lights became blinding. Reynard raised his arms to cover his eyes, but still, it shined through. Then, as quickly as it began, it stopped, and Lyn collapsed in exhaustion.

A full minute passed as Apple and Reynard blinked the stars out of their eyes, having been briefly blinded by the light's intensity. Once he could see again, Reynard removed the silence spell from Lyn and carried her up to her bed. Then he examined her as if seeing her for the first time. Finally, Reynard pulled a chair next to Lyn's bed and began to sign directly to her, something he had rarely done before.

'I am impressed,' Reynard signed. 'Not many humans can wield magic, let alone 8-year-olds.'

Lyn managed a weak smile.

'You depleted your mana when you brightened the lights. Sleep is what you need now. When you wake up, maybe I'll teach you how to do magic properly so you don't exhaust yourself.'

But Lyn was already asleep. As the captain left the little witch to rest, her familiar Apple snuck out the window, as she had been instructed.

The perigee moon illuminated the outside wall. Apple leapt from branch to stone to branch along a complicated path. On the docks below, Apple saw bustling crowds of partiers celebrating the occasion. Apple shimmied along strategically placed foliage, then dropped behind the cliff wall into a secret tunnel.

The entrance was cramped and riddled with dead-ends, but Apple knew the correct path. She had done this several times. She climbed until her tiny claws grabbed hold of a ledge and pulled herself up.

A thin strand of light shined from behind a wall. A tiny pinhole revealed the inside of the room, elegantly decorated, with a crackling fireplace warming the air. Apple saw Brother Timothy standing in front of a large ornate mirror. But instead of a reflection shining back at him, it was the Father Almighty himself,