Nephilim: Behind Blue Eyes Origins, #1

By Anna Mocikat

Villains are made, not born.

Nephilim is a Guardian Angel, one of the cybernetically enhanced super-soldiers, created to protect and destroy. Protect the Olympias Conglomerate, the mega-corporation that owns them, and destroy its enemies– at any cost.

Nephilim is ruthless, sexy, and the best of these elite cyborgs–an unstoppable killing machine.

But like all of her kind, she wasn't born like that; she was made.

Nephilim is only a child when silent black-clad killers with neon-blue eyes invade the village she grew up in, murder her parents and abduct her and the other children.

With her memory wiped, Nephilim finds herself in a brutal program that turns the traumatized kids into the deadliest weapon in human history.

But unknown to anyone except Metatron, the High-Archangel, Nephilim is special, and like a puppetmaster in the shadows, he grooms her for something greater…

This is the first book in a series of three novellas, telling the story of how Nephilim became the ultimate killing machine. The series is a prequel to the main series Behind Blue Eyes. It can be read as a standalone or an addition to the main story.

Join Nephilim on her journey of becoming a killer cyborg!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anna Mocikat
• Release date: Apr 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215682517

Book preview

Nephilim

A Behind Blue Eyes Origins Story

by

Anna Mocikat

Villains are made, not born.

PART ONE

We are the good guys

Chapter One

T he monsters come during the night. They lurk like black shadows, waiting until everyone is asleep. Then they strike. They kill everyone. And they have neon blue eyes.

All the children stared at Caleb with wide, terrified eyes. Ten years old, he was bigger than the rest of them. They looked up to him. No one ever questioned his authority and leadership.

That’s not true! Evelyn countered.

All heads turned toward her, staring at her with surprise. Usually no one contradicted Caleb or his brother, William. They were the undisputed authority among the children of the village. Well, at least among the prepubescent ones. The teenagers didn’t give a damn about what the little ones thought or did.

Like every afternoon, the children were hanging out on the riverbank close to the village. It was nice to plunge their feet into the cool water on a hot summer day. Sometimes they also ventured into the woods close by to play hide-and-seek. Although they didn’t go too deep, otherwise they got in serious trouble with their parents.

Evelyn liked the woods with their trees that were so tall that they seemed endless – at least compared to her six-year-old body. It was always humid and smelled of mushrooms there. But she liked the meadow between the village and the river even more. The tall grass was full of wildflowers, and they smelled so good. Sometimes Evelyn would pick some and take them to her mom. Her mom loved flowers.

Today the group of ten kids was sitting on the rocks close to the river, enjoying the warm afternoon sun. In the distance, they could hear the waterfall. They all knew that there was a cave hidden behind it. But they weren’t allowed to play there.

Caleb gave Evelyn a condescending look that unmistakably said: What do you know, little one?

"It is true, he said firmly. The blue-eyed monsters come during the night. They kill the grown-ups and take the children. My dad says so."

"My dad says it’s not true! Evelyn objected. He says monsters don’t exist."

Caleb snorted. What does your dad know? He doesn’t even have eyes!

Evelyn sucked in air furiously. Her father was blind, and she knew he couldn’t do everything other dads could. But to her, he was the most wonderful man on earth.

She jumped up, clenching her fists. You take that back! she yelled.

He sneered. Or what?

Caleb was much bigger and stronger than she was, and he knew it. But she didn’t care. She wanted to punch him anyway.

At that moment, the bell rang, indicating that it would be dusk soon. It echoed through the village all the way to the river and was the signal for all the children to go inside. No one was allowed to be outside during the night.

Evelyn stared at the older boy for a moment, then she lowered her fists as the others got up and walked toward the village.

Ask yourself why we all have to stay inside at night, Caleb said triumphantly behind her. It’s because of the monsters.

If there are monsters, I’ll fight them and kill them, said Daryl, who was walking next to Evelyn, a self-confident grin on his ebony face. Daryl was eight years old and a bit taller than her. And he was Evelyn’s best friend.

You don’t need to be scared, he added.

I’m not scared! she replied stubbornly.

In truth, she was very scared. The last time Caleb had talked about the blue-eyed monsters lurking in the dark, she’d had horrible nightmares. But when she told her dad about it, he said that monsters didn’t exist. And her father knew everything. If he said there was nothing to be afraid of, then she believed him.

They soon arrived at the village, and Evelyn said goodbye to the others and went home.

The houses here were made of wood and had almost none of the modern amenities people living in the city were used to. The village had no electricity, and any kind of machine was banned. During the night, all the windows had to be covered, and no lights were allowed outside. All these precautions were made to avoid detection.

Detection by blue-eyed monsters.

The truth was that Caleb was right, and Evelyn’s father was lying to her. Blue-eyed monsters existed. And they were out there, looking for them.

***

Evelyn’s eyes snapped open. Something had woken her, and she wasn’t sure what. But she was scared. Her little body was shaking as she sat up in her bed.

The monsters…

Then she shook her head, sending her long black hair flying around her.

No. There were no monsters.

Evelyn could see light coming through the door, which had been left ajar, and she heard muffled voices coming from the other side. Her parents. They seemed anxious about something.

She got up and walked to the door, peeking outside.

Her parents were in the living area of the small house. Mom always looked beautiful with her slim, graceful figure and silky black hair. But today her face was contorted in fear, and seeing her like that scared Evelyn.

Her father had no hair, empty sockets instead of eyes, and many scars on his face and head. Even though Caleb and the other children made fun of him, for Evelyn, he was the most amazing man in the world. Big and strong, he always knew what to do. Yet tonight, she saw an expression on his face she had never seen before. Fear. Terror.

"It’s him, isn’t it?" her mom whispered, voice trembling.

We don’t know that… her father replied, his voice firm and composed as always.

With shaky fingers, her mother was loading a rifle. Her father was also armed with a shotgun and a huge knife in his belt. Evelyn had seen the weapons before. Her parents kept them locked up in a cabinet and had said to her before that they were for hunting. What were they going to hunt in the middle of the night, she wondered.

"It is him! her mother continued. You knew he would find us eventually. You should have killed him when you had the chance!"

Yes, her father replied calmly. I should have. But it’s me he wants. You need to take Evie and run.

Her mother shook her head. He’ll be looking for me too. He’ll never stop. But he doesn’t know about Evie…

For a moment, Evelyn’s parents looked at each other in silence, their facial expressions changing from fear to determination.

Suddenly loud noises could be heard from outside. At first, Evelyn thought it was thunder, but deep down she knew it was gun shots. Then came the screams.

She shrieked.

Both her parents turned their heads toward her. Her father’s expression softened, while tears filled her mother’s eyes.

Sweetheart… you’re awake, her father said.

What’s going on, Daddy? she asked nervously. Seeing her parents like this scared her more than anything in her entire life.

Her parents exchanged a glance, then her mother nodded. Do it. It’s all we have left, and you know it.

More shots were fired.

Her mother peeked out of the window. Hurry! They’re almost here!

The monsters are coming! Evelyn cried, starting to sob.

Her father didn’t object but instead quickly approached her. Despite his blindness, he was able to move smoothly around any obstacle like a cat.

The screams were closer now, terrifying screams. Even at her young age, Evelyn understood what those screams meant. People were dying.

It’ll all be alright, her father said, taking her hand in his. His big hand was so warm and strong. And yet it trembled slightly. Evelyn could clearly feel it, and it horrified her more than the screams coming from outside.

Her father led her to a small window at the back of the house and crouched down next to her, softly stroking her hair.

Listen to me carefully, he said with a calm yet assertive voice. "I’ll help you climb out the window. Once you’re outside, I want you to run as fast as you can. No matter what you see or hear, don’t stop. Never stop. Don’t look back. Run until you reach the waterfall. Hide in the cave behind it, and don’t come out until tomorrow. No matter what. Do you