Year Minus

By Cedric H. M. Hunter

Time before time, a plan detoured by desire and deceit. Hell will be unleashed upon the innocent. Who will save creation from the powers of the Deep?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781638740360

Book preview

cover.jpg

Year Minus

Cedric H. M. Hunter

ISBN 978-1-63874-035-3 (paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63874-036-0 (digital)

Copyright © 2023 by Cedric H. M. Hunter

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Names of characters & places are included as the unique overture of the author Mr. Cedric H. M. Hunter. Any duplicated, plagiarized, or otherwise sampled sections of this literary work is subject to any/all infringement laws & subsequent actions. Enjoy.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Year Minus 1:1

Ground Zero

Year Minus 1:2

The House Divided

Year Minus 1:3

The Powers That Be

Year Minus 1:4

Convergence

Year Minus 1:5

Divine Order

Year Minus 1:6

Deviation

Year Minus 1:7

A Hundred Realms

Year Minus 1:8

Stygia

Year Minus 1:9

The Verdict

Year Minus 1:10

Rally Up

Year Minus 2:1

The Man Date

Year Minus 2:2

Chult

Year Minus 2:3

It Came To Pass

Year Minus 2:4

Exile

Year Minus 2:5

Paradise Cost

Year Minus 3:1

Death

Year Minus 3:2

AD

About the Author

This work is in memory of Reba F. Hunter.

Beloved daughter, sister, mother, grandmother & friend.

Until we meet again.

Year Minus 1:1

Ground Zero

Desolate. Dank and dark. Smells of mildew and rot rifle through the wind as it scrolls across the terrain. Flakes flutter down from a dark gray sky. Is this snow? A mingled light struggles to shine through the mass of clouds and precipitation in the atmosphere.

Fallout

Awakened, the recently fallen rises from the bedrock to survey this new place. Rocky. Durable. Callus. As the stranger struggles to put his legs under him, his mind has trouble recalling who he is or what has happened to him thus far. A quick shake of his head and a brush of the eyes to clear his vision, rapid flashes go through his mind. He vaguely remembers a trial, a verdict, the shame and eyes staring in shock, whispers of a name, I—I am. He struggles to conjure his identity. It hits him!

Lux. L-Luxor, he cites. "Where is this place?"

Left. Right. Dusting the debris from himself, he formulates which direction to take next. His internal compass hasn't failed him yet. He heads east into the wilderness—a lengthy, laboring slog. The trek is unending. The continuous fall of this powdery ash makes it difficult to see a pathway. Think. As his journey drags, he realizes the day is seemingly long. He's been walking with no end in sight. The terrain is relentless. It proves to be emotionally taxing. With every step, he becomes enraged, perturbed. What was this burden he carries? His clothes were tattered about his torso. His pain is increasing. Dusk finally begins to set in on our traveler through the haze of the flakes. His hatred festers as his toil seems perpetual. As his languor builds, he starts to sprint into the darkening vastness. The running cools his emotion. Four moons and a dawn later, daylight creeps into the dampened sky. He then slows his haul as he encounters a hill.

Maybe there is cover from this squall? he questions. As he approaches, the hill turns out to be a mountain. It will take another two days of this stifling weather to bring him closer to the towering edifice. Although the days tarried longer than usual, Lux deduces he's been traveling close to six days. His disorientation is a major hindrance.

A billow of grayish smoke engulfs the entire summit. As he nears the foot, there are strong voices heard. Violent. Vehement. Arguing. Listening intently, he notices they are discussing options, plans. Nearby, there is a slight path uphill. Rocky. Narrow. While taking a quiet traipse to eavesdrop, he catches a glimpse from behind a monolith. There are five creatures encircled in deep dialogue, shadowy and malformed, pointing and beating their chests, and implicating one another in crimes. The advancing conflict is tantalizing. The sect is so engaged that they don't even notice the newcomer emerging from the sideline.

Allow me to offer my expertise in counsel. It is by far superior to any! chimes Lux. I couldn't help but hear the quandary your band seem to find yourselves in, and I wanted to lend a bit of advice.

"Who are you to advise us, traveler? One of the figures queries. We have had plenty counsel as of late."

Are you sent from above to torture ussss? another one hisses.

Lowering his head to the pack in respect, Lux responds, I have no intentions of torture toward you. I simply overheard your indecisiveness and wanted to implore your assembly on a more enlightened path. My name is Dago el Brigante, but my moniker is of no importance. I bring only peace.

At this statement, a sixth creature speaks from the summit smoke.

There is no one under this forsaken sky by that name!

In that instance, a tall, menacing being appears behind Lux. Slowly turning to face the shout, Lux sees, covered by a robe with a cowl, this hostile entity.

We, Qui Vive, have been in this realm for many cycles and have traversed across this barrenness in and out since our arrival, and there is no Dago el Brigante here! booms this soul.

Stepping back to take a bow, Lux asks, Whom do I have the pleasure of this audience?

The other beings take a knee at the reveal.

"I am the Overseer, commander of the sentinel known as Qui Vive. You may refer to me as Zahl Zahir. Our task has been to monitor all creatures and events in existence. So you see, we know you are not who you say. We see all!"

Thunder rolls across the sky.

Pardon my incivility, monarch, Lux calmly states. I am new to your land. Allow me to speak forth. My true name is that of illumination and grandeur. I have been wronged. I am desperate to regain my mental stability and my sense of purpose.

At this admission, Zahl realizes who is speaking. Although stunned, he remains silent as Lux continues his soliloquy.

I was created Luxor Esperanto. Firstborn of the Order Arch. Perfect son of Proxima Paradiso, the Minister of Sound and ‘most exquisite of Hosts.' My nickname was Gem-bearer. My countenance was dazzling and bright as the morning stars! I even—

Working himself into gall Lux gets interrupted.

Lux! exclaims one of the kneeling brood.

What happened to you? says a second.

That's not him, brethren! He's an impostor sent to torment us for our transgressions! yet another insists.

In his confusion, Lux looks at his hands and arms, his feet. They're not as he remembered. He feels his back to search for his sets of wings.

What has become of me? he laments.

Zahl seems to have a justification. He reaches forth a gnarled appendage and covers Lux's eyes and gives him a vision of what developed.

As the story unfolds, Lux has flashbacks and quick images of the fray. The recollection seems familiar yet distant.

The All-Being, Creator of all existence, resides in the heaven-realm known as Proxima Paradiso. His personal hall in this great tract is referred to as the Throneroom. The Archs of this utopia are Luxor, Malik, Roshua, and Glade. The Archs are His generals. Under them, in the hierarchy, are a multitude of classes, races, and ranks, collectively called Hosts. Luxor, the most famous of the Archs, came into possession of many of the other realms. He amassed riches untold through his clever wit and beauty—unparalleled treasures. Other Hosts did not know how this came to be; they just marveled at his verve and intelligence. Throughout the eons, Luxor's countenance became more regressed, muddled, subtle. He was the perfect son of Paradiso—perfect in song and form. Over time, he began to postulate, theorize, strategize, asking others their views on morality, concerns for others, outlook on existence, who they really were inside—very beguiling, very intimate and thought-provoking, cunning. When the others would see him alone or wandering, they assumed he was meditating or talking with the All-Being. Malik, Roshua, and Glade all had their suspicions of Luxor. Roshua considered him fasting from other realms, as being away from Paradiso can deplete an Archs energy reserve. Glade figured he was meditating on the life he had been bestowed and thought him to love Divine City where they dwelled. Malik had a more accurate notion. He felt a shift in Luxor's heart. He brought his suspicions to the Throneroom. After carefully laying out his case before the Throne, the response he received from the All-Being was displeasing, bitter.

All are free of My Will.

The feedback was swift.

"Was that the final resolution?" Malik thought. Upon dissecting this answer for several years, Malik realized the inevitable outcome—war, unprecedented, unwavering tension. The lives here are autonomous. No one is made to obey the charters of Divine City. Every soul is of free volition.

How could he fathom such an idea alone? Malik performed Tadasana then Natarajasana in preparation of the ensuing advent.

The moment came when Luxor had gathered all who consorted with him to attack the Throneroom with his blasphemy. His goal was to become the All-Being by usurping the Throne and ruling Proxima Paradiso, as well as all other realms under existence. Now of course, the Archs, being the first line of defense to the Throne, knew this insolence could not continue in their presence. Those Qui Vive also believed as Luxor. The proverbial eyes of Creation, all six of Qui Vive, chose to avail themselves toward Luxor's inclinations. They reasoned. They thought maybe the All-Being was keeping the superlative to Himself. Maybe Luxor was on to something. So Zahl, their captain, obliged his ambitious bunch. Panume the faun, Hephaestus the flame, Tabitha the Libra, and the binary, Lucern and Cimmer—they too conspired to thwart Divine City with the Arch.

Deafening silence as allegations were being hurled at the Throne, only Luxor's voice was heard throughout the Great Halls. He screamed in defiance about the rigors of an obedient Host, the cruelty of piety, and the unfairness of the All-Being. Intently listening, his followers were empowered. They agreed on how articulate his argument was. Enchanted at his viewpoints on existence, a majority of the