Stefan's Jealous Love

“Your thoughts betray you, my love. I know you still love him, though he can never be your mate, for only I can. We are the only two of our species. You slyly loved him in high school. You would never let him near, for your instincts could see our eternal fate. He pined for you, dreamed of you, and felt your mind in a most intimate way. His father’s abuse wrecked his fragile genius, and his perpetual loneliness ensnared you and your human empathy to care deeply for him. His mind’s depths and mysteries tormented you — mysteries which only I can understand.

Now we are mates and yet I am still jealous — I feel so ashamed. He saved my life — he saved my life and I killed him. I feel so guilty, though as you say my love, I could not have prevented it. Why must I learn to be king — learn to endure his pain and the pain of others as if it were nothing? I cannot help it. I feel his pain as this creepy machine wrecks his half-finished body, forcing you to relive the horror of our ascension to this life, forcing you to relive the horror of the death of your love in waiting.

I know I have trapped you with my boyish ways and the necessity of our biology yet sometimes, sometimes, I wish I was the one on the table now and he was the one standing beside you. Though I must tell no-one, I know what comes next. No one must know how I know. I know my Sophistan father and the other tormented energy beings will test me in ways so incredibly painful. I long for the love of my human father and my fairy mum, and my treasured colored pencils and drawing paper. I long for the simple days of teaching drawing to kids visiting my mum’s bookshop. I have been locked out of my house and sent down the road to your intoxicating, consuming love — and to the brutality of humans in my secret kingdom.”

 The illustration above is by Matt Curtis and is from book #2, "The Saeshell Book of Love Part 2: The Rebirth of Innocents".

Paradise Lost

“Diabolical plans unfold to force Stefan's ascension. His choice: pass the trials and become King of Earth — or be killed. The corpus of supremely jealous beings would gleefully end his life, save for his passionate mate’s protection. Has a lust for killing been woven into her innocent core? Protection — a two edged sword — she is bound to euthanize him if his mind rips. Fairies are bound to promote love. Will the ambitious Queen of Sophista — The Queen of the Distant Fairies — ruthlessly stab Stefan’s innocence or simply instill Earth survival skills? Will Ty’s father’s dark past break his son’s heart? For the loving couple and their Children of Sophista, has paradise been truly lost? The Federation seeks to dominate. The snakes lurk in the shadows, ready to strike — and so does Atreyeu.”

Illustration by Matt Curtis. Contrast enhanced for web display.

 The Saeshell Book of Time Part 3: Paradise Lost will be released in October, 2013. 
 
 

Alleah Rises (Book #2, Illustration 19-1)

“Mummy looks a little scared of me. Bo Bo told me before I was born she might be a little scared. Oh, I shouldn’t tell. It might cause a para…para…para…mess up time. Bo Bo talks a lot. Sometimes I don’t listen. I want to listen. But sometimes he just says too many things. I like it when he talks. It helps me sleep. I’m never scared. Bo Bo takes care of me. Bo Bo is strong. No-one can hurt me when Bo Bo is near. Sometimes he can’t be near. Then mummy keeps me safe. Mummy says lots of things too. Mummy’s voice is strong. She scares people sometimes. I remember daddy. He was very nice. He loved Bo Bo lots. Bo Bo loved him lots. I couldn’t see daddy because Bo Bo burned him. He didn’t mean to. It was an accident. Like most things Bo Bo does. When I remember daddy, I get confused. Because Bo Bo has always taken care of me. Mummy wants to cuddle me, I can tell. I hope Bo Bo’s mate made my body strong. Part of her lives in my brain. Oh I shouldn’t of said. Maybe there’s enough still in her brain. Otherwise, when mummy hugs me, I will crunch. That would hurt. I like saying “mate” to Bo Bo’s mate. She turns red. I don’t know why. But it’s funny. Oh mummy’s coming. Mummy…Mummy…Mummy…”

This character monologue is an expansion of the story surrounding this illustration. This illustration by Matt Curtis is from book #2, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 2: The Rebirth of Innocents." Buy book #1 now so you are ready for the release of book #2 on March 29th. The full color Kindle Edition is available for $7.99 on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Saeshell-Book-Time-ebook/dp/B009LEVKJQ You can get the black and white Reader's Edition paperback, $14.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3645794 If you have the bucks, the full color Collector's Edition paperback, printed on a high resolution press, is really awesome. It's $44.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3845611 The paperbacks are also available on Amazon.

Peter3, Master of Resurrection

“Today is the day—the day I get to be the great Peter3 and perform my deed of resurrection. I loved her the day she was born. I loved her while she grew. Her mind was so wonderfully powerful yet so innocent — so much like you in some ways, my younger brother. How can I do this? My design is so complex—my obsession so complete — I allowed no-one to help me. No-one else can understand the design — no-one to rescue me — rescue her—if I make a mistake. I could not stand to watch her die again. She might. And yet, here is Paul25, the most beautiful of heart among us, encouraging me to take the leap—the leap to uncertain conclusions. He is the perfect of brothers. He believes in me. He looks at me with that naïve, silly look of his and blindly believes I can do anything. He believes I am like my elder brother, Peter2, who created him and who created me. Perfection—even my creator could not have been the maestro who filled existence with your song of life — someone so filled with love as you, Paul25. You have been touched in some way I do not understand. But who or what might have touched you, I cannot tell. Shall I spin the winds of creation and fly against the randomness? What will you think, Brother, if the randomness wins — if I have to kill her vulnerable innocence right before your eyes?”

[This character monologue is an expansion of the story surrounding this illustration. This illustration, by Matt Curtis, is from book #1, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 1: The Death of Innocents." Buy book #1 now so you are ready for the release of book #2 on March 29th. The illustrated full color Kindle Edition is available for $7.99 on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Saeshell-Book-Time-ebook/dp/B009LEVKJQ You can get the illustrated black and white Reader's Edition paperback, $14.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3645794 If you have the bucks, the illustrated full color Collector's Edition paperback, printed on a high resolution press, is really awesome. It's $44.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3845611 The paperbacks are also available on Amazon.]

Stefan Is Bullied

“Why do you hate me, mean boy? Is it my poetry? Do you not like it? I know first graders are not supposed to write poetry. But my teacher likes it. I could teach you to draw. It’s fun to draw. You could draw my freaky hair—make fun of it in your drawing. I wouldn’t mind. I can show you how to draw aliens. I know you don’t believe me, but I can make you see lots of pictures of aliens in your mind. They are wonderful to draw—all life is wonderful to draw. If I show you, it will be like you could always draw. You would draw like a high school person, not a third-grader. Your teacher would be proud and show your artwork to everyone. Just stop hurting me! My mummy scares me. She checks my head every day. I am scared for you mean boy—scared of what my mummy will do. I haven’t seen the last boy who was mean to me in a long time. I’m so scared. Don’t make me cry. Let me touch your head and I can take away your pain. I don’t know why, but it works, I promise. Please mean boy. Please!”

[This character monologue is an expansion of the story surrounding this illustration. This illustration, by Matt Curtis, is from book #1, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 1: The Death of Innocents." Buy book #1 now so you are ready for the release of book #2 on March 29th. The full color Kindle Edition is available for $7.99 on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Saeshell-Book-Time-ebook/dp/B009LEVKJQ You can get the black and white Reader's Edition paperback, $14.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3645794 If you have the bucks, the full color Collector's Edition paperback, printed on a high resolution press, is really awesome. It's $44.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3845611 The paperbacks are also available on Amazon.]

Back Story for Book #1: Trevor's Death

"Trevor, oh Trevor. Look at you. Only moments ago, through the pain, you were telling me of the best parts of our friendship. All my playmates—so many have I had, all have died. I feel so ashamed—I should be the one to die. I could have saved you. A wave of my hand, a little fatigue, a little of my energy expended, and you would have been up playing with me. Well, perhaps not—the marauders left parts of your mom and dad hanging over there. Perhaps the pain and the human need for revenge would have led to a bitter life and an early death anyway. Why must I suffer this—the look of fear as you exhaled your last breath, staring at me, knowing my life would go on forever as the darkness and pain consumed you. You knew my secret. You knew what a planet was. You could understand so many concepts beyond your time. You helped so many in your village—the farmer who couldn’t understand what ailed his plants, sick animals, mothers scared of their child’s illness—everyone relied on Trevor. Your mom and dad loved you so much and so did the rest of the village. Now the marauders have killed everyone. Nothing is left. You deserved to live your simple, peaceful, peasant’s life. The marauders deserved to die. I wanted to see those wonderful genes of yours in your children. But the Great Sophistan said no. I must not interfere in the evolutionary course of Earth. I must spend most of my time on this hideous prison, called Earth, looking for the emergence of the Children of Sophista. The Great Sophistan is sure they will emerge someday—someday I will be freed from this festering ball of violence—free to stay on Sophista with my brothers, never to see my playmates die again—to be known simply as Paul25 instead of the nine-year-old boy who could shoot lightning from his fingertips—and did nothing to save his friends."

[This character monologue was specifically written to explain this illustration. This illustration, by Matt Curtis, is from book #1, "The Saeshell Book of Time Part 1: The Death of Innocents." It is currently on sale. It is available in Kindle or paperback. The full color Kindle Edition is available for $7.99 on Amazon at: http://www.amazon.com/The-Saeshell-Book-Time-ebook/dp/B009LEVKJQ You can get the black and white Reader's Edition paperback, $14.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3645794 If you have the bucks, the full color Collector's Edition paperback, printed on a high resolution press, is really awesome. It's $44.99, direct from the press: https://www.createspace.com/3845611 The paperbacks are also available on Amazon. Book #2 will go on sale March 29th.]