by R. E. Vance
Medusa was seen as the gorgon who sacrificed her life to save Paradise Lot. Her statue would become a Mecca for Others … a symbol of bravery, sacrifice and the new GoneGod world in which we all now lived. More—she was a comfort to all who saw her, just like she always wanted to be. Careful what you wish for, I thought, looking at her gray immobile face.
Marty and I hung back as Others approached her one by one. Minotaurs grabbed their horns and brayed, centaurs dug their hooves in the sand and bowed, fairies sprinkled glitter, angels sang hymns.
Atargatis came with her seven children—all having traded human faces for their sharklike appearance—and touched Medusa before saying a prayer in a language I didn’t understand. The BisMark placed his hands on her knees. Miral kissed her feet, wiping angelic tears on her ankles. Penemue and EightBall poured out Drambuie by her statue while Michael and the Gruff Brothers saluted her.
Then it was Astarte’s turn. The succubus pulled Gilgamesh’s pendant from her pocket as she stumbled to her once-upon-a-time friend, and placed it on the pedestal. As soon as the pendant left her hand she collapsed to her knees, letting out a mournful cry that broke all the hearts that heard it. Atargatis helped her up, gently guiding her back to where Penemue, EightBall and I stood. As soon as she was next to me, she reached out for my hands, not with the usual sexual overtone, but for comfort. I squeezed her hands in mine, watching the entirety of Paradise Lot pay respects to once alive, always wonderful Medusa.
What commenced after was a cacophony of Other religious fever.
Prayers, chants, incense, drumming, dancing and lamenting filled the beach with mayhem. And yet it all blended together into something truly beautiful and special, like overlapping children’s games independent in practice but harmonious in nature. An aura of meaning rose from this unhappy event.
At least that’s how I saw it. The gaggle of human reporters that trained their cameras on the event would probably have their own, fear-mongering interpretation.
Eventually the crowd thinned, and still Marty and I hung back. I couldn’t go to her. Not now, not with all these Others around. It was too much—getting any closer would break me. I was sure she’d understand. I hoped she would.
↔↔
I returned to the Millennium Hotel, walked into its grand foyer, said goodnight to my sad entourage and walked upstairs, thinking about the next stage of my life—a life of simplicity up in the wilderness. I considered leaving in the night. Why wait for the morning? If I left right now, I’d get to my PopPop’s cabin by dawn.
I opened my door. The soft light from the hall illuminated my suitcase. Maybe, I thought, a little earlier if I hurry.
“Hello, Jean-Luc. It’s been awhile.” The voice sounded like fingernails scraping across a blackboard.
I didn’t look to see who spoke. I didn’t need to. I would’ve recognized that raspy voice anywhere. “Turn on the light,” I said, walking in, berating myself for being so naïve. The Army may not have known I still lived, but she would.
“No need for the light.”
“Not everyone is as comfortable with the dark as you,” I said.
“True.” I heard a click of the tongue against the palate, and the bedside lamp turned on. What sat next to the lamp was an aigamuchab, one of the aigamuxa Others from the Okavango River region. She looked like a human female except for one startling detail—she had no eyes, her forehead fused with her cheeks. Her eyes were instead on the soles of her feet. Not that she needed eyes to see—she relied on clicking and echolocation.
This aigamuchab wasn’t any typical Other. She was General Shouf, the first Other to join the humans in their war against Others before we settled into this uneasy peace.
She was a fierce warrior, ruthless against all life, be it once-upon-a-time mythical or AlwaysMortal. And she was my former commander.
Her hand rested on the light switch and, now illuminated, I could see her eyeless face cocked in my direction. “It’s been too long, Jean-Luc,” she rasped.
“That depends on your perspective. How did you—”
“One word. One simple word: ‘Enough.’ Seems the Other who protects you has also failed you.”
“And, what? You’re here to arrest me?” I asked.
“No,” Shouf shook her head, the lamp light running across her smooth forehead. “I’m here to imprison you.”
“I don’t hunt Others. Not anymore.”
“So I’ve heard.”
“And after the events of the past week, I’m finished helping them, too.”
“Always so dramatic, Jean-Luc,” her words scraped out of her.
“Didn’t you hear me? I’m finished.”
“You’re not finished.”
“Yes, I am. Arrest me if you want, either way … I’m done.”
“I’m not going to arrest you. As for being done,” she leaned forward, her eyeless face reflecting the lamplight. “You’re just getting started.”
Like what you read? Then why not indulge in the next book in the Paradise Lot series?
“I used to think the apocalypse was the worst thing that could happen … boy, was I wrong.”
There's no going back from this one. For fans of THE DRESDEN FILES and Stephen King's THE LANGOLIERS, this urban fantasy detective novel is not to be missed!
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Still want more Paradise Lot?
Then indulge in the Paradise Lot Presents series and check out what some of the other characters are up to – and how their shinanigens play a major role in what is to come!
Paradise Lot Presents: Interludes
“5-stars!”
“I just discovered GoneGodWorld and Paradise Lot, and I hated putting it down to take care of annoying distractions like eating and working. Solid characters and plots, set in a well-conceived and well-developed world.”
“Another slam dunk for R. E. Vance!”
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Paradise Lot Presents: The Curious Case of the Bone Flute Troll
“Raw-powered imagination together with powerful characters makes this latest installment in the GoneGod World a brilliant piece in an evolving series … One book you can't afford to miss.”
“Another awesome entry into what is quickly becoming my favorite series.”
“Step in a world where the archangel Michael helps the Gruff Brothers to solve the mystery of who is robbing graves to make bone flutes. Enjoyed every word of this tale.”
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Paradise Lot Presents: Muses Musing
“This is a fascinating world that RE Vance has come up with.”
“Everything about it is wonderful and I wait eagerly for more!”
“A very compelling read.”
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Please Review:
I really hope that you enjoyed Keep Evolving. It is the second book in the series. I plan on releasing 9 books in total, but can only do so with your support. The easiest way to support me is to leave a short review.
I know, I know – I’m asking a lot… but really, it’s not me asking. It’s the gang:
Penemue – I’ve fallen not once, but twice and I cannot bear to fall for a third time. With your help, dear human reader, I just might have a chance. Will you help me?
Astarte – So lover, it’s easy… Write a short review and keep me in your dreams forever.
Michael – (looks at your threateningly.)
Miral – Rarely is what I want and what I need the same thing, but today those two conflictng concepts merge for I both want and need a review.
Medusa – I may be gone, but I am not forgotten. And in this crazy GoneGod world, is dead ever really dead. Support Paradise Lot and, well, we’ll see…
Jean-Luc – Yeah, ahhh … Please write a review.
PLEASE REVIEW
Bonus Content:
OK—so we’re accumulating quite the cast and growing quite the world … a world that cannot be contained by just following Jean-Luc’s story. That’s why I’m in the p
rocess of writing a series of short stories that will NEVER BE SOLD, and are reserved for fans of the series.
CLICK HERE IF YOU’D LIKE EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO PARADISE LOT CONTENT
Author Bio:
R.E. Vance lives in Edinburgh with his wife, soon to be born child and imaginary dog where he enjoys a beautiful city, whisky and long walks. All he really wants is to quit his job and write stories based in Paradise Lot. All he really hopes for is that his child-to-be is born healthy (ten fingers, ten toes and at least two eyes will do) and that eventually he can can get a real dog so that he can have an excuse to go on even more long walks.
Connect with me –
Website: www.paradise-lot.com
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GoneGodWorld
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gonegodworld
Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13910709.R_E_Vance
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/re.vance
Dedication:
I am John MacLeod from the Clan MacLeod …
OK maybe not … but still this book, as is everything I write, is dedicated to
Wee John.
Cover images © Shutterstock.com