Origins of an African Elemental: A Soul Eater Boxed Set
By Alicia McCalla
A Paranormal/Urban Fantasy
And the tale of the African Elementals begins…
This prequel boxed set is the first and second installment in the Soul Eater series. Mawu, Iniko, and Shania grow into their strength as mothers and warriors. These women wield the elements and war swords to save this universe from an ancient evil.
Mawu
An insidious demonic force infects the West African pantheon and a modest Earth goddess goes on a quest to save her people from destruction. She finds strength in the arms of a Norse god who believes in justice. But when Mawu returns to the African pantheon, she must take an oath that threatens the life of her unborn child.
Iniko
Iniko, daughter of a West African goddess and a Norse god, struggles with her estranged husband, who abducted their child and is intent on murdering the girl in a blood-soaked ritual to gain power for his ancient demonic master. Iniko travels to a West African castle during the slave trade to battle possessed vampire-like beasts with her sword and dagger to rescue her child. Can she find the strength to kill the man who once held her heart and the key to her magic?
Flee: A Short Story
After the death of her grandmother, Shania Moore, a 27-year old African-American woman, is tormented by her ex-boyfriend and a paranormal serial killer. When Shania falls into a dream realm and connects with an ancient African goddess, her earth magic awakens. Shania realizes that in order to save her daughter’s magical soul, she must run into the arms of the white man whom she lied to about having an abortion and stood up at the altar ten years before.
Origins of an African Elemental, Copyright 2015 by Alicia L. McCalla
Published By Alicia McCalla
Smashwords Edition, License Notes:
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For permission, contact the author at www.aliciamccalla.com.
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover by: Karri Klawiter artbykarri.com
Iniko and Flee Cover By: Noelle Pierce www.noellepierce.com
Editing by: Bev Harrison
Layout and formatting by www.formatting4U.com
Published in the United States by: ffpincolor, LLC Atlanta, Georgia
Other Books From This Author
The Soul Eater Series (Urban Fantasy/Supernatural Thriller)
Origins of an African Elemental (1 & 2 boxed set)
Iniko: Villain Novella (1)
Flee: A Short Story ( 2)
Rise of an African Elemental ( 3) (Available Soon!)
Genetic Revolution Series (New Adult SciFi Thriller)
Breaking Free (Book 1)
Table of Contents
Iniko: Villain Novella (1)
Dedication
Acknowledgments
The Prime Elementals
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Epilogue
Flee: A Short Story ( 2)
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
A Note From Alicia McCalla
Rise of an African Elemental
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SNEAK PEEK: Breaking Free (Book 1)
About The Author
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4-stars for Iniko
“An Intriguing Diverse Story.” —Notebook Blogairy
5-stars for Flee
“I was on the edge of my seat.” —Sandra
5-stars for Flee
“I really enjoyed the Afrikan elements.” —Zani
Iniko
Every magical tale has a beginning...
Iniko, daughter of a West African goddess and a Norse god, struggles with her estranged husband, who abducted their child and is intent on murdering the girl in a blood-soaked ritual to gain power for his ancient demonic master. Iniko travels to a West African castle during the slave trade to battle possessed vampire-like beasts with her sword and dagger to rescue her child. Can she find the strength to kill the man who once held her heart and the key to her magic?
Kuumba has hunted his wife for ten years, slaughtering her adopted family in retribution for tricking him into sharing his magical power in the mate bond with Iniko. But when he learns the truth about the true source of his magical power, will he have the strength to rebel against his master, especially if it means he must sacrifice himself for his wife and child?
This villain novella is the prequel to Rise of an African Elemental. It is approximately 16,000 words.
Bonus material includes the mythology behind the West African pantheon of the African Elemental series and Iniko’s birth mother, the goddess Mawu.
Iniko, Copyright 2013 by Alicia L. McCalla
Published By Alicia McCalla
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For permission, contact the author at www.aliciamccalla.com
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used factiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover by: Noelle Pierce www.noellepierce.com
Editing by: Bev Harrison
Layout and formatting by www.formatting4U.com
Published in the United States by: ffpincolor, LLC Atlanta, Georgia
DEDICATION
I’d like to dedicate this novella to my mom, Lynda Cunningham, who taught me to be a survivor and a champion.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Writing a villain story is difficult. I am so grateful to Jessa Slade for helping me to “flesh” out this novella and my entire African Elemental series. I also appreciate Bev Harrison for proofreading and copyediting. Writers who have shown me support and help during this process are Deleyna Marr, Valjeanne Jeffers, Kenya Wright, and Delaney Diamond. Where would I be without the creative genius of Noelle Pierce? I always fall in love with her awesome cover designs. I need to give a huge hug and acknowledgement to my cousin, Kristina Nunn, and my best friend, Vershawn Young, for listening to me rattle on about elemental magic and fight scenes. I also have to give a large kiss to my better half, Howard McCalla, who has been a source of inspiration and taught me about the power
of perseverance.
Finally, to all my beta readers, blog readers, FB friends, and twitter followers who have shared comments, feelings, and thoughts about this series. I appreciate your resounding support! I am grateful and thankful.
THE PRIME ELEMENTALS
Nyame (Creator of Souls)
Obatala (Sculptor of Mankind)
Asase Ya (Earth)
Shango (Fire)
Yemaya (Water)
Bagba (Wind)
Anansi (Trickster)
Gua (Thunder and Lightning)
Oshun (Water)
Oya (Wind)
Eshu (Trickster and Messenger)
Mawu (Earth)
PROLOGUE
Mawu
And the tale of the Africana Elementals begins...
After evil eclipsed the first two universes, the most powerful prime elementals burst into existence through the fertile soil of Mother Africa. This line of African elementals wielded the elements of air, water, fire, earth, creation and spirit. To their great creator and positive force called Nana Buluku, they made a solemn vow to protect the magic.
They were the first and last defense against an insidious demonic force, the Guhruhi, who threatened to bring chaos and destruction to this last standing universe in the final battle between good and evil.
So powerful were these primes, that they sculpted and created humans who bore nations. These humans worshiped them as gods and goddesses. Some of their humans were chosen vessels and had the power of the elements, but the humans were never as strong as the primes.
As time passed, these prime elementals grew bored. The Guhruhi never came. To them, it was foolish to continue to be battle-ready. They turned on each other and created a hierarchy that gave privilege to some and disgrace to others. This division placed them on unequal terms when all should have been cherished. Elementals with less powerful magic were placed at the bottom, next to humans.
Obsessed with the structure of their hierarchy, they began to care little for the magic they swore to protect and lost focus. The Guhruhi was attracted to this universe in the shape of a meteor that burned bright red and fell from the sky. One of the spirit elementals, from the bottom of the hierarchy, became drawn to the negativity encased within the meteor and desired the power. Eshu, the trickster, touched the meteor. He said, “Yes!” and allowed the Guhruhi to live off his soul like a life-force parasite in exchange for unimaginable power.
Eshu now had the power of universal chaos. He chose to combine his strength in an unholy trinity with Hades, a Greek god, and Loki, a Norse god. Under the guidance of the Guhruhi, the three created the Obayifo witch spirit, a negative entity that sowed destructive thoughts and turned the victims into vampiric-like beasts with an unquenchable thirst for blood and African elemental magic. The Obayifo witch spirit drained the victim’s soul, while simultaneously charging the Guhruhi who shared with the unholy trinity. Elemental souls gave the most power, and with the primes out of the way, the three could exploit the spoils of Africa in whatever way they chose. With the Obayifo witch spirit charging them, chaos would control this universe and Eshu believed he would absorb and wield all African elemental magic.
Mawu, the West African Earth goddess, first saw the insidious evil in a vision. She tried to warn her family of her uncle Eshu’s chaotic mission, but they would not listen. They turned a deaf ear. Eshu was insignificant and weak. He would never control all African magic. Incensed, Mawu left the African pantheon to learn more of this Hades and Loki. She visited Mount Olympus to speak with Zeus, but he was disinterested in the annihilation of African magic at the hands of his treacherous brother.
Mawu flew from this place to Valhalla. It was here she met Odin who was obsessed with the loss of his worshipers and refused to go to war with Loki over magic from her dark continent. Mawu turned to leave when she was stopped by Tyr, the god of Justice. Though blind and missing one hand, he was strikingly beautiful with deep brown eyes and long hair braided for battle.
In Tyr’s blind eyes, Mawu sensed that all were equal, and with only the one hand, he lovingly touched her, showing what he truly valued. Tyr told Mawu about Loki and as Tyr weaved his tale, both hearts and bodies bonded.
Within the deep embrace of Tyr, Mawu found her belly full with a child. Tyr became enthralled with Mawu’s crisis and went to Odin for permission to help. Odin, obsessed with the rise of a new religion which caused his people to abandon the old ways, forbade Tyr from helping Mawu and leaving Valhalla. In secret, Tyr vowed to visit Africa and help her rid her family of the cursed Eshu, Loki and Hades. Mawu left Valhalla, alone, but strong in her conviction that support from her love would arrive soon.
Mawu re-entered the great African palace in search of her kin, but a voice warned her to cloak herself within the shadows. A bloody display ensued as each one of her kin was surrounded by a mist of crimson madness. The foul-smelling witch spirit had entered each prime elemental and turned brother against sister, child against parent, and lover against lover.
The dark Obayifo spirit released by Eshu, Loki, and Hades was profane. The two other gods faded into the darkness, but Eshu remained to savor the chaotic demise of the West African pantheon.
Mawu continued to use her magic to stay hidden and watched in horror as Nyame, Obatala, Asase Ya, Shango, Yemaya, Bagba, Gua, Oshun, Oya, and Anansi slaughtered one another. She could do nothing to stop them. They dealt each other death blows, only to suckle the blood of their fallen brethren with elongated teeth like starving hyenas.
The Obayifo witch spirit had divided and conquered them by invading their minds, hearts and souls. When none but Shango remained, Eshu attacked. Shango used his weakened fire magic, but Eshu was too powerful. Mawu watched her favorite uncle drop. Finally, Eshu absorbed what magic he could and greedily faded into the mist. Mawu released her invisibility and ran to Shango’s side.
She turned him over and stared into an empty, sunken face. She wailed.
Then, all went quiet as Nanu Buluku, the voice that warned her to stay hidden, sprang forth to console Mawu.
Nana Buluku spoke in a hushed whisper as if she were rocking a baby. “Mawu, you are the last of my good creations and must protect our magic. I bequeath you with all the elements. When it is time, you must reincarnate the prime elementals in a new land to protect this universe from the darkness.”
Mawu dried her eyes and found herself floating flat within the vastness of the universe. Brightness filled her as each element transformed and became a part of her being. She gulped air, drowned in water, burned through fire, and accepted more power of the earth. When it was done, her ears chimed with Earth’s spirited intensity and her body was sore.
She drifted to the ground and lay in the prone position unable to move. Mawu’s body twitched, shuddered. Her thoughts were wild, chaotic. Nana Buluku forced her head up and made her drink from a gourd of shimmering gold. She drank greedily and worried for the child in her belly. Finally, all was quiet and she collapsed into a deep sleep.
When Mawu awoke, Nana Buluku said. “I cannot remain here long. If I stay, I will become a parasite like the Guhruhi. My kind is meant to watch and assist from above, but can only intervene on rare occasions. We cannot remain on this plane. If we do, we become drawn to consuming more power to survive. I have chosen you to be my champion. Fight on my behalf. Save this last universe from chaos and darkness.”
Nana Buluku receded.
Mawu forced herself up.
Her head still swam, but she focused her new power and scanned the empty palace. She fixated on a pair of flaming eyes in the darkness.
Mawu squared her shoulders since she knew she was not alone.
“Nana Buluku always favored you, little one,” Eshu said in an abrasive voice. He glided out of the dark corner dressed in a fine checkered black and red ceremonial Agbada robe, with his large Kufi hat tipped to the side like a crown fit for a chief. He stopped and leaned on his black walking stick made from expensive mvuli wood, showing off his clawe
d fingers and toes adorned in gold rings. “And, now you have all the elemental power. What shall I do?” Eshu allowed his elongated teeth to show.
He looked like a king, but smelled of suffocating sulfur and death.
Mawu choked.
“As long as I breathe, Eshu, you will never control the magic I possess.” Mawu called forth her air magic to close the distance between them.
Eshu gave a wicked grin and formed a fire bomb in his talon-like hands.
Mawu smiled back, as she was sure Nana Buluku had given her what she needed to banish this evil.
“Aren’t you the charlatan?” Mawu summoned her ability to control water to drench him and his foolish magic.
Eshu dropped his black walking stick as he stood in his drenched robes and rolled his head back in a wicked fit of laughter.
“It wants you, little one? But, I refuse to let it leave. The power of chaos will always be mine!”
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