Immortals of Indriell- The Collection
Page 45
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Keep reading for Emerge: The Scholar (A Series Companion Novel)
Delve into the secrets of Emerge with this illustrated journal, straight from the hand of the Scholar. Chock full of series teasers and everything you need to know about the Immortal world, Emerge fans will not want to miss The Scholar.
For over eight thousand years, the Scholar has wandered the earth. The oldest living Immortal, he is from a time long before the power was corrupted. He has ruled kingdoms, dined with emperors and led armies into battle, yet history does not remember him.
The Scholar has proudly witnessed the most astonishing achievements of humankind, and sadly watched their worst moments of destruction. He has seen the world evolve to greatness and crumble to ruin, time and again as the natural cycle of life and death churns in an endless march through time.
Many have known him for a time, but he is a ghost. A witness. Forgotten as soon as he's gone. He is the first Scholar, father to all scholarly Immortals who have come after him. His life is dedicated to recording the details of the events he has witnessed. His journals are highly guarded, containing the wealth of the world's history and knowledge. But this journal concerns the future. A future he is anxiously anticipating. The Immortals and mortals found within these pages will play an important role in shaping the uncertain future of all humankind.
Part journal, part history, and part prophecy—complete with dossiers on those Immortals who have seen it all—this illustrated guide is the perfect complement to Melissa A. Craven's debut Urban Fantasy and Paranormal series.
NOTE TO THE READER
Thank you so much for reading Emerge: The Edge. I have always been drawn to books featuring strong women, but for the Emerge series, I wanted to create a balance of equality that's rarely seen in YA books. Allie is flawed, but she's real. She will always be a strong young woman, but no one is strong 100% of the time. Not even Aidan.
Aidan has his flaws, and he struggles with them throughout this book. I wanted to show a side of him we only got a glimpse of in book one. Allie and Aidan have changed each other in a positive way, and as they move forward, they will continue to grow and learn how to stand on their own two feet as individuals, while drawing strength from their friendship and the unique understanding they have of each other.
The Edge is a result of all my years of working on The Awakening, which in its original draft, was way too long for one book. The Edge is the "missing" content from book one, removed from my original draft several years ago. I felt it was important for the reader to go back and get to know the "before" Allie and Aidan a little better before the series continues. I hope my readers will enjoy The Edge so much that they'll go back and read The Awakening again. I guarantee things will look differently upon a second reading.
EMERGE
The Scholar
Immortals of Indriell Series Companion Novel
Melissa A. Craven
Midnight Hour Studio
Atlanta
EMERGE: The Scholar
Copyright © July 31, 2016
By: Melissa A. Craven
Midnight Hour Studio INC
Atlanta, Georgia
All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
For more information contact: Hello@Melissaacraven.com or visit the author’s website at melissaacraven.com
Cover design by: Rachel Bostwick
Edited by: Amber Chapman and Deborah Bedell
Interior design by: Melissa A. Craven
ISBN 10: 0-9909819-5-9
ISBN 13: 978-0-9909819-5-4
First edition for print by Midnight Hour Studio: July, 2016
Printed in the United States of America
DEDICATION
To all the wonderful people I've met since this venture began
You've helped make my dream a reality
The Ouroboros
The origin of the Ouroboros serpent is deeply rooted in myth and legend. Once the sigil for the Queens of Indriell and their eternal royal line, it has since evolved to symbolize longevity and the cyclical nature of the universe. Creation from ruin. Renewal from destruction. Life from death. Even Immortals cannot escape the power of nature.
After the destruction of The Great War, the nation of Indriell faded, and the Immortal world fell on the brink of extinction. But nature was not finished with us yet. We experienced a time of rebirth––the first of many. For the Immortal race exists with such a powerful force that we cannot be so easily extinguished. We have always risen from the ashes of the past to carry on. Even a long forgotten prophecy, foretelling of the coming darkness will not spell our ruin. United, we will boldly face that darkness together and we will prevail.
Winter 1164:
I am the Ghost. One of the oldest living Immortals and Complement to the last Indriell Queen—the man no one remembers. The ghost of the past. I am exempt from history because it is my destiny to witness and record it, but never participate in the making of it. That is my role as the first Scholar.
I am from a time before recorded history. Before the nation of Indriell became the stuff of legends. Long before the Greek gods sat upon Mt. Olympus. Long before the Egyptians ruled the fertile Nile Valley. I am from a time when the power was pure and unsullied. Before the Great War sent us down a path of destruction. Before our gravest sins gave birth to mortality and death, forever dividing the human race between the Immortals and our mortal children.
I live in obscurity, hiding in plain sight in a remote corner of the world. My gift allows me to see everything. I alone have witnessed and recorded the private activities of the Senate, the Coalition and every significant occurrence driving us toward devastation and ruin. I am the key. The caretaker of the knowledge and prophecy that can save us. This journal is one of many, but it is the most important. It contains everything I know of the key players in the task ahead of us.
All of humanity now stands on a precipice. A turning point lies before us. A choice. One way leads to an uncertain future for the Immortal race. The other way leads into a darkness that no prophecy has ever foretold. To survive we must stride bravely toward that unknown future. For the oldest of us, that way is fraught with fear and uncertainty. To the youngest of us, it represents adventure and a new way of life, breaking away from the chains of the past.
If we are to endure, we must put our faith and our fate into the hands of children, yet Unproven. If the children of the last prophecy fail, we will likely fade from this earth. I hold the true prophecy that foretells of their destiny. The recorded prophecy is false, telling only half of the story. It is the nature of prophecy to be understood only when it is too late to act upon it. For that reason, the Queen and I chose to shroud the final prophecy in mystery, protecting those involved until a time when they must know of their fate.
Once, we survived the plague that almost destroyed us when Queen Alísun banished our afflicted mortal children more than five thousand years ago. We can survive again. But this time we will not sacrifice the mortal race—our very own children—simply to perpetuate our own, familiar way of life. We are not doomed to repeat the same mistakes of our past if we can rise above it together. This time we will find a way to coexist or we will accept the consequences of our actions, yield the world to our mortal children and go pe
acefully to our end. To do that, we must be prepared to lose our Immortality. Those who will lead us will not fear death. They will anchor us and they will have the strength to Judge what must be done. The anchor will be surrounded by protectors and scholars alike. The anchor will weather us through the storm.
I am the father of all Scholars who have come after me. I am the Complement of Queen Alísun. Our daughter, the last First Princess of Indriell, came to us late in life, long after the nation of Indriell crumbled. She became one of the most powerful clairvoyants to ever walk this earth. Our oldest son was born in the years just after the Great War. He was one of the afflicted and was banished to lead the other mortals far from our cities. Once the banished were gone, the Immortals began to thrive again, but the nation of Indriell was no more. Still, the Indriell line continued, flourishing through our children and grandchildren, both bonded and natural born. Our line still thrives in the modern world and it is our duty as a family to enter the approaching darkness armed with knowledge and strength. We will prevail—not for our own agenda, but for the benefit of all humankind.
It is my burden to watch and record the activities of those vested in the coming events. I have worked tirelessly to gather the necessary knowledge, as various forces have brought them all together. I have acted from afar, divulging the information needed at the right time to ensure those who will play a key role are armed with the experience they need to move forward. Few know of this journal’s existence. If something should happen to me, others will protect this knowledge. But I cannot die. My Complement. My Alísun, has been held captive for two thousand years. One day we will be reunited, but I must evade capture. I cannot risk it, for we will all be doomed if the Queen dies. If the Queen dies, I die, but no one will remember me. I am The Scholar. The Ghost of history.
I am
Alexander
The Old Generation:
Greggory Tristan McBrien
From the moment of his birth, I've watched this young man evolve into the powerful leader he is today. I met Greggory when he wasn't much more than a cocky, self-assured boy. My daughter had just shown him he wasn't quite as accomplished with a sword as he thought. Covered in mud, I took his hand, laughing at the arrogant smirk he couldn't seem to control, and helped him back to his feet. Even then––only a young guest in my home––I knew he would play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the Immortal world. I've watched him through the centuries as he grew into a man others respect. Alas, like most others, Greggory doesn't remember me. But for a time, he was like my own son, a close friend and confidant to my daughter, Kassandre.
AGE: 2,166
BIRTHDATE: 150 BCE
BIRTH STATUS: Unknown Origin. Gregg was born near the region of Inverness, Scotland. He was found as an infant in a basket, left on the doorstep of his Immortal guardian’s home. Raised as a servant, Gregg had no true family until he was much older.
COMPLEMENT: Naeemah El Sadawii, bonded since 1787
CURRENT LOCATION: Kelleys Island, Ohio
APPEARANCE:
EYE COLOR: Golden Amber
HEIGHT: 5’10”
HAIR COLOR: Russet red with threads of silver––a sign his heritage is linked to an ancient noble house of Indriell.
ETHNICITY/CULTURAL INFLUENCES: Celtic heritage
OCCUPATIONS: Museum Antiquities Curator for the Cleveland Museum of Art. Gregg is also Governor of the Great Lakes Region with his Complement, Naeemah El Sadawii and manages the policing of their region with his lieutenants.
HISTORICAL BIO: There is much of his early life Gregg does not remember, but I have witnessed it all. He had no true family as a child and spent years toiling as a servant to his guardians, with little training or preparation for his Awakening. Years of starvation and loneliness could have turned him into a hard, unfeeling man, were it not for the love of his father, Tristan McBrien. They met when Gregg was a slave to Rome, a young, angry boy in his first century of life, fighting in the arenas as the famed gladiator, Spartacus. Tristan rescued him from that life and the two later bonded as father and son. That was when Gregg’s life and his training truly began. Tristan taught him to be the bold, fearless and unfailingly kind man he is today, but I like to think I also had a hand in that.
Gregg spent many years in my household, training with my daughter and eating me out of house and home. (Upon observing the antics of his youngest sons, Darius and Aidan, I can unquestionably say, Karma has a way of getting us all in the end.) Greggory mentored with my long time friend, Ashar, but during his time with us, Gregg formed a rare bond with Kassandre. They were the truest of friends and throughout her life, Gregg never strayed far from her side.
CURRENT BIO: In 1953, the McBrien family established a home on Kelleys Island where they’ve worked to develop an underground facility to train and hone their skills and raise their children in the obscurity the location provides. Greggory and Naeemah moved to the island permanently just after they bonded with their son, Darius McBrien in 1990. Today, Gregg enjoys his position with the Cleveland Museum of Art where he is head curator and specializes in the ancient armor and weaponry exhibits there (ever the boy with his toys). He and Naeemah also own an antiquities gallery where Immortals come to sell their rare historical possessions that might otherwise cause some raised brows in other such establishments. In their position as Governor, Greggory and Naeemah spend a great deal of time working with their trusted Lieutenants to police the Immortal activity within their borders. But every afternoon their time is dedicated to training their youngest children, Sasha and Aidan.
Kelleys Island is a safe haven to those key players in the coming events––both young and old. It is here they will train and study, preparing for the choices they don’t yet know they face. I watch from afar, fascinated by the progress they make each day. It is not long now. Soon they will meet their destiny. Soon they will understand our futures rest in their capable hands.
ABILITIES: Gregg's electromagnetic pulse is used to magnetize his weapons when facing Immortals, leaving them weak and powerless once wounded. We are violently allergic to the effect of a strong magnetic field, so this rare gift has provided Gregg with the ultimate protection. But using this ability weakens him, so he must be quick to conquer his opponent. Weather Manipulation is a limited gift that allows Gregg to manipulate existing weather conditions––shifting clouds, directing the wind, or causing a glare on a sunny day. During a storm, he can call down lightning to strike as a weapon, or he can guide it safely away from others. Very few know Gregg can see the mortal equivalent of the Complement bond. When he recognizes this bond among those rare mortals, he can’t resist the urge to play matchmaker. Many happy marriages are a result of his meddling.
WEAPONS: Most often fights with a traditional Scottish Claymore and the highland dirk, but also favors the Asian sai and tonfu.
TALENTS/SKILLS: Master of various Martial Arts. Has a strong talent for leadership. Most of his life others have looked to him for guidance, a talent his youngest son, Aidan has likely inherited.
KNOWN ALIASES: Once lived as Spartacus of the Gladiatorial age. Was also known as Simon of Cyrene for a time. There is evidence that he was highly active during the time of the Arthurian legends and may have been one of the Knights of the Round Table.
TOP SECRET NOTES: Greggory is one of the only living Immortals who truly knew my daughter, Kassandre and her Complement, Ashar, who are no longer with us. During their recent tenure as Chief Justice of the Senate, they were assassinated by the Coalition. Gregg's relationship with Kassandre was extremely rare. Their bond was strong and his loyalty to her was unmatched. When she died, it nearly destroyed him.
~ ~ ~
Naeemah El Sadawii
Naeemah first came to my attention when she was a young girl, living in Alexandria, Egypt, before her life took a perilous turn. At that time, she was a carefree girl with an enormous heart, uninhibited by the harshness of the world around her. Years later when I met her as the Empress of the Mugh
al Empire, I found a regal, intelligent woman of the world sitting beside her mortal husband, the Emperor, Shah Jahan. I knew then that this woman would rise to any challenge set before her. I have every confidence in her ability to not only face our uncertain future, but to meet it with grace and dignity, ever with the calm voice of reason.
AGE: 489
BIRTH DATE: Spring of 1527
BIRTH STATUS: Natural born Immortal - born along the coast of Alexandria, Egypt.
COMPLEMENT: Greggory McBrien, bonded since 1787
CURRENT LOCATION: Kelleys Island, Ohio
APPEARANCE:
EYE COLOR: Lapis Lazuli
HEIGHT: 5’4”
HAIR COLOR: Dark Brown with auburn highlights.
ETHNICITY/CULTURAL INFLUENCES: Egyptian and Minoan heritages
OCCUPATIONS: Owns a yoga studio and spa where her advanced classes are in high demand. She also owns an antiques gallery with her Complement, Greggory McBrien. She spends a great deal of her time there, using an aspect of her telekinesis gift that allows her to authenticate the items that come through their gallery. She is Governor of the Great Lakes Region with Gregg and manages their Senate duties with her lieutenants.
HISTORICAL BIO: Naeemah lived an idyllic childhood along the coast of Alexandria, Egypt. For forty years, she knew a happy home with a simple life. Years later, when her paternal grandfather placed her on the Mughal throne of India, Naeemah grew unhappy with her false life. When she finally escaped the palace and fled the city, she traveled with a caravan heading north to Nepal. She disguised herself, working as a guard for the caravan, offering protection from robbers and thieves. It took them many weeks to reach Kathmandu, where she broke away from the caravan and disappeared for more than a century. Not much is known of her life at that time. Not even I know where fate led her during those intervening years. The next time she surfaced, Naeemah was a changed woman. A fierce, Proven warrior, scarred from battle, but she was a warrior who vowed to lay down her weapons and fight no more.