One hundred and sixty-five years ago, the monsters came together to perform the Darkening, a curse ritual on the forbidden scale. The sky turned dark with thick, unyielding clouds and all celestial lights were extinguished. However, mankind is nothing if not adaptable and quickly found ways to survive without those natural lights. What they couldn't escape was the predators, the beasts and blood-thirsty who now hunted without restriction.
And now it's all come down to me, the last human to walk their world. In the beginning, there was mankind. We walked the world, masters of all we surveyed. We created and destroyed, we loved and hated, we procreated and died. Then came the question: What happens after death? And no one had a satisfactory answer. Some suggested this life was all there was. Others developed unprovable theories about various after lifes. But without a concrete answer, death came to be feared. Those who believed this life was all there was created the Deathbed Ritual and became the blood-thirsty. Their spirits remained in this world for eternity and they were strong or weak depending on their willingness to consume the blood of the living. Those who believed in an afterlife created the Blood and Skin Ritual and became the beasts. They remained mortal, but with the ability to shapeshift into one animal of their choosing. They were strong or weak depending whether they preferred their human form or their animal form. But some chose to carry on living as if the question had never been asked. We remained human and lived out our lives as we saw fit. However, we were the minority and preyed upon by both the blood-thirsty and the beasts. Still, we thrived for a time, being more willing to live in the full light of the sun, moon and stars. The beasts and blood-thirsty shunned the celestial lights almost as if afraid of something up there, watching them. And then they came together and performed the Darkening, cutting off the celestial lights. The minority became the hunted and dwindled rapidly. Some chose to undergo the rituals and become monsters themselves. More were hunted and killed for the appetites of the blood-thirsty and the sport of the beasts. A few of us learned to protect ourselves even in the darkness and built a hidden community where we were safe for a time. We discovered the weaknesses of those who hunted us and used them for protection. But our supplies, although carefully preserved, were not enough to last indefinitely and none escape old age. When our suppliers stopped returning and my father succumbed to disease, I didn't care to remain in that place. So I gathered everything I could and made a new place for myself. I have everything I need to survive and protect myself for the rest of my life. Unfortunately staying sane all alone could prove more difficult.
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Somehow, it's now 2022. Happy New Years to everyone. I hope this year brings each of you something you need.
My current plans for this year include: Two new novels published, one of which my publisher tells me is nearly ready to go and the other needs proofing yet. Edits on several of my completed first drafts from the last couple years. i know some of these are going to be harder than others. I'm pretty sure some of those drafts are as rough as first drafts could possibly be. Three to four new first draft manuscripts and some 'tales of'... maybe enough for a new collection. We'll see how things go. All of this being dependent on my having the time to sit and work and be able to concentrate. We shall see how it goes. |
AuthorAlexandra A. 'Lexa' Cheshire is the author of numerous novels and short stories published through Howling Wolf Books. Lexa is a wife, mother, cat owner, and music lover. Archives
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