1. Sadly, Michael has left for work, but have no fear! There are plenty of angels walking about the island today, looking all scrumptious for our benefit. That’s right! I’ve invited a bunch of Brethren to join me here:
Gabriel, Nathanael, Cassiel. They’re the stars of my urban fantasy novella, Brethren Beginnings, and could really use a little respite from their crazy lives.
Gabriel, a Brethren Protector, finds himself embroiled almost immediately after he manifests on Earth in the protection of a group of young men and women being exploited for sex.
Nathanael, a Brethren Warrior, is hired by an assistant warden of a maximum security prison to find three dangerous escaped convicts and take care of them by any means necessary.
Cassiel, a Brethren Savior, has his abilities tested when asked to save a young girl possessed by Satan.
And these are only the first of many stories they’ve been kind enough to share with us. Hey! Here they come now! They told me they’d stop by and leave us an excerpt from Brethren Beginnings Volume 1 and some photos they had taken for fun. Aren’t they sweet?
Brethren Beginnings Volume 1 – Excerpt
Chapter One: Origins
Time is eternal, no beginning and no end. And yet as humans we are on a constant mission to find when IT all began, how we came to be, and why we are here. We must have a purpose to this life, so many of us suggest. Some of us have found grand, solid purposes to our lives, while others continue to ponder, wallowing in the muck and mire of a horrid life thrust upon them without their consent. And so, while many of us live out our days finding love, building families and careers, others not as fortunate become predators, sniffing out any excuse to snuff out another’s purposeful life.
When humans began to segregate themselves this way, into people of goodness and people of evil, the Brethren first appeared on Earth. Their appearance was not one of brilliance, nor was it apocalyptic. There were no meteor showers that day. There was no eclipse of the sun. No major earthquakes or other natural disasters were pointed to, heralding their coming.
They simply manifested.
There was a new awareness of being, of having hands to touch, a mouth to speak, eyes to see, and ears to hear, all new, independent and tangible features; yet each was dependent on another to absorb information and paint a complete picture of the world around them.
For all Brethren, there was, too, an immediate understanding of their purpose, and an acknowledgement that here was now their home, to protect, to heal, and to fight for.
They had known of each other, the Brethren did. Before manifesting, before becoming individuals here on earth, they had an awareness of each other, working in concert as a collective against Evil. But Evil was still gaining ground and threatening to put a stranglehold on the entire human race. Each one of the Brethren had agreed to this angelic mission and its terms for reasons all their own. And in time, each of their stories shall unfold.
There were nine angels in all, three Protectors, three Warriors, and three Saviors. Each triad had their own powers and orders, and none could cross over without severe penalty, and possible banishment. Protectors were adept at spinning spells, weaving magic, and creating talismans for the safety and protection of the human race. Warriors had brawn and analytical minds for warfare, and used blessed swords as their weapon of choice. And Saviors were meant to heal those with severe injuries and those who held the hand of death far too prematurely. There was just one caveat. They had to be called upon through a desperate plea or a prayer to engage in their angelic duties.
Their mission would span eternity, and it was likely they would see many a war against their foe. Satan had been able to plant his seed deep within the hearts of humans eons ago, and even had time to hijack a wayward Brethren along the way. Evil, it’s a tricky bugger to eradicate, but would be dealt with nonetheless, one demon or possessed human at a time.
The first task was to assimilate into society. Some Brethren turned their abilities into careers, while others carefully cloaked their identities in creative ways. Their lives were singular and without attachments beyond their work. A solitary life was preferred given the dangerous nature of their mission. Spread out across the world, they could be called together at a moment’s notice by their boss, E.L., whose beginnings to this day are shrouded in mystery.
Gabriel, a Protector, was the first to settle in.
©Deena Remiel, 2011.
To purchase Brethren Beginnings Volume 1, click here: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/67236
