A Demon Born
By Jae Holt
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About this ebook
Demons are born of souls filled with rage, despair, or hate. Solus is one such demon who has paid the price to seek revenge - so that he may take back what he lost. Clinging to the shreds of his humanity, Solus struggles to become the powerful demon his master believes him to be without fully losing himself to the darkness. Every day he fights for a dream he is starting to fear will not come true. Filled with the need for revenge, Solus hunts his enemies and searches for the key to reaching his goal - but has he lost what was left of his soul? A sequel to the novel, CIRCLES, discover how Solus becomes a demon, and the conflict he battles within him.
Jae Holt
I am a writer of contemporary fantasy stories filled with adventure that takes place in our everyday world, where readers discover the extraordinary in an otherwise ordinary life.My own world is filled with memories of sandy beaches and clear blue water crested with foamy white, overlaid with the emerald-green forests and majestic peaks draped in their own white cloaks that now surround me. The days are filled with favorite books and favorite shows. The sounds of family mix with rural whispers, and the occasional commotion of trying to scare deer from our fruit trees.I traveled the world through the books and stories that complemented the people I have come across. Through both, I learned of the power in community, the strength in culture, and the flexibility in family ties.I grew up thinking my life was uneventful. But it turns out it was quite eventful indeed. The many friends, family, and acquaintances I have met enriched my world and influenced who I am today. And the best way I can think of to thank everyone who has entered my life is to write.And so, I write. What stories would you like me to tell?
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A Demon Born - Jae Holt
A Demon Born
Jae Holt
This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, places, and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright © 2014 Jae Holt
Cover illustration © 2014 by Laura Henion
Cover Design by Lake Joy Design
Smashwords Edition
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
All rights reserved. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author, and no part of it may be reproduced or redistributed to others for commercial or non-commercial purposes without permission. If you enjoyed this book, please encourage your friends to download their own copy from their favorite authorized retailer. Thank you for your support.
Dedication
I would like to dedicate this novella to my wonderful family, for their patience while I juggled writing and daily life. This also goes out to my talented editor and cover designer, without them this work would be nothing but words on a page living on my hard drive.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Keep Reading: Excerpt from Circles
About the Author
Chapter 1
The bright oranges and reds of the market stalls filled the vast open-air bazaar with fire. Cobbled streets grew warm under the late morning sun, promising that the occasional breeze from the fortified bay would offer little comfort later on. The salty scent of the Aegean Sea wafted into the marketplace, introducing itself to the smells of rich oils and baked delicacies. Shop keepers put out their wares under their blazing canopies while travelling street vendors set up their carts in the middle of the street and enticed customers with ample shade and exotic wonders.
Solus Kordivos walked through the busy maze of shops and stalls, nervously rubbing the back of one hand. His tanned skin itched from being burned by the sun. He made his way from the harbor to the market, thinking up excuses to give his wife as to why he was late, disgusted that he felt compelled to lie. Katerine would be furious if she ever found out how deep the lies ran.
Senator Havarold, Katerine’s father, held the position of Treasurer in the senate. He and Solus’s own father, who was the senate’s head military strategist, worked together to strengthen the Atlan army and navy. It was their combined political and financial power that allowed Atlas to have a flourishing military, but enemies within the political sphere were made when the two men announced their intent to take the battle to Mycenae.
The two men secretly commissioned Solus to build a new war canon that could be easily transported on a ship. Those who were against escalating the war would push to stop any technical advancements the military began, delaying and sometimes halting various projects. It was important that this canon be completed, and so the project began in secret.
An influential faction of the senate, led by Senator Paretil, pushed for more diplomatic methods to deal with the Mycenaean threat. And fearing the growing acceptance of expanding the military, they were not averse to low-level maneuverings.
Solus returned his attention to the present as he unconsciously put his hand to his hip. He met with a messenger on his way from the harbor. It was a brief meeting where the messenger handed him a small pouch that contained a short note from Abram, Solus’s mentor and military advisor. It said only, Do not worry.
But he did worry because something other than war was afoot. He patted the pouch hidden under the folds of his tunic once more before brushing his hand through his windblown, raven black hair and hurried down the steps that led to the heart of the city.
The Central Bazaar of Atlas was a sight to behold, and many a tourist lost themselves, and their coin, in the vast collection of shops and stalls. Five main streets led to the center of the open market, connected by wide alleys that formed five rings. At its heart stood the Central Plaza where a grand fountain stood. Three marble deities rose from the center of the pool to preside over the bazaar’s inhabitants.
Katerine sat at the edge of the pool staring into the shallow water. Her cinnamon curls were tied back in a knot and allowed the sun to touch her tawny neck and shoulders. Solus paused to take in his wife’s beauty. As if sensing his stare, she looked up and turned her eyes toward him. Her face broke into a wide smile as she waved to him. Solus hurried across the plaza to meet her.
There you are!
Katerine scolded playfully. If you had put this much effort into your university studies, perhaps you would not have had to take this exam!
Solus greeted her with a crooked smile. Yes, I know, paying attention to instructors was not my strong point and now I’m paying for it!
As far as she was concerned, he was preparing for the military officer entrance exam, not building and testing a war canon. He hated himself for deceiving her.
Well,
she stood up and took his hand. Let’s go shopping!
and she led him back into the labyrinth of sellers.
The island city-state of Atlas prided itself on successful trade, and the bazaar was its showcase. Sellers from all over the Mediterranean plied their colorful textiles, exotic foods, and hand-crafted jewelry. Traders from as far as Babylon and Thebes made the Central Bazaar a destination. Atlas’s own wares were displayed with pride: delicate woven baskets, hand-carved wood items, and copperware. Its greatest trade was in simple mechanisms that told time, dolls that moved, and boxes that played music.
Absent from the marketplace were the pottery wares of Mycenae. Nearly five years passed since Mycenae traders were welcomed to the Central Bazaar. The general public believed the conflict began with a trade dispute, and in a way it had. Mycenae wanted Atlas’s military technology. But the Atlan government was not keen on having their own innovations turn on them. So Atlas fortified its harbors, hiding its larger inventions from foreign eyes: large catapults capable of firing a succession of volleys, wheeled armored chariots with sophisticated crossbows, and a canon that used the light of the sun and large copper mirrors to set its targets on fire. Trade was cut and Atlas’s borders closed to Mycenae. Then, a year later, Mycenae declared war. The Mycenaean armies tried to conquer Atlas, but their armies were no match for the Atlan weaponry.
War was an ugly thing that had no place in the festive display of the bazaar. And while war did not appear to dampen the busy spirit of the open market, it did cast a shadow. The senate worked hard to keep the people firm in their belief that they were safe from the invaders, thanks in part to Solus and Katerine’s fathers. But it was not easy to drown out the voice of opposition. People talked in hushed tones about the war, and those involved. Solus feared Katerine might overhear rumors about her father that he was desperately trying to bury.
Katerine led Solus purposefully through the crowded market, her curls bouncing along her back. She searched each festive stall until she saw a promising vendor of Minoan fashion.
There!
she pointed. I think we’ll find something splendid there.
Her bracelets jingled lightly as she took Solus’s hand and guided him through the crowd to the brightly colored tunics and cloaks that hung from pins around the shop. Under the colorful shade lay a multi-colored mountain of fabrics piled on short tables. A