The writer gives life to a story, the reader keeps it alive.
Baio-Yujia Sun had been accidentally killed in a crash. (See issue 25: Baio-Yujia Sun) Her three surviving friends Alexand, Heyem and Jarad were found responsible for her death and sentenced to military correction. (See issue 26: There’s No Place Like Home) Three years have passed, and Alexand Merek still has vivid nightmares about Baio-Yujia’s death. Things have escalated and Alexand now sees her dead friend’s shadow at night, when she’s alone in her room. Next chronological story here.
Gianti Dincrind has been charged with the development of Project H, turning humans into wraiths, called Haernyarn. The Haernyarn are proposed to act as future guards for the growing number of Amanojuko Lords and Ladies, privileged enough to have been granted immortality. Gianti is not yet an Amanojuko, but has been promised a chance at being selected if she manages to successfully create Haernyarn from the prisoners on board the Floating Asylum. Unfortunately the process is unstable, and usually results in the subject’s death. Gianti is looking for a way of transmitting the virus from a haernyarn to a human, by genetically altering DNA and is about to make a breakthrough. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After being given the option to take a pill which stops ageing, the group of Abouna Panak’s rebels decide whether or not to take the life altering drug, SIR2HX. (Thank you so much to Pamela Spiro Wagner, a very talented poet and artist, who inspired and encouraged me to finally complete a series of stories rather than tease the reader into gouging out their (and or my) eyes. This is dedicated to you, Pam.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Toreth Rek-cho has been offered eternal youth, by the mysterious Field Marshal Panak. She has also been shown a bleak future, and has ten minutes to decide her own fate. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After her cousin Alexand, brought Toreth to Christmas Island to save her life, (See issue 67: Toreth Rek-cho) Toreth witnessed a projection designed by a race of Amanojuko, who apparently plan to take over the world in the near future. (This story follows issue 71: The Other Side Part 3.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
After breaking into a high security room onboard the Floating Asylum, (see The Other Side Parts One and Two) Abouna Panak and Heyem Merek, race to retrieve proof of an Amanojuko takeover plan. (Note: Back on Christmas Island, the resistance includes (Alexand Merek) Inajda Rekaya, Juba Apfvarzian, Jarad Vijay, Anesidor Sumian and Toreth Rek-cho.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Abouna Panak has brought Heyem Merek with him to The Floating Asylum to prove to her that an Amanojuko conspiracy to take over the world, exists. (See The Other Side Part 1) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Abouna Panak has brought a disbelieving Heyem Merek to the Floating Asylum to show her proof of an Amanojuko conspiracy to take over the world, in the near future. The Other Side Part 2 will be released same time next week. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Heyem was asked to meet up with her sister, Alexand, on a matter of urgency. (See Heyem Merek Part 2) She has very important things to do and isn’t impressed by the intrusion, as it breaks into her work schedule. (Painting on the wall behind, based on a print by Käthe Kollwitz, “Woman With A Dead Child,” 1903) (Note: When referring to Alexand’s ‘brood’ Heyem means Alexand’s children, Samuel, Ancille and Anastasia Merevija.) This story is set a few hours after and is directly related to Toreth Rek-cho, (issue 67) and will continue, (by request) with “The Other Side” (Parts 1 – 3) and conclude with “Toreth Rek-cho Part 4” (A special thank you to Pamela Spiro Wagner for encouraging me to continue this story and to stop taunting for once! On this occasion the reader gave life to a story and the writer kept it alive. Thank you Pam, the forthcoming issues wouldn’t exist without you.) (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Toreth Rek-cho is an astronomer, and spends most of her time in an observatory she built, in the Sahyādri Mountains, India. (She is the eldest child of Antun Rekaya, Inajda’s brother and is Alexand and Heyem Merek’s first cousin.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
(HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!) Alexand Merek has been unable to return to the army, due to her asylum record. She spends most of her time very isolated and alone, as her husband, Jarad teaches English to rich Indian families and often spends day’s away working. She is not accepted in her community and cannot get a job teaching music because of her conviction. Her son Samuel is unable to go to school, due to the stigma attached to her imprisonment. Alexand spends a lot of time teaching him at home, but is sinking deeper into depression and alcoholism. One day a knock at the door changes her family’s prospects. (Note: The ‘writer’ is a transportation and storage device common amongst the resistance, and was created by Anesidor Sumian.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand and Katherine have travelled to Alexand’s home village to get married. (As Alexand has a very large family, who couldn’t afford to travel to India, and none of Katherine’s family replied to the invitations) Alexand’s younger brother, Farokh is one of the guests. Heyem is Alexand’s “best Woman,” much to her delight. Even Alexand’s mother Inajda has managed to find time from her very busy military schedule to be there. Unfortunately Farokh sees through what should be a happy occasion to things disintegrating beneath. (From left to right: Inajda Rekaya, Jarad Vijay, Farokh Merek, Katherine De Somme, Alexand Merek and Heyem Merek.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Eldenath Balsara has been living in The House Of Plenitude And Mirth, since her mother’s execution. (See Eldenath Balsara Part One) Ma’am Alamandez is chief matron and her words will keep Eldenath from being sent to The Far Away Lands or put inside The Bad Thing Box. This story directly follows after issue # 43: Ma’am Alamandez. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Octavia Vijay’s husband cheated on her and left her to raise her two sons, Jarad and Jove on her own. Feeling bitter and cheated, Octavia grows angrier. Isolated and resentful, she lashes out at her younger son, Jarad, who reminds her of her husband. (Also featuring Alexand and Heyem Merek) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine finally relented to Alexand’s charm. (See Love In A Box Part 1) The morning after, Alex is asleep, and Katherine lies, wondering about their future. Note: Katherine was injected with a virus, by Helga Ritter, to silence her (See Amanojuko Part 3) after discovering a government induced plague, was genetically engineered and that some members of the establishment are attempting to live forever. As a result of being injected with “plague” Katherine is dying. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
It’s world Liberty Day. The Amanojuko have taken control, and are storming universities all over the world. Abouna Panak is an ethics lecturer, who now wishes he had some sort of weapon, and the ability to disappear, as crowds of militant National Guards, groomed by the Amanojuko, flood the building. (CLICK HERE for next chronological story)
Mr Ash is head National Guard working for Lord Anum Anzeti, Dala Hesa, and ruler of Earth One. (See issue 19: Anum Anzeti) Ash has sworn an oath of celibacy, but he is frustrated and angry. He can’t remember a time as a civilian, as he was indoctrinated into the service as a boy. It’s his job to relay orders to a tricky character, a genie, and Lord Anzeti’s pet, known to some as, The Guild Master’s General. (See Issue 40: The Guild Master’s General Part 2) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Martin grew up in a small town outside Alberta, Canada. It was hard as he was teased a lot for being feminine, but he loved to ride fast on the motorbikes his big brother fixed up in his bike shop. He’s been perfecting stunts in secret for the past year and is on a mission to stop the teasing, by giving the most magnificent motorbike display of his life to a crowd of college students. This is his moment. He’s going to jump from one parking lot rooftop to the next, forty feet in the air with no safety net. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Jonathan is away in France, fighting in The Second Battle of the Marne under Sir Douglas Haig. His thoughts wander towards his family, in between combat. His message will be sent home via pigeon post. (Commemorating Remembrance Day on 11th November) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Molli’s obsession with music and literature brings her to every bar and underground club, looking for emotional and artistic connections. She was brought up in an orphanage, and didn’t know anything about her family. She learnt that no one cared about her. Now 18, she craves for parts of herself disconnected by a lack of history, but doesn’t let anyone get close. She used to believe in steampunk, turned to electro punk and then goth, and vampirism, consuming and exploring every new possibility. She felt alone, that is, until one dark night, her perception changed forever. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Kavita’s husband Georges is a very wealthy man, but she is quite lonely as he spends a lot of his time overseas on various secret projects. When he’s home, things aren’t as good as they used to be, and Kavita has paid good money for a psychiatrist, to share her problems. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After returning back to Saskatoon military base, from her father’s funeral, Alexand Merek ponders her future. She lost the fingers on her right hand when a man in a balaclava sliced them off, (See The Guild Master’s General Part 1) She sits redundantly by the piano in the entertainment bar, wondering how she will ever play again. (Also featured in this story, is Alexand’s close friend and superior officer, Katherine De Somme) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Garbán McGrath joined the navy at sixteen to see the world and escape his abusive father. Unfortunately his father’s ghost travels with him, despite being thousands of miles away in Venezuela, onboard the HMS Fantome, under Commodore Robert Archibald Montgomerie. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Ancille lost her hearing when her brother Sam and sister Anastasia were taken by the Amanojuko as children. (See Ancille Part 1) Despite her mother, Alexand Merek’s constant encouragement and reassurance, Ancille can’t help being haunted by her absent mirror twin. (Note: The haernyarn are wraiths that serve Amanojuko lords. You can read about their conception in The Floating Asylum parts 2 3 and 4) Special thanks to Katharine Griffiths for an enjoyable interview. She asked me about my work here. You should go and check out her review and interview site, The Thiessen Review, on wordpress. You can read my interview if you’d like too? It tells you a little about why I write. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anastasia Merevija has been a concubine of Lord Ichitumbu Jalhavi since the age of twelve. Anastasia believes she was abandoned by her parents (Jarad Vijay and Alexand Merek) and rescued by the Amanojuko as a child. She has been given the most honourable task of making ‘what could be’ (an immortal child) out of ‘what isn’t.’ Unfortunately, the couple have had to spend their lives moving from Amanojuko castle to castle, running from Anastasia’s aunt Heyem and mother Alexand Merek. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Doctor Filius Anderson has successfully caused a rat to grow back a severed tail by changing its molecular coding. The tail regrew into a completely new rat, with identical DNA to the original. Filius has great dreams for the human race, but is hampered by the morality of his colleagues. (One of those being Georges De Somme) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After injecting herself with the blood of Ichitumbu Jalhavi, (see Amanojuko Part 4) Helga Ritter stands on her balcony onboard The Floating Asylum, contemplating her own meaning. She is now an immortal and it feels so good. Next to her is fellow scientist, and Amanojuko Lord, Professor Filius Anderson. (Whom Alexand later calls, Dr. Grim) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Doris (Inajda’s mother) was born in Russia and won a scholarship to a prestigious international school. She loved dancing. It brought her great joy. (This story is dedicated to my Nan. A very strong and brave lady. Throughout her life, my Nan has been a very inspiring woman, who was one of the cleverest and fairest people I’ve had the privilege to know. Most people leave positive impressions, but there are those who do much more. Nan has shaped my life. In Memory of Nan, (Doris Bartlett) 21.08.1920 – 04.09.2012 CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Falling asleep at night is hard for Alexand Merek. She’s desperately trying to function as she did before The Floating Asylum. However, she’s changed, and this is having a devastating affect on her husband, Jarad, who is trying his best to help her adjust back into family life. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After waking from a catatonic state, (due to her imprisonment in The Floating Asylum) Alexand is recovering at home with her family. Unfortunately for Alexand, her identical twin sister, Heyem has arrived, eager to ‘help’ Alexand recover from her trauma. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After her daughter, Alexand was released from a Floating Asylum, Inajda spent six months helping Alexand’s husband, Jarad to care for Alexand. Alexand returned in a catatonic and emaciated state, but eventually woke up. A month after Alex woke, Inajda is trying to help her daughter come to terms with what has happened to her. Unfortunately Inajda wasn’t there for most of Alexand’s childhood, but is trying her best to make up for the missing years. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba Apfvarzian wakes inside his home, after spending years onboard The Floating Asylum. He has no memory of being released. He expects to see his wife and son, but his home has been looted and is full of broken furniture and dust. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Bernadette is bitter about her husband leaving her, after their marriage collapsed (as a result of the abduction of their first daughter, Giselle.) Her second daughter Yemi is her only comfort. Bernadette misses out on life with Yemi, retreating into a bitter and lonely world of regret and denial. This has spanned decades, leaving her trapped in her house, while Yemi attempts to help her. (Yemi is a youth worker and drugs councilor.) This story is dedicated to my son, Sam, who brightens my life. Thank you, Sam. (Special thanks to Miss Passé for suggesting another story featuring Yemi Balsara.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The Amanojuko have promised Ma’am Alamandez immortality, if she obeys their laws and works as a Madam in The House of Plenitude and Mirth. All she has to do is dull down the children and break down any who are too bright. (Eldenath Balsara is one of the residents inside The House of Plenitude and Mirth, along with Samuel Merevija.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Six year old Lali De Somme has escaped to play in the woods with her elder sister, Katherine. Their father Georges doesn’t let them play outside the grounds of their mansion, as he fears the poor local children will distract them from their important studies. Georges has been away for a week, at a conference in Denmark and isn’t due back until tomorrow. His daughters have taken advantage of his absence, supported by their sympathetic mother, Kavita. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Xan (Alexand) Medani is a farmer, who escaped the torture camps of Egypt as a boy. He grows flowers and rice and has been hired by Hong Kong Opera House to present their star opera singer, Edith MehXian, with a fine bouquet after her performance. Xan can’t afford to go to the opera, but heard Edith singing, whilst waiting backstage. He is rather nervous, as he thought her voice quite beautiful. CLICK Here for next chronological story.
After a mission in Louisiana, The Guild Master’s General fell asleep, exhausted. In his dreams, his wife waits for him, but his mind remains fixed on the vile life he leads in reality. (See: The Guild Master’s General Part One.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine has been in military correction for four years. (See issue 6: Katherine De Somme) Although her parents (George and Kavita) abandoned her, she still writes to them and records messages for them, sending them to her parent’s house every month, without fail. She hopes one day they decide to forgive her for accidentally killing her sister, Lali. She hasn’t heard a word from her parents in all the time she’s been in the military. (Note, also features Inajda Rekaya, Alexand and Heyem Merek’s mother.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Doctor Heyem Merek, takes pride in her achievements, and likes to be in control of her life. Unfortunately her identical twin sister, Alexand has asked to meet with her at work (on a matter of urgency.) Heyem is nervous about the other lecturers and students learning too much about her background. She has no idea what Alexand wants, but she is going to make every effort to prepare for social war. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After an acid attack caused Samira’s twenty year old daughter to commit suicide, Samira went out looking for revenge. (Featured in this issue is President Asenath Bomani, leader of The Kyo-ashita. An ancient warrior race.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After being taken from Katherine De Somme’s laboratory sickbay, Ichitumbu Jalhavi wakes in an unfamiliar place. He can feel the ground moving. He’s alone inside somewhere that echoes and creaks. (See Amanojuko parts one, two and three) This story also features Helga Ritter. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand left the sick bay, after promising Katherine she wouldn’t tell a soul about Ichitumbu Jalhavi. Katherine attempts to negotiate with her American contact, Professor Anesidor Sumian. (Note: The Writer is a device, which allows its user to quickly travel anywhere around the world. It’s also used for communications and storage. It was developed by Anesidor Sumian, and smuggled from America for the resistance in India by Alexand’s mother, Inajda Rekaya, on command of her superior officer, Abouna Panak, who has established links with the American resistance.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After showing Alexand Merek the plague victims in her laboratory, (see issue 33: Amanojuko Part 1) Katherine De Somme is about to share a dangerous secret with her young cadet. (Please note, the ‘nightmare’ is a reference to the girl (Baio-Yujia Sun) Alexand accidentally killed. A girl who still haunts Alexand. See Baio-Yujia Sun and There’s No Place Like Home.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Five years have passed since Alexand Merek was sentenced to serve ten years in a military correction facility, for accidentally killing her friend, Baio-Yujia Sun. (See issue 25 and issue 26) When Alexand was seventeen she was selected to work for Dr. Katherine De Somme, a micro biologist and has worked in her laboratory for the past three years. However, Alexand was up late, playing piano in the entertainment bar, celebrating the release of her sister, Heyem and friend Jarad, and has turned up uncharacteristically late to work. Despite this, a friendship and trust has formed between them, allowing Katherine to share a terrible secret with her young cadet, when she eventually arrives. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After losing her hair, Alexand Merek has been removed from her cell by the scientists who have been experimenting on her for the past four years. She has been taken to an isolated room, where all she can hear is the sound of inhuman breathing. (See The Floating Asylum parts One Two and Three) There’s an uneasy feeling in the lower deck. The wallpaper is peeling, and Alexand feels very exposed and frightened. She has no weapons and her body is close to collapse. Hopes of returning home one day, and seeing her husband, Jarad and son, Samuel, are replaced by a strong need to return to the safety of her cell. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After returning from the science laboratory, (read The Floating Asylum 2) and further experiments, Alexand and Juba manage to remain together, but something is happening to Alexand, and she needs Juba to help her as her hair begins to fall out. This story is part of a series which concludes next week, and is taken from Juba’s perspective. (Trivia: Hair-loss is associated with a ‘plague’ sweeping through communities on the outside of the ship. Alexand’s wife Katherine De Somme died from it after being ‘silenced’ by the military, but Alexand is convinced this is not the same condition.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand Merek and Juba Apfvarzian have survived inside a floating asylum ship, whilst being experimented on by scientists. Others have not been as fortunate. Most die after a few days, and neither Alexand nor Juba understand why they are still alive. (See The Floating Asylum Part one) Alexand has been in the asylum for almost four years and her hopes of returning home to her family are now a distant memory. This story will be told in three parts. This is the first instalment from Alexand’s perspective. (This story features Helga Ritter, known to Alexand as ‘Ophelia’.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Yemi Balsara is a drugs councilor in Nigeria. Her elder sister, Giselle was stolen as a nine year old child, causing Yemi’s mother to sink into severe depression. Yemi was born a year after Giselle disappeared, but the absence of her sister has deeply affected her family, even though Yemi does her best to relieve her mother’s pain, it is never enough. Bernadette leaves a candle burning in their window in the hope that one day Giselle will find her way home, but twenty years have passed and the old woman keeps waiting, leaving Yemi as her caretaker. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Cordelia is a media student at The University of KwaZulu, Natal, in South Africa. Her competitive nature has put her ahead of her peers, and she is in line for a scholarship to work as a junior reporter for a local news network. She is building her résumé in a rather dangerous way, and expects to knock her competition out of the game. Sometimes things aren’t always as easy as you’d like them to be, no matter how hard you work. This story is dedicated to all the people (writers, editors, readers, critics, friends and family) who have and continue to support me (and sometimes chuck bricks at me) on my own battle for publication. Thank you, you know who you are… (This story also features The Guild Master’s General) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Georges De Somme lost his youngest daughter, Lali, in a horrible accident, which he blamed his elder daughter, Katherine for. (See Katherine’s story Issue # 6) This is the night he left Katherine in a military correction facility, as punishment, and never returned. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After accidentally killing their friend, Baio-Yujia Sun, (see issue # 25) Heyem, Alexand and Jarad must face the consequences. Heyem and Jarad have been sentenced to five years each and Alexand ten years in military correction. (The same institution Katherine De Somme, Inajda Rekaya and Abouna Panak are resident.) This story is set from Alexand’s perspective, for the first time since issue # 1: Alexand Merek. It marks the anniversary of Heyem and Alexand’s birth (on 2nd December.) The 2nd December holds significance to me and my family, which is why I’ve chosen to release two stories consecutively. (This is for you Dad.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Alexand Merek, Jarad Vijay, Heyem Merek and Baio-Yujia Sun are all fifteen and are close friends. They left their home in China, to look for Inajda Rekaya, (Alexand and Heyem’s mother) in the hope she could give them some money for food, as there is a famine in their village. (Inajda sends her family most of her wages, but it isn’t enough) In order to get to India, (where Inajda’s military base is) the children stole an army tank. On the journey they did some bad things, and got a little distracted from their task. These events change their lives forever. (This is the first in a double release. Issue # 26 follows on the 2nd December, to mark some birth and death days.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Life as a bachelor isn’t working out well for Thomas. After placing his mother in an asylum for insane women, (Bedlam) he’s looking for a wife to replace her. He’s gone to Stepney Union Workhouse, London. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Asenath Bomani is a nine year old scullery maid. She doesn’t remember her name, or where she came from. She has just arrived in London from her home in Egypt without her parents, who she believes are dead. She has been asked to clean the pantry of a rather grand house in Fleet Street. The problem is, there are just too many distractions and she can’t remember how she got there. One thing she does remember is that she loves music much more than cleaning. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Eric Mehmed is a farmer, but dreams about making musical instruments. He has brought up his twin daughters Alexand and Heyem and his son Farokh without his wife, Inajda (As Inajda is in the military). Eric is very passionate about his children’s futures, especially that of Alexand, who shares his obsession for music. For her fifteenth birthday Eric made his daughter a left handed piano. (As he thought this may enable her to play with her strongest hand) Six months after this, the family’s struggle to find food forced Alexand and Heyem to go to India to attempt to find their mother. They took their friends Jarad Vijay and Baio-Yujia Sun with them. Unfortunately the teenagers ended up taking drugs and crashing a stolen military tank into a tree. Alexand was driving, Baio-Yujia died and the children were sentenced to serve in military correction. Eric was devastated. This story features his regrets. He reflects about what life could have been like. He wishes Alexand and Heyem had the same opportunities that his own mother, Edith MehXian had. (She was an opera singer in The Chinese Hall of Excellence.) The future looks bleak for his daughters. (Eric’s story is dedicated to my own father, who was also called, Eric.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Ichitumbu is an immortal, from a race of people called The Amanojuko. Chop his arm off, it’ll grow back. He is the husband of Anastasia Merevija, the abducted daughter of Alexand Merek. He spends his life moving from one country to the next, attempting to prevent Alexand and her sister Heyem, stealing Anastasia back from him. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Maria Thamian, is waiting to deliver a very important message, to her sister in law, Alexand. Alex is late and Maria’s wife, Heyem is getting impatient. (The story also mentions, The Guild Master’s General and Field Marshal Abouna Panak.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anum Anzeti has never met a lunatic quite as frightening as the man who claims to be a future version of himself. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Juba Apfvarzian was a good magician. He woke up in an asylum ship, after performing a particularly skilful illusion. Magic can apparently get you into a lot of trouble, in an increasingly intolerant world. Alexand Merek has survived for three years inside the asylum, outliving everyone. She doesn’t know how she has survived, she just wants to be somewhere far away. (This asylum is responsible for the events leading up to issue # 1 of this series.) You can also read The Floating Asylum Parts Two, Three and Four. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Giselle Balsara has a secret. She hides banned books and keeps paintings in her cellar. In a world where books that don’t pop up, will get you put inside The Bad Thing Box, Giselle is taking an incredible risk, sharing her knowledge with her eleven year old daughter, Eldenath. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Farokh is thirteen and has just lost his father, Eric, to a heart attack. He is angry with his father for dying and longs for a different life, somewhere better than his homeland. He wants to be like his older sister, Alexand. Nothing will convince him that life in the army isn’t the great adventure he dreams about. The mandarin in the second drawing reads, “Beloved Father.” It was placed there by Heyem in his honour. This story is set a few weeks after issue # 9: The Guild Master’s General. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Rachel is no damsel, but sometimes people need help. She has survived an abusive marriage, divorced her husband, and is trying to rebuild her life and her sense of self worth. However, Donald isn’t the most reasonable of wife beaters. He didn’t bargain on meeting The Guild Master’s General, the night he tried to claim back his wife. A dubious Knight in dark sunglasses and a balaclava, intercepted Donald’s plans. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
In the years before the arts were put inside “The Bad Thing Box,” there were artists and dreamers, musicians and opera singers. Edith MehXian was one of those artists. From the age of seventeen she sang amongst the finest opera singers in The Chinese Hall of Excellence. She came from a poor family, but her skill was so great that she won a scholarship and became one of the most loved singers in the whole of China. This is the story of her final performance. The day her dream ended. Edith was a perfectionist. She wanted people to remember her, flawlessly. (This story is dedicated to one of my childhood heroes, Elizabeth Sladen, who will be missed by many people, some of whom didn’t even know her, but grew up loving Sarah Jane Smith.) Edith MehXian is Alexand and Heyem’s paternal grandmother. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Anastasia was stolen from her family when she was five, and forced to live as a concubine. From the age of fourteen she has produced children for the Amanojuko Lord, Ichitumbu. The Amanojuko are a race of immortals who have the ability to regenerate. They are no longer human, but Anastasia’s mother, Alexand Merek’s blood, is poison to them and can turn them into ‘What isn’t’. Amanojuko scientists are using Anastasia to attempt to find a cure for the poison in Alexand Merek’s bloodline. Anastasia has no concept of death and therefore no concept of murder. “What wasn’t” is an Amanojuko term for human and “What could be” refers to the potential for Anastasia producing an Amanojuko child. So far she has failed and her husband isn’t pleased. This story also mentions Anastasia’s mirror twin, Ancille Merevija. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Abouna Panak’s life is going to change more than he can imagine. He has been left an orphan at the age of ten, but has no time to grieve for his mother’s loss. After he discovered his mother laying in the kitchen, with a suicide note, he was greeted by a very dubious man. Abouna has no other living family. His mother never told him why. The man in the balaclava isn’t responsible for his mother’s death, in fact his mother seemed to trust him. Who is this Guild Master’s General, and why would Abouna’s mother wish for him to travel with him after her death? CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
After the murder of her father, and the disappearance of her brother and sister, Ancille Merevija must rebuild her life, with her mother, Alexand. Alexand was on a military mission and returned to find two of her children stolen, her husband murdered and Ancille left for dead. Ancille was badly injured and lost her hearing. When Ancille was strong enough, Alexand took her daughter to her sister, Heyem’s house, to hide from whoever destroyed their family. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Heyem Merek has run away from her former life. Her childhood, spent in poverty and her teenaged years in military correction. She is well educated and proud of her achievements. If only her identical twin sister, Alexand would allow her to forget about her past, completely. Things would be a lot less complicated and painful. (Artwork on the wall in drawing 2: by Frida Kahlo, “My Nurse and I.” 1937) This story also features Samuel, Ancille and Anastasia Merevija. CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
The Guild Master’s General is a mysterious man, who appears throughout time and place. Not much is known about him, apart from the fact he has created a lot of chaos in the lives of many. This story also features, Alexand Merek. CLICK HERE for next chronological story. A Spanish version is now available, translated by Hernán Jara Droguett.
Inajda Rekaya (Ee-n-eye-da) is seventeen years old, but has joined the army to support her husband, Eric and twin Daughters, Alexand and Heyem. She doesn’t realise that her decision will not just save their lives, but change the future of her family. Special Thanks to Imran Malik for helping me with translating English to Hindi. (The Hindi reads, “It’s open!”) This story also features, Katherine De Somme. CLICK HERE for next chronological story. A Spanish version is now available, translated by Hernán Jara Droguett.
Juba Apfvarzian needs to forget his past. He spends a lot of time taking drugs and drinking with his best friend and fellow drunk Alexand Merek. They met decades ago on a floating asylum ship for the criminally insane. Juba had a wife, Lucy and a son, Ayo, before he went to the asylum. When he was released, he discovered that they had both died of influenza, and he was alone. He and Alexand met up again after her release and discovered that they had a lot in common. Alexand had also lost her wife, Katherine to an unknown virus and her husband Jarad to an unbeatable war. Her son, Sam and daughter, Anastasia had been stolen when they were children. Alexand’s surviving daughter Ancille has grown up and Alexand and Juba spend a lot of their lives trying to run away from bad things. This is one of those days. (A Spanish version is now available to read, translated by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Katherine De Somme is thirteen years old and has been forced to join the army, (by her father Georges) after accidentally killing her younger sister, Lali, in a chemical explosion. Her parents had high expectations of her, but her need to live up to their high standards has resulted in devastation for everyone. Katherine loses everything and everyone, in one horrible night. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Jarad Vijay has spent the past four years, bringing up his son alone, after his wife, Alexand, was taken and placed in an asylum for crimes against the military. Once released she woke from a catatonic state. Six months have passed since she woke. Jarad hoped her recovery would enable him to rebuild their lives as a family. Unfortunately, things aren’t that simple. (Jarad and Alexand grew up together as children. They were forced into the military at a young age. Jarad left, but Alexand remained a soldier. Their lives drifted apart until a series of events brought them back together. They were married after Alexand was widowed. Jarad believes she is still grieving for her dead wife, Katherine De Somme. He is very much in love with her, but this further separation in the form of Alexand’s imprisonment, has done little for their relationship. Alexand is very traumatised by her ordeal inside the asylum and Jarad doesn’t know if he can help her recover from it.) Trivia: Why has Alexand got metal fingers? Answer: Her fingers were severed by a samurai sword, during a mission as a young woman. (See issue 9:) The sword bearer was a man dressed in a black balaclava. He appears throughout time and place. People come to know him as The Guild Master’s General, but know little about him. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
This story is set seven months before issue # 1: Alexand Merek, (a week after her release from an asylum). Samuel Merevija is only four years old. His mother was taken from him and his father when he was a baby, but now she has been brought back to their family home, after spending four years in a floating asylum ship. Samuel doesn’t understand why his mother won’t speak. He has made some special things for her to try and bring her back to his world. (Characters from left to right are: Samuel Merevija, Jarad Vijay and Alexand Merek). (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
Eldenath Balsara is an orphan. She doesn’t know who her father is and her mother was put in ‘The Bad Thing Box’ for being ‘evil’. She has a new mother, who is a matron in The House of Plenitude and Mirth. Eldenath has to un-learn the Bad Things taught to her by her old mother, like reading big words and looking at paintings and singing in the shower and listening to music. (See issue: 17) She is about twelve years old here. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
Anesidor Sumian dreams of escaping from a gradually shrinking world and the confines of a disapproving society. Her story begins with a wish and is set over a century before her first appearance in my series of novels. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore
Alexand Merek has been released from a floating asylum. She has just woken from catatonia. This story is set fifty years before her first appearance in my series of novels. (A Spanish translation is now available, by Hernán Jara Droguett.) CLICK HERE for next chronological story.
Images, story and characters, © Cheryl Moore