Chapter 3. The Lecture

ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
SUNDAY MORNING

It’s 8:20 am, and the St. Paul Hotel ballroom is buzzing from the excitement of being minutes away from the onset of a landmark meeting on cutting edge international research that integrates modern medicine with ancient knowledge. The protests outside of the hotel make a dramatic backdrop to the conference that was organized to help the very people who are demonstrating.

The organizer of the meeting and President of the Society, Dr. James Jacobs, arrives at the podium. He shuffles his notes and signals to the conference leader and the audio-visual staff to start the recording. He waits a few minutes, and then waves to get the attention of the audience of about eight hundred people. He asks them to be seated.

“Welcome to the tenth annual meeting of the International Society for Complementary Medicine Research. We have an exciting program this year. Not only compelling science, but controversial theories. Our first speaker is sure to generate much lively discussion to kick off the conference.”

Dr. Jacobs looks around the room at the eclectic international audience with people from the United States as well as almost every continent of the world.

“It is my pleasure to introduce my distinguished colleague and friend, Dr. Jack Killian. He is Deputy Director of the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine and has been with the National Institutes of Health for the past twenty-five years. He has received multiple national awards including the Merit and Director’s Awards, the Public Health Service Special Recognition Award, and the Superior Service Award. He is board-certified in internal medicine, and has pursued additional training in mind-body medicine. His talk today is entitled, When Science and Religion Clash: The Truth and Consequences of the Dead Sea Prophecy.”

Jack Killian, dressed in a sharply cut, beige camel hair suit, white shirt, and red tie, walks across the stage with a large collage including a photo of the last Dead Sea Scroll, a map of the Mediterranean Region showing Italy and the Dead Sea, an illustration of the scroll’s seven-headed beast, and the seven-sided symbol of the Seven Realms.

The collage provides a stunning setting for his presence at the meeting. The recent article in The New Yorker about the controversy surrounding the research on the Prophecy Scroll has generated strong interest in the conference, and has brought in a diverse group of publicity seekers, true academics, public policy geeks, and religious fundamentalists.

Dr. Killian looks out over the audience. They are buzzing in anticipation. He scans them carefully to see who has angels supporting them and who has demons haunting them. He sees a few beady red demon eyes and smiles. This may be an active group today.

“Good morning, colleagues. It’s a real pleasure to be here today and present some of the most cutting-edge research coming out of our Institute. We sponsor research to study alternative strategies to improve our health. These strategies include a group of health care practices that are beyond conventional medicine. Some tap into ancient knowledge. And some are even considered futuristic in nature. But none, to the dismay of our science fiction enthusiasts out there, reach all the way to Star Trek.”

There are smiles and a quiet laugher in the room.

“Before I present the research, I have a simple question that I want you to answer that will provide the basis for this presentation.”

He pauses, looks around the audience, and then asks, “Tell me how do you define a good life?” He waits for someone to respond. No hands go up. “You mean we have a whole room filled with the brightest minds of our age, and you don’t know? Come on! You must either be shy or you’ve not had your coffee yet.”

The crowd sits up and pays closer attention to Killian. He asks again, “For each of you. What factors comprise a good life? Please, tell me.” He scans the ballroom for signs of life among the diverse array of people there.

Some younger members of the audience are dressed fashionably in colorful dresses, shirts, and jeans while a broad swath of people have on plain professional suits and ties. There is a hand raised at the back of the room by a young woman wearing a professional, but elegant, women’s suit.

He walks from behind the podium and points to the woman who raised her hand. “Thank you, my bold friend.”

“Happiness. If I’m happy, my life is good and the opposite is true, too.”

“Happiness. Excellent. Anybody else?”

Another hand goes up in the middle of the room, an older man with a full head of grey hair, dressed casually in a contrasting black sweater. Dr. Killian points towards him to acknowledge. All eyes turn to focus on his response.

“Along the same lines, health. When I feel healthy and robust, my life is good.”

“Yes, health. I agree. What other aspects?”

Another hand from a young woman with a sporty outfit that includes a beige Sochi sweater and black tights stands up. She’s smiling as she says, “If I can get my sweetheart back.”

“Where is he?” Dr. Killian asks.

“He’s in the military, stationed abroad right now,” the woman replies.

“I hope he’s safe. Love is an important part of a good life,” he replies. “What else?”

The crowd begins to relax as more hands go up. One states the need to have peace in his life, another described prosperity and financial security, and others comment on eating well, having a good job, family and friends, beauty, a healthy environment, and helping others. When he was finished, he had a long list to present back to the group.

“Thank you. We know that we all strive to have a good life. Interestingly, the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls manuscript called the Prophecy, written two thousands years ago, lists seven Blessings necessary to achieving a good life—and you mentioned them all. These seven Blessings include wisdom, health, happiness, prosperity, beauty, peace, and love. You may think not much has changed in two thousand years. But it does beg the question—is there a universal knowledge that transcends time, place, and humanity? A knowledge, which if discovered, would give all people the capacity to achieve each of these Blessings and a good life?”

The whole audience, both strong believers and skeptics, listens intently to what Dr. Killian has to say. The room is still while Dr. Killian introduces an entirely new era of insight and understanding of the human condition. But he knows that this effort will not go unopposed. There are powerful forces trying to keep this knowledge hidden from the masses for their own reasons. But he ignores the potential threat. For, this is his moment, his time of glory, and he speaks with conviction and confidence. This keynote will blow people’s minds.

“The research I’m about to present, if successful, will not only contribute to improving the well-being of the people of the world, but it may shake the very foundations that form the basis of understanding illness and health, and as importantly, our humanity. Why? Let me explain. Historically, most innovation in the diagnosis and treatment of disease has focused on the biochemistry of the body and resultant pharmacological or surgical manipulation of tissues. Now, this research, funded by the Institute, provides a scientific basis for a new approach to understanding ourselves that is based on…”

The room of hundreds is silent as he shows a set of slides of a glowing energy field surrounding a smiling boy, an older lady, and a happy dog. “The measurement and manipulation of the electromagnetic energy fields of living things. Let me explain. Ancient civilizations believed the world was made of four core elements—earth, air, fire, and water. However, the heavens, they claim, were made of something very different, and called it the ‘fifth essence.’ They were right. Recent research in nuclear physics on the Higgs Boson, or the so-called God particle, has now revealed that everything, from the chair you are sitting on here on earth to the space of the farthest galaxy, is made of atoms that are, in essence, energy. Thus, the core of our molecular make-up is all energy. This energy, which perhaps equates to the fifth essence, may be a living being’s equivalent to the life force, or the living spirit. With recent sophisticated technology, this energy is measurable with frequencies of different dimensions that reflect different Realms of our lives. The research on this energy, which I will present in the next hour, has demonstrated success with animal studies, and now, human trials are underway. It is nearly ready for wider commercial application.”

He lets the audience think about the next slide. It presents one word, synchronicity. “Do you ever wonder why there are certain coincidental events that are beyond chance, or why you connect with some people and not others? Why do some people drain you and others uplift you? Why there is love at first sight? Why do some songs resonate with you perfectly? Or, you may feel so good in certain natural settings? Each of these phenomena is called synchronicity. We have evidence that they are related to the confluence of frequencies of electromagnetic waves that we all emit, and to some extent, can sense. Maybe, it is the elusive sixth sense, that ability to perceive the subtle intuitive dimensions of the unseen world that are not detected by our other five senses.”

The audience is watching Killian with an unusual attentiveness for so early in the morning. He turns to direct his pointer to a slide showing a kaleidoscope of monarch butterflies migrating south. “A monarch butterfly can sense the magnetic fields of the earth and are able to travel thousands of miles during the winter to find exactly the same place in Mexico every year. All energy has vibration, a frequency. If two people are vibrating at the same rate, they form a connection, an attraction to each other without realizing the underlying reasons. We connect with other people because our frequencies are literally in tune with that of others. Some people have a more developed sense than others. If we could understand, perceive, measure, control, and enhance our own energy levels, then, perhaps we could gain insights into ourselves that we have never had previously. Whether you want to call it energy, spirit, life force, essence, chi, or soul, we all know deep within us that it exists. And if we broaden our understanding of it, I believe this species called Homo Sapiens has a much better chance of surviving the next few Millenniums.”

Dr. Killian turns back to the audience and peers out, pleased at their stirring interest as he presents his next two slides of a Dead Sea Scroll and the Copper Scroll. They have been impatiently waiting for his first mention the controversial use of these ancient manuscripts and Killian wants to get right into it.

“What is remarkable about this research is that it has foundational elements based in the ancient knowledge from the Prophecy Scroll. These manuscripts were discovered after scholars at the Vatican broke the code within the Copper Scroll to identify the location of the last scroll discovered. This scroll was hidden securely from the Romans in 70 A.D. alone in a remote cave within the Khirbet Qumran cliffs high above the Dead Sea.”

He shows a slide of the caves above the Dead Sea and a photo of a colorfully detailed ancient urn. “Of all the scrolls discovered, the last scroll was the most unique. It was found within the most beautiful of all urns decorated with colorful graphics of a beast with seven heads dueling with angels from heaven and laden with a treasure of jewels, gold, and silver for the ages.”

Almost like an entertainer, he walks out in front of the podium and personally directs his next comment to what seems like each member of the audience. “You need to know about the Prophecy Scroll! This manuscript not only forecasts the demise of our current world from the Seven Plagues, which they called the Seven Beasts, that have indisputably already begun. But it also leads us down a path of salvation through the divine knowledge of the seven Blessings.”

He directs their attention to the next slide of a man lying down within a piece of equipment that resembles an open Magnetic Resonance scanner. “We are validating the wisdom of this manuscript through a new technology that detects the electromagnetic energy fields intimately associated with all living things. We can now measure this energy with a highly innovative technology that resembles a magnetic resonance scanner. Shown here is the spin-exchange relaxation-free, or SERF atomic magnetometer. The SERF measures magnetic fields by using lasers to detect the interaction between alkali metal atoms in a vapor and the magnetic field. This highly sensitive equipment can detect static and fluctuating electromagnetic fields which may become a more accurate and sensitive measure of changes that occur between health and illness.”

Killian scans the room to appraise the initial reaction of the audience. He is pleased with their attentiveness and the energy they display. Like most speakers, he picks out a few in the audience to look at directly. He finds Julia and smiles at her. She is embarrassed to be singled out, but smiles back at him. He then scans down the first rows and sees the man with short-cropped blond hair who bumped into him earlier sitting in the second row looking at him with a crooked grin that could easily be mistaken as a sneer. How weird! He is sitting slouched in his chair with his legs stretched out and his arms folded. There is no note taking, no program, no brief case, and no computer. He is just sitting there, yawning and seeming bored. Dr. Killian dismisses him as odd, and continues with his talk.

A woman to his left in the audience, dressed elegantly in a dark burgundy suit with black trim, low cut black blouse, and a matching skirt, raises her hand. “Excuse me for interrupting, but what you are saying is astonishing, if it is true. How do you know that it’s the spirit that you are measuring?”

Killian smiles as he appreciates her question. He responds by turning to the next slide showing a graph with multiple parallel colored lines from energy field measurements. “Good question. You decide for yourself. This slide shows the strength, direction, and flow of these energy fields generated using this technology in lab animals. The coils in this scanner are sensitive enough to measure fields as low as 10⁻¹⁸ Tesla. For comparison, a typical refrigerator magnet produces 10⁻³ Tesla, and some processes in humans and animals produce fields between 10⁻⁹ T and 10⁻⁶ T. The SERF magnetometer can operate at room temperature, allows measurement of the fields, and eliminates interference of the earth’s magnetic field. This technology has been applied to animals, and now for the first time, to humans.”

He extends his hand towards the woman who asked the question and says with a slow and clear articulation. “So your question is quite relevant, are the energy levels simply a reflection of the biochemical changes in the body? Or, are we measuring something more than chemistry? Are we measuring a human spirit? That is the question that needs an answer.”

Dr. Killian takes a drink of water. He pauses to let this sink in as he shows the next slide showing a graph of colored lines with seven peaks. The bright ballroom is buzzing with side conversations. He directs the red laser pointer at each of the seven peaks and tells the story with the excitement of a kid.

“Look at this spectrum of SERF energy scans from a series of animal experiments. Note the seven primary energy concentrations reflected by the different frequencies and colors. These scans measure the level of energy at each center as well as the flow of energy in and out of the center. These fields appear to be an earlier indication of dysfunctional or diseased tissue rather than biochemistry and physiology. Look at this next series of slides.”

He puts up a slide with graphs that have three parallel colored lines, and explains in a more serious tone, “On this slide, note the overall mean scores of energy levels in the healthy rats. Now, look at this next slide comparing it to rats with experimentally induced tumors before the tumor shows up, and then, when the tumor appears. The differences between energy levels of these three stages are dramatic and statistically different. The implications of these findings are significant. First, using changes in our energy fields, we can detect conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and even depression earlier in its development, before physical or chemical changes occur. Think about this. Our energy levels, our spirit, can tell us when we will become ill, well before it happens. This will revolutionize prevention strategies and dramatically enhance our perception of what health is. The next series of experiments have focused on the specificity of this energy within each of the Seven Realms of our lives and how our life activities change it.”

Killian’s lecture is interrupted by another question coming from an older man in the front of the room wearing a jacket and tie. He boldly stands up to speak, “But your results only suggest a correlation exists between the energy and the pathologic condition. They could be generated from biochemical and physiologic changes. But how do you validate that it is in fact energy of the human spirit?”

“Excellent point, Sir!” Dr. Killian smiles as he looks at the man hoping more of these probing questions arise. “The validation process involves time consuming measurements associated with first animal studies, and then, human studies. We measured energy in and energy out, both during life activities and after death in rats. The total energy from body physiology remained relatively constant and did not correlate with the electromagnetic fields we measured. Both the strength and frequency of the energy fluctuated considerably based on many factors including when we simulated behavioral, social, environmental, and pathological states. But after death of the animal, the energy we measured from life force itself disappeared, while the total energy measured from the animal’s physical carcass remained constant. There is a life force beyond biochemical changes occurring—and it is measurable.”

Dr. Killian finds the glass of water on the podium and sips it to remedy his unusually tight throat. It is getting progressively worse as he speaks. He wonders whether the caffeine level was too high in his coffee. He clears his throat and continues with his lecture. Another man on the left side of the room, with a balding head, directly under the glowing light of the chandelier, raises his hand. Dr. Killian notes to himself that the glow of his head matches that of his energy and smiles to acknowledge him. The man stands up to ask, “Dr. Killian, this does seems a bit like the Star Trek tricorder to me.” There is a laugh from the back of the room, and an increase in buzz between members of the audience. “Perhaps, this can be applied to laboratory animals, but it is a far stretch from applying this technology to the complex physiology of humans. Can this be done?”

“Good timing, Sir. Your question brings me to my next set of slides.”

He shows the colorful picture of the energy fields from two SERF scans side by side. “See this scan of two subjects. Note how the energy level is different in subject Linda, on the left, compared to subject Ruth. Ruth’s scan reflects lower energy in the Emotional Realm. She has clinical depression compared to Linda. This finding has been repeated in a pilot study of a larger sample of people with depression.”

He clicks the controller to the next slide. “Watch this video of a patient at the Terme in Brisighella, Italy using a SERF scanner. The ability to detect changes in energy level and flow allows a person to determine what factors will diminish or enhance their energy.”

He starts the video and takes another drink of water. The audience is watching intently. “See the pulsation of energy from the body associated with meditative prayer and deep breathing. See the increase in energy, as she gets deeper and deeper into relaxation. Then, see how the energy stops flowing, and in fact, diminishes as the staff person interrupts her. It is such a dramatic shift. The staff was telling her that she was doing it all wrong. This, of course, was not true, but it did illustrate the flow of energy in and out based on the circumstances in this case. They also found that changes in cognitions, behaviors like diet and sleep quality, emotional states, relationships, and even environmental factors could influence this energy up and down. We all know this is intuitively true.”

Dr. Killian sees another hand raised from a man at the back of the room. He is dressed in a white shirt, red tie, and black suit. He stands up to ask, “How does this research have anything to do with the Dead Sea Scrolls which were written nearly two thousand years ago? It seems like quite a stretch.”

Killian loves this question. He stands taller and the enthusiasm in his voice ratchets up. “As I mentioned, the last of the Dead Sea Scrolls called, the Prophecy Scroll was discovered among the riches of an era. It includes a total of ten manuscripts with the first four having been assembled and translated.”

He clicks to the next slide, a circle with a seven-sided heptagon within it.

“The first manuscript is called the Seven Realms of Life. This is the symbol of the Prophecy. Each point of the heptagon represents one of the Seven Realms of Life and the lines represent connections between Realms. With each Realm there is a Plague that reflects lower energy and a Blessing that reflects higher energy within the Realm. These Realms of our lives are well known to us, and include the mind, body, emotion, spirit, lifestyle, and the people and natural environment around us.”

Killian watches the diverse reaction of the audience as he shows a slide of the seven-headed beast. Some are startled, others intrigued, and a few shake their head. “The second manuscript, called The Seven Beasts, predicts Seven Plagues affecting each Realm in our current world. The seven-headed beast is a metaphor that represents the Seven Plagues that are haunting mankind. To the surprise of everyone involved in the project, the Plagues are noted to begin not during their lifetime but rather a thousand years after the first millennium. That would be year 2000.”

Killian notices a couple dozen new arrivals standing in the back of room looking for scarce open seats while listening intently. “The third manuscript includes the Rules of the Blessings and presents seven Rules that provide insight into how the human spirit is depleted or enhanced. Then, there are the seven Blessings of Life manuscripts. The Blessing of Health has been completed. The Blessings of Wisdom, Happiness, Prosperity, Beauty, Peace, and Love are currently being translated by scroll scholars in locations around Italy as shown in this slide. Coincidentally, the locations involve ancient cities of Italy that throughout history have been shown to have high energy in each of the respective Realms. Remember the concept of synchronicity. It plays a role in how communities function also.”

The audience is silent as they digest this information. Killian looks at the podium clock, and sees that he is right on schedule. He shows a slide of the four sets of seven manuscripts.

“Seven Realms, seven Plagues, seven Blessings, and seven Rules. What are they and what do they really mean? How do they relate to human spiritual energy? We do not fully understand their potential, but if our research confirms our hypothesis, the results are earth shattering. This divine knowledge accurately reflects the changes we see in the human spirit.”

Dr. Killian looks down, takes a drink of water, and loosens his tie. He is beginning to feel queasy. The people in the front row do not notice, except for one. The man in the front row with the short-cropped blond hair smiles to himself.

Killian perks up a bit to show a slide of a single number seven in Edwardian script. “The use of the number seven throughout the manuscripts is also interesting. It may have the same religious significance as the seven days of Genesis and the seven seals of Revelation. In much biblical literature, the number seven is symbolic of not only divine insight, but also reflects the concept of integration. Does it mean that we, as individuals, need to bring together and integrate the different Realms of our lives to fully understand ourselves? When we know each aspect of ourselves completely, are we better able to meet our potential and achieve the good life that is available to us all? These are relevant questions for each and every one of us.”

Dr. Killian steps back and takes a few deep breaths to settle his increasingly bothersome nausea. “These last manuscripts are unique. Instead of writing about fire and brimstone and vague metaphors about apocalyptical events, here we find a description of real world plagues and real solutions that could prevent them if sufficient people apply them. And they describe the critical role of the human spirit, which they called the light of the stars, as the key to the seven Blessings and the seven Plagues. The researchers at the Terme have focused only on The Blessing of Health. They have applied the various strategies suggested in this manuscript and have shown that they will indeed enhance energy. The results have been remarkable.”

Dr. Killian notices that even the nerves in his hands and feet are beginning to burn and feel raw. He recognizes the signs of a toxic reaction. But to what, he does not know. He continues to talk, “Before I discuss the Seven Realms, let me tell you about the Seven Plagues.”

As he continues his lecture, he is surprised to be interrupted by an abrupt comment from the man in the front row with the short-cropped blond hair, “Sir, I can understand advances in measurement of human energy fields, but when you interject science into questioning the Word of God, are you not at least irreverent, and perhaps, bordering on heresy. Are you willing to take the risk of being considered a false prophet?”

The audience hears what it is waiting for… controversy from the fundamentalist religious side. Most of the audience sits up and becomes even more attentive. There is lots of head shaking and conversations between people.

The question gives Dr. Killian more ammunition. He loves to push the boundaries and make people think. He responds directly, “Sir, we’re not questioning the words in the Prophecy, but rather using science to understand its power. Throughout history, science, religion and politics have often clashed. Galileo was accused of heresy when he discovered, through his sophisticated telescope, that the earth rotated around the Sun. At the time, the church supported Aristotle’s belief that the Sun circulated about the earth. The church disliked being wrong, and Galileo paid a heavy price. He was tried and convicted of heresy and spent the remaining years of his life under house arrest. The church and policy experts need to pay attention to the most current advances in science. Likewise, religion has insights that can provide direction to science. They are all important in expanding the understanding of our world. It is not heresy. It’s called progress.”

The man in the front row nods in understanding as Dr. Killian explains the heresy. He can also sees the effects of the toxin working quite well, as expected. He smirks as he thinks how history repeats itself and can still be dangerous. Killian was warned many times. He should have known better than to continue to pursue this research that conflicts with the Messiah’s mission.

Killian’s face is strained as he recognizes that he is getting worse, not better. He tries to deal with the increasing nausea, sweating, burning, and dizziness as he presents his lecture. Did he eat something bad? Did he pick up a rapid infectious virus? He tries to gain composure and strains to continue, “The Seven Beasts announces the coming of the Seven Plagues. It says the Plagues will destroy a third of the earth. I believe we can learn something here.”

He shows a slide that includes the text of the manuscript and a graphical picture of a seven-headed beast. He reads it loud and clear in defiance of his declining status, “Behold, the beast with a leopard body and seven heads of the lion with ten horns on each head and the feet of the bear came from the depths of the seas, the bottomless pit, when the light in the Realms of Life was weak. The Beast brought upon mankind Seven Plagues that destroyed a third of the world and its people.”

He is leaning on the podium, pushing himself beyond the ill feelings. “A third of the world was destroyed when the Beast came. They must have been talking about the Siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. It was a great tragedy, beyond imagination. Millions died. Now, listen to this next part. It tells about hope! Listen.”

He reads on. “When people learned about the wisdom of the Seven Realms of Life, the Blessings came forth and the people spite the beast, and he was cast back to the bottomless pit and peace returned. And it is said, the beast will come again one thousand years after the first millennium, when the light in the Realms is weak. And with him, the Seven Plagues will come forth again.” Feeling angry over his own declining health, Killian responds loudly, “This is ominous!”

The audience is startled by his outburst.

“They write that the Beast will return this century. The Seven Plagues will come forth. What does this mean? Does it literally mean death to a third of us, as it did during their times, or is it just the paranoiac ramblings of a priest about to be sacked by the Romans?”

There is nervous laughter in the room. The audience is staring at him in disbelief as he continues, “But why did the document refer to the Plagues beginning in year two thousand? Why not write about their own time period? Or, even hundreds of years into the future. Why two thousand years? Why this time? It’s a stretch of the imagination unless…” He pauses, both for effect and because he’s exhausted. “They had a divine insight into the future. We must ask ourselves, are these Plagues for real? Have the end times arrived? Or, is this just a new phase of enlightenment for our population? Can we prevent the Plagues and enter this new phase? These are questions that science, religion, nor even history may be able to address on their own. However, if both science and religion worked together, do we not have more potential to address these predictions?”

Someone yells from the back of the room, “But in doing so, you’re questioning the Word of God. Are you a believer or are you not? Applying science to question religious doctrine is still blasphemy and sacrilegious. And it can be dangerous. If the end times are here, you may be one who is left behind.”

Usually, Dr. Killian embraces these reactionary comments. But right now, he needs a quick response. He recognizes his need for a break. He is definitely not feeling well. “The disasters described in The Seven Beasts are not typical of the time period during which the manuscripts were written two thousands years ago. The predictions appear to be an alarmingly accurate reflection of the world’s problems that we recognize today. The predictions are happening now, and most likely, will get worse unless something changes.”

He looks down at the floor, and then up. He feels faint, and says abruptly in a weakened voice, “I’m sorry, but for some reason, I’m not feeling well. Let us take a short break of five minutes. Thank you. I will be right back.”

Both the discussion of the Plagues and the obvious strain Killian is showing has generated much chatter among attendees. What’s wrong? Is he okay? Will he return?

The large man with the blond short-cropped hair walks out of the lecture hall without concern. He knows what can happen when you are in conflict with the Messiah and his Manifesto. It will only lead to Godlessness and tyranny. And he will stop those who do not support the mission. The Manifesto will explain it all. His first mission is complete. He walks back to his room and stands at the window overlooking the St. Paul skyline with a sense of satisfaction and righteousness. Today, he has begun to fulfill his destiny to transform the world in the vision of the Messiah. For he is the Messenger. And it has been done.

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Genre - Romantic Thriller

Rating – PG13

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CHAPTER ONE

My mind screamed for me to move. To fight the monster who trapped me with its arms. But my body remained paralyzed, a prisoner of flesh and bone. It wasn’t fear. I knew that much. Inside I was striking out with limbs, nails, and teeth. But any connection to actual movement was lost. My whole body felt like it was filled with cement.

Parted lips closed in on my neck. My eyes darted around, desperate to find a way out of this. Darkness stretched beyond the waning light of a naked bulb. There was a single door, then nothing but damp stone and shadow. The stink of death and decay hung thick in the air. Horror seeped through my veins.

There was nothing I could do. No way to stop this. No way to save my life.

The sound of labored breath rasped. Not my own. Not this monster’s. In the shadows it was impossible to see where it came from. Was someone watching? Fear snaked through my soul. The fear wasn’t for my own life, not really. I was afraid for someone else. But who?

Any thoughts vanished as fangs punctured my flesh. A gasp escaped my lips.

Flames bloomed from the punctures, swarming across my skin. The monster clutched my body tighter and tighter with every sickening gulp.

As the flames began to dull, my internal screams and my drive to fight faded. Without the current of blood filling my veins, violent shivers took hold of my entire body.

My body was giving up.

With shallow contractions, my heart slowed. My mind wavered as my body began to fail. The crushing pain of imminent death faded. As my eyes fluttered shut, a memory of the boy I loved floated across the backs of my eyelids. I saw his dejected expression. I felt the moment he had crushed me against his body, covering my lips with his. Then I heard the words he had spoken for the very first time. “Amelia, I love you.”

An icy tear escaped my eye. Now he would never know the truth. Never know that my feelings for him were still as irrefutable and irrevocable as ever. Never know that I would give anything just to be in his arms and feel the warmth of his kiss one last time. The realization was more agonizing than knowing my fate now, more agonizing than any lingering pain.

I love you too. The memory faded, dissipating like a cloud of smoke.

The room began to blur and spin. Unable to blink, my eyes stared up at the dusty light bulb. Blood loss pressed in on me. I was so deathly cold. The edge of my vision turned black, light being eaten away by a stain like blotted ink. Then empty darkness took hold.

This is it, I thought. I’m dying.

~

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Genre – YA Paranormal Romance

Rating – PG-13+

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Website http://bloodboundnovels.com

Great White Sharks Attack the White House!

The Federal Government is behind on its loans and Chinese President Xi Jinping wants his money. Having brought members of the China Task Force together in the White House for a meeting, Jinping, with the help of weather control and PETA, unleashes genetically modified great white sharks in an effort to force President Obama and the C.T.F. to make the tough decisions on how to meet the dear communist’s commands.

Can the C.T.F. escape the wrath of Red China and the great white killers, or will Obama be forced to disband the government and bring the country to brink of anarchy?

Paul and Thomas (the writers of G.W.H., not a folk group) have weaved a wicked tale of governments run amuck in this “grindhouse” novella. With elements of “South Park” meets “Sharknado” meets “Olympus has Fallen” meets “White House Down” meets other movies/TV shows featuring charismatic black presidents, G.W.H. illustrates just how far politicians can be pushed as they work to survive the horror of the ocean’s greatest murderers. America has bills to pay and China’s “loan sharks” are ready to collect that debt in blood.

These sharks don’t see Red or Blue—they are equal opportunity eaters.

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Genre – Fiction, Humor

Rating – PG-13

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“What the hell is she doing here?”

Gavin put his hands on my shoulder and gave a small shove toward the passenger side.

“There’s one way to find out.” 

I knocked on the passenger window. The window slid down, and there sat my partner, Louise Montgomery.

On the other side of the bench seat, Digs pushed his thick glasses up on his nose then waved. He leaned across the passenger seat and shouted, “Hey, O’Brien,” as if I couldn’t hear him from across the great divide of the van’s cab.

Louise splayed her fingers, covered Digs’ face, and gave a light shove to push him back.

“Good morning, Catherine,” she said.

I folded my arms and leaned on the window frame. “Why aren’t you still in the hospital?”

“I was released early for good behavior.”

“I doubt that very much.”  I opened the door. “So what are you doing here?”

Louise slid down from the cab. The gunshot wound at the top of her thigh hurt more than she let on, but I could tell by the way she twisted her body toward the back of the van, and her left leg hit the ground first. Of course, the crutches were a dead giveaway that the wound still hurt.

“Well, I heard you were on vacation.” She propped the crutches under her arms and leaned heavily on them. “I didn’t believe you would ever be dragged outside of the city. I had to see for myself, and here you are.”

The old woman stoop, which accompanied most people who needed the aid of crutches, didn’t afflict Louise. Her back was pin straight. The only indication of her injury was the crutches themselves.

“I’m serious, Louise. Shouldn’t you still be in the hospital?”

“The Doctor signed my release early this morning,” she said. “The bullet didn’t hit anything vital, and the hole has been repaired, so there isn’t any reason for me to be in bed.” 

Digs marched around the front of the van and positioned himself between the two of us. It didn’t escape my notice that he stood closer to Louise than to me.

“I dropped by the office just in time to catch Digs talking to the Chief.”  She inclined her head toward Digs. “Since I’ve needed a vacation, and I can’t officially work anyway, I convinced Digs to let me hitch a ride.” Louise reached into her pocket and took out her cell phone.

“We hopped into the mobile forensic unit and here we are.”  He spread his hands then bounced up and down on the balls of his feet.

I’m sure Digs didn’t hesitate a moment at the opportunity to spend two hours alone in an enclosed space with Louise. Every time Louise entered a room Digs trailed every move she made with his eyes. Digs traded assignments with others in his department to make sure he worked our cases. I’m sure that the only reason Louise and I had such a high success rate in closing our cases was Digs’ need to please and impress Louise.

If Louise smiled and asked, he would have told her anything she wanted to know, including government secrets.

Louise held her cell phone in the air. “Digs can you get a signal? I don’t have any bars.”

Digs looked at his phone and shook his head.

“You may as well put them away for the duration,” I said. “There’s no cell phone service that I’ve been able find.”

The look of horror on Louise’s face was comical. Back home she never went more than a few minutes without twitching her fingers over her phone.

“Are you kidding?”

I shook my head. Louise gave her phone a few more slaps before resigning herself to a phoneless fate.

“I still don’t understand,” I said. “Why wasn’t the BCA sent to investigate?  No offense Digs, but you’re not exactly a field mouse.”

He bristled but recovered quickly. He made no protest. Any attempt to deny his lab rat status would have been a lie. During the winter months, Digs never saw sunlight, and in the summer, the only sun he saw was early morning pink or evening orange.

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Genre – Mystery

Rating – PG13

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Website http://sostacythought.wordpress.com/

STRING BRIDGE:

Rewind.

Melody loves to play guitar. She almost becomes a rock star. But then she falls in love with Alex and gives birth to her daughter, Tessa.

Fast forward.

Melody loves her daughter and her husband, the music promoter. Her guitar sits dusty in the corner of her bedroom.

Skip.

Melody can't bear it any longer and plots a return to the stage, and the person she used to be. But the obstacles she faces along the way--are nothing--compared to the tragedy that awaits.

Pause.

Her desire to have an affair? Well, Button Boy is quite charming ...

THE BOOK:

This book is not The Book. The Book is in this book. And The Book in this book is both the goodie and the baddie.

Bonnie is five. She wants to bury The Book because it is a demon that should go to hell. Penny, Bonnie’s mother, does bury The Book, but every day she digs it up and writes in it. John, Bonnie’s father, doesn’t live with them anymore. But he still likes to write in it from time to time. Ted, Bonnie’s stepfather, would like to write in The Book, but Penny won’t allow it.

To Bonnie, The Book is sadness.

To Penny, The Book is liberation.

To John, The Book is forgiveness.

To Ted, The Book is envy.

But The Book in this book isn’t what it seems at all.

If there was one thing in this world you wished you could hold in your hand, what would it be? The world bets it would be The Book.

BITTER LIKE ORANGE PEEL:

Six women. One man. Seven secrets. One could ruin them all.

Kit is a twenty-five-year-old archaeology undergrad, who doesn’t like to get her hands dirty. Life seems purposeless. But if she could track down her father, Roger, maybe her perspective would change.

The only problem—Roger is as rotten as the decomposing oranges in her back yard according to the women in her life: Ailish, her mother—an English literature professor who communicates in quotes and clichés, and who still hasn’t learned how to express emotion on her face; Ivy, her half-sister—a depressed archaeologist, with a slight case of nymphomania who fled to America after a divorce to become a waitress; and Eleanor, Ivy’s mother—a pediatric surgeon who embellishes her feelings with medical jargon, and named her daughter after "Intravenous."

Against all three women’s wishes, Kit decides to find Roger.

Enter a sister Kit never knew about.

But everyone else did.

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Genre - Contemporary Women's Fiction

Rating – PG-13

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Connect with Jessica Bell on Facebook & Twitter

Website http://www.jessicabellauthor.com/

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