Remembering Demons
Author: J. Cornelius
Series: The God Cycle, #1
Publication date: May 9th 2024
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Paranormal, Thriller
Have you ever wondered what lurks in the mirrors?
Daryl doesn’t have to wonder… he knows.
But why do they stalk him? Why can’t he remember anything?
It’s enough to drive a guy crazy!Meanwhile, the eerie asylum seems to know more than an old pile of rock and mortar has any right to and his therapy is uncovering a blood-stained past of pain and death, alongside something dormant within him of disturbing power. When Dr. Walker teaches him how to face his demons, the psychoses and dreams conspire to warn him of something even worse stalking him. Something ancient and evil.
To survive, Daryl must confront the repressed memories that drove him insane.
For madness—is a blunt instrument.
This dark fantasy epic and paranormal thriller with a Shutter Island’esque vibe will have you questioning what is real. The story mixes dark and traditional fantasy with horror and science fiction elements to explore mental health, guilt, and a world where the physical realm of our experience blends seamlessly with the fantastical realm of monsters and gods. Perfect for fans of The Gunslinger, The Dresden Files, and the TV series Black Mirror.
an excerpt
Daryl froze. He was caught in that uncomfortable crouch in between seated and fully erect where your thighs quickly start to tingle. His mind, ever helpful, served up “good boy” to placate the two hundred pounds of hell hound. His imminent death was all that kept a smirk off his face.
“Good boy,” someone proclaimed from behind him.
Daryl did not dare look away, but the voice seemed somewhat familiar. Courteous, with an undercurrent of undiluted malice.
As if on cue, a huge form lunged past him, then whipped around into a graceful crouch a mere twenty feet away. The ground hissed like water dropped on a hot skillet, and the immense cat-like outline shimmered slightly as if observed through a heat-haze. The thing straightened to reveal a graceful bipedal figure, tall enough to nearly touch the ceiling. It stared at him through slitted eyes of a pale red.
“I am Baal,” it stated in a voice that seemed to echo within itself, resonating with the promise of a world of torture beyond the ken of mere mortals.
Daryl bowed his head, hoping against hope that his end would be swift.
“You don’t look away from me!” Baal boomed, causing Daryl to swiftly look back up. “I would have you begging for the mercy of death, not bowing your head like a cow to the slaughter!”
Daryl stumbled backward as a terrible anger rippled across Baal’s hellish features. Anger mixed with something else. Perhaps disappointment.
“Get back here!” someone shouted by the window. The high-pitched outburst was accentuated by the flapping of wings and what could only be described as an equally furious squawk.
Daryl and Baal both turned toward the disturbance. A small man with big ears, in a brown and purple tunic, was chasing a large chicken that ducked and weaved between tables and chairs, apparently oblivious to the room’s other occupants.
The small man lunged for the chicken, managing to get his hand around one of its clawed feet.
“Gotcha!” he exclaimed, as his small form was buffeted by the frantic thrashings of an enraged bird. The two rolled and half-flew toward Daryl and Baal, who both continued to stare in disbelief at the unexpected chicken-wrangling coming toward them.
The small man finally got both his hands around the body of the chicken, flattening the wings. With a groan and a “hah!” he pulled the chicken close and stood.
“Who are you?” Baal thundered at the small man whose triumphant smile was quickly replaced by a slack-jawed stare as the immense creature looked at him menacingly.
“Err . . .” he said, still clutching the chicken who seemed to have gone completely still with the hope of being ignored. “My name is Hubble,” he said with a wan smile, “and this is Esmeralda.”
It took Baal a few moments to process having been introduced to a chicken. The pale red of his eyes took on a luminescent sheen as they stared at the two newcomers, heat waves emanating from him and causing nearby tables and chairs to char.
Hubble backed up into Daryl, nearly dropping his chicken.
Baal opened his mouth to speak as Hubble grabbed Daryl’s hand. “Bye,” he said as the three of them vanished through the floor.
about the author
J. Cornelius is a medical researcher of pathogenic viruses by day and a writer of fantasy/sci-fi fiction by night. He is also: An equal responsibility father of three, a loving husband, an avid lover of many types of mountaineering, especially rock climbing and snowboarding, and a DIY maker of herb and fruit flavored spirits.
Sign up to his newsletter on his website to get a free copy of the God Cycle short story, ‘Catching Spiders’.
a giveaway
Leave a Reply