Fall from the Ledge

Charley saw Francesco drop from the top of the great rock ledge, and although she did not realize, she had screamed out loud at the sight of it.

Her father heard this from afar: for his elvish telepathy was alerted by such alarms, and he transported himself literally within seconds to be beside her.

Together they found Francesco’s body bent, lying deranged at the base of the cliff.

“He must have dropped at least sixty feet” said Puck to Charley shaking his head.

“Have you any reception out here?" he continued - not having a phone of his own these days.

She drew her iPhone from her back pocket, shook the sand off it, and pressed the home button. The signal was not showing.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Serpent Speaks

“It is the sickness that heals” the serpent whispered slyly from the rock.

“I am sorry slippery fellow but I [Francis] do not understand this.”

“Mankind is healed by its sicknesses - it could not be said more plainly.”

Francis could hear Charley calling from afar. His phone was on silent - but she had come after him nonetheless.

The snake had wrapped itself around his ankles and was pulling at his feet.

Francis fell.

-Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Red Rock Rattler

The visions had been returning, and Francis could find no reference to place them in. They simply did not commute into this location, or this life, and they were now beginning to get on his nerves.

Several times, when walking in the desert close to sundown, the image of a rattler had sprawled at his feet. One minute it would appear out of nowhere and then it would slide back into its shadowy place.

Francis was convinced that this snake was not of the earth because it had spoken to him also. One afternoon, when he had nearly tripped in trying to avoid the reptile, it had said: “Asclepius”; and then slithered into a crack in the red rock speckled with pig-face flowers.

The creature had said this in something of a smug voice, that bothered him even more - as if it wanted to unnerve him.

He did not tolerate aggravating influences well. In a former life he had vowed to give them up altogether. Contrary to public opinion, Francis did not embrace all animals, or men - he rather took each on their merit.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

Humanity's Vision

The soul of Humanity is as one, and it is the Devil’s want to defeat it.

How odd it is, that vanity and envy go hand in hand. For as vain as he is, the Devil is a jealous creature also, and would not have Humanity strong or glorious.

When Fatima was brought into Vlad’s cemetery of the living, she witnessed the Devil’s cruelty to so many - with such despicable acts best not named, and injuries so vile that they should not be spoken of; wounds carved, flesh dismembered, life demised … When this middle-aged nun had this Hell before her, she had but one thought: namely that God did not walk the earth, or if He ever had, he had now gone.

No physical wound could have hurt this saintly soul as effectively as the panorama before her in this moment of shock. It was there and then the powers withdrew and no more healings were to come. Murmur-Fatima was defeated. And this was exactly what the Devil had in mind.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

She Forgot to Pray

The carriage had entered into an under path that ran beneath the castle. Although lit with lamps every few feet or so, it was hard to see what lay around her. Fatima’s imagination took hold. In her extreme state of fear, she forgot to pray.

He wrenched her out and down from the cabin, as though to make plain his strength over her. His treatment had fast gone from wooing to contempt, and Fatima was helpless.

She did not resist as he chained her to a cold stone wall. She could hear herself crying over the weeks to follow.

She died a death of sadness.

The dragon Vlad never became any wiser from his taunts and interrogations upon her.

When Fatima passed over into Heaven, she could see the city of ghosts he had created. Her spiritual confidence left her there and then, with the great gift of healing as well.


- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

The Mystery of Immortality

“I have heard of your healings”, he [Vlad] sneered. It appeared he was enjoying her state of bewilderment.

“This is why I have brought you”, he continued - “I need to understand the mystery of immortality and resurrection. I want these things for myself. And, I also want to know how to die …”

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances

A Tsunami of Forsaken Souls

“Why have you brought me here?" she [Fatima] wailed uncontrollably.

Death had always been a friend to Fatima - she had never doubted the goodness of God in His plans. But this unnatural death she had just seen the magnitude of, was completely different.

Her sensitive nature could feel the suffering as a tsunami of forsaken souls - men, women and children, rotting, oozing, contorted, naked, defiled, and pitiable, stuck on stakes, exposed in the cold wind.

- Gabriel Brunsdon, AZLANDER: NEVER ENDINGS: Second Chances