Ana 
I remember the day when it all started. I was fourteen, and Zarek came to the inn where I had been living and working since my grandmother died. Of course, I would rather have met him under better circumstances. He’d come to warn me that Shekkar demons were tracking me. We ran. What other choice was there?
Zarek was my protector and guide, and quickly became my friend. When he promised he would defend me with his life, I knew he meant it. But I never realized that he would keep his word so completely. Only the healing power of the ring had a chance to save his life.
And I had to reach him in time.
 
Zarek
Finally, Zarek saw the top of the mountain. It was a sharp wall of rocks with a narrow fissure between them. The passage barely allowed room for a person to slip through.
Zarek heard a sound in the stillness. Shekkar.
No. Not now.
He needed to get Ana through the passage. Zarek looked down the hill. He could see the black shapes against the patches of snow. He had hoped the cold would hide their scent more. The demons appeared to avoid the snow, and maybe it slowed them down, but now they were coming fast.
Zarek reached the edge of the fissure and gripped Ana’s shoulder. He pointed through the crack. “Go through. Find somewhere to hide on the other side.”
“No!” she protested. “We’re both going through.”
“If we do, the demons will catch us. I can hold them back here. Go. Now. Run!”
He could tell she wanted to argue, but she obeyed. She ran through the narrow pass and disappeared.
He’d done everything he could for Ana.
Run. Hide. Don’t let them catch you.
*
Zarek took a deep breath, wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, and gripped his dagger. It cast a faint green glow, as he stood in the cleft between the rocks, watching the Shekkar run up the slope toward him. At least they wouldn’t be able to surround him, and he could hold them off for a while. How many were there? A dozen?
Shrieking in triumph when they spotted him, the demons rushed forward. When the first one reached Zarek, it screamed when the knife bit and toppled over. Heedless of their fallen comrade, the other demons leapt across the crumpled form to attack. Zarek held them back as they snarled and snapped at him and tried to reach him in the narrow space. But there were too many.
Their attack drove him deeper into the passageway. Black claws slashed at him, and he blocked them with the blade, only to feel burning pain as a second blow ripped the flesh of his arm and shoulder. He struck at them.
Shekkar claws raked across his face. His head burned like fire, and he could no longer see properly. Searing pain took over as poisonous claws tore into his chest, and he heard himself scream. It sounded like it came from a great distance.
Dimly, he heard a demon shriek as if it had discovered something. Ana’s trail?
 
Zarek lay on the ground. Quiet surrounded him, and he was alone. He closed his hand, futilely searching for his dagger. He had to get up, to go after them. They were hunting Ana, and she had no one to help her.
Get up.
But it was too late. His limbs twitched when he tried to move, but that was all. His body throbbed with scorching pain, except where it touched the chilling stone and snow. He could feel his warm blood escaping from many wounds. It wouldn’t be long now. With one eye, Zarek could see the white stars in the black sky. He would have screamed from the pain, but he didn’t have the breath or energy. He passed in and out of consciousness.
The periods of unconsciousness granted a blessed relief from the agony. How many times would he wake back up? The stars faded.
When he woke again, he saw morning sunlight, and the thin clear sky of the mountains. The only sound came from the wind whistling in the passage between the rocks.

Ana
At dawn, Ana left the tree where she had hidden and stumbled back up the hill as fast as her tired legs would go. Reaching the passage, she started through it. Just beyond the opening, she could see Zarek, and her stomach twisted into a knot. She couldn’t breathe.
“Zarek!” She ran and knelt beside him. When she saw what they had done to him, her empty belly heaved. Blood covered him. Demon claws had slashed his face and throat, raking across his nose and destroying one eye, but she couldn’t look away from the long gaping wound in his chest. She sensed the agony of his broken body.
No. That was impossible. He could not still be alive. But she could sense his pain. Ana touched his forehead.
A flash of green light came from the ring, and for a moment, she became him. She was Zarek. Her flesh and skin shredded, her ribs ripped out of place. She felt searing pain from the wounds. There was no hope of surviving. No hope of recovering. The damage was too severe.
It could not be. The part of them that was Ana bent all her will on taking the pain away. Zarek must live. Zarek must be whole and happy. He must smile and be full of energy and ready to do anything.
Zarek must live.

Tell me a little about yourself.
I am a very wealthy, and quite handsome 500 year old Immortal. I am the owner of a very successful international company. For five centuries I have sought the one soul who can fulfill my dreams of everlasting love. My company is about to introduce advanced security systems to protect my global operations, but the head of Russian intelligence is determined to infiltrate the company and use it to its own ends. The Russians failed once, but they’ve vowed to stop at nothing this time, even if it means the destruction of all that I have and love.
 
What are you trying to achieve in this story?
I finally met Arielle Lloyd, a beautiful British collage girl, whose heart calls out to me like no other. I have longed for her, like no other. I have many issues that complicate my life and all I am trying to do now is keep Arielle safe. I have been targeted by the Russian Mafia, who will stop at nothing to force me into giving up documents containing my company’s most valuable secrets. I have always outsmarted them before, but now they are threatening the person I hold most dear, my beloved Arielle.
 
What is your worst fear in this story?
Jealous Immortals from my past threaten retaliation. They have vowed to destroy any woman who becomes involved with me. I have given a very powerful protection amulet to Arielle but death stalks our newfound love. Our love may be eternal, but we may be running out of time. My past continues to haunt me. The worst of all is one of my Immortal Xs Annabel who still lusts for vengeance and seeks to destroy my new love.
 
What is your weakness?
My weakness is my beloved Arielle. I have realized that I have loved her through the centuries. There will never be another. I also know that I will protect her with everything I have and make her happy for centuries to come.
 
What are your plans for the future
Arielle and I have found our way to each other and want nothing more than to pledge our undying love before family and friends. I have carried a ring in my pocket for her almost from the first moment we met. I am only waiting for the right moment to pledge my eternal love for her.

“What do you mean showing it with your fingers?” Grandma Rosa asked.
“I found a website for hearing impaired people, and it explains how they can talk to each other without words. There is a sign for every letter and number that they can make with their hands. We can learn the signs together, and when you can’t hear the sound, I can show it you,” Sandra smiled happily.
“Oh, I think that’s a wonderful idea, Sandra,” Grandma’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “But it looks a little difficult. Do you think I could learn the signs?”
“Of course, you can, Grandma, we can learn them together. You couldn’t hear it well when I said mouse and house because you couldn’t tell the difference between the letter M and H, right?”
“Yes, that’s right,” Grandma Rosa replied.
“What if I show you the sign for the letters that each word starts with? Would it help?”
“Yes, I believe it would.”

“Awesome,” Grandma Rosa clapped. “I couldn’t hear the letter M, but when you showed the sign, I knew you must be saying mouse.”
One day, when they learned to sign every letter of the alphabet, Sandra started putting the letters together. “Look, Grandma, we can say words with our hands when we make the signs in the correct order,” Sandra said excitedly and signed the word mouse with her hand. 

​Sandra noticed a boy who was sitting by himself looking at his tablet, “Who is that boy?” she asked her friends. “He’s sitting by himself. Let’s invite him to play with us.”
“He’s stupid,” Peter, Sandra’s friend said. “He’s the new kid in my friend’s class, and he says this kid is deaf as a doorknob and when he tries to talk he sounds like a cat when someone steps on its tail.”
“How can you say that? You’re so mean! Just because he can’t hear, it doesn’t mean he’s stupid. My grandma can’t hear well, and she’s very smart,” Sandra shouted angrily.
Peter shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t care, let’s play on the swing.”
“I can’t believe what you said, Peter. I don’t want to play with you.” Sandra stood up, walked over to the boy and stood in front of him. “Hi,” she said, but although the boy must have seen her, he didn’t look up from his tablet.

​Sandra took a step closer and tapped his shoulder. When the boy looked at her, she saw sadness in his eyes. Sandra smiled at him and started signing,

Sandra introduced him to her friends and told them that Thomas understands what they’re saying if they speak slowly, and he can see their lips. Soon, they were chatting away happily and having fun learning sign language.

​Thomas showed them the signs for words such as boy, girl, cat, bicycle, and swing. The children learned the signs fast, and when Peter joined them he said, “You’re not so bad Thomas, wanna be friends?”
“Yes, I would like that, but you don’t mind that my voice sounds funny?” Thomas replied wearily, afraid that Peter would make fun of his voice.
“Your voice is fine,” Peter assured him, “It sounds like you have an accent like my mom’s friend. She’s from Romania, and I love the way she talks.”
“Okay, so I have a ‘hearing impaired’ accent. That’s cool!” Thomas smiled.

I am an ex-pat who is currently living on the island of Grand Cayman enjoying what most would call paradise. I had a rough start after arriving here having to deal with my husband’s shady business dealings.  There were those who believed I didn’t deserve to get the most generous settlement I did following the divorce. The locals still talk behind my back, but I’ve learned to ignore the remnants of his past. After the divorce, I was able to gain Caymanian status and become the proud owner of The Tides resort here on the west end of the island. It was truly my little paradise, but that was short-lived when Hurricane Ivan came along in 2004 and completely destroyed my little paradise along with most of the island. I was lucky to survive and even luckier to get government and other private funds to help me rebuild a new inn which I called Paradise Palms. I’d hoped to get a fresh start but soon met up with strange occurrences here at the inn. Seems a few guests had claimed an evil spirit lurked about and had even attacked them in their suites. Many had fallen ill and blamed it on the dark entity they’d claimed had violated them while staying at the Palms.
It didn’t take long for a few guests to post these occurrences on social media, which hurt the inn’s reputation along with the rumors that had spread throughout the island by the locals.
Yes, there are a lot of island legends here, most of them had not affected me until I became a victim myself and had to make a decision that would alter my fate and that of my little piece of paradise.
 I will answer a few of your questions here and then have to take care of an urgent matter in suite 12.

What is your strongest attribute?
I’d say my strongest attribute is my strong-willed personality. I was raised by a strong Puerto Rican woman and believe that had set the tone for the rest of my life. I tend to be direct and will go to great lengths to achieve a goal, whether it may hurt someone or not.

What is your role here in the story?
I am the proud owner of Paradise Palms, a small island resort on Grand Cayman. My job is to keep my staff in line as well as making sure my guests are happy and safe even if it means covering up past dirt on myself or some of the odd occurrences at the inn.

What is your weakness?
I’d have to say my weakness is my vanity. I’ve got this fear of aging that has taken over since my divorce. I’m always comparing myself to younger women. I’ve had some minimally invasive cosmetic procedures done and swim every morning to keep myself in shape. If I overeat or miss a workout, the guilt weighs heavily on me.
​
What are your plans for the future?
Future plans include pushing forward with a few new additions to the Palms, and, hopefully, getting my hunky security guard, Jackson to commit to a serious relationship with me. We’ve had a few dates and a few nights of the best sex of my life—ones that brought out the animal in me. I won’t get into too much detail here, for the book explains it all.

Do you have any enemies?
I have to say I don’t have any enemies here in this physical realm, but I’ve got one nasty demonic spirit who insists she rules my inn and the waters out to the reef. She’s attacked a few of my male guests and now has her sights on Jackson. She’s hell-bent on ruining my inn but I’ve got a few surprises for her.

Do you feel the author portrayed you fairly?
I think the author has done a fairly good job of portraying myself and my triple-A personality, but I do have one complaint—that being not able to believe the few guests that had claimed to encounter an evil spirit from the jump. I think she could have given me more of an open mind rather than dismissing all the strange events as merely the usual effects of the sun and the endless cocktails in abundance here on the island.

Do you have any final thoughts you’d like to leave us with?
Well, that would be to plan a trip to Grand Cayman if you’ve never been there.  This island truly holds a real enchantment. I’d recommend you not pay too much attention to some of those reviews you read on travel sites. But be advised to enjoy your water activities during the daylight hours, for the night belongs to those who are forced to enjoy their activities after dark.

​From Stillwaters Runs Deep, book three: The Awakening
Some protagonists are rather smart and savvy in the ways of the world. Mine, Charlie Stillwaters isn’t. Well at least in the ways of our world and technology. However being a shaman he’s extremely savvy to the ways of the natural world. Does that make him appear a little insane by our standards, oh yeah.

““Okay I’ll start this one up. Ah, ever use one?”” the older man said as he stared at Charlie like he’d just escaped a derelict building.

““Nope. I was told to try Oogling the information. Does that mean I stare really hard and the answer magically appears?”” He opened his eyes wide.

The older man stared blankly at him, before smirking and readjusting his thick glasses. ““Okay. It’s called Google. Everything you ever need to know can be searched and found via Google.””

Charlie sat down opened his eyes wide and banged his cane on the side of the screen. ““Nope, blank. Didn’t seem to understand what I was asking it.””

The clerk scratched his head. ““You need to type it into the keyboard. You do know how to type don’t you?””

Charlie raised his ball cap a moment. ““Do these look like typing fingers?””

He held them up, all crooked.

He laughed. ““No, I suppose not. You’ll just have to use two-fingered typing. Now move over and let me get you started. As I said, the main search engine these days is Google. It’s taken over from Bing and Yahoo as your main internet search engine.””

““Internet? Is this some kind of new fishing gear? I didn’t think Mr. Crosby was very good at ‘puters, thought that was a might before his time in the fifties. So if Google is a little like oogling things then must you holler Yahoo when you find the thing you’re after and scream out Bing-o? I reckon Google took over because it was a lot quieter to use in libraries.””

The librarian closed his eyes and shook his head. ““It’s not named after Bing Crosby. Okay Charlie, now I’ve pulled up Google. Type in what you’re searching for.”” Charlie did, slowly hitting singular key after singular key. After a couple of minutes they both stared at the screen. ““Doesn’t look very intelligent to me.””

The librarian leaned over and punched enter. ““This is like telling it to seek and find, which some days I wished I was doing. Finding a better job.”” About half a second later a list appeared.

““Ten thousand results in less than a second. Ho, that was quick, this is a smart bugger.”” He stared at the little cord coming out of the screen. ““All that through that little cord?””

““Yup, modern technology. Although we haven’t gone wireless yet, which is even better.””

““Some new kind of Ouija board that is. Now what?””

““Now take that mouse.””

Charlie glanced down at the floor. ““What mouse? Don’t you guys clean around here? Attracts rodents you know.””

The man laughed again. ““Okay I can see a quick crash course in computer use is needed. So I’ll give you my ten minute crash course.””

““Does this require a helmet?””

““I think the ball cap will suffice. Although I can see a baseball bat could be useful right about now as well.”” His ten minutes turned into two nerve-wracking hours as he showed Charlie how to search, browse and in general look for information on the computer.

Charlie stood up and armed himself with several pages of print outs. ““Thanks.”” He said as he left. ““I’ve done a favor and rewarded your computer with its favourite cheese. Should make it very happy, but I don’t think didn’t it did the keyboard any good. The mouse looked rather happier.””
​
The librarian put his head in his hands. ““And I gave up drinking and smoking for this job.””

​The protagonist works toward the central story goals and tends to be involved in or affected by most of the choices or conflicts that arise in the narrative. The protagonist of a story is the main character, who has the sympathy and support of the readers.

​My name is Lord Archos Terrian Stormrager, Archmage, Lord of the Arcane Realm, Lord of Tremellic. I am the last Skychild who walks this Realm.

Tell us about your role in the adventure. We seek Lor Ar’thinis – the Shining Citadel; once the great Elven City of Light, now lost in magic and mystery. Whether we will find it, or what remains of it – I do not know. The elves have nothing – no rights, no wealth, a past mostly shrouded in legend and sorrow, and currently they have little future but slavery and then, probably, extinction. To find such a city may bring answers about the wars and the coming of the Plague, it may bring wealth to be used to better their lot. Who knows?
Magic is dangerous – it demands a price for its usage, but despite the machinations of the Order it persists and those who know how to tame it can use it for good, or, indeed for evil. I am, amongst other things, a collector of relics, and artefacts. Such things of history should be preserved and enjoyed. There are those that take them and hide them, break them or simply keep them so the elves can’t have them. One of the tools the Order use to ensure compliance to their tyranny is the removal of history – those with no past, or a past of shame, death and disease are viewed with distrust, with fear and the humans do not understand the true history. The history that binds all races, and the good and bad that unites. The Order rules with fear and lies, and both are successful, for when a lie is told often enough it becomes a truth. Truth in Erana is relative.

Do you think you are a good man? By whose laws? By whose morals? If we are talking about what passes for law in this land then no, I am a mage – that alone is enough to condemn me.
I have killed – monsters and men – sometimes they are one and the same. My hands are not clean of blood. I have lived long and travelled much and in all those years, I have killed to save myself, save others and for vengeance; I have stolen to eat, to feed others and because I can. I have sent men mad and boiled the blood within them.
I have freed people, and imprisoned them. I have brought life to the world, and removed it. There is little justice in Erana, for the law is a mockery. I make the law within my own lands, and ignore it beyond them, but with caution.
My household sends regular consignments to the Elven Enclaves, my privateer patrols the Bay of Blades and preys on other ships. We give to those who need it, and take from those who do not deserve to have it.
Am I good man? No, I am a traitor to those who rule this land, a murderer, an outlaw, a thief, an anathema to the Order of Witch-Hunters. Yet I will stand for those who cannot stand for themselves and speak for those who are not heard. To my friends, I am generous, loyal and will fight to my last drop of blood. To my enemies, I am the Oncoming Storm and there is no mercy from the storm.

Do you have a family? I have Dii’Athella – my love. We are bound in magic and I would do anything for her. I have Olek, my faithful Olek. He is my right hand, my confidante, my servant and the one who knows me better than anyone yet living.
I have a daughter – although that knowledge is recent. She is the heiress of the Troll Shaman of our allies among the trolls of the Helmerri Plateau. She is her mother’s daughter, as it should be with the Trollkind. I hope to get to know her better.

Do I have regrets? Many, some I have buried in the ground, steeped in blood. Those I have lost or could not save. I regret this world is as it is, and we must hide in shadow to be who we are. Do I regret the blood on my hands? No, not for a moment. Would I kill again, to save those I love, and even strangers who cannot defend themselves? Without hesitation.

What will you do when you meet your enemy? I will kill that bastard. I have fought with Witch-Hunters – they are merely men and men die. He seeks to take from me what I prize most and take from the elves that which is not his to take. I have fought with creatures worse than him – but not many. My demon, Kh’lak will enjoy that one… oh yes.

What do you think he will do when he meets you? He will seek to kill me, and my companions. He does not hold all the cards, although we are but eight, if I summon Kh’lak and I will not fall easily. 

In most novels there is a clear antagonist, or villain, for the protagonist, the hero, to defeat. The antagonist puts obstacles in the way of the hero to deter or destroy him or her, and in the end there is a open confrontation between the two that usually ends with the heroes victory over his or her enemy. This is a tried and true formula for story telling that has existed for as long as there has been story tellers. In Rapier this is not the case. In the Rapier Universe, as in real life, there are many antagonists and villains, and not all of them can be defeated by the hero.

     There are some reviewers of my story that would say that Captain Black and his crew are the villains. After all they raid merchant ships traveling between the colonized worlds (pirates?). They have no problem ‘dispatching’ the crews of those ships. They sell the loot they take from those ships to pay for their adventures (nobody ‘works’ for free). And they sell their captives into slavery, not the normal behavior of your everyday hero.

     Add in they use the same tactics the German U-Boats, and American Submariners, used in World War II (something you history buffs might have picked up on) and it becomes hard to decide if the Rapier and its’ crew are the good guys or the bad guys.

     So what makes the crew of the Rapier the heroes in this story? Simple, it is being told by Kathy Masters the main protagonist, and Cindy, the daughter she adopted and raised while being on the Rapier. And that makes almost everyone else the antagonists, and in a couple of cases true villains, in the story.

     The two ‘main’ antagonists to the crew of the Rapier are the Chinese and American navies. If you read the story you’ll understand why this is the case, but how are they the main antagonists?
     Both the Chinese and American navies are attempting to hunt down and destroy the Rapier, and all the ships of ‘The Brotherhood’.

     ‘The Brotherhood’ is a shadowy organization that almost all pirates and privateers belong to. It has bylaws its’ members usually follow, and these bylaws guide its’ ships and crews on how they handle themselves in regard to each other, and towards the outside world. Adherence to the bylaws is expected (not mandatory), but violations of them can have severe consequences (something that will be seen in more detail in future releases).

     Back to the Chinese and American navies.
   Captain Black has a deep hatred of the Chinese (for some very real and personal reasons). His raiders are the most effective against them, and so the Chinese continue to devise tactics and traps to destroy the Rapier and the other ships under Captain Black’s command. There are many close calls, and deep losses, because of the Chinese drive to destroy him. This is a conflict that can have only one outcome, for no matter how skilled and intrepid they are Captain Black and his ships cannot defeat an entire empire.

     For different, but just as painful, reasons the Rapier also raids American commerce. In fact, it was a raid on an American luxury liner that led to Kathy and little Cindy being captured and brought aboard the Rapier. Because of these raids the Americans establish a special task force to hunt down Captain Black and his raiders, and permanently terminate his command.

     One might think that these two antagonists would be sufficient for the story, but heck, what fun would that be? So, there are some specific individuals in the story that should be mentioned, especially as many of them appear in Razor, and the other follow on stories.

     First is Prince Chou Yen Yi. Prince Yi is the patriarch of the Yi family, and ruler of the Yi Principality, an important part of the Chinese Prefecture. It was the Yi families forces that attacked Captain Black’s home world, reducing it from a prosperous colony of two million people to a barely surviving population of just over twenty thousand souls. There is much background as to what really happened and why, but that doesn’t come out until Razor is published. Suffice it to say that when Captain Black captures Prince Yi and his three grandchildren he is so filled with hatred for the Prince that he forces Prince Yi to watch him sell his grandchildren into slavery before ransoming him back to the Chinese Prefecture (this is how Princess Lien Lan Yi ends up with Kathy and Cindy on the Rapier). Needless to say there is a great deal of animosity between the two men but, as it will be revealed in Razor, Prince Yi is not the villain Captain Black believes him to be.

     Martin Lee Black is the mayor of the survivors of Safe Port, Captain Black’s home world, and the younger brother of the Captain. He is also Captain Black’s main antagonist, and intends to keep him out there “even if everyone here dies before you, even if I do. Damn you to hell James she chose you.” Clearly this is because the woman they both loved chose the Captain over the Mayor. To do this the Mayor uses the ‘contract’ (Letter of Marque) to keep the Rapier and its’ crew on the edge of oblivion.

     Colonel Bengt Chang Chén is a competent tactician and strategist. You meet him only briefly in Rapier, but he is the reason the Rapier attacks the SS America at the beginning of the story, and this attack is what leads to Kathy and Cindy being brought onto the Rapier as captives. From the interaction between Captain Black and Colonel Chén it is clear they know each other, and despise one another. Though highly regarded in Chinese Imperial circles Colonel Chén is corrupt to the core, and uses his rank and position to enrich himself (this guy is a true villain). He is also a brilliant genetic scientist, and his work, and the work of others that is based on his research, is the reason why the last war between the Chinese Prefecture and the Americans and their allies is known as The Genetics War. Colonel Chén makes his return to the story line at the end of Razor, and he is a major threat to Kathy and Cindy in the fourth book of the series, The Black Wolves.

     Ahmed Mustafa bin Abdullah is tall, handsome, articulate, well educated and unimaginably rich. Think someone that is as wealthy as Klaus Schwab, George Soros and Bill Gates combined. His wealth and power is far reaching. He owns politicians throughout human space, including on Earth. He has worked hard to protect his wealth, and insulate himself from accountability for his actions. And he needs that insulation, because he makes the Marquis de Sade look like a choirboy. The man’s sadism and debauchery knows no limits. And he will go to great lengths to get what he wants. He purchased Colonel Chén, and the other Chinese traveling with him for his ‘playroom’ from Captain Black. He wanted Kathy and Cindy as well, but Captain Black wouldn’t sell them to him. So Ahmed has manipulated the situation in the background to get what he felt he was unjustly denied. You meet him early in the story, and you think that that is that. But he returns at the end of Razor, and he appears more in The Black Wolves.

     Captain Black Jack Bartholomew is a true pirate. He is cruel and vicious beyond imagining. He is an excellent starship captain, and he knows his business. Captain Bartholomew is the biggest villain in Rapier. Though it is not described in the story there is previous history between him and Captain Black. The specifics of that history will be detailed in a prequel to Rapier currently titled James Ulysses Black. Captain Bartholomew’s biggest weakness is his own ego. Unknown to him his ego allowed Ahmed Mustafa bin Abdullah to manipulate him into pursuing Kathy and Cindy for him (one of the things that comes out at the end of Razor) while believing he was getting revenge on Captain Black.

   So here are the main antagonists and villains in Rapier. Some get their comeuppance by the end of the story. Others recur in future releases. Also, expect more antagonists, and allies, to appear in the upcoming stories.

In storytelling, the antagonist is the opposer or combatant working against the protagonist or leading character and creating the main conflict. In conventional narratives, the antagonist is synonymous with the “bad guy,” while the protagonist represents the “good guy.”

Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Mora, I was born 1600 years ago in a small village. Everyone thought that I was just a pretty girl, an insignificant nobody, but I knew I was destined for great things. When I met Joland, the love of my life, he gave me immortality and showed me what I was capable of. We craved power to punish all who wronged us. We wanted to rule the clans, but we couldn’t succeed back then. Our time will come, you'll see!

How did you end up in the situation you’re currently in?
You mean surviving in this old, withered body incapable of dying and tied to my bed? The Royals and Elders were furious when they found out many centuries ago that Joland had shared the gift of eternal life with me. The Elders took away my powers to keep my body young and separated us, but they couldn’t make us mortals again. I had lived so many lifetimes, alone, because Joland was exiled to a timeline in the distant past. As his punishment, he couldn’t move forward in time with me. Although my body is useless, the power of my mind allows me to reach the remotest part of the world and beyond. The one thing they couldn't take away from us is our eternal connection. Although he's in a different timeline, we can communicate.

How's that possible?
We have access to the collective and we use it. I see you want to ask what the collective is. It's similar, but a lot more than your primitive internet. Making the connection wipes us out physically and mentally, but it's worth every second so see and hear him.

Do you have any regrets?
Yes, I have only one regret. I regret that I wasn’t smart and careful enough back then to overthrow the Elders and Leaders to gain ultimate power over the clans.
 
Would you kill for those you love?
I have love only for Joland, and I’ve killed many in my life to get the chance to reunite with him. Killing a mortal is like squashing a bug. They die, anyway.
 
How do you think others see you?
Who cares what others think? I don’t. But I guess they see me as a cold hearted, calculating person incapable of feeling remorse. And they’re correct. I don’t care for anyone accept Joland, and anything other than to gain power to rule the clan.
 
Do you have friends?
Haha! Friends, no. Nobody loves me and I hate everyone. I have servants to do my bidding, and that’s enough for me, for now.
 
Who is your greatest enemy?
The Royals and Elders of the clan. I hate all with a passion, but my time will come to take my revenge. If I thread carefully and plan every step, it will be soon.
 
Do you believe you will be successful in your quest?
Yes, I do. I’m immortal, so I have plenty of time to plan and control my pawns in order to reach my goal.
 
What is your greatest fear?
My only fear is the possibility that I’d lose my ability of mind control. My body is useless, and without the power of my mind… I don’t even want to think about that.
 
If you could have three wishes, what would they be?
My first wish is to unite with my beloved Joland. The second wish is to regain my strong, youthful body, my full powers, and gain ultimate control of the clan to rule and be admired forever. My third wish is that you’d stop bugging me and go away.

​If Mora could spit fire, she would have burned her castle down to the foundation. “What the hell’s going on?! Is there anyone in this century that doesn’t interfere with my plans? Now, instead of hating her, the stupid boy protects her.”

Mora’s inside was boiling with anger and frustration, and it took her a while to calm herself enough to think. “Everything seems to be going against my plans. But why? Partly because that moron Seer wanted to protect her… wait a minute! This is interesting development… What if?”

She gathered all her energy, cleared her mind, entered the collective and channeled Joland, “Can you feel and hear me, my love?” projecting her thoughts through the time fold.

It took Joland by surprise; “I didn’t expect you to call me so soon. I’m afraid you’re going to exert yourself, darling, so make it short.”

“I had to contact you because my plans were compromised by the meddling fools. Listen carefully. I don’t have too much time. Watch Mundzuk very closely, follow his every step. It was foretold that he will be the father of the child, but the prevision doesn’t mention who the mother will be. Watch him like a hawk and train your troops, because it’s going to take much more to stop them than I anticipated. I might not be able to destroy the Chosen One in this timeline, so we have to look for other possibilities.”

“I have my men ready, but it’s not going to happen for another two years in my timeline.”

“I know, and I’m doing my best to stop them, but it’s not going to be easy. The final act might fall on your shoulders.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“Joland, one more thing I have to ask you, have you any knowledge of the Chosen One’s Destiny Box?”

“I’ve overheard a legend from the Elders. The box contains secrets from the ancestors, and only the Chosen One could open it.”

“Do you know where this box is?”

“I only know that it’s passed down from generation to generation in the family of one of the Chameleon bloodlines. I don’t know which family and I don’t think anyone knows.”

“I think it’s the family of the Chosen one in this timeline, but I’m not sure yet. I have to go, darling, love you forever.”

“I love you, longer. Rest my love, we will meet again.”
​
Mora severed the connection and, being mentally exhausted, sank into deep sleep.

​Tell us about yourself
My name is Duke Alexander Michael Bennett. I have been a greedy person all my life and an avid gambler. It has taking me a lot of time but I have squandered my family’s fortune and I have no regrets. This is something that tells me that I am not an honest person. I have always crafted false allegations against people I have never met or know anything about including my own friends and family.
 
How do you see your life?
In order to be able to make more money I arranged the marriage of my only son to my best friend’s daughter by creating a veil of deception. I know that is very painful to my college friend but somehow I do not care. I have done this before with no repercussions and I will do it again.
 
How do you see yourself in the future?
I do not let others see who I really am. The truth is that I have never thought of what the future will bring because I am a selfish man and do not worry about tomorrow. What matters to me is today and now. My thoughts are sinister and they do not include any person’s feelings or standing in this world.  I only care about what I gain from others by destroying their life and that of their family. Somehow all that gives me pleasure that I can’t receive from anything else in my life.
 
What about your family?
I have been married to the same woman for too many years. It was an arranged marriage. Love was nonexistent. I have never been faithful. I have had mistresses and bedded several married women. My wife stays in our country estate and I stay in our London home free to do as I please. I have one son who follows in my own footsteps. He is a rogue, a womanizer and a gambler. He goes from one woman to another without thought without feelings and no regrets. He is very much like me, he does not care what his actions may do to another family. I am proud to say that he is a better version of me.
 
Are you happy with your life up to now?
Yes, I have successfully become the dreadful person that I aimed to be from the very start. I do not worry or have any second thoughts of all the ghastly secrets I hold in my head. I have truly been amazed as to how easily I have escaped danger.  Bedding a married woman can have a terrible outcome. The fact that I have survived a couple of duels did not deter me from repeating my undertakings. I do not care about a husband’s honor; I only care about what keeps me satisfied. I will keep being me until someone stops me and exposes everything that I have done. At that point it will not matter because I will be dead taking with me every dreadful secret to the grave.