Date: Mon, 14 May 2012 17:38:36 -0400
From: Randy Zak <beyondanytherapy@gmail.com>
Subject: Chimera: Prologue

"Chimera"

Prologue:
A History Lesson

In stories of ancient mythology, there were tales of a creature made up of
several other creatures. It was probably thought up by a committee, and no
one could agree on what kind of animal it should be, so everyone got to
pick one and they stuck them all together, and damn if it was viable or
even attractive. Everyone just wanted to have their say; like one big
mythical compromise.

This creature was called a chimera, a mishmash of animals combined to
create an entirely new thing that looked like something a drunken
taxidermist concocted. It could be part lion, part snake and part goat. I
can't think of any configuration that an animal like that would make any
sort of sense, or be any sort of help to anyone.

I'm not giving you a history lesson for no reason. I'm introducing you to
the concept so maybe you can understand a little more about me. I'm not
unlike a chimera. As far as we've been able to tell, I'm a mutt -- part
human and part demon with just a smidgen of this and a drop of that thrown
in for good measure. I have absolutely no idea how I was created -- or what
really goes in to my makeup - unless I was another one of those damn
mythical compromises.

The one thing going in my favor is that you wouldn't be able to pick me out
of a crowd as a monster. Whatever unholy process created me, I was at least
favored with a human-like appearance. At least most of the time. Some of
the blood running through my veins will make itself known at times. When I
get really angry, or caught up in a battle, the demon part of me surfaces
and will alter my appearance somewhat. Luckily, it is generally a useful
thing at that part of the game. Sprouting horns in the middle of a fight
can sometimes tip the tide in my favor. And the glowing fire eyes are a
pretty impressive parlor trick as well.

My name is Dominic Bennett. Yes, a rather ordinary name for such a strange
creature. It was given to me by the young priest who raised me. Apparently,
Dominic means something like "Belonging To God" and Bennett means "Blessed
One." I often wonder if the good father had any idea of what I was and felt
that my soul needed a double dose of saving. Pity it didn't work.

When he found me as a child, Father Liam was a young man of 26, just
beginning his life as a priest. He lived in a monastery in the woods just
outside the city of Hurtgein, the capital of our fair country. He had been
walking through the woods in meditation one day when he discovered me,
dirty and hungry, trying to steal an apple from the orchard the monastery
tended. I expected he would be angry and run me off, so imagine my surprise
when he took me in, gave me a bath, food and a name. And he gave me the one
thing I never expected to have -- a home.

So for the first years of my life, I lived at the monastery. I helped the
monks with their chores, learned alongside them as they studied the holy
writings of the gods, and tried to keep myself from being bored out of my
skull. Okay, so I spent more time on the last thing than any other. But I
couldn't help it -- the place was dull! Who wanted to walk around chanting
all the time? And the endless hours of silence was almost unbearable. It
didn't take long before the other monks began to complain to Father Liam
that I was a problem. He was forced to defend me on many occasions. Yet he
never raised his voice or his hand to me. Whenever I had been in trouble,
we took a walk through the forest and talked. Father Liam was convinced
that I just needed to talk my problems through and I would figure them
out. I liked those walks most of all, and sometimes I would let myself be
caught at doing something just to get him out of his work so we could walk.

My life was pretty good, even if I did have to grow up around all the
sanctimony. Father Liam was the only one there who didn't make me feel like
I was anything less than a person. As I grew and my unknown origins began
to make themselves more visible, the rest of the monks grew scared of me. I
knew they didn't like me at the best of times, and if it weren't for my
guardian, I would not have lived in safety for as long as I did.

Father Liam passed away at the age of 37, from a very bad case of pneumonia
brought on by a rough winter in the forest. Without the buffer of my
protector, the rest of the priests there were less than welcoming. Even
back then, I knew when to take a hint, so at a fresh, young age of 17, I
hit the road, fending for myself.

So, what kind of work is available for unholy creatures these days? Well,
I'm a bit of a freelancer. I take whatever I can get â€" bodyguard,
demon slaying, monster tracking, the occasional damsel in distress
calls. I'm the guy they come to when no one else is stupid enough to take
the case or was already wiped out by whatever was waiting for them.

I'm not really sure why you're interested in my story, but it's your time
you're wasting, so go for it. I'll try to keep it as entertaining as
possible, but no promises. I can't say that I'm the most interesting
creature there is, but at least I have a cool job.

My story starts out like it always did -- with the offer of a job. However,
this job would turn out to be one that would change my life forever, in a
way I truly never anticipated.

This is the story of when I fell in love.

-------

Author's note:

Thank you for your interest in my story! I have high hopes for this one and
have been enjoying writing it! I will post chapters as quickly as I can
finish them, and will try my best not to leave too much time between
postings. Chapter 1 should be up within a week or two.

If you have comments or questions, please feel free to email me at
beyondanytherapy@gmail.com, and to keep up with any news on my stories,
check out my blog - http://randyscorner.blogspot.com.

Thanks again!
Randy Zak