The Ninth Seal Novels & Stories

Zhang, Zor Empire. As/A: 3085. An Epitome of love, lust and desire. "Sealed with a Kiss" are sacred, and so is laying, enslaved to a woman's Lechery; caught between the perfume of her breast and warm embrace. Climaxing in erupting pleasure, but yet in pain, pain upon the sight of the flowing streams of blood and corpse... Washed down by greed and sins of men who wanted more, but Valued less.

She looked tired and stressed; I knew it was worse than what I thought. "The seal is missing," she told me. She said it as if I should have automatically known what she was talking about; like I was invested enough to know what the 'seal' was. But it only took me a moment to remember what seal she was speaking of—the enchanted one that belonged to the Coterie, used to stamp important letters and ensure that they weren't opened without the matching letter opener. So, if the seal was gone, then the letter opener was gone, too.

“It wasn’t lying.” The way he said it made my skin crawl. “What does that even mean?” He hesitated, then said, “The seal is what keeps certain forces locked away. Old powers — ones even the deities couldn’t destroy. If it’s breaking…” He trailed off. “If it’s breaking,” I repeated, “then what happens?” He met my eyes. “Then the world starts remembering things it was never meant to remember.” Later that day, I tried to rest, but sleep still refused to come.

“These are coordinates. Look, it’s the same pattern that circles the Seal. Your father must have carved them as a guide.” “To what?” He smiled faintly. “To the heart of the balance.” The phrase stirred something deep inside me. The Seal pulsed once, as though agreeing. “Where is it?” I asked. “Far north. Beyond the ridge, past the frozen pass.” He met my eyes. “No one has crossed it in decades.” “I will,” I said before fear could find me. Eren’s mouth curved in a small, proud smile. “Then you’ll need to swear to it. Every bearer seals her own vow.”

“About the transfer to Seaview… I’d like to expedite it. Yes, I’m ready to go this week. I’ll start preparing everything right away.” After hanging up, I looked one last time at the framed photo of Annie and me on my desk before flipping it over. I had forgiven her ninety-nine times. This time—the hundredth time—I was finally choosing to let myself go.

"I thought you were important to him, but it seems not. I guess I'll practice my skills on you." He held my head down and inserted a long needle into my temple. "This is methamphetamine. It will keep you conscious through the pain, so you can watch yourself being turned into a wax figure. "Tell me, do you think your husband will recognize you when he sees your wax figure?"

The melted wax started dripping in crimson droplets. Beside him, Nicholus reached his hand inside the inner pocket of his coat jacket and took out a seal. Adam glanced at me, "It is The Royal Seal, a sacred emblem to authenticate the document. The Royal Parchment is not valid without The Royal Seal. Only the King has access to it and only he can use it." When a big, circular blob of the wax marked the paper, Nicholus leaned over and pressed his seal over it. I waited impatiently for the wax to harden. As soon as Nicholus lifted the seal, I grabbed the parchment and studied the design interestingly.

Far away, another chain broke. Then another. The earth shook harder than ever before. The ancient voice returned. Calm. Endless. "The First Seal has fallen." "Six remain."

He simply had work to do and had arrived at the place where the work could happen and intended to get on with it. He represented the ninth preservation line. Not the one Aldric's working documents had listed — the eight that had been identified over the course of the past year. The ninth. The one that had not been in any document. The one that Isara had not told anyone about — not Aldric, not Lena, not Cael — because she had understood that some things needed to be kept completely separate from everything else in order to develop the specific quality that the everything else needed from them.

Liam looked at her sharply. "Creator?" Seris's expression became solemn. "The being behind the Ninth Light." "Who is it?" She pointed toward the far end of the realm. A golden tower had appeared. At its top stood a massive doorway. Unlike the one we had entered through... This door was black. A single symbol was engraved upon it. A circle containing nine stars. Seris whispered, "The Ninth Creator." Aurel tightened his grip on his spear. "I thought the Origin was the beginning." "So did everyone."