The Lumen Caligo

Lawrence C. Cobb

Description

What if instead of a terminal illness, you had wings?
There are three types of people in the world. Those with white wings. Those with black wings. And those with none.
Every 350 years a 4th is born called the Lumen Caligo. One side of his wings there is white. On the other side, there is black.
Throughout time, the Lumen Caligo acted as a peacekeeper for all the nations, leading them to times of peace, prosperity, and power…
Then, the Lumen Caligo of the 1600s mysteriously vanished at the brink of war between the nations. His last letter was something called “The Isolation Order".
It requested that the nations return to their lands of origin. Fearing the destruction that could unfold and respecting the title of The Lumen Caligo, the nations returned to their lands and vowed to remain isolated from the rest of the world until the Lumen Caligo returned...
On a sunset beach in California, a man sits in solitude... Not knowing the role he will play for the changing and shaping of the world…This is where our story begins.
The Lumen Caligo – Book 1 – Fallen

Sujets

• Wings
• Dieta
• Fantasy (canción de Mariah Carey)
• Caligo
• Owl butterfly
• Wing (disambiguation)
• Light
• Wing
• Angel
• Darkness
• Fiction
• Lumen
• Fantasy

Informations

• Publié par: Archway Publishing
• Date de parution: 28 juin 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665744454
• Langue: English

Extrait

The Lumen Caligo
 
 
 
Fallen
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Lawrence C. Cobb
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
Copyright © 2023 Lawrence C. Cobb.
 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, names, incidents, organizations, and dialogue in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
 
 
Archway Publishing
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.archwaypublishing.com
844-669-3957
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
Interior Graphics/Art Credit: Tony Midi
 
ISBN: 978-1-6657-4447-8 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-4446-1 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6657-4445-4 (e)
 
Library of Congress Control Number: 2023909371
 
 
 
Archway Publishing rev. date: 06/28/2023
Contents
Prologue
Dedication
 
Chapter 1Isolations Visitor
Chapter 2Graduation
Chapter 3Terrific Tutor
Chapter 4The Chief
Chapter 5First Steps
Chapter 6Departure
Chapter 7The Legend of the Lumen Caligo
Chapter 8Bermuda
Chapter 9Maurício
Chapter 10Seafarers in a Pinch
Chapter 11The Atrium
Chapter 12The Dukes
Chapter 13Aeolia
Chapter 14The Weatherfords
Chapter 15Marcella
Chapter 16Survival
Chapter 17Sanctum
Chapter 18The Portal
 
Lawrence C. Cobb
Prologue
T HERE ARE THREE TYPES OF people in the world. Those with white wings. Those with black wings. And those with none. Every 350 years a fourth is born called the Lumen Caligo . One side of his wings there is white. On the other side, there is black.
Throughout time, the Lumen Caligo acted as a peacekeeper for all the nations, leading them to times of peace, prosperity, and power …
Then, the Lumen Caligo of the 1600s mysteriously vanished at the brink of war between the nations. His last letter was something called “The Isolation Order”.
It requested that the nations return to their lands of origin. Fearing the destruction that could unfold and respecting the title of The Lumen Caligo, the nations returned to their lands and vowed to remain isolated from the rest of the world until the Lumen Caligo returned ...
On a sunset beach in California, a man sits in solitude ... Not knowing the role he will play for the changing and shaping of the world … This is where our story begins.

Animated trailer for your viewing pleasure.
Dedication
For my friends and family. Thank you for teaching me that too much exposure to the light will leave you blind and not enough exposure to darkness will leave you ignorant. Balance is key. Actions speak louder than words. Thank you.
Lawrence C. Cobb
 
 
 
 
 
1

Isolations Visitor
T HE SUN WAS SETTING … everything was calm. Amber and gold reflected off the ocean’s blue face. The reflection danced like a pair of ballerinas until it reached the banks of the shore. Sitting on the sand looking out towards the sunset was a man deep in thought. He watched the sun go down as if he expected it to say something.
He was only vaguely aware of the sound of drums coming from the apartment complex behind him and the man flying a drone to get the “perfect shot” of the sunset. Neither mattered. His thoughts and emotions were as rampant as the colors dancing off the ocean’s surface.
The man’s name was Martin Weatherford. Even sitting down, you could tell the man was tall—6’4”, at the very least. He had prominent cheek bones and three freckles on his left cheek that looked like the Big Dipper. A reddish hue from a recovering sun burn adorned the exposed parts of his skin. Then there were his eyes … A vibrant blue that were as intimidating to look at as they were beautiful. His eyes were filled with remorse and fierce sadness. Like a leech, gloom sapped his hope away.
The sun began its reunion with the water, its final moments on the horizon before its farewell. Martin’s thoughts changed with the sun.
Why sun-set? Set has so many different definitions. Not to mention over twenty expressions starting from the word set. Set in motion … set forth … set one’s heart upon …
Martin closed his eyes tightly. He had set his heart upon many things and had failed repeatedly. The creation of a family, fulfilling his father’s expectations, impressing his nation … Yet it all felt small in comparison to the betrayal he felt. He tried to be understanding of the situation and everything he had been told … but that was not how he was raised.
“Actions speak louder than words,” he echoed. “What I set in motion is my doing and no one else’s. I am to act on situations ... not be acted upon.”
The drone crashed into the waves. Its constant buzzing was engulfed by the low roar of the ocean. A muffled whimper put a smirk on Martin’s face as the man set out to salvage the drone. In the distance, yells from the drummer’s parents silenced the beat. The calm made a welcome return. The sound of crashing waves set in all around him.
Set … Having a specified direction in motion. I envy you, Mr. Sun …
Martin stood up and brushed the sand off of his hands.
“Time to head back home,” he said to the ocean.
Martin made his way southward alongside the breaking waves. He lived almost as close to the Mexican border as possible. The town of Imperial Beach, California, had become his new home. 1112 Seaside Avenue was his safe haven. Although it had only been six months since he had isolated himself, he felt subtle changes freeing him from past attachments. His new haircut was an example of this change. Past societal pressures had pushed him to nearly commit some unspeakable things. He shuttered at the thought.
Martin gazed back towards the horizon as he reached where the sand met the cement. The sky was in splendid display, its colors splashing across the ocean and the clouds. All that was missing was the hallelujah chorus.
Something reached into the deepest corners of Martin’s mourning heart that he hadn’t experienced in a very long time … Optimism. For the first time since he’d left home over a year ago, he felt optimism’s blissful reassurance. Things may not have been ideal, but somehow, he knew they would get better. With the last sliver of light, the sun made its escape behind the horizon, leaving remnants of red and amber speckled across the water and clouds.
“May I also leave an imprint on humankind as beautiful as you when I am gone, Mr. Sun,” whispered Martin.
With that, Martin gestured toward the sun like a monk praying with ring fingers bent. An odd gesture to the outside world, but one of the highest respects to those familiar with its meaning.
Martin walked around the corner to the front entrance of his apartment. He rented from a large woman who owned the place by the name of Arlene Palermo. An orthopedic surgeon by trade, she was of Portuguese descent and loved theatrics. She was a big fan of Martin because he had read every Shakespeare play she had and could quote lines and discuss the underlying meanings.
From Trinculo’s lines from The Tempest to Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” speech, Martin had them down. (Although most things he read he never forgot.) Safe to say, Martin was Arlene Palermo’s favorite tenant and made no effort to hide it. Every time their paths crossed, she would greet Martin in the most formal of speech from which Martin would match. It was common courtesy for Martin, but just like common sense, common courtesy “wasn’t so common” as Arlene would say.
Ms. Palermo stood on the sidewalk looking completely preoccupied by something. She whipped around, frantically looking in all directions before quickly resting her eyes on Martin. Panic was in her eyes and no sign of theatrics were on display. Genuine surprise filled her expressive face.
“Good evening Ms. Palermo, is everything alright?” asked Martin.
“Martin! Oh, thank goodness you’ve arrived! I was cleaning the windows when I looked down and saw someone come to your front door covered head to toe in a tattered robe. I thought it strange because it’s been rather warm lately but then as I was walking to the door there was this flash of light and it startled me so much that I hesitated and then—”
“Ms. Palermo! Please calm down, madam. I’m sure it was just some local kids attempting some sort of prank.”
“No, but that’s just it, Martin dear! When I worked up the courage to shoo him away, he was nowhere to be found. What’s more … As soon as I made it down the stairs, what did I see? A child on your front step!”
Silence fell between them as confusion overtook Martin.
“Come with me, my dear. I should have gone to the child first instead of looking for the deserter. Come, come, come …”
Ms. Palermo walked to the front of the apartment with Martin faster than he had ever seen her move. She was surprisingly spry despite her age and size. Reaching the front of Martin’s apartment, their demeanor quickly changed to a quieter one. There was, in fact, a baby sound asleep in what appeared to be singed blankets. The faint smell of smoke hung in the air.
“Ms. Palermo, may I?” whispered