Famines punishment arriv.., p.1
Famine's Punishment: Arrival of the Four Horsemen, page 1
Famine’s Punishment
Arrival of the Four Horsemen Series
Copyright © 2023 By Marcelle Valentine
All rights reserved.
No part of this book can be used, reproduced, transmitted, or distributed without written consent from the author, except for instances where a brief quotation is being used in an article or review.
This book is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, any and all of the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to a real location, persons living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Contact information: marcellevalentine.com/
Published in the United States of America by Medusa Publishing.
Medusa Publishing is a registered trade name of Medusa Publishing, LLC.
First edition 2023
Contents
Epigraph
1. Convictions
2. The Black Rider…. The Bringer of Decay and Despair.
3. Return of Sausage Fingers.
4. Meet and Greet.
5. Unearthed.
6. Brothers
7. Following Our Path
8. Sit, Stand, Repeat.
9. Family.
10. Bullshit.
11. Lessons to Learn.
12. The Truth Unveiled.
13. Lost in Thought.
14. Submit.
15. Careful What You Ask For.
16. Incapable.
17. Fast Learner
18. Dreams.
19. Unwanted Desires.
20. Sharing Is Caring.
21. Replacement.
22. Come Again.
23. Expiration Date.
24. Simple Truth.
25. Apple.
26. Surprises
27. Ready Or Not.
28. Dangerous Things
29. Here Goes Nothing
30. Once In A Lifetime.
31. Reunion
32. Now or Never
33. Running Out Of Time
Also By Marcelle Valentine
Ritual Nightmares Teaser
Ritual Nightmares Sample
Acknowledgements
Newsletter
About the Author
Dream big…it’s easier to catch that way.
1
Convictions
And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. Corinthians 13:13.
̴ Death Summer 2026 ̴
Isolation.
Darkness.
Captivity.
These are my punishments for my transgressions. A penance Michael believed I should have given myself without our Father’s involvement. Regardless, I’m certain it overjoyed him when he returned and discovered where he had sent me. This is my tomb.
Unlike the jail they held me for the last year, this place is… nothing. Nowhere. This realm exists in a plane all its own, separate from the others he has created. The goal of this place is to make you forget your past. To surrender to its authority. It’s meant to break me, but what they did not account for is that I already was living in this hell without Avalon. A nothingness they forced me to walk through every day, which only grew worse when they removed her from my view.
By placing me here, they sentenced me to millennia of isolation, but in doing so, they also gave me a gift. I no longer have to hide my feelings or what she means to me because just as they removed my gaze from her, I am removed from theirs. A reward they did not realize they were granting me.
So I fill my time with all the sweetest memories of my Avalon. The woman who showed me a better way. A soul who demonstrated what true strength is. An attribute she taught me is not physical but is in the steel of your convictions and your unwavering love for the people you hold dear.
Whereas before, I would not allow my thoughts to linger too long on her, now she is all I think about.
Her smile and laugh.
The scent and feel of her skin.
Her courage and principles.
The woman this world shaped her into… a fighter, a survivor, and loyal to the bitter end. A woman who captured not only this horseman’s devotion but my brother’s as well. Because even though I know War abided by my request, he did so with a heavy heart. Had I given him a choice, he would never have walked away.
In many ways, I suppose my father got his wish because I learned what it meant to be mortal, and with it, I found love, but other emotions also plagued me. One of the worst to deal with was the one I fought the hardest. Jealousy. This is why I could not allow War to explore his feelings for her. I couldn’t accept one of my brothers loving what I had walked away from. I was a fool. And if given the chance to do it again, I never would have left the home on the hill we made together.
What Michael did not account for is I am even more resolute in my determination to return to the one place holding the woman who owns every piece of me. He may have removed my gaze from her, but he will never take away my heart. I will never surrender no matter how long I am forced to stay here because if I do, I have truly failed her.
“Son.”
“Father, have you changed your mind? Have you come to release me?”
“I am here only to inform you that your brother has been called to her world.”
Famine. No, not Famine. He will not be as willing to give them a chance or as forgiving as Pestilence and War. “How did this happen?”
“By force of hand.”
“I don’t understand what you mean. Did someone hurt Avalon or someone she loves? Did she face losing one of my brothers?”
“It matters not how it occurred. It was only fair to tell you your brother’s decay is set to begin.”
“No!”
“This is not for you to decide, son.”
“I have done everything you have ever asked of me.”
“This was true…until the lamb’s importance surpassed that of your task. I cannot have you interfering with her path more than you already have. This is the lamb’s task to complete. I’m sorry you love her. It is hard to see one of my most loyal sons suffering, but I must ensure she fulfills what I have assigned her. Something she will not do if I allow you to return to her. And with Raum—”
“Raum hunts her still?”
“He does.”
“I must warn Pestilence and War.”
“No. We will provide no such warning.”
“But how will she fulfill her destiny if Raum succeeds in his?”
“Raum wishes to see the riders released.”
“Father, once she has completed her task, he will carry her soul back to hell to be tormented and tortured. You know this.”
“Then this is to be the fate of the lamb.”
“NO!”
My Father fades away, leaving me to consider what this means for Apple and my brothers. War and Pestilence will never permit our brother to harm the ones they love, which means my brothers will have no choice but to oppose one another with Famine on one side and Pestilence and War on the other. The issue is Famine is stronger. As is my father’s way, each rider is stronger and more resolute than the last. Meaning he will not fall by their hand without bloodshed. Regardless, one of my brothers will meet their end if I do nothing soon to stop this.
Then there’s Raum. He opposes us all, including our father. He represents a danger not only to Avalon but to all of humanity. But not just them, because he overwhelmed one of my brothers, from what I was told. This interaction resulted in my Apple breaking War’s seal so she could save Pestilence. He is a wildcard who will learn of my wrath the instant I ensure Avalon’s safety.
I have roamed in utter darkness for more months than I care to contemplate, unable to view Avalon’s world or know what fate has befallen her or my brothers. Regardless of the countless years I must roam in this obscurity, I will forever hold dear this exquisite spirit and her significance to me. And if anything has befallen one of my brothers, fate will not look kindly on the ones who did this. If I were there, I could be their voice of reason for all of them, including Famine. So for these reasons, I will search for an exit. Find a way out and fight my way back to them. When I am free, nothing and no one will stop me from returning to her world.
I dream of this day. The day she will be back in my arms, and when it arrives, I am never letting go again.
Regardless of what trials lie ahead, I will never surrender. She deserves no less. Because of my Apple, I know what it means to be alive and to have hope. Because of this, my love for Avalon will endure forever, and I will never cease fighting to be reunited with the woman who has captured every piece of my heart and soul. Something the beings who have stolen her from me will regret. Because as long as I have a soul, these three remain: faith, hope, and love. So you see, this simple truth remains… when it comes to her, I know now there has never been any other choice. Too bad I didn’t figure this out sooner.
Everything else pales in comparison to the love I have for Avalon. Because she is and will always remain…
My beautiful Apple.
2
The Black Rider…. The Bringer of Decay and Despair.
When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales
̴ Famine Summer 2026 ̴
At long last, I take my first breath. I have toiled in darkness for centuries with only brief glimpses of their realm. Of the world these mortals our creator held in such esteem have been gifted. But now I am awake. The seal that kept me prisoner is no more, which means my brothers, Pestilence and War, are already there. I hope the few glances they granted me are incorrect; otherwise, it means my brothers have failed in their mission.
I cannot fathom what could have swayed them, and since my creator opted to hold these moments from me, I am left with more questions than answers.
The one name that plagues my hazy thoughts is Avalon. I have no clue why this mystical place would hound me. Perhaps I can ascertain this information from my brother. Thanatos should be here to welcome me, since he is the only one among us not forced to sleep. It’s worrisome that he still has not made an appearance.
While waiting for him, I prepare the instruments I will require for my arrival. The ones I will use to weigh their worth. An action that is done so I can show them how insignificant they are. I will demonstrate to the ones who plead absolution they are not as pure as they believe. With my tools prepared, I move on to my companion. It has been far too long since he has walked in the sun. I look forward to the moment we do so.
After I had completed all the tasks requiring my attention, he was still unaccounted for. If he does not wish to welcome me, he leaves me no choice other than to seek him out to greet him. I have questions, and I assume he possesses the answers I seek. Perhaps Thanatos can explain why a place I’ve never visited holds such a profound significance.
As I wander the hall to his quarters, I cannot help but notice how deserted everything is. Not to allude that they ever brim with activity because they do not. Because my Father’s kingdom is vast, spreading most of his most loyal thin. Regardless of this, the circumstances I woke to are quite unusual.
I plan to confront my brother and demand he explain what was so important it would detain him from greeting me after all this time, but when I arrive at the place he last inhabited, I find it as deserted as the rest of this place.
I roam from one corner of his room to the next, searching for any clue of his whereabouts. But nothing. The only evidence of his existence was the book prophesying our arrival. Is it possible Thanatos has found a way to unleash his wrath upon their world before me?
This is the only explanation that makes any sense.
“It is so good to see you after all these millennia, Rider.” I whip my head toward the voice, only to discover my father’s chief warrior standing in the doorway.
“Michael?”
“Yes,” he smiles while moving further into the room. “How are you, Famine?”
“Confused. I am trying to ascertain why Thanatos did not greet me upon waking.”
“Oh.” A pained look crosses his face, twisting his features. “I’m sorry to have to be the one to tell you this, but I feel it is only fair. Your brother–he… our Father has punished him.”
“Why?”
“He strayed from his duty.”
“Thanatos did such a thing? This does not sound like my brother at all.”
“I understand you’re upset, my friend. We all were by his actions and the punishment he now faces.”
“Since when did we become friends, Michael? I should like to hear what egregious act my brother committed.”
“Well, for one, he refused to ferry a soul to their afterlife. Worse, he restored it.”
“This was after my other brothers had already awakened?”
“Pestilence had already been called to their world. War yet slumbered.”
“I don’t understand why Thanatos would do this. If Pestilence had passed his judgment, why would he restore what our brother took?”
“Somehow, one mortal did what no one thought possible and bewitched him. This mortal could cloud his judgment and affect his mind, so he no longer believed in your mission. Had our father not jailed him, I fear what he would have done to your other brothers.”
I am stunned by what this angel is saying. Our purpose is so deeply ingrained in our creation that no one believes the riders could ever go against it. How could one mortal be capable of such a feat? This is something I would like to hear.
“Is our father certain this was a mortal? What if it was one of our fallen brethren? One of the damned who will never be welcome here again? Because I must be honest here, Michael, I find it difficult to imagine he would grant any of the cretins Father tasked us with removing this ability.”
“We are certain.”
“How? How can you be so certain? Have you captured the being? Removed them from their plane? What actions have you taken against the soul who would dare to attempt such atrocities?”
“None. The being remains in the mortal realm.” Raw fury fills my every cell upon hearing this. Why in the seven realms of hell would any of them allow this abomination to remain free in the mortal realm? For they must know if Thanatos fell to such a being, my other brothers are also at risk. Lashing out faster than he can react, I take Michael by the throat and slam him into the wall. He will explain why our creator granted immunity to such a being when my brother toils in darkness.
“Enough talking in half answers. You will tell me why this mortal still walks within their realm, and you will do it fast if you wish to keep your soul intact.” For a fleeting second, Michael’s eyes shift from sympathy to rage. I suspect he does not like me handling him as I am, but almost as fast, the emotion disappears so he can sputter his response.
“Because the being who swayed him is tasked with waking the riders.” My hands fall away as I contemplate what he told me. The being responsible for calling us to their world is the same one who swayed my brother. No. No, this is not possible. The lamb is there to aid us, not oppose us; however, Michael eliminates further doubt with his following statement.
“You must resist the lamb’s ability to control the riders.” Michael’s choking gasps are but a distant sound to my confused mind. If this lamb holds so much power, could this vile, wicked creature have already afflicted my other brothers with the same magic?
“Tell me of Pestilence and War. How do they fare in their mission?”
“Failed. The-they, too, have become lost to the lamb’s influence,” he replies through each wheezed breath he desperately sucks in.
“I must find them and right this wrong.”
“NO! I mean, it is too late to change their minds, yet you still have a mission to fulfill. Once completed, we must hope they will find their way back to us. Find their way home. The reason our creator blocked your view of their fall. He feared the lamb’s influence might be capable of reaching you even in slumber. This is also why I came to talk to you without your brother’s involvement.”
“Is that so?”
“You must complete your task, Famine. You cannot allow yourself to be swayed as the other riders did.”
“What is your end goal, Michael?”
“I wish to end the ones who have spat on their creator’s memory. The ones who have fallen far from his grace yet still command a large piece of his heart. I wish to release him from the agony of watching their failures.”
“And what’s in it for you?”
“Nothing. I gain nothing but the knowledge I have ended his long torment.”
“Hmmm.”
“You do not believe me?”
“No, I do not. There is always something to gain, which means there is always an ulterior motive. Even for one of the grand warriors of this realm.”
“Need I remind you—” Michael snaps as he approaches me. His clenched fist and snarled lip show that he intends to remind me what he feels I have failed to recall.
“You needn’t do anything. I know my task. It seems maybe you are the one who has forgotten yours.”
“So I can count on you to follow your duty?”
“You can count on more than that because I will find this lamb, make them watch while I obliterate their world, and then force this wicked creature to break Thanatos’s seal. Only to be rewarded with me ending their existence. Where can I find this lamb?”
