Amaranthine: The Heart of Decompose
Nina R Schluntz
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Horror, Romance
Publisher: Rainstorm Press
Date of Publication: 19 December 2014
ISBN-10: 1937758532
ISBN-13: 978-1937758530
Number of pages: 230 pages
Word Count: 80,580
Cover Artist: Nina Schluntz
Book Description:
Dragons, unicorns, fairies, zombies… and Santa.
At the center of it all stands Dee, a man immortalized in legend as Decompose. An ongoing war between unicorns and dragons has led to the creation of a plague… a deadly infection Dee is the host for. Not quite human, but not a unicorn either, Dee and the plague form a symbiotic relationship, resulting in immortality of the undead kind.
Every ruling Empire has desired control of Decompose. Controlling the infection means control of the people. An intervention of an old rival, Santa, results in Dee going missing. When he resurfaces decades later, Dee has one goal: locate the mythical cure to his plague.
However, complications of the heart force Dee to decide whether he truly wants to find the cure and give up being Decompose.
Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/93Yoo-LcPZo
Available at Amazon
Jhon.
Dee focused on the name, pulling strength from it. Jhon contained the cure. Dee had to live so he could find Jhon. The cure was his way to correct all the wrongs he had done.
Dee ripped at the flesh surrounding him and clawed his way to the surface. The guts of the creature spilled out onto the ground, and he fell with them. He coughed, spitting out bodily fluids of the creature that had eaten him.
Jhon.
Dee rolled onto his side and threw up. The acidic stomach bile had left him temporarily disabled. His hearing returned before his vision and he heard voices near him.
“That?” A boyish voice asked. “That’s what you call a great and powerful present?”
“Trust me.” Another male voice said. “Throw the net on him and all your wishes will come true.”
“What is he, a genie?”
“You can treat him like one. He will be able to grant your every wish.” The older voice sounded familiar. Air rushed into Dee’s lungs, and his heart gave a painful beat. “Throw it over him now, before his strength returns.”
“Santa,” Dee managed to say. He gritted his newly mended teeth and gave a low growl. What did that man want now?
Dee’s vision returned in time for him to see a large, light- weight fishnet fall over his head and shoulders, covering his entire body. There was something claustrophobic about it. The more he struggled, the more of a mess he made of himself and the net.
“Stop moving around like that,” the boy said. Every muscle in Dee’s body stiffened. “Straighten the net out and get to your feet.” Dee moved as quickly as his wounded body would allow. His skin continued to burn from the acidic digestive juices still covering his flesh. The child before him didn’t look nearly as young as he’d expected. He was a teenager. And a dorky looking one at that, dressed in dark green pajamas with a cowlick on the back of his head.
“Santa, what is this?” Dee asked.
“Show me a trick,” the boy said. Dee obediently raised his hand and created a tennis ball sized orb of fire. It hovered in mid- air a few inches from his hand.
“He can do whatever you want,” Santa told the boy. “He is yours. No one will miss him. They all think he is dead.”
Dee put the fire out and lowered his hand. Fear rose through his healing body as he realized Santa was right. Dee had just crawled his way out of a dragon’s belly. Everyone who knew him thought a giant winged lizard had digested him. Even if someone searched for his remains, they would likely find nothing awry with his missing body.
“What is this?” he asked again.
“You’re my Christmas present,” the boy said.
Santa leaned in close to Dee. “The boy is clever, Dee. He caught me in a trap. You wouldn’t want all the children in the universe to miss the joy that Santa brings, would you? Of course, you wouldn’t. Therefore, I bartered with him. I gave him you in exchange for my freedom. You understand, don’t you?”
“You gave me to him as a present? I’m not an object to be owned.”
“Well, let’s be honest here, Dee. Most of your life has been spent in exactly that manner. At least this time your owner only wants you for your power, not your plague. Consider it a blessing—besides you’ll still have my visit to look forward to every Christmas Eve.”
My plague. Dee tried not to cringe at the reminder.
“Can you teleport him directly to the shower? He’s disgusting. My mother will throw a fit if he brings all that goop into the house.”
“Then you’ll take him?” Santa asked, as though Dee were a puppy for sale at the pet store.
“Yeah, he’ll do. Thank you, Santa.”
“I should have thought of this years ago,” Santa said.
“Santa, please,” Dee said. “I have to find Jhon before Emperor Emanuel does. He’s the only one who can cure the plague.”
“I’m sure Jhon will be fine without you, Dee.”
Character Name: Dee McPowin, aka Decompose
Character Bio: Two thousand year old warlock, from Earth, currently the host for the Plague of Decompose.
Thank you for joining us today Dee. I know you have a busy schedule. I want you to know how much of an honor it is to be interviewing you.
Dee: No problem.
So the great Decompose has been missing for fifteen years. How does it feel to be “found?”
Dee: I’m just glad to be able to resume my search for the cure.
That’s right. You’re on a quest to find a cure for your plague. We all certainly wish you the best of luck in locating it. So let’s get down to the questions my viewers are interested in. What would you describe as your worst and best quality?
Dee: I think my worst is rather obvious, I’m infected with a plague that makes me want to devour human flesh. My best quality would be my self-control, you can attest to that as you’re still alive.
(laugh nervously) Yes, indeed. What is the one thing you wish other people knew about you?
Dee: That I’m not a heartless monster. Most of my plague wasn’t spread by me but others who—
Let’s avoid politics and keep this strictly about you, shall we? What is your biggest secret, something no one knows about?
Dee: I have no real friends.
I’m sorry to hear that. Perhaps after this interview you’ll be able to find some.
Dee: Are you offering?
(Nervous laugh) Sure. So back to the questions, what are you most afraid of?
Dee: The very thing I create.
Can you clarify?
Dee: The zombies my plague creates. My worst fear is being eaten alive by them, for all of eternity.
Oh my, that is… a horrid fate. Um, what do you want more than anything?
Dee: To find the cure to my plague and remove it from existence.
That would make you mortal, wouldn’t it? Isn’t it true the plague is what keeps you alive?
Dee: Yes, I would no longer be able to regenerate like I do. But my father was a warlock, so I’ll still be immortal.
Just not undead.
Dee: Correct.
What is your relationship status?
Dee: Single.
How would you describe your sense of fashion?
Dee: I don’t understand the question.
That’s fine, we’ll skip it. How much of a rebel are you? Huh, you know what, I don’t think we need to hear the answer for that either. Umm, what do you consider to be your greatest achievement?
Dee: Murdering my entire family.
Oh wow, that um. What is your idea of happiness?
Dee: Peace. The brief moments that there is no hunger, no voices or demons, (gestures at head) telling me to feed on flesh.
Huh, speaking of that, what is your current state of mind?
Dee: Distracted.
What is your most treasured possession?
Dee: A trinket I took of my adoptive father’s corpse.
What is your most marked characteristic?
Dee: My mixed heritage.
That’s not quite what, never mind. What is it that you, most dislike?
Dee: Zombies.
Right. Which living person do you, most despise? Or, uh, have you killed them all?
Dee: I thought you wanted to keep politics out this interview.
Yes, indeed I did. Moving on, what is your greatest regret?
Dee: Failing to verify that all of my family members are dead. I’m worried a few might have recovered.
Ah, yes. Nothing like a job half done. I’m sure many of us can relate, sort of. What is a quality you most like in a person?
Dee: Fat and slow, bigger the better.
So, you’re interested in physical qualities?
Dee: Yes.
Who is your favorite hero in fiction?
Dee: Superman.
Why?
Dee: He has a few superpowers I lack.
Uh huh, if you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Dee: To not be the host for the Plague of Decompose. To be normal, human, mortal, live a normal life.
What is your motto?
Dee: Don’t eat him.
Huh, that’s a very inter—
(We’re sorry, this broadcast is experiencing technical difficulties)
Nina Schluntz is a native to rural Nebraska. In her youth, she often wrote short stories to entertain her friends. Those ideas evolved into the novels she creates today.
Her husband continues to ensure her stories maintain a touch of realism as she delves in the science fiction and fantasy realm. And their kitty, a rescued Abyssinian, is always willing to stay up late to provide inspiration.
Visit her blog; mizner13.wordpress.com for information regarding previous and upcoming publications. She also posts book and movie reviews for a wide variety of genres.
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