Black or White. Democratic or Republican. Slytherin or Griffindor. Catholic or Protestant. Gay or Straight. Rich or Poor. There are always sides to be chosen, groups to affiliate with, teams to join. Everyone wants to belong, wants to be around those whom they feel they have something in common with. There are pros and cons to joining, belonging with those who have common views, goals and backgrounds and aspirations. But at the end of the day no group, race, political party or religion can every truly define us.
Darkness Bound at its core, is a story about being unable and unwilling to choose a side. Malice has the blood of both the regal sorcerers and the abandon of the wild demons. Her sorceress mother died shortly after she was born and her demon father wanted nothing to do with her. Malice was given a side foremost as it was sorcerers who raised her, but she never forsook her demon side. With the remarkable gift of binding, Malice’s powers develop into a powerful weapon and useful tool.
Unfortunately, its use is too often put to the capture and destruction of demons. Always skeptical of the debate over good and bad, it takes the rescue of a hapless demon child for Malice to draw the line in the sand.
Of course it is a jagged and squiggly line as Malice sinks into apathy, abandoning both sorcerers and demons alike. Rather than use her powers for enforcement or punishment, she uses her powers for sexual and therapeutic reasons. The vast strength of her power, able to hold the fiercest of beings: sorcerers, demons and paranormals alike, is viewed by many in her world to be wasted in the trivial cause of stress release. There is so much that one with her strength could do. So much potential.
Yet, when it all boils down, is Malice truly a…slacker? That is what it’s called, isn’t it? When those of us have a talent, gift or calling that could be used for so much more or that can be used at all, is there a crime when we don’t.
Composed at a time when I was spending a ridiculous amount of time playing MMORPGs (online gaming) rather than writing, painting and crafting, this novel examines both themes of choosing sides and using potential. It takes the powerful symbol of compromise (cloaked in the super-fine, mega hot figure of the demon Naeem) to cool the raging battle of choosing the right side, the moral quandary of do I use my gifts to I take a stand when there are so many areas of gray. Malice sees within Naeem the peace of her moral quandary, the balance that she so longed to have.
Sure I am a writer of erotica and a notorious sensualist, but I choose to imbue my work with not only the things that titillate me but the relevant deep contemplations and issues that constitute real life. Sure it is okay to bind gorgeous vamps, hulks of werewolves and devious demons, but not at the ignorance and apathy of a world on the brink of flames!
No comments:
Post a Comment