In the past, the world was filled with sentient creatures known as "Beast-Men" which lived on the fringes of society. Shunned for their outward appearances and lifestyles, these sentient creatures were largely discriminated against and treated as lesser beings, leading to many dangerous skirmishes between species. Thirty years ago, the scientific world discovered that there existed a "mutative variant" present in the human genome which has historically led to the natural conception of Beast-Men within the international populace. This meant that being a Beast-Man was an "act of God" and thus, gave way to the social birth of "homo portentum". After the passing of a landmark legislation a few years after the discovery, Beast-Men have integrated into society, doing their best to balance the social norms set upon them, and the instincts from their past heritage.
Enter Julius P. Jones, aka Jules; an artistic subcontractor hired for work within a limited liability partnership, who becomes entangled with an underground society of Beast-Men, known as the Brotherhood of Beasts. His new assignment within the firm would place him under the direct supervision and advisement of an esoteric but brilliant member of the society, who is not only a senior Brother of the fraternity, but is also a senior partner of the partnership.
Through his adventures and pursuit of solving the mysteries of his past, Jules comes to learn about his obscure beginnings, the differences and similarities between the "typical and the atypical", the idiosyncrasies of keeping relationships and what it is like to walk in the shoes of another.
Seven years ago, an event caused the paranatural to come forward on the world stage. The Special Bureau of Containment claimed to have it under control and contained. They emerged, and with them, the worlds of myth and legend became ever so real. Two individuals are struggling to find what they desire in a universe even more complicated by their gift or curse, depending on how you look at it.
Aidan is battling his dark past and a voice that keeps him on the path that he is on. Ian, a sheltered young man, has been in the clear from the watchful eye of the SBC for some time. Their paths are linked in more ways than one.
Will they resolve their internal conflicts and find what they are looking for? Will they succumb to this treacherous world that imposes laws on what cannot be understood?
Collateral Damage is, at first, a slow burner that explores the inner thoughts and lives of the two main characters as it introduces the world they inhabit. The story slowly introduces hints and references that the reader can piece together to get the grander picture at play. It ramps up as you keep reading with more action and drama until it is too much to bear. Can you spot the twists before they come?
I don't plan on writing anything overly graphic, but some light smut and a lot of violence will be a part of it. Rated as mature.
Plan to update as frequently as I can. Hopefully weekly.