The Protagonist Speaks

Dear readers, tonight with me is a man from an old European family. He swears that he is protecting humanity from a great threat, but is refusing to divulge details – for our protection, it seems.

So secretive, in fact, that we believe we have an antagonist on our hands.

He is here to tell us of his competitive and clandestine family.

Tell us a little about where you grew up. What was it like there?

I grew up in a small town in Germany, one you’ve likely never heard of. It was very nice, privileged. It is a town that is fairly ensconced by my family.  It’s not exactly an incubation, but we do need more than the usual amount of privacy.  Of course, as you may imagine, we wanted for nothing. Do not mistake this with being spoiled.  We are far from that. Education and training become vitally important at a very young age, very young.

Did you have any favourite toys as a child? Any cherished memories?

I did, but I was thankfully disavailed of such.  Those can be a weakness.  My family is somewhat competitive, and if you want to have a decent place in it, then you must be strong. It’s all for the greater good. I have an enormous amount of cherished memories, and I will keep those so by not sharing them.

What do you do now?

Oh, I do many things.  My most ‘formal’ work, as it were, is as a psychiatrist, consultant, and professor.  As you may note from this, I am interested in protecting and furthering humankind.  We really are a fragile, threatened species, and it will take strength to protect us.

 What do you do mean by “threatened”?

Consider it a poetic choice of word.  We’re no more threatened than any other biological species that has not attained immortality.  And we have not.  Let’s be clear on that.  Until we do, we’re threatened.

What can you tell us about your latest adventure?

Very little, I’m afraid.  Most of what I do is quite clandestine.  It has to be.  Don’t worry yourself over it.  If I must, I could share that something potentially threatening to our entire species is possibly falling into the wrong hands, and I will make sure it does not.

You used the word “threaten” again.

So I did. And that is not a question.

What did you first think when you ran into Skothiam Felcraft in the City?

How did you know about that? Yes, he is the Head of House Felcraft, our rivals. Yes, he was there, and I did not know it, which makes me look bad. I admit it, and I’ll not even shirk from the question. One thing we learn in my family is that adversity makes us stronger. I will hone myself on my enemies, and I do all of this for the betterment of humankind.

What was the scariest thing in your adventures?

I suppose it depends on how you mean ‘scary’.  That is really quite a sophomoric word.  I learned to overcome fear many years ago, but I can see how these things may be ‘scary’ to humanity, in general. Suffice it to say that I have done my diligence to yet again provide protection, and you need not worry yourself over it.

What is the worst thing about being in your family?

Is this a trick question?  It might amuse you to know that I would not be so stupid as to say “nothing”. Such petty games are beneath us.  Not everything is wine and roses.  The worst thing is that we have not yet achieved our goal and earned our due.

What is the best thing about it?

Well, being in it, of course. If this were an audio interview, you’d hear me chuckling right now.  I am sincere. I would not trade being in this family for anything in the world.  It is a very serious responsibility, but fortunately, I am up to the task.  And, of course, there are all of the finer things associated with being in a family of such immense wealth.  You should try it.

Tell us a little about your friends.

Friends are a weakness.  And before you ask me about being lonely or something else equally emotional, I am not.  I am quite fine with my life, and it is fulfilling.  My work, my responsibility, my enjoyments, all of it is intertwined.  Perhaps it would be best to say that there are some I admire, but even those are very few and far between.  My cousin, Asenath, the Head of our Family, tops that short list, of course.

Any romantic involvement?

Not particularly.  Being romantically involved is like having friends.  Take Skothiam Felcraft, for instance.  He has decided to knock the rust off his wounds and get involved with that quite young librarian, Lilja Perhonen.  Foolish.  Both of them will suffer from it.  Mark my words.

Whom (or what) do you really hate?

Oh, that is an easy one, but I can’t entirely divulge the answer.  It really is better that you remain able to sleep at night.  There are things out there that are very frightening, and fortunately, I am capable of thwarting them.  You need not worry about it.  There is really nothing you could do about it, anyway.

That sounds ominous.  Does this go back to whatever it is that is “threatening” humanity?

You really should let that go.  It honestly will do you no good.  Let the proper people handle that.  And yes, I mean me and my family.  Next question, please.

What’s your favourite drink, colour, and relaxing pastime?

Oh, how cute.  Again, if this were audio, you’d hear me chuckling.  It is better than a cold stare; believe me.  I do enjoy Rémy Martin’s Louis XIII Black Pearl cognac. You’ve likely never heard of it.  I also enjoy relaxing with a nice cup of tea and a good book, believe it or not.

What does the future hold for you?

Plans?  This is another touchy subject.  Of course, I hope to do nothing less than save the human race!  As tiresome as it may be becoming, I am chuckling again.  There are things always happening.  I suppose it is safe enough to say that we do not feel the Felcrafts are up to the task of guarding the powerful book they have.  I trust you know about that much, at least.  We also hope to find the other two.  We mustn’t let them fall into the wrong hands, as it were.

Can you share a secret with us, which you’ve never told anyone else?

Oh, you are funny.  Yes, me chuckling again.  Of course not.  That is the whole point.  Have you been paying attention?  There are secrets out there.  Many of them, or one big one, however you like.  And as I mentioned, I do think you prefer to be able to sleep at night, don’t you?  Well, I suppose I could share something less monumental.  I think I’ve found a crack.  It seems so obvious, though, that I am second-guessing, which is not usually my nature.  I can’t tell if this means I am on the right track or that I should abandon it entirely.  I don’t care for such indecision.  Perhaps you should delete all of that.

Born in Houston, Texas into the temporary care of a bevy of nuns before being delivered to his adopted parents, Scott discovered creative writing at a very young age when asked to write a newspaper from another planet. This exercise awakened a seemingly endless drive, and now, many short stories, poems, plays, and novels (both finished and unfinished) later, his first book, “Dance of the Butterfly”, has been published.

You can find Denman Malkuth on the pages of Dance of the Butterfly and the rest of the Butterfly Series.

Join us next week to hear from a half-demon facing the worst days of her life. Please follow the site by email (bottom-right) to be notified when the next interview is posted.