What Comes After Sanctuary 2?
That is undoubted the question that many of you have since I've been teasing this. It's actually something that I was unsure of. I knew there were so many questions left unanswered, which I could have put in Sanctuary 2 or in The Fell, but I realized that this wouldn't work. Or rather Kat showed me it wouldn't work. That I had enough material for a whole other serial that would answer the outstanding questions and really give everyone the proper "ending". Which is what has led to the following announcement!
I am creating a serial called Dark Magic, which will combine Winter Haven Country Club and The Pact. So in this story, I'm going to answer the following questions:
The Necklace
Cole thinks to give the necklace to KC, but worries what it will do to her. What is the deal with this necklace? Is it more than it seems?
Eighteen Dates
I really thought of WHCC as a series of vignettes with us seeing characters from other stories we love and then we had our main couple. That... went off the rails. Suddenly, it was all a part of the Winter Haven Universe and I couldn't go back to the Cole and Stephanus romance, because the story was simply pushing forward. Now, Dark Magic is not going to be vignettes. It's going to connect the witch and demon universe more tightly together. But its also going to give us more of Cole and Stephanus' love life as it should, along with Emrys and Nate!
The Uncle
At the end of The Pact 2, Nate's mysterious uncle appeared. We don't know where he's been. We don't know why he came back. We don't know if he's a good or bad addition to Winter Haven witch community.
When will Dark Magic start?
I think May, but maybe June. Why? I didn't plan all this out and I want to make sure that I have everything in order, at least as much order as I can (and your comments of course change everything!).
What about The Fell?
Dark Magic still takes place before The Fell, I think, or at least alongside it. But here's the thing, you won't have to read Dark Magic before continuing on with The Fell. Dark Magic is really to answer only those questions left unanswered for Cole, Stephanus, Emrys and Nate in the witch world, while the elven world is different. So you can go straight from Sanctuary 2 to The Fell again. So The Fell should start posting again next month. I'm not going to update the calendar yet as I consider how I want to do things.
What am I missing?
What am I missing? What am I forgetting? This is where you come in. I want you to remind me of any plot points that aren't here or, even if they weren't left hanging, things you would like to see. Please tell me in the comments!
Comments
I kind of liked that you hinted at a potential relationship between Cooper and Shane. I was hoping something might really spark between them. It would be nice for Nate's dad to find love again.
Yes, please! Maybe with a few chapters from their POVs?
I agree! Shane deserves someone special and Cooper could really use some TLC.
Yes! Definitely want to see more of that couple.
Hmm. Looks like i may be the minority here, but still I'm gonna say it: I, personally, would be completely fine if this budding relationship was NOT pursued. I would love Shane to be a father figure for Cooper, but a romantic relationship... I could do without! It was a bit awkward imo. (though i can see why people would enjoy it, I'm sure I would have loved it too but maybe in another context?)
I agree. With the current dynamic between them and Nate, a Shane/Cooper pairing would feel a bit shoehorned rather than a natural progression of the story. I also think Shane as a father figure works better for them.
There are a number of interesting prospects that could open with this, including especially the inter-family relationship TUO has with his children, the Great Ones. Whether it be from Nate or Cole's perspective, with their having a outlook of their immortal selves' take on their relatives. In doing so as well, generate a kind of logical hierarchy within the Outer Dark family.
Another idea are the Witch Hunters, I mean, what force do they serve or work towards? It seems illogical that any force would be courageous enough to actively battle against the forces of the dark knowing full well the "Dark Master" was among them unless they were assisted by a viable benefactor. And, to TUO, a viable threat to him and his. And of course, what are the Witch Hunters and others like them, up to?
Also Raythe, ever heard of Warhammer? Fascinating universe, particularly the 40K universe. I see so many comparisons, for example the Demon God Slaanesh and Erebos, given they have a shared relationship with Eldar and their creations. A great irony, both Slaanesh and Erebos seem to indulge (or have their followers indulge) in depravity, and have special palate names: "She who Thirst" and the "Great Devourer". Likewise, there is the matter of the Bringer being the God of War and Bloodshed, which sounds a lot like the Demon God Khorne. The tentacle monstrosity (Cthulhu) that uses an Oracle-like followers and can technically foresee the future to a degree, sounds like the Demon God, Tzeentch. The only one with no comparison so far, not including lesser Demon Gods, is the Chaos God of Plague: Nurgle. And of course, there is the belief that all of these Gods are just aspects of a larger entity called "the Great Beast" (aka the Devil) that is worshipped by some of Chaos Undivided, which in parallel if it were to exist sounds a lot like TUO's special focus.
I really like and agree with the first part about the relationship which TUO and his generals have with each other, and would love to see some version of it translate into their human selves. I also think it important to highlight and expand on the idea that in their human selves, Cole (the generals) love and admire Nate (TUO) but still feel comfortable enough with him to be themselves without pretense; while Stephanus (the second tier but still powerful demons) have a hard time seeing anyone other than TUO and being on the verge of dropping to their knees and worshipping him the entire time. I don't think this dynamic should change, as a reminder that demons are still demons, and TUO doesn't rule them all because he is a nice guy. But seeing it applied to other demons as well might be interesting.
About the Witch Hunters though...I just see them as a gnat without any greater power behnd them. However, because of how insignificant they are TUO allows them to exist. Ironically I think if they were an actual threat they would have been crushed a long time ago. The Witch Hunters might actually serve TUO well by: making deals with demons to get their power, which TUO is always happy to see, and culling the herd of demons when they get sloppy or stupid.
I might however be completely wrong about all of this XD.
Is the Darkness in the ghost half answerable to TUO or is it an entity unto itself???
The Darkness in the Ghost Half is Erebos, the Great One (aka, the fiery Hellspawn). That's what the Argyris in Sanctuary II are referring to when they speak of the Nomad's wrongful actions in "the holy town of Hamilton." So, definitely answerable to TUO!
Though I do wonder about Elisha's appearance as the Darkness' avatar in Ghost Half. Does Erebos really eat/trap souls, or do they filter through to TUO at the Falls of Oblivion, like all the rest? Hm.
That was a good point. Erebos is the Darkness in the ghost half. But if Erebos was going around entrapping villages it would obviously be with the permission and approval of TUO. It makes me wonder whether those deals automatically made TUO stronger which is why he approved of Erebos' shenanigans.
I might actually like (even if not necesarily in this book) to see one of those villages that made a deal with Erebos make a comeback, and answer where the power and those souls went. I might also like seing TUO approve and give permission to Erebos to continue corrupting those villages, because:
1. It would be a good reminder that TUO is hardly an angel and is a complex creature
2. TUO seems to be big on believing that everyone is responsible for their actions, and if they make a deal it is their problem for their stupidity
3. It might add to the depth of the universe to see on the one part Erebos as protector of the Eldar and the Argyris while simultaneusly preying on corruptible humans. Not to mention the irony of having Flynn and the Nomad hunting down and destroying those villages while Erebos corrupts more. It would be complex, but I think it would be interesting,to show that the world is not clear cut and simple, and that even though at the end of the day they are on the same side and would fight to defend each other; for what they consider "minor quests" they all are allowed to make up their own minds and act accordingly without repercussions from each other.
I'm so excited! I would love to see some POV chapters for KC, where she goes to the 'continuing education' witch classes and vies for position in the new witch world order, maybe with that necklace. Maybe the necklace isn't necessarily evil but it grants some power that is difficult to use without corruption. Like it can steal other people's powers, or it can see into people's hearts, or it unlocks the greatest potential of the wearer, both good and evil potential.
And I wonder what happened with the rest of the witch hunters after the Samuel fiasco. And if there are witch hunters are there demon hunters?
(Also I would love it if the Nomad would pop in occasionally to visit Cole because he is hilarious and awesome.)
I would also like to see KC kick butt. Maybe Abby could tutor her?
YES MORE NOMAD!!! please.
Omg yes! Abby and KC would be so cool together! XD
The secret room in the Whitney library was made to seem as if someone had recently occupied it, but we never learned who. Although that might be explained when we learn more about Nate's uncle, considering the Stalker Wall featured him.
At the end of Pact 2 they said they would be rescuing Ashley from the Which Hunters. It was mentioned early on that Ashley had inherited a special power from her grandmother, I believe (it's been a while since I read this), but unless I just missed it, that power was never specified. By the way, I really hope Turner and Ashley do not wind up together. I have an altogether different love interest in mind for him, but I'm sure it would be controversial...
I'd like to know more about the effects of Abby having accepted power from TUO.
And lastly, super looking forward to seeing Excelsius(/Josh) again! He was one of my favorite characters.
Ashley seems a bit small as an opponent at this point. Then again, the Pact is a bit about the minor quests that the Devil engages in when he is bored :P. I think that Ashley and the Witch Hunters need to fade into the background for a bit, reocup and return at a later date. Perhaps as opponents against other characters we have yet to meet. After all, how can you be a Witch Hunter that fights demons when they know perfectly well that the Devil exists and completely outclasses them?
I loved the interactions between Abby and TUO. Unlike with other characters where it seems that TUO is having a laugh or waiting for the other shoe to drop, or just scaring the hell out of them, he treated Abby as someone which he genuinely loved and respected as a friend. I would like to see some more of that. And yes, eager to see what the power she got will mean However, this is one of the few times in which I believe that the repercussions from the power may be gray, but they will be more along the line of side effects which Abby can learn to rein in instead of payment as things usually work with TUO. I could be wrong, but I didn't get the impression that TUO expected anything hugely bad and dark to happen to Abby, perhaps just a learning curve, but not pure evilness.
I would like to know what happens with the Witch hunters especially Tobias since it was mentioned in Pact 2 that he would be against Nate but the whole sequence would be for Ermys soul... I am curious about the built-up on the TUO as well.
I am so looking forward to both continuation of Fell but also the next/in between part of Winter Heaven Series.
Thank you!
The Witch Hunters! I completely left them out. Good to know.
Another thought, WHCC it was said that Nate is Ermys fiancé, I would love to know how Ermys proposes
God I know I’m getting confused with who was in what story but I remember the thing about the Harbinger’s sister and that there were more from where she came from. Now that memories are back I’d like to see more about that. And then the Chinese vampire and his whole deal and is he still an unfinished story? Hmm, yes the unfinished dates are important but not so important that I need to know full chapters on each of them. Maybe reminiscing about all the dates on the last date to sum all that up. Hmm, what else...