BEAST OF THE BELLS 
T.K. Sheils
Mundania Press -- October
2006
A dark, erotic historical
murder mystery set in 1539. The story is told through the
eyes of Rodrigo Aquilino, secretary to the Viceroy, Don
Antonio de Mendoza. His mission is twofold. He must find the
gold of the fabled Seven Cities of Antilla and discover the
real story of the death of Estevanico who was the guide and
in fact led the last expedition.
Estevanico...the black man
was larger than life. One of his many admirers describes him
as “tall, built like an Arabian stallion… sleek, glossy
lithely muscled. He had a smile that would charm a lioness,
eyes that swallowed your soul.” He wore his hair in long
braids with dozens of copper bells woven in them” Of
voracious sexual appetites, he was apparently irresistible
to women and traveled with a harem of at least six young
women.
Tremendously charismatic, he
made friends and allies wherever he went; however, the
clergy hated him and his habit of wearing copper bells on
his person led many of the natives to fear that he was the
Last Beast...the horrific destroyer, the Beast of the Bells.
Rodrigo’s innocence
dissipates as he uncovers lies, torture, murder, even
massacre in his quest for the truth. He is taught erotic
pleasures by one of Estevanico’s lovers and ultimately finds
himself capable of loving and of killing.
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