Messiah Complex

Download or read book Messiah Complex written by Toby LeBlanc and published by . This book was released on 2004-11-01 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Katrina Ravel arrives incognito on the Greek island of Sifnos in a head-on collision with destiny. Consumed with passion for Sergei Smyrnoff, a Russian sculptor, Katrina barters her soul for Sergei's undying love but in an ironic twist she becomes enamored with the devil's disciple. As the yacht Atlantis plows through the Aegean toward Sifnos, Katrina reflects the past and brings to mind events that impelled her toward this fateful journey. She recalls her first encounter with Sergei. Katrina and Sergei meet unexpectedly at Sonia Alexander's birthday party. Sergei, handsome, charming and a man around town, sets out to conquer beautiful Katrina. Sonia, Katrina's life-long friend, aware of Sergei's shadowy reputation, tries desperately to deter Sergei's and Katrina's budding relationship. Paying no heed to her friend's warnings, Katrina becomes deeply involved with Sergei. Katrina has lost both parents at a young age and was brought up by Manos Xenakis, a close friend of the family. Manos is a wealthy shipowner who does not allow power and wealth to corrupt his principles. He offers Katrina love and compassion and takes full responsibility for her upbringing. However, Katrina gravitates toward Eleni, his housekeeper, who helps her overcome her intense sorrow at her parents' loss. Eleni is originally from the Greek Island of Sifnos. While the two women exchange confidences, Eleni relates a bizarre story that took place on her native Sifnos, years back. The yarn is about a humble chapel on a mountain overlooking the Aegean. A heinous murder within its walls desecrated the chapel and turned it into a place where only the devil can dwell. The legend is that the devil offers his favors to those who are desperate enough to seek him out and do his bidding. While attending a party at Manos's penthouse, Katrina meets with George Venetis. He engages her in conversation and she discovers that he belongs to a sect of devil worshipers. Venetis tries to lure Katrina into surrendering her soul and becoming one of Lucifer's followers. Meanwhile, Sonia flies to Crete seeking solace from an unfortunate love affair. Sonia meets the local doctor, marries him, and settles down in Crete. Katrina attends Sonia's wedding without Sergei. While in Crete she meets unexpectedly with Venetis, who is pursuing her. Aware of Katrina's obsession, Venetis tries to persuade her to sell her soul to the devil for Sergei's eternal love. Upon her return to New York, Katrina visits Sergei at his studio where she meets with a strange woman who is obviously very pregnant. The woman reveals that she is Sergei's fiancée and that the baby she is carrying is Sergei's child. Katrina flees in shock. Grief stricken and inconsolable, she broods and awaits Sergei's return. In time, she realizes that Sergei will not be back and she starts preparing for her journey to Sifnos and the devil's chapel. Olga Zornic, a longtime friend of the Smyrnoffs, calls on Katrina and confides the Smyrnoffs' decadent and lurid past. Though shocked and horrified, Katrina is not deterred by Olga's revelations. Obsessed and driven she flies across the Atlantic and enters the devil's domain. Having accomplished her mission, Katrina comes face to face with George Venetis. Venetis woos her into the Sifnian woods and seduces her. In a twist of fate, her obsession for Sergei dissipates and she becomes enamored with George. The two prepare to go away together into the unknown. But, in yet another twist, Katrina and George lose each other and she finds herself in the hospital with Eleni standing over her. Katrina confesses the barter of