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FAUST: a synopsis for the uninitiated...

FAUST is a novel that follows the sordid, and often violent life of AJ, a young man who at the age of 19, sold his soul to the Devil for eternal youth, and worldly fame as a Rock and Roll Star. This novel was begun in 1979 with the first short story introduction of AJ called Weekend in the Bronx. He goes by the pseudonym of Tony in that story, but we all know it's him in his Pre-Death Records days. The author was 14 when she wrote this short story, and both the characters and the writing style have matured over the years. FAUST follows AJ as he rises to the pinnacle of fame and power, striding through endless years of touring with his band, legions of lovers, and truckloads of mind altering substances. But even living as a demigod on earth, he has his limits, and disappointments. Even Immortals have bad days. In the end, he is denied having the one thing we all crave and few find, his true love.

AJ

AJ was born October 31, 1945 in Macon County Georgia. No specific records of his early life are available, as once he was signed to the Death Records label in the fall of 1966, a series of fires at both his family home, and the County Hospital where he was born destroyed all traces of his former life, as well as taking the lives of his parents. He has no known siblings.

AJ relocated to New York City in the Summer of 1965 after running away from home, and took up residence in the nightmare neighborhoods of the Bronx, and Brooklyn. He lived on the streets, making his trade that of a street thug. Once the Hippie culture came to NYC and Central Park, he alternated between preying upon and communing with the flower children depending on his mood at the time. By the summer of 1966, he has a flourishing career as an extortion enforcer for a local mob, and a harem of Hippie lovers who keep him high, and well satiated when it came to pleasures of the flesh. One night while he was waiting to rob the cash drop at the Filmore East, the body guards of Death Records producer Swan got to him before he could make his getaway, and he was captured. After a severe beating he was pardoned from certain extinction by Swan, the omnipotent, enigmatic Record Producer and brought before him. Swan was taken aback by the youths incredible good looks, and talents for savagery, and criminality. In AJ, he saw raw talent and potential, that just needed to be channeled and refined. AJ was taken to Swange, Swan's palatial Mansion and made and offer. Swan offered to give him a job, to make him into anything he wanted to be. AJ's answer was simple, he wanted to be a Rock and Roll Star. The fame, sex and drugs being had by the likes of the Beatles, Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin were the things he most wanted in life right then, and he was willing to do whatever it took to get them, no matter what the cost.

Swan offered him all of that and more, and he only wanted one thing in return, AJ's signature in his own blood at the bottom of a thick contract. After three months of living like a king at Swan's mansion where his every desire was catered to and in some cases anticipated, AJ was only too happy to sign. Who needed a soul when you were going to live like this forever? However, all parties do come to an end eventually.

Along with eternal youthful looks, AJ received other gifts, powers that would aid him in the role he was to play in Swan's master plan. Telepathy, Empathy, weather and element control, as well as the ability to read, and subjugate the minds of the weak and undisciplined were just some of the unholy powers bestowed upon Swan's protégé', but not all at once. First he had to endure a baptism of fire, and torment that would destroy the young man who was just starting to come into his own, and remold him into an amoral psychopath. The perfect Rock Star.

Swan began to rip apart the fabric that was the boy from Georgia even before the blood was dried on the parchment. For 13 years, AJ served under Swan as his student, bodyguard, and submissive lover. Harsh, and painful lessons were the routine, pleasure was metered out only at Swan's whim or when he felt AJ deserved a reward for deeds performed. During this period, AJ never left the grounds of Swanage, although he did try several times unsuccessfully to do so. Each time he was caught, and severely punished. "It is not your time yet." Swan would tell him. "Your time is coming, and when it arrives, you shall rule the universe, and the world will bow before you." Through the haze of drugs, years of abuse, and cruel love, AJ believed, and waited.

After ten years of seclusion, Swan realized that perhaps it was time to start honing skills in AJ other than the ones he utilized in boardroom and bedroom. It was time to form the ultimate band. It was time to form FAUST.

SWAN

Swan is the mysterious, shadowy mastermind behind Death Records, AJ and FAUST. Eternally youthful as is AJ, he is master of all he surveys. Hell is half full with the souls he has sent there.

Uncontested Master of the Music world, his bands are the most renown, and notorious as well.

SOPHIE

Sophie started her career in Rock and Roll as a fan that would attend shows at clubs and venues in and around the New York Area in the early 1980's. It was at an after-show meet and greet for one of Swan's pre-FAUST shows that she met Swan. She was a tender 19 as was his deadly attractive up and coming rock star AJ. Swan however wanted her for his own, and she was quickly initiated into being his lover, and later, his personal assistant. AJ was attracted to her as well, but only as a potential conquest. Swan forbade him to go near her with sexual intentions, and since there was plenty of ass coming his way, AJ complied.

Sophie is rare exception in that she is the only mortal in the Death Records family to know all there is to know about AJ and Swan. She has never signed a blood contract with Swan, although on several occasions, AJ tried unsuccessfully to bind her to his service. She became an important wheel in the machine that is Death Records, and eventually over saw the running and promotions of FAUST's tours. Swan saw no advantage in binding her into his service, so she was never pressed or coerced into doing so. She is however under contract with Death Record in an exclusive employment clause, and a hidden caveat in her contract makes it impossible for anyone but Swan to take her life.

After 6 years as Swans exclusive lover, he tells her she may continue working with Death Records, but he needs to cut the ties between them. She agrees, and the split is quite amicable. AJ is given the green light to pursue her, however, she is not interested in the moody, violent man she knows only too well.

His attempts to win her affections, and attention range from the murdering of her musician boyfriends also on the Death Label to outbursts of rage, and physical abuse. AJ felt love for her, but after the years of Swan's torment, and lessons that pain equals love, and vice versa, he was unsuccessful at winning her affections.

In 1988, while attending a NAMM convention in Los Angeles, she meets Stevie Blaze, a talented up and coming guitarist from New Orleans. The chemistry between them is immediate and intense, and the start of a two year love affair begins later that night in the hotel hot tub. When her body connects with Stevie's, a bond is forged that despite what lies ahead for the both of them will never be severed. The mating match is perfect, but not the timing. Deep in his heart Stevie knows this, and only at her insistence continues the affair after the weekend fling. The long distance relationship lasts for two years, then feeling as if they are growing apart, Sophie calls it off. Stevie sees the dark times that lay in wait for her ahead, but he must let her go. They part close friends and occasional lovers. This continues until AJ at last wins her trust, and occupies her time.

After 8 years of waiting, AJ at last has the woman he loves second only to himself. Times are good in the early nineties for FAUST and Death Records, and after besting the worst of his Demons, AJ remains monogamous to Sophie, and for now all is well.

STEVIE

Stevie Blaze is the Yang to AJ's Yin. A talented guitarist from New Orleans, there never was a kinder or more gentle soul. Stevie is blessed with gifts that allow him to reach out and touch souls in need of guidance, and help set them on the path to salvation or redemption. He met Sophie ten years ago, before she was AJ's lover, at a showcase show his band was performing at in LA. Sophie was there in attendance as Swan's assistant to promote the newest FAUST release. The attraction was immediate and mutual, and a passionate love affair followed. However, being from two different worlds, and coasts, the relationship was ill fated. After a two year love affair, they parted close friends, and agreed to stay in close contact. They would often meet for passionate reunions whenever the opportunity presented itself. This continued until Sophie finally succumbed to AJ's charms and promises of a restrained temper, and she became his lover. Stevie felt the coldness she was falling into, but knew it was not his battle to fight. He remained in contact with her as best he was able, but the closeness between them grew fainter and fainter. AJ knew of their past together, and while Sophie never strayed from him until the very last, he was always jealous of the connection they shared.