Try to remember, it’s only fiction… All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval without permission in writing from the author. ISBN-13: 978-1-4951-0756-6 Email: [email protected] Website: www.dreammaker-series.com Printed in U.S.A Dedication– To my amazing parents, I was lucky at birth and life only got better. PROLOGUE It was the final morning of Chance’s spring break. With just over 2-hours before her flight, there wasn’t enough time to venture out, but too much time to sit around or scroll through her cell phone. Instinctively she began her stroll from breakfast on the west veranda through the villa’s long marble corridors to the library, and the perfect place to spend her final few hours in paradise. Entering the library was inspirational. No matter how many times Chance visited its expansive Great Hall, her attention was always drawn to the six large stained-glass windows in its towering ceiling. Then she would always play the same game. Closing her eyes, Chance spun-around, stopped, pointed, opened her eyes then went to the book she was pointing at. With more than 170 million items, she never selected the same book twice. But that day’s selection was different. Rather than a shelf, it brought her to a table with a glass top, a fine display cabinet more suited for a museum than a library. Looking through the glass, Chance saw a book, or perhaps a diary. At first, there appeared to be no way of getting to the manuscript. As Chance moved-in for a closer look, she heard a soft hissing-sound as a vacuum seal allowed air to rush back into the case, then the sounds of tumblers from locks followed by the protective glass cover opening, surprising Chance for a brief moment before she commented, “Thank you, Uncle Carlos.” Chance’s insight and appreciation for her uncle were born out of years of experience. Carlos Bottega is a man of incalculable wealth and power. And though Bottega wasn’t in his library at that moment, Chance knew he was ever present. Reaching into the case, Chance ran her fingers over the exquisitely embossed leather cover with its gold leaf and diamond pavé title- THE BEGINNING After another moment of curiosity, Chance lifted the book from its case then made her way to an overstuffed seating area for a proper investigation of that day’s treasure. Despite its splendor and high degree of security, it was clear that Chance wasn’t the first person to have read the manuscript. Its well-worn spine and slightly stained pages bore witness to decades, if not centuries of enlightenment, making Chance all the more interested to learn its secrets as she started to read. Spring is that time when Nature celebrates her majesty over all things, including humanity. Regardless of the hoodlums that terrorize cities, politicians that lay waste to countries and religions that enslave entire continents, every Spring the snows melt, the sun shines and the Earth is renewed with the glorious scents of Nature and the chance for a new beginning. Since time immemorial, this had been the order of things— until twenty extraordinary individuals came together to take control...of EVERYTHING. “Oh yeah!” Very pleased with her selection, Chance settled-in for a serious read. Have you ever wondered why you don’t know how it all began? This was turning out to be much more exciting than she had expected. Looking up, as if speaking to God, Chance said, “Uncle Carlos, is this what I think it is?” Clearly not expecting an answer, Chance dove into what was certain to be an exciting read. Because the answer to that question was carefully hidden-away almost 500 years ago, as much by accident as intent. 1530 was the most important year in the history of mankind. It was a time when three seemingly unrelated events; population, exploration and the Catholic Church’s insatiable lust for power and wealth came together to create the Perfect Storm- and the reason for the secret. By 1500, populations throughout Europe were increasing for the first-time after two centuries of decline due to the Black Death, a plague that decimated over 50% of the Eurasian population. The increased population ushered-in a renewal of the great cities of Europe, Asia and Russia along with an unprecedented growth in demand for goods and services. Exploration of the New World began in 1487, which greatly increased commerce and wealth, helping to satisfy the growing consumer demand. Yet despite the significant increases in global population and commerce, revenues to The Church were not keeping pace with The Vatican’s veracious appetite for extravagance and expansion. To further compound the problem, the Holy See’s teachings were under attack. And one man, Martin Luther, was particularly vexing. In response to the Vatican’s financial and theological problems, Pope Clement VII created La Confraternita in 1530. The Pontiff’s secret organization consisted of the 20-most powerful nobles throughout Eurasia. La Confraternita’s mission was to rid the Catholic Church of its Lutheran blight while increasing its members’ wealth and that of the Catholic Church- substantially. The aging feudal system that had governed humanity for over 600-years had run its course. It was time for change. And 1530 was the fateful year in which one man’s vision created the New World Order that has governed to this day. By 1530, the demand for goods and services was increasing at a frantic pace. Exploration of the New World provided the abundance to satisfy that demand in return for newfound wealth. And the ambitious leaders of that period’s emerging Nation States were eager to control both. What was lacking and desperately needed was overarching order and balance. This required extraordinary leadership. With superstition and tradition being the 2-most powerful forms of social control at that time, no one was in a better position to take leadership than The Roman Catholic Church. La Confraternita’s secret fraternity of global leaders provided The Church an unprecedented level of order and balance- albeit short lived. Though the Pope’s untimely death in 1534 from a poisoned mushroom ended La Confraternita’s assault on Lutheranism, the Papal plan to increase La Confraternita’s power, control and wealth exceeded the Pope’s greatest expectation. Without the oversight of the Vatican, La Confraternita’s ambitions and reach went unchecked. In 21-short-years, Pope Clement’s vision of a New World Order was established, giving La Confraternita dominion over everything and everyone through the world- literally. At the same time, other ambitious individuals capitalized on growing consumer demands, providing unprecedented levels of freedom, opportunity and wealth to the common man for the first-time, ever. From 1530 to 1551, La Confraternita went from a curious gathering of strangers to becoming the most powerful consortium to have ever existed by capitalizing on the newly created entrepreneurial spirit of its subjects. It was a win-win. Pope Clement’s timing could not have been better. Despite his death, it was the Pope’s secret society that created the order and balance that the immerging Nation States so desperately needed, while providing the opportunity for our ancestors to leave the fields and take charge of at least a portion of their own destinies. * * * 1555 - the first Saturday in May- The palace grounds were a tapestry of lush green hues from England, highlighted by delicate pink spring blossoms from the Orient. Even the mercilessly hot, dry air had been sweetened with the scent of Himalayan jasmine and freshly cut grass. Nothing had been left to chance. “We’ll see about that.” After enjoying her own sarcasm, Chance returned to her read. Were it not for the intense heat, it would have been hard to imagine the royal estate was situated on the edge of one of the largest, most barren deserts on Earth. Inside a large, magnificently embellished tented structure, the delicate amber glow from thousands of candles softly illuminated that evening’s banquet, glistening off the supple skin of hundreds of Venice’s most desirable courtesans in every color and flavor. The stunning vixens had traveled 1,200-miles east to the Mughal king’s desert oasis to enjoy his generosity, satisfy his appetite and hope that they would be the chosen one. Massive ebony banquet tables were as exciting to the eye as the palate. Hundreds of large hammered-gold serving platters and matching urns were brimming with the finest foods, spices, entheogens and wines from every corner of the Earth, while large colorfully woven silk cornucopias overflowed with sweets and other fine delicacies, fresh from the emperor’s private bakeries, scenting the air as the warm, inviting confections were set out and instantly devoured. Exquisite, erotic performances and the luxurious décor complemented Emperor Humayun’s celebratory week of casual diplomacy and extreme debauchery, which proved to be an extraordinary experience by any standard. And though the festivities had gone on for 7- straight days and nights, not a single one of the emperor’s 19-guests or the hundreds in their entourages were willing to leave. It was the final evening of the event that defined decadence. And with it came an unspoken sadness that their time for play was coming to an end. An awkward hush fell over the celebration as Humayun stood. The 40-dancers who had been vying for the emperor’s attention stopped.