Discover the haunting origins of an immortal soul in Novic, a mesmerizing novelette by Eugen Bacon that serves as the "story-before-the-story" of the enigmatic Sayneth priest introduced in her acclaimed debut novel, Claiming T-Mo. In Claiming T-Mo, Novic emerges as a figure of profound mystery-an immortal with eyes as ancient as Jacob and a visage that whispers of death itself. Novic's defiance of a matriarchal society's conventions sets in motion a Jekyll-and-Hyde transformation of his son T-Mo that shapes his destiny along with the three women who love him. But who is Novic? Where did he come from, and what forces forged his immortal path? This prequel novelette delves into Novic's past-his trials, his transgressions, and the timeless burden of his existence.