The Puzzle of Prym

We’re getting a good way into our month of Mae and all I’ve talked about really is… Mae.  You’d think she was the only character in the book but there are actually five characters.

Bea: Homeless, alcoholic Piney.  Originally she had quite a long side story but I wound up killing her off early for simplicity.  Of course, I don’t think her body was ever found so she may be back.

Mae: Our heroine, the small town writer looking for a big time story.  A natural observer, she has been sitting back and assessing her odd situation.  Once she feels like she has all the facts she will take action.

Heylel: There’s more to him than one would expect.  Dig deep into esoteric Bible lore for more details about his origins.

Dr. Smeltzer: Edmund Burke said,  “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” and whenever I read those words I think of Dr. Smeltzer.  I don’t know why I hate him so, but one day soon he will receive his just rewards.  He is lost in his own addictions and sits by while darkness gathers.  How appropriate it will be when it finds him.

Finally there is Ms. Prym, one of the scariest and most interesting characters in the book.  She scared me so badly during the original writing that I put the manuscript down for about five years and wouldn’t touch it.  Later, during an interview, I surprised myself by connecting her to my old 5th grade elementary school teacher Ms. Cole.

Ms. Cole had short, dark hair ala Liza Minnelli instead of Prym’s severe iron colored bun but otherwise she was the same.  I believe to this day that she vehemently hated me for reasons I never understood and am grateful she wasn’t allowed the same freedoms as my character Prym.  Her legacy lives on in literature.

Prym also has old roots.  Heylel refers to her as Alichino, one of the thirteen demons that guard the eighth circle of Hell, or Malebolge, in Dante’s Divine Comedy.  As a demon she can easily change her shape and persona to adapt to her master Heylel’s wishes.  At the close of End of Mae it appears that she will be required to do just that since Prym has fulfilled her purpose.

The bigger question is who is Heylel and why does he have one of the thirteen ancient Malebranche doing his bidding?  And if Prym, or Alichino, is with him then who is left guarding Bolgia Five in the Eighth Circle?

Prym is definitely a puzzle and to help spread Mae Awareness my daughter created this puzzle.  See if you can put it together and see her idea of what Prym, or Alichino, looks like when she’s let her hair down.  Play it here!