Natural Consequences

*Natural Consequences* is the second book in the *Good Intentions* series by Elliott Kay, published on August 8, 2013. It tells of the personal consequences of and the reactions from various groups over the events in *Good Intentions*.

## Publisher's summary

Alex Carlisle has enough to deal with even on quiet days. Living with an angel and a succubus is no easy feat. One has divine responsibilities she can’t explain, and the other tempts him toward a decadent lifestyle he’s not sure he can manage. Add to that the stresses of college and trying to hold down a job, and it’s lucky Alex can even keep his head on straight.

Yet the complications keep on coming. An amorous (and terrifying) werewolf won’t take no for an answer. Vampires from across the country want to know what happened to their allies in Seattle. To top it all off, events in the city have drawn the attention of Federal agents who know far too much about the supernatural, and they have no patience for the chaos that Alex and his friends leave in their wake.

## Publisher’s warning

Natural Consequences contains explicit sex, explicit violence, explicit expletives, violent misuse of office equipment, nudity, perfidy, disruption of public transit services, polyamory, theft, arson, open relationships, trespassing, heterosexual foreplay, lesbian sex, depictions of beings of a divine and demonic nature bearing little resemblance to established religious or mythological canon, cell phone hacking, contempt of court, flagrant violations of civil rights, dangerous use of alcoholic drinks, infidelity, public sex, bras, panties, murder, attempted murder, blasphemy, atheist rationalizations, cannibalism, prostitution, decapitations, gossiping, defenestration, exsanguinations, tax evasion, oral sex, multiple threesomes, sexual harassment, ancient Babylonian marriage customs, horse-poisoning, stalking, selfies, bribery, assault under color of authority, fantasy depictions of sorcery and witchcraft, highly sexualized Halloween costumes, assault and battery, stabbings, excessive handcuff play, mayhem, explosions, existential discussions, controversial topics of sci-fi fandom, living room sex, home invasions, mind control, conspiracy, cohabitation outside of marriage, multiple references to British science fiction literature and television, bad study habits, government surveillance, donuts, spousal abuse, interrogations, even more explicit sex, guys from Eugene, sexual harassment in the workplace, classroom misconduct, sexual misconduct, divine misconduct, general misconduct, voyeurism, reckless driving, murder of Federal agents, poor firearms safety habits, misuse of a swimming pool for gladiatorial combat, insanity, immolations, public endangerment, sexual promiscuity, consistent contempt of vampires (screw ’em, they suck), disorderly conduct, kidnapping of police officers, kidnapping of Federal agents, underage drinking, dismemberment, abuse of authority, still more explicit sex, electrocutions, destruction of private property, escape from Federal custody, barbering without a cosmetology license, World War I, betrayals, slavery, mild dom/sub play, cosplaying, a high school flashback, infidelity, reliable predictions of eternal damnation, destruction of a nice Zoot suit, nutshots, party fouls, littering, domestic violence, lengthy foreplay, abbreviated foreplay, disrespect for authority, falsification of records, prostitution, public indecency, impersonation of police officers, obstruction of justice, biting, clawing, hair-pulling, trash-talking and a general and willful disregard for traditional Western family values.

## Appearances

### Characters

* Eduardo Castillo, judge
* Marvin Kowalski, vampire
* Michael Lopez, defense attorney
* Oswalt, prosecutor
* Amber Maddox
* Doug Bridger
* Joseph Hauser
* Paul Keeley
* Colleen Nguyen
* Matt Lanier
* Anastacia Kanatova (mentioned only)
* Ms. Black (mentioned only, unnamed)
* Alex Carlisle
* Jason Cohen
* Britney and Brittany (mentioned only)
* Keating & Rose
	+ Kat (mentioned only)
	+ Shirley, receptionist
	+ Susan and Trinh, attorneys
	+ Olivia, office manager
	+ Stephanie (mentioned only)
	+ Lambert, building security
* Rachel
* Diana
* Lorelei
	+ Cindy (Lorelei in disguise)
* Michelle Carlisle (unnamed, mentioned only)
* Skorri (flashback)
* Bjorn
* Unferth
* Drew Jones
* Wade Reinhardt
* Ahmed Kovac
* Aidan Shanahan (flashback)
* Don Geraldo Rafael de Leon
	+ Rodrigo, vampire companion
	+ Esteban, vampire companion
	+ Three other vampire companions
* George Wentworth
* Spencer Kensington III
* Cornelius
* Rosario
* Kenneth (recorded only)
* Billy
* Jimbo
* Red
* Jared
* Sally
* Caleb
* Tony Koblitz
* Damon Bell (mentioned only, initially as Damon Curtis)
* Molly Murray
* Onyx
* Taylor (mentioned only)
* Daniel (angel)
* Theresa
* Vincent (mentioned only)
* Johanna Matthias (unnamed)
* Cheryl, a store manager
* Elena (unnamed)
* Marie (librarian) (mentioned only)
* Siobhan (mentioned only)
* Stephanie (mentioned only)
* Ted (mentioned only)
* Jon
* Marvin
* Patrick, Elizabeth, and Sergio, guardian angels
* Arturo, a vampire
* Kevin Murray
* Tyrone Johnson
* Professor Mayfield
* Dylan Jorgensen
* Jocelyn (mentioned only)
* FBI tactical team
	+ Dean (fate unknown)
	+ Frank (deceased)
	+ Gutierrez (fate unknown)
	+ Jacobsen (fate unknown)
	+ Miguel, team leader (deceased)
	+ Theo (deceased)
* Jerome, a guardian angel
* Donald
* Amata, a beautiful girl (flashback)
* Milkilu, a cruel man (flashback)
* Hunzuu and Ubar, servants (flashback)
* Gemeti, a prostitute (flashback)
* Baal (flashback)
* Francois, a vampire
* Rupert, a vampire and Second World War veteran
* Marco, a vampire
* Orion
* Hannah
* Lawrence
* and many unnamed vampires, werewolves, thugs, party-goers, and people from Eugene

### Locations & organizations

* Los Angeles
	+ Special Task Force
	+ Cornelius’s mansion
* Seattle
	+ Keating & Rose
	+ Suite 1705
	+ University of Washington
	+ Ahmed Kovac’s pool hall
	+ North Seattle Community College
	+ The Special Task Force temporary base
	+ Caleb’s pack
	+ Jason’s apartment
	+ A large hotel downtown
	+ Westlake Station
	+ Columbia Tower
	+ Shoreline apartment
	+ Montlake Cut
	+ An excellent restaurant
	+ Seattle Police Department
	+ Magnuson Park
	+ A posh house in Bellevue
	+ A donut shop
	+ St. Mark’s Cathedral
	+ Anastacia’s Court (mentioned only)
	+ Blackthorne Manor (mentioned only)
	+ Sacred Heart Cemetery (mentioned only)
	+ Brotherhood of Apollo (mentioned only)
	+ The conservatory (mentioned only)
* Scandinavia (flashback)
* The Western Front (flashback)
* Amber’s high school (flashback)
* Babylon (flashback)

### Items

* Lorelei’s Lexus
* Alex’s *gladius*

## Continuity

*Natural Consequences* is set in the days around Halloween, and is concurrent with *Halloween for Life*. The two stories have some minor referrals between each other, but the main storylines of each one are independent.

Amongst the short stories which fall before this book, “Live Like This” and “Lifestyle Changes” introduce Suite 1705; “Rough Day” and “Clear Communication” expands on Rachel’s work and troubles as Dominion; and “Minor Errands” adds to Alex’s issues with mental health and relationships.

Key events in the story are the Emerald City Halloween Ball, the Battle of the Bus Tunnel, and the Battle of Magnuson Park.

## Theories

One of the more controversial aspects of the book among certain readers and reviewers is Lorelei’s tryst with Bridger and Alex’s quick acceptance of it. It has some set-up in the stories.

* Several of his prior lives accept or forgive the women they love for being with other men, one way or another. It is true for Skorri with Halla,⁠ John with Katherine,⁠ Tom with Siobhan,⁠ and Aidan with Chelsea.⁠
* Alex and Lorelei have discussed it frankly, and it is made clear that Alex is troubled by having one standard for him and one for Lorelei.⁠
* Donald attempts to encourage jealousy through compulsion, but Alex rejects Donald’s reasoning.⁠

>
> Alex scowled and rolled over on his side. That was a stupid thought. They’d had that conversation, and inevitably would again when the time came. The notion of Lorelei getting with other guys didn’t turn him on. The idea that they would both live honestly and freely together meant the world to him. Jealousy seemed like more of a burden than a right.
>
>
>
>

*Natural Consequences*, chapter 17

Elliott Kay has a blog post about Lorelei’s and Bridger’s actions in the book, and his thoughts around them: Lorelei Isn’t Sorry. Alex Isn’t Sorry. I’m Not Sorry.

## Trivia

Hauser said that they identified “vampire ashes” outside Blackthorne Manor, but after interrogating Jason Cohen the Special Task Force discuss their lack of analysis of vampire remains.⁠⁠

The Great Open Teamspeak Mic incident that Drew teases Jason about occurs at the end of *Days of High Adventure*.⁠⁠

Kevin and Tyrone are said to be stationed in the South Precinct⁠, but apprehend George Wentworth near Magnuson Park, which is in the northern half of Seattle. To be fair, it is possible they were permanently transferred.

Cover artist Lee Moyer shows two different sketches as possible covers for the book in Process: *Natural Consequences*.

See also Pop culture references in Good Intentions.

## Publication history

*Natural Consequences* was first published as an ebook August 8, 2013. A paperback edition was published in November 2014.

An audiobook edition was published by Audible on August 18, 2015, narrated by Tess Irondale.

## References

1. ↑ Goodreads reviews
2. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 15
3. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 13
4. ↑  *Good Intentions*, chapter 14
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1  ***Natural Consequences***, chapter 2
6. ↑  ***Natural Consequences***, chapter 1
7. ↑  ***Natural Consequences***, chapter 17
8. ↑  ***Natural Consequences***, Prologue
9. ↑  ***Natural Consequences***, chapter 15
10. ↑ *Days of High Adventure*
11. ↑  ***Natural Consequences***, chapter 12
12. ↑ NATURAL CONSEQUENCES is now available!, Elliott Kay’s blog, August 8, 2013
13. ↑ Casting Call, Part II -- And Info on Paperbacks!, Elliott Kay’s blog, November 20, 2014