Magic Underground: The Complete Collection (Magic Underground Anthologies Book 4)

by Melinda Kucsera

  About the Author

  Find out more about Valda and the other Ghost Stalker characters at www.ghost-stalkers.com

  A small-town girl from the Adirondack Park in Upstate New York, Gwendolyn Woodschild surrounds herself with horses, critters, family, friends, and trees. Always the avid reader, she used books to escape out of her school life and into worlds where the good guys win in the end.

  This led to an excessive amount of daydreaming as she lived within her imaginary worlds, which ended up evolving into her art in its many forms. From a run down Ferris wheel becoming the latest focus of her photography to a dream inspiring a series of novels, she tells stories of adventure, challenge, and growth across the genres of paranormal fantasy, science fiction, and high fantasy.

  “Reality is up for grabs. One man’s reality is another man’s fantasy.”

  Trapper John McIntyre

  This quote resonates with Gwendolyn as she turns her imaginary worlds into reality for your reading pleasure. Her current past times are avoiding having spare time, mucking stalls, writing one of her numerous projects, being “volun-told” by her nieces when and where she is taking them and a carload of friends, hiking with her husky/white shepherd mix, crocheting, and pestering her beloved grandfather.

  For more information about the author, please visit: www.Ghost-Stalkers.com.

  Bound by Darkness

  Tiffany Shand

  “Bound by Darkness” is the third short prequel to my Rogues of Magic series. After years on the run, Ann and Ed are torn apart when an old friend-turned-enemy lures them into a trap.

  Now a prisoner at the hands of the demon queen, Orla, Ed must fight for his freedom. All the while Orla forces a forgotten magic onto him—which could change him forever.

  Tiffany Shand

  In the darkness, you can find salvation

  After being captured and imprisoned at the hands of Orla, the demon queen, Edward Rohn must find a way back to his best friend Ann.

  Still on the run and with a price on her head, Ann frantically searches for Ed, even putting her own safety on the line to do it.

  But Orla will stop at nothing to get what she wants, even if means using the darkest of magic to get it. Will Ann and Ed find their way back to each other or will one them have to pay the ultimate price?

  Chapter One

  Ann Valeran crouched low in the bushes as she stared at the small stone building. It was round in shape and made of crumbling grey stone. A remnant from before the dark times, before all the world of Erthea had changed.

  Branches snagged at her long cloak. Its black colour helped her blend in with her surroundings, and she pulled its long length over her knees.

  You sure this is the right place? she asked in thought, then turned to stare at Edward Rohn, her best friend.

  He knelt beside her, unmoving. This is where the message said the witness wanted to meet us.

  How do we even know this so-called witness is legitimate? Her eyes narrowed at him. It’s been five years. It seems strange someone would come forward after all this time.

  Isn’t it worth finding out? Ed’s dark brown eyes seemed almost black in the darkness.

  Ann sighed, pushing her long, wavy blonde hair off her face to tuck it underneath her hood. This was it. The chance she’d been waiting over five years for. A chance to prove to all five lands that she hadn’t murdered her family.

  How did the witness even know where to find us? she asked, sitting back on the cold, hard earth.

  Above, the night sky hung like a heavy blanket of darkness, without a cloud or glittering star in sight. It made it much easier for Ann and Ed to stay concealed without using any magic. Magic would make it easier for any Gliss or other potential enemies to find them.

  Ann saw easily in the near blackness. As a druid, she used her fire element to make everything seem lighter and enhance her vision.

  She knew, as one of the Black Guard, Edward saw clearly too. It was strange how the magic of her father’s old guard had survived after all this time.

  Ed touched her shoulder. Don’t you want the chance to prove your innocence? In the low light, she made out his short brown hair, golden brown eyes, and chiselled face.

  His touch felt comforting, but Ann bit her lip. She hated being hunted by Orla’s forces, not to mention all the others who sought to profit from the price on her head. She didn’t know how high the price had grown but heard it was almost ten thousand coins now. Enough to make someone comfortable for the rest of their life.

  Yes, Ann said. But it won’t bring my family back or restore my father’s lands to me.

  Darius had been the archdruid, a spiritual leader and ruler of Caselhelm. The latest realm war began on the night of Caselhelm’s revolution, at the hands of the Fomorian demon Orla, when Ann’s parents—Darius and Deanna Valeran—had been murdered. Darius had controlled not just Caselhelm, but parts of the other territories as well. Under his rule, the lands had been at peace for the first time in ten thousand years since the dark times. For a while, at least.

  After the latest realm war, peace was a distant memory. Orla had won control over most of Caselhelm and placed a bounty on Ann’s head.

  A witness had reached out to one of Ann’s contacts in the resistance, claiming to be one of Orla’s associates. She said she would approach the council—a small governing body who oversaw the rule of the five lands—to tell them the truth about what happened to Ann’s parents.

  Ed gave her hand a comforting squeeze as she rose.

  Ann took a deep breath. Let’s get this over with. I want to get back to the warehouse before Xander wakes up. She was glad she hadn’t brought her brother along with them. At least then he’d be safe if this turned out to be a trap. As much as she liked having him around again, she hated putting him in more danger.

  Ann stayed alert as she scanned the area. She searched for potential threats but sensed no other presences nearby.

  She and Ed moved over to the building, which only had one outer door. That made Ann more uneasy; she liked having more than one escape route when she went somewhere unknown. Do you sense anyone inside? she asked.

  He shook his head. No one.

  Let’s make this quick. The familiar weight of her knives at her back felt comforting.

  Ed pulled the wooden door open. It gave a groan of protest as he did so. Ann half expected it to fall off its hinges given the age of the building.

  Ann paused, scanning the building with her mind. She used the earth lines, feeling the hum of power, but nothing suggested the presence of another living being nearby.

  “Maybe the witness isn’t here yet,” Ed whispered, touching the hilt of the sword at his back.

  “I don’t like this,” Ann remarked. “We should have picked a neutral location, somewhere in the other lands, not Caselhelm.”

  “You can’t stay out of Caselhelm for too long,” Ed pointed out. “You become weak.”

  Ann gritted her teeth. A druid’s power came from nature. As the former archdruid’s daughter, her magic tied her to this particular land. A short trip somewhere else wouldn’t hurt me.

  She glanced around the empty passageway, then touched the stone, which groaned and mumbled. Stone magic was rare among the druids, but her power could tap into almost all of the elements.

  She closed her eyes, listening. This place had been a bunker. She heard people screaming and the sound of running footsteps as the stones showed her what had happened here.

  Nice place to meet someone who claims they can prove I’m not a murderer.

  Ann let go of the stone, and the murmurs faded. “What do we know about the witness? You haven’t told me anything about them.”

  “Sage didn’t tell me much.” Ed shrugged and moved ahead of her, keeping a close eye out for potential threats.

  “When does she ever?” She hated talking to the other druid at the best of times. Ann had been suspicious when Sage contacted Ed in thought with the news about the witness.

/>   “She seemed to trust this person.”

  “This person who wouldn’t even give us their name.” Ann grimaced as she walked face-first into some spider-webs. She brushed them off with the back of her hand. “I like to know the details. Next time, I’ll talk to Sage.”

  Ed chuckled. “Careful, there might still be spiders around here.”

  She scowled at him. “Don’t mention spiders around me. They are almost as bad as Sage.”

  “You hate talking to her, even though she’s your aunt.”

  “She is not my aunt. She’s my aunt’s lover. There’s a difference.” Ann rounded a corner, following a passageway that led into a larger room. Ancient debris and dirt littered the stone floor. Withered black leaves crunched under her feet as she walked in. No one was there, and there was no other entrance, so they’d have had to come in the same way she and Ed did.

  “Are you sure Sage didn’t tell you anything else?” Ann prompted.

  Ed pulled out his sword, the blade catching the light as Ann lit a crystal torch on the wall that filled the room with an orange glow. Shadows danced across the stone floor.

  “Stop being so worried. That’s my job.” Ed grinned.

  “Not anymore. You haven’t been my bodyguard in over five years. You’re my partner.”

  “I’ve always been your partner. Always and forever, remember?”

  Ann smiled at the promise they’d made to each other as kids. Always and forever best friends.

  She sighed, using the lines to tell the time. Just past midnight, when their witness had said she’d be there.

  “Try to keep an open mind,” Ed said. “What if this person truly wants to help?”

  Ann didn’t trust anyone, not after everything she’d been through. The only two people she did trust with her life were Ed and Xander. A lack of faith in others had kept her alive. She didn’t dare hope this person would help.

  “Let’s be ready to make a quick exit. Stay close to me so I can transport us out as quickly as possible.”

  “Let’s see what they have to say first.”

  Ann frowned. “You keep defending them. What aren’t you telling me?” She put her hands on her hips. “Edward Rohn, you’ve never been able to lie to me. Tell me what you’re hiding.”

  “Nothing.” Ed shook his head. “I’m not…” He gritted his teeth. “I just want you to talk to her.”

  “Her?” Ann’s eyes narrowed to slits. “You do know who’s coming.” She pulled out one of her knives as the once smooth earth lines became jagged beneath her feet, warning her of another presence. Someone’s here.

  Orla? No, Edward wouldn’t set up a meeting with the demon who’d helped murder her parents and had killed or enslaved thousands of Magickind in her tyrannical rule.

  “Who’s coming?” she hissed.

  He said nothing and shook his head again.

  A woman with long raven hair past her shoulders walked in. Her skin was pale, her eyes so dark they looked almost like obsidian. She wore a red version of the leather bodysuit all Gliss wore. It covered her from neck to toe.

  It took Ann a second to place the woman’s face as that of Ceara Mason, once a close friend, now a traitor who’d helped destroy her family.

  Ed, you can’t be serious, Ann growled.

  Ann, please just listen to what she has to say, Ed replied.

  Heat flared between her fingers as her fire magic burned to life.

  Ceara studied them and smiled her perfect smile. Ceara had always been a dark beauty, which had drawn Ann’s brothers to her.

  Ann, with her own pale skin, long blond hair, and pale blue eyes, looked slight compared to Ceara’s darkness. Ed and Ceara were both taller than her.

  “Rhiannon, it’s been a long time.” Ceara smirked. “I hear they’re calling you the rogue archdruid now.”

  “What do you want, Ceara?” Ann folded her arms. Any hope of this witness being genuine had long faded. Oh, Ceara had been there. Only she’d been on the enemy’s side. She knew this was a setup. Still, she couldn’t believe Ed had agreed to go along with it.

  “I expected a warmer welcome. I mean, we haven’t seen—”

  “Why are you here?” Ann snapped. “Don’t give me some crap about wanting to turn against Orla. We both know where your loyalties lie.”

  Ceara’s smile faded. “That is why I’m here. Spirits, I thought you’d be tired of life as a fugitive.”

  “What makes you think I’d ever accept your help?” The fire between her fingers blazed harsh and hot. Her magic wanted out, wanted to kill this traitorous cow.

  “Say what you want to say, Ceara.” Ed took Ann’s hand. The flames licked his skin but snuffed out as he squeezed her hand. Her fire wouldn’t harm him; he’d always been immune to it.

  “Wolfie, it’s been a long time. I—”

  Ed gave Ceara a hard look. “You stopped being my foster sister a long time ago. You don’t get to call me that.”

  Ceara sighed. “I’m here because I made a mistake the night I helped Orla and Urien. I didn’t kill either of your parents, Ann. If you don’t believe anything else I say, believe that. Listen, I’m one of the few people who can prove you didn’t kill your parents,” Ceara snapped.

  “You really expect me to believe you want to help?” Ann scoffed. “Why would you do that?”

  “Because I’m tired of living under Orla’s rule. She’s…it’s not important,” Ceara replied. “Don’t you want to come out of hiding, Rhiannon?”

  Ann winced at Ceara’s continued use of her full name. Rhiannon Valeran had died along with her parents. Along with her life as the archdruid’s daughter, too. It wasn’t who or what she was any more.

  “I’d rather hide than be ruled by Orla.”

  “That’s why I’m here. Since she took over, magic is outlawed in Caselhelm, and those who have it are kept under strict control. Even among the Gliss,” Ceara said. “Orla has to be stopped, and you’re the only one who can do it. I’ll come with you and tell the council what really happened.”

  Ann shook her head. This was ridiculous. Ceara wouldn’t help her. Even as a child, selflessness had never been her strong suit. There had to be some other motivation. Anyway, on the slim chance she did want to help, there was no guarantee the council would believe her.

  “If we buy this, what do you get out of it?” Ed prompted.

  “Why can’t you believe I just want to help?” Ceara demanded.

  “Because you’re a Gliss who helped Orla destroy everything my father worked for,” Ann snapped.

  “I’ve made mistakes, but aren’t you willing to take the risk to stop Orla?”

  Ann laughed. “You expect us to believe you want to turn on her. Do you take us for idiots?”

  “Aren’t you and your resistance friends trying to do just that?” Ceara arched an eyebrow. “I’ve heard the rumours. I know how you help them flee Orla’s clutches.”

  Ann gritted her teeth. They weren’t here to discuss the resistance. The last thing she needed was Ceara finding out anything about them. She only hoped Sage hadn’t given out any details about them to Ceara.

  “If you truly want us to trust you, you’re going to have to prove it,” Ed challenged.

  “I came here, didn’t I?” Ceara threw up her hands in surrender. “You have no idea what Orla would do if she found out I came to see you.”

  Ed, let’s just get out of here, Ann said. I can’t do this. We’re wasting our time. Let’s get back to Xander. She’ll never help us. She’s just leading us into a trap.

  Ceara reached into a pocket of her bodice. “I did bring something to help prove I’m telling the truth.” She held up a small round crystal etched with glowing runes. “A list of all Orla’s allies.”

  Ed tightened his grip on her hand. Ann, let’s get out of here. I don’t like this.

  I’m glad you finally agree with me. Ann traced runes in the air, muttering words of power to transport them out of the building. Light flashed around them, envelopin
g their bodies.

  As it did, Ceara threw the crystal toward them. Thunder roared, an explosion ripping the air.

  Ann screamed as the transference spell wrenched her body away and she felt Ed’s hand let go of hers.

  She landed hard outside the bunker, the air leaving her lungs in a whoosh.

  Ann scrambled up, ignoring the wave of dizziness as she ran back inside. But when she reached the meeting room, Ed and Ceara were gone.

  Chapter Two

  Ed groaned as he came awake. His head pounded like a heavy drum. His eyes blurred and the darkness surrounded him.

  Ed had no idea what had happened to him. Where am I?

  The ground felt hard and rough underneath his hands. Cold seeped all over him. It didn’t feel anything like the underground tunnels he and Ann sometimes stayed in. Had they been in tunnels? No, he remembered being in an ancient bunker with Ann…and Ceara.

  Ed’s eyes adjusted to the gloom. Why did his body hurt so much? What happened? He ran a hand over his face and felt something sticky. Then he caught the coppery scent of blood.

  I’m bleeding. Why?

  His mind drifted back to Ann grabbing hold of his hand as they were about to transport out.

  Ann called out for him as he’d been ripped away from her.

  Ann! Spirits, where was she? He reached for her with his mind and clutched his head as pain seared through his skull. What’s wrong with my senses?

  Ann, where are you? The mental call made bile rise in his throat. He coughed it up.

  A door creaked open and glaring orange light blinded him. Its metal hinges screeched in protest.

  In walked Ceara Masone, his former foster sister. Long black hair circled her pale angular face. Light glittered in her dark eyes. She wore a head to toe black leather bodysuit with spikes on the sleeves and straps across the bodice.