War Of The Four Worlds

by Michael Anderle

Fifteen minutes later, the fighters zoomed away to the cheering and applause of the wedding guests.

  The Professor rose again. “Consul Yev has arranged a little something as well.”

  The Light Elf rose and bowed, then raised his hands and opened his mouth. The melodious chords of his native speech filled the air, and several of the magical guests exchanged curious looks.

  At least no one looks scared.

  Multiple portals opened high above the guests, and dozens of pulsating orbs slowly floated out.

  James narrowed his eyes, not sure what was going on. He spared a glance at Shay, and she looked up with a smile on her face.

  Okay, so it’s not some sort of ambush.

  James patted his chest, comforted by the weight of Whispy beneath his shirt. He didn’t want to have to go all Vax at his wedding.

  The orbs spun and flung out shimmering sparks at high speed. The glowing sparks separated into strings of light, and soon the entire sky was painted in luminous strings. A few seconds later, one of them exploded in a colorful ring. Then another, and another.

  The flames and sparks formed different shapes: an elf dancing, a bird flying, a waterfall. The living explosions continued decorating the sky, to the cheering delight of the crowd.

  Sometimes the simplest pleasures were the best.

  James furrowed his brow at the thought.

  Wait. I’ve gotten a military air show, and now magical fireworks. That shit isn’t simple.

  James held Shay in his arms as they swayed to the music for the first dance of the reception. Several other couples had already joined them. The elves sang in their native language, the melodies overlapping and communicating love and respect, or maybe they were just saying how much Earth sucked and making it sound nice to human ears. James didn’t care either way.

  “How’s the wedding?” Shay asked. “You didn’t pay much attention when we were planning it, so I didn’t know how much it might surprise you.”

  “Fucking complicated,” James replied.

  Shay laughed. “It’s only one day in your entire life.” She leaned forward to whisper, “I tried to get Johnston to let us have it on the vimana, but apparently that’s another thing half the fucking world has to sign off on before they allow anyone to use it.”

  James grunted. “Floating castle-islands are worse than planes.”

  “I guess I’m lucky he told me no, then.” Shay laid her head on his shoulder. “Am I going to be enough for you?”

  “Why wouldn’t you be?”

  Shay smiled. “Because I’m the world’s sexiest and smartest human, but I’m just a human, in the end.”

  “No, you’re not ‘just’ anything. You’re my wife, which means you’re the most important woman in the world.”

  Shay’s breath caught, and her cheeks reddened. “Why, Mr. Brownstone, you can actually pull off a few romantic words without involving dirty limericks.”

  “On occasion.”

  The slow song stopped, and the music changed. It took James’ brain a few seconds to catch up to the fact the band was now singing what sounded like a country song, with the Kilomea growling out vocals in his native language—which was far less aesthetically pleasing than the Light Elves' melodies. Something sounded very familiar about the song.

  James blinked. “What are they singing?”

  Shay laughed. “I couldn’t resist. I talked to Smite-Williams about it after I heard it on an oldies station the other day.”

  “What song, though?”

  Shay gestured toward the band. “It’s a Kilomea language cover of Billy Ray Cyrus’ Achy Breaky Heart.”

  “Huh,” James replied, and shook his head. “What a world.”

  He surveyed the happy, dancing crowd with a smile on his face. His life hadn’t been free from pain and loss—the empty spot and chair for Shorty was a poignant reminder of that—but in the last several years, he had found something beyond mere existence.

  Life. Love. Family. Friendship.

  The Granite Gargoyle now had a family. He now had a true future. James couldn’t help the stupid grin taking over his face.

  “What are you thinking?” Shay asked.

  “Just about how lucky I am. I love you, Shay.”

  “I love you, too, James.”

  Eight years later

  James entered his house and closed the door behind him.

  Shay sat on the couch, her hands folded in her lap. She wore the same look on her face she always had whenever she was waiting for him with important news.

  Uh-oh. Here comes the ambush.

  James slipped off his coat and put it in the closet. “Alison didn’t get a new boyfriend, did she? The one she has now is okay. He’s got some balls, and I can respect it. And he’s not a vegetarian.”

  Shay’s face twitched. “It’s good that you like him because they’re moving in together.”

  “What?” James growled. “Wait one damned moment. It’s one thing for him to date her, but moving in together? I didn’t agree to that.”

  Shay rolled her eyes. “She’s a grown woman, James. She doesn’t need your permission to move in with her boyfriend.”

  “He does to move in with her.” James stomped over to his recliner. “I don’t like how fast this relationship is progressing.”

  “You know what your problem is? You still see Alison as—”

  “That little girl who brought you your dog,” James finished for her, and shrugged. “I know. You tell me that all the time.” He nodded to his sleeping dog beside the couch. “So often that Thomas is probably beginning to think it’s another name for him.”

  “And I’m gonna keep telling you.” Shay let out a frustrated laugh. “And I shouldn’t have to tell a man who doesn’t forget things the same thing over and over, don’t you think?”

  “I’m just saying it would be nice if she could have given me a little warning.”

  “I’m interested in what would have happened if you had raised her from birth,” Shay replied, a coy smile appearing.

  “Huh? What do you mean?”

  Shay shrugged. “Just, if you had to deal with a kid from birth, how would things be different?”

  “Not like it’s gonna happen, so why worry about it?” James cracked his knuckles, wondering if he should travel up to Seattle and have another conversation with Alison’s boyfriend. Or kick him through a wall.

  I turn my back for one second, and the guy’s moving in.

  Shay cleared her throat. “Say, have you ever bitched to Whispy about not being able to have a kid?”

  James stared at Shay. “Huh. It’s not like I have family talks with him the few times a year I use him. We get down to business. He mostly bitches about the fact that I don’t have enough new adaptations for him, but he’s still the same Whispy Doom. It’s not like he cares about family or love, and I’m certainly not gonna discuss my sex life with some biomechanical symbiont. Why?”

  “Oh, it’s just that he’s still tinkering with you.” Shay rubbed the back of her neck. “You’ve told me that. He’s always tweaking something here or there. I get that you don’t wear him as much anymore, but that means he could make a big change and you might not know it for months.”

  James nodded. “Sure, but he always tells me what he’s going to do before he changes anything.”

  “But you’ve also told me that sometimes there can be unexpected side effects.”

  Why does she look so nervous?

  “Yeah,” James rumbled. “Changing me to be more human rather than Vax means he’s not always sure about what shit’s gonna happen, but there’s been nothing too bad, other than that…thing in Bali, but we’re not gonna talk about that.”

  Shay licked her lips. “James, I’m pregnant.”

  “Yeah, that’s…” James shot out of the chair. “What? What?”

  “I’m pregnant.” Shay shrugged. “It’s confirmed. You’re going to be a father.”

  James stared at Shay, his mouth agape.

&n
bsp; “Woah,” James managed.

  Shay walked over and kissed him on the cheek. “I’ll get to see how Daddy Brownstone operates when he doesn’t start with a teenager. This ought to be interesting.”

  “Woah,” James repeated.

  Shay grinned. “You seem a little overwhelmed. Maybe you should go on one of your barbeque road trips and let it sink in.” She cupped her stomach. “Because in a few short months, we’ll be welcoming a new Brownstone.”

  Alison Brownstone

  Have you started the Alison Brownstone series yet? Book one is Her Father’s Daughter and it’s available at Amazon and through Kindle Unlimited.

  Available Now at Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

  Author Notes - Michael Anderle and RVingPsychic

  April 18, 2019

  THANK YOU for not only reading this story but these Author Notes as well.

  (I think I’ve been good with always opening with “thank you.” If not, I need to edit the other Author Notes!)

  Thank you ALL for supporting this amazing series with these characters I love. When I was working with a partner on figuring out the plotline, it became obvious that I could only take the series so far. I had to stop it before it ran on too long.

  Plus, what are you going to do when you’ve kicked the Vax’s asses?

  Well, I have some bad news —and some good news.

  This is the end of Brownstone…and yet, NOT the end.

  I’m planning on something loosely (very loosely) based on the buddy films of a long time ago, where Brownstone goes on the road to find BBQ and stuff happens. Stuff that requires him to use a sufficient amount of force to save a locality…and BBQ.

  These stories will arrive about every three months, so please be on the lookout!

  Just a note—I hope we are about…eighteen days?? Or so (I am going to need to look at a calendar) from Bethany Anne coming out. Just saying, it should be in the next few weeks.

  New artwork is up on the Facebook Page for Bethany Anne, so come check it out, and if you see the following fan who responding to my request to “tell me a bit about you,” say hi!

  Q & A

  I would like to introduce LMBPN reading fan RVingPsychic, who wrote these notes while in Jacksonville, Florida (If I have comments, they are at the end of their responses.)

  M: About how many books do you read a year, or total in your lifetime?

  R: 300-500