by SM Reine
“I will not search here,” Eleriss said.
“Here? Prescott?” Temi asked.
“Earth,” I guessed.
Eleriss did not agree out loud, but he inclined his head toward me. And now I was really jealous. Maybe I could go along and hold Temi’s scabbard for her. Like a golf caddy. Except with swords. Just because I hadn’t encountered the “sword caddy” profession in RealmSaga didn’t meant it wasn’t a thing.
The skeptical expression hadn’t left Temi’s face. Either she didn’t believe—which was understandable—or she didn’t think this was a job for her. I gave her an encouraging nod when she looked at me. For as much as I’d love to take the job, if she could get her leg fixed, she’d be the ideal choice.
“I’ll have to think about it,” Temi said.
Jakatra tossed a few surprised words to his comrade. What, was he shocked someone would have to “think about” training with him? Maybe he was something special where he came from and his own people would line up for the opportunity. Personally, I’d rather have Eleriss.
“We will leave you time to do so,” Eleriss said. “But we cannot give you too much time. If your decision is no... another alternative must be sought.”
“Are there other alternatives?” I asked.
“If the criminal did not survive the flood, there are not. Not that we have discovered yet. And time... time is a concern.”
Jakatra said a word in his own language and walked out the door.
More polite, Eleriss said, “Good night,” before heading in the same direction.
“Wait,” I blurted, a thousand questions on the tip of my tongue. They’d told us so little. Who was responsible for making the monster? Why had it been made? Would the next one be the same or worse? Where were his people from? How long had they been visiting our world and why? Why had they plucked humans out of history and locked them up? What crimes had those people committed? “What are your people called?” I asked, thinking he might at least answer a simple question like that.
Standing in the doorway, Eleriss gazed back at us thoughtfully. Perhaps he wouldn’t answer even that question. Then he glanced over his shoulder into the hotel parking lot. Checking to see if Jakatra was out of earshot?
“We call ourselves the Dhekarzha,” Eleriss said quietly.
Simon stepped forward. “Are you at all aware of our people’s mythology stories that speak of elves?” He wriggled his eyebrows, silently asking if Eleriss would like to confess to being an elf.
My first inclination was to jab him with an elbow, but I found myself watching for a response instead.
“I am aware of some of the mythologies of your numerous cultures,” Eleriss said.
“And?” Simon prompted.
“They’re very creative.” Eleriss inclined his head again, repeated, “Good night,” and stepped outside.
As soon as he was gone, Simon and I faced Temi together.
“You’re going to do it, right?” I asked.
Simon nodded, though he looked like he wanted to say something too. Apparently, now that the life-and-death situation was over, he was back to having a hard time speaking to her.
“I... don’t know,” Temi said. “It sounds ludicrous. I don’t really believe...” She frowned toward the parking lot. “But if there’s even a chance...” Her hand drifted to her knee.
“You have to take it.” I kept myself from adding that the only way we’d get our questions answered was by having further contact with that pair. That wouldn’t likely be Temi’s driving motivator.
“The idea of having my leg back is appealing,” she said. “Fighting monsters and risking my life every day is less so.”
“I’m sure you’d make a fine Xena Warrior Princess,” Simon said and smiled, proud perhaps to have offered this compliment without stuttering.
Temi’s brow furrowed. “A who?”
“Xena.” Simon’s smile faded. “From the... uh, did you not ever see that show?”
“No.”
“Oh.”
While Simon studied his socks, I told Temi, “Think of it this way: today you killed a creature that was killing innocent people. You’re being given the opportunity to save more lives in a way nobody else can. I’d think that’s a much more important contribution to the world than entertaining people by playing a sport.”
Temi’s lips flattened. “Have you been talking to my parents?”
“Nah, they’d tell you to wander off the grid, plant a big garden, and have a small carbon footprint. This is way better. You get to wield a magic sword.”
Simon had grown tired of studying his threadbare socks and lifted his head to nod at this notion. “That would be the selling point for me.”
“Because you’d want the honor of defending your world and making this a better place for your fellow man?” I asked him. “Or because you think a glowing sword would be a chick magnet?”
Simon grinned. “Absolutely.”
Temi traced a finger along the runes engraved in the blade. “Perhaps it would be a chance to be... somebody again.”
With a wistful sigh, I wondered if I’d ever get that chance. All I said was, “Yes.”
THE END
Afterword
If you’re interested in continuing on with the series, please visit the Rust & Relics page on my site for blurbs, excerpts, and store links to other books. Or you can check out my big ol’ list of fantasy novels, that includes all of my series. If you just want to chat, I’m on Twitter, Google+, and Facebook. Pop in and say hi!
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WITCH HUNT by SM REINE
DEATH’S SERVANT by CJ ELLISSON
TORRENT by LINDSAY BUROKER
SPARK by ANTHEA SHARP
DEATH TIMES TWO by BOONE BRUX and CJ ELLISSON
ROOK: ALLIE’S WAR EPISODES 1-4 by JC ANDRIJESKI
JUSTICE CALLING by ANNIE BELLET
ARCADIA’S GIFT by JESI LEA RYAN
WILD NIGHT ROAD by KARA LEGEND
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prologue
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
(Epilogue)
Thank You
Other Works by Anthea Sharp
Acknowledgements & Thanks
About Anthea Sharp
SPARK
FEYGUARD Book 1
by ANTHEA SHARP
What if a high-tech computer game was a gateway to the treacherous Realm of Faerie?
Superstar gamer Spark Jaxley's life might look easy, but she's part of an elite few who guard a shocking secret; the Realm of Faerie exists, and its dark magic is desperate for a foothold in the mortal world.
Aran Cole hacks code and sells his gaming cheats on the black market. It's barely a living, and one he's not proud of. But when he turns his skills to unlocking the secrets behind Feyland—the most exciting and immersive game on the market—he discovers power and magic beyond his wildest dreams.
Spark's mission is clear; pull Aran from the clutches of the fey folk and restore the balance between the worlds. But can she risk her life for someone who refuses to be rescued?
PROLOGUE
The Dark Queen of the Realm of Faerie paced over the moon-dappled mosses before her tangled throne. Her skirts flared out into gossamer shadows, and diamonds sparkled in her black hair like tiny, cold stars, capturing the light of the sickle moon high overhead. Every
step she took snapped with frustration, and the creatures of her court flinched as the reverberations of their queen’s anger echoed through the realm.
Even the powerful horned hunter and his red-eyed hounds stayed at the far edges of the clearing, the star-tarnished oaks at their backs. The court musicians stood in a huddled trio, fingers quiet upon their instruments. Only the fearful whispers of the denizens of the Dark Court sawed the edge off the silence.
The queen halted, the still before the storm, and the last whispers died. From the darkened pathway a figure made of shadows came; a knight bearing an enormous blade. He strode past the violet bonfire, the flames licking eerie reflections on his black armor; past the feral and nameless creatures of the court, past the hollow-eyed banshee, and the sharp-toothed goblins with their caps of blood.
“My lady.” He went down on one knee and bowed his black-helmed head in supplication.
“What have you found?” Her voice was shaded with wrath.
“It is as you guessed. The opening between the mortal world and our own remains but a thin crack. Nothing has changed since that gateway was closed through deceitful mortal and fey means.”
“Curse the Elder Fey!” She clenched her fists, and frost striated the velvet-deep mosses beneath her feet. “We are no more than beggars for the scraps of dreams, where once we were feared across every human land. There must be a way to enter the human world freely, and harvest the essence of our power.”
“If there is, we will not discover that means in the realm, my lady.”
The queen’s eyes narrowed. “Then we must find someone who can. Surely there is one among the mortals who would bend to the needs of the realm.”
She whirled, and the fey folk cowered from the sharpness of her smile.
“Scouts, keep watch on the faerie ring. Soon enough, a human will stumble into the Dark Realm—and when they do, we will be ready. This time, there will be no escape.”
CHAPTER ONE
Spark Jaxley waited outside her temporary mansion, the fog of her breath matching the cold clouds overhead. A gleaming limousine grav-car hovered by the curb with her luggage packed inside, and her security guards were deployed strategically around the manicured lawn—far enough away to give her the illusion of space, but ready to spring into action if needed.
Not that she had anything to be worried about in the controlled compound of The View. No clamoring autograph-seekers or paparazzi trying to get a candid shot of the most famous sim gamer in the world. No lines of cars driving slowly past, no screaming fans gathered in front of the wrought-iron gates.
There was only a single bird flitting through the landscaped shrubbery and the distant noise of the city below. Spark was glad of the solitude. This goodbye was going to be hard enough as it was.
The early spring air held a bite, the chill slipping past her scarf to touch her neck with icy fingers. Spark re-wound her scarf—magenta, to match her hair—then slid her hands into the fur-lined pockets of her jacket while she waited for her friends to arrive.
Friends—the last thing she’d expected to find when she came to Crestview. Stuck in an insignificant city for a month wasn’t her idea of a prime trip. But VirtuMax paid her plenty to be their spokesmodel, and part of the contract included beta-testing their immersive new FullD equipment and its launch game, Feyland. Which meant coming to their exclusive compound in the center of exactly nowhere.
She never thought her life would change so completely as a result.
She sighed softly, and Burt, the head of her security team, glanced her way. “Would you prefer to wait inside, Miss Jaxley?”
“No, thanks.”
She’d rather feel the weak sun on her face, breathe the fresh air. After all, she was about to be cooped up in various forms of transportation for the next seven hours. SimCon, her next destination, was half a continent away.
“Spark!”
A girl with long blond hair walked up the driveway, her arm around a tall, lean guy, their steps in perfect synch. Jennet Carter and Tam Linn. Spark tried to ignore the little spurt of envy heating her blood. Not that she wished they weren’t together; they were perfect for each other. It was just—she wanted that, too. But with her crazy life, she didn’t have the option to hook up with a guy in any meaningful way.
Besides, all the ones she met were blinded by her fame, or wanted to use it. Or weren’t quite right for her. Like the one driving up in his fancy red grav-car.
Roy Lassiter. True, they’d shared some intense experiences, but no matter how hard she tried to fall for him, she couldn’t manage it.
“Hey,” Roy said, getting out his car and giving her his super-charming smile. For once, it looked real.
Spark smiled back, wishing she knew what to say. She could tell Roy was hoping for something: a secret love note, her private number, a promise she couldn’t give. Jennet and Tam’s arrival saved her, and she turned to them, glad for the distraction of Jennet’s hug.
“I can’t believe you have to leave,” Jennet said. “Can’t you stay a bit longer?”
“VirtuMax needs me at SimCon to debut the FullD,” Spark said.
“Off to be a superstar, is it? Shake the lowly dust of Crestview off your shoes?” Roy squeezed her shoulders and was smart enough to let her go.
“I’m going to miss you guys,” Spark said.
Tam nodded. “We’ll stay in touch. After all…”
He glanced at the nearby security guard. Burt seemed out of earshot, but Tam was a careful guy. None of them wanted to broadcast the fact that they’d been deputized by magical beings to guard the mortal world. People would think they were insane. Or even worse, believe them. Faerie magic was power, and not many people could be trusted with it.
The whole thing seemed like a crazy sort of dream, except that seven of them had experienced the same thing. Eight if you counted Tam’s friend Marny, who had dealt with the reality of the fey folk in her own way.
“Is Zeg coming?” Spark asked.
She wanted to say goodbye to the big guy. Even though he was old enough to be her dad, he was a gamer first. Like the rest of them, he’d fought in the final battle alongside the Elder Fey to keep the Realm of Faerie from rampaging through the human world.
“Yeah.” Tam cocked his head. “I think I hear his car now.”
Zeg’s old gas-guzzler was as out of place in The View as a fly on vanilla ice cream, and he was proud of the fact. He took immense pleasure in using his official gate pass, and Spark suspected he deliberately messed with his car’s engine before he drove up to the compound, making the car smoke and rattle even more than usual.
Sure enough, the coughing clatter coming up the street was unmistakable. Roy made a face, though he didn’t say anything as Zeg’s car rounded the corner and chugged up the drive. The guzzler halted with a squeal of brakes, and Zeg hopped out, his smile beaming from behind his frizzy beard. He had a passenger, too—his niece, Marny.
“Marny!” Jennet gave her friend a hug, her slight form dwarfed by the bigger girl. Marny was solid, physically as well as emotionally.
“Good to see you two,” Spark said. “The gang’s almost all here. Jennet, is your dad coming?”
“He’s stuck at work, but sends his best wishes and an open invitation to come stay with us. You know, whenever you’re passing through on your international tours.”
They all laughed. Crestview wasn’t on the way to anywhere.
“I might, actually. Now that VirtuMax owns this town, I imagine they’ll want me back from time to time.”
“Good,” Roy said, a little too smugly. “There are other reasons to come back here, of course.”
Spark caught Jennet’s eye. Although he’d matured some, Roy Lassiter could still be a prime ego-head.
“Right,” Marny said. “And I hate to tell you this, Roy, but you’re not anywhere near the top of the list.”
Tam let out a snort, and Jennet held up one hand.
“Stop it,” she said. “Is this real
ly how we want to say goodbye to Spark?”
“Just like old times.” A hint of a smile tugged at Tam’s mouth. “Think of all those happy in-game memories.”
“Right.” Spark rolled her eyes. “Especially the parts where we almost got killed.”
“We’ll talk, though,” Jennet said. “We all have each other’s messager numbers, right?”
“We have to.” Tam’s voice grew serious. “Feyland launches next week, which means our work is just starting. We need to be on the lookout for… you know. Freaky things.”
Jennet nodded, and Marny crossed her arms. Spark let out a low breath. Yeah, they knew. Things like fey magic seeping out of the game into the mortal world. Gamers led astray, stumbling into a realm of wonder and trouble far beyond anything they’d imagined when they entered the virtual reality of a sim game.
“I’m sure we’ll all keep watch,” Zeg said. He handed Spark a paper sack. “Here. I baked you some cookies.”
That, more than anything, made sorrow tighten her throat. Zeg’s cookies were legendary.
“Miss Jaxley,” Burt called. “We need to get you to the airport.”
Jennet, her blue eyes glinting with tears, hugged Spark again. Tam was next, then Marny, who nearly cracked her ribs. Zeg gave her a bear hug, and for a second Spark missed her dad, missed her whole family with a quick, sharp pain.
Still, she knew her family was happy for the opportunities and the life she’d chosen. Not to mention the big portion of her earnings she always sent home.
“Spark. I’ll miss you.” Roy put his arms around her, and it was too tender, too close to the real thing.
But almost wasn’t enough. Regret surged through her, bittersweet.
“Bye, Roy,” she said softly.
He bent to kiss her, and at the last second she turned her face so that his lips grazed her cheek, not her mouth.