by John O'Riley
Mark’s grip on the steering wheel was fidgety. “How did things go with contacting Hermina?”
“Perry didn’t have any trouble reaching her.” Josephine leaned back in her seat. “Hermina managed to speak telepathically with all of us once he got her attention. It’s kind of a mixed bag. The resistance has freed half a continent but the rest of the world is still under AI rule. We’ll try to communicate with her again in a month or so. Until then, we’re leaving our facility in Venice turned off.”
“That’s a wise precaution,” Mark acknowledged.
He had a nervous air about him but he was one of those individuals that didn’t emit much in the way of psychometric energy so he was virtually unreadable to her. Josephine wondered if something was bothering him or if she was just imagining problems where none existed. Josephine recognized the Italian restaurant as Mark pulled into the parking lot which was a couple of blocks away from Beneva and Webber.
“We haven’t been here in ages.” Josephine shot him an approving grin.
“Lazzaro’s was our first date.” Mark’s expression was bashful.
“I remember.” Josephine leveled a wistful gaze at him. “You’re such a sweetheart.”
They kissed briefly then entered the small, cozy restaurant. The dim lighting made the flickering lights of the candles centered on every table stand out and create a romantic ambience. The waiter was a pudgy dark-haired man in his thirties named Clarence who wore a crisp blue dress shirt and black pants. He led Josephine and Mark to a window seat and handed them menus. Josephine ordered hot chocolate although she would have preferred a Kahlua mudslide. Mark liked to drink red wine when they dined out but he supported her pregnancy by steering clear of alcohol and ordered a soda instead.
“This brings back memories.” Josephine leveled a fond gaze at Mark and reached out to caress his cheek. “You had a twelve o’clock shadow on our first date.”
“Yes, I did.” Mark looked self-conscious. “I know you weren’t impressed by it.”
“I just don’t care to see facial hair on my guys.” Josephine grinned with amusement. “Of course, you’re an exception.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” Mark fidgeted with discomfort.
“Are you all right?” Josephine peered at him with concern.
The candle cast an unsteady light on his handsome face and he looked decidedly nervous. “I wanted to have an important discussion.”
Josephine’s breath quickened as she anticipated bad news. Whenever she defeated one foe or overcame an obstacle, a new one somehow found a way to pop up in her life. She wondered what kind of new threat awaited her.
“Maybe we can talk about it later.” She’d rather forget her problems for now and just enjoy the moment.
Mark pulled out a small black box and fear slid through Josephine. She heightened her psychic receptors and probed at it but couldn’t detect anything beyond the layer of light energy shielding it. Perhaps it was a terramezic powered device but it was so small and compact – the size of a marble.
“I knew you were the one the moment I saw you.” Mark’s earnest gaze held hers. “You’ve become my best friend and my partner. I love you more than words can say. I want us to be together for the rest of our lives.”
The subtle energy currents that flowed between Mark and Josephine intensified. Mark’s love was a comforting embrace and Josephine’s heart swelled with emotion.
Tears glistened in her eyes. “The rest of our lives could be a really long time, you know, since we’re technically immortal now.”
“I know.” Mark chuckled nervously and opened the black box to reveal a diamond engagement ring.
“It’s beautiful.” Josephine was overcome with emotion.
Mark dropped down on one knee and held the open box to her. “Will you marry me, Josephine O’Connor?”
Josephine had often feared this moment as she’d convinced herself she would never marry ever again. For her, romance always led to utter disaster. However, she was no longer concerned or weighed down by these past experiences. This man felt right as though she’d waited her entire life to reach this point.
“Yes!” Josephine exclaimed. “I will definitely marry you!”
Mark leaned forward and kissed her. Light energy and love flowed through her and her body glowed with a soft white luminescence. When Mark pulled back and seated himself, Josephine reveled in this special moment and she realized she’d never felt such utter happiness and contentment in her entire life.
If you would like to check out special offers, see all books available, or sign up for new book notifications, you are welcome to visit the official author website at: http://johnoriley.webs.com
Titles currently available by John O’Riley:
Grumpy Old Wizards series:
Book 1: Grumpy Old Wizards
Book 2: Corruption
Book 3: Dark Energy
Book 4: Terramezic Energy
Winters Family Psi Chronicles:
Book 1: Transformation
Book 2: Project Onyx
Book 3: Black Moon
Wizards in Seattle series:
Episode 1: Inheritance
The following pages are a preview of the first episode in an exciting new Wizards of Seattle series, Inheritance:
Chapter 1
Jason Flanigan and his two friends, Michelle and Monte, lounged at a table near the back of McNamara’s Pub with their drinks resting in front of them. Jason lost himself in the peppy Irish rock music played by the live band across the room. It made conversation next to impossible but it was one of his favorite places to meet for Friday night get-togethers. He took another sip of his JD and Coke, the problem that constantly loomed over him like a persistent shadow temporarily forgotten and drowned out by the combination of music, companionship, the excitement from the other customers, and the buzz of alcohol. The chaotic blend of energy swirled around the room in a rainbow of colors that Jason could clearly see. His third eye vision was almost always active and could rarely be turned off. It was one of the hallmarks of a category six wizard. Jason had always wanted to be a five or a six but his magical strength was merely a three. It was virtually unheard for anyone less than a category five to read energy without the aid of an enchantment.
Jason had excelled at his job as quality assurance inspector at Adventi Magics, Inc. He could examine the energy matrix of an enchantment in progress and within just a moment or two, determine whether it was still on track or needed to be scrapped. This saved a lot of labor for the company because enchantments took weeks or months to construct, depending on the complexity of the particular design. Once the enchantment was finished, Jason or another member of the quality assurance department would double-check the spell to be sure it would work before the company distributed it for sale. Jason had been the only one on this team who was not a category five or six wizard. Unfortunately, that was all in the past. About three months ago, Adventi Magics, Inc was purchased by a larger corporation and all employees from the quality assurance department and most other departments were laid off.
When the live band called it a night and left, it was a quarter after eleven. Michelle usually didn’t stick around much later than that. She was an early bird and frequently had Saturday morning appointments with students from her classes. She was a professor at Evergreen Falls Community College in Bothell. She was in her mid-twenties, short and slender with brown eyes and curly black hair that didn’t quite reach her shoulders. She was clad in a wine-colored button-up blouse and black pants while Jason and Monte both wore jeans and tee shirts. Jason was the youngest of his friends at twenty-three years and also the tallest. At six foot three, he towered over most of the people he met. He was handsome with a strong jawline, a deep cleft in his chin, unruly black curly hair that tended to sweep across his forehead and robin egg blue eyes. Monte was average height and weight with short-cropped blond hair and green eyes. He was the strongest wizard of the three as a category five. Jason and Mich
elle both had a burning desire to become a five or six with the ability to create complex enchantments. For Jason, it was frustrating to possess the ability to perceive psychometric and magical energy without the ability to manipulate it very well.
A psychometry enchantment could be utilized to read energy through touch and to see the energy makeup of an enchantment up close. For a category five, an enchantment wasn’t needed to use psychometry. For a category six, psychometry was so strong for the wizard that they could actually see the energy streams flowing around them in addition to the psychic imprints left on objects. In fact, they could even access the psychic impressions without the need for physical contact. That was how Jason’s ability worked and it frustrated him that he was just a category three because he would never be able to create the really amazing spells that he strove for. Virtually everyone in the world was a wizard because of the Disaster of 2029. Non-magical folk were the exception nowadays rather than the rule. Even though there were no spells that could strengthen a wizard’s power, Jason and Michelle were always on the lookout for one. Jason had hoped using his psychometry would somehow trigger latent abilities waiting to emerge. There were some people who had untapped potential to become a six which sometimes activated as a result of a traumatic event or straining psychic muscles too much. It was so rare to possess psychometry without being a category six that there was no one who had heard of it.
That made Jason’s hunt for a job in the field of magical applications next to impossible. Companies were looking for a category five or six but would settle for a four. Any wizard with less strength than that was immediately knocked out of the running. To add insult to injury, Jason had met with a complete lack of success with all of the clerical and customer service positions he’d applied for other than sporadic interviews that led nowhere. If he didn’t land a job soon, he’d have to resort to more extreme measures.
“It’s hard to believe that tomorrow marks my three month anniversary,” Jason said in a wry tone.
Michelle regarded him with puzzlement. “What are you talking about?”
“It will be exactly three months since I lost my job at Adventi Magics.” It embarrassed him that he couldn’t find work while at the same time it also irked him, so naturally he brought attention to the fact that he was currently unemployed to his friends during almost every conversation.
Michelle leveled a commiserating look at him. “I’m so sorry, Jason. The economy is really tough right now. It’s the worst recession in recorded history.”
“All the signs point to a recovery in the very near future,” Monte advised.
Monte kept up with current events by constantly reading the news apps on his smartphone. In fact, he had his maroon phone resting on the table in front of him and surreptitiously glanced at it long enough to read bits and pieces as he conversed with his two friends.
“You’ve been saying that for weeks,” Jason pointed out.
“No, I haven’t.” Monte’s tone was distracted as he read over something on his cell.
Jason’s gaze was drawn to the front door as a tall, slender, dark-haired woman stepped into the bar. She was dressed all in black and her eyes were jet-black without a trace of white. As Jason focused on her with his third eye chakra, he realized that she was comprised of a complex pattern of dark energy. Apprehension slithered through his body when he realized that this wasn’t even a person.
“I can’t believe it.” Jason stared at the woman in shock.
She stood in front of the closed door and slowly perused the crowded establishment, searching for someone. Michelle and Monte craned their heads to peer in that direction as they sought out what had garnered Jason’s attention. It didn’t take them long to notice the black eyes of the newcomer.
“What is that? A vampire?” Michelle asked.
“No, it’s a curse,” Jason advised.
Michelle frowned with puzzlement. “But it’s a woman. How is that possible?”
“I recognize it from what I’ve read about black magic,” Jason said.
“Why are you reading about black magic?” Michelle regarded him with surprise and a hint of disapproval.
“I like to be informed on all types of magic,” Jason replied. “You can’t defend yourself against something you know nothing about.”
“Why on earth would you think someone would cast a curse on you?” Michelle asked.
Jason’s face reddened with chagrin. “I don’t know. It just seemed like a good idea to be knowledgeable about that kind of thing.”
“I wholeheartedly approve,” Monte chimed in. “Knowledge is power.”
Jason stiffened with shock when the woman’s gaze locked with his. For several seconds, she didn’t move a muscle and then she strode towards him.
“Oh my God! She’s coming this way! She’s staring right at me!” Jason exclaimed with horror.
“Surely not.” Michelle narrowed her eyes with speculation as she eyed the occupied table directly behind Jason. “It’s probably those guys.”
“I have to get out of here.” Jason jumped to his feet and tried to remember if there was an exit in the back.
He stood near the entrance to a short hallway leading to the restrooms but he couldn’t remember if there was a way out. He silently chastised himself for not paying better attention. A few others had noticed the woman’s eyes and steered clear of her as they obviously assumed she was a vampire or succubus.
“What kind of curse is it?” Monte rose to his feet and leveled a questioning look at his friend.
“It’s a construo letalis curse,” Jason said. “Those things are impervious to magic. You can’t shield yourself from them or fight them.”
“What happens if you try?” Michelle stood up and shot a wary glance at the woman who continued to stalk closer to them.
“You can slow them down with a spell or two but they adapt,” Jason said.
The curse was only three tables away from them.
“Is there an exit by the restrooms?” Jason asked.
“No, there’s not,” Michelle said.
“I was afraid of that.” Jason swallowed and his stomach knotted with terror.
He couldn’t think of any way out of this. He was just an average category three wizard with a few minor defensive spells he’d purchased at the store. He wore two silver-colored tungsten rings on his right hand, which he activated. A flash of silver light in the shape of a sphere materialized around him for just a split second before turning invisible. It probably wouldn’t even slow her down for a second. The woman reached their table and made a beeline for Jason. He jumped back just as her hand rushed forward with inhuman speed and he avoided her touch by mere inches. He scooted around the table to keep it between them. Michelle and Monte backed away from them. Jason and the curse circled the table in one direction then the other. Jason’s heart thudded wildly in his chest as the woman stopped and stared at him with her soulless black eyes. She dove across the table and tackled him. Jason’s breath was knocked out of him as his back hit the ground with her on top. The meager protection of his enchantment had failed to even slow her down.
The curse leaned forward as she sat on him and wrapped her fingers around his neck in a viselike grip that cut off all his air. Michelle had her wand out and unleashed a volley of telekinetic energy, knocking the woman backwards by half a dozen feet. Jason gasped for air and pushed himself up into a sitting position. Michelle blasted the woman again. This time, the curse’s body briefly changed to black smoke before solidifying again as she absorbed the spell without being knocked backward again. She had already adapted to the telekinetic enchantment. Jason pushed himself up off the floor as the woman drew herself up to a standing position. She lunged forward and Jason only had time to retreat one step before she had reached him. She halted with her hand mere inches from his neck. Jason exhaled sharply and his breath misted out of his mouth as though he stood outside in the dead of winter. He shivered as a wave of cold emanated from the curse. Frost
began to form over her skin. Jason realized there was a powerful spell being cast and he could see the stream of energy through his third eye vision. He turned to follow the source of the magic and realized it was Monte who had his wand aimed at the creature.
“You have to get out of here, Jason. My wand is almost out of juice. All that I have left after this is telekinetic enchantments and they won’t do any good,” Monte said.
“What about you and Michelle?” Jason realized they were standing off to the side and weren’t moving to follow him.
“We’ll try to slow it down but you need to leave. It’s clear that it’s programmed to kill only you so it will ignore us,” Monte advised.
Jason took another step back but was hesitant to leave his friends behind. How could they be so sure the curse wouldn’t attack them?
“Jason, go!” Michelle exclaimed.
The curse was covered with a layer of ice. It’s black eyes were still pinned to Jason and its arm remained extended towards him. Cracks began to form on its arm and torso. Monte’s wand ran out of energy. Jason turned and bolted out of the bar. Luckily, most of the people had cleared out when the attack had started and no one got in his way. His only chance to live through this encounter was to reach his car and put as much distance as possible between himself and that creature. It would take some time for it to track his energy signature if he could just get far enough away. Jason dashed down the sidewalk toward the metered parking lot half a block away. He had almost reached his car when he heard a crash from behind him. Jason glanced back to see the woman emerge from the bar with the door lying down on the sidewalk. He realized Monte must have used his telekinetic wands to keep the door shut and when they wore off, the pressure of the curse pushing against it had ripped the door off its hinges.
The curse spotted Jason immediately and sprinted towards him. Jason ran to his blue hybrid sedan and got behind the wheel in record time. The woman was only a dozen feet away by now. Jason clenched his jaw as he backed out of his parking spot with haste then lunged forward toward the exit. The curse anticipated where he would be forced to drive and turned to cut him off. He slammed his foot down hard on the accelerator in an attempt to race ahead of her. Unfortunately, she was too fast for that. She reached the vehicle and smashed her fist through the driver’s side window. Shattered glass pelted Jason’s body while her fist missed his head by mere inches. Panic seized him when he lost sight of the road with her arm poised in the air directly in front of his face, blocking his vision. She clung to the side of the car. He slammed on the brakes as her right hand groped for his bruised neck. Her body hurtled forward, rolling a few times as it hit the pavement. She only lay there for several seconds before rising to her feet with smooth, controlled motions.