Blue Mage Omnibus: 10 Book Collection: An Epic Fantasy Romance Adventure

by Eden Redd

  Trystan saw the fear in Lana’s eyes as the black angel pulled her close, lifted her up and threw her at the temple. Lana struck the stone floor and debris jettisoned into the air. A shock wave knocked Trystan and Aznara onto their backs. The angel barreled down to the new crater with Lana in it and smashed her feet into the kitsune’s chest. A second shockwave boomed, sending more debris into the air.

  Damon stood up and looked down at Jenny and Lana. The librarian lay on the floor heaving and trying sit up. Lana lay in the crater unconscious and unmoving. The renegade mage stepped over to Xolly as she landed and bowed her head to her master. The mage put a finger under her chin and lifted her face to his. Leaning in, he kissed her deeply. When he broke away, Xolly turned to mist and returned to her master’s skin. The renegade mage turned to the high priestess who was smiling.

  “Are you impressed?” Damon smiled.

  Theena nodded her head slightly, “Yes, my consort. Shall we retire to another location so we may discuss and you may claim your rewards?”

  Damon stepped to her and pulled her up. The renegade looked up to the high priestess, “I thought you would never ask.”

  The renegade mage made several hand signals. Shadow mages and scylla soldiers sunk into their own shadows. Darkness rose up along the ocean and covered the bone ship, drawing it in and transporting it to another location. Freya stared at the fallen Trystan as her shadow moved over her body and she faded into it. Theena reached out with a pale hand to Damon’s arm.

  Damon turned to Trystan, “Young mage, you are free of my spells. I hope we cross paths in the future. I want to see what a fine mage you will become. Farewell for now.”

  Damon turned to Theena and they stared at each other lovingly as shadows blanketed them, their forms fading away into the darkness.

  Trystan struggled to sit up but his ribs and arms throbbed with paralyzing pain. Aznara had passed out next to him, blood dripping from her head wound. The mage tried to reach out and touch her, his body not responding. Turning his head slightly, he could see the water elemental dragon lose its form, falling to the ocean. Time seemed to lose meaning as the mage looked up at the sky, clouds parting and stars twinkling in the beautiful night sky. The last thing he saw was Kutter landing next to him, arms reaching out before darkness closed in.

  Seventeen

  The breeze caressed Trystan’s cheek as he stared out over the railing. The sky was a deep and comforting blue. The town of Lantern Beach stood in the distance, calling to him like an old friend. Brilliant sunlight eased his stiff muscles. He hated spending so much time in bed. One hand gripped the railing while the other hung in a sling over his shoulder. The mage tried to soak up the warm sunlight but his heart beat with profound regret.

  The voyage back was smooth considering the Sea Strider was barely holding together. Jenny had recovered but didn’t speak much during the voyage back. Aznara was unconscious for a day before she woke up, asking what happened. Reeko had to be the one to tell his side first, his broken wrist making him wince every time he moved. Lana recovered and flew off as soon as she woke up, Trystan assumed back to Professor Hart. Kutter steered the ship back while his familiar tended to everyone’s wounds. Since no one was a healer, the gargoyle did the next best he could of setting bones and wrapping appendages. The rocking of the ship caused everyone to feel some sort of pain. Trystan tried to focus on the physical pain and ignore the maddening ache in his heart.

  The Sea Strider docked with the port town of Lantern Beach. Many people were waiting and they nearly rushed the ship. Healers went to work, nearly attacking Trystan first. Warm energy healed his wounds, mended his ribs and fused the bones in his arm but the mage felt like he was incomplete and empty. The healers moved below deck to the rooms, laying their healing energy on Aznara and Reeko.

  Trystan moved to the gangplank and took a shaky step on it. Hands reached out and the mage managed a small smile. Professor Hart and Gwen guided the mage to the dock. Standing on the solid dock, Professor Hart patted Trystan’s shoulder. A moment later, Gwen hugged him fiercely. The mage hugged the witch, never wanting to let go. The sun shined down on them in the perfect summer air.

  ***

  The private dining room was alive with activity. Waiters moved with trays of food, setting them down at the table. Bottles of wines opened and poured into glasses. Trystan sat with Gwen to one side of him. Professor Hart sat at the head of the table. Aznara and Reeko sat across from the mage and witch. Jenny sat at the other end of the table, her head bowed and eyes looking off. When the food and drinks were finished being served, the wait staff made a hasty exit, closing the double sliding doors behind them.

  Quietly, everyone began taking food and putting it on their plates. The mood was relaxed but a dark undertone seemed to lie just below the surface. After a few minutes, Trystan put down his knife and fork with a small clatter.

  The mage stood up and all eyes were on him, “I’m just going to come out and say it. I failed. I failed everyone here. I understand if you hate my guts but I hate myself even more. I hate that I could not keep everyone safe and could not stop Damon Wick’s plans.”

  The room was silent for a long moment.

  Aznara spoke first, “We don’t hate you. We all knew the risks.”

  Reeko nodded, “You can’t be so hard on yourself. Damon was the one who manipulated us to witnessing his grand event.”

  Jenny stood up, head bowed, “It is I who failed all of you. I was supposed to take down Damon Wick and I failed at my task. I am ashamed and will reconsider my place as librarian in Stukarr.”

  Professor Hart put up his hands, “I know everyone feels pretty emotional right now. Please sit and relax. Placing blame will not help the situation any further. The only thing we can do is discuss what happened and plan for the future.”

  Jenny sat down and then Trystan. Gwen put her hand on Trystan’s arm and gave him a squeeze.

  “Professor Hart is right. We must plan now so we can rescue Nia and Sunara,” Gwen said in an understanding tone.

  Aznara looked away, “We won’t be able to save Sunara. She has made her decision.”

  “I still can’t believe she was behind the slime attacks and controlling the Dead Mother. Should we save her after all of that?” Reeko said in a low voice.

  Professor Hart took a deep breath, “Sunara will have to answer for her crimes but Nia is being held against her will. We will need to come up with a strategy to bring them back home.”

  “Do we even know where they took them?” The goblin kept his head low.

  Trystan sat back, “They must be in Fallen York. If Damon is reopening the Night College there, then that is where he will show his power to the High Priestess.”

  Professor Hart nodded, “I have to agree. Damon will be in the heart of his new empire with every monster he convinced to join his crusade.”

  Trystan looked to the head of the table, “Professor, we will need an army to get in there. Will the college risk starting a war to save two students?”

  Professor Hart rubbed his chin, “If I know the Headmaster and Headmistress, they will not risk starting a war anytime soon. I’m afraid we are on our own with this one.”

  “On our own?” Trystan asked.

  Professor Hart looked to everyone as they stared back at him, “I’m not going to sugarcoat this. The only way we are getting Nia and Sunara back is if we do it ourselves.” The professor turned his eyes to Trystan, “I know when we last talked; I was trying to look out for you and the college. I had Lana watch over you and ready to fly to you if you were in serious danger. But now, with everything you have told me, I fear we must do this without the college’s knowledge of it.”

  Gwen picked up her wine and took a sip before putting it back down again, “All of us in this room must swear to keep what we say in this room a secret. We don’t know how many spies Damon may have in Stukarr. He has been one step ahead the entire time but now we may have a chance against him.”

  All
heads at the table nodded in unison.

  Gwen continued, “All of us will return to our normal lives but Professor Hart and I will set up secret meetings for all of you. When the time is right and we are fully prepared, we will rescue Nia and Sunara, and stop Damon Wick. Now is your chance to leave if you don’t wish to be a part of it. We won’t hold it against you.”

  No one moved from the table.

  Professor Hart gave a mischievous smile, “Let us not lose heart. Damon’s grand event was merely a ploy to increase his political and power base. Even if he thinks he has won, he doesn’t understand what he is up against. We fought the slimes and saved Stukarr from destruction. We can put a stop to his schemes because we stopped him before. We will save Nia and Sunara. We will stop his mad plan to wipe out humanity. You are fine mages and with training, nothing will stop us from pushing back the darkness once again. Now let’s enjoy this meal and get down to business. We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

  Everyone at the table looked to each other and a spirited conviction filled the room. The group resumed their meal, discussing plans and ideas well into the night.

  ***

  Trystan and Gwen walked along the boardwalk, the waning moon high in the night sky and the crashing of ocean waves against the deserted beach. Gwen held Trystan’s hand but the mage had a faraway look in his eyes.

  “Trystan…I know how hard this must all be…..” Trystan cut her off with a small smile.

  “You never told me if you ran into trouble when you left Stukarr. Damon promised to hurt you if you left the city walls.”

  Gwen looked to the mage, “Professor Hart was nice enough to be my bodyguard. We had spoken after you left. In confidence, I told him what was happening and he understood the situation. He knew something was up when you went to speak to him before you left. We decided to sneak out and be here at Lantern Beach for your return. I think Damon may have been bluffing. We never ran into any trouble.”

  “Thank you for all your help. I doubt we would have gotten as far as we did without it,” Trystan said, his eyes lowering.

  “Trystan, I know you’re hurting. We will do everything we can to get Nia back.”

  “I know we will. She is my friend and I know she would do the same for me or anyone else she cared for,” Trystan looked off.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” Gwen asked timidly.

  Trystan squeezed her hand, “Not right now.” A warm flash sunk into Trystan’s spirit and he looked to the crashing waves, “I just need some time to think things over. If you excuse me, I have to meet someone.”

  The young mage let go of Gwen’s hand and walked out onto the beach. Sand shifted under Trystan’s feet as he walked across the beach toward the water. Gwen stayed on the boardwalk, looking out to the mage, her heart tight with concern.

  The blue mage reached the edge of the beach, booted feet on wet sand. A wave crashed and covered his boots, seawater spilling into them. The mage stared with intense eyes as another wave crashed and a figure rose up from the wave. Stepping deeper into the water, hands reached out and took hold of a haggard siren. Sylk looked up with weary eyes. No words were spoken as she hugged her master close. Trystan held her head to his chest, kissing the top of her head. Master and Familiar stayed in the water as the waves splashed into them, their connection growing stronger. Together they turned and walked back onto the beach.

  “Master…..” Sylk trailed off.

  “I’m so happy to see you,” Trystan smiled.

  “I’ve missed you my love,” Sylk said while not taking her webbed hands from him.

  “I have missed you too my love. We have much to catch up on but for right now, let’s rest tonight. I just want us together.”

  “Yes, my love. I dreamed of being back in your arms,” The siren whispered.

  Gwen gazed at the mage and familiar for a long moment. She tilted her hat and smiled, walking off as the two stepped onto the boardwalk toward the hotel. Trystan held the blue siren close. They walked into the hotel together, the moon casting its diffused glow on their wet footsteps, the sound of the ocean crashing in the distance.

  ~Fin~

  Sylk’s Song

  One

  Diving into the waves, the siren’s limbs spread out and her body drifted down into the dark water. The blue siren opened her eyes and slowly fell deeper into the sea’s loving and harsh embrace, her master moving farther and farther away. Mermaids swam through the water with smiles, webbed hands reaching out and caressing the siren’s blue skin. Several more bodies swam close, oval eyes gazing on the free-falling siren and smiling.

  A green siren swam up to Sylk and lay underneath her, inches apart and falling along. The blue siren smirked and the green one mirrored her. The water grew darker around their bodies as they descended. Several more sirens moved in close, their hands reaching out and touching their magical friend.

  Without a word, sirens and mermaids kicked their webbed feet or tails, and shot into the murky darkness. Sylk stopped her slow descent and kicked her legs, attempting to catch up. The group of sea-maidens swam until they reached the sea floor. Colored coral glowed as thin shafts of sunlight penetrated the murky depths. Fish swam along, indifferent to the sea women as they settled on the bottom. Seaweed and plants swayed to the eternal rhythms of the ocean.

  “Everyone, welcome our magical sister, Sylk.” The green siren said with a cheery smile.

  This was Sylk’s first time among her kind. She quickly realized that their sonic powers enabled them to speak underwater and their pointed ears designed to pick up those sounds. It sounded like dolphin clicks and whale songs but to her ears, it was perfect speech.

  “She is pretty.” A mermaid smiled.

  “The boys will love her.” A siren laughed.

  The green siren held up a webbed hand, “Let us not get too ahead of ourselves. Sister Sylk is here to train. She has promised to pay for training and we promise to help her become stronger.”

  Sylk turned to the green siren, “Merra, what is the price for training?”

  “We can discuss further afterwards. For now, focus on improving yourself for your master.” The siren winked.

  “Let’s take her to the caves!” One siren sang loudly.

  The sea-maidens all nodded their heads in agreement. Merra floated up and pointed with a webbed finger. Sylk nodded and they all moved as one along the sea bottom. It didn’t take long for them to reach a deep trench. Light from the sky made it down but it was defused, casting long shadows from jagged rocks. In the trench were dark caves along the sides. Glowing eyes appeared at the entrances and faces emerged from the darkness. Soon a school of bodies swam out to greet Merra, the others and a blue siren with an uncomfortable expression in her eyes.

  Sylk watched as four male sirens floated up to Merra but their gaze shifted to her as she hung back. The blue siren had never seen a male siren before. Their bodies were lean and T shaped. Webbed gills fanned out from the sides of their heads. Oval eyes glanced over while short hair moved with the ocean’s pulse. Their bodies were similar to hers; scales covered forearms and shins while their bodies were humanoid. Skin and scale color ranged from blue, green, red and yellow. Loin clothes covered between their legs.

  “Who is the new comer?” One male siren asked.

  “Does she have a mate?” A yellow one inquired.

  “She seems different and shy,” A red siren stated.

  Merra floated a little hirer and raised her hands, “Everyone, I know you have many questions but be patient. Sylk is a magical siren from the surface. She serves a handsome mage and wishes to learn from her kind. It is our duty to show her our ways so she may become better for herself. Show kindness and wisdom. We only have a few days before we move on to fight the wicked Scylla. Tonight, we celebrate but tomorrow we train.”

  Many heads nodded but the four male sirens immediately swam to Sylk and surrounded her. Webbed hands reached out, caressing her skin, scales and feeling her breasts. The blue siren
pulled away when a thumb ran over her nipple causing it to stand at attention. The four males gave a look of shock as she backed away, her eyes a mixture of confusion and embarrassment.

  “She is shocked.” said a blue male.

  “She doesn’t understand.” said a yellow male.

  Merra swam closer, a scaled arm curling around Sylk’s waist and holding her close, “Show her wisdom and kindness. She is new and doesn’t understand our ways. You males need to hold yourself back.”

  The four male sirens bowed their heads and floated back to give them some space.

  Sylk turned to Merra, “Is it always like that with new comers?”

  Merra nodded, “It can be. Males have their uses but they must be told what to do. We are their superiors and they serve. They can be simple but they are generally good-natured as long as they know their place.”

  A red male siren swam closer to Sylk but kept a healthy distance, “We meant no disrespect. We appreciate beauty and this is how we honor it. If you were not pleasing to the eye, we would never touch you.”

  Sylk raised an eyebrow, “Thank you, I think.”

  The blue siren noticed that only the males had a piece of clothing. Everyone else was naked, “Why do the males have to wear a loincloth?”

  Merra smiled, “They tend to stick their cocks in any hole they can find. It is better this way so they do not accidently fill you.”

  Sylk smiled and started laughing. The male sirens floated with confused looks on their faces. Merra pulled the laughing siren closer and they both swam into the trench. The mermaids waved to the sirens and swam off. Sylk watched them leave and another question bloomed in her mind.