Spectrum of Magic Complete Series - Spell Breaker - Fate Shifter - Cursed Stone - Magic Unborn - Libra

by D. N. Leo

  The woman smiled. “Very reasonable.”

  “I’ll take all the weapons off me, so you’ll feel safe.”

  The woman laughed. “You intrigue me, Roy. See what you can do.”

  Roy took his weapons off and put them on the floor. He approached the woman. He touched her face. He traced her jawlines. Mori knew those hands. She knew what they could do to a woman’s senses.

  Roy moved his hands down the woman’s shoulders, then to her back. He pulled her closer to his body.

  The entire upper half of Mori’s body could move now. She shifted her shoulders, and tried harder to make sure her entire body work. This woman must have been distracted by Roy, so much that she let loose her control on Mori. The woman moved into Roy. She grabbed at him and started kissing him.

  Over the woman’s shoulder, Mori was sure Roy could see her move. She looked at him and flexed her muscle once more. She could feel her left leg now.

  Roy responded to the woman, deepening the kiss, his hands touching her in ways that made her groan with pleasure.

  Mori could move her entire body now. She glanced back and saw that Sam, Irish and Peter were still immobile.

  Mori charged. The woman must have eyes in the back of her head because she lifted Roy up and threw him at Mori. If she hadn’t withdrawn her sword fast enough, it would have impaled him.

  Roy’s body dropped to the floor. Mori kept charging at the woman.

  Before Mori could reach her, the woman had sent a fireball right at her. She would have turned into ashes if she’d been hit by the fireball. Roy flew at her from behind and scooped her off its fiery path.

  His silver blood was on maximum capacity now, she knew. His strength was incredible. The woman threw her snake arm out, slashing at Roy’s back. He fell to the floor. Mori was furious. She darted at the woman again.

  Behind her, Roy got up. The woman roared with anger and took her stance, waiting for Mori to charge. This clash was going to be brutal, Mori knew that.

  Suddenly the room exploded with light. The cot glowed in shimmering light. The baby’s body was lifted up, hovering over the cot. His arms and legs stretched out and he shifted into a small baby fox. Light poured in from the ceiling window and the light funneled to flow into the body of the fox.

  The light sparked on the fox’s magnificent red fur and then absorbed into its body.

  Zanxi baby had transformed.

  Another large beam of light poured down to the fox, bounced from the cot to the east wall, the west wall, the north wall, the south wall and then back to the center just above the cot.

  A panel opened in on the wall where the light landed. Inside the reset was a glowing statue of a goddess holding a scale in one and a golden key in the other.

  The woman let out a blood curling sound that sounded almost like a howl. She raced toward the baby fox while the light was still on it. She reached her snake arms out. Mori charged at her. The woman turned around in lightning speed and she grabbed at Mori, throwing her to the far wall.

  She turned around for the baby fox again. This time, Roy charged at her. She chanted something quickly and swung her arm at Roy. She didn’t throw Roy away like she did before, but pulled him up against her.

  They both stood under the light next to the baby fox.

  “Remember what I said before. If you want to be with me, I am happy to share this with you. You will have both. Immortality and the life force. What do you say?”

  Roy looked at the woman and paused for a second. He glanced back quickly at Mori and then returned to the woman.

  “I’m offering you immortality. Others would kill for this,” the woman said.

  Roy looked at the woman. Her eyes were dreamy. Her offer was too good to refuse. “Yes,” he said.

  The woman smiled. She grabbed at Roy and pulled him against her body. She held his left hand and reached into the center of the light.

  “I’m sorry. I lied.” Roy said and pressed his right hand to the woman’s heart. He pumped his energy the way he had at the bottom of the rock hill. The way he’d exploded hundreds of rocks along with the Yakuz creatures.

  She screamed, but the sound was cut off when her body exploded into nothingness. She was gone, leaving behind a haunting sound of black magic, which quickly faded away. Magic didn’t occur this time.

  Roy’s body was thrown up in the air by his own explosion, smashing against the ceiling and dropping back down to the floor where he lay motionless.

  Chapter 21

  As soon as the woman died, Sam, Irish and Peter could regain control of their bodies. Mori rushed over to Roy and turned him over gingerly. She was afraid that no bones in his body was left unbroken. “Roy, please open your eyes and look at me.”

  Roy opened his eyes and groaned. Mori kissed his cheek. “You’re okay, husband.” He smiled at her. Mori slid her hand behind his back to help him sit up.

  On the platform, the baby fox stood up in his cot. He wagged his tailed. He flew over and licked Irish on the face. Then he jumped into the light and vanished.

  The light beam on the cot disappeared, leaving only the statue of the Goddess holding the key. “Let’s do what we have to do and get out of here,” Roy said.

  He winced with the pain, but stood up by himself. He climbed up to the platform and approached the statue. As soon as he took the key off the Goddess’ hand, the statue moved aside, revealing a key hole behind.

  Roy inserted the key and turned. Then he withdrew the key. Bright light blew out through the key hole, whirling in a funnel of millions of colorful particles. He took the shield out of his pocket and placed it over the key hole. The shield snapped in instantly.

  Roy froze the moment he heard a click and felt the cold gun muzzle against his head.

  “Give me the key,” Peter said, his voice hard and insistent.

  Roy tried to turn around, but Peter pressed the gun harder. “Don’t turn or I’ll blow your head off. Hand over the key. Now.”

  Moments passed before Roy held the key up and Peter snatched it from his hand. But he didn’t lower the gun or step away. He was going to shoot him anyway.

  Bang!

  The blast reverberated around and around the enclosed space.

  Sam held a gun. He had shot at his cousin, but missed, hitting only his shoulder. Peter dropped the gun, but managed to kick Roy down the platform before fleeing the corridor and running outside.

  Irish and Mori were still on the floor. Roy and Sam ran to them, making sure the women were alright.

  “How could he take down three of you without making a sound?” Roy asked.

  “Didn’t he tell you he used to work for special forces? Well, he didn’t lie about that.”

  Mori opened her eyes and sat right up. “It’s all right, honey. Peter got the key, but we’ll get it back.” Mori rubbed at the back of her head as Roy helped her stand up.

  Irish was also on her feet.

  “You stay here, I’ll go after Peter. I must have the key.” Before anyone could object, Roy had stormed out of the room.

  Chapter 22

  The beach was colder and much darker than before. Roy ran in the direction he speculated that Peter might run toward. He crouched, glanced around, taking in the scene and listened. Then he kept moving along the water.

  Peter had to have people waiting for him on a boat. Roy was sure of it.

  And he wasn’t mistaken. From a distance, an enormous battleship was waiting.

  “You have got to be kidding me. A battleship. An army!”

  When he saw Peter racing toward the water, Roy shook his head. The battleship was sending in a small boat for him.

  His king, Ciaran, had underestimated the demand for that little key. There were more people who wanted the key than Hoyt Flanagan. Had Roy known this, he would have been much more prepared. He would have brought his soldiers.

  Shit!

  He could fight them. He could take a battleship. Couldn’t he? Maybe not. But what he was sure he could do
was take Peter.

  He pulled out his gun, aimed and was about to shoot.

  Gigantic fire bullets rained on the beach from the ship. They dug up enormous holes in the sand. Peter was almost hit. He cursed and turned around to see Roy scrambling up after him, rolling of the rocky beach to avoid the attack.

  From behind him, Mori, Sam, and Irish raced over.

  “What part of staying there didn’t you understand?” Roy snarled. “See that boat there? It just shot at me. It will shoot more.”

  Just as Roy finished his sentence, another round of bullets rained on the beach. The bullets also prevented Peter from doing anything. He hid behind a large rock.

  Roy calculated his movements. He could take the ship. He knew he could. But this would take much of his energy, which was not unlimited. He couldn’t rush. He couldn’t panic. He had to concentrate.

  Roy stood. Mori was right behind him, flanked by Sam and Irish. If they were to die on this island, they’d die together, fighting as one. Roy concentrated. He crouched and punched his fist on the rocky ground.

  Immediately, they felt the ground grumbling. The island shook. Roy concentrated and let out a scream.

  The tidal wave of energy from Roy pumped into the ground, underneath the rock bed and spread through the sea, exploding like a bomb underneath the ship. It tilted and tried to turn around. Roy intended to stand up, but reeled. Mori grabbed at him and helped him to his feet.

  Still rocking, the ship turned back and was looking as if it would discharge another round of ammunition. Roy held his breath and prepared to shoot another wave of energy.

  He gave this one all he had.

  It might be his last one.

  This shot was gigantic — it exploded right in the middle of the ship. The ship bucked up, then broke in half. The two wedges of the ship sank quietly to the bottom of the ocean.

  Roy collapsed to the ground. Panting hard. Exhausted.

  Sam charged at the rock where Peter was hiding. Mori and Irish followed close behind.

  “Let’s see what you can do if you can’t attack us from behind,” Sam said to his cousin and Peter raised his hands in the air.

  “Let me go. Here is the key. You can take it back. I don’t want it anymore.” He put the key on the ground and slowly backed away from it.

  Mori stepped forward and picked the key up. Sam and Irish stared at Peter until he withdrew and disappeared behind the rocks.

  Walking back to where Roy was lying, Mori dangled the key in front of him. “You’ve got it. Get up and take it, my warrior.”

  Roy smiled.

  Behind them, Roy sensed a movement and turned to see Peter running from behind a large rock. He drew back his arm and then launched a dark object in their direction.

  A grenade!

  The round, black, deadly weapon glared at Roy, winking in the light. Roy rose, picked up his sword and threw it at Peter. The other man fell as the sword pierced him front to back. He fell on his face just as the grenade fell at Roy’s feet.

  Roy picked it up and ran, once again charging down the beach and toward a large rock.

  Only days before, he’d jumped through a window and to the roof of a neighboring warehouse to avoid an explosion. Now, his energy didn’t allow him to do so. He jumped to the top of the large rock, but slipped and fell. He was next to the grenade when it exploded.

  Chapter 23

  Mori ran toward the rock, afraid to see but needing to see. If there was any chance that Roy was alive, she needed to be with him.

  Roy was lying on the ground. He didn’t look like he was breathing. When she turned him over, she winced at the blood all over his shirt. He opened his eyes, squinting in the light, looking up at her.

  “Take…” he winced and licked his lips.

  “Shhh,” she tried to soothe him.

  “Take the key … back to Eudaiz … for Ciaran?” he managed to say. He closed his eyes and continued to whisper. “Tell him … you took it. He’ll give you … eudqi.”

  She sobbed and pushed his hair back from his face. “It’s your job; you do it yourself.” Tears rolled down her face now, blurring her vision.

  “I’m sorry…” he rasped, his voice as weak as water. “Meant … tell you about … key. Don’t be … mad.”

  “Shhh, it’s okay. I know now. I’m not mad.”

  He grasped her hand. “I didn’t … mean … kiss … that woman.”

  She laughed, a small sound that mingled with pain, nearly strangling her. “No, you didn’t. She kissed you.”

  His eyes implored her. “Please … don’t leave me, Mori.”

  “I’ll never leave you. You know that.” She cried, sobbing so hard she shook all over. “Don’t say that, Roy. Please.”

  “Promise … me. Promise you’ll never leave me?”

  “Yes, I promise.” Tears streamed down her face non-stop.

  “And promise…” he sighed and coughed, wincing in pain. “Promise you’ll always discuss with me before you take on any mission and go anywhere?”

  She nodded. “Yes.” She wiped her tears. “I promise.”

  “And you’ll have sex with me anytime I want it?”

  Her head jerked up and she looked at him closely. He was grinning at her. “You aren’t hurt?” she said, incredulous. “You tricked me to make all these promises!” She punched him in the chest.

  “Ouch,” he said, laughing. “I am hurt. It’s one of the perks with the silver blood. I can heal fast. But I am injured.” He grabbed at his chest and rolled away on the ground. “Really. Please pity me.”

  She pulled him back, punching him again with fists that carried no heat.

  “Ouch. I thought you love me.”

  Sam and Irish approached. “You deserve it, buddy,” Sam said, his eyes smiling.

  “Don’t gang up on me,” Roy begged, still laughing. “I’m injured.”

  Sam rolled his eyes and Roy caught Mori around the wrists, pulling her onto his chest, and holding her close.

  “Irish and I are going home now,” Sam told Mori and Roy a little bit later.

  Roy stood and held out a hand, shaking the other man’s hand hard.

  “It’s good to know you both,” Irish said, hugging Mori tightly. “You know where we live. Drop by at any time.”

  “Sure,” Mori said and smiled at the couple as they walked away, hand in hand. She turned around and looked at Roy. He had sat back down and cringed at the look she gave him.

  “They’re a happy couple,” Mori said.

  “They sure are. We are too.”

  She shot him another look. “I’m not happy, Roy.”

  “Oh, Mori,” he said, his voice soft. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

  She turned to him, folding her arms over her chest. “One promise.”

  He looked worried. “Sure.”

  “You don’t know what I’m asking you yet.”

  He blew out a breath. “Anything that makes you happy, I’ll do it.”

  “All right.” She grinned. “I want a baby fox.”

  “But Zanxi has gone. He … oh … not that baby fox.”

  Mori grinned. “You’ve got it.” She stood and opened the portal so that they could go back to Eudaiz.

  Roy winced and stood up. He wrapped his arm around her waist. “Baby fox it is …”

  Together, they walked into the light, going back to Eudaiz, the universe they called home.

  This is the end of Libra - Spectrum of Magic - Epilogue.

  Turn to the next page for sample chapters of

  Ash of Scorpio - Bloodstone Trilogy - Prequel.

  ASH OF SCORPIO

  When hope turns into ashes, hero rises

  Imagine a time when the Arctic ice sinks. In the snow, Scorpio brings you the battle of the last mage tribe in Greenland and a Silver Blood soldier on his first mission.

  Power. Intelligence. Determination. Caedmon has it all. But there is one critical quality he doesn’t have: experience.

  Ash o
f Scorpio is the prequel of Bloodstone – a supernatural thriller trilogy that will take you to the climax of your imagination.

  BLOODSTONE TRILOGY

  BLOODSTONE TRILOGY

  by D.N Leo

  >> HOME PAGE <<

  Prequel: ASH OF SCORPIO

  Book 1: LIGHT OF DEMON

  Book 2: SHADOW OF ANGEL

  Book 3: SHADE OF FIRE

  Chapter 24

  Winter 2065 in Greenland was as cold and miserable as the last twenty-nine winters she had experienced. But this one was special. This winter, Sedna wouldn’t be just a mage. If things went as planned, she would become the leader of her tribe. She didn’t know how big of an if it was. But she would just have to deal with it as it came to her.

  She squinted, looking more carefully at the golden sculpture of a scorpion. She had thought it would be much bigger than this, but it was just slightly larger than her palm. The eyes of the scorpion flashed like fire. She shook her head and blinked. When she looked again, the eyes were back to normal. She sighed. She had averaged three hours of sleep a day in the last two weeks. It obviously had consequences.

  Afton had been training her for over a year now to ready her for the leadership. Her combat skills and her ability to control her energy as a mage had improved a lot. He said she was now ready to take what was rightfully hers.

  This scorpion sculpture was the first step toward the power.

  The shiny golden sculpture of a scorpion with a ring of diamonds wrapped around its neck stared back at her. She was a professional picker, and she’d been making a good living from it. She had a knack for valuable artifacts—she knew their worth, their authenticity, and most importantly, their potential profits.

  Something was wrong with this sculpture. If it was a fake, it was a damn good one. But Afton wouldn’t use unreliable sources of information.

  She turned around to look at the well-dressed man waiting patiently next to her. “This looks interesting, Mr. Quinn. I need to make a phone call.”