by J E Mueller
There still seemed to be no fix for Dreamers. They still managed to sneak onto this plane as if it were nothing. No one really understood how it worked, but it was an easy way to visit, and one I learned to control with magic.
The magic boom was something Kegan was preparing for back in our home realm. She had a feeling one day, our world would see magic again and had several ideas on how to help ease the world back into it. Her best suggestion to ease everyone into it was the dream.
Everyone back home had the same dream over and over for weeks. One that said and showed magic was coming back. Then, it happened. Everyone under the age of four started to show signs of magic.
Most of the world was able to cope.
Some not.
There were those who believed it was a sign of devils and demons coming to destroy them. Key mentioned that was the case in her lifetime as well. I suppose some things never really change, but they were in the far minority.
While Tella and Dani could not leave the realm of spirits, the other Creators could. The five came back and helped with the transition, with showing magic. Some considered them gods no matter how much they declined the title.
Marella, however, relished in the worship.
Melly loved helping with the transition, but I couldn’t join much, despite having returned with little issues back to my fishing village. I had my own three to teach, and their magic was very out of control to start. I hadn’t expected to be given toddlers. The Creators said I needed to know nothing about their past. It would be better to let things grow naturally.
And grow they did.
I was thankful that for their efforts, the Creators gave Benz and Mare a second chance at life. Together, they helped me with my new task. Benz loved having a new opportunity to come back and give back. The mistakes he made were well shoved into the past.
He still had trouble sleeping with some of his dreams turning on him. Memories of the fog were hard to erase. I would often wake up having to calm him.
“It’s just a dream,” I’d readily reassure him. “Those creatures are gone.”
Benz would roll over and hold me tightly. The feelings he had for me were easier for him to express in these gestures. He’d kiss me on the forehead before replying the same phrase after those nightmares. “Thank you, love.”
As for Mare, transitioning back to real life was hardly a challenge. Mare had no desire to return to her original home, and instead joined the rest of us in my village. Her love of magic and excitement about normal mortal creatures helped her fit in easily. She easily learned the village people’s names, and helped them accept the strange transition stage their lives were in.
Now that there weren’t artifacts to hunt and people to save, I could finally breathe a little easier. Adventures from raising beings that were once demons and angels were enough of a handful. Magic was wielded on accident and without thought – a challenge I preferred to how my life had been.
Thankfully, Kegan was a frequent and helpful visitor. She never really would explain what she was, but I knew she was very old and had seen more than her share of things. Sometimes, if I was lucky or the kids were being good, she’d tell us stories from her life. It was easy to get lost in them.
Then one day Kegan surprised me with a tale I never expected to hear, one I wasn’t sure if any of the others even knew. Her eyes were alight with just a hint of mischief as she started.
“Let me tell you the tale of how I met my late husband. He was a bard once, you know…”
The End
Bestiary
All creatures, encountered or not.
1st Floor
Bringets: Pigeon-sized rainbow birds. They prefer to attack lone individuals with food. Rarely spotted unless you’re in fact alone, with food. Their sharp beaks can take off fingers.
Chamtongs: Take on the appearance of paintings and small mundane objects like candlesticks and serving trays. They attack with the blunt force of their chosen form. Easy to escape from.
Hedgeish: Small, knee high electric creatures that have a hedgehog like appearance. Their shocks are rarely deadly, but they attack in large numbers to make up for their lack of power.
Polycoy: Otter-like creatures that were formally outdoors before being brought in by Marella. Highly poisonous. Prefers to hunt things that run. Primarily lives in the pond room. Can be distracted with a game of fetch. (Only three remain: Midge, Nidge, Whiskers)
2nd Floor
Moglozas: Armadillo-like creatures with gold glowing eyes that spits globs of slime which contain electricity. Primarily causes damage by rolling at targets.
Semill: Floating giant eel. Tries to eat whatever it sees whole. While fast, they are easily distracted. Often are attacked by Taggollur.
Taggollur: Armored snail-like creatures that leaves a trail of fire. Attacks based on movement. Carries a war axe made of smoldering coal.
3rd Floor
Agmon: Creatures with bat ears and blades for arms. They are too tall for the hallways and must hunch over. Known for devouring magical essence and skewering targets.
Estella: Banshee-like being known for attacking based on eye contact. Likes to rip off faces. Last of her kind. Unknown type of wraith.
Flounwick: Guppy faced creatures that shoots spikes rapid-fire from its mouth. Their overall derpy appearance makes many drop their guard.
Nadikas: Salamander-like creatures the size of a large dog known for spitting fire. They sneak up on their targets by climbing along the ceiling.
Nipems: Bruised, multi-armed creatures known for regrowing limbs and turning invisible. They can only attack while visible.
4th Floor
Bantercog: Cat-like creatures the size of a door. Prefers to sleep most of the day. Has a gray and brown silk coat with black spots. Hunts similarly to a tiger.
Pincrest: Small ragdoll-like beings with a pinecone head. Shrieks once target is located and attacks with sticky projectiles. If target is hit with one, they stand a chance of sticking to other objects such as the wall, floor, statues, and so on. If spotted, run.
Soot Ball: Black fluffy balls that looks like soot. Travels silently. No visible eyes, but has very large, sharp teeth.
Basement
Nightwing: Oversized bats with wings somewhat resembling the Agmon. Can fly if big enough. Does venture outside, returning to the caves and tunnel during the day.
Spiders: Come in all types. Can be venomous or shoot acid. Nearly harmless in smaller forms.
Outside
Daidogze: Ice deers with multiple legs and intricate horns. Very few left in existance.
Dilus: Known for high pain tolerance. Hunchback creatures with spider legs that appears to be wearing a cloak. Spear like arms make them very deadly.
Faretary: Wood dwelling creatures with spiky arms and feathers covering the majority of its body, making features difficult to properly identify.
Mithlans: Live in the black lake, only leaving the waters after nightfall. They have a mermaid like appearance with gills along the neck and fins along the elbows. Primarily they drown their prey. If they leave the water to hunt, they try to force their meal back into the waters.
Ragnest: Slow moving creature with a hunched back. Known for finding its way inside and trying to stab at targets with the two long talons on either arm. Its mouth never closes, and contains an extra row of teeth. Easy to lure back outside.
Trembtic: Dark creatures that are nearly invisible at night. Can be spotted in the darkness only by their glowing red eyes. They appear to be human.
Vainlith: Werewolf-like hybrid creatures with gray skin, patches of hair, and orange glowing eyes. Tends to stay deep in the woods where it is darker and cooler.
Acknowledgements
A second shout-out to my beta team: This novel went through a crazy drafting process, and I’m so thrilled with the end result. Thank you for helping me get there.
To the many friends that have helped me through this process. There was a stumble in com
pleting this while trying to fight cancer, but here it is. A little later than planned, but still wonderfully done. Thank you all.
Thank you as well to all the readers who have made it here. Fire’s Song was my first book, and it’s been great fun improving on the craft and seeing all of your responses. I can’t wait to show you the other adventures I have planned.
See you on the interweb!
About The Author
Jessica is a fantasy author who formed a love of reading at a young age. While unicorns and magic sparked an interest in the genre, it was childhood friends that convinced her to write. When not dreaming up new adventures, Jessica also enjoys video games, board game nights, and sending bad jokes to friends.
Find her on...
Facebook
Goodreads
Amazon
Books By J.E. Mueller
Shaudrey Book 1: Fire’s Song
Having already lost and given up everything, Key is determined to find a cure for her curse. With her very touch able to kill, she must seek answers from a distance. In this world, if a curse born dies, then the demons win their soul. Without much more to lose, Key decides to try the last of her luck on a village catered to magic born. Her questions unleash events that take her places she never expected existed.
Shaudrey Book 2: Spirit’s Lullaby
A grave danger arrives from the other side. As demons try to steal and recruit helpless souls, Tella does whatever she can to find a way to help the souls cross over. Will Tella learn more of her gift in time or will she join the lost souls like those who tried before her?
An Unexpected Brew
After years of working at the family coffee shop under her step-mom’s rule, Arnessa longs for something more. She dreams of leaving her small town to attend a bigger college where she can really learn her magic. As hope slowly seems to fade, a charming stranger offers to help her with her studies, and turns her fears into a reason to stand up for herself.
For The Guild
Being a prince is great and all, except royal expectations. Rey would much rather be online with his guild enjoying life his own way, but his parents have other plans for him: a royal ball. This attempt to help him find someone sounds like a royal pain. Too bad the invitations are out and can’t be taken back, even with magic. Things could be more fun with a little guildmate shenanigans and a cosplay theme. Can Rey make the best out of this mess with the help of his guild or will the ball be a royal flop?