by Martha Carr
“It depends on your definition of friends. If you mean, ‘he wants to slaughter me on your friend’s front porch while my family watches in shock,’ then yes, friends.”
“We beat the Yakuza before. We can do it again, right?”
Leira, Brittany, and the now eight-foot-tall Yumfuck grimaced as a dozen or more dark wizards stepped out from behind the line of Yakuza. They had come prepared, hiring magic goons to help them. Leira recognized some of the faces, dark wizards so off their hinges that even the dark families wanted nothing to do with them. It didn’t surprise her that they were there to help take her down, though. The Yakuza didn’t play by any rules or code of conduct.
“You don’t want to do this,” Leira shouted.
The masked leader leaned his head back, laughing loudly. Brittany lifted an eyebrow and glanced at Leira.
“No, I think he definitely wants to do this.”
Leira and Brittany started pulling magic from the ground. The symbols on their arms moved at the exact same speed, with the exact same outcomes flashing. Light illuminated their eyes, and they held balls of light tightly in their hands. Before they could start, several SUVs pulled up and members of the Humans First campaign began filing out, holding any weapons they could get their hands on.
“Does that man have a pitchfork?” Brittany asked.
“Amateur,” they chimed in perfect harmony—and looked at each other suspiciously.
“Enough of this,” Brittany growled. “I don’t have all day.”
Brittany whispered to the orb in her hand, staring angrily at the masked man. Find your target. She flung the massive ball of fire straight for the leader and he pulled his wand up and split it in half, one side flying toward the Humans First group and the other half hitting three wizards behind him.
Leira glanced at Yumfuck. “Get those Humans First people out of here or contained, but be careful. They brought weapons.”
“Got it. Motherfuckers, here I come!” Yumfuck took the steps in one leap, his large furry paws pounding the ground hard as he ran toward them.
Leira didn’t waste any time. She launched a bright white stream of magic at the front row of Yakuza and five men hit the ground, remembering the last time they were hit like that. Others waved their wands, fighting off the light magic. Brittany shook her head at the defense and made the same motion with her hands. Her light met Leira’s and she could feel its pull. Leira’s bracelet shook violently against her wrist, but she didn’t let go.
Brittany moved her arms from side to side, painting the Yakuza with white light like a paintbrush. Both women let go of the spell at the same time, immediately creating more fireballs in their palms.
Yumfuck growled loudly. Several people hung off him, pounding their fists into his fur. The rest of the Humans First mob inched toward the women, not at all concerned with the magical fireballs whizzing over their heads.
Brittany threw another ball of light and it split into four, which found their targets in the back row of rogue wizards. She was desperately trying not to sizzle any humans in the process, but it was difficult since they were charging them with bats and knives.
Suddenly, a portal opened in front of them and Jackson climbed out, throwing his arms wide and sending a line of energy outward. The magic blew through the Yakuza but knocked all the humans off their feet, giving the women some breathing room.
Jackson stepped forward, about to spray the humans with fireballs where they laid, but Leira grabbed him by the arm and shook her head.
“No matter what we think they’re doing—the Humans First idiots—we can’t kill them. It’ll only further prove their point and light a fire under their movement.”
Jackson sighed and directed his fireballs at the Yakuza.
“What are you doing here anyway?” Leira asked. “I can take care of myself. Have been for years now. That didn’t suddenly change because I found out I had a father.”
Brittany shuffled up and looked from Jackson to Leira. “Dad, what are you doing here?”
Leira narrowed her eyes, swinging her arm out to block an attack without looking. She looked at Brittany and her father, unsure she’d heard them correctly.
“Did you just call my father ‘Dad?’”
Brittany paused, confused.
Jackson swiped another fireball away as one narrowly missed his head. “Ladies, I hate to break this up, but there’s a battle to finish. Then we can talk, okay?”
“Damn right,” they both responded, startling Jackson.
Leira shook her head and stared at the army of warriors. She was no longer playing games. She pulled more magic through her body, which sent a feeling of bliss and peace surging through her chest. The bracelet rattled harder against her wrist as she swung her arms wide, letting the magic explode into hundreds of golf-ball-sized fireballs. They flew through the magical crowd, knocking a number of Yakuza to the ground, unconscious.
Correk and the Professor came through the door. The Fixer was exhausted and spent.
He set the Professor down in the chair and stood next to Leira and started throwing fireballs. The four elves marched side by side and opened fire, sending the Humans First people running back to their vehicles, tires screeching as they raced away. The few remaining wizards abandoned their posts behind the few remaining Yakuza and fled.
The leader, his mask smoking, growled loudly as he sent a steady stream of magic at them and opened a portal with his other hand. Leira stepped forward, but Jackson put his hand out. “Let them go for now. You will have your chance.”
Leira nodded as the last of the unconscious Yakuza was thrown through. When the lawn was clear, Yumfuck shrank back down to three feet. Leira sighed, leaning against the railing of the front porch, and Brittany walked over and checked on the Professor.
“Let’s get him to bed, and then I think we need to have a discussion,” Brittany called sternly.
“Agreed,” Leira replied, helping her get the Professor to his room.
Jackson faced the two women and locked his hands in front of him, doing his best to smile.
Leira got it started. “What the fuck is going on, Jackson?”
“Brittany is your half-sister, and a Jasper Elf. Her mother was a waitress in Des Moines that I met after your mother suddenly disappeared.”
“Fuck me.” Leira rolled her eyes. “Are there any more surprises out there? Do I have six brothers too? You obviously came back to Earth more than you let on.”
“Be a little easy on him,” Brittany barked. “He didn’t know you existed. He knew I did, so he traveled back and forth to make sure I was trained and doing okay.”
“I was doing the best I could.”
“We all were.” Leira clenched her hands into fists.
Correk and Yumfuck watched the tension build as the moments ticked by and no one said anything. Finally, Correk put his fingers to his mouth and let out a loud whistle. They all looked at Correk—even the Professor, who was watching with amusement from the other room.
“You’re family. You’ll work it out. It’s what family does. Let’s order pizza.”
“And beer.” Brittany uncrossed her arms, doing her best to take a deep breath.
“I second the pizza,” Leira replied, walking away.
This was not how I thought my day would end.
Waking Magic
Did you know there was a Leira series that takes place before Rewriting Justice? Book one of The Leira Chronicles, Waking Magic is available for only $0.99 at Amazon.
Available at Amazon
Author Notes - Martha Carr
Written June 16, 2017
Every five years or so my life gets shaken up like a set of dice in a plastic cup. This time it’s relocating closer to Austin into a home that’s bigger and better than anything I’ve ever known. Seems like a dream come true – thanks to a certain swearing troll and our fave girl with a fireball, Leira Berens – and it’s a big adjustment. New part of town, new friends, new routines, new spa
ce.
I can do it – I have confidence in that. I’ve learned over the years how to ask for help from the right places and then be wise enough to take it. My confidence isn’t built on what I think I can do alone but what I know I’m capable of in concert with a lot of others. Anything is possible.
And I have a list of things I want to try. Relearn how to ride a bike (long story for another time), a lot more dancing, music, go back to drawing cartoons, learn embroidery, hike. But there’s also the wondrous things that will come up that I don’t know about yet. Didn’t plan for, can’t imagine and yet, will be some of the best memories yet to come.
It’s the same spirit I put into what I write – a sense of curiosity and adventure mixed with optimism and hard work and a dash of fun. May all the great fans out there who’ve helped make this past year it’s own kind of wonderful – may each of you find your own wonderfulness this coming year. Thanks for loving Leira and Correk and Yumfuck so much and writing to let Michael Anderle and me know. Makes it all worth it. More adventures to follow.
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
Written June 17, 2018
For those who have read all the way back here? THANK YOU!
My own sense of wonder is still just out there…beyond my reach. But soon I will get to it, I promise.
What is causing me to wait? Just books.
About four hundred of them, of them to be precise.
Right now, LMBPN Publishing is undertaking something I don’t think ANY small to mid-sized publisher is contemplating – four hundred books in 2019.
And a fan convention in Vegas… Author conventions in Bali, Edinburgh, Scotland, and Las Vegas (with the aforementioned fan convention.)
While we do these things, I hope to see us do more for our fans, create new cool moments together, and characters we all sit up and cheer for.
I don’t know what we will accomplish this year, or next year for that matter. However, it is because of readers like YOU who read our books, encourage us on Facebook, fill out the reviews, and tell your friends (and complete strangers) about what we do that keeps what we do fresh, fulfilling, and fun.
New Stories with Leira, James Brownstone, Shay, Correk, Yumfuck and Alison plus many more in other universes... We feel like one big family, and I’m happy to see that many of you are touched by what we do. It isn’t that we write life-changing books (they are pulp-fiction) but that we help many of you escape and enjoy life when the world rather sucks sometimes.
I never thought I would help someone make it through a tough time with our stories, so I appreciate it when you share that with us.
For those asking, I’m going to be in Guadalajara, Mexico (today) when this book comes out. I’ll be chatting with best selling author Russell Blake (the JET Series) about the Indie Author market and how things have changed since he erupted on the scene and what we think we need to do to keep our schedules into the future.
Those of us publishing right now never get too much of a chance to sit still. Our industry changes almost every month. Certainly every three months. What doesn’t change the desire of those who love to read to find that new story and those new characters we call friends and to get lost one more time in someone’s vivid imagination.
Thank you for taking your time to step into our worlds. You have changed our lives immeasurably.
Ad Aeternitatem,
Michael Anderle
Other Revelation of Oriceran Universe Books
The Unbelievable Mr. Brownstone
* Michael Anderle *
Feared by Hell (1) - Rejected by Heaven (2) - Eye For An Eye (3) - Bring the Pain (4) - She is the Widow Maker (5)
I Fear No Evil
* Martha Carr and Michael Anderle *
Kill the Willing (1) - Bury the Past, But Shoot it First (2)
School of Necessary Magic
* Judith Berens *
Dark Is Her Nature (1)
Rewriting Justice
* Martha Carr and Michael Anderle *
Justice Served Cold (1) - Vengeance Served Hot (2)
The Leira Chronicles
* Martha Carr and Michael Anderle *
Waking Magic (1) - Release of Magic (2) - Protection of Magic (3) - Rule of Magic (4) - Dealing in Magic (5) - Theft of Magic (6) - Enemies of Magic (7) - Guardians of Magic (8)
The Soul Stone Mage Series
* Sarah Noffke and Martha Carr *
House of Enchanted (1) - The Dark Forest (2) - Mountain of Truth (3) - Land of Terran (4) - New Egypt (5) - Lancothy (6) - Virgo (7)
The Kacy Chronicles
* A.L. Knorr and Martha Carr *
Descendant (1) - Ascendant (2) - Combatant (3) - Transcendent (4)
The Midwest Magic Chronicles
* Flint Maxwell and Martha Carr*
The Midwest Witch (1) - The Midwest Wanderer (2) - The Midwest Whisperer (3) - The Midwest War (4)
The Fairhaven Chronicles
* with S.M. Boyce *
Glow (1) - Shimmer (2) - Ember (3) - Nightfall (4)
Other Books by Michael Anderle
For a complete list of books by Michael Anderle, please visit
www.lmbpn.com/ma-books/
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www.lmbpn.com/audible
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