Magic and Mayhem: A Collection of 21 Fantasy Novels

by Jasmine Walt

  This was unacceptable. If there was anything Halston valued most, it was the fate of the humans. He had sworn to protect them. It was his last chance to return home to the Kingdom of Heaven. It was all he’d ever wanted. Well, it used to be all he ever wanted.

  “Evina, where will she meet us?” Tristan slipped metal gauntlets on each wrist, and a jagged dagger at his hip. Halston knew what those gauntlets could do, and hoped they’d never have to make use of them in the human world.

  “At the south gate. Hopefully Jax has convinced Koa that he is not our enemy and that she can get him out of his cell.”

  Tristan nodded. “Right, it takes Lyrinian metal to cut through that black matter.”

  Halston nodded. “That’s right.”

  “Why is that?”

  Halston sighed. “Really? Do I have to go over this now?” He shoved a watch into Tristan’s hand. “Put it on now. We need to get out of here.”

  Tristan pursed his lips. He held the black watch up into the dim light that spilled through his boarded up windows. “What’s this?”

  “Communication device,” Halston answered. “I’ll be able to reach you whenever I need to, and vice versa.”

  Tristan grinned. “Excellent. I do miss working with you, Halston. You certainly have the best gadgets.” He put the watch on. “I’ll let you stall on the whole Lyrinian thing if you give me a decent gun.”

  Halston scoffed. “You don’t need a gun, Tristan. You’re a War-Breeder, remember?”

  Tristan laughed and followed Halston outside. They walked out into the cool air of the lower tenements of Lyrinia. It was quiet. It was the dim hours of second light. The Netherworld’s night. Everyone was sleeping.

  Halston lowered his voice. “Don’t worry, I already have something nifty in mind for you.”

  Tristan smiled. “Good man.” He patted Halston on the back. “I knew you’d come through for me.”

  They walked quickly through the shallow alleyways. The city was a labyrinth, but Tristan knew his way around. The only time they were slowed down was when they had to step over sleeping packs of ghouls. There weren’t many of those creatures left in this world, but it seemed as though they had figured out that there was safety in numbers.

  Within an hour Halston and Tristan were at the central plaza. The staircases all led to that plaza and they quickly ran up the stairs two at a time. They screeched to a halt when they heard a loud explosion in the distance.

  Halston looked back; there was a loud commotion coming from the palace. He stood tall and grabbed his infinity gun’s handle. His jaw tightened with worry.

  “Koa.”

  Tristan stumbled back as Halston bent his knees and took off into the air. Tristan shielded his eyes from the breeze that swept around his friend. It was a sight to behold, Halston in his golden, angelic, glory. He nodded to himself. “I guess I’ll wait at the gate then.”

  Tristan gasped when Halston buzzed in on the new watch that he gave him. He didn’t like technology. He frowned at the gadget.

  “Yes, wait at the gate, I’ll send them to you.”

  Tristan nodded. “Sure thing, boss.”

  39

  THE GOLD IN THE SKY caught Koa’s attention. She looked up and felt her heart soar. It swelled with joy. Halston flew across the black sky in all of his angelic glory. Embers and tiny sparks still fell from the damage her vial had caused to the front of the palace, and yet Halston glided along the air with expert agility and grace.

  Koa couldn’t help but smile. He had come back for her. She forgave him of everything. The secrets, the lies, everything… was forgiven.

  Jax didn’t let his grip on her lessen. He glared at Halston.

  Koa turned away, toward Halston. He landed and she ran to him.

  Halston grabbed her with one arm and hugged her tight to his chest. “I’m sorry.”

  Those words were simple, and yet they made Koa hold him even tighter. She didn’t care anymore. She buried her face in his chest and breathed in his scent. She smiled. His scent was always the same: eucalyptus and flowers, as if he’d been born in a garden. She looked over her shoulder, remembering Jax. He watched them with furrowed eyebrows. His glare went back up to Halston.

  Halston turned her to face him and Koa felt a little embarrassed. Jax watched, and she wondered if he could see how she felt for Halston. Could Halston sense how she now felt for Jax?

  A blank mask covered her shame. All of this time, she’d thought that she was saving herself for Halston. She hadn’t known that she’d already given herself to Jax.

  A loud, bestial cry came from the dungeons of the Ivory Tower.

  “It’s coming,” Koa whispered.

  Halston held her at arm’s length. He bent to her level and met her eyes with an intensity that made Koa hold her breath. She didn’t want him to let her go.

  “Listen. We have to separate. I will draw the beast away from you all while you make a mad dash for the Gate. Do not stop for anything. Do not look back. You run for your life, Koa, and I will do my best to return to you. Understand?”

  Koa couldn’t speak. She stared at him and nodded. Her skin tingled. Her hands began to sweat. She couldn’t let him go again. Another cry shook the floor and what remained of the walls and Koa knew the seriousness of Halston’s request. Whatever a Wraith was, she was certain that she didn’t want to face it. She’d seen countless monstrosities this very night. She was weary and didn’t feel ready to face another.

  Halston stared at her for a moment, as if taking her all in for what might be the last time. He kissed her forehead and pushed her away. “Go!” He took off down the hall at lightning speed and all Koa felt was the whoosh of air as he flew away.

  She hadn’t a chance to call out to him as Jax pulled her out of the wreckage. She came to her senses and turned around. Evina jumped on her disc, and still holding her, Jax did the same and they went higher into the air.

  Koa looked down at all of the lights and sighed. The Central Dominance sparkled like an enchanted city. That Disc Moon above turned and their sky began to brighten. It was a slight change, but Koa could tell that it signified that morning was coming.

  She was worried. She hadn’t felt such worry in ages. Halston and Koa had been separated only once before. It had been during a mission two years ago. She had tracked down a hellish clan of vampires that were rampaging through Eastern Europe. The memories of blood still lingered in her mind. The bodies of Romanian villagers had been piled up like small hills across the countryside.

  It took five months for them to make it back to one another. She couldn’t imagine being apart from him for so long again.

  Koa swallowed her anxiety. She hoped Halston would make it out of there. Deep down inside, she knew he would. He had to. He was her teacher and protector; he had to know what he was doing.

  Jax held her firm against his chest.

  Her heart thumped as she thought of Halston.

  The Ivory Tower began to fade into the distance until it became a tiny spot against the backdrop of that city of darkness.

  Resting her head on Jax’s shoulder, Koa realized just how tired she was. The potion that changed her into a Scayor and the fight in the tower exhausted her. The hunger would start to creep on her soon.

  Koa’s eyes brightened when she saw the staircase that she and Halston had taken hours ago. She knew what that staircase signified.

  Freedom was so close.

  Jax and Evina sped up and Koa wanted nothing more than to make a dash for the Gate. She knew that would be unwise. The Netherworld discs were faster than she was on her own. Those discs covered what would have taken another two days to travel in what felt like minutes.

  Now, they would just have to get past the Shadows that waited for her within the tunnel. She swallowed and squeezed her eyes shut. She kept them closed as they entered the tunnel. Halston’s voice spoke to her as they entered the darkness.

  Do not be afraid, Koa, Koa imagined him saying. Wind swept her hair
around her face, blowing tears from her cheeks. We will be together again.

  The End

  Thanks for reading!

  Continue the Chronicles of Koa in book two, Dark Prophet.

  A curse threatens her mother's life. A demon seeks to claim her as his slave. A fallen angel risks redemption to save her.

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  About the Author

  K.N. Lee is an award-winning author who resides in Charlotte, North Carolina. When she is not writing twisted tales, fantasy novels, and dark poetry, she does a great deal of traveling and promotes other authors.

  Wannabe rock star, foreign language enthusiast, and anime geek, K.N. Lee also enjoys helping others reach their writing and publishing goals. She is a winner of the Elevate Lifestyle Top 30 Under 30 "Future Leaders of Charlotte" award for her success as a writer, business owner, and for community service.

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