A Ghost of Magic
Chosen Saga
Book Three
By Author J. L. Clayton
This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
A Ghost of Magic
Chosen Saga Book Three
All rights reserved.
Copyright © J.L. Clayton 2014
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Table of Contents
Poem
Shyla (my daughter’s) very short story - Anastyn
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four:
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
Chapter Twenty Two
Chapter Twenty Three
Chapter Twenty Four
Chapter Twenty Five
Chapter Twenty Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty One
Chapter Thirty Two
Chapter Thirty Three
Chapter Thirty Four
Chapter Thirty Five
Chapter Thirty Six
Chapter Thirty Seven
Chapter Thirty Eight
Chapter Thirty Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty One
Chapter Forty Two
Epilogue
Author’s spotlight poems
Acknowledgements
About the Author – Me
Book 3
Poem
Love:
Her love was beautifully chaotic, woven within the darkest night.
It was a spark of magic that seemed to blaze within her soul, full of fire and so bright.
With a touch!
With a pull!
Her love will be set free.
As it spills out from her body like a ghostly magnificent light!
By: J.L.Clayton
Anastyn
I was different, I wasn’t alive…I just simply: was. But then, I became a test experiment. Now I was more. Now I was something they’ll wish they’d never found. Yes, they’ll regret everything. Every soul in the lab that had a hand in torturing and tormenting me shall learn to fear even my name.
“Let me introduce myself, my name is Anastyn. Now perish!”
By: Shyla Sthar
Prologue
Nikko
I stood solemnly by Charlie, invisible to the world, half-dead and a whole lot of confused. I looked around at the gathering people who had come to show their respects. To be honest, I thought it would be awesome to see what my funeral would be like.
Come on, who wouldn’t want to be front row and center?
Oh how wrong I was! My heart ached to see people crying over me. Yeah, sure, I wanted to see who would show, but I didn’t like the sadness and the knowledge that I would never hug Mom again. I didn’t like that I would never play basketball with my friends or go fishing with Dad. Sure, I could make myself visible, but Charlie forbids me from doing that. Yeah, I got this from her. “No popping in and out, scaring people that think you are dead, Nikko.”
Despite Charlie’s warning, I desperately wished I could hug my family one more time. However, what if whatever magic Charlie had done were to fade? It would leave my family devastated all over again, something I certainly didn’t want. Now was the time for healing, not resurrection.
Too bad I get to watch the process and not be resurrected!
I looked over at Charlie. She was tucked under Tru’s arm, tears streaming down her cheeks. She had tried to bring me back, but failed, and her tears were a sure result of what she considered “failure.” I didn’t blame her. She tried, but I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I looked behind Charlie to see Jace leaning against a tree, not really watching what was going on at the funeral. Jace was watching Tru and Charlie, and he didn’t look too happy. I shuddered and looked back at Charlie. She glanced over at me with sadness in her eyes. Barely noticeable, Charlie reached out with her hand to touch me.
I moved closer, slowly allowing Charlie’s hand to envelope mine. I needed the comfort she was offering as I watched them lower my body into the ground. Charlie gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. She was the only one I could feel. She was my only true connection to a warm body. The only one that could give me solace now that I was no longer alive, or dead. I was something in between, and I wondered if Charlie knew how much I needed her touch—I couldn’t exist without it.
Chapter One
Charlie
I was back at school after the crazy adventure I had in Callamose, and things were different now—very, very different. I wasn’t the same person I was before crossing over to that beautiful world. I was more. I was also messed up. I felt like I was constantly warring with my mind and the shields, constantly blocking out people’s thoughts, and this was just my first day back. Maybe I should have stayed in the supernatural realm. If I was there, at least I could learn more about myself. Eli could teach me how to control my powers, and I could learn everything in the book of prophesies. I could fix Nikko.
“Hey C, how are you?” Tru asked, wrapping his arms around my shoulders and kissing my neck.
I flinched, but I quickly recovered, giving him a smile. Since my mom told me Tru’s family were the ones that killed my blood parents, I’ve been feeling a little off. I didn't believe Tru’s family killed mine, but the thought was now embedded in my mind, not to mention the whole thing with Jace and my Vamp. Plus, I was afraid of what would happen if he found out what I was. Would he try and kill me with that stone? I almost laughed outright.
Really, anyone could kill me with a stone! I wasn’t immortal. But dumb? Yeah, sometimes!
“Hey you, I’m fine…well as fine as I can be.” I shrugged.
“Yeah, it’s so crazy that Nikko died. Man, you just never know, do you?” Tru mused.
I felt tears welling up in my eyes, not because Nikko lost his life, not because Kate was the one who ended it, but because I could not save him, and now… Ugh. Now, Nikko was living a half-life all because of me. My parents didn’t have answers for how this happened either; only Eli and the elders did, but they were back in Callamose. So what good is that do me here on the earth plane? Gosh, I can’t believe I’ve only been back from Callamose for three days and now I’m back at school! I was in the hospital for a day, and then it was time to set things up for Nikko’s funeral, and now I’m here when I should be off trying to fix him—fix everything. I feel so helpless. I was the Chosen One, but what I really believe I was chosen for was to ruin everything. I had to be the worst magical/all-powerful
being to ever exist. How could I defeat the Traveller when I couldn’t even defeat Kate and save Nikko?
“Hey, don’t cry. I’m still here. Sure, I can go invisible, but that just makes me more awesome then I already am. I’m still sexy! Bonus, I can walk through walls. What more can you ask for?” Nikko whispered into my ear.
I smiled a little, but on the inside, I hated myself. Why couldn’t I be his knight? Why couldn’t I be the one to save him like he saved me? I was going to fix this. Nikko and I were going back to Callamose to make Eli help get Nikko back the way he once was. I also needed some answers.
“Kitten, are you ok? I can feel your pain,” Asher whispered inside my head.
I was so distraught over Nikko; I let one of my shields down.
“Get out of my head,” I silently commanded.
“But Kitten, you are the one that let me in.”
“Yeah, what was I thinking?”
I slammed my shields into place.
Ugh, I also have to find a way to break this bond and fast, or it just might drive me crazy.
“Well, I’m going to head to class. I’ll see you at lunch, and please smile for me, beautiful. You know I love your smile,” Tru said, grinning.
I looked into Tru's green eyes, their golden specks glistening, and sighed. I was lucky to have this guy in my life. I wanted to run my fingers through his long, black hair and brush my hands over his shoulders. Tru smiled his cute, crooked grin, the one that always seemed to make my skin come alive with a rosy color. He was painfully good-looking.
My Tru! My fur ball!
What am I to do with all this? Moreover, what was I going to do about him? I had to tell him, but how? Tru hugged me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before heading off to class. A wave of sadness rushed over me, and I turned to go to my locker. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw this guy watching me. I stopped and sucked in a sharp breath. He was mesmerizing—beautiful and so dark. His darkness was not a reflection of his skin, but the likeness of deeper depths. Something about him seemed menacingly sexy. The way he was looking at me sent chills over my body. I was gone, drowning in this stranger and the intense feelings I was having. This guy had me immobile, I was lost. He had black hair that curled at his ears, full lips that smiled sinfully my way and dark penetrating blue eyes that seared my insides. A sharp jaw line, scuffed boots, worn jeans, and a white tee completed his look.
“Whoa, who’s the new kid?” Nikko asked. “And why the heck is he looking at you… um, like that?”
I shook my head and took a slow step backwards. For some reason, this guy unnerved me, but I was also captivated. He was so magnetizing and deadly, like a hunter befriending its prey. He saw my movement and smiled even bigger.
“Wow, who’s the hottie checking you out?” Dee asked, coming up beside me.
I looked over at her. She looked cute today. Her short hair was in its usual up-flip, red lips, rosy cheeks, and a black and white checkered dress with red high hills rounded out her ensemble. I wondered if she heard Nikko, but I knew that was impossible.
Nikko pointed over his shoulder. ”I’m going to see what I can find out about this new kid.”
I nodded at him, and then I answered Dee. “I don’t know, but he’s freaking me out.”
“Have you noticed that he can’t seem to take his eyes off you?” she asked.
I swallowed. With a smirk and a nod, he turned and walked away.
“Well, that was weird,” Dee provided brilliantly.
“Thanks, Captain Obvious.” I giggled as she pushed me.
“I sure hope I have a class with him.” Dee wiggled her eyebrows.
I frowned. “Hey, you and Nolan okay?”
“Oh, yeah, we’re good, but I have eyes, and that guy is some serious eye-candy!” She winked.
She had that right.
I shrugged. “C’mon. If we don’t go now we will be late for class.”
“Yeah, yeah, Miss Perfect.” She rolled her eyes. "Hey, I meant to ask… How are you doing? You know… with Nikko and all?”
Wasn’t that the million dollar question?!
“I’m fine. I know everyone is wondering because I was there when he died, but I promise you, I am making it. Besides, Nikko wouldn’t want me to be sad."
I knew that for a fact. Gosh, he tells me all the freaking time now!
I wonder what she would say if I were to tell her Nikko and I are even closer now than we were before he died. If I was to tell her that, in fact, he is living in my bedroom and tells me to have sweet dreams every night? I just wonder what she would think about all that.
I shook my head. "I'm just worried about Tamm, Simon, and Nolan. They were friends long before Nikko and me.”
She sighed. “True, but like you said, they didn’t see him die. You did. It’s so crazy, him dying of a brain aneurysm, you know?”
I nodded. Boy, if she only knew how wrong and crazy it all was.
Brain aneurysm! What a load of crap!
As I sat in homeroom, the new guy walked in with Nikko following behind him. It was still a shock to see Nikko while everyone else couldn’t. He was like my best friend, so I was the lucky one. I still got to have him while others mourned, and I should have been satisfied, but I wasn’t. I smiled a little as Nikko walked towards me; he brushed his hair out of his eyes, a devilish grin smeared across his face.
“Well, I didn't get anything. He seems nice and very popular with the girls!” Nikko said with a smirk, giving me a wink as he perched on the edge of my desk.
I rolled my eyes and watched as the new guy charmed his way in with Mr. Pots. Mr. Pots chuckled at whatever this new guy said. I thought about letting my shields down to see what was going on in the new guy’s head, but then I thought better of it. I also thought about having Nikko go find out what they were talking about, but nevertheless, with all this thinking and not doing... Yeah, you guessed it. I was too late.
Mr. Pots turned around and said, “Class, I would like to introduce to you a new student.”
I groaned inwardly, remembering my first day and being introduced. It sucked. I vaguely wondered why he was starting school when there was less than three weeks left, but that thought faded as he caught my eyes.
Wow! Dark, sexy, and a whole lot of dangerous.
“This is Cris Perago. He is new to the school. I thought it would be nice if I assigned him someone from this class to show him where everything is in the school, and the lucky winner is... Charlize,” Mr. Pots declared.
Cris smiled strikingly at the class, and it seemed like everyone—and I do mean everyone—swooned. I about died. Why me? Why not some other lucky-GIRL?! I have enough going on at the moment. I do not need some new, hot guy messing things up. Grrr! He walked over to an empty desk next to mine and sat down. I closed my eyes, feeling hot all over. I was mortified.
“Well, looks like he's going to love you showing him around,” Nikko joked, raising his eyebrows while beaming at me.
I wanted to hit him, but I didn’t want to look like a crazy person. I could see it now, me swinging at the air saying, "Oh, it was a fly! You didn’t see the fly? Really?" Yeah, right! No thanks.
So I settled on glaring.
“Hello, Charlize,” Cris said, leaning over and very much invading my space.
Enticing heat pooled in the bottom of my stomach. His voice. Oh my, his voice was so enchanting, laced with a captivating sense of sinister mystery. Like a beautiful symphony playing its own signature melody. I was awed by its cadence and rhythm as it seemed to perform over my entire body. There was something about his voice that sounded so familiar.
“Hi, umm, do I know you?” I asked shyly.
He studied me. “No. Why? Do you think you should know me?” He raised an eyebrow, seeming wickedly amused.
I shrugged. “It’s just… you sound so familiar. Are you sure we’ve never met?”
His gaze sharpened to a razor. I sucked in a stunned breath, caught off-guard by his glare.
; Okay, that’s a little disturbing.
He shook his head. Leaning in, he said richly-smooth, “I am sorry. I guess I have one of those voices.”
“Yeah, I guess,” I agreed, a little taken aback.
“Answer me this,” he mused, all satin and sheets.
Oh my. And I thought maybe Jace had a voice that he could sell. Well, this guy did for sure. There was no maybe about it.
I gave a quick look to Nikko who was being very discreetly quiet. Nikko looked like he was just as involved in our banter as I was. So I raised my eyebrows for Cris to go on, loving our repartee.
“Is my voice a good voice? To be so memorable, a voice has to be, well, quite fascinating I would say. So, I am curious. How good is my voice to have you in such rapture?” he whispered, sending heat through my body.
I swallowed, and I was sure that my eyes were wide with shock.
"Wow, this guy is good!" Nikko supplied, not helping in the least.
Cris chuckled. Leaning back, he said, “I was hoping for a response such as that.”
This guy was unreal. His voice! His looks! The way he spoke. Every single thing about him made for a good fictional character. I looked at him and decided to open my mind. I was leery of him, and I wanted to know what he was thinking. I wanted to know what was really going on up there. He was just too flawless for my liking! Ha. I wish I was flawless, but then again, how boring would that be? Although Cris seemed flawless, he didn’t seem boring to me. He seemed dangerous—a guy that would take you on the ride of your life kind of dangerous. I just hoped what I read in his mind wasn't anything a normal guy his age would be thinking. You know—SEX! But when I let my shields down, a fortress deflected my attempts. I gasped and pulled back. Cris raised an eyebrow and grinned. Now, more than ever, I had to know what Cris was all about. He just blocked me.
"Is there something wrong?" Cris asked, watching me closely.
I shook my head as Mr. Pots started talking.
"Uh-oh, what happened?" Nikko asked.
I shook my head again, wishing more than anything I could send what I was thinking to Nikko’s mind.
A Ghost of Magic: Chosen Saga Book 3 Page 1