by JB Michaels
Bud brought up the camera on his phone. He activated the flashlight and a list of different filters for three-dimensional space. A thermal camera, a motion detector, and fingerprint scanner-- the very same tech he used to enter Ivy’s dormitory.
“How? Is this possible?” Ivy asked looking towards Bud’s face softly illuminated by the phone’s flashlight.
“Certainly you can surmise various theories on how I was able to accomplish teleportation but I will spare you the details. We must press our advantage and figure out where this hooded figure is.”
“I mean I understand how you are able to break down your molecular mass but how do you transport and rebuild it in a different space? How did you do this?” Ivy’s innate curiosity sparked. She became ravenous for answers.
“Ivy, if I tell you then the novelty would wear off. I cannot reveal too much especially to someone of your intellect. It will not be contained, nor would my patent for it be my own. I hope you understand my need for safeguarding my technology. Now we must stick to the sides of the gallery behind the cabinets so as to not arouse the guards’ suspicion upon their return to the lobby.”
Bud moved off the main walkway and in between two large show cabinets. He scanned the area for the culprit.
Ivy followed Bud shaking her head in disbelief. Respect for Bud began to grow. Perhaps he was not a typical private investigator who chased adulterers and people who stole credit card numbers from gas stations.
“I don’t think her murderer would be hiding in this corner of pottery shards and demon figurines,” Ivy said.
Bud scanned the glass cabinet. Ivy was not wrong. Shards and small figurines. One figure of which had a human body, a dog’s head, and two pairs of large wings.
“Oh, dear, that is Pazuzu. Is it not?” Bud asked.
“Yes. A Babylonian demon associated with rain and drought. Inherently evil but also a champion against other evil spirits and the nemesis of Lamashtu, the demon that attacks pregnant woman,” Ivy said.
“Hmm, keeps evil spirits at bay not unlike the Order of St. Michael...” Bud said.
“What’s that? Anyway, Pazuzu is associated with horror films and people don’t focus on the good efforts of the demon. Pregnant women would keep a figurine of Pazuzu in their home to keep away Lamashtu.”
“Sounds perfectly logical...” Bud couldn’t believe he had said that. His experiences with Maeve and the Order had been slowly turning him away from always thinking there is a scientific, practical reason for everything.
“...yet ludicrous.” Bud finished. He still had a way to go even after all he had gone through. He moved on to the next section of the gallery and perhaps the most impressive.
“We are heading towards the giant Assyrian King Sargon relief. The one thing that might be of note is that the relief is not flush to the wall. There is a backside to it. Be careful. It is a pretty good hiding spot especially given how careless the cops were on their initial search,” Ivy said.
Bud shined his cell light on the large stone raised relief section of a palace wall. The relief depicted King Sargon combined with a beast that had five legs and hooves for feet. Bud was impressed with the craftsmanship. He stepped closer to the ancient stone grey wall and slowly moved to the side to light the back of the wall.
Ivy followed Bud. She kept both hands on his back and peeked over his shoulder. Bud lifted his phone to eye level and initiated a thermal scan. The space behind the relief, which was only about a three-feet wide, showed a slight reading.
Bud and Ivy moved closer to the space. He looked at the screen of his phone. Ivy looked at what the phone’s flashlight showed.
“There is no one there Bud,” Ivy whispered.
Bud looked up from the screen of his thermal imaging app. “It appears to be so, yet someone may have rested here. I am still seeing a slight thermal signature.”
POP!
Ivy jumped on Bud’s back. He nearly lost his balance. One of the track lights that illuminated the writing above the rear of the relief had broken.
“A faulty light bulb! Even with the lights off, a loose wire can still carry a charge. It could have merely loosened from a poor job at screwing the bulb in. The wiring in this old building must not be to code. Anyway, what does this writing say?” Bud asked.
Ivy slid off Bud’s back.
“Sorry about that. It is just the typical boasting of the king’s greatness. His biography and achievements are written here but not necessarily for the purpose of being read. Knowing that it has been recorded is what mattered to the Assyrians. They would write on keystones implanted into the ground. It was not important that anyone knew the writing was there,” Ivy said.
“How strange the ancient customs were.” Bud turned away from the Assyrian gallery and headed to the next section. They had to make a right turn as the layout of the entire gallery was a U shape.
They heard the sound of something heavy, like a large piece of furniture, being dragged on the marble floor. It came from somewhere ahead of Ivy and Bud.
“One can assume the custodial staff does not respond that quickly to broken light vessels. What is the content of the next gallery?”
“The Egyptian mummies,” Ivy said.
“The Castle”
AUTHOR’S NOTE ON “THE CASTLE”
Bram Stoker. Bela Lugosi. Dracula. The big bad vampire concept. I wanted to write my own take on the classic vampire tale. “The Castle” not only continues the story but also provides conclusions to many of the series’ mysteries and is the most “throw everything and the kitchen sink in” kind of book in the Bud series thus far. Of course, there are more mysteries to solve and adventures to come!
I wanted this book to be epic. I wanted to captivate the reader from start to finish and make the ending so thrilling that you have no choice to but to finish even if it’s the damn middle of the night and you need to get up for work the next day.
I actually read Bram Stoker’s “Dracula” after I wrote this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the read until the last 100 pages or so. The hunt for Drac just drags on and on for far too long. Van Helsing and the gang’s mission to kill Dracula should have been immersive and captivating, instead I was less than thrilled. I did, however, read some academic essays regarding the characterization of Dracula as I really only knew the popular culture tropes and Bela Lugosi’s portrayal of the legendary bloodsucker. Some similar characteristics do carry over with the vampire in “The Castle”.
Also, there is an even an homage to a Spielberg classic in this book, as well as, the customary Universal Classic Monster nods. “The Castle” deepens the characters, catapults them into uncharted territory, and maintains a steady build to a pulse-pounding finale.
Please enjoy this excerpt from The Castle: A Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thriller #3:
The candlelight flickered. The soft glow accentuated his finely drawn cheekbones and strong jawline. His blue eyes bore a look of joy in the laughter he shared with his female companion. The brunette with the green eyes and ruby-red lipstick closed her eyes and laughed, nearly spilling the wine from her medieval goblet. Before she stopped giggling and her eyes reopened in recovery of her jovial fit, his brow furrowed. His eyes showed his true condition—a menacing yet brief look, one of lust and of hunger in full and equitable measure. The look vanished. His courtly composure retained.
“Oh, my dear Vincentas, who knew you could be so amusing?”
“Shall I take umbrage with your last statement and just kill you right now?” Vincentas grinned.
Another loud burst of laughter.
The Cabernet Sauvignon didn’t have a higher level of spirits than any other wine he usually picked from his cellar. Still, Vincentas poured more into her goblet. His attempts at humor could land, but usually with a casual, rather weak effect. She acted as if he’d performed a comedy routine for years and had earned his own television show.
“That is enough wine for me, Vincentas. What are you trying to do me?” She leaned over t
he small table, giving him full view of her cleavage.
“I do nothing that one does not allow amicably.” He smiled, leaned forward, and kissed both of her cheeks then pulled back to survey her reaction.
She stood up from her chair, took another swig from her goblet, walked to his side of the table, and pulled him off his chair. She grasped his shirt collar with both hands and kissed him like a lioness devoured a fresh kill. Her aggression took Vincentas by surprise.
She wasn’t the real monster though.
The candlelight moved violently, then the flames extinguished, and darkness overtook the room.
Vincentas didn’t need the light. His hands caressed her where they had touched many other women in his long life. He loved discovering the slight variations of the female physique. The curves, the hips, the muscles both hard and soft, the flesh. His particular favorite: the length of the neck.
She moaned.
The sensual and soft sounds of sexual assurance turned to a panicked scream.
A loud crash filled the dark room. In the struggle to free herself, she kicked over the dinner table.
“No! No! Please! Plea—” Her voice gargled with blood.
The wicks of the candles were once again alight with flame.
Vincentas held his prey in both arms and feasted on his favorite body part. Perhaps his enthusiasm got the best of him. He lifted his head from her neck and spit out a piece of her vocal cords, then dropped her on the stone floor.
He sighed, looked up, and shook his head.
“Much needed. Much needed.”
A voice from behind him called, “I take it she wasn’t suitable.”
“Just another eager gold digger, I am afraid. Take this husk away. I need to work on my compositions anyway.”
Join Bud and Maeve in a high octane, paranormal thriller riddled with zombies, witches, and monsters!
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“The emperor has requested that I formally query you for your opinion of this chronicle of our travels and experiences in the form of a book review. So please leave a review of The Ancient Order. We thank you very much.
-Magnus Vicillius, SPQR
Contents
“From the opening pages to the final sentence, you are treated to a rollercoaster of fun and frights.”- DT Chantel
THE ANCIENT ORDER
PROLOGUE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Afterword
The series featuring the Order of St. Michael
“The Elixir”
“The Castle”
Join Bud and Maeve in a high octane, paranormal thriller riddled with zombies, witches, and monsters!
Also by JB Michaels
Praise for the Bud Hutchins Supernatural Thriller Series
I kept smiling throughout this exciting, original and very entertaining book, which cunningly blends science with the supernatural.
Jack Magnus for Readers’ Favorite
J.B. Michaels’ novel, The Elixir, is a flawless combination of suspense and sci-fi, with a touch of fantasy.
Stephanie Tilton for Windy City Reviews
The intriguing and complex plot is exciting, the gorgeous prose is delightful, and the reader's satisfaction is complete. The Castle is a great literary achievement, original and unpredictable.
Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite
Also by JB Michaels
The Tannenbaum Tailors series- An incredible world in miniature. Mutli-Award-winners. USA Today Bestseller
The Viking Throne! Experience the visceral thrills of “Taken” but on the high seas!
Copyright © 2019 by JB Michaels
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
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