by Tom Keller
"Probably a good idea," I agreed as I walked through the doorway into the sanctuary. I made my way down the middle aisle and then sat down in one of the stone pews. Glancing up at Gaea's statue, I wondered again just why she had sent me here.
If the whole reason was to prove a point, then I can't say she was one hundred percent successful. Sure, this place was no paradise, but the Fae here didn't have it any worse than back home. Hell, they even had their own State. Of course, that didn’t mean the world was any better off. That nuke thing still bothered me, and Agent Ferrell's attitude made me wonder if the rest of the country had any idea what they were dealing with. No, there had to be something else going on. Although for the life of me I couldn’t figure out where getting involved in another faith's business fit in. Then there was running into the same scenario's and beings again. What was that all about?
"Don’t be silly, Robert," a voice said from the direction of the altar. "I couldn’t bring you here without letting you see some old friends."
It was Gaea, of course. I mean who else would it be. I looked up to see her sitting on the altar dressed like a manga version of a Greek warrior, complete with a short white dress with gold trim. With a leather corset and thigh high boots, her costume didn’t leave much to the imagination.
"Anime? Really?" I said, not being able to help myself.
"What?" she asked, jumping down from the altar and twisting to show off her outfit. "Don’t you like the costume? I was at a convention. Even you have to have heard about cosplay. I should mention that I almost wore the furry one, but then I'd have to wear a tail, and you know how uncomfortable those can be."
"Yeah, " I stammered, holding up my hand. "I get the picture. Thanks for the visual, by the way."
"Oh, Robert," she said, walking up to me and dragging a finger down my cheek. "I'd almost think you weren’t happy to see me."
"Not true, Gaea. Not true," I replied, moving back as she slid down the pew and sat down beside me. "I was just thinking how much I was looking forward to when you were coming back for me."
"Coming back for you?" she said, turning and placing her arm on the top of the pew behind me. "I'm not here to bring you back, Robert. I just happened to be in the neighborhood so I thought I'd say hi. That's all. There's so much more for you to learn and do here. Even you can see we've barely scratched the surface."
"That's bullshit and you know it," I said, instantly regretting my outburst. "You wanted to prove a point? Fine! I'll concede. Even with having a Fae homeland, without you here to guide them, they're no better off than they were before The Fall. All they care about is power… and don’t get me started with what 's going on here with the Lilin. It's worse than it was back home. The humans don’t have it easy either. Hell, they dropped a nuke on their own not some 25 years ago. Trust me, I've dealt with some of their agents. Who's to say they won’t do that again. I'm alone here… and now I'm only a human. How am I supposed to fix anything? For the Gods sake, Gaea, what do you think I can do?"
"Oh, please," she countered, standing up and moving in front of me as she leaned over. "You are far from just human, my dear, and let's not forget your grandmother's armory." She reached around my neck and pulled herself into my lap. "Oh, Robert, I do trust you. Why else would I have sent you here? As to what you can do? Did you not just save that nice Livia's delegation from failure? Who else could have possibly known the Knight was out there? And don’t think Rael isn’t appreciative. Her reputation would have suffered badly where it not for the two of you."
"That's another thing," I said, pushing her away as I tried to wiggle my way out of her grasp. I already knew she was going to leave me here. There was nothing to be gained by playing nice. "Why are you sending me out to help the Church and why would you care about Rael's reputation? They're not even part of the same belief system."
"When are you going to learn, Robert," she replied, brushing down her skirt before continuing. "We are all interconnected." She grabbed my arm and yanked me up from the pew, pulling my body close as she placed her index finger on my lips. "Now, no more arguing. That's not why I came."
"Fine," I replied, resigning myself to the fact that I didn’t have any say here. "Why did you come then?"
"As I said, my Hero," she replied, kissing me on the cheek before stepping back and slapping her palm on my chest. "I came to say hello, and now that I have…" She turned and started to walk away.
"Hold on a minute," I said, shaking my head. "That's it? You're leaving without telling me anything? Come on! Throw me a bone here?"
"You're such a killjoy, Robert," she said, swinging around to face me. "Always taking the fun out of everything. Trust me, you'll know what to do when it happens. But for what it's worth, I've got a few surprises that even you will like." She spun around and walked back to the altar, then stopped and looked back at me. "On second thought, I will throw you a bone. But only because he's been driving me crazy trying to find you."
There was a loud pop as she disappeared. Without warning, I was knocked to the ground as something large and furry rammed into my chest. Held down by his paws, the big dog began licking at my face. It was Charlie, and suddenly things didn’t look quite so gloomy anymore.
The End
About the Author
Tom Keller is a retired cop and former computer forensic expert who's also spent time as a Federal Public Defender Investigator and P.I. Back in the early days, he was a busboy, a cook, and a shoe and real estate salesman. He's taught courses at the local Community College as well as lectured to others in his field on a variety of topics. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada. A place he's called home for almost 50 years.
He had a website design business back in the days when you still accessed the Internet by modem. He's sold model airplanes and electronics on the web and eBay. He even had his own TV show for a season or two (okay, it was really low budget, better call it no budget, and it was on UHF for those of you that remember those kinds of things. But, hey, it did snag a 2.0 share one episode). He collects toy space guns, lunch boxes, and coffee cups, among other memorabilia. If he had a personal card it’d probably say something like ‘specialist in generalities,’ or as his brother would say, polymath.
Tom is still married to his college sweetheart and spends his free time with his family and spare time writing. Once a Fae is the seventh book in the Vegas Fae series. His other books are also available on Amazon.
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Books by Tom Keller
Return of the High Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 1)
When ex-Cop turned Private Investigator Robert Hoskins saves the life of ex-mobster and casino owner Eddy Milagre he figured that he might have stepped into something he shouldn't have. After taking down two of the 'would be' kidnappers, Robert finds himself in Milagre's office getting the third degree, but that's just the beginning. When Milagre's people start asking him about Wizards and magic all he wants to do is to get out of there in one piece. Mobsters or not these people are nuts!
But when his dog starts talking to him and he gets a mystical visit from an Aunt and a Dwarf he knows his life has changed, and not necessarily for the better. What kind of world has Robert stepped into when he finds out he's descended from the Gods?
From disbelief to acceptance, Robert encounters a variety of mythical beings. From Faeries and Norse legends to the Oracle at Delphi, from Mermaids to Werewolves to everything in between, Robert's world has definitely changed. While his path through that world appears chosen, he soon learns that the beings that reside in the world of myths and fairy tales aren't that much different than those of the mortal world. Good and evil still battle one another and it's time to take sides.
What should Robert do when the world around him stops making sense? When he fin
ds out from a Dwarf that his dog is descended from Fae hunting dogs. When he knows that corporations and even the mob don’t run Vegas, it's the Fae. When the prettiest girls he meets are over 3,000 years old and some of them drink blood. And that stripper, is she really a Faerie? Let's not even go there. What should Robert do when he learns that strength in his new world is measured in magic and he barely has a clue how to wield it?
Do Demons, Gods, Elves, and Faeries really exist? Are Vampires truly the children of Lilith? Robert didn't believe it at first either.
Of Gods and Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 2)
You see plenty of strange things when you're a P.I. in Las Vegas, but even that couldn’t prepare ex-cop Robert Hoskins for what was to come. At first, he couldn't believe that all those stories he'd been told as a child were true. But hearing that the Fae had taken the casinos over from the mob was something else. Elves, Dwarves, Werewolves, and Faeries were just the beginning and battling Dark Mages, the opening act.
Having banished his enemy to the cold hell of Tartarus he'll now have to travel to the Fae lands to claim his birthright. Along the way, and after, there's Demons and Dragons to fight and a trip down the river Styx to the gates of Hades itself is on the playlist if he'll want to defeat the dark Fae's minions and undo an ancient curse.
From the author of "Return of the High Fae," this is book two in the Vegas Fae stories but a standalone novel in its own right.
Sin City will never be the same.
Twist of Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 3)
As an ex-cop and P.I., Robert Hoskins thought he'd seen it all. Then, while working a simple case, his world changed. The next thing he knew he was battling Wizards, Demons, and even the occasional Dragon.
Now, with government agents closing in on him in the human world, and the ancient Dwarves threatening the Fae lands, he's got to prepare himself for his most daunting task of all: telling his adult children they are the descendants of Greek Gods!
But there's more going on than even Robert can imagine when a visit to Fae uncovers hidden secrets that could change everything. To Robert, family comes first, but this time his adventures are a little too close to home.
Not Just Another Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 4)
Ex-cop and P.I., Robert Hoskins knows some cases are tougher than others, especially when dark magic is involved. A call from the local pack master about some missing Weres is more than it seems.
Portals to the Underworld have opened and ancient creatures long thought dead have returned. As a Fae, Robert's faced off with Demons before, but always as the hunter, never the prey.
What magic force has opened the portals and why is it traveling through the Hells of the Underworld releasing Demons in its wake? Robert needs old friends and new allies to find out.
But knowing what the problem is won't be enough. He has to find a way to stop it — making this his most difficult case of all.
Night and Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 5)
Ex-cop and P.I. Robert Hoskins didn't think twice when an old friend needed help. But little did he know where the evidence would lead him when he dug deeper into the case.
Demons, Dragons, Monsters and Fallen Angels are only the tip of the iceberg when his old enemy escapes from Tartarus and seeks her revenge. There are wars to be waged and enemies galore as an ancient prophecy resurfaces and the universe attempts to seek balance.
Even the Gods will step down from the heavens when bloodlines are revealed and Robert faces off with the dark High Fae in an epic battle that will shake the very foundation of the Fae worlds.
Jewel of the Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 6)
It's good to be a God! Unless, of course, you're the God of the Hades. It's not exactly known to be the garden spot of the universe. But that’s the latest twist in the life of ex-cop and Private Investigator, Robert Hoskins.
If that's not enough to ruin his day, Robert suddenly finds himself embroiled in a desperate search for an ancient talisman. One that could save, or doom, Diantha, the Oracle of Delphi, Robert’s on-again-off-again girlfriend. To make matters worse, it's found its way to Vegas, and he's not the only powerful Fae searching for it. But that's just where it begins!
The mysterious jewel offers whoever possesses it immortality and unlimited power. The negative effects of the jewel are already being felt in the human world. Robert must find it first to protect the world of man from the world of magic. If he can fit it into his schedule.
He never asked for the job, but it seems that saving the world from the forces of darkness is just another day in the life of Robert Hoskins, High Fae and Lord of Hades.
FAE: GENERATIONS
(Heirs of the Vegas Fae Book 1)
What do Jay Hoskins, Jasmine (Jazzy) Chibeaux, and Jesse Ordunez have in common? They're all agents of the External Affairs Bureau, the agency that monitors magical creatures for the government. They're also the children of powerful Fae. A Fae warrior, a Werewolf, and a Wizard, they're the EAB's newest Demon Hunter Unit.
On the surface, their mission is simple. Hunt Demons and creatures that threaten the humans. But not every Demon or Vampire is a threat, and they'll have to weave their way through the hidden society that most humans never see.
When a simple burglary leads them to a powerful Witch and a Duke of Hell, they realize they're on to something big. A long-lost Grimoire might be the catalyst that starts the Apocalypse, and unfortunately, it's already in her hands.
As lead agent, Jay will have to follow the trail and stop the Witch that has the Grimoire before she can complete the spell. Along the way, he'll have to pull his new team together and learn a few things about himself he never knew. No one ever said it would be easy, but Jay's got a few tricks up his sleeve of his own, and a team that's unstoppable by his side.
Fae: Generations is the first book in the new Heirs of the Vegas Fae Series.