Life is for the Living

by S. C. Stokes

  Life is for the Living

  S.C. Stokes

  Contents

  Introduction

  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

  Chapter 24

  About the Author

  Also by S.C. Stokes

  All rights reserved.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are used fictitiously and any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons is entirely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2018 by S.C. Stokes

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. Printed in the United States of America

  Introduction

  Welcome to Dying to Meet You, the first title in my new Urban Fantasy series, Conjuring a Coroner.

  For a while now I have had this exciting idea bouncing around my brain. My past books have all been Epic Fantasy adventures (which I love), but it has been an exciting new experience to write in this new world.

  Dying to Meet You is set in New York in the year 2017. The key difference between this world and the one we live in, is the presence of magic. Where and how these worlds intersect…well you’ll have to turn the page to find out.

  Enter the world of magic with Kasey Chase, she’ll suck you into a realm of magic, murder and mayhem.

  Buckle up, it’s going to be a wild ride!

  Sincerely,

  S.C. Stokes

  Chapter One

  Kasey stood, paralyzed with fear, her heart racing. She was trapped.

  All around her, the flames licked higher and higher. Heat from the swirling inferno seared her skin as it threatened to consume both her and the apartment.

  She turned for the door, but the wall of flames blocked her path. Beads of sweat ran down her face. Her breathing was short and shallow as she struggled against the thick smoke.

  Then, out of the darkness the shadowy figure of a werewolf charged at her through the inferno. He bowled her to the ground.

  The Golden Wolf loomed over her, his red eyes gleaming as he reveled in his victory. Saliva dripped from his open mouth as the he raised his paw, ready to deliver the killing blow.

  Time slowed as the taloned paw descended.

  Shaking her head, she shouted, "No, no, no! This isn't what happened."

  Someone pounded at the door.

  "Kasey, are you in there? What’s going on?" a voice called, startling the beast.

  "I killed you, you're dead!" Kasey pleaded as she struggled against the beast.

  It was only a matter of time until flames consumed them both.

  This is all wrong. Kasey grimaced as the paw sliced into her chest.

  A noise startled her awake.

  Her apartment faded as her eyes blinked open. She reached for her stomach and found it unscathed.

  It was just a dream.

  Rubbing her eyes, she sought to clear her mind of the terrifying nightmare.

  Sunlight shone through the open curtains. It took her a moment to remember where she was. It had been years since she had last been in this room. The stress of her week faded as she remembered she was safely ensconced in her family's home.

  The knocking continued, bringing with it the realization that it wasn’t a part of her dream.

  "Kasey, can you hear me?" her father yelled through the door.

  Kasey called out, "Yeah, Dad, sorry. I'm here."

  She scrambled out of bed, but almost fell over. Shooting pains reminded her of the very real wound Danilo had inflicted. The terrifying struggle now permeated her dreams. She had been fighting for her life when the Werewolf’s claw had sliced deep into her thigh.

  I must get that looked at.

  Taking care to place her weight on her good leg, she hobbled over to the door.

  Opening it, she found her father standing in the doorway, his brow furrowed.

  "Sorry, Dad, I just had a bad night’s sleep. Did I wake you?"

  "Not at all," he replied, the bags under his eyes giving away the lie. He would do anything for his children.

  "Just glad to see you are okay. Come on down and join us. Your mom has made waffles."

  The sweet scent of toasted waffles wafted through the house. "Sure, Dad, I'll be right down. Just give me a few minutes to freshen up."

  "No worries, Kase. See you downstairs." Her father disappeared down the hall.

  Kasey made her way to the bathroom, smiling. Whether she was sixteen or twenty-six, nothing changed. She was still Kase to her dad.

  Reaching the bathroom sink, she studied her reflection in the mirror, surveying the damage from Danilo.

  It was the first time she had braved a mirror in days and she instantly regretted it. Her hair was a disheveled mess. A myriad of cuts and bruises told the tale of her fight with the killer. She had barely made it out alive.

  Days of overwork and sleep deprivation had taken its toll. Heavy bags rested under her eyes. It would take a week of sleep just to catch up.

  Of course, that week of sleep was a pipe dream. She couldn’t stop now. Danilo might have been gone, but he was just a foot soldier. The organization responsible for the string of murders he had committed was still out there, somewhere.

  Now she knew what they were after: her.

  She had no idea who the organization might be, but clearly, they were involved in the pending attack on New York City. Danilo had admitted that much.

  Her recurring vision of the attack had proved a threat to their plan. A threat that they would see removed no matter the cost. How much Danilo had managed to report remained a mystery, but Kasey had to assume the worst.

  I’m still in danger, and I don’t know who is behind it.

  One thing was clear even when confronted with certain death, Danilo had been unwilling to give up anything of substance on his employers. He had feared them far more than he did Kasey.

  What could inspire that kind of fear? Kasey wondered, not for the first time. Danilo Lelac had been an assassin and a Werewolf. Not only that, but he was one of the most infamous assassins the World of Magic had known. His fear of his employer only served to heighten Kasey’s concerns.

  She was determined to unravel the mystery. Not only had her vision of the attack on New York plagued her since she was a child but now, they had threatened her family.

  I may not know who you are, or where you are, but I will end you all.

  Kasey studied her battered reflection in the mirror.

  With a heavy sigh, she turned on the tap and splashed water on her face to wake herself up. When that failed, she decided to take a shower. The warm water was a soothing balm on her aching muscles. Then, she followed the aroma of freshly toasted waffles down to the dining room.

  The scent of breakfast assailed Kasey's nostrils. Her parents were both already seated at the table but were patiently waiting.

  In the center of the table sat a tall stack of waffles. Around them lay every topping one could wish for: fresh fruit, chocolate sauce, maple syrup, and even ice cream. Her mom had clearly gone into overdrive.

/>   A pang of guilt stabbed Kasey in the chest. In an attempt to leave the world of magic behind, she had neglected her parents as well.

  She pulled out a chair and sat down. "Mom, breakfast looks amazing, thanks."

  Her mother looked about bashfully. “Oh dear, it was nothing."

  Kasey gestured at the mountain of waffles. "May I?"

  "Of course, dear," her mother replied. "They are for you, after all.”

  Kasey lifted a waffle off the stack and then began scooping ice cream onto her plate. As she doused the waffle and ice cream in chocolate sauce, she looked down at the table.

  “Mom, Dad, I just want to say I'm sorry,” she squeezed out before her emotions welled up, choking her.

  It had been an unbelievable nightmare of a week, yet amid it all her parents never ceased to amaze her. No matter how far she ran from her parents, or how neglectful she had been in her communication, their unconditional love waited, ready to welcome her home.

  She sank her teeth into a large slice of waffle. The chocolate sauce rolled smoothly over her taste buds. “Mmm,” she moaned.

  The truth was, she'd never felt as safe as she did in her own her home. While they may not have been in the wealthy elite, the Stonemoores’ reputation preceded them. Their place in history had been earned during England’s Great Purge. It would be a particularly foolish or ignorant individual that chose to arouse the ire of Jane Stonemoore.

  "You don't have to apologize, dear," her mother replied. "We know you've been busy. When we moved here, we knew what you wanted. Magic isn’t the only path you can take. We are tremendously proud of all you have accomplished."

  Glancing at the mountain of food, her mother continued, “How are the waffles? They used to be your favorite.”

  Kasey smiled. "They still are, Mom. Some things never change." Finishing her mouthful, she continued. “Since transferring to the NYPD, things have been a little hectic, but I'll do better at staying in touch. I promise." She looked down nervously. "I meant what I said last night. I’ve spent so long running away from the World of Magic that I ran away from you too. I'm sorry."

  Her father smiled. “There's no need to apologize dear. We'd rather hear what you are planning to do now? Your apartment looked like a bomb hit it. You know you can stay with us as long as you need, right?”

  “Thanks, Dad,” Kasey said. “I have a lot I still need to sort out, but after breakfast, I have to get to the station.”

  “The subway, dear?” her mother asked reaching for the fruit platter.

  “No, the police station,” Kasey replied. “I still have some work to do.”

  “Come now, Kasey. You almost died last night. You can take a day off,” her father said.

  “I could, but Danilo’s body is in evidence. I need to make sure no one finds out what he truly was. Then there is the matter of my vision of the attack. It is clear to me now. I am a witch and my gift has been given to me for a reason. That reason is to save lives.

  “The vision that I have been seeing since the Academy is real. Someone is out there planning something horrible. Unless I do something about it, thousands of people are going to die, maybe more. It could be today, tomorrow, or weeks from now, but it is coming, and it’s coming to New York. We’re all in danger unless I can find a way to stop it.”

  "Kasey,” her mother chimed in, “you’re better off leaving those matters with the Arcane Council. They will stop the attack. They always do."

  “I can't do that,” Kasey replied. "For whatever reason, this gift has been given to me and I can’t sit idly by. I must do something!"

  Jane nodded. "How are your gifts? We haven't spoken about them in years. Your father and I figured they must've stopped when you left the Academy. It seems that wasn't quite the case?"

  "They certainly slowed,” Kasey answered sipping on her orange juice. “They weren’t nearly as frequent as I was experiencing before, but they still happen."

  "Just like before?" Jane asked.

  "It started that way," Kasey said. "But now they are different. I feel like my gift is getting stronger each day. I feel like I'm understanding the context of them better than ever before. It's helping me solve cases and frankly, that makes me feel good. It makes me feel like I matter.”

  “Of course you matter, dear. Your father and I love you.”

  “You know what I mean, Mom.” Kasey replied fidgeting with her fork. "At the Academy, I felt like I was just nosing about in others’ business, sharing embarrassing moments that I witnessed, and being hated for it. But I'm not a child anymore, I work with the police here in one of the world’s busiest cities. My gift is making a difference. It’s saving lives."

  “We are proud of you," her father said, "but you need to be careful. If these people were willing to send a killer after you once, they will do it again. You need to have both eyes wide open."

  Kasey nodded as she finished her waffle.

  “Last time, I didn’t know they were coming. Now I do. This time I’ll be ready.” She stood up. “I don’t want to eat and run, Mom, but if I don’t get to the station soon, I’m worried Vida will find something on Danilo’s body. I can’t have him digging around asking questions. The ADI is already all over me. If our community is discovered… Well, truth be told, I don’t know what will happen, but Arthur Ainsley made it clear that it would end poorly.”

  She turned away from the table. Her injured leg threatened to give out again.

  "Oh, Kasey," her mother said, "if you are going to go tearing off again, at least let me take a look at your leg. You can barely walk, let alone rush around town."

  Kasey relented. Unfortunately, healing magic was not her strong point. Having never made it to her senior years at the Academy, she had not taken the necessary classes.

  If there was one time a witch’s magic needed to be spot on, it was when it was interfering with the human body and its natural course. Failing to correctly enunciate a spell or even having a momentary lapse in concentration could have disastrous consequences. She had chosen to avoid any such possibility by avoiding it altogether.

  Her mother sprang up from the table. In a second, she was at Kasey’s side. Her mother carefully examined the wound in Kasey’s thigh, as well as the myriad of cuts and bruises.

  " Kasey my dear, you need to take better care of yourself. Sit down, let me handle these for you."

  Kasey flopped back into her seat. "Please be careful with the healing, though. If you overdo it, you'll arouse suspicions. Maybe leave a few of them just for effect."

  Her mother smiled. "Of course, dear."

  She held up her hand, palm outward facing toward Kasey's injured thigh. Closing her eyes, she exhaled slowly before uttering her spell. "Gwella."

  Her hand glowed a golden light that radiated outward.

  Kasey watched in wonder as the flesh of her thigh knitted itself together. As it did so, the dull pain which had plagued her since the night before faded until it vanished entirely.

  With the thigh healed, her mother turned her attention elsewhere. Sweeping her hand over Kasey, Jane carefully guided the healing aura. As the golden light washed over her, Kasey watched spellbound as the lacerations healed, one by one.

  Her mother clenched her fist and the healing glow ceased.

  Kasey stretched and ventured a step. Her leg took the weight well, her thigh no longer burned with each step. Not only that but Kasey felt rejuvenated. Where only minutes before she'd been on the edge of exhaustion, now she felt like she could tackle anything.

  "I feel amazing!" Kasey exclaimed as she threw her arms around her mother.

  "Glad to hear it, dear, but be careful, magic is not a substitute for taking care of yourself. Eventually you'll burn out, or even worse, your body will begin to reject the influence of the healing magic and it will cause further harm."

  Kasey practically bounced on her toes. "Got it, Mom, thanks!"

  Her mother shook her head. "I laid out some of your old clothes, dear. They should tide
you over until you're able to get some new ones. The ones you're in now…" She paused for a moment. "They aren't really fit for public use."

  Kasey looked down. Her denim jeans had a large tear where Danilo's claw had sheared through them. Her T-shirt likewise was in tatters.

  "Thanks, mom. Where can I find them?"

  "In the lounge room. Would you like me to drive you to the station?"

  Kasey was just about to turn down the offer, but she already felt terrible for her dine and dash. "Sure, Mom. That would be great. Just give me a moment to get changed.”

  She raced into the lounge room. Her clothes had been laid out neatly on the sofa. Immediately, she realized why she had left them at home. There were a half a dozen different sets of jeans, most of which have gone out of style in the last decade. The T-shirts weren't much better.

  She sifted through the pile and found the best fit: a set of dark blue jeans and a T-shirt that she had loved as a teenager. Across its chest it had the slogan, "I'd love to have a battle of wits with you, but you appear to be unarmed."

  Even now the cheeky T-shirt made her smile. She changed and headed back into the dining room.

  “Thanks for breakfast." Kasey began giving her dad a quick hug.

  "You're welcome, dear," Ralph replied. "Take care of yourself, okay?"

  "Of course. I took down a Werewolf. After that, a phantom organization will be easy, right?" She grinned.

  “Alright Kasey, let's go," her mother called. "I'll drop you off at the station and then I'm going to go visit your sister."

  Kasey followed her mother out to the car. Together they chatted all the way to the station. Life had been hectic, Kasey filled her mom in on what it was like to work with the NYPD. Her mother brought her up-to-date on some of the current affairs in the World of Magic.