by Logan Byrne
Table of Contents
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
Book Three Excerpt
About the Author
Awakened Powers
Awakened Spells Book Two
Logan Byrne
Copyright 2018 by Logan Byrne
This is a work of fiction. Any resemblances of characters to actual persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. The author, Logan Byrne, holds exclusive rights to this work. Unauthorized duplication is prohibited.
No part of this book can be reproduced in any form or by electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without the permission in writing from the author. The only exception is by a reviewer who may quote short excerpts in a review.
Table of Contents
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
Book Three Excerpt
About the Author
1
The air felt as thick as it was humid as I trudged through a sea of shifting hot sand. I gulped, trying to muster up any saliva I could to coat the inside of my mouth and throat, but it was to no avail. A white scarf Mirian gave me for this journey was wrapped around my head and face, only my squinted eyes peeking out.
Charlie and I were in Morocco, the eastern part of the country to be exact, trying to track down leads on a naga shifter who was selling rare venom on the black market, and not for research purposes. The only problem was finding somebody like him in the desert.
“We might be getting close,” Charlie said, his voice faint, just as we summited the top of a large dune.
There it was, close, but still so far that it felt out of reach. A magical outpost, a single sandstone building alone in the desert bombarded and abused by waves of blowing sand over the centuries. Only magical beings could see it; mortals would just walk past it should they ever find themselves out in these parts, though for their sakes I hoped they wouldn’t.
“We better keep moving,” I said, my thighs and calves starting to burn from fatigue. I closed my eyes as a gust of wind whipped against us. Charlie put his head down and pushed through. He wasn’t allowed to shift here, not in plain sight where mortals could see, even though we hadn’t run into a single soul the entire ten days we’d been on this trip. The outpost was only reachable by foot, no teleportation allowed, and we only had rough maps and calculations of its location anyway.
As we reached the building, a very rusted metal sign swung back and forth, its squeaking the only sound for miles aside from the howling wind. “How do we get in?” Charlie asked. There was no door handle in sight.
“Like this,” I said, taking out my wand and touching the tip to the wooden door. Sand flew out from the seals of the doorway before it split in half, each side opening. “Candelae,” I said, since the room inside was dimly lit.
After we walked inside the door shut behind us. The air was musty but better than the punishment we’d faced outside. “I think that’s it,” he said, pointing to a portal in the back.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Ready,” he replied. We walked through and were instantly warped back outside, but this time we weren’t anywhere near the building. We were in an oasis, surrounded by tall palm trees, the sound of water rushing nearby as magical creatures roamed around us. It was like a tiny town, a shimmering beacon of life hidden in the bleak desert landscape.
“We need to find that water,” I said, so we left and looked for the source of the noise. A quickly running stream circled the perimeter of the town, flowing constantly, pushed along by magic. I knelt, dipping my hands in, before scooping up cups of water and sipping it. I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath after feeling the first taste of cold water running down my throat, extinguishing the burning feeling I’d grown accustomed to over the past week.
Charlie got so excited he shifted before jumping in and rolling around in the cold water. “We need to send communications back,” I said, my gut filled heavily with sloshing liquid.
Charlie shifted back and we walked over to an empty corner of an alley where we were sure we wouldn’t be heard. Our type weren’t always welcome in places like this. We were the police, and there were many bar and hotel owners who turned a blind eye to trafficking and crime as long as money kept coming in. I couldn’t say that I blamed them—they surely had to look after themselves and their businesses—but we still had a job to do.
“Have you made it all right?” Mirian asked through the phone he’d given us.
“Yes, we just made it to the oasis. It’s amazing,” I said.
“Good, I was worried about you both. I know it’s not the easiest trek to handle, especially for new auditors like you,” he said.
“I’m fine with fieldwork, Mirian, but never send me to the desert again,” Charlie chimed in.
“I’ll keep that in mind. Maybe the jungle with some trees next. Back to the point at hand—have you seen anything yet?” he asked.
“No, we haven’t, but we haven’t talked to anybody, either,” I said.
“Don’t forget that those there at the oasis aren’t exactly friendly with M.A.G.I.C. They will talk, some of them, for a price,” he said.
“Are we allowed to bribe them? I thought that was against policy,” I said.
“What people don’t know won’t hurt them. Don’t do anything rash, and don’t tick the wrong people off,” he said. “Contact me again when you have something more.”
Mirian hung up and I stashed the phone deep in my pocket before leaning against a brick wall. “Want to get something to eat?” I asked. Charlie’s eyes got big as he nodded.
We walked into the first pub we could find, loud laughs and raucous behavior inside, though nobody gave us a second glance after we walked in. We sat at a corner table, making sure to have a good view, before a small portly man hobbled up to us. “New around here, huh?” he asked, leaning on the table.
“Just passing through,” I said.
“I’m the owner here, in case you were wondering. Feeling hungry? Thirsty as well, I take it?” he asked.
“What do you have?” I asked.
“For the jag, I have some good rare meat, and for you, a seared chicken breast with mash,” he said.
“How did you know what I am?” Charlie asked.
“I’ve been around tons of creatures for almost a hundred and seventy years, so I know what you all smell like. I’ll bring you some beers,” he said, before hobbling away.
“Luckily the other thing doesn’t give off a smell,” I whispered.
“Do we really smell tha
t bad?” Charlie asked, sniffing himself.
•••
Charlie and I sat in the pub for about an hour, minding our own business and scouting what we could. The people here looked so much like the types I’d hung around in my past that I almost wanted to just get up and talk to them, but I knew I couldn’t. That life was behind me, and I had a mission to accomplish.
“That guy looks a bit weird, doesn’t he?” Charlie whispered, with his mouth up to the metal rim of his cup. There was a man in a suit with slicked back hair who glanced around as he talked to the pub owner who’d helped us earlier. The owner nodded towards a hallway, and the two men excused themselves and left the main room.
“We should follow them,” I said.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? We can’t exactly give off our cover just yet, we’ve only been here for an hour,” Charlie said.
“This is the first hint of anything illegal happening, and we need to make sure it isn’t our guy,” I said.
“How about you go and I’ll keep watch out here in case anything breaks out,” Charlie said.
“You just want to keep eating,” I said, rolling my eyes and standing up.
“That too,” Charlie replied with a smirk.
I kept my head down and walked slowly enough not to raise suspicion. I felt my feet stick to the floor with every step, the booze-soaked wood gripping my shoes and trying to keep me from going forward. I continued slowly down the hall, keeping close to the right wall, as I heard faint whispers grow louder.
“You know there’s a price to pay, Gorlon. We’ve appreciated your dedication thus far, but we cannot hold off forever and overlook your shortcomings,” the man said to the pub owner.
“I’ve been around here for centuries, and I plan to be around for a few more. Your threats might work on others, but they ain’t gonna work on me, kid,” Gorlon growled.
“Our lord won’t be happy to hear these things. In fact, he will be quite upset,” the man said.
“Then let the man be upset, I don’t really care. You talk about him like he’s some sort of god. There have been dozens of guys like him throughout history, trying to take over the world, and you really think he’s going to be any different?” Gorlon snarked defiantly.
“I’m afraid I cannot let you speak about my master like that and live to tell the tale,” the man said, and I heard something, probably a weapon, being pulled out.
“I order you to drop your weapon!” I yelled, bursting into the room, my wand pointed at the man in the suit.
“Great, here we go,” Gorlon said.
“You called M.A.G.I.C. on me? How dare you, filthy swine!” the man screamed.
“Pacificate!” I yelled, swinging my wand. The man blocked it with his wand, black and curled in the handle, the sign of darkness. He was formidable, but I had the Mark of Merlin, and I wasn’t going to be defeated so easily.
A loud thump filled the room. The man fell to the floor and Gorlon lowered the large metal vase he used to knock the man out. “There, it’s over,” he said.
2
“I’m going to have to ask you to drop your weapon,” I said, pointing my wand at Gorlon, as he still held the vase in his hands.
“Relax, I knew you were fuzz the moment you walked into my pub. I told you I could smell you, didn’t I? You think you’re the first auditors to step foot here?” he asked, setting the vase down on the table.
“Then why didn’t you rat us out if you knew?” I asked.
“M.A.G.I.C. only comes around these parts if there’s somebody really bad out there causing trouble. It’s better for business if those types aren’t running around. As long as you guys don’t create a scene in my place, and people aren’t afraid to come back, I’m happy you’re cleaning up the streets,” he said.
“Then maybe you can help me find somebody I’m looking for. He’s a naga shifter selling illegal black market venom, the kind that would only take one drop to take down a giant,” I said.
“I’ve heard talk of a man, a naga shifter as you say, but I haven’t seen any of them in my pub in at least fifty years,” Gorlon said.
“What have you heard?” I asked.
“That he’s bad, and he hasn’t been getting that venom through conventional, legal means. Last I heard he’s been milking the venom out of these creatures after killing them, even if they’re willing participants,” he said.
“Why would he do that? Surely he could keep going back for more,” I said.
“Doesn’t want to be recognized, I reckon. Maybe he’s got a noticeable mug,” Gorlon said. “By the way, what are you gonna do with this guy?” he asked, looking down at the man in the suit.
“Pacificate,” I said, my wand pointed at the man, his unconscious body freezing up. “Taking him in, I guess. He did threaten you, and he did attempt assault on an auditor.”
“It’s probably best you two get out of here anyhow. Last I heard the man you’re looking for left Africa in search of selling his wares.”
“Do you know where he went?” I asked.
“London, last I heard. I suppose there’s a big market out there for venom of this caliber, and it’s easy to transport to the rest of Europe. Good luck,” he said, stepping over the guy and leaving the office.
Gorlon must have told Charlie to come to me. He came running into the back, then stopped abruptly when he saw the suspect on the ground. “What happened?” he asked.
“Long story, but I think you’re about to get really lucky. We’re leaving Morocco and going somewhere a bit less arid,” I said.
“I’m in,” he said, smiling.
•••
Before we could even think about traveling to London, we needed to bring our suspect in and question him. A certain sense of joy came from returning to the hulking police headquarters building. After being in the desert for so long, I’d almost forgotten the sour stench of reality that came with going home.
“You’re back,” Blake said with a smile. I ran up and hugged him. His neck smelled musty, a hint of cinnamon trying to mask his werewolf smell. I let go and looked him in the eyes. “That’s quite the hello,” he said, grinning.
“Just happy to see you,” I said, as I felt happiness for the first time in quite a while.
“Lexa!” I heard, before turning around to Britta slamming into me with a hug. I laughed, her embrace was so tight. She leaned back, her hands on my shoulders, smiling. “Our room has been so empty without you, I hate it. How are you?”
“We’re great—I guess. We made some progress on our case, but we’re still kind of at a standstill,” I said.
“After trekking through the hell-like landscape of Morocco, we finally found the oasis,” Charlie said.
“How was it?” Blake asked.
“It would’ve been better if Lexa had let us stay longer, considering we were there for all but an hour and a half after searching for ten days, but I digress,” Charlie said, obviously bitter.
I rolled my eyes. “We had a suspect and couldn’t leave him there or let him go,” I said.
“So you found him?” Britta asked.
“Nope, but we did apprehend a dark wizard who attempted murder on the pub owner. I think he works for somebody,” I said, obviously alluding to Kiren.
“Well, we’re glad you’re safe. Have you seen Mirian yet?” Britta asked.
“No, we were just about to go there now,” I said.
“We’ll come with you, things have been slow,” Blake said.
I caught a glimpse of myself as we walked past a mirror, my skin sandy and tanned, my hair wiry and filled with a few cobwebs, I was sure. Definitely not how I wanted to look when I finally saw Blake again.
We knocked on Mirian’s office door, his head perking up and a smile gracing him as he told us to come in and close the door.
“You’re back so soon?” he asked.
“We ran into a snag, but we did get a lead on where to go next,” I said.
“Lexa thinks it’s a
lead, but I’m not sure it can be trusted. It came from the pub owner,” Charlie said.
“And you think he’s lying to her?” Mirian asked.
“I think it’s a possibility. What motive could he have for turning in one of his own?” Charlie asked.
“He told me he doesn’t like criminals of this caliber running around his place, it causes him too much trouble. He wants somebody that bothersome locked up so he doesn’t have to worry about him wrecking the place,” I said.
“He was playing you,” Charlie said, crossing his arms.
“Enough, both of you. Where did he say you should go instead?” Mirian asked.
“He said he heard that the man was headed to London. He said there were buyers out there, and that it was also easier to transport his products around Europe should the suspect have to,” I said.
“He wasn’t lying, London definitely is the place to be if you’re looking to deal in or buy illegal magical goods. It’s far more lucrative than even New York City in many respects, especially for poisons,” Mirian said. “When are you heading out?”
“We just got back in,” I said, a little defeated and in need of a lie-down.
“He might already be out there dealing, Lexa. I know you’re tired, but crime doesn’t sleep just because the sky goes dark,” Mirian said.
“We need to go to London,” Blake said.
“Oh?” Mirian asked.
“There have been reports of ivory and rhino horn dealings between realms, and London came up on our list. Maybe we could all go together and take Faus with us as well for logistic support?” Blake asked.
“Why do I feel like you five just want to hang out together?” Mirian asked.
“It would allow us to help them, and I think you know this suspect is going to be awfully dangerous. Having five officers will be much better to take him down, if he is that bad,” Britta said.
“Fine, against my better judgment I will let you five go, but the first instance of misconduct and you three are to leave and let Lexa and Charlie finish their assignment. Do you understand me?” Mirian asked, his voice stern.