Chapter 28
From the case files of Special Agent L. Garrison
Supernatural Investigations Department:
Name: Thomas Amberose
Occupation: Bodyguard
Threat Level: Low
Despite being a key suspect in multiple supernatural incidents as previously indicated, the video evidence collected from the Divination reveals that he acted to protect the interests of Lance Ruben. The most reasonable explanation of the aforementioned financial discrepancies is likely the result of off-the-books contracts to protect the livelihood and interests of Lance Ruben. I recommend dropping the investigation.
“I want the job,” I told Cameron an hour later. He stood on the balcony outside the ballroom, gazing at a distant boat that paddled down the Mississippi River.
“Good.”
“But I need to warn you – the Imperium isn’t going to be happy about it.”
He nodded, as though expecting it. I joined him at the edge of the balcony, sparks still flying through my mind every time I thought of the argument. He seemed to notice. “You alright?”
“Yeah. Lara and I just had an argument. Nothing big.”
“She, err, put a video of the ghost on YouTube, by the way.”
“What?” I said, turning to him, exasperated. Magic was based on belief. The more people that believe in something, the more tangible that power becomes. Putting it where millions could potentially see it is the equivalent of turning it into a nuke.
“It was the original murder at the Cane Manor. I’m not sure how she got it, but we’ve had it removed. Only a few hundred people saw it.”
“What the hell is she–” I broke off my sentence as I realized why she’d done it.
A spell like a ghost could die in one of two ways. You take away the beliefs, or you make just as many people believe in a contradictory story. When people who don’t believe in something, it acts as a counter-effect to those who do believe. My guess is that she put in a link to a computer graphics site of some kind or another, so that when people see the video, they assume it to be a hoax. It was a huge risk, but in the end it was the killing blow. A Digital Exorcism.
“Don’t worry about it.” I sighed. Lara got lucky, but in a way that likely saved my life.
“So what happens next?” I asked.
Cameron rubbed his hands together as the wind picked up. “Next? We conduct business. And try to avoid the Imperium.”
Standing there on the balcony, I thought back in astonishment of the past few days. I’d taken on a ghost. Caught the bad guy. And, holy crap, I blew up a house! Boom! Last week I didn’t know if I’d have enough to afford food. Now I was looking over the city like I owned the place with a man I hardly knew.
Maybe Lara's right. Maybe he does have an agenda.
Or maybe he preformed hard work to figure out what happened to his uncle. The man was in his mid twenties, which is generally far too young to pull off anything too elaborate in my book. Of course, I’d still question Daniel, just in case, but I had no doubt Cameron would be the real thing.
“What does Cane Industries do, anyway?” I asked, lamely.
“Medical development and manufacturing,” he answered simply. I nodded. The wind picked up, blowing by loud enough to hamper any conversation for a few seconds.
“So, is this your destiny?” I asked. “Running Cane Industries?”
He gave a half smile as his gaze over the city lingered. “I thought you don’t believe in destiny.”
“I don’t.”
He stood stoically in the cold wind. Finally, he said, “Whatever my destiny is, I feel this job is the first step toward fulfilling it.”
I nodded, letting the flourish of excitement flutter through my body as I looked across the cityscape. I may not believe in destiny, but I certainly believe in choice. Now that I was here, I knew my choices would impact a lot of lives. The employees of this company, for starters, but somehow I knew there’d be more. I’d work for Cam, but in doing so I’d be given hundreds choices that would impact the betterment of many people. With Cane Industries at my disposal, all I had to do was ensure I’d make the good choices.
The Venir. The Imperium. Cane Industries. Whatever other threats were out there. They were all connected, and would only grow tighter as time went on. I chose then to make it my destiny to ensure that no one got hurt as those connections got more and more tangled.
I wasn’t a guardian anymore. I was something better. I was the one that could keep this city safe.
Or maybe, this was just my mind rambling on. The other buildings were small from so high. Cars and people looked like toys from way up at the top of the city’s tallest skyscraper.
Warmth cut through the otherwise bitter wind as I leaned in the railing beside Cameron Cane. For the first time in over a year, I realized that I was excited about my future.
###
About Grayson
I want to offer a thank you to everyone who read Modern Pantheon: Ghost. If you enjoyed it, I would be grateful if you left a review. The second book continue Thomas's story, and has a planned released date of 2015.
You can find more information about me and my books on my website, grayson-barrett.com, where you can also sign up for my mailing list to get updates about when my next books will arrive.
I've been a writer all my life. It was high school that I finished my first novel, which was about kingdoms, magic, and knights in shining armor. Back then, I didn't realize I was writing in a setting I simply wasn't suited for, and didn't think I'd ever publish a book. It's over a decade later, and finally I've written a novel I feel I can share with the world.
It's the first of eight an eight book series. As of the time of publishing it, I'm writing the first draft of the sixth book. My goal is to publish a new book every year. I keep my website updated at www.grayson-barrett.com. If you enjoyed this book, I encourage you to go to my website and subscribe to my mailing list where I'll give occasional updates on my writing, and let you know when the next book will arrive. I would also appreciate it if you leave a review of my book at your favorite retailer.
Also, I wanted to extend a few personal Thank Yous:
Thank you to my brother, who's read and critiqued all of my previous unpublished books I wasn't too nervous to share. You've always been a busy guy, but you've found time to offer me advice and encouragement that's developed my writing style into what it is today.
Thank you to my wife, who read and edited this book for grammar and content. If it wasn't for her, there would still be a lot of awkward tension in scenes that weren't meant to have it.
Thank you to my family, who has always been supportive of my writing.
And also, thank you to Mr. Krueger, who taught me English in High School. He showed a genuine interest in my amateurish work, and suggested I spent five minutes writing each day. It's in those collections of five minute writing periods where my first novel was born, and the reason my writing hobby truly started.
Other titles by Grayson Barrett
Beast: Modern Pantheon Book II (Available late 2015): Thomas only has a month to settle into his new lifestyle when a mage seeking his help is murdered in Thomas' office. To make things worse for Thomas, the victim's many enemies followed him into town. These enemies include powerful mages, beasts, and even those who claim to be a member of an ancient Pantheon. Meanwhile, Thomas' former mentor complicates matters by giving Thomas a test of loyalty that could easily lead to Thomas's death if he fails. Thomas is forced to defend himself and his new allies as new threats close in.
Modern Pantheon: Ghost Page 27
