Abandoned Girl (Neighpalm Industries Collective, #1)

by Winston, Lexie

  “You will take two weapons in with you. Choose carefully,” she says. “It could make or break your run. Remember, winners are not people who never fail, they are people who never give up. Good luck to you all. Take a seat and get comfortable." She gestures to the seating area that’s been set up behind us. “It’s going to be a long wait.”

  She and Brace walk away toward some of the other instructors that have gathered behind us, nearer to the entrance to the Academy. There are a few tents set up. One looks like a triage area for first aid, and I can see two Academy healers in there. Because of the magic of the Gauntlet, it exits and enters in the same place. We won’t know what happens on the inside, but we’ll know who makes it through and who doesn’t. No pressure or anything. There is also a weapons tent set up, allowing you to use the Academy weapons if you don’t have your own to carry.

  Groups of students are gathered around making quiet conversation. The occasional raised voice or loud laugh punctures the air, breaking up the feeling of anticipation. The hissing, clanking goliath behind us is an ever-present reminder of what is to come.

  James and Olivia drag me over to a patch of green grass in the shade of a large oak tree on the side of the seating area. Out of the way of everyone else, we sit down, James has a serious look on his face.

  “Don’t let them psych you out Mina,” he whispers. “You’ve got this in the bag.”

  Olivia adds in her two cents. “Yeah, if there were anyone more ready for this, it would have to be you. In fact, you were ready four years ago. This will be a breeze.”

  I reach up to push my white-blonde hair out of my eyes, then lean back on my hands. I study my two friends. Olivia has situated herself between James’ legs, his arms wrapped around her, the move so natural they don’t even realize they’re doing it anymore. I would give anything to have something or someone like that. The never-ending string of one night stands is becoming tiresome. I would just like to have the chance to build something strong like these two.

  Olivia’s black pixie cut hair, green eyes, and short stature make her look like a fairy. That and James’ hulking six-four frame and body, make her look delicate, but don’t be fooled—she’s a force to be reckoned with.

  I smile at them. “Oh, I know. The only ones I’ve got to prove myself to are the people watching on the screens.” I look over to where the group of “popular kids” are, the ones from families with good reputations in the Division, or the “pure” bloods. They’ve been a thorn in my side for too many years.

  I am such a cliché. I was left on the steps of the orphanage when I was a baby. In the basket with me was a blanket, a weapon, and a note. The note said I was of angel blood and would need to be enrolled in the Division Academy when I turned sixteen, as was required.

  I made it to twelve before the nuns at the orphanage couldn’t handle me any longer. I was always a difficult child, with an insatiable curiosity and quick to anger. They struggled to control my aggression when my frustration and boredom got the best of me. They dumped me at the Academy and washed their hands of me.

  I watch now as the instructors break from their huddle over near the tents. Brace walks back over to the seating area, reading from a clipboard.

  “Mark Redsmith, you’re up first.”

  We all look around, waiting for someone to acknowledge Brace. I watch as a young man gets to his feet. I can see him swallow nervously. Around him, his friends are shouting out encouragement and well wishes to him.

  “Do you need a weapon?” Brace asks him.

  He is dressed in Academy standard dress; tight, black leather pants, and shit-kicker thick boots. He has on a black, long-sleeve turtleneck, with a leather vest with various places to stash weapons. From his vest he pulls out two daggers,

  “No,” he shakes his head. “I’m all set.”

  “Please move to the entrance,” Brace says to him and gestures toward the Gauntlet. He turns to everyone else. “If you need weapons, go and choose them now, please. We need to keep this moving as quickly as possible.”

  He turns and follows Mark to the entrance of the Gauntlet. I watch as quite a few students get up and move towards the weapons tent. I turn to James and Olivia to ask them about their weapons choice, when suddenly there is a large blast of sound. We all jump in fright and, as one, turn quickly towards the entrance. We watch in silence as Mark starts jogging into the opening of the Gauntlet and disappears. I blow out a long breath; I hadn’t realized I was holding.

  Brace looks up from his clipboard.

  “Silas Farrier, you’re next. Be ready to go when Mark exits.”

  There’s whooping and cheering from the popular group, and the number one douchebag of the lot jumps up, fists pumping in the air. He uses his brain and starts stretching out. Huh, a smart douchebag. I turn back towards Olivia and James.

  “So, are you guys ready for this?” I ask them both.

  Their faces light up like it’s Christmas, and they’ve just seen what Santa left under the tree. I laugh. They’re as crazy as I am—we live for this kind of thing. They both start to answer me, but the smiles turn to frowns. Suddenly, a dark shadow appears over me, and I look up to see what has caused it. Standing over me is the number one douchebag.

  “Don’t worry, orphan girl,” he says to me. “I'll kiss you better when you get injured and need to be carried out.”

  I clench my hands into fists and repeat in my head, don’t hit him, don’t hit him.

  “I’ll probably need a masseuse, he continues, “to ease my aches and pains when I get picked for a team, I’m sure a pretty girl like you is good with her hands.” He leers at me, trying to look down my top at the same time.

  I turn and look at Olivia. “Can you hear something? It sounds like.... I’m not sure, but I think it's the sound of hot wind blowing through the trees." She and James laugh, and I look back up at the douchebag. The look on his face is thunderous.

  "You better watch out, bitch,” he growls. "Not knowing who and where you came from can be dangerous.” With his fists clenched, he storms off towards the entrance.

  "Well, that was interesting,'' muses James, bringing my attention back towards them.

  "He really doesn't worry me,” I reply. “They’ve been like that from the start. I didn’t let it bother me then, and I won’t let it bother me now. They aren’t even a blip on my radar.”

  “I don’t know why you don’t flaunt your connection with Alpha Team to get them off your back,” Olivia says to me with a thoughtful look on her face. “If it were me, I would have used that as much as possible.”

  “That would have just given them more ammunition,” I say with a sigh. “I get enough flack for living with Peter and Maggie and being friends with Janet and Brace. The comments over the years about only getting where I am because of favoritism and not talent wear you down after a while. Could you imagine what that would have done if they knew I could access Alpha if I wanted to? Not that I want to,” I add on quickly.

  “Hmm,” says James, “But if Samuel—”

  “Stop,” I quickly interrupt him. “We’ve hashed this out enough times, and I really don’t want to get into it. What’s done is done, and I can’t change the past. Let’s not worry about it.” I decide to change the subject.

  “Olivia, what weapon are you taking with you?" I ask her, looking to see if I can see any. Like me, she is wearing the standard-issue, tight leather black pants, but unlike the short boots most of the male students wear, she is wearing long, laced-up riding boots with no heel. They offer the leg a little more protection against outside forces, and if we have to swim, they’re not as heavy as the thick-soled combat boots. She is also wearing a black, corset-style long-sleeve top, and on her back, she has her sword holsters. Olivia carries twin samurai swords, gifted to her from her family. Special swords with angel runes etched along the blades that imbue them with extra strength. She’s practically a ninja, with the way she can handle those swords.

  “The girls, of course.
” She gestures to a pack leaning against the tree. Sitting next to it are her two swords; Gara, which means elegance, and Hia, which means bright in Japanese. Both handles are elegantly wrapped in red leather. Their scabbards are richly decorated with gold accents.

  “What about you, James?” I ask, turning to my bulky friend.

  “I’m taking my guns,” he says to me with a grin while lifting his huge arms and making muscles. He blows a kiss in their direction. Olivia and I double over in laughter.

  “No, seriously, what are you going to take?” I ask again.

  He gets a serious look on his face. “Unlike the two of you, I haven’t got anything special, so I’m going to grab one of the auto-load crossbows and grab a dagger, too. What about you?” he asks eagerly, “Did you bring the magic wand?”

  I laugh, reaching up to the back of my head to my ponytail and pull out what looks like a chopstick. I waggle it in front of his face. “Like I go anywhere without it.”

  The weapon that was left in my basket when I was dropped off at the orphanage. It, too, is a specialty angel weapon. It must have been gifted to me by whoever left me there. Unlike Olivia’s swords, the runes on mine are unreadable, but I assume they have to do with how, with a flick of my wrist and the thoughts in my head, it can change from a stiletto-style dagger, to a staff, whip, or sword.

  Technically, it's four weapons I’m taking in; but they can’t really stop me.

  He looks at it enviously. “Man, I hope to impress someone enough one day that I’m gifted an angel crafted weapon.” At this, he jumps up and strolls off towards the weapons tent. We watch him go. He’s stopped several times by people saying hello or slapping manly handshakes with him.

  I look over at Olivia, who has an indulgent grin on her face.

  “You two are so lucky,” I say wistfully.

  She looks back at me. “It will happen, Mina... one day when you least expect it.”

  I clear my throat. “Yes, well, now is not the time. One day, sure, but right now, I want to be one of the best guardians the Collectors Division has ever had.”

  James comes back and we speculate on what the Gauntlet will be like. After about half an hour, I start to worry, but before I can say anything, there’s a tremendous cheer. We all turn to look at the Gauntlet.

  Through a burst of smoke and grinding of gears, staggering and stumbling, comes Mark. He looks tired, but in general, he’s in one piece and has a shaky smile on his face. Everyone starts clapping for him: the first person to make it through. He punches his hand in the air, and the instructors rush over to him, leading him towards the tents to check him over.

  I turn back to look at the entrance and watch as Silas enters. I can see a sword strapped to his back and a pistol tucked into the back of his pants. I roll my eyes. Idiot. I hope he doesn't lose it in the first half or shoot himself in the ass. I don’t hope too hard, though.

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  https://books2read.com/CollectorsDivision1

  This one is a M/F Paranormal Romance

  Candy Conniptions

  Arbor Vitae Coven

  Prologue

  “THIS MEETING OF THE Matrons of Morbank Island may come to order.” Prudence Miller announces as she bangs her gravel on the podium in front of her. She peers out at the rest of the ladies in the large room of the town hall. “Come now, settle down.” The noise of the room slowly quietens, the other nine women look up with curiosity.

  “Prudence, what’s this meeting about?” Victoria Digby questions. “You know I love meeting with you ladies, but usually drinks and nibbles are involved.”

  “Town affairs are better solved with a Mojito in hand.” Glenda La Croix adds with a laugh and a wave of her hand. A tittering of giggles explodes from the ladies, but when they see that Prudence is not laughing and has a very somber look on her face, they all quieten down quickly.

  “Ladies, I think we all know why we are meeting here. The portal is fading, and there’s not enough power generation to hold it open anymore. We are failing the realms. Action needs to be taken. If not, the council could very well appoint another coven in charge of Morbank, and we’ll get kicked off our ancestral island.” Prudence says with a look of sadness on her face. “It’s time for the next generation to step up and take their rightful place at the head of the family businesses. We’re all ready to retire, and the creative ideas just aren’t flowing like they used to.” The women all nod their heads in agreement. Prudence continues with a hitch in her voice, “There’s also something else that I have to tell you.”

  “Oh, Prudence dear, what’s wrong?” Lucille Crane asks as she gets up and puts her arm around Prudence. “What’s making you so sad?”

  “Don’t you think it’s strange that all of our oldest daughters have left town? Even though every single one of them is following in the family business.” She asks, looking at the ladies. The ladies start talking amongst themselves.

  “I did think it strange that they all decided to leave town and learn from other artists, but they’re young and independent,” Laura Woods exclaims, shrugging.

  “Yes.” adds in Fiona Blackwood, looking down at her hands, “I understand why Tia went to China. But I always thought she’d come back when she finished learning what he wanted. Instead, she stays.” Fiona's face is covered in sadness. “I keep trying to get her to come home, but she avoids the topic.”

  “I have similar conversations with Tatiana,” Lucille adds. “She’s so busy with that boyfriend of hers.” The sneer on her face when she says this makes it visible she isn’t too keen on him.

  “Ladies, Ladies,” Prudence says, hugging Lucille and encouraging her to sit back down. She straightens her shoulders and takes a big breath. “When Susan the slut ran off and left Regan,” she starts, looking very sad.

  “May she suffer pox on her pussy.” The other nine ladies chime in unison—one of them spitting to the side.

  A small smile appears on Prudence’s face. “Amen, my loyal ladies. When this happened, and Ruby didn’t come home to help her brother and his babies out, I knew there was something very wrong. Not only that. When I hired someone else to run the shop, she didn’t even bat an eyelid. Once upon a time, that would have made her come home on the warpath. Nobody was allowed to run her shop except her. So, I conducted some research. What I have discovered may surprise you.”

  The women look on eagerly, waiting for her to continue.

  “Well, don’t make us wait, what have you found out?” questions Laura

  “The girls are under a powerful repulsion spell.” She announces. Gasps and shocked chatter erupt. She talks over them, and they calm down to listen. “The signs were all there; we didn't acknowledge them. One, they all suddenly left town around the same time. Two, none have shown any interest in coming home. I know for sure; it was Ruby’s dream to take over the candy store. For her to up and leave all of a sudden, it was suspicious. She's been gone for eighteen months now and has shown no interest in coming home.” She says, wringing her hands together.

  “I think part of the dwindling power problem is we are all getting older, and the businesses need a new influx of power. With the lack of new creative inspiration, the tourists have lost interest. All of us are looking to retire, if the girls don’t come home and take over, we will have to sell the businesses or close them down. An artisan village with no artisans has no draw. So, with my suspicions, I cast a detection spell. I have discovered that this town and, in particular our places of business and homes, have a repelling spell on them specifically aimed at the girls.”

  More gasps and outrageous cries fill the hall.

  “Who could have done such a thing, and why?” Marie Payne questions out loud; a look of sadness haunts her eyes; her skin is sallow, and she looks like she has lost weight. Pru makes a note to visit her soon.

  “Well, that’s the all-important question, isn’t it?” Prudence says with a glare in her gray eyes and steel in her voice. “I w
ill be informing Sheriff Crimson of my findings, but that is not going to solve our problem.”

  “I see by the look on your face you have a plan.” Victoria says with a smile on her face, “Don’t be coy, share.”

  “You bet your ass I have a plan.” Prudence says with a determined look on her face, “I have found a spell to counteract it, but there may be some negative side effects. I need all of you ladies to think about this quite carefully, because once done, there’s no going back. The negative impacts could affect you directly.”

  “I don’t know about everyone else, but if someone is messing with my girl and that’s why she won’t come home to visit her Mama, then I’m in!” shouts Beatrix Shadowsoul getting to her feet.

  “That’s right,” agrees Marie also getting to her feet, “Nobody messes with our kids or town and gets away with it.”

  By this time, all the ladies are on their feet and agreeing to the spell. A tear appears in the corner of Prudence’s eye. She smiles, looking around at the other women in the room.

  “My sisters, I knew I could count on you, just as we have been counting on each other since we first formed this coven so many years ago.”

  “That’s right, witches for life,” shouts Denise.

  “Or bitches as the case may be, Hey Denise,” Lucille says cheekily, bumping her hip against Denise’s.

  “Well, you would know,” Denise says back with a grin.

  “Ok, ladies settle down. We will meet in the clearing behind the Manor at midnight tomorrow night. It is a full moon and the best time to fulfill the spell. Please bring something from your girls with you to go into the spell. It must be something that means a lot to them.” Prudence announces with a satisfied smile. “I don’t know who did this, but the backlash when we break the spell will let them know we are onto them. We must prepare to ward off a takeover.”

  “We will have to be more vigilant. We have grown complacent. Although we know most people in town, there are always people coming and going.” Minerva Crowe muses out loud. “Someone is trying to start trouble, maybe a coven from another town.”