Myths and Magic: An Epic Fantasy and Speculative Fiction Boxed Set

by K.N. Lee

  “No, you’re right. More efficient your way. Let’s do it.”

  “All right!” With a quick glance at each of the faces surrounding me, I examine each pair of eyes for any degree of uncertainty.

  When I’m sure everyone’s ready, we proceed to Beringer’s favorite spawning area.

  As soon as he and his mobs are in sight, Kanaan, Charlotte, and Beringer stop and wait.

  The rest of our group go straight for Beringer while I gather the shadows. I don’t even pause to do so, don’t even have to concentrate anymore. Blackness overcomes my vision, then vibrant auras come into view. I spot the biggest, most corroded aura to the right of the group and a little bit behind: Beringer.

  Giving myself over to the shadows, I launch into him with a flurry of whirling blades. Feels more like dancing than fighting.

  I land a particularly devastating critical hit, but a soft blue glow envelops him. What the fresh hell is this?

  Beringer’s got himself a healer.

  This is not good.

  My group isn’t even on him?

  “Assist me!” But when I look around, I realize they can’t. Mobs are pouring out of the woods.

  Beringer set a trap and lured us in.

  “To Benoit! Everyone, to Benoit!”

  I fight my way, step-by-slow-step, back in the direction of Neissfold. Benoit and my two healers should be there.

  Finally reaching a break in the corruptions, I find Kanaan and Charlotte right where they should be.

  “Form a circle around the healers!”

  As soon as we get the situation under a modicum of control, I glance at Kanaan over my shoulder.

  “Where’s Benoit?”

  “He nuked a bunch of mobs with an AOE and ran further into The Grove, pulling the mobs away from us.”

  Shit. I mean, that’s good. But there’s no way he survives that scenario. He had to know that. Ugh, and it’s my fault he’s dead. If I had just listened to him and left Joz and Kimber here, that would have evened out the two groups. We all would have survived.

  Damn it. Benoit is going to die, or is dead already, and it’s my fault. Great. Just when things were going great.

  With a renewed sense of determination, I give myself over to the darkness within and let it seek out its own targets. I can trust myself at least this far. My subconscious mind isn’t the problem; my conscious mind is.

  We finally manage to significantly reduce the number of mobs and make our way around Beringer. Locating his healer, we take that guy out next. Then, finally, Beringer himself. Once he’s down, Jozani, Sam, Alya, and Kimber make quick work of the rest of the mobs.

  “Charlotte, go ahead and resurrect Benoit. Kanaan, keep an eye on them. Heal as needed.”

  I wait patiently as Benoit materializes, preparing myself for whatever he throws my way. I’ll have earned it.

  When he’s here, all the way back, he looks around, taking stock of the scene.

  “I take it my plan to draw the mobs away from the healers worked?”

  “Yes, that was quick thinking and probably saved us from wiping altogether. Speaking of…

  “I’m really sorry I didn’t take your advice. If we’d left Kimber and Joz with you—”

  “We would have wiped. They’d have drawn too much aggro. I would have had to fight them for it and I would have failed. No way I can pull aggro from two rangers. We made all the right choices, and we succeeded in our quest. That’s all that really matters.”

  With a pat on my shoulder, he proceeds to loot a few of the minor mobs.

  “Wait, you’re not pissed because you died?”

  He crouches over a mob, but pauses to look at me. “No, of course not. It happens. It’s not permanent, you know.” With a slightly bewildered smile, he goes back to his loot.

  “Huh. Okay then. Guys, whenever you’re ready, let’s get this bad boy back to town.”

  With Beringer in tow, we trudge back into Neissfold just as the sky releases a cool shower over us all. It’s actually nice. Seems like it’s been forever since it rained. The streets will get muddy soon, though.

  “We better hurry, guys. Don’t want to have to drag him through sludge.” That got a few chuckles, but mostly everyone’s just ready to get this over with.

  I’m not sure if Dannison is finished with Sorven in Building B yet, and they won’t both fit along with the crew in that tiny building. “Jozani, Sam, Kimber, Alya—please bring Beringer to the cell where Kit’sanari had Sorven. After he’s secured, meet us in Building B.”

  As we approach the small building, excitement buzzes in the air. People line the front of the building, peeking in through the windows. Those who can’t reach to see inside listen with rapt expressions on their faces to the awestruck words of those who can.

  Baezu stalks ahead of me, bellowing, “Stand aside for Questmaster Bai and Questmaster Benoit.”

  Okay, we really need to get a handle on that before it gets confusing or something. I’m just not quite sure he and I have earned that title any more than Jozani or Kanaan or anyone else among our group.

  Pushing our way through a growing crowd, we enter the small room single file. The sight before us brings tears to my eyes.

  Gordon Sorven is sitting on one of the tables with his legs dangling off of one side. As the door closes behind us, his gaze sweeps the knot of adventurers gathered before him.

  “Thank you.”

  This is probably the best moment of my whole life, so far.

  Three Months Later…

  Neissfold, 2177

  “One hundred and sixty years after The Corruption, we finally have a cure. Gordon Sorven and Auburn Beringer remain clear of corruption, but they continue to see Questmaster Kanaan, Questmaster Charlotte, or Elder Dannison for regular blood testing, as must all survivors. They’ve taken Eli and his two cohorts under their wings, and settled a small piece of land nestled in the western section of The Grove to the north of Neissfold. With a bit of help from all of us, they’re rebuilding The Abandoned Cathedral to use as their home.

  “Questmaster Kanaan found a way to use the blood of corruptions to formulate a cure, rather than tumbler marrow. We still have to collect the blood, but we don’t have to kill them—or, worse, dig out spikes and such—repeatedly to get the reagents for the cure. I even cured a tumbler and I keep it as a pet. Well, I say that. It’s more like Jojo keeps me. She certainly keeps me on a strict schedule, with her adorable, demanding self.”

  A chorus of giggles warms me all the way through to my heart.

  “We’ve pretty much cleared The Lakeside Circle of corruptions. The beasts are back to normal, as far as we can tell. We’ve only cured about half of the corrupted questmasters though. They’re rebuilding the small town, and we send help as often as we can. Some of our own residents have relocated there permanently. The mountains to the north of the town make for some interesting adventures. They’ve even set up a mining operation, from what I gather.

  “The remaining corruptions have fled to the southernmost part of the island—The Forgotten Forest. Elder Kit’sanari said the name came from those twelve adventurers who sacrificed their lives trying to save us. One day, we’ll free them. It’s only a matter of time, now.

  “In the meantime, I see our daily quests as a sort of penance, and some of you may agree. The Corruption was, we’re assuming, beyond our control. But the corrupted questmasters we’ve deliberately doomed to this fate? Yeah, that was all us. Maybe that’s why we can’t die. No one can remember whether that’s always been the case. We remain hopeful that someday, our souls will know peace.

  “Until then, we will restore humanity one questmaster at a time.”

  A bell down the hall rings, and my students hurry to gather their things. They’re always in a rush to go eat, and my class is the last one before noon.

  Before I leave the main building, I peek outside through the dirty windows. I need to remind Kanaan about that. He’s supposed to be working on a cleaning solution sp
ecifically for glass.

  My classroom is perfectly situated so I can see The Grove to the north—a verdant patch of mostly still-hidden wonders—and center of Neissfold: the well.

  It isn’t very often we have to meet at the well anymore. So few of our people die while questing these days. We’ve gotten quite efficient at capturing corruptions and administering the cure. On some level, that bothers me. But I remind myself that it’s necessary, and we will continue to do so until the last corrupted questmaster is cured.

  ~The End~

  About the Author

  Jessica West (a.k.a. West1Jess) is currently pursuing a state of self-induced psychosis, also known as writing. In the past, she has worked for Wal-Mart, a lawyer, and a bank. Now if she could just get a couple years’ experience with the IRS and the NSA, world domination is in the bag.

  Jess lives in Acadiana with three daughters still young enough to think she's cool and a husband who knows better but likes her anyway. If you’d like to get in touch with her, just google West1Jess; she’s everywhere.

  To get emails when she writes stuff, sign up at west1jess.com/specficbyjessicawest.

  Also by Jessica West

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  Sin Eater: A Dark Urban Fantasy Novel

  World Domination: A Supervillain Anthology

  Tales from the Canyons of the Damned:

  NO. 8

  NO. 13

  NO. 15

  Omnibus 2 & Omnibus 4

  Fayeted

  Alex H. Singh

  After a fateful night encounter with creature in the woods, Faye-Minita's life changes in ways she can not even explain. When she gets a chance to go back to where it all began she discovers some things are just... Fayeted!

  Prologue

  I closed my eyes against the pounding in my head, the aching around my knees and the disturbing contortions around my temple. I dragged my feet against the dry, shriveled brown leaves on the ground, quivering as the police officer escorted me out of the woods.

  "This must be autumn. How long was I gone?” I thought to myself, as I asked the umpteenth time in a cold and low voice.

  "Is that Faye?” I could hear echoes muffling into random sounds from bewildered onlookers, too loud and disturbing not to hear.

  I stared back at my reflection from the side mirror, disheartened, it was worse than I had imagined. The cuts across my face reminded me of my encounter, my disheveled, dark hair, disfigured tattoo on my shoulder, they were no sight to behold.

  I winced in pain, as one of the officers helped me to the backseat of the police car.

  "It's her. Faye-Minita MacDougal, we finally found her". The officer who had escorted me to the car spoke out to another officer, presumably his partner.

  "What happened back there, little girl?" asked the officer, who appeared to be a middle-aged man. "You will have to tell us everything that happened to you. You have been gone for a week now and we were really worried about you", he said, as he soothingly patted my back.

  I pulled the black wool tightly against my body; in a way it gave me comfort. I was still angry. Neither Juan nor Drayton showed up. Even the girls must have made a run for it and denied having anything to do with me.

  The abandoned building was in the middle of the woods. It was not visibly showcased on the map, which made it the most suitable place since the cops would have a hard time finding it.

  We had prepared earnestly for the party, taking necessary supplies and driving miles away from the metropolis of New York.

  Interwoven, golden brown leaves covered the walls of the building, springy moss covered with fragile twigs and smoldering branches hugged the roof, welcoming us to the estranged land.

  The windows were not built in recent times and the marbles displayed a more antique look. Music can be heard blaring throughout the backyard.

  The building looked nothing like when I first saw it. It was plastered with empty beer cans. I tried to squeeze myself through the dancing crowd in the middle of the yard, as I searched the pungent smelling crowd for Juan, pushing past them with my lighted cigar hanging loosely at the corner of my lips. At the sight of him, I pulled him towards me, winking as I licked my lips. I aggressively compressed my thin waist around his groin, he screamed in excitement as I bit his dragon-tattooed neck, while he playfully groped my ass. I enjoyed that the most.

  The house was musty; the smell of mildew engrossed the area. With each step I took, the wood floor creaked, as if it could feel the weight of my intrusion. "The owners must have been elderly”, I thought while staring at the quilts that hung from the high walls.

  Another cabinet yielded to my search as I continued my adventure in the interior of the abandoned mansion.

  I walked along the bookshelves in a room that looked like a library. It was apparently big enough to serve as one. The quietness and solemnity in the library contradicted enormously with the blaring and irregular sound outside. I sheepishly imagined all the things Juan and I could have done with one another alone in this place.

  The books looked as if they had seen hard times, judging by the amount of dust that covered them. Archeological and ancient books intrigue me in a strange way. I grazed my fingers on the cover of the books, collecting dust on my fingers as I marveled at the beauty of myths and old times.

  "You left the party abruptly," Danielle said, startling me while standing on the sofa behind the door.

  "Whoa! You scared me!" I said as I jumped.

  "I knew you must have been experimenting", she said, as she winked at me and blew cigarette smoke across my face.

  "Do you happen to know where the restroom is?" I asked, knowing she was up to something.

  "The first turn along the hallway", she replied.

  "Hey, just so you know, Moira may be messing around with your fuck buddy. You might want to take a peek outside", yelled Danielle.

  The match flared to life with an instant burst, wavering and struggling against the wind. I held it tenderly, guarding my second hand with it and lighting it on the hundredth cigarette this night. I walked out the door, holding my smoke and taking a bottled beer beside one of the very many couples eating each other with little or no clothes on, as I licked my lip at the almost naked fellows.

  I was not allowed to be jealous in this situation, but I would be lying to myself if I said I wasn't angry. Moira was a slut who was used to getting what she wanted. As I stood on the front doorstep, I saw Juan and Moira kissing. The sight of them tied my stomach into knots.

  I felt my jaw clench as I was furiously walking over to Moira and Juan when I saw Drayton from the corner of my eyes, charging in their direction as well.

  I stopped and gasped at the sight of what occurred next. Drayton's fist cut through Juan's face like a knife. I could see a streak of blood trickling down Juan's left cheek. Moira tried to pull them apart, yelling and screaming. Fear and terror gripped most of the girls, showing by the way they ran aimlessly around the house while the other guys were finding humor in the chaos.

  Police sirens can be heard from a distance, someone must have called about the uproar. Everyone ran helter-skelter, some were already taken in and I tried looking for Juan in the mist of smoke.

  Darkness covered my sight, I watched through a tiny hole in between the louvers in the building I ran into. Everything seemed blurry, the alcohol was setting in and I found it hard to escape without the officers seeing me. I ran along the hallway, leaving the library and rooms behind me, trying to find an escape around the back door.

  I stumbled upon the cold, dry wood. The thick rough branches cut my skin as I walked. My eyes were playing tricks; my body was pulling my legs backwards and my head gearing me into a circular motion. Everything seemed blurred until it went dark.

  I opened my eyes to the blinding light, my body aching from being in a strange position. The sun hung over the forest and the morning seemed not to hold its breath with the hot air running through my veins and the dry grass under my skin.
I strained my eyes to regulate the brightness of the scorching sun and take in my surroundings. I felt excruciating pain as I tried to get up, but my back pulled me to the ground. My legs couldn't move, a sharp stick had pierced my right foot. An agonizing pain came from the side of my head. I touched where the pain emerged. I pulled my ear to see the result, my earrings were gone and my nose rings were cut. “It must have been from the hill I fell from”, I thought to myself.

  I struggled to reach the back pocket of my skinny jeans, only to realize my phone was not there. It must have dropped during the fall. "Shit!” I cussed.

  My body aches and quivered as I struggled to walk in the woods. I felt pain all over, it was hard to decipher where it really came from since it was taking tolls on me from all angles.

  I had not dragged myself too far when I saw something that weighed me down. I began to ponder on whatever repulsive scene I was having the satisfaction of seeing.

  Fear gripped me as I began to see what was really happening.

  I immediately remembered the books I had read and the book I saw in the abandoned mansion, this was the same creature I saw on the last page before Danielle startled me. It was the Dark Fairy.

  The creature ripped the deer apart as it took in all pleasure to savor its meal.

  Fastened to the dry ground, I continued observing from a far distance, oblivious to my remaining surroundings.

  When I noticed that it had finished its meal and might want to look for other prey, I reminded myself to make a run for it. I turned hastily in between the rough-edged sticks I was entangled in. The waved branches entangled in my legs tightly, as I fell flat on the floor, calling the attention of the dark fairy.

  Powerful hands grabbed my arms and shoulders from both sides, thrusting me into the floor. I stared in frustration and utter confusion at the swirls of the wood unable to move. I could not even turn my head. For a brief moment, the weight of my back lifted ignoring all the pain I felt at that instant. I summoned all courage and kicked wildly, knowing that I was helpless, but I wasn’t one to give up without a fight.