by Simone Pond
Table of Contents
River of MagicThe Mysterium Chronicles Book 2An Urban Fantasy Novel
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
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Author’s Note
BY SIMONE POND
River of Magic
The Mysterium Chronicles Book 2
An Urban Fantasy Novel
by Simone Pond
Ktown Waters Publishing
Copyright © 2017 Simone Pond
All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Ktown Waters Publishing, Los Angeles, CA.
ISBN-13: 978-1544682501
ISBN-10: 1544682506
Cover Design: Rebecca Frank
Editing: Peter Stier Jr., Emily Nemchick, Kat Deloian
Formatting: Polgarus Studio
For more information about Simone Pond, visit: simonepond.com
Table of Contents
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
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Author’s Note
BY SIMONE POND
Chapter 1
I stepped up to the wheelhouse of the Jericho and went inside where the temperature was warm. The captain—a stocky left-bank fellow who ran the shipping boats between Mysterium and Pyre—gave me a nod as he steered through the darkness, northward on the wide and turbulent River Elin. The vessel pushed forward into the intense currents, and in its wake followed two other ships—the Giza and the Sinai—packed with left-bank Ancients.
This is my new life.
“Ain’t never been to where the four channels meet. Not even sure where that is,” said the captain, stroking the sides of his long beard.
Nils is gone.
“And we can’t outrun Topaz cruisers. But I ain’t worried … I got the bona fide Chosen One on my vessel.” He slapped me on my back.
I am the Chosen One.
The door opened and a gust of wind swept into the cramped space. Chloe entered, pressing her long blond hair back into place.
“Just checking in,” she sang out in her chirpy tone.
I wasn’t in the mood for Chloe.
“Hey,” I said.
Chloe stepped up to the window, moving me out of the way, and stared ahead. “So, what’s the plan?”
The captain cleared his throat. She rolled her eyes and moved out of his way.
“Plan?” I said. “Why do I need to share that with you?”
“I know you detest relying on anyone for anything, but you need me. You have no clue where the four channels meet, what Magnus has in store, or what other hell we might face along the way. But I do. Face it, Chosen One, you need me.”
I sucked in a breath and paused a moment; something I had learned from my mother. It’s always better to remain calm and cordial when someone is trying to provoke you. Chloe was right and she loved every second of rubbing it in.
“I’m fine for now, Chloe.”
She stared me up and down. “You think it’s gonna be easy?”
I headed to the door; the space was beginning to feel claustrophobic.
Chloe’s pipsqueak laugh scraped against my eardrums. “His cruisers are closing in.”
Magnus.
I stopped and jerked around. “And that’s funny because?”
“What’s funny is how much you think everything is about you.”
That time, I wasn’t so cordial. I pressed the prissy waif’s back up against the window.
The captain grunted. “Ladies, take this biz elsewhere. I’m tryin’ to outrun Topaz cruisers with a packed ship upstream.”
I released Chloe and stalked outside to the deck. She followed after me. The hard wind whipped at both of us. Her long hair fanned behind her in golden waves. My dark ponytail lashed around like an agitated snake.
“And …” she said, “so temperamental.”
I stared at the other two ships trailing behind.
“Clock’s ticking, Chosen One … Better get a plan into place.” Chloe smiled and gamboled away like a bird.
She called these moments “tests” to see what I was made of, but I called them torture sessions. I’d show her what I was made of. And as soon as we reached the portal, I’d toss her over the side of the ship and leave her behind. I wouldn’t, of course, but man, did I want to.
I hurried down the deck and went below to my tiny cabin. The “room” was sparse, containing a narrow bed, a sink, and a toilet. I sat on the springy mattress and closed my eyes, concentrating on what needed to happen. Magnus’s cruisers would hit the rear of our convoy first, so I’d have to get to the last ship to protect its passengers. I couldn’t, under any circumstances, let those cruisers anywhere near the Jericho. This vessel contained the elders, the most powerful Ancients, as well as Haggai and Daniel … and Matthias. Not that these lives were more important or valuable than the others, but without them, things might get nasty farther down the river.
My loose plan was to teleport to the third ship and thwart the cruisers as they approached. I’d use my magic and the guiding star to wipe them out before they got close enough to cause any damage. Not much of a plan, but it was the best hand I could play. The only hand.
My father believes in me.
A tapping on my door rattled me.
“Who is it?”
Matthias opened the door and poked his head in, his dark waves falling over his forehead. “Hey.”
I put on a fake smile. “Hi!”
“Oh, no.” He entered my tight quarters and shut the door. “What’s up?”
I stood, chuckling. “What?”
“You’re easier to read than a newsfeed, Jordan. What’s going on?” He tucked one of my loose strands of hair behind my ear, then touched my cheek. I felt a deep and sudden urge to pull him close and kiss him, to just forget about everything and fade away into a moment of utter bliss. But I knew that was wrong. I had a job to do. A prophecy to fulfill.
“Look,” I said. “I’ve gotta take care of something and I need you to stay here and keep the elders safe. Don’t argue.”
“What is it, J? Are the Topaz cruisers close?” Matthias’s pale gray eyes flashed concern, but then returned to a steady focus.
“You trust me, right?” I asked.
He nodded.
“Just let me do my thing.” I opened the door and ushered Matthias out, then quickly shut it before he could say another word.
With my eyes closed, I visualized the third ship at the tail end of our line. It took a few moments, but once my magic ignited, I appeared on the lower deck of the Sinai in a burst of light. I landed a bit too close to the railing so the cold water sprayed my face, sending shivers through my body. I backed away and looked up to the crow’s nest where Levi—our weapons specialist—and some of his buddies were standing watch, and waved for him to come down.
Levi made his way down the ladder and eyed me. “S’up?”
“Any developments with our approaching guests?” I said.
He readjusted his machine gun across his narrow chest. “Yeah, three of them. About five minutes away.”
“Five minutes?” I asked, panic rising.
“I’m not sweating it. We’ve got a large arsenal.” He and his zealot buddies had been awaiting this moment for a long time.
I laughed at his cocksureness. “I appreciate your confidence, Levi. I’m a hundred percent sure your team could handle pirates or other trouble. But these are highly trained, intensely equipped Topaz units. They can shut down your weapons in a heartbeat.” My old pride bubbled up; in an alternative version of my life, I would’ve become one of those Topaz operatives.
He cocked his head. “Thought they could only shut down magic. If anyone’s vulnerable, it’s you, boss.”
“If they can bind my magic, what do you think they can do with ordinary weapons? Next time, tell me, pronto. And please don’t call me boss.”
Levi shrugged. “Okay. We’re prepared. Got rocket hurlers and fire tossers pumped up with some extra magic.”
“So do they, my friend,” I said.
“We’ve got something they don’t,” he said as he started climbing back up to his tower.
“Don’t you dare say me,” I snapped.
“I was gonna say the Ancient One.”
Levi gave orders to his men, and I slunk back into the shadows, waiting for Magnus’s attack cruisers.
“It’s all good,” said a familiar voice.
Benjamin’s bright smile beamed from the shadows.
“We’re gonna take them down before they even know what hits them,” I said to my friend.
“You let me know if you need the power of flight,” said Benjamin, patting his muscular arms.
I shook my head. “I don’t want you shifting. Stay in your human form and stay heavily armed. Don’t even think about going airborne. Got it?”
He nodded, his brows pinched tight.
“They’ve got some serious magic-blocking technology,” I reminded him. “You can soar like an eagle another day.”
“Whatever you say, boss.”
“You all need to stop calling me that!”
Benjamin laughed and took cover behind a row of huge barrels. We had a solid line of defense and we were prepared for the oncoming cruisers. I just didn’t want my friends thinking they were untouchable.
I slipped my hand into my pocket and grazed the sharp point of one of the golden stars the Ancient One had given me. If I used a star on any of the Topaz guys, I’d be sure to use precise aim. I couldn’t screw up like I had with Magnus—missing his heart and his ticket to eternal damnation by millimeters.
Along the horizon, a fiery orange glow lit up and arched into the low-hanging clouds. It was heading right toward our ship. Topaz’s first assault. I ran to the railing and called forth my magic from deep within. I also looked up to the guiding star—I was going to need a lot of extra help shielding our entire ship from the gleaming streak of fire heading our way. But the night sky was completely masked by a thick blanket of gray. I concentrated, forcing what I could of my own magic, but it wasn’t strong enough to cover the massive ship on its own.
“Please!” I called up to the sky, hoping my cries would break apart the thick fog.
A strong gale spun across the upper deck and swept upward, but the mass of gray didn’t budge. That orange glow was steadily approaching.
“Please!” I called out again.
A flicker blinked through the heavy canopy, then began to shine through as though its rays were evaporating the dense fog.
The guiding star.
It grew more and more radiant, then shot a funnel of energy into me. My protective sphere went up around the entire ship just as the fiery blaze from the attack cruiser struck. The impact was so strong, I fell backwards and slammed my head against the deck. More blazes of fire were coming our way. Someone yanked me up—a healing energy warmed through my body—then pulled me over to the railing.
“Thank you, CeeCee!”
“Get to it, CO,” she said with an encouraging nod.
Again, I called on my magic. The star shot forth another funnel of light and the shield appeared just before the next round of fire struck the ship.
Close call, one I didn’t want to experience again.
I needed to fight back.
As if by instinct, I raised my arms and called on the power of the star. A tornado of light burst down upon me, and I redirected it at the attacking cruisers. I saw nothing but could hear what sounded like a sonic boom.
Levi shouted down from the crow’s nest, “Knocked one of the ships clear out of the river!” He raised his binoculars up to his face and frowned. “Two more are still coming. Prepare for full-on attack!”
Levi and the other men in the tower opened fire with their hand-held artillery, but each missile fizzled out and dropped into the water before they got anywhere near the cruisers. As I had suspected: they had devices that were able to counteract our weaponry. And when they got close enough, they were going to shut down my magic, too.
“Do whatever you can to slow them down,” I hollered up to Levi.
He gave me a thumbs-up, then climbed down and summoned a group of his men. They uncovered drums of bio-diesel stacked at the starboard and port corners at the back of the ship, and began dumping the fuel into the river. Then Levi, Benjamin, and a few other men grabbed five-gallon jugs of gas and lugged them over to one of the dinghies on the starboard side of our ship.
Levi called over, “If we can’t use artillery, we’ll use nature.”
Levi got into the dinghy with Benjamin and another man, and they lowered down the side of the ship into the river. My magic shield was holding against the incessant barrage of firepower, but it was using every bit of strength I had. I didn’t know how much longer I’d hold out even with the help of that star.
Out on the choppy water, the guys poured more of the fuel into the river. When the containers were empty, they tried to steer their way back to the ship, but the currents were too strong. The small dinghy was getting pulled away, toward the attack cruisers.
“Levi! Benjamin!” I shouted.
I could either help them by directing the course of their boat or continue shielding the massive ship. I chose the ship, keeping up the shield and praying for Levi and Benjamin.
A stream of fire shot from Levi’s dinghy into the water, igniting that part of the river into a giant wall of fire. Their boat vanished from my sight. The oncoming Topaz cruisers came to a halt when they reached the fiery waters. Momentary relief. I could breathe again …
“Looks like they didn’t bite!” one of Levi’s other men called from the perch. Sure enough, one of the cruisers breached the fire wall, then the other followed, and they were accelerating rapidly. Levi’s soldiers continued firing at the Topaz units, but their efforts were futile against the strong magical devices.
I still held up the shield … Fifty yards away… Sweat dripped down my forehead … Thirty yards away … My insides roiled … I maintained the protective shield around our ship … Ten yards away.
On the upper deck, a line of Topaz operatives stood aiming what looked like pocket-sized black pyramids at me. They fired in unison and a powerful electromagnetic force wrapped around me, binding my magic. The protective shield dispelled, leaving the ship of Ancients completely defenseless.
Chapter 2
It’s not over.
This
voice, this declaration—or whatever it was—resonated deep within me. I knew it couldn’t be over. The prophecy hadn’t yet been fulfilled. I hadn’t led anyone to actual freedom. We still needed to get to Shteim'esrei.
“Do not resist! Do not fight back. We are boarding your vessel!”
The command came from a loudspeaker on the Topaz cruiser sitting ten yards away. A row of operatives on the upper deck, still holding those strange pyramids, stayed focused on binding my magic. Another unit carried a portable bridge toward the railing to connect with our ship.
Nothing’s impossible.
Who was sending these encouraging thoughts? The guiding star, speaking for the collective voice of every Ancient on those ships? I still had six of the golden stars in my pocket. But it’d be impossible to pierce any of their hearts from where I stood. I might not get precise enough aim, but what did I have to lose by making one last attempt to save these people—my people—from a fate worse than death? Nothing.
I took out one of the golden stars and pressed as close to the railing as possible without tipping over into the River Elin. I didn’t aim the star at any single person, instead I cast it directly into the heart of their cruiser. A trail of white light swept across the blue-black river. I held my breath as I waited to see what would happen when the golden star pierced into the vessel’s heart. But the point didn’t impale the cruiser and create a thunderous blast like I thought it would. It sliced the vessel right down the middle and all the way to the end, then continued to the second cruiser, splitting it in half as well.
The sides of both cruisers fell open like slices of an apple and crashed into the water. Topaz operatives scattered across the decks, clinging to the railings and whatever else they could grip. Some men bailed over the sides before the large pieces got pulled under with the strong currents, thinking they could escape, but they were sorely mistaken. Pieces of cruiser and bodies got tossed about, then sucked underwater. However they attempted to survive the splitting apart of their ships, there was no escaping being swept under or downstream by the powerful River Elin.
I searched the waters for any signs of Levi and Benjamin and the small boat, but only debris from the cruisers gathered along the riverbank. They’d done their part in staving off the operatives, and I hoped they hadn’t lost their lives in doing so.
