The Creative Strategist

by Sarah Noffke

  The Creative Strategist

  Unstoppable Liv Beaufont™ Book 11

  Sarah Noffke

  Michael Anderle

  This book is a work of fiction.

  All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2019 Sarah Noffke & Michael Anderle

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  A Michael Anderle Production

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact support@lmbpn.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First US Edition, September 2019

  eBook ISBN: 978-1-64202-441-8

  Print ISBN: 978-1-64202-442-5

  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

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Sarah’s Author Notes

  Michael’s Author Notes

  Acknowledgments

  Books By Sarah Noffke

  YA Dystopian Fantasy

  Books By Michael Anderle

  Connect with The Authors

  The Creative Strategist Team

  Thanks to the JIT Readers

  Nicole Emens

  Jeff Eaton

  Dorothy Lloyd

  Peter Manis

  Deb Mader

  Daniel Weigert

  Angel LaVey

  Larry Omans

  Misty Roa

  If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know!

  Editor

  The Skyhunter Editing Team

  For Trudy.

  The first day we met, you called me a tiger.

  Still my favorite college class ever. And the one that flamed my fire for writing.

  — Sarah

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  to Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  to Live the Life We Are

  Called.

  — Michael

  Chapter One

  Two red-faced demons ran straight at the low part of a roller coaster, leaping over the track with ease and landing on the other side, where the closed amusement park spread out for several acres. None of the lights were on, making it appear to be a ghost town, especially since it was deserted.

  During the day, the Magic Playland attracted local mortal visitors with its rides, which, according to recent police reports, went too fast, moved on their own, and had carousel animals that talked.

  The last demon, an especially ugly one, decided not to jump the coaster, but rather ran straight through the bottom, breaking apart many of the boards that held up the track, as it continued across the ground, following the other two demons.

  “Well, I guess I won’t be going on that ride now,” Liv said, darting around the roller coaster track after deciding it was unwise for her to attempt to jump it the way the first two demons had. This detour put some distance between her and the demons she’d been hunting for the better part of ten minutes.

  She wasn’t worried about losing them, though, since she was with the one person who could find a needle in a haystack, or rather, a needle in a large amusement park—if that needle was a demon. Stefan Ludwig could find any demon anywhere if he merely focused. That was how he’d accidentally found these three demons hiding behind the concession stands at Magic Playland, drooling over the popcorn machine.

  “I’m never eating popcorn again,” Liv had remarked to Stefan as they sprinted after the demons through the park.

  Stefan, who had slowed to retrieve his bow and arrow, caught up with her on the other side of the roller coaster. With a grace to amaze, he brought the bow up in one fluid movement, loaded the arrow, and fired, knocking the closest demon down. The beast would still need to be decapitated or otherwise dispatched with Bellator, but he was out for the moment.

  “Since when do you eat popcorn?” he asked. He was by her side, wearing a slight grin, continuing the conversation like they hadn’t been zigzagging through an amusement park just before.

  “I’ve been known to,” Liv said, watching as the two remaining demons split off.

  “I thought if it didn’t come loaded on tortilla chips, you didn’t waste your time,” he remarked.

  She narrowed her eyes, watching the two demons and trying to decide which one she should go after. “What is it with you and demons? We can’t go anywhere without them ruining our adventures.”

  “It’s part of my charm,” he teased. “I hope you don’t mind. They will forever ruin every date we ever go on.”

  She flashed him a challenging smile. “I don’t think I’d have it any other way.”

  Stefan bowed slightly to her. “And that’s why you’re the woman for me.”

  “Not yet, I’m not,” she stated, watching as one of the demons boarded a carriage on the Ferris wheel.

  “I know, I know,” Stefan said, disappointment in his voice. “No dates until the dumb laws are changed.”

  The second demon glanced back at them before ducking into the Funhouse of Mirrors.

  “Seriously?” Liv sighed. “Are they totally trying to mess with us?”

  Stefan laughed. “I do believe they are. You go after the dummy who got on the unmoving Ferris wheel. I’ll take his ugly brother, who will look even uglier in the funhouse.”

  Liv was about to agree when the bulbs covering the Ferris wheel lit up, illuminating that part of the dark amusement park. Suddenly the wheel began to move, taking the demon higher.

  Liv groaned. “You just had to say something about the Ferris wheel not moving, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah, you better take Two-Horns McUgly,” Stefan said, indicating the funhouse. “I’ll go after his more attractive brother.”

  The demon on the Ferris wheel wasn’t attractive by anyone’s standards, ever. However, his red face was void of pockmarks, and his bald head wasn’t adorned by two gnarled horns like the other demon. He had soulless black eyes like all demons, but in comparison to most, he wasn’t atrocious.

  “Yeah, you’re better off getting him with the bow and arrow,” Liv said, pulling Bellator from its sheath and twirling it at her side like it was a baton.

  �
��I’ll catch up with you in a minute,” Stefan stated, striding toward the Ferris wheel. The demon was almost at the top now.

  “Sounds good,” Liv said, walking up to the demon lying face-down in the dirt with Stefan’s arrow protruding from his back. He was beginning to move again, trying to get his hands underneath him. Liv whirled Bellator one more time like she was a flag bearer in a parade. When she strode by the demon, she casually stuck the sword into its back, making it scream. It collapsed back to the ground, lifeless.

  Liv yanked Bellator from its back, holding it at the ready as she neared the funhouse.

  Liv wasn’t only there because mortals had been put in danger on the rides, which were obviously powered by magical tech. Actually, the Magic Playland hadn’t even been on the council’s radar yet. That was because the magician who ran it was unregistered, and had used a lot of magical tech to cover up his affairs.

  It was because of John Carraway that Liv knew about Sid Encore, one of the lead members of the Renegades. He’d been spying on the rebel group, finding useful information, such as where bad magicians were running illegal operations.

  The Renegades didn’t want the House of Fourteen intervening in their affairs, and the Magic Playland was a prime example of why. They wanted to do things that were wrong and put mortals in danger. But today, this amusement park was getting shut down as soon as they located Sid Encore—and disposed of the three demons who apparently also called this place home.

  “Never a dull moment,” Liv said, sliding into the funhouse with Bellator at the ready. She knew the demon was still in there and hadn’t slipped out the back, not only because she could hear its ragged breath, but also because she could smell its disgusting odor.

  She glanced into the mirror across from her and started. It took her a moment to realize the image was her, only aged by several decades. This place was full of illegal magic that had no place in the mortal world. Even if mortals were learning that magic was real, they didn’t need it shoved into their faces without warning.

  There had to be parameters, which was what the House was currently working on. For unsuspecting mortals, visiting the Magic Playland was like going into a wax museum and finding out all the figures were alive. Mortals shouldn’t be deceived. That was wrong. Things had to be labeled appropriately. If they were enhanced with magic, then they had to state that.

  Of course, anyone who was a part of the Renegades was violently opposed to regulations. They saw it as an infringement on their freedom, but that was probably because they were the ones tricking mortals and laughing about the whole thing. Liv was excited to put a stop to their bullying.

  Sneaking around a corner, Liv faced a mirror that made her appear exceptionally tall.

  Well, that’s obviously a trick of the eye, she thought

  A flash of red darted behind her. She spun around, finding nothing but a dozen mirrors at different angles, making a strange hallway across the funhouse. Liv laughed, amused by her odd predicament.

  She traversed in the direction she’d seen the demon cross, her eyes darting back and forth, watching for any more signs of the beast. In her peripheral vision, she caught something and brought Bellator up, ready to strike. The only thing she saw was a figure of herself, blinking.

  The image wasn’t distorted like the others. This Liv matched her exactly, showing her long, unkempt blonde hair and billowing black cape. Then the figure stepped forward, although the real Liv Beaufont remained still.

  “Aren’t you tired of always doing what you’re told?” the fake Liv asked.

  Oh, man, I hate this Sid Encore guy already, Liv thought, not daring to answer the illusion of her. It strode around her, getting entirely too close for her liking.

  “When we allow others to control us, we give them our power,” the fake Liv continued.

  She caught a flicker of red behind the illusion. It was fast, but she was certain she knew where it had gone. It was just on the other side of the closest partition.

  A sudden idea occurred to her. It was time to dance.

  The fake Liv traced around her, stopping when it was in front. She opened her mouth to say something, but Real Liv cut her off.

  “Rebelling against authority is the only way to show them you can’t be beat,” Liv stated, beginning to circle the illusion, appearing as stoic as it was. It was like the cup trick street vendors did. If she was fast and convincing enough, no one could tell the difference between them, especially a stupid demon.

  The illusion froze, Liv’s strange change in behavior throwing it off. Deceptive spells like this fed on the unknowing individual, reciting a canned speech. However, her unexpected words interrupted its programming, causing it to freeze.

  “If we all rise up against the power holding us down, we will win,” Liv continued, stopping when she was on the other side of the illusion.

  She had Bellator in the air when the demon sprang out from behind the partition. The monster went to wrap its arms around the illusion of Liv but fell forward, catching nothing but air. Liv brought her sword horizontally in a swift, clean movement, slicing through her image and the demon’s midsection and spilling black blood all over the floor. The demon screamed, its eyes widening like it was surprised and offended by the trick. Then it crumpled to the ground, falling straight on its face.

  Chapter Two

  “And strangely, this isn’t the most bizarre situation I’ve ever caught you in,” Stefan said, striding up from behind her, his bow slung over his back.

  Fake Liv blinked impassively ahead as the demon’s blood inched forward on the floor, nearing Real Liv’s boots

  “Well, Mr. Ludwig,” Liv said, turning to face him, “I hope you never catch me in a predictable situation.”

  He nodded, checking himself out in a mirror that portrayed him as tremendously distorted. “You know, even in these messed-up reflections, I’m still rather handsome.”

  Liv pointed her finger and cracked the mirror. “Really? Then why did that happen?”

  He spun to face her with a clever grin on his face. “Oh, Ms. Beaufont, you wound me. Don’t you know, I’m only looking for a little attention from you? Do I really have to fish for compliments?”

  Liv drew closer to him and put her finger on his chest. She leaned in, inhaling deeply, then brought her eyes up to meet his. “Yes, you absolutely do.”

  As soon as the mock disappointment flicked to his eyes, Liv swerved around him, striding toward the exit. “So I suppose you got Ugly’s cousin-brother? Or whatever he was?”

  “I did, my lady,” Stefan said, easily catching up with her in a few swift steps.

  “Well, then I suppose we had better find this Sid guy so I can throw a candy apple straight at his face.”

  “About that,” Stefan said in a whisper. “I’m all up for punishing this guy, but…”

  When Liv turned to face him, they were nearly nose to nose, her staring up as he stared down. “What?”

  “Well, I found something a bit disconcerting that I think you should see,” he replied.

  “Besides mirror images that come alive and encourage children to rebel against society?” Liv questioned.

  He nodded.

  Liv rolled her eyes, wondering for a moment why she hadn’t been born to an insurance salesman and lived a normal life. Then she reminded herself that anyone presently living on planet Earth wasn’t experiencing anything normal anymore.

  “Here, it’s out this way,” Stefan said, tugging on her cape and leading her out into the night air.

  “Based on how you’re moving,” Liv began, following him, “I’m guessing you know where Sid Encore is.”

  He nodded over his shoulder. “He’s about a hundred yards behind us, inspecting the damage to his roller coaster. I don’t think he knows we’re here yet, which is perfect.”

  “So why are we running the opposite direction?” Liv asked. “I thought we were supposed to be bringing him in?”

  “We are,” Stefan agreed. “However, what
I found might change things.”

  “Like how?”

  “Like, we bargain with him first,” Stefan answered.

  Liv halted. “This guy is despicable, tricking mortals and especially young children. Who knows the kind of damage he’s caused? And you want to bargain with him?”

  Stefan grabbed her hand, hauling her toward the carousel. “I know exactly what type of damage he’s caused.” He urged her closer to the carousel, which was adorned with magnificent statues of unicorns, all tethered to poles that ran through the top and bottom of the ride.

  Liv turned with an incredulous expression. “When did you become such a pansy, Ludwig, wanting to bargain with villains instead of taking them in and ensuring they are punished?”

  He blinked at her, unruffled. “Take a closer look at the animals there.”

  Liv turned, studying the unicorns. The craftsmanship was incredible. She’d heard from the reports that Sid Encore had magicked them to come alive, making the guests nearly fall off the moving carousel. And then she noticed what Stefan meant. A gasp fell from her mouth, and she stumbled back. Threw her hand toward Stefan, grabbed his shirt, and pulled him close to her face.