Ethereal Girls

By Noah Murphy

In Medieval Europe, four mystical weapons were forged in order to combat malevolent spirits - vile entities seeking nothing more than to spread misery and chaos across the universe. Centuries later, only one weapon remains to protect Earth. That weapon, the Axe of Boren, falls into the hands of teenage Liza while she is driving home from cheerleading practice, transforming her into a hulking woman warrior of immense strength and endurance. At the same time, her best friend Macie is twisted into a psychopathic murderer by one of the Axe’s counterparts, the corrupted Sword of Boren, and goes on a gruesome killing spree.

But just as Liza and Macie are headed for battle, the most powerful evil spirit in generations appears, unleashing an army of monstrous cannibals on Washington, D.C. In order to defeat the spirit, Liza must ally with three odd girls: a sickly waif with macabre teleportation abilities; a member of a snake-like race called the Lamia who wants nothing more than to be a human teenager; and the 107th reincarnation of an ancient goddess who may know far more about the mystical weapons than she lets on. But even with her new friends, Liza faces a near impossible task. Macie is squarely focused on killing her regardless of the devastation unfolding around them...

• Language: English
• Publisher: Noah Murphy
• Release date: Oct 21, 2012
• ISBN: 9781301523344

Noah Murphy

Noah Murphy grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland which features prominently in his writing. After graduating from Goucher College with a double major in philosophy and religion, he began a pet sitting service. In his spare time Noah volunteers at a not for profit parrot rescue. His love of animals provides inspiration for many of the anthropomorphic characters in his books. An avid writer and blogger, Noah Murphy is the author of the fantasy K23 Detective Series and a young adult superhero novel, Ethereal Girls. He enjoys sharing his opinions on life, literature and popular culture with his 19,000 followers on Twitter and on his blog.

Book preview

Chapter 1

As the music thumped, sixteen-year-old Liza Emory flipped across the blue mat as her squad practiced their routine. She launched into a handspring, followed up with a roll and then her brown-haired, brown-eyed lithe body was lifted into the air for a toe-touch finisher. After a few seconds’ pause, Liza fell back into the arms of several waiting squadmates.

The music stopped and the coach yelled, Great work tonight. Remember, our first meet of the season is in two days, so I expect you all to get lots of sleep and eat well. See you all tomorrow night.

Then the seventeen girls and four guys of the Dream Cheer Elite team went to the locker rooms to change and go home.

Hey Liza, a teammate named Macie said as she walked up in the locker room. Macie, also sixteen, was petite, pretty, blonde-haired and blue-eyed. Are you nervous about Saturday?

I’m sorry, I’d love to chat, but I’ve got to run, Liza replied as she slipped a pair of running pants over her shorts and a shirt over her sports bra.

Talk online later?

If I finish studying early enough, sure. Liza had a math test the next day and she hadn’t studied at all.

She grabbed her gym bag, ran out the door to her beat-up hand-me-down sedan and peeled out of the parking lot. The clock on the dash board read 8:01. She’d be home by 8:30. After showering, eating and walking the dog, it’d be close to 9:30. A few hours of cramming and then off to bed by 1:00, only to get up at 6:00 to get ready for school. There no would be time for socializing online or anything else. She’d see Macie the next evening for the final practice anyway.

As she drove down the emptying main road through her hometown, named Rockville Pike, Liza daydreamed about having abilities, like flight or super speed, because then she’d be able to do everything she needed to do.

Then she realized she didn’t want powers. If she did, then she’d be forced to become a heroine, which was one of the worst jobs in the entire world.

She flipped on the radio to a pop station, which was playing one of the songs in the medley her squad did their routines too. She tapped her fingers on wheel and nodded her head in time to the beat.

When Liza was about halfway home, she came to the brightly lit glass-faced shopping mall section of a new mixed-use tower complex called Montrose Gardens. She stopped at a T intersection beside the mall, which also included outdoor spaces with dining and entertainment venues.

While the mall appeared to be empty as it was approaching closing time, two odd-looking girls were heading towards the front entrance. One was a pale, skinny black girl dressed in all black, with black makeup and twin daggers strapped to her wrists. The other was oddly overdressed. She wore a floor-length jean skirt which bulged outwards, an oversized sweatshirt, gloves and a football helmet. This girl seemed to slide along the sidewalk. For a second, the dress lifted and Liza caught a glimpse of not feet, but scales.

She pressed her face against the driver’s side window in awe. She had to be looking at a Lamia, whom she happened to just finish studying about in history class. The Lamia were a race of snake-people who used to rule tropical Central and South America and used the native humans as slaves to build their lavish stone cities. Then powered Spanish conquistadors came and drove them underground and conquered the lands and the people for themselves. In the 500 years since, the Lamia had formed a vast underground empire that spanned the length of both continents. Very few Lamia lived above ground, and those that did were Lamia who were caught performing their rite of passage; surfacing, slithering around for an hour in some remote area, and them going below, never to bask in the sunlight again. Those that were caught, at least in the United States, were forced to become heroes.

A car honked behind Liza, snapping her back to reality.

Sorry, Liza said to nobody as she started slowly accelerating.

Suddenly, a bright object crashed through the windshield.

Liza shut her eyes, tensed, slammed on the gas and turned the wheel. The sedan squealed as it turned and headed straight towards the two girls. As the car jumped the curb, the girl in black slammed a dagger into her chest and disappeared in a cloud of ash while the Lamia sprang into the air.

The sedan rolled over, spun through the glass wall on its roof and came to a rest just inside.

Liza’s entire body was felt like it was on fire. She could feel blood trickling out of the cuts on her arms and legs from the safety glasses. Her mind was blank, still trying to process what had happened.

Something thumped onto the car and she heard various clothing items being thrown onto the floor.

Hello! Liza opened her eyes and stared into an upside down scaly face with long venomous fangs hanging in front of the smashed driver’s side window. Liza was too shocked to shriek. It was one thing to see a Lamia from a distance; it was another to be face to face with one.

The Lamia flicked a forked tongue and said in a hissing lisp, My name is Jonola. What’s yours?

Liza, she moaned.

I’m Phoenix, came a gravelly voice from outside the car, presumably from the other girl.

Liza, stay still. I will flip you upright. Jonola’s fourteen-foot long body slid onto the ground. The Lamia was covered in brown scales with streaks of blue and green from snout to tail. Jonola scrunched up her tail for leverage and placed her hands underneath the roof and lifted. With a groaning hiss, the Lamia turned the car upright.

A crowd of concerned onlookers had formed a loose circle around the car, some talking hurriedly on cell phones or snapping cell phone pictures of Jonola to upload to the internet.

What are you looking at, fleshlings? The Lamia hissed and turned her attention back to the car. The onlookers just kept on gawking.

Liza started to sob as her predicament finally set in. She had crashed her car and destroyed the front entrance of a mall while doing it. Paying to rebuild the damage done would take her a lifetime and she’d never be able to drive again. Her life was over!

Phoenix opened the dented passenger’s side door and peaked into the backseat. The crash wasn’t your fault. Look!

Liza wiped her tears and glanced in the backseat to find a glowing double-bladed battle axe with runes carved on it sitting flat in the backseat. The axe seemed to call out to Liza, wanting her to pick it up.

Yet she hesitated and looked at Phoenix. Go on. It wants you to be its wielder.

Take it so we can get out of here, Jonola leaned in, They’re calling the NHC…their local office is just three blocks away!

With shaking hands, Liza reached for the axe. As her arm was a few inches away, the axe suddenly leaped into her hand. Jonola and Phoenix scrambled away from the car as Liza was enveloped in a bright aura. Liza began to convulse… and transform. Her smooth curves and breasts were replaced with rock-hard muscles. Her clothes were shredded as she grew another foot in height. Her skin tanned and her hair lengthened. The seat belt snapped and the sedan dented to accommodate her massive form.

With a mighty roar, the new Liza punched through the roof and leaped onto the hood, buckling it and the causing the car to collapse. As she panted covered in sweat, she looked around. The onlookers had backed up another foot, yet were still snapping pictures. Jonola’s eyes were shimmering with awe while Phoenix seemed lost in thought.

What? Liza yelled in a deeper tone.

I don’t mind, Jonola said. I’m naked too.

Liza slowly looked down at herself.

Chapter 2

With a mighty shriek, Liza leapt over the onlookers and landed with a heavy thud, cracking the tile floor. Then she dashed down the split-level concourse with skylights running down the ceiling, looking for the nearest place to find clothes and hide.

She passed several stores she used to shop at but the sizes were now way too small for her hulking body.

Phoenix appeared in front of her and pointed into a plus-sized store. She rushed inside the empty clothing store and started rummaging through the racks of clothes.

Jonola slithered inside. The NHC has arrived out front! Let’s hurry!

How many? Phoenix asked as she reached into her pocket, took out her wallet and placed a twenty on the counter to cover whatever Liza picked out.

A lot… Jonola looked around. Where did she go?

Liza had disappeared.

Then sobbing was heard from a dressing room in the back. Phoenix ran to the back but found it locked. She quickly knocked.

Please come out, said Phoenix. We need to leave now or we’ll be caught.

I’m ugly, Liza cried from inside. I’m a freak.

So am I. I look like I’m near death when I’m anything but!

Jonola slithered to the door. And I’m a Lamia imprisoned in the land of fleshlings!

The sky lights shattered. A voice boomed over the loudspeakers, You are completely surrounded. Surrender to the NHC immediately or we will be forced to use lethal force!

No they won’t! Jonola and Phoenix leaped back as the door was kicked off its hinges and smashed into nearby clothing racks. Liza ran out wearing an oversized pink dress, clutching her axe.

I hope this is just about the glass, Jonola said as they followed.

Is it ever? Phoenix replied.

The three stood in the store doorway, Liza’s face in a scowl, Jonola and Phoenix slightly behind her.

The concourse was occupied on both levels by dozens of black-suited NHC agents, all aiming their standard issue plasma weapons directly at the trio. The mall was so quiet, the helicopters could clearly be heard above, along with sharp heel tacks.

Two heroes and a heroine, identified by their eccentric appearance and ID pinned to their clothes, walked up the concourse with the heroine in the lead. She had a light complexion with fiery orange hair. She wore a revealing red and orange cat suit and high heels. Every time her heels struck the floor there was a spark. Behind her was a handsome man with a chiseled chin in silver tights. Next to him was a guy in a brown suit with electronic eyes, a metal jaw and the tip of his left pinkie missing.

The heroes stopped in front of the teenagers. The heroine raised an eyebrow when she saw the axe in Liza’s hand. So you’re the new wielder…not what I expected.

Liza just glared at her.

You can call me Trailblazer. He’s Silver Arc, she said, pointing to the man in the silver tights. The cyborg over there is Takahashi.

Their real names were printed on their IDs along with their codenames, but Stacy Baker just didn’t sound as cool as Trailblazer. I’ve told you my name, what’s yours? She then glanced at the two teens behind Liza. And I know both of yours, Phoenix Masterson and Jonola, but I’ll deal with you two later.

The two backed up into the store.

Don’t you dare leave us, Jonola quietly hissed to Phoenix, who was visibly fidgeting with her daggers.

Sorry. Phoenix stopped.

Liza said nothing, the steam still rising off her.

You don’t have to tell me. I can easily find out. Trailblazer waved and an agent brought over Liza’s wallet.

Where did you find it? Liza said through gritted teeth.

Trailblazer opened it. In your gym bag.

The heroine pulled out the driver’s license and calmly tossed the rest behind her.

Liza Emory… sixteen years old. You live on 432 Maple Terrace, Rockville, Maryland, 20851.

She handed the license back to the agent and whispered something in his ear. The agent took off running down the concourse.

It was obvious what was going on. Don’t you hurt them!

Trailblazer smirked and glanced behind her.

Silver Arc said in a loud clear voice, In accordance with the Revised Hero Recruitment Act of 1997, you are hereby drafted into the National Hero Corps and will serve as a heroine with duty and honor for your adult life until you reach retirement age or become unfit for service due to crippling injury or other factors as explained in section 14 of the Revised Hero Recruitment Act.

And if you resist you’ll be branded a villain and will be hunted down and sent to a prison for people like us… Phoenix muttered.

Liza cocked the axe behind her back. Let them try!

I wouldn’t do that if I were you, Trailblazer replied as she clacked her heels against the ground. Takahashi unsheathed a long, sharp katana out of his back as electricity arced over Silver Arc’s hands. Surrender now if you value your life!

I’ll never work for you! Liza flung the axe.

In almost slow motion the axe spun end over end and slammed into Trailblazer’s chest. Instead of lodging, it rolled up between her breasts leaving a nasty wound and then flew black toward a rising Liza, who was jumping out of the way of plasma blasts and lightning bolts.

Before Trailblazer hit the floor, Phoenix had vanished, Jonola had sprung up into the ceiling and Liza had made it to the second floor. The agents dropped their firearms and pulled out various hand-to-hand weapons, including stun batons and combat knives.

As if it read her mind, the axe vanished, leaving Liza free to start tossing rushing agents over the railing or into stores. After a dozen or so, they backed off because Takahashi came rushing at her with his katana. Her axe reappeared and caught the katana and the two weapons started grinding against each other.

Sensing somebody trying to blindside her, she kicked an agent in the chest and used the recoil to push Takahashi to the floor.

Liza jumped on the railing and then rocketed toward the skylight as a bolt hit where she had been perched.

She caught a crossbeam and flipped onto the roof. The night sky was lit up by the bright lights of several helicopters, including a military-grade attack craft. The others flew away as the attack copter readied for a strafing run with its twin mounted machine guns.

As the glowing axe hit the rotor blades, the pilots ejected. The rotor sparked and the copter sailed over the roof and crashed into an empty outdoor plaza on the other side of the mall. There was a bright explosion and a small shockwave that could be felt even where she was.

Banging was heard coming from a nearby vent. It dented in a straight line and Jonola slithered out of the ducts followed by four