Fabled Enigma: Stealth, #1

By G L Briggs

After a mighty battle, a non-human entity seizes his opportunity to enter an open portal into the physical realm, choosing Gareth as the perfect human to help him accomplish his goal.

As a skeptic, Gareth has to come to terms with the fact that 'something' is after him. Trying to understand the bizarre turn his life is taking, he is forced to allow psychic, Elena, to help him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: G L Briggs
• Release date: Feb 13, 2012
• ISBN: 9781507075630

Book preview

Fabled Enigma

Stealth Series Part One

Table of Contents

Title Page

G L Briggs

Chapter One | Monday

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five | Tuesday

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight | Wednesday

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve | Thursday

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen | Friday

Chapter Eighteen | Saturday

G L Briggs

Published in 2014 by Createspace Publishing

Copyright © G L Briggs.

The author or authors assert their moral right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author or authors of this work.

All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, copied, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior written consent of the copyright holder, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

Chapter One

Monday

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Elena was walking through the rain, puddles making the edges of her long skirt soaked and dirty looking, but she hardly noticed. It matched her mood perfectly as she made her way back to her shop, trudging past the fountain in the middle of the town centre gardens. The fountain was not on as usual; too cold they said. What else did they expect though, it was Manchester after all, always raining, always cold and unforgiving. It especially seemed so today, with all the buildings looking grey and sad, the rain lashing down like a curtain of beads, bouncing off every surface, including her face.

She was glad she didn’t have far to walk. The bank was only on the other side of the gardens, but it felt like a million miles away, with its grandiose style and stuck-up attitude. Elena’s thoughts turned bitter, ‘These banks should show a little gratitude to us taxpayers. We did bail them out a few months ago, but they seem to have easily forgotten that they owe us. It’s not like I was asking them for millions or anything.’

Lost in her reverie, she almost walked past her little shop and had to stop and back-track a couple of steps. Stepping into the doorway of the shop she paused, a deep sense of loss enveloping her and slowly rising from chest to throat in a helpless ball of choking pain. Swallowing down the ball before a cry escaped her lips she took a deep breath and entered.

The shop was named Crystal Clear, and was everything that mattered in the world to Elena. For the last seven years, she had poured her heart, soul and every penny she had into her dream. The realisation that it was all about to end brought a deep sadness to her very being. Held within this sadness was anger at the person responsible for the mess she found herself in now.

Standing just inside the doorway, Elena closed her eyes and took a moment to breathe in the calming scents and general peacefulness the shop offered her. Today the scent in the shop was a wonderfully sweet and fruity hint of honeysuckle. Immediately feeling calmer, she opened her eyes, smiled, and took a long look around. There were shelves lined with books on spiritual development, magical enlightenment, awakenings, witchcraft and other metaphysical and general interest subjects. Tables displaying crystals and ornaments of all shapes and sizes, racks with necklaces and bracelets made from semi-precious stones and other materials. Large displays depicting everything from angels to demons and all things in between were spread tastefully around. Her smile faltered when she saw that the shelves were half empty, the display tables with large spaces where ornaments should be, and the racks dismally lacking in colour from the usually vibrant display. Business was brisk, but stock was running out, and it broke her heart to acknowledge that a closing down sale was imminent.

With a long sigh, her shoulders sagging, she began to walk through the shop to the back area in search of her gran. Entering the kitchen, she took off her coat, shook it a little to get the rain off and hung it on the back of the door. Hi gran, I’m back. As she turned around to see her beloved gran rising from her chair to make a cup of tea, she smiled. You’re back already? That was a quick meeting. Tonya, her gran, was a stooped elderly lady with greying hair in tight curls. At the moment she had it pulled into a tight bun on the top of her head. Her kindly face held many laugh lines, and her green eyes sparkled with long forgotten mischief, and a well of intelligence and knowledge. She pulled her blue woollen shawl around her shoulders a little tighter against the cold draught that had followed her granddaughter into the shop.

I know and I got nowhere. Elena said, The bank manager said, and I quote, ‘the bank is not interested in advancing me any monies at this time.’ You would think they’d be a bit more lenient considering I’ve never asked them for anything in the past, but no, they practically threw me out without even listening. Elena sat at the table and groaned, placing her arms on the table, followed by her head. Her wrist jewellery tinkling loudly at the disturbance. She looked up and said, What now gran? The bank was the last resort. And I doubt the shipment is going to arrive now, it’s been five weeks. She moved her hands to her neck and began fiddling with her bright bead and crystal necklace.

I don’t know Elena, dear. The stock in the shop is the last we have. Maybe you should go and talk to the supplier again? Try to reason with him.

He can’t be reasoned with gran, Elena said sadly, waving her arm in a resigned gesture, He doesn’t believe in the supernatural, and he talks to me like I’m ten kinds of crazy. I just want to slap him. It’s a good job we’ve only spoke on the phone, or else I probably would. Elena slapped her hand on the table for emphasis, and smiled at the satisfaction she got from that small act. Tonya reached across and gave Elena a towel, and she proceeded to dry her long, chestnut brown hair. Her voice was muffled as she said, I can’t believe it has come to this.

Elena, he may not believe, but he still took your money. Tonya said, placing a cup of steaming tea in front of Elena, and you still have the receipts, so I can’t see the problem, really.

The problem is that although I have receipts, he has a packing list and delivery order saying the goods were sent, so he kind of needs to find the shipment to prove we never got it. Or we do, to prove he never sent it. Either way, the shop will close, and he really doesn’t give a crap, which is why it has taken so long; he isn’t looking for it, and why would he? He has his money and just ignores me now. They won’t even put me through on the phone anymore.

Tonya sat down opposite Elena at the table, a twinkle in her eye and a smile on her face, and said, We both know there are many ways to get someone’s attention Elena. We just need to be a little inventive that’s all.

I know that look gran, Elena smiled at her gran’s mischievous look, What are you planning?

Well... and she hesitated just for a second, then plunged on, Even a non-believer will pause for thought if you wave your hands around a little and mumble some words at him that sound authentically like...oh, I don’t know...a curse of some kind? Tonya’s eyes twinkled and she laughed at the thought.

Elena laughed too, Gran, I can’t curse the man, even if I was pretending. I don’t know where you come up with these ideas. You’re terrible, you really are.

They sat quietly for a short while drinking their teas, then Elena’s face became thoughtful. She looked at her gran and asked, Can I? Do you think it would work?

Tonya eased herself out of her chair, walked around the table to her granddaughter and placed her hands around Elena’s face, You are a powerful psychic Elena. With the vibes that come from you when you’re angry, I’m sure you can pull off a fake curse. Besides, you’re only trying to make him stop and think for a moment, and he did steal your money, so he at least deserves a little upset to his day. Non-believer or not, he will feel the shift in the room when your anger rises and your vibes start spitting energy. Tonya clawed her hands like a cat and hissed in good humour, laughing. Elena shook her head at her gran, her eyes shining with amusement.

Okay, I’ll go and talk to him in person since phone calls and emails are doing me no good. I might do it now actually, seeing as I’ve nowt else to do. She giggled at the notion of pretend cursing a non-believer, and decided it could be a little bit of fun in an otherwise horrible day. Wait until the rain has stopped Elena. No need to go getting yourself wet again. Have some of these pastries from next door that I nipped out for while you were at the bank.

Eating their way through the creamy, fresh pastries, Elena turned her attention to the counter-top next to the oven. What are they? she asked, pointing at a colourful bundle of material all jumbled into a pile. Oh, those? asked Tonya, looking sheepish, They are just some clothes I put together for the jumble sale at the local junior school.

Elena laughed again, You still having trouble getting in?

Elena, they have a spirit there and it is scaring the kids. The head teacher obviously can’t see it so won’t listen to me and she thinks the children all have over-active imaginations. The only thing I can think of to get in there and deal with it is to take the clothes and then have a scout about for it, see if I can get it to leave.

Gran, they aren’t going to let you wander around on your own. You need to talk to the caretaker after the school has closed for the day. He will let you in, he has seen it. Elena said, then thoughtfully pointed a finger at her gran and said, Or you could take Father Thomas with you. He is a regular at the school and helps with all their fund-raising stuff.

Well, he was the one who told me about the spirit actually. Apparently the church don’t get involved in things like this, but he knows the kids are frightened and so he asked for my help. Tonya replied, Yes, I will ask Father Thomas to get me in there tomorrow. What about you anyway? Did you sort out that problem for the old lady?

She didn’t have a spirit problem, Elena smiled, She was just lonely, but we had a wonderful chat, and she feels much better now. Just then the shop bell tinkled to indicate a customer. Tonya looked up and then turned to Elena and said, I’ll get that, you sit and dry off for a while. She turned and walked into the shop. Elena stood up and walked to the doorway leading into the shop, watching her gran talking to the customer. She listened as Tonya explained the best way to deal with a psychic attack from a known person, and promptly sold the customer the required mirror, books, crystals and incense.

When the customer had left, Tonya turned to Elena and smiled, That woman is no more being psychically attacked than I am, but if it makes her feel better to do the defense stuff, who am I to stop her. I just wish these ridiculous books would put the real spells in them, and not the usual tripe.

Gran, you know that if the real spells were in the books then the world would go crazy casting spells and stuff all over the place. Elena laughed. Think of the mess we would have to clean up if everyone in the world had access to true magic. It would be chaos.

I know Elena. Tonya sighed, But it’s the reason people think we are cranks and never take us seriously. The magic they try out of these books never works. It just annoys me. Tonya said.

I know, Elena approached her gran and wrapped her arm around her shoulder. But just think of all those people we have helped. They are believers now, and their problems dealt with. She smiled lovingly at her gran and led her back into the kitchen. And speaking of problems, I best get going if I am to catch this Mr. Hughes bloke. She took her coat off the door and put it on, then turned to her gran again and said, Wish me luck. I shouldn’t be too long. Smiling, she walked back through the shop as she heard her gran shout, Don’t forget to wave your arms around a lot Elena, and then she heard her gran laughing as she walked out of the front door and headed towards the suppliers offices.

The suppliers office was only a couple of streets away, so she decided to walk. The air was fresh now the rain had stopped. The grass in the centre gardens had a ‘clean’ smell to it that was nice and crisp. It was still cold though, so she pulled her coat closer around her shoulders and turned up the collar.

Crossing Piccadilly Gardens, she walked up Oldham Street and took a left down a side alley. Coming out of the alleyway she turned right onto Tib Street, which led her straight to the offices of the supplier. She entered the building and headed towards the lifts. Here goes nothing. She said to herself as the lift arrived and she stepped in, took a deep breath and pressed the button for the third floor.

The lift tinged its arrival at the third floor, and Elena stepped out onto a plush beige carpet. The entire office area consisted of neutral colours such as this, which made it seem both opulent, yet isolating and unwelcoming. The curved desk she could see in the reception area was made of light wood and had a glass top. Behind it sat a young woman with a pleasant yet bored face, and she was fiddling with a mobile phone. Good morning, the receptionist smiled, putting the phone down on her desk, How can I help you?

I would like to see Mr. Hughes please, Elena replied.

I’m sorry, Mr. Hughes is busy at the moment, may I take a message?

Elena shook her head and purposefully strolled passed the receptionist, her long skirt swishing in her wake. The receptionist rose from her chair and began to follow, talking rapidly in a disapproving tone, tottering on her heeled shoes which seemed far too high to be practical. Elena ignored her, opened the door to the left of the reception desk and strolled straight in.

Mr. Hughes, I am so sorry for the interruption, but this lady just barged past me. The receptionist said in an apologetic tone, looking daggers at Elena, who was walking up to the desk.

It’s alright Lucy. Mr. Hughes said, with a wave of his hand, I will handle this, don’t worry, he waved her away dismissively and Lucy retreated from the room and closed the door behind her, with a tut and a disapproving scowl at Elena.

He turned towards the woman now in front of his desk. Before she had even spoken, he knew who she was. She was exactly as he had pictured her in his mind when speaking to her on the phone. She was obviously the crazy psychic who had been harassing him the last few weeks. Her clothes alone spoke volumes to him, and he sighed quietly to himself, hoping to get this over with as quickly as possible. Miss Anjerona, I presume? He asked her, indicating a chair.

Elena took off her coat and sat down in the chair, crossed her legs and slowly arranged her long skirt neatly. She had no intention of being rushed, and decided to simply wait for him to speak again. I am a very busy man, miss, so may I enquire why you are here? He finally said.

You know perfectly well why I am here. I want my order delivered as promised. She replied. He sighed heavily this time, and sat himself back into his chair noisily, knowing that this was not going to go well. He ran his hands through his hair and looked at her, wondering how to explain it to her, again. He stood up, then walked to his office door, opened it and turned back around to her, If you will excuse me for just one moment, I need to find your file. He left the room, closing the door after him.

Left to her own devices, Elena took this chance to have a look around. The office was not very large and the desk was its main feature, it was huge and seemed much too big to be in a room of this size. Made of solid wood, it had a glass top, which was tinted a beautiful dusky black. The effect was spoiled by all the paperwork piled on it. There was so much that three piles of it wobbled precariously, threatening at any minute to simply fall over from its own weight. To the left of the room was a bureau, over which a mirror was