Amethyst (Mystic Stones Series #3): Mystic Stones Series, #3

By Kayla Curry

Contrary to popular belief, Psytech didn't take over the world in a day. Decades of planning, searching and manipulation were needed to pull off the largest technology takedown to ever overcome the earth.

As Psytech closes in on the key to their world domination attempts, a quiet bank teller becomes trapped in the middle of an ancient feud between witches and vampires. Disa is the only one with the knowledge to unlock the Amethyst Idol, an old witch artifact enchanted within an amethyst geode.

Taken hostage and held in a well-guarded mansion, Disa must find a way to break the ancient code her ancestors imposed on the Amethyst Idol. She's promised her freedom if she can do it, but something tells her the vampires around her can't be trusted.

The only solace she finds within the cold, white walls is the man who captured her, but his kindness seems to be a trick. He is, after all, the adopted son of the Vampire Emperor and therefore holds the title: Prince of the Vampire Empire.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kayla Curry
• Release date: Jul 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781533720467

Book preview

PROLOGUE

The story of the Amethyst Idol is at the core of the events leading up to the vampire takeover of technology in 2020. Prophecy and destiny are tied to the Idol. If prophecy is deviated from, and destiny is not met, destruction will reign. Witches are known to believe prophecies must be upheld—even if it brings war. This is the story of the Amethyst Idol and the woman who discovers its secrets. It begins October 12, 2010.

Chapter One

The day started out like any other. I arrived to work on time despite being set back by a major Houston traffic jam. As I walked into the air conditioned building, I breathed a sigh of relief. I couldn’t handle the heat for much longer. I needed to get the AC in my car fixed, pronto.

I went straight to my station and then clocked in on the computer. Some of my co-workers greeted me, and I returned the gesture. Patrons began filing in at a casual pace. Tuesdays weren’t so bad.

Everything seemed to be normal.

That is, everything seemed normal until five men wearing masks and black clothing walked into the bank with assault rifles and handguns.

As I watched the men and heard the screams coming from the customers, a fog drifted over me. It seemed like a dream—or rather, a nightmare. It didn’t feel like it was happening to me. For a moment, I imagined everything as a movie. Then the fog cleared and adrenaline took over.

Some of the men shouted while others approached the counter. My hands lifted above my head.

I hadn’t made them do that. They each were commanded to do so by a brain I lost control of.

I tried to remain calm.

Our training taught us to try to hit the silent alarm if we were able to do so undetected. Besides that, we were to be cooperative so no one gets hurt.

I hadn’t noticed the take-down, but the security guards were already incapacitated, and zip-ties were being fastened around the wrists of bank patrons who’d been forced to their stomachs. The thought crossed my mind that I should have called in sick. If only I had inherited my mother’s irresponsibility gene.

One of the men came up to the counter and said, All of you, out here and on the ground. Now.

My co-worker, Carol, whimpered as we made our way to the lobby. I tried to get her attention so I could silently reassure her everything would be okay as long as she stayed calm, but the chaos kept her preoccupied. She fell to pieces once we were on the ground and had our hands zip-tied behind our backs.

I peered through the wavy tendrils of my long red hair that partially blocked my view. The exits had been barricaded with chairs and other furniture. My heart fell. It meant this would likely turn into a hostage situation. No one would be leaving the bank anytime soon. Thankfully, no children were present.

This was no smash and grab job.

Commands from the men filled the echo of the bank lobby. They collected bank keys from employees, guns from the guards, and cell phones from everyone. They were pros. Thorough.

Carol hyperventilated next to me as the other women sobbed. I always thought I’d be the type to cry in a situation like this, but my mind seemed too bombarded with adrenaline, leaving no room for tears.

The beaded necklace I wore dug into my collarbone as I lay on the cold, marble floor. My hair flooded most of my vision, but I could still see the man who seemed to be in charge as he casually paced the lobby. He acted like he owned the place and showed no signed of nervousness.

I wondered what the other hostages were thinking about. Their faces had gone white and their eyebrows pulled together between the worry lines. For some reason, fear hadn’t landed in my emotions.

The men still had masks on. Which meant they didn’t want us to be able to describe them—and that they didn’t intend to kill us.

My intuition told me things would work out as long as no one tried anything stupid. After about twenty minutes of loud noises coming from the safe-deposit box room, the man-in-charge came out to the lobby in a huff of rigid paces and muttered curses.

It seems we are going to need some assistance. Any volunteers? the man in charge asked.

Carol’s crying became louder. The man approached Carol and stood just in front of her head. His boots were visible just out of the corner of my eye.

You want to volunteer? he asked Carol.

Sobs filled her throat as she struggled to inch away. You work here. Why don’t you come help us out?

I knew Carol would crack under pressure and most likely get herself killed. Regret filled my soul, but it would have to be saved for a later date. I couldn’t let it stop me. I stood a better chance of surviving and keeping a cool head than Carol. If there was a chance I could save her from further trauma or possible death, I’d have to take it.

Excuse me, but she’s new, I said.

The man’s boots now pointed toward my face. What did you say?

She’s new. She might not know how to do whatever you need her to do. Plus, she’s in a state that will slow her down and only frustrate you.

So, you’re a better choice for the job then?

I hesitated, but the look of fear on Carol’s face made me say, Yes.

No tricks. I’ll kill you so fast you won’t even see it coming. Got it?

I nodded. One of the other men cut my hands free and roughly brought me to my feet. They escorted me behind the counter and sat me in a chair. The man-in-charge looked at my name tag.

Alright, Disa. We need you to find out where a very important item is being stored in that vault. He pointed to the safe-deposit box room. Police sirens grew louder as they neared the bank, but the masked men didn’t flinch.

We don’t know what’s in the boxes, I stated.

I know that, Disa. You see, we have the name of one of the people in possession of the item. Problem is, his box is empty. Now, we know it’s in that vault somewhere. Our intelligence says he put it in there yesterday. Someone else has access to his box and took it out and then put it in another box. So, pull up the records for Randall Stoffer.

I did as I was told. There is one other name on his box and one other box under his name. He has boxes 1026 and 340.

We’ve already opened 1026. He turned to one of the men waiting for his command. You, go open 340.

The man went quickly into the room. A loud pop came from the vault and the man returned, saying there was nothing in it.

Who else has access to those boxes?

I looked at the computer. Christopher Thacker has access to 1026. Patrick Bales has access to 340.

Looks like our rebels have devised a little scavenger hunt. Here’s the deal, Disa. You need to find out all the box numbers associated with this group of men. We don’t really want to rip open every box in there. So find the numbers for us, and do it fast.

I nodded, took a deep breath and looked at the files on the computer. Once I focused, a full circle emerged, and I found a total of six names and six boxes. I’d never seen anything like it in my years of being a bank manager. They were interwoven. After I wrote the numbers, I gave them to the man watching me.

You’re sure you found all of them?

Yes, the trail goes in a circle. These are the four you haven’t opened yet, I said.

Go into the room while we open these. I want to make sure you aren’t holding anything back.

The men escorted me into the room. The strange thing was that I couldn’t see any tools so I wasn’t really sure how they were opening the boxes. I was ordered to turn away while they opened them one-by-one. Numbers 2580, 569, and 1308 were empty. I prayed that whatever they were looking for was in 128. If it wasn’t, I’d probably be in big trouble. The pop resounded again as they opened 128. The man-in-charge allowed me to watch as they pulled out the box.

The lid opened and a bright purple light emanated from inside.

Why is it glowing? the man who opened the lockers asked as he pulled out a large, purple, amethyst geode. The inside of the hemisphere-shaped stone contained hundreds of sparkling purple crystals which glowed with their own light. A bright purple hue matching the stone filled the room.

The man-in-charge faced me. Because, there’s a witch in its presence.

Drake

From the moment I walked into the bank and spotted the woman at the counter I was thrown off my game. Her blue eyes showed no sign of fear as they landed on the guns me and my men bolstered.

The heist was a bad idea from the start. We risked exposure for a stone that may or may not be able to help the Empire. It was a mission I’d warned the Emperor against, but I eventually gave in. There was no arguing with him. After tracking down a witch that had been seen with the amethyst, we’d followed him to the bank. One of the witches the Emperor employs tagged along. She told us the box number before disappearing back to the compound to tell our leader the good news. He ordered us to stay in Houston for the night and carry out a robbery the next day.

I shook my head. The strange turn of events replayed in my mind. I wondered if the witch in the bank had pulled one over on us by volunteering. If she were going to try something, she’d have to get through me.

The woman had been a distraction since I’d walked in, but I needed to focus. Her courage impressed me, but only after her beauty nearly knocked me off my feet. I pushed back against the unfamiliar feeling. I had a job to do, and failure was not an option. Not to mention, her kind was better as a snack than a companion. Or, at least, that’s what I thought until I found out what she really was.

I had missed the signs having not been near humans in so long, but now that it was clear she was no mere human, she wasn’t a full witch either. I sensed no strong power in her.

However, she was a witch. And a witch, no matter how diluted in blood, could not be trusted.

Was it a coincidence that she stepped up to help us? Perhaps, she works with the witches who found it in the first place. In any case, it was clear I couldn’t leave her in that bank—not alive anyway. It would be easier just to kill her, but my instincts told me not to. There was more to her than just being a witch in the wrong place at the wrong time. She was different, but the Emperor would not be happy unless she was useful to the Empire.

Chapter Two

The look in his bright green eyes struck fear in me for the first time. He called me a witch. The stone betrayed me.

I was only a half-witch. I gave up studying the craft. My mother was gone and my magic had always been insufficient.

You didn’t tell us you were a witch, the man-in-charge said. His green eyes stood out from his black mask.

It clicked.

He was a vampire. They all were. 

That’s how they got the safes open without tools. I wondered why a new vampire with green eyes would be the one in charge. That didn’t make any sense.

I’m only a half witch with minimal powers. I haven’t practiced or studied for years.

Nice try, but enchanted stones don’t glow for half-witches. Not like that. He pointed at the deep purple, amethyst geode which glowed slightly brighter than before. The closer they came with the stone, the brighter it grew.

Unless . . . unless you’re a descendant of the witch who made it. That would be quite the coincidence.

I swear, I had no idea it was there. I don’t even know what it is.

What’s your last name? 

Bucklin, but my father was the human. My mother was a witch, but she’s missing. My aunt raised me, and now she’s gone too.

What was your mother’s maiden name?

Black.

Hmm. It seems we’ll be going home with a guest. You may be the key to this stone. The Amethyst Idol is rumored to hold great power. We don’t know what it does, but it has been prophesied that it will do great good for the vampire race once the secrets are unlocked.

I don’t know anything about it.

You clearly know too much, yet not enough. We can either leave you here—dead. Or take you with us—alive. Your choice.

Choice? I had no choice but to agree to go with them.

The phone rang off the hook, ignored. The vampires had no reason to talk to the police. They got what they came for, and now they were going to leave with it . . . and me.

They set bombs at the exit and moved hostages to safer areas. My hands were secured behind my back again. The vampires formed a circle around me, and the green-eyed one put his hands over my ears and shielded me from the blast of the bombs.

That didn’t help. My ears rang as the vampire picked me up and lead the others with lightning speed out of the bank.

My senses were shocked from the loud noise, but blurs of red and blue flashing lights made it through the veil of shadows and white luminescence.

I doubted they saw us swoop pass them. The vampire leader held me tight as he ran with his men through the city. I could barely make out which buildings we passed, let alone figure out where we headed.

After a few minutes, we arrived at a private airstrip. The leader dumped me onto the concrete while his group loaded up. The zip-tie was cut and my hands were free once again.

My stomach lurched. The motion sickness caught up with me, and I lost my breakfast on the tarmac as the plane fired up behind me.

The vampires took off their masks as they stood around. I could feel their mocking gazes upon me.

The green-eyed one, who actually looked like a male model now that his mask was off, handed me a handkerchief so I could wipe off my mouth. In a few moments, I was helped onto the plane and seated at a table. Across from me, the green-eyed vampire took a seat.

One smooth swipe of his hand tamed his short, dark hair from the mess the mask made of it.

His complexion was pale, like any other vampire, but he was pleasing to the eyes. If I didn’t known about his blood-sucking habits, I may have considered dating him. That is, if I’d met him in other circumstances.

So, what do you know about this artifact? he asked as he held it up. The purple glow blinded me. I looked away and then he pulled it closer to himself. The light dimmed slightly.

I told you, I don’t know anything about it.

"It seems to be a long-lost heirloom of your family’s. Otherwise, it wouldn’t glow so bright. How about I tell you what I