Radioactive Magic: Whisper

By Bonnie Elizabeth

Sickness lies in the ocean. Sean Iverson feels it. 

 

A shapeshifter, Sean feels as if he's no longer connected to his two different selves. Fortunately, allies come when they are called to his rescue.

 

The question becomes whether that help will come in time for Sean or for the ocean.

 

Radioactive Magic is a short story set in the Whisper universe. While all fans of this magical fantasy world will be pleased, those who loved Taken by the Sound will be particularly thrilled to see what Sean's been up to since he had to leave his home. For those who haven't read the Whisper novels, Radioactive Magic serves as a marvelous introduction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: My Big Fat Orange Cat Publishing
• Release date: Jan 24, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386729648

Bonnie Elizabeth

Bonnie Elizabeth could never decide what to do, so she wrote stories about amazing things and sometimes she even finished them. While rejection stung her so badly in person, she spent most of her young life talking to cats and dogs rather than people, she was unusually resilient when it came to rejections on her writing, racking up a good number of them. Floating through a variety of jobs, including veterinary receptionist, cemetery administrator, and finally acupuncturist, she continued to write stories. When the internet came along (yes, she’s old), she started blogging as her cat, because we all know cats don’t notice rejection. Then she started publishing. Bonnie writes in a variety of genres. Her popular Whisper series is contemporary fantasy and her Teenage Fairy Godmother series is written for teens. She has published in a number of anthologies and is working on expanding her writing repertoire. She lives with her husband (who talks less than she does) and her three cats, who always talk back. You can find out more about her books at her publisher, My Big Fat Orange Cat Publishing.

Book preview

Radioactive Magic

Radioactive Magic

A Short Story of Whisper

Bonnie Elizabeth

My Big Fat Orange Cat Publishing

Contents

Radioactive Magic

About Bonnie Elizabeth

Also by Bonnie Elizabeth

Radioactive Magic

The ocean felt wrong. Slimy, icky, like oil had spilled. Except, there was no oil. Only water and the feeling that bothered him .

Sean pulled his human leg up onto the low, rocky outcrop that overlooked the dark waves attacking the shore. Looking at the sky, he counted stars, their white points of light a counterpoint to the pale froth of the surf below. Though it was cold, his coat was warm and he was nearly dry.

He drew in a deep breath, the salty, fishy scent of the ocean filling him, making him hungry. He’d need to eat soon. Sean stood, looking out at the ocean that pounded the shores of this desolate part of Alaska. He was at home there, or as at home as he could be, banished from his real home in the south.

But now, something was wrong.

He left the shoreline, walking carefully along the rocks, moving forward into the firs that gathered sentinel against the ocean. The fir needles jabbed at him, leaving traces of damp against the jacket. It had rained earlier and it would again soon. The moon was but a sliver and even Sean, with his better than average night sight, had to move slowly through the trees.

His car was parked surrounded by the firs, just off the road. Sean opened the door. He hadn’t bothered to lock the thing, didn’t matter out there. No one was around.

He started the engine, listened to it hum for a minute, while he set the defroster. The windows were fogged. He knew the road but didn’t care to drive blind. Wildlife roamed. People walked in odd places. Sean leaned back in the seat and waited.

His fingers itched to pull the phone out. Make the call. But he knew there’d be no bars. No way to reach anyone who could help him. Sean rubbed his hands across his jeans, the fabric damp from the sea spray. He felt odd from the last swim. Twitchy. Like the wrongness was getting inside his shapeshifter body.

Finally the fog cleared from the windshield and he set the truck in gear, leaving behind the scent of pines and fish and heading towards the town where he’d smell more fish and less pine. The latter scent would be covered by gasoline and garbage and a hint of fried food. In town, or slightly before, he’d be able to call his father. If he were lucky, he’d get to talk to his son too.

Halfway to town, as the road curved around a hillside, opening up the vista of the ocean passage and the islands to the west, was a small turnout. Sean knew that sometimes he could get cell phone service. He pulled the truck off to the side. Tourists stopped there sometimes to look out over the view. Tonight he couldn’t see much beyond the darkness.

Here, Sean pulled out the phone, pleased to find three bars instead of the usual two. Almost better than his apartment, where he spent as little time as possible. It was a place to flop when he wasn’t out on a boat, fishing or crabbing—whatever kind of boat