Raining Magic: Messing Up Magic, #3

By Winnie Winkle

Their spirits are free… but their town is under siege.

Tashi, a dazzling firebird-moon elf, packs a lot of magical power in her punch. Her discovery that Magic, New Mexico is in trouble sends her winging to the town with a dire warning of doom. It also sets her on a collision course with a super hot warlock.

Zac takes one look and knows he has to have Tashi. He's spent a lifetime turning away from his dark side; now he's ready to capture this little free-spirited hedonist living her life in wild abandon. Feisty and fearless, she belongs to no one. Zac is determined to make Tashi his, regardless of the cost.

Tashi and Zac face three different enemies, each resolved to steal away or destroy the town's magical residents. In a battle of wits, unusual spells, and bewitching ingenuity, Tashi and Zac's future together depends on the resilience of love in a world out of kilter. They take their stand against allies once considered friends, a cruel alien race bent on their enslavement, and a vengeful Djinn with a god complex.

In a life flipped upside down, what could go right?

~ "Raining Magic" is Book 3 of the Messing Up Magic series ~

• Language: English
• Publisher: J. S. Netwal
• Release date: Mar 19, 2019
• ISBN: 9781732905023

Winnie Winkle

Winnie Winkle is a fabulous Central Florida broad who swills bourbon, likes dogs and cats, and practices yoga, but not with any degree of grace. Supporting live local music is a pretty big deal to Winnie, so if you pass a gravestone that admonishes, 'Go see the band and hit the tip jar', it's probably hers. But, since she's not dead yet, she'll keep penning fun stuff to rock your reading chair. Winnie has lived in Florida for 30 years and splits her time between South Daytona Shores and the Mount Dora area. She prefers writing beach-side as much as she can because, if we’re baring our souls here, the ocean is a mighty muse and there’s only so much that coffee can do. Winnie writes humorous fiction with a new series, "The Record" releasing three titles in 2021 )Boogie Beach, Slat Shaken, Speedo Down). She also released a literary fiction, "To Walk in the World: Twin Tales of Inception in 2021. Winnie also writes (6 books so far)  paranormal and sci-fi romances for the series "The Worlds or Magic, New Mexico".

Book preview

Prologue

Buffeted, a bird fluttered earthward, red wings and long multi-colored tail catching the updrafts in a rippling show of color. Tipsy and exhausted, it landed hard on a hill of rocks, heart space a weak crimson glow in the New Mexican desert. The call sounds close, but I don’t have another five hundred yards, let alone five miles left in me; I have to stop. Desperate for solitude, perched high atop the rocky hill, she tucked her head and slept the sleep of the dead.

---

Slowing his bike in the waning sunlight, Zac sensed magic where none was before. With a whirl of his hand, he rose and spun, looking across the desert, stopping his spin to float towards the faint red glow. A bird with a glowing heart. Whoa. It’s a benny for sure. Rad magical. Wonder if it heard Magic calling and headed this way? I’ll toss a protection spell ‘til it wakes up and figures out what’s next. Might be a firebird. Bitchin’ feathers. Best swing by the jail and let Theo know it’s here.

Chapter 1

Pirro stepped over the corpses, maintaining a half-solid half-smoke form, blue lightning crackling across the ship’s hull and through him, stopping everything that moved.

Are you ready for a conversation yet?

Pirro’s voice boomed, bouncing off the corridor’s metal walls, drowning out the groans of the dying Morducks. These scaly alien creatures thought they could capture and control a Djinn, the masters of the interdimensional planes? Fools. He float-walked around a corner into what he assumed was the bridge of the spacecraft, coming face-to-face with the last of the ship’s crew. One, wearing a translator, nodded and spoke.

Are there many beings on Earth such as you?

Enough. Pirro cracked electricity into the floor, making several aliens cry out in pain.

We seek entities from your planet that suspend natural law. These powers are valuable.

"You pursue, as a commodity, a way to replicate magic. You cannot do so. Magic can’t be copied or learned; you’re born with it. This mission of yours was flawed from inception."

Then we enslave them! We will force these beings to become our soldiers and use their abilities to destroy the Coalition.

Ah, yes. How did your ‘enslaving’ work on me? You bring a child’s solution to a god. Your group here are the only survivors, and if I wished, you’d be dead before your next breath. Try again.

The Morduck’s captain glared at Pirro, observing complete disinterest, and worse, laughter in his eyes. I’m defeated and I know it. Whoever this being is, he’s evolved beyond our species and technology. So, why is he here? Why play with us if he can kill us with impunity? What does he need?

Understanding dawning, the captain spoke. Whatever you want from the Morduck nation, it’s not the pleasure of killing us. You remained on the ship because there’s a service you desire. Talk.

What a surprise. One of these creatures has a brain. Pirro sat cross-legged in the air, a floating demented Buddha whose long copper hair fanned out around him in a curly fire-halo. I intend to right a wrong, and I require expendables. Your race will suffice. From what I observed, you are fearless and unafraid to perish. This pleases me since I care not if you live or die either. You’ll tie up resources and keep them occupied while I carry out my objective.

He drifted closer to the captain. On Earth, a concentration of magic people live out in the desert. You were spying on them; it’s obvious that you recognize this. When magical forces combine, it is, shall we say, less than optimal. Magnified power interferes with my crusade against the humans. Therefore, I chose you to serve me.

What is our payment? Prisoners? Knowledge?

Pirro flicked a smoky finger, sending a blue bolt into the floor. The Morducks shrieked and bounced. He floated over them, filling their blood with his energies, threatening to explode their veins. His laugh echoed as he freed them, scattered about the deck, panting and trembling.

You get to live.

Zac filled his camelback water backpack and strapped it on before stepping out to his porch. He pointed at his red and yellow surfboard; it rose, leveling out before him. Sure miss the blue. He twirled a second spell at the sand behind the house, and it undulated, forming waves. Jumping off the stoop belly first onto his board, the wave of dust lifted as he sprang to his feet. Abs rippling, he navigated the swirling surface. With a joyous whoop, he rode out to the hill of rock as the sun pushed against the grey, rising toward the horizon’s edge, ready to break and warm the desert.

The odd sandstorm barreled towards her perch. I’ve never seen such a low dust cloud, it’s not even as tall as this hill. Still, she prepared to lift off if necessary. The surface rippled and rolled, a sea of tan and brown. Is that… is that a man? Surfing on sand? What a hoot! I must be near my destination.

The dust subsided, whooshing to the earth as the surfboard settled, rider still standing. I miss wiping out; it’s not the same ride. But, after the cactus incident… Zac stared, squinting at the bright plumage above him that was peering down with interest.

Hey there, Birdy. I’m Zac.

Should I shift? She stepped onto an outcropping to study him. Haha! A California surfer took a wrong turn! She lifted off, flying in a slow circle, sharp eyes taking in a ripped body and intense blue gaze before landing on a jutting boulder about halfway down the hill. Closer, but secure.

You a firebird? You looking for the town of Magic, New Mexico?

Ooh, that’s helpful. He’s my kind of cute. But, I have to stay focused. There’s danger lurking, and I’ve got to get this message to the right person. She cocked her head and shook her wings out.

Awesome, Dude. I’m taking that as a yes. Follow me. Oops, almost forgot. Zac pointed his finger at her and she felt the change. Did he put a spell on me?

Quirrup!

What? Oh, that. I watched you land last night and dropped a protection spell to keep the predators away. You looked like you needed the zzzzs.

Huh. If true, that was thoughtful. Stay alert, though, Tashi. You’re up against pure evil.

Zac gestured, and the sand rose. Running with his board, he flung himself into the gritty waves and popped up, surfing toward the town of Magic. Behind him, Tashi rose, her beautiful tail streaming behind her. The sunrise glinted off her feathers, highlighting the deep reds, coppers, and hints of blue and green. Staying high, watching for trouble, she followed the powdery sea into Magic.

Morning, Theo drawled, pouring coffee into an old, crazed mug that said ‘World’s Best Brother’. He’d recovered from proving that point, which hadn’t been fun. When he returned from Florida, he asked Topper put a spell on the cup and make it unbreakable. Some things mattered, and this mug was one.

Dude, Zac said, nodding at the coffee.

With an squint, Theo gestured at the pot. Help yourself, Zac, and no reality exists where I’ll answer to ‘Dude’. It’s Theo or Sheriff. Get used to it.

Awesome!

Cross California off my list. Zac’s the nicest warlock I’ve run into, some are real bastards, but the surf-stuff got old after five minutes.

So, Du…, er, Theo, the bird I mentioned last night was still there, and it followed me here.

Theo set his mug down, rose, and strolled out the back door, glancing up at the roof. Nothing. He walked along the side of the Sheriff’s office, eyes wandering across the front of the building, moving up to the roofline.

Quirrup!

Morning. You looking for Magic, New Mexico? I’m Theo, and I’m the Sheriff here. You are welcome and safe in our town of those with, er, unexpected abilities. If you want to come in, I’ll leave the door open.

Theo returned to his steaming cup, dropping his dusty boots on his desk and taking a long swig.

You catch it?

Warlocks and their power moves. Theo shook his head, letting the silence stretch out.

Oh, yeah, Sentient. Autonomous. My bad.

Is he ever going to ditch the surf-speak? My patience is dumping to zero.

Tashi alighted with a ruffle of feathers and stepped into the office. It’s that surf guy, Zac. Better than cute, he’s super hot! And that Sheriff, I’m getting a good vibe off him; he is something else. Maybe he flies, too. She peeked around the room, seeing several shirts hung on pegs in the hallway leading toward the back door. With a flutter, she rose, snagged a shirt, and touched down.

Theo stared at her, recognition dawning. You’re a shifter?

Her beak full of white cotton, she jerked her head.

Theo rose, moving at half-speed and stepped towards her, reaching a long arm over and opening the door to the restroom. Sorry about the mess, Ma’am.

Tashi bobbed again, hopping around the pile of white to reach the bathroom and yanking the shirt in after her. She shifted, tossing the men’s oxford over her body. Good thing that Sheriff is tall. This is long enough to cover the important bits if I act like a lady. No dancing, Tashi. It’ll do for now. If I stick around, I’ll need to set up a base. Her hair rose, strands sliding out the doorway, tugging. Dammit. Grabbing her unruly hair in both hands, she twisted it, jamming a pen she found on the edge of the sink deep into the twist. Stay put! I have to conduct some serious stuff here. Tugging at the pen, her hair wiggled in protest. Be