Summoned - Black Sorcery Trilogy (Book 2)

By Lisa E. Parry

Two months after the catastrophic events that changed Melissa’s life, Cheri calls for help. Appealing to Melissa’s kind nature, Cheri informs her of her newest mission: to travel to the archaic world of necromancers, answering their call for aid.

With the promise of dragons, commonplace sorcery and chivalrous Warriors, how could Melissa refuse? The only problem is that she will enter Anarch’s domain owing him a debt. How long will it be before he calls in his favour?

Her magical abilities are pushed to the limits, the darkness she has fought to supress comes to the forefront and threatens to permanently corrupt her. Not only does she have to deal with the taint of darkness, but she makes a soul altering discovery that rocks her very being and changes her in a way there is no coming back from.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lisa E. Parry
• Release date: May 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463787533

Lisa E. Parry

Originally from the Black Country, Lisa now resides in Staffordshire, England where she is working full time as a writer. Writing has always been her passion regardless of different career paths she has taken in the past. With a Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communication from the University of Wolverhampton, Lisa has been a Graphic Designer, Icon Designer and a Freelance Designer. Lisa has also taken jobs as an Administrator, Receptionist and Data Inputter. During her time in these occupations, Lisa was constantly writing in her spare time, as it was always a part of her life. However, she believes that her background has been a good foundation for her writing. Design has allowed her to imagine and structure stories perfectly in her head.As a reading addict, Lisa has surrounded herself with hundreds of books and enjoys loosing herself in a good story. Seriously, she becomes unaware of her surroundings, a part of the furniture, and only re-emerges for chocolate. Oh yes, she is a self professed chocoholic, lover of music, predominantly from the 90’s and adores traveling and seeing the world.The Black Sorcery Trilogy is Lisa’s debut New Adult series starting with Witch Hunt, which can be a standalone novel. If you love a fast paced, whirlwind fantasy adventure then this is a series for you. We follow twenty-year-old Melissa Thames as she tries to discover who she is whilst on the run with a witch and her bodyguard simply for innocently buying a dangerous book. Easily done right? Further down the line though, it seems fate had intended her for this dangerous path. With a certain romance forbidden to her, Melissa needs to find her place in a society of modern day witches and warlocks, but also remain hidden before a certain power hungry warlock discovers her.

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Summoned

Black Sorcery Trilogy

By Lisa E. Parry

Summoned – Black Sorcery Trilogy

Copyright © 2017 by Lisa E. Parry

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

This edition first e-published in 2017 by Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; it may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please buy another copy for each person you share it with. Thank you for respecting the hard work and the legal rights of the author.

The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the author is illegal and punishable by law.  Please purchase only authorised electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials.

I would like to dedicate this book to those who are constantly in my corner and encouraging me to push on with my dreams.

To Richard, Eleanor, Mom, Dad, Andrew, Emma, and Robin.

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty-One

Chapter Twenty-Two

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Prologue

Fifty years previously… Leah.

I crashed into the underbrush of a damp forest and froze on all fours. The potent smell of wet grass and moss engulfed me. Such a normal thing – the smell of a forest after the rain. Yet, after everything that had just happened, why should normality continue regardless? Terrible events had taken place. Reality seemed so distant…

Hastily pushing inane thoughts aside, I twisted towards the still-open portal. Rain lashed down in the world I’d left behind – my world. My body was tired and soaked, my legs leaden and unsteady. I was surprised they had strength left to support me after fleeing so far. The box I clutched contained items I hoped I’d never need. It had been passed down through my family and couldn’t possibly be left behind. The bumpy, engraved wood reminded me of the carvings that decorated my home.

With a sharp intake of breath, I realised the book had slipped from my grasp. Placing the box on the wet floor, I scanned the undergrowth for it. A soft, keening note - its method of communicating - emanated from behind me. That sound was familiar; I’d been handling it way too long. It took only a moment for my eyes to fall upon the exact spot where the wretched thing lay. I clutched my sodden dress and gritted my teeth. It was done: I had fled my home and family; the book was now out of his reach. My eyes squeezed shut. My family would be safe now.

Dismissing the damned thing’s existence, I stepped closer to the open portal. Here the sun shone and it was dry, but through the window it was twilight and pouring. I squinted at the heavy sheets of rain, like gossamer curtains being drawn repeatedly.

It shouldn’t be taking this long, where is he?

Come on! I yelled with frustration. Facing the new world without him was inconceivable, and yet he was nowhere to be seen. My warrior had thrust me through only moments ago. Why had he not followed?

I fell helplessly to my knees and pushed hair out of my face. It had plastered itself to my skin. My hand pressed against my stomach. Don’t…don’t leave us, I pleaded quietly.

Recent events unfolded in my mind. I was the book’s keeper. That fact had been discovered by sheer chance. For years, my family had kept the dreaded thing from his knowledge and each generation had succeeded, much to his wrath. His influence over our lands had crept wider over the years, like a shadow consuming all light and hope. The lands he now had dominion over were toxic. People fled and were murdered, simply for not following his regime. His underlings tortured anyone who rose against him, and triumphed in the suffering they inflicted.

After gaining too much power, I was forced to take drastic measures and therefore contacted another world. This was it: the one I now knelt in. The secret of travelling through parallel worlds was another legacy my family had hidden – another secret we kept.

A figure fell through the portal. Finally! Hastily, I scrambled away to make room, only to realise it wasn’t my warrior. A second figure followed. With only a few heartbeats to take advantage of their disorientation, I attacked, temporarily blinding them with an explosive flash of light…

The man recovered his equilibrium first. A dagger flew from my hand, embedding itself into his gut. His yell echoed throughout the forest. To incapacitate the witch, I forced her to the ground with backbreaking air pressure, planting her face firmly into the forest floor and muffling her cries. Her warrior yanked the dagger from his stomach and drew his sword. With one last battle cry, he limped forward, hurling my bloodied dagger back at me. It sang past my ear…

Words, pictures and a hum thrummed through my head. The Magia Ater was providing spells to unleash upon them both and end them. That I should perform such spells was unimaginable - even on them. To do so would crush an essential part of my humanity. I had promised myself I would never let such an unholy shift occur in me.

My hesitation was all the warrior needed. His sword would have decapitated me, had I not frozen it quickly enough. The blade turned brittle and shattered upon impact with my neck, though the force of the swing sent me sprawling across the floor. I lost my concentration and my spell on the woman vanished. My dagger lay in the grass beside me …

Leah! she yelled at me.

Inky darkness floated around my vision. I panted, pain streaking through my neck, head and body. I had recognised the voice and now watched the witch prevent her warrior from finishing me. That would be a mistake she’d eventually regret. My eyes flickered to the portal, still hoping for my warrior to come through.

Leah, you cannot live in this world.

I swallowed and recovered my bearings. How could you possibly know my intentions?

I’ve been following you.

That’s impossible.

Don’t be so silly.

Why? Why you? I was despondent: she had been a family friend. Anarch really had leached in everywhere - including the houses of the higher born. I trusted you.

That’s why you never suspected me. Her blue eyes bored into mine, and my thoughts whirled. She had been part of a close network of trusted friends. Had I been that careless? Had she got close enough to spy on my attempts to contact other worlds? I bit my lip with disappointment in myself. She tossed her wet, brown hair aside and walked past me to retrieve the book. Wow. Here it is at last. She turned to her blonde-haired warrior. Finish her.

With magic dammed up inside me, I acted fast. Now the book was in the wrong hands, she had to be stopped. I pointed a finger at the man bearing down on me, and a destructive pulse of magic stopped his heart. He almost dropped on top of me. No! the brunette yelled with genuine despair.

Grasping the knife beside me, I hurled it at her and scrambled to my feet. It lodged in her shoulder and forced her to drop the book. Conjuring a fireball in one hand, I held the other out to the book. It flew through the air into my grasp. That was the moment another warrior hurtled through the portal. I just had time to notice his hair was black and curly before he tumbled into the woman, whisked her up and disappeared into the trees.

Silence fell. I pondered for a breathless moment on the problems that woman might cause in this world before turning back towards the portal. It was imperative I close it. What if others came through? I kept a hold on my power, and a tear slid down my cheek at the prospect of leaving my warrior behind. What had become of him?

I placed the book down carefully, next to my intricately carved box, the grass brushing my fingers. I had to be resolute. There could be no further delay...

My warrior crawled through on his hands and knees and collapsed on the cushioned ground. I cried with relief and dropped to my knees at his side. Thank the Gods, thank the Gods, I repeated. He looked relatively unhurt until he rolled onto his back. A huge open wound gaped in his chest. It was mortal.

My world imploded.

Chapter 1

Present day… Melissa.

Hurriedly I donned my coat and told Dorian to stay put. I hung my heavy camera around my neck and stood, my chair scraping along the stone floor.

You’re going now…? What about my lottery ticket? Matt complained.

Yup, I’m going right this instant and you know I can’t see into the future, Dumb Ass. I picked my bag up, threw it over my shoulder and gave them all a peck on the cheek. I also ruffled my little brother’s spiky hair, only for him to complain and push me away. I wiped icky hair gel on my jean leg whilst giving him a dirty look. Ew…

Do you want me to take you to the airport? Dad asked looking a little unhappy at the sudden change of events.

No need… I gave him a meaningful look.

Oh, right yes! Sorry, I keep forgetting.

I’ll pop in occasionally, I promised the three forlorn faces. I love you all. That declaration earned me three tight hugs before I left.

Stepping out of the hotel, my breath clouded in the crisp chilly air. It flooded into my lungs and reinvigorated me after being in a warm stuffy atmosphere. Unable to withhold my excitement and relief from having finally made a decision, anticipation made my heart race. Finally, I broke into a run for the house.

I reflected on how cool my family were with my situation. Mom and dad had been there when I’d had the nightmares and they only talked about what I went through if I brought it up. They had been great over these past two months - as I knew they would have been. It was why I had needed the time with them. Normality had been essential for my recovery.

Trees, houses and cars whirled by unnoticed as I picked up the pace. Thinking about the last two months, I found I had been using magic in everyday occurrences, mundane things really, such as cooling Matt’s drink down. I had accepted who I was and finally came to terms with it. But when had this revelation come to me? I wasn’t even aware of it until now.

Dorian’s face swam into my mind’s eye and I ached to see him. I couldn’t just step through the mirror to see him every day as the portal sapped a great deal of energy from me. It was extremely complex magic, but Dorian wasn’t there all the time anyway. He had temporarily taken up residence with Ms Bremer, at the safe house in Stockholm, whilst our house was being built. This of course had overjoyed Ms Bremer - having her adopted son live with her for a while. Even Cheri’s duties had kept her temporarily stationed in Stockholm. Politics…

I darted through the wooden creaky gate to our house. It was a thatched cottage made from the famous warm, sandy coloured Cotswold stone with rose bushes bordering the small square garden. A stereotypical English cottage – and I loved it. It was strange to think that I would soon be calling another house, another country, home.

Finally making it to my room upstairs, puffing and panting, I stopped and tried to recover a little equilibrium with my hands on my knees. I looked at my mirror in the corner of the room, standing at a funny angle because of the uneven floor, and thought of the glowing stone tucked away in my bag. Unsure as to why, I peeled the old worn floorboard up where I had hidden an enchanted dagger. I could remember with perfect clarity the day I was presented with it at Henrik’s castle. Sarah, my dreaded teacher of battle magic, told me I had better use it. To emphasise her point she had brought her malice down on me, hard enough to bring me to my knees in pain.

I turned it over in my hands and let my eyes glide over the designs raised slightly from the blade. Touching the cold bumpy surface, I shook my head at the bitter memory the weapon came with. Yes, I had used it, but to destroy Henrik. Casting my reminiscence aside, I took a deep breath and banished the memory to a deep, dark well in the far corners of my mind, knowing I was ready to return to the slightly dysfunctional world of the Warlocks and Witches.

Now a very familiar feeling, I drew in power from around me and delicately touched the full-length mirror with my fingertips. My senses were permanently heightened from the constant use of sorcery, but I was still amazed at how they dramatically intensified when magic thrummed through my veins. My hearing picked up birdsong outside and a spider scuttling around my room. My nose separated the smell of musty damp from the flowery fabric softener in my clothes - even the wood smoke from another house outside because of tiny cracks between the stones in the house. My clothes felt heavier and rough against my skin as receptor cells became overly sensitive and my vision became as sharp as a hawk’s. Colours blossomed more vibrantly. The feeling was so addictive - no wonder I couldn’t leave it alone.

With disdain, I regarded my reflection in the mirror. The last time I had looked in that mirror, before it had all happened, I had looked younger. I was willing to admit that my experiences had aged me. So my hair was a little longer now, and I was back to my normal weight; but it was my tell-tale eyes that betrayed my ordeals. They looked haunted: dark brown eyes eternally sad, even when smiling, and decorated by shallow lines. It was a consequence I could have done without.

I cringed at the memory of how I had looked when I was rescued: painfully thin, bruised, scarred, my face drawn... Dark circles hung under my eyes and my skin had been pale and sickly. Shaking my head free of those suffocating memories, I let my hand rove over the cool, smooth surface of the mirror. It would do me no good to keep dwelling on the past.

I began the process by releasing energy gradually to trickle through me into the mirror. I watched its colourful progress as it slowly spread across the reflecting surface. It looked like oil coalescing beautifully on the surface of water. Inwardly knowing the matter had changed as my energy drained, I poked my hand through its surface. It felt like sliding on a cold silky glove. The new substance slid effortlessly over my hand as I pushed it through. The surface parted over my hand on the other side, breaking free of the cold liquid. A familiar warm hand grasped it on the other side and I smiled eagerly.

The glass shimmered before the swirling rainbow waters cleared. A pristine image of Dorian appeared standing on the other side, holding my outstretched hand with an infectious smile on his face. I grasped his hand tightly, anticipation and excitement spiking though me like a bolt of lightning as I let him pull me through. My progress was slow and when I finally emerged on the other side I felt the usual disorientation. My knees buckled, but Dorian held me up, and when I got my bearings I looked up at the man who had stolen my heart.

With a look of concern, his keen warm grey eyes quickly assessed me, his slightly tanned face framed with dark brown hair, now a little shorter.

Are you okay? he asked with apprehension. Can you stand?

I sighed as the dizzy spell subsided and nodded for him to let go. Damn, why can’t you be on the other side as well so I don’t flop on my bedroom floor like a stranded sea lion?

He laughed that rare rich laughter that warmed my heart to hear, shoved my camera out of the way, and caught me up in a bear hug. His lips found mine, and the world stopped moving. When he drew back he touched a finger to the sapphire necklace he had given me and smiled tenderly with excitement, apprehension and delight shining in those grey eyes. Let me show you around.

I threw my camera carelessly on the bed and took his hand to explore our now complete house. The kitchen was quite modern with wooden cupboards and again that beautiful heavy black marble. A long island sat opposite the units against the wall with bar stools nestled under one side.

The gym is still the same. He rapped his knuckles on the familiar wall to the entrance and I followed him to the living area. The front room was open plan to the kitchen and I saw big comfy brown sofas facing a log fire. A wooden coffee table sat in front of the sofas on a big cream fluffy rug. The dining table was on the other side of the living room and would be graced by the setting sun every evening. It felt warmer and more homely than his previous bachelor pad had been, which I was pleased about. Those floor to ceiling windows dominated two sides of the building as they had before, spilling light into the open plan area. My eyes were drawn to the tranquil water, and I blinked at the sun reflecting diamonds on its surface.

He took me to the bathroom and I thought it was beautiful, covered in mosaic tiles from floor to ceiling where spotlights nestled. The walk-in shower had two showerheads and a pane of glass divided it from the room. I made an approving noise.

I thought you might like that, Dorian smiled as I moved around the room. I caught sight of a raised infinity bath in the same cream mosaic tiles and when I peered inside it I beheld water jets. I raised my eyebrows with appreciation. I’m looking forward to trying that out!

Nice, I approved. I will definitely be chilling in that.

On our way to the back of the house we passed a stairway, but with a hand on the base of my back Dorian guided me to the decking outside first. Our bedroom had connecting glass doors to it. It was different this time with stairs leading down to a garden which then led to the water’s edge. The sea lapped peacefully onto the shoreline. A small table with chairs sat near the shoreline providing the promise of a serene morning breakfast spot.

After showing me the guest bedroom, which looked almost identical to how it was previously when I had occupied it, we took to the stairs. Excitement coursed through me now. Dorian hadn’t allowed me a single glimpse of this room at all. He had kept it a secret.

After stepping through the door, my eyes darted everywhere as I tried to take it all in at once. The triangular wooden ceiling spanned the length of the house, with glass from floor to ceiling at both ends, and patio doors leading out onto balconies.

A table with a computer faced the window on the west facing side of the house and the whole right wall had bookcases built to fit – right up to the beams.

Oh my god, I chirped happily and turned to see a sofa at the back of the room. There was a punch bag hanging from the rafters. I raised a suspicious eyebrow at Dorian.

So, I can keep you company when you’re up here, he explained.

I threw my arms around him. It’s brilliant! I can edit my photographs up here and read. I mean there’s like enough room for hundreds of books! I squealed with delight.

We went back downstairs and I took off my coat and kicked off my shoes. I made a tea and coffee in the kitchen. That was about all that occupied the cupboards anyway. Then I made my way over to those inviting comfy sofas.

I stopped midway still holding the steaming mugs, Oh! I exclaimed.

Dorian, already seated, looked over. Under-floor heating, he said and gestured to the floorboards. It’s the same in the bathroom as well.

Awesome, I approved. Delighting in the feeling of warm feet, I placed the mugs on awaiting coasters on the glass coffee table. Dorian already had the fire ablaze and I noticed a little heap of logs beside it. The fire cracked and sparked. I naughtily imagined Dorian chopping the wood - shirtless of course.

I snuggled under his arm and sighed. Perfect.

How long will you be here for this time? A few hours? He frowned at me, trying to look nonchalant, but I saw he was expecting disappointment. Whenever I had visited, it had only been for a few hours at the most. It was never enough for either of us, but he had understood and given me my space. My recovery was more important to him.

I stood and retrieved my bag from the kitchen then sat back down to show him the stone. The glowing amber light reflected in his eyes as he studied it. I take it you don’t know why I have been summoned then? He answered by giving me a blank look. It turns out I may be here a while, but truth be told I was ready to come back, although I only just realised it. I had said it blasé, but I felt his body tense and I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling.

So, do I need to stock the kitchen with food now? he asked carefully.

Make sure you get crumpets and cheese, I told him and waited for his reaction with hidden excitement.

In a heartbeat I was off the sofa and being spun around. He held me up at eye level. You are mine now, he declared possessively and before I knew it he was kissing me fiercely. We had fallen onto the sofa and I was just pulling his grey long sleeve jumper off when my phone began playing ‘Jupiter’ by Train. We froze.

Ignore it, I told him and traced the line of the scar on his rib I had patched up from what felt like a year ago.

It might be important, he said regrettably. It could be the Coven.

Damn it! I groaned with exasperation and surprised him by ripping his top off anyway then answered the unrecognised number on the screen. May as well have a little eye candy whilst on the phone. I thought devilishly.

Hello?

Melissa? I’d recognise that voice anywhere.

Yes, Cheri. How are you? I rolled my eyes at Dorian. He tried to sit up, but I pushed him back down and waggled my finger at him. He gave me mischievous a smile.

How are you feeling? she asked, but it sounded like it was out of obligation. Typical Cheri. Are you ready to come back? That was the big money question she wanted the answer to. She probably just wanted to know if I was ready for an assignment.

I’m feeling a lot better, and yes I am ready to go back.

I see. When can you get here? I know I wasn’t going to call you, but I need to speak with you urgently and in person.

I paused pretending to ponder on it. Err, I could get there tomorrow. I’ll see Dorian first to move some stuff in so if you want to pop in at our new house in the evening then that should be okay.

Perfect. I’ll see you both then.

Okay, bye, I shut the phone off and crawled back over Dorian’s delicious body. With the moment gone I just lay there, my head rising and falling with his breath.

He toyed with my hair, Do you think she’ll find out about the mirror?

I let out a long breath I hadn’t realised I’d been holding and felt a twinge of worry. I hope not: it’s illegal sorcery. I don’t think she’ll have any reason to wander into our bedroom, but at first glance she wouldn’t see anything out of the ordinary.

We lay in silence; the only sound was that of the fire cracking and spitting. I stood and looked out over the water. The sun had been setting and the room had grown dark. The fire provided a flickering light.

Dorian was watching me, so I said in a casual manner; I’m going to take a shower. I took my jeans off, turned and walked a few steps. I stopped to drop my polo neck jumper onto the floor and then my socks came off, so I was wearing only my underwear and the necklace. Silently, I padded along the warm wooden floor to the bathroom when finally, I heard Dorian leave the sofa. He spun me around and threw me over his shoulder then slammed the bathroom door behind us with his foot.

I awoke the next morning in our room. With cream walls and the feature wall now a mocha colour, it wasn’t as masculine as it previously had been. The carpet was beige so the whole room had soft complementing colours. I looked at the cupboard doors adorned with mirrors, one containing the mystical portal I had created. It was a spell from the ‘Magia Ater’ and I remembered there was handwriting in the margin declaring it was a spell to leave a scene in dire need.

My attention swung back to Dorian, who was sound asleep, and I instantly banished the mental image of the book from my head. He looked like he should be a model for Calvin Klein or something with his hair a mess, one arm up over his head and the other over the covers.

Regrettably hauling myself out of the warm bed, I found my clothes then touched the mirror to activate it.

You are coming back, right? Dorian asked startling me a little. Doesn’t miss a trick this one.

The mirror had already begun changing. Of course I’m coming back. I need to get clothes and things. I’ll see you in a bit, I won’t be long.

When I came back through, Dorian helped me with my suitcase and then sat on the edge of the bed. He was wearing a white vest top with black combats and I noticed he was looking intently at my camera. Nearly all my energy had been zapped so I plonked myself down on the bed beside him.

These are good, he complimented.

Um, thanks, I replied a little embarrassed.

This is where you live? It’s the Cotswolds, right? I recognise the stone.

I raised my eyebrows with surprise. Yes, it’s Broadway. Only then did a thought occur to me. Y’know, I don’t even know where you’re from?

A smile pulled at the corner of his lips. Funny you should ask. We weren’t far from my hometown the day we kidnapped you. I’m from Mevagissey in South Cornwall. It’s a nice little harbour town. I’ll take you there someday. I lived there until I was six, before my parents moved us to Stockholm. He looked down and pinched the bridge of his nose then closed his eyes. I placed a reassuring hand on his arm. If I understood anything, it was how difficult it could be to banish the past from one’s thoughts.

My hand crept to his shoulder so I could pull him closer, but he stood up. I’m fine. He took a few steps then turned back, I’m heading down to the gym for a while and then I’ll head into town to get supplies. You had better stay here, they don’t know you’re here yet.

I pursed my lips, nodded and watched him walk away. Dorian’s ordeals still stuck to him. He was haunted by his history with his parents, as well as by his recent transformation experience. In the night he had awoken from a nightmare. It was always the same one – he was still a Moroghai with a demon inside him extinguishing the light of his soul. That was my fault. I had mentally tortured him. It had been an accident, but it was of my doing and guilt attempted to crush me every time I reassured him in the night that everything was okay. Guilt was another form of torture I was trying to deal with recently.

Dorian would be in the gym for a while - doing a little anger management and emotion-suppressing - so I unpacked my stuff and then took a steaming cup of tea to the living room. I watched small boats whizz by and the slow progress of a cruise ship in the distance ploughing through the deeper part of the channel. The sun was streaking through breaks in the cloud and lighting up the water in bright sparkling patches. There must be a strong prevailing wind as fluffy clouds skittered across the sky and the shadows on the water hurried to chase their progress.

Something niggled at me. I thought about how Dorian had woken from his sleep when I had used magic to activate the mirror. There was a definite connection between us, but not as strong as it had been when he was a demon. Occasionally I could see mental pictures from his mind and now he appeared to subconsciously know when I used magic. Weird. The reason our minds were now connected was something we were both trying to forget. I hung my head with the weight of my past torments. However, when we were together our memories melted away.

Determined not to stew on things I took my camera upstairs and switched my new computer on. After downloading the images, I smiled fondly as I flicked through each one. I leaned forwards to examine one in particular more closely as I saw a familiar face behind my grinning brother in the foreground.

I laughed. Oliver!

Yes?

In response to the disembodied voice behind me, I almost knocked my camera off the table. Bloody hell! I pressed my hand to my heavily thudding heart, but I already had a smile on my face as I turned to the sound of Oliver’s laughter. After getting over the initial shock, I waited for my friend finally to appear. He was having a good old belly laugh at me, his blue eyes twinkling. I took in his all too familiar appearance. He still wore that same white T-shirt and blue jeans as always and I wondered if that would ever change. I didn’t want him to change one bit though.

It seems you are in my photographs. I told him when he’d finished.

Am I? He responded with blue eyes popping