Zed: A Wizard's Abuse of Magic

By Peter Rendell

This is a work of fiction in the genres of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance. The short stories are in the 'Rings of Gaia' domain. Zed is a prequel to the series "Samantha’s Journey”. The theme is ‘reincarnation’.
The stories contain adult material. Do not read if under 18 years of age or are oversensitive.
Gaia is the soul of Planet Earth. She serves God the creator by looking after herself. Gaia’s intention was to create leaders who could educate and protect the Earth. Man is self-destructive, and Gaia needs agents who would go out and repair the damage.
The Zoe family arrived in Havana, Cuba, in 1600AD. Their large villa, the Villa Zenith, was southwest of the city; some people might call it a ranch. Zed was born, at home, on the 2nd of May 1610AD.
In 1640AD, Zed Zoe was a lawyer; he acquired a ring as a bribe to lose a case. Zed mistook the runes as hallmarks. Zed put the ring on the middle finger of his left hand.
After retiring for the night, ZED looked at his ring.
‘What are you?’ Zed thought.
‘Close enough. The question should have been, “who are you” now, are you going to speak to me properly?’ The reply came into Zed’s thoughts as if his own.
‘But of course. I had no idea that you were sentient.’ The thought conversation continued.
‘Strictly speaking, no. The ring is just a magic ring containing permanent magic-essence that is programmed for many tasks. You might say I am an “artificial intelligence”. Call me, Rezi.’
‘Ok, Rezi. Can you teach me?’
‘Yes.’
Zed was not blessed with long life like Merlin Parnassus, but by using the magic of a ring of Gaia, he had avoided his ‘Day of Reckoning’. With the ring held by Zed and a pregnant woman at 26 weeks term, Zed’s spirit moved into the new baby, his memories were saved in the ring, and his old body died.
First Reincarnation - Female. - Zenobia, born 8-Jan-1680AD - ZEN's story with Maximilian - the duelist.
Second Reincarnation Female. – Zena was born 4-Jul-1760AD. - Zena's story with the Santeria religion. - Magdalena and Panterra.
Third Reincarnation Male. - ZED is reborn on1-Jun-1820AD.
Fourth Reincarnation Female. - Zilla was born 14-Aug-1900AD.
Fifth Reincarnation Male. - ZED is reborn 1-Sep-1974AD. - Abuse of magic by hypnotising Whitetail.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Peter Rendell
• Release date: Jun 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463641248

Peter Rendell

I was born in the United Kingdom; my parents were wardens for the Youth Hostels Association on a smallholding in Surrey. My formative years were spent in the City of Bath in Somerset, where I spent many evenings at the roller-skating rink watching pop-groups such as ‘the Small Faces’, ‘the Yardbirds’, ‘the Trogs’ and many more. Those were the sixties, the days of the Mods and Rockers, where the Rockers did nasty things with motorcycle chains to the scooter-riding Mods.My first book “Merlin Parnassus” recounts the life of Merlin, who was blessed by Gaia; he was given long life and promised he would master Real Magic. He was the wizard at King Arthur’s court. My trilogy “Samantha’s Journey” postulates that magic spells, were defined like computer programs.Your host tells you he is a magician who uses ‘real magic’ in his stage illusions. Would you volunteer to be his assistant?

Book preview

Zed

A wizard’s abuse of magic.

By Peter Rendell

Copyright © 2014, 2020 Peter Rendell. All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

First Edition: 25-Jun-2020

Second Edition: 3-Sep-2020 (new cover).

ISBN: 9780463641248

Genres: Fiction, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance.

***

‘Magic-Essence is created by having sex’ is a tenet for the story. Rape is mentioned and dealt with using True Justice. If you are underage, or find these subjects distasteful, then this story is not for you.

Rating: 18+. There is no underage sex, Incest, or bestiality.

***

Lexical Convention:

‘Telepathy is communication between two persons by thought. These communications are shown in Italics and enclosed in single quotes.’

Dedication

Thank you to my family for their support. The continuous supply of love and mugs of tea helps me keep going.

Chapter 1 - The Fourth Ring of Gaia

The Crown Court, Havana, Cuba…3-May-1640AD 10am

On the third of May 1640AD, Zed Zoe was waiting in his office. Zed was thirty years old, six-foot-tall, clean-shaven, with short black hair and blue eyes; he was dressed in the silks of a barrister. His office, to the rear of the Crown Court, was allocated to ‘Council for the Prosecution’. There was a knock at the door.

Come in. Zed wasn’t expecting anyone; his co-council had already left for the court. Mr Zappa. You should not be in here. Your case will be heard in a few minutes.

Mr Zoe. I have something for you. Lose the case. Zed was handed a ring; it was a blatant bribe. Taking bribes was commonplace; a barrister would fail to submit evidence or to ask vital questions; direct falsification was rare.

The ring looked valuable, and Zed mistook the runes as hallmarks. He placed the ring in the top pocket of his waistcoat and forgot about it.

***

The Villa Zenith, Mariano, Havana, Cuba…3-May-1640AD 4pm

ZED returned to his home in the late afternoon. He found the ring just before sending the waistcoat for cleaning. He had a momentary thought:

‘I could wear it if it was bigger.’

The ring expanded between his thumb and forefinger. The expansion was dramatic, doubling its diameter.

‘Now, you are joking. I meant just enough to fit my middle finger.’

The ring shrank to the stated size. Perplexed, and not thinking about his actions, Zed put the ring on the second finger of his left hand; the ring shrank a bit, so it would not go over his knuckle. He left the ring where it was. It couldn’t harm him, could it?

***

The Villa Zenith…4-Jun-1640AD

A month had elapsed since Zed acquired the ring; he had had several strange dreams, all trying to convince him that Real Magic existed. With tedious law cases keeping him busy, Zed rarely had a spare moment to consider these dreams. He tried to replay the memories of the fateful day he had put the ring on. During a session at a massage parlour, Zed’s mind focused on the ring:

‘Let the ring expand.’

The ring fell off his finger onto the tiled floor. The masseuse picked up the ring and gave it back to Zed. In a moment of clarity, Zed realised that the ring had expanded; it had changed size only when he had been thinking about it; it must be Magic!

***

The Villa Zenith…4-Jun-1640AD, 11.30 pm

After retiring for the night, Zed looked at the ring and thought:

‘What are you?’

‘Close enough. The question should have been who are you? now, are you going to speak to me properly?’

‘But of course. I had no idea that you were sentient.’

‘Strictly speaking, no. The ring is just a ring; it contains the permanent magic-essence that is me.’

‘Do you have a name?’

‘No. I was awarded to the champion of the Isthmian games. I suggest you call me Rezi.’

‘Ok, Rezi. How are we communicating?’

‘Purely by thoughts. It’s called Telepathy.’

‘Rezi. Tell me about your history.’

‘I am the fourth of 5 rings made in Sparta in 500BC. The rings were carried to the Oracle of Delphi where Gaia blessed them. Each ring was loaded with permanent magic-essence empowered with the knowledge of Real Magic. Gaia intended to create leaders who could educate and protect the Earth. Man is self-destructive, and Gaia needed agents who could go out and repair the damage.’

Rezi paused for a moment to allow Zed to consider the information.

‘Continue.’

‘Worship was not required, and so Gaia was soon forgotten. Teachers were required to pass on the knowledge of Gaia. The rings were kept by the Oracle when they were intended to be held by the champions. The faith in Gaia was soon replaced by the worship of Apollo and Athena. Eventually, Christianity became the preferred religion. In 392AD, the Oracle screamed Flee, take the rings to the four winds and we left immediately. Aelius and Alexis carried me to Sicily. After the wedding, I was morphed into a signet ring. In 400AD, they took me to Genoa in North Italy. I was passed down the male line of each generation of Aelius. In 1000AD, I was handed to the Columbus family. I was given to Christopher Columbus on his 21st birthday in 1472AD. Twenty years later, he took me to Hispaniola. In 1600AD, I was brought here to Havana.’

‘Were all your owners, magic users?’

‘No. The Aelius family were scribes, and the Columbus family were navigators. The teaching of magic declined. Within a hundred years, my magic lay dormant.’

‘Can you teach me?’

‘Yes. I could have taught any of my previous owners, but they lacked the imagination to ask. The Zoe family arrived in Havana, Cuba in 1600AD. It took them 10 years to build the Villa Zenith. The large villa was south-west of the city; some might call it a ranch. The Zoe family were staunch Catholics and attended church every Sunday. You were born at home on the 2nd of May 1610AD and raised by your disciplinarian mother. Your education began at four years old. You worked hard on Spanish, Mathematics and Latin. At eleven years old, your world expanded into Classics and Art; you were encouraged to draw and paint. You became a lawyer; it was a unique achievement.’

‘Thank you.’

***

The Villa Zenith…1649AD

In 1649, an epidemic of Yellow Fever threatened the Zoe household. Zed consulted Rezi and confirmed his fears; real magic could not protect him. He quarantined his home, allowing only the cleaners and the cook to enter his quarters. His need for magic-essence and stress relief was high; he fucked both of them. He lost all respect from his staff; they all thought he was mad. When the epidemic subsided, Zed ventured back into the real world. The outbreak had killed a third of the Cuban population.

***

Zed’s introspection, the Villa Zenith…1653AD

Zed had a quandary; his memory spells had no finesse. His subjects would find themselves barely better than a baby. Their autonomic nervous systems were intact, letting them breathe, walk and crap, but their brain was wiped; they must learn to speak and then do their schooling all over again. A memory wipe