Rogue Spells: Curse Breaker's Companion, #2

By Melinda Kucsera

I defeated the dragon who invaded the "real" world (with help), but not before she triggered a cataclysmic event that could destroy reality itself. If I don't find a way to stop it, my world and everyone on it will cease to exist. I can't let that happen. Armed with my cryptic ghost bear, (until he abandons me for another mystery), I must track down the one person who can fix everything before it's too late.
Journey with me (and my mage father because even sidekicks need shields) to fantastic places. Meet magical creatures and people as we jump through portals in search of clues to solve a life-or-death magical caper.
Rogue Spells is the second story in the Curse Breaker Companion series based on stories from Melinda Kucsera's newsletter. It's a fun portal-fantasy novel that will take you from suburban New York to a place brimming with magic and magical creatures. Join Ran and the cast of the Curse Breaker series in a race against time to save all the worlds, not just their own.
Get Rogue Spells now!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melinda Kucsera
• Release date: Dec 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201507817

Melinda Kucsera

I write fantasy and science fiction novels and short stories usually at sword point. Everyone should have such eager characters......Hello readers!Yes, this is a fictional character speaking to you. My fellow characters just locked our scribe (Melinda) in a tower. She needs to finish our latest adventure.Want to meet us? Hop on over to get our first adventure for FREE: http://www.mkucsera.com/enchantedWe’re eager to entertain you with our magical mayhem. So go download our book! We're waiting for you.

Book preview

Copyright

Rogue Spells © 2021 by Melinda Kucsera

All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. This was a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents were either the product of the author’s imagination or were used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales was entirely coincidental. Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and was punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Table of Contents

Copyright

Table of Contents

What’s in a Name (Redux)?

Curse Breaker’s Companion

The Curse Breaker Series

Want Free Stuff?

Would You Leave A Review?

Before You Dive Back In

I’ll Destroy You

Rogue Mama

Return Of The Bear

Crazy Clockwork Creatures

Electrifying Upgrade

A Friend Of Destruction

Bearly In Time

A Streak In Time

Rogue Journey

Robin Returns

Everything’s Falling Apart

Saved By The Portal

Enter The Dragon

The Games We Play

Fighting Squares

Taunts And Tense Alliances

Can We Trust Her?

Detained & Determined

Mysterious Voices

A Rebel’s Honor

An Unintended Visit

Rocks And Riddles

Searching For Stars

A Bear And A Problem

Into The Darkness

The Watchtower Of The North

Sneaky Dragon

Searching for Clues

On Top of the World

An Argument Of Dragons

Throne Of Bones

We Should Have Knocked

Captive Scribe

Not Off The Hook Yet

Prince of Ink and Sorrow

Flying Dragons

Journey To The Library

Amid The Lies

Find The Book

A Queenly Encounter

Lies In Disguise

Not My World

Would You Leave A Review?

Want Free Stuff?

In Memoriam

About the Author

I’d Love to Hear from You!

Curse Breaker’s Companion

The Curse Breaker Series

His Angelic Keeper Series

Robin of Larkspur

Divergent Heroes

What’s in a Name (Redux)?

Many things. This is just a reminder. Since names are protected by privacy laws, we chose to change the names of all nonfictional people mentioned in this tale except our Scribe. Since her name is her brand, we can use her name as often as we like.

Curse Breaker’s Companion

A zany portal fantasy series based on the stories published in Melinda Kucsera’s weekly newsletter. Sign up at www.mkucsera.com/welcomecharacters to start receiving them in your inbox.

DRAGON SPELLS

ROGUE SPELLS

STORM SPELLS*

*Forthcoming

The Curse Breaker Series

A high-fantasy action/adventure series full of magic and mayhem with a Christian bent.

Other books in the Curse Breaker Series:

(Suggested Reading Order)

Prequels

RELIC HUNTER

Main Series

CURSE BREAKER ENCHANTED

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER

CURSE BREAKER DARKENS

CURSE BREAKER FALLS

CURSE BREAKER BOOKS 1-4

(Includes Curse Breaker Enchanted, Curse Breaker Darkens, Curse Breaker Faceted, and Curse Breaker Falls)

CURSE BREAKER SUNDERED

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER HIDDEN

CURSE BREAKER HIDDEN

SPELL OF SHADOW & LIGHT

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER FALLEN

HIS ANGELIC KEEPER TEMPTED

CURSE BREAKER FALLOUT*

CURSE BREAKER TRAPPED*

*Forthcoming

Want Free Stuff?

So do we! Who are we? We’re the stars of the His Angelic Keeper series, and we’re giving away a FREE preview of Storm Spells when it’s ready. (Yes, we can do that. We’re the stars, remember?)

Just go to www.mkucsera.com/welcomecharacters to grab these awesome bonuses:

Bonus #1:

Your email address will become part of the Newsletter-Dragon’s horde. Who is she? She’s the dragon who delivers our newsletter each week. That’s right.

We have a Dragon Email Delivery Service, and it’s so much more secure! She incinerates threats on sight and curious characters. Your email address will be safe in her claws.

Bonus #2:

You’ll get exclusive content, advanced access to extended previews, and our weekly adventure series delivered safely to your inbox by our digital dragon.

Bonus #3:

You’ll have a front-row seat to our ongoing battle with the Newsletter-Dragon. She’s constantly making trouble behind the scenes for us, characters.

Bonus #4:

You could appear in our newsletter and in a future book. How does that work?

We often ask readers for advice about how to deal with a certain dragon and her shenanigans. When we put out those calls for help, we collect the responses and act them out for your enjoyment both in the newsletter and in the books based on it.

We don’t use your email address for anything other than to:

That’s all the Newsletter-Dragon allows. All other requests are incinerated on sight along with the requester. She takes your privacy seriously. We, characters, do too, and so does our Scribe, but we prefer that Melinda write our books and leave her newsletter to us.

Grab your preview and your FOUR FREE bonuses. Go to www.mkucsera.com/welcomecharacters but don’t tell our author, okay?

—Ran, son of Sarn

Would You Leave A Review?

As fictional characters, we appreciate the feedback we receive. Reviews also help readers choose our book. Since we exist only when someone’s reading our stories, reviews are very important to us. So, if you’re enjoying the magical mayhem in this book, please consider letting everyone know by leaving a review. And tell everyone you meet about us.

Thank you for reading Rogue Spells!

Before You Dive Back In

This is Ran, your host for this adventure. I’m the son and the best sidekick ever of the Curse Breaker, Sarn. He stars in the Curse Breaker books, which are basically any book by Melinda Kucsera that has Curse Breaker in the title.

But he’s not adventuring alone. I help him, except when we’re running for our lives from monsters and other dangerous situations, but those are the exceptions.

The story you’re about to read is based on a series of episodes originally published in our newsletter. We fleshed it out a bit more and added some new fun twists and characters. We hope you enjoy it.

Previously, because there was a previous book in this series called Dragon Spells, and I recommend you read that first. Otherwise, you might be a little lost. We can’t have that because I’m a fictional character. I only exist when you read me. Therefore, I need to make sure you enjoy this adventure, even if you haven’t read Dragon Spells. (But you should read it. It’s a fun book.)

That said, we’re not doing a prologue because we don’t do prologues. But in our newsletters, we’ve always done a short recap each week to remind you, our dear reader, what happened last week. Since our newsletter is one gigantic serial adventure, these little recaps help remind you about what’s going on.

So here’s your recap of Dragon Spells. Don’t worry if you haven’t read it yet. There won’t be any spoilers in this recap. How will I do this without spoilers? It’s my special talent. So here we go.

What happened in Dragon Spells?

A lot of things. The dragon who delivers our newsletters, also known as the Newsletter-Dragon, found a way to escape our world, a high fantasy place full of magic and adventure and oodles of other dangerous things, and somehow, she managed to get to your world, the real world.

If you want to know how, you need to read the previous book. We figured all that out in Dragon Spells, so I won’t rehash that here. But at the end of Dragon Spells, we discovered a much larger problem when the good orb and the bad one collided. (What are those orbs and where did they come from? You’ll have to read Dragon Spells to find out.) That’s where my part of this tale begins, right after they collided.

Meanwhile, back in the fantasy world where I was born and raised, Bear discovered how the dragon reached our world, but a magical book ate him. You’ll have to read this book to find out if he escapes and rejoins us.

We also need to do something about the psychotic clockwork angel who’s bearing down on us. Uh-oh, I better go take my place next to Papa under a strong shield where it’s safe. I’ll let you get on with the book.

Wait! I forgot to tell you there’s an alternative version of Robin from the Robin of Larkspur Series, and my aunt from the His Angelic Keeper series, and that rounds out our cast. Everyone else is either someone from your world or a regular in the Curse Breaker books.

We hope you enjoy Rogue Spells. There’s a lot of rogue magic running amok. Hopefully, we’ll tame some of it. Have an awesome day or night if you’re reading this in the evening. Thank you so much for reading our book.

Remember, fictional characters only exist when you read us, so read our books often, please. And don’t forget to tell your friends, family members, neighbors, and even your enemies about us. The more people who read us; the more real we become.

Sincerely, your favorite character, Ran, son of Sarn.

I’ll Destroy You

The green glowing sphere protecting us from a wave of debris flickered. Uh-oh. That was bad. I squeezed Papa’s leg as that debris slid closer. It was taller than me and full of sharp things like broken cinder blocks and pieces of metal. If it fell on us, we’d get hurt real bad. Papa, why’d your shield flicker? Now would be a bad time for his magic to stop working. Papa, is something wrong?

Papa sank to one knee, forcing me to let go of his leg. He rubbed his forehead as his shield guttered. Something’s interfering with my magic again.

How can that be? The bad orb is gone. I glued myself to his side, and he hugged me as a laugh rang out, startling us both.

You idiots, don’t you know what that dragon left behind? Metalara pointed at something small and metallic crawling around the rubble.

What’s that? I stepped away from Papa to get a better look because the metallic lady stood on top of the debris that was trying to fall on us. But I’m short, so I needed someone to pick me up. I crashed into Papa’s flickering shield before I took three steps, and it bounced me back to his side, where I belonged.

The metal object the Newsletter-Dragon had dropped rose as it shook, and metal tubes extruded from its rounded edges as a clockwork insect unpacked itself and doubled in size.

What is that? I watched its transformation in awe, and I wasn’t the only one.

It’s an Agent of Chaos. Get away from it. Auntie Sovvan pushed Uncle Miren and I behind her. She spread her long arms wide to keep us there, but Papa didn’t move, earning him an annoyed look from his twin. That means you too, bro. That little thing can do a lot of damage.

What the hell? Auntie Sovann’s gray eyes widened as a metal hand wrapped around her arm as Papa’s shield fell.

But the debris didn’t fall on us. His magic shoved it backward, sending it cascading across the room and away from us before its green glow winked out.

Metalara threw my aunt aside. This all makes sense now. She stalked toward the clockwork insect like a woman on a mission.

Maybe it made sense to her but not to the rest of us. Though maybe Metalara was losing her mind. She was banged up but still dangerous, and there was an evil gleam in her pink-glowing eyes.

A black substance wept out of the fist-sized hole in her chest, but she didn’t notice that, just the clockwork roach burrowing into the debris. Metalara dove after it. I’ll destroy you.

Are you okay? I asked as Uncle Miren helped my aunt up. She’d landed near the hole the giant book had made. It had left the building after it had eaten the dragon, and good riddance. I didn’t want to eat anyone I loved, and it wouldn’t if that book stayed gone.

Yeah, I’m fine, no thanks to Ms. Psychopath over there. Auntie Sovvan shook her fist at the furiously digging Metalara. But she had to shield her eyes as a bright flash almost blinded us. What was that?

I shrugged because nothing looked any different when I could see again. A scream startled me, and I leaned into Papa’s leg and pulled his cloak around me. It was cold here and getting colder because of the giant hole in the wall. The boiler was buried under a lot of debris, and it was probably broken beyond repair, so there wouldn’t be any heat coming from it anytime soon.

What was that sound? If someone needed help, then I wanted Papa to help them.

The new problem the dragon mentioned. I guess it was too much to hope those orbs had completely cancelled each other out. I suppose we’d better go see what they’ve become and do something about them. Auntie Sovvan climbed onto the mountain of debris without tripping over the hem of her once-white angel robes, but she froze at the top of the pile. Everyone back away right now.

Why? What’s wrong? Uncle Miren tried to step up next to her, but Auntie Sovvan threw an arm out to stop him.

She hopped off the debris pile and pulled my uncle along in her wake. Everyone, please back away right now. Auntie Sovvan’s eyes were wide and scared.

I’d never seen her like this. Until now, I thought nothing could ruffle my aunt, but something had. I craned my neck to see around Papa. He liked to stand between me and potential sources of danger, like the heaps of debris covering the floor in unsteady piles. But some pieces were precariously placed. They could fall at any moment, so he’d put me behind him where it was safe. But his body blocked my view. No fair.

What did you see? I asked my aunt when she drew even with Papa and blocked my view even more. Drat.

What is it? Papa grabbed her arm, stopping her.

We have to go now. Auntie Sovvan pulled, but Papa held fast to his twin. I should be draining you, but I’m not.

And I’m glad you’re not. This is the most time I’ve spent with you since you returned from the dead. Papa stared at her.

I’m still dead. I haven’t returned. I’m just visiting until an angel drags me back to the afterlife again. But we really need to— Auntie Sovvan pointed.

Papa rolled his eyes as he cut her off mid-sentence. You’re missing the point.

No, you haven’t made any points, but you just interrupted mine. Auntie Sovvan met Papa glare for glare. She was a feisty one, and that inner fire was burning away her fear.

Will you quit it? I’m trying to have a serious conversation with you. Papa shook her.

Quit what? Auntie Sovvan raised a brow in challenge.

Bickering with me. Papa rolled his eyes. I don’t remember you being this contrary when you were alive.

Oh, but I was. You were just a lot quieter then, so I had to verbally spar with other people while you watched and enjoyed the show. But that doesn’t change the fact that we need to go now. Auntie Sovvan stamped her foot. She was wearing sandals, so it made a loud thud.

Why? It’s not like you to run away from anything. Papa held tightly to Auntie Sovvan.

Trust me. We should run away from this now. She twisted her arm out of Papa’s grip and grabbed my hand.

Weakling. Metalara crushed something in her hand, then blew the remains away as she rose. She stood between us and the hole in the wall. No matter, there’s now two less Agents of Chaos to destroy. Prepare to die.

What is an Agent of Chaos? Uncle Miren beat me to the question. No fair.

I tugged on his cloak. Hey, that’s my question, I said when Uncle Miren glanced at me.

My teenage uncle shrugged. Does it matter who asked if we get an answer? He directed that last part to the metallic lady approaching us at a deadly swagger.

Well, no, I said, but I wasn’t sure about that, so I bobbed up on my toes and stared at her too. Maybe our combined stares would pull some words out of her. It worked on Papa sometimes. Light glinted off something behind Metalara. There must be some metal in the hole in the wall.

They’re bad, and we should run. Auntie Sovvan backed away, taking me with her.

Did you have to destroy this place? Melinda poked Auntie Sovvan in the side when we drew even with her.

But I’d wondered the same thing. Auntie Sovvan didn’t usually cause property damage, so she looked a little embarrassed at that turn of events.

I didn’t destroy anything. The book did. I was just along for the ride. Auntie Sovvan shrugged helplessly.

Another scream rang out—the one I’d dreaded hearing. Uh-oh, the apartment building’s management association must have finally noticed what was happening, and they sounded angry. I didn’t want to meet them because then I’d have to explain how a bunch of fictional characters and a digital dragon destroyed the boiler room. My family had tried to save it, but some things just couldn’t be saved. At least no one got hurt, except the dragon, but she didn’t count.

Metalara seized up as a loud clicking sound echoed off the walls. Changes come in threes. She convulsed as the broken gears turned slowly in her chest, and her wings glowed a warm orangey-pink. They had little gears in them too, and they whirred when she moved.

Behind her, an army of clockwork insects scuttled over the debris scattered across the tiled floor, and everything got really wavy and smeary like the world outside the hole in the wall was melting. It couldn’t really do that, so I tried not to worry too much about it.

Auntie Sovvan backed up until a wall stopped us and squeezed my hand. Sarn, come here, please.

What are those things? He asked as he joined us. I grabbed his hand too.

Agents of Chaos. There’s never just one. They always travel in armies. Auntie Sovvan stared at them in equal parts fascination and horror as those creatures flowed over everything in their path, heading straight for Metalara. Melinda? Auntie Sovvan extended her other hand to our Scribe.

Hmm? Melinda looked up from her phone after hitting the save button.

Is there another way out of this building? Because we can’t go that way anymore. Auntie Sovvan nodded to the hole in the wall the Agents of Chaos had entered through.

Yes, up those stairs, but that way might not be safe since one of those beams reduced part of it to a rubble pile. Melinda pointed to the stairs in question. They were next to the entrance to the laundry/boiler room.

There’s a sliding glass door in her apartment too. We could go out that way, I suggested, so I could check on the portal. If things got too scary here, we couldn’t escape unless the portal to our world returned. That was the only way we could go home again. Had that portal reappeared?

I glanced at the closed door to Melinda’s apartment. Thankfully, it was outside the danger zone and hadn’t been destroyed. I couldn’t go to her apartment until Auntie Sovvan let go of my hand, but her grip was like iron, and Papa was now holding my other hand just as tightly as if he knew what I was thinking.

Sometimes, Papa was too observant, but he was so tall, all he could see right now was the top of my head unless I happened to look up at him. That was why he often picked me up. Right now though, I wanted to be in his arms for a whole different reason.

A black spot had appeared dead center in that hole in the wall. But it wasn’t filling that hole as it expanded. It just looked that way because I was small and looking up at it.

That black circular thing must be floating in whatever was turning the world outside this building into swirling colors. I hoped it wasn’t a giant finger. Papa and I had faced many dangers, but I drew the line at giants. They could eat me and not notice, and that would make Papa, Auntie Sovvan, and Uncle Miren sad. Maybe Melinda too if she looked up from her phone long enough to notice my demise.

Changes come in threes, Metalara sang as she spun drunkenly, scattering the Agents of Chaos. First the orb, hide it, take in all the power— She raised a second gleaming finger as she spun, arms akimbo.

Then launch it into the sky. Watch it fly, way up high— Metalara trailed off again and raised a third finger. Then the enemy comes to turn the tide, make chaos win over order. Never again. Not on my watch. She threw her head back and roared. Not on my watch. I will destroy you all.

Uh-oh. We were in trouble now.

Rogue Mama

[Earlier]

Mommy! What are you doing? Rosalie shouted as Robin spun the wheel.

I’m following that book. Robin hit the call back button on her phone, and the call switched to Bluetooth as it rang.

Why are we following it? It’s just a really big book. Nor did Rosalie sound happy about the unplanned side trip.

That’s why we’re following it. Normal books aren’t as long or as wide as an SUV. They don’t glow, and they certainly don’t fly. But this one did, and that made it interesting. Beyond that, she had to follow it. That book called to her as if it was hers, but that was impossible. Robin stepped on the gas as the phone continued to ring. Come on, Strella. Answer the call. I just talked to you. I know you’re home.

Mommy! Rosalie shouted.

What? Robin couldn’t take her eyes off the road to see what was the matter now.

Don’t drive so fast. It’s not allowed. Rosalie pointed at the sign, stating the speed limit for this road wasn’t as fast as Robin was driving.

I know, honey. Robin swerved around another car.

‘Then why are you speeding?"

Because I don’t want to lose that book. And there were quite a few people out for a Sunday drive. Robin hit the gas pedal again as she turned into the long curve. She might have taken it just a tad too fast. But she couldn’t lose that book, not until she discovered how she was connected to it.

Mommy! Rosalie clung to the car seat.

I know, honey. I’ll slow down when it does. Robin punched the redial button on her phone screen.

Hey, I saw you called a few minutes ago. What’s up? Strella asked, and her smooth voice flowed out of the car’s speakers.

Mommy’s trying to kill me! Rosalie shouted, and the microphone picked that up.

Robin didn’t bother to dispute that because her daughter’s claim was ridiculous. Rosalie was securely belted into the back seat, and they weren’t going that fast. Route 9 North had too many curves for that.

Now, sweetie, your mom would never do anything like that, Strella said. Robin, ixnay on the speakerphone, okay?

Can’t do that. I’m driving, and you should be too.

Why? Is something going on? Strella sounded interested.

I’m chasing a rogue story up Route 9 North. I just passed the Croton Harmon train station.

It’s just a giant flying book. I don’t see what’s so special about it. Rosalie threw something at the back of Robin’s seat.

Really? Strella must have covered the phone because her next words came through muffled but still intelligible. Hey, Kat, get your shoes and keys. No, don’t change clothes. No one’s wearing pants. PJs are fine. Robin’s chasing a story. Strella’s voice came through crystal clear again as Kat’s hurried footsteps faded. Sorry about that. So, tell me about this book while wifey gets her act together. How large is it?

Nine by six feet by one foot. There was writing on the cover. I think it said Rogue Spells, but it was hard to see. Robin swerved around a slow car.

Got it. Okay, I’ll search for it on the way.

Who’s driving? Kat’s voice came through, but she sounded far away.

I am. I’m the more aggressive driver. Take the phone, so you can talk to Robin and web search at the same time, Strella must have said to Kat because her voice was muffled.

Okay, we’re hitting the road. Where are we going? Kat asked.

That’s what I’m trying to figure out. Hang on. Robin leaned on the gas pedal, but the book shot off the highway with her passenger holding on for dear life and vanished behind a line of trees nowhere near an exit. Damn it, I lost it. Robin pounded the heel of her hand into the steering wheel. But the book was still nearby, she could feel it. She just couldn’t see it.

You lost the princess who says she’s not a princess too, not just the book, Rosalie reminded her.

What princess? Kat asked. Strella must have put them on speakerphone.

There was a woman with the book, but she was just a character, not a Scribe.

What will you do now?

What else can I do? I’ll take the next exit onto the road paralleling this one and look for the book. I can’t believe I lost it. Robin hit the steering wheel again.

I’m surprised you didn’t go off road. You are driving a truck.

Nah, there’s too many trees. I didn’t want to risk it. I’ll find that book. Its Scribe must be close by.

Mommy, there’s a book back here, and it’s glowing.

What? Robin glanced in the rearview mirror. Indeed, Rosalie pointed at a purple glowing object as it slid off the seat. That wasn’t there before.

Nope, it just appeared when the big book vanished. Maybe it’s the same book, just smaller.

I think you’re right. Robin signaled as the exit came up. She barely saw the sign as she turned onto it, stopped for the obligatory traffic light, which was always red on these ramps, and scanned the shoulder for a good place to stop. There was a gravel area a quarter of a mile down. As soon as the light turned green, she pulled off onto the gravel, threw the truck into park and unfastened her seatbelt.

Well, don’t keep us in suspense. What do you see? Narrate for us, Strella shouted over the Bluetooth. Kat probably held the phone.

Well, it looks like a normal-sized copy of the same book we were just chasing. Robin leaned between the seats to get a better look at it.

Rosalie shook her head. "No, Mommy, not ‘we,’ you were chasing the big book. I was just along for the ride."

So noted, Robin muttered as the book flipped open.

What’s it say? Rosalie poked her arm when she didn’t reply.

I can’t read it upside down. Robin reached to turn it, but the book spun on its own to face her. Lines of orderly text striped the page, and among them was her name and her daughter’s. Coincidence? Possibly, but Robin doubted it.

What does it say? Your captive audience, who I might add is driving right now to join you, wants to know, Kat said before Strella could.

Robin paged through the book. It’s a bunch of jumbled notes about some orbs, chaos, order and a bunch of weird scientific terms like entropy, negentropy, which sounds made up, and syntropy. Well, that’s not any better. Someone clearly took creative license here.

"Skip that. Magic