A Steampunk Christmas Carol: The Dracosinum Series, #3

By Angelique S. Anderson

In book three of the Dracosinum Tales, A Steampunk Christmas Carol, Professor Langdon has taken over Octagon Inn, and the lives of those around him. Selfish and greedy, no one can do right by him, and he even goes so far as to cut the wages of those working at the inn.

Lord Adrian and Lady Wylie are still mourning the loss of their friend, Professor Cornelius, and are sure that the dreams Adrian had for his esteemed steam-powered carriage setting the precedence for transportation in 1850's New York, are a thing of the past. As Professor Langdon has his own agenda with Adrian's carriage.
Can a down-trodden ghost and three of the celestial beings known as the Immortal Ones, along with a feisty dragon, change Langdon's heart and mind, in time for the Christmas season?

Find out in this fun steampunk twist on a classic tale!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Angelique S. Anderson
• Release date: Jun 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393685371

Angelique S. Anderson

An Avid mover, adventurer and chaser of dreams. She began her journey in Kalispell, Montana. Singer and songwriter in hobby, she is the mother to four precocious little ones and lover of all animals. She hopes to encourage others with her journey and passion for life. She is currently off adventuring in Stockton, Ca with her high school sweetheart.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

October 1851

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Wylie sat on an ornate wooden chair, gazing out of the window, overlooking the streets of Oyster

Bay. A soft blanket of snow covered the road and was beginning to mound up on top of the lampposts. Darkness was falling rapidly like a cold enemy, and she knew that very soon she would need to once more take on her Teselym form and perform her duties. Wylie’s little spirit guide, Quincy, sat on the tiny table, staring wide-eyed at her as she drummed her fingers.

Wylie girl… you must snap out of this ho-hum mood you’ve gotten yourself into. He flicked his tail around, so it gently tapped her drumming hand.

Why? Why must I Quincy? I haven’t seen Adrian in the past few months except to tell him goodbye. This existence is growing old. I know I must maintain the balance, but after everything that has happened, I need more than that. I need an escape. If we were home in London, I could at least take Chaos for a ride and clear my head. Except that’s not an option. I can’t risk being seen there. I’d have no way to explain myself.

The little clockwork dragon was already scratching his head, following his usual habit of always trying to fix things. She was often grateful for his efforts, but at the same time this was not a situation that could be remedied so easily. No, she decided, she would just have to go down there and talk to the Professor, herself.

I know what’s in your head Wylie girl, and I’m advising against it. Adrian won’t be too happy with your meddling. Neither will Professor Granger. You know the Professor doesn’t take too kindly to people sticking their noses in his affairs."

Well, neither do I. I have work to do, so if you don’t mind, just sod off. With that, she disappeared in a flurry of ruffles and stomping leather boots, empathizing her departure with the slamming of the large oak door as she left her and Adrian’s room.

Quincy shook his little dragon head and sighed deeply. The girl would never learn to stay out of the business of others. Never mind that she interfered in people’s lives all night, which didn’t bother her a bit. He wondered if he should turn invisible and flit after her, but if there was one thing he hated more than meddling in the affairs of others, it was being around Wylie when she was angry.

Still, it was his job to protect her... and protect her he would.

He looked upwards and said, Of all the people in all the world, I get stuck with the most temperamental, stubborn, strong-willed female I’ve ever met in my life. Quincy stamped his clawed foot impatiently, but the Immortals didn’t answer. Not that he really expected them to. Quincy’s little clockwork gears whirred and clicked as he lifted off from the table and flew after her.

Quincy shrank to the size of a flying ant, and once he caught up to her, landed on Wylie’s shoulder as she descended the steps, heading for the Professor’s office. Quincy felt Wylie tense up at the sound of voices raised in argument behind the door.

I’d better come back later, Wylie muttered out loud, as she hastily turned and ran back up the stairs. Once back in the room, Quincy grew to the size of a small house cat.

Well, that was pointless, wasn’t it lass? You followed me, you irritating little beast? Of course, I followed you, it’s my job."

Wylie mumbled something under her breath about not having any privacy. Quincy chose this as one of the times he didn’t try to hear what she was saying or read her thoughts.

It’s time for me to ready myself for my Teselym duties, Quincy. Quincy’s little bronze cogs and gears hummed and whirred loudly, as if in full agreement with her.

Aye, ma’am. I’ll take my rightful place. He shrank himself to pin size as the cover of the Dracosinum popped open. The pocket watch style device hanging by a chain around Wylie’s neck was the thing that allowed her to change into a dragon with magical powers. Once he’d curled up contentedly inside, the cover closed over him with a satisfying click. Stubborn she may be, but she never shirks her duties.

Moments later Quincy read Wylie’s thoughts and knew they were headed overseas. Their first stop appeared to be somewhere in Asia, and Quincy could clearly see via Wylie’s vision, a family tied up by an intruder as he was about to rob their home. A child in the vision was screaming in fear, and the intruder's face was twisted in anger. Quincy hoped they could reach them in time.

Wylie used her power to travel instantly to the location, which turned out to be Bangkok, Thailand. When Quincy felt her touch down, he poked his head out of the Dracosinum.

Well, that’s not much to look at.

Indeed, Wylie responded seriously. The stone hut, looked much like the ones the Chinese used in San Francisco, or where ever they found themselves during the gold rush. For the life of him, Quincy couldn’t figure out why anyone would expect to find anything of value in such a crude dwelling.

Kruṇā ch̀wy! A woman’s voice yelled from inside the

hut. Her voice reached a startling pitch. Please help! The

woman had said. Not that Wylie needed her dragon powers of translation, to understand a cry for help.

Wylie shrank to a smaller size, and flitted up to the roof. The tiny chimney was constructed of rocks and clay. The home was crudely built at best, and Wylie had to wonder why the woman and her son were there alone.

Your husband owes me money! An angry man shouted at the woman as he slapped her hard, sending her flying into one of the flimsy walls.

I told you, I don’t know where he is!

I don’t care if you know where he is or not, there is still a debt to be paid.

Please… I have no money… there is nothing I can give you to cover the debt. The woman pleaded with her captor.

The man roared angrily, and grabbing a copper pan from a crudely fashioned wooden shelf, he raised it above his head.

What is this? The man said, referring to the pan.

Wylie could see that he meant to bring the pan down on the fearful woman’s head, so she grew a little larger and rained dragon fire on his back. The man screamed in pain, whirled around and upon seeing a white dragon before him, screamed again in fright.

Wylie lunged at him, taking a chunk of flesh from his raised forearm. That was enough for the frightened fellow, and he flew from the hut, leaving a trail of blood along the path as he fled.

The woman still lay against the wall where she had been thrown by the force of the blow, her little boy had managed to crawl to her side. Flames from the cooking fire had been scat- tered and were licking at their clothing.

Wylie wasted no time as she grew to her normal size, smashing the tiny hut to pieces, and grabbing the pair of them up in her mouth, she took to the air.

Knowing that a single mother living in Bangkok during the Taiping rebellion, was a danger in and of itself, Wylie flew them directly to a hospital in London. It was one she had used many times, knowing that even though the Thai woman wouldn’t be able to communicate, she would still get the help she needed.

The sisters at the hospital were kind and generous people, and Wylie trusted them.

Setting the woman and child on the ground, she told them in their native language,

It will be okay now. She flicked her tail around, using the sharp edge to cut through their bonds. When they were free, they started crying, and the woman grabbed the little boy in her arms.

Chen-Li, the woman sobbed. Chen-Li wrapped his arms around his mother. As Wylie rose back into the air, she saw the doors of the hospital open, and a woman appeared with a blanket, wrapping it around the two of them.

No one will hurt you here, Wylie whispered. It wasn’t the first time she had done such a thing, removing someone from their homeland and taking them to London. Being a Teselym didn’t exactly come with an instruction guide.

"What do you call me then? Quincy asked, a little miffed. A pain in my arse." She answered, and then they were off

to complete their next task.

Back at the Octagon Inn, Professor Granger and Lord Adrian McCollum were involved in a heated discussion. Adrian’s responsibility when coming to Oyster Bay, had been to perfect his invention, a steam-powered carriage capable of rapid travel while carrying multiple passengers.

Things had gotten off to a bad start as an intruder had broken into the barn, not long after they had arrived in Oyster Bay. The intruder had destroyed his beloved invention, affectionately named the ‘Petford Pusher,’ after Lady McCollum’s maiden name.

"The problem, Adrian, is that the