A Sorceress on Earth: Discovery

By Jordan Alex Green

Swap Meets, Drug Gangs, and Monsters, Oh My!

Being an apprentice sorcerer from another world, now lost in California, isn't any walk in the park! Dara didn't think things could get any worse, but now she's in a strange new world, living with an ex-lawyer with a thing for lost causes.
Even while she's trying to find a way home, there are people who need help and people who need a clue. And Dara is going to learn the joys of being shot at while she's trying to help.
Combine that with the FBI sniffing around, and Dara's life just got a whole lot more exciting.
Oh, did we forget to mention that it looks like magic is now returning to Earth?
Dara's about to receive a graduate course in thinking on her feet!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jordan Alex Green
• Release date: Aug 25, 2022
• ISBN: 9781005726300

Book preview

A SORCERESS ON EARTH: DISCOVERY

Book II

By

Jordan Alex Green

Distributed by smashwords

If you want to know more about what I’m doing, check out my author’s page, or my patreon! I also have an account on Royal Road!

This is a work of fiction. All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

Check out my homepage, or if you’re interested, my Patreon.

All rights are ©2022 Jordan Alex Green

***

To Kendra’s Teachers:

Thank You For All You’ve Done

Chapter I

The college was on fire. The crystal dome of the library shattered, the priceless books burning.

Dara was on the ground, impaled on a crystal shard.

I… Dara coughed, blood running down her chin.

Oh, Dara, is it! the cloaked figure of the thief loomed over her. Behind him, the strange flying machines of earth were moving too and fro, lances of fire connecting them to the ground. How do you like the world you created?

Dara tried to speak, but she just gurgled, bloody froth on her lips as the figure knelt by her.

Ah, I see you’re unwilling to talk. Don’t worry. Millie will be awaiting you when you arrive at your final destination. He glanced around, face still invisible under his hood. You didn’t catch me, and so I did all of this and returned, returned with tools that enabled me to be a king, not a thief. All thanks to you.

If you had only stopped me. If you had only found me earlier. If you had kept me from finding my own way back to our home. He got up and put one foot on the crystal shard, moving it slightly.

Dara spasmed and screamed.

Well, time for me to be off. After all, your parents’ village is next on my list. Farewell!

As he walked off, Dara tried to dislodge the shard, but the only thing that achieved was to tear another scream from her mouth.

She sagged and felt the ground getting colder as the shadows rose around her and—

Dara’s eyes snapped open. It was early morning, the first hint of dawn peeking in through the windows. Outside, she heard the sounds of cars moving back and forth, someone calling to her child, and further away, the lonely wail of a horn. She reached up, rubbed her eyes, sat up in bed, and stretched.

It was still strange. The sounds, the room, the clothes… everything. Dara shook her head and stood up, the oversized t-shirt falling below her knees. Millie had cleaned out the guest room, but it still felt strange compared to her room back at college.

But not as strange as the dream she’d had.

What was that dream about? A warning to not go home? Or a warning of what might happen if she didn’t get home, or…

Just a bad dream, Dara said to herself.

Kid! Millie’s voice called through the bedroom door. We’ve got a full day ahead. You ready for breakfast?

Uh—yes, sure! Dara paused. Do you want my help?

After what you did with the microwave? Nah.

Stupid microwave. If it was so good, why didn’t it warn me when I set it for too long? Dara shook her head and tried to forget the smell of seared meat as she went to get a shower and get dressed. They had a lot to do, after all.

Chapter II

After breakfast, Millie gestured outside. Let’s go. I want to wander around the city for a while, show you the sights and see about getting some money.

Los Angeles?

Nah, Anaheim. She shrugged. Got some checking to do. See if anyone needs some help they’d be willing to pay for.

Dara nodded. Okay. Um, we’re taking the car?

Millie rolled her eyes. Yes, the car that you haven’t died in once. Seriously, what is it with you and my driving?

It’s fast. And everyone else is driving fast and—

Fine, I understand. Okay, how about this? Since you probably don’t want to be tied to me at the hip all the time, I’ll show you how to use the bus.

The bus? Dara paused. Oh, you mean like the carriage service!

Yep. With how the gas is right now, it can be cheaper than driving.

How do we get on it? Dara asked. Gas prices? What are those?

Millie thrust a small card into her hand. Weekly pass. I just recharged it last night.

It’s magic?

No, the computer keeps track of the money in it, and—you know what, good enough, it’s magic. Millie gestured. Let’s go.

Dara nodded. At least she was wearing a skirt. What is it about this world and pants? They’re uncomfortable and… She shook her head. Right now, that didn’t matter.

Right, Dara said. Let’s go.

The street was quiet, most people having already left for school or work. Millie and Dara stepped to the right to avoid a woman walking a tiny dog that pulled at its leash and snarled at them as they passed.

I wonder if its bite could even break my skin? Dara wondered. The main street was a little busier, cars and trucks zipping back and forth. Millie walked up to a shaded bench.

Just like the carriage service back home. Dara shook her head in bemusement.

Now we wait. Millie pulled out her phone and stared at it. Five minutes.

I think I need a phone, Dara said.

Well, once we solve our money problems, we’ll get you a phone.

After the house is paid for, Dara said.

Right, after the house is paid for, Millie said. Buses go pretty much anywhere you want in Anaheim or LA, but that’s not the case everywhere. She gestured at the road. So, don’t think you can avoid my car all the time.

Lovely, Dara said. Maybe I could learn how to drive?

Yeah, learning’s not the hard part. The hard part is getting an ID. Now, I heard from some guys that there are ways to get fake IDs, but they won’t hold up if you’re walking into the DMV. They’re gonna want more information and will check it with their own database.

Database?

"Big computer file set up where it has everyone’s data. They’ll also want documents that you don’t have. If anyone gets curious why you don’t have them, things will get nasty. Millie glanced at Dara. Trust me, there are places that will sell fake IDs, and most of ‘em are crap. And none of them will hold up if you get the cops interested in you. You’re literally better off saying you forgot your wallet and trying to look innocent or cute."

Dara stared at Millie. Cute.

You say you can’t pull off innocent? Millie asked. But yeah, cute. You’ve got that cute blue hair, you’re shorter than most teens, and you can make big, brown, soulful eyes at people if you have to.

Dara raised one eyebrow. Really.

Hey, you think library time is funtime. Just channel that, and you’ll be fine. Millie shook her head, and suddenly her voice changed. "But I’m not kidding, Dara. You need to be careful because if the cops get interested in you, things could get serious—especially when they find out you don’t exist as far as the system is concerned."

Dara frowned. I can see her point, but I can’t just hide…

And here’s our bus, Millie said, pointing down the street to where a blue and white behemoth was heading for them. Get your card ready, and I’ll show you how to use it.

Getting onto the bus didn’t take much time, and Millie and Dara found themselves sitting towards the back of the bus. A group of giggling children were sitting in front of them, their harassed-looking mother shushing them now and then.

"So, now we’re