Astral Covenant Online

By Michael Malit

Our world has been blatantly sundered in two—good and evil, love and hate, right and wrong, realism and idealism, belief and blasphemy. Our inspiration has been compartmentalized into these myopic channels. So then why, alone in our dreams, are we able to reconcile these conscripting dichotomies? Why then, do we consciously accept these boundaries of light and darkness? We at Umbral Gaming have made it our mission to dispel these hollow sanctions. Our platform is built upon making the world of our dreams and the waking world one and the same, a new world dedicated to lucidity. By utilizing mental alignment galvanization to achieve integrated consciousness kinesthesia, Astral Covenant Online will change the world as we know it. Forever.

—Umbral Airetsa, CEO of Umbral Gaming

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781648011139

Book preview

Iblinked awake sleepily. Must have blacked out again. A hand traveled slowly down my stomach to tease the waistband of my underwear before delving deeper beneath the material. I stretched and yawned. I spent most mornings waking up next to someone. Breath fanned across my bicep, and a woman sighed, pressing her breasts against my side.

What did I do last night—well, who did I do? Names, names…nothing came to mind, but I couldn’t really be bothered to remember when I didn’t care. A man’s voice murmured sleepily beside me, and I blinked.

Um…

My voice registered on his sleep-muddled thoughts, and he flinched, yanking his hand away immediately.

What the fuck? He bit out hoarsely. His eyes were wild like he couldn’t understand he’d woken up next to a dude. I couldn’t remember if he had been enthusiastic or not.

I remembered his name was L-something because I’d told him my name was Lucas and his girlfriend made some stupid remark about us both starting with the letter L. Grasping alliteration is the core of all sexual relations after all.

Calm down. We were both here for your girl.

Last night we—why did I…, he began to splutter.

Guess he had been enthusiastic about me. Poor guy compromised his identity.

I could see why a girl would find him attractive, but guys didn’t interest me. His girlfriend was hot in a conventional way, I guess. They had a nice place, though. Maybe if L-something could chill out, I could use their fridge.

I felt the girl’s fingers tracing the tattoos along my arm, a bunch of esoteric symbols that I don’t remember getting tattooed. I turned to find her tongue tracing her lips unconsciously, blue eyes half-lidded with desire and intent.

Haylee…what the fuck are we doing in bed with this guy?

She rolled her eyes. It was your idea.

He moved toward me aggressively, and I sat up and placed my hand firmly against his chest. He stopped, and his eyes fixated on me, the anger twisting into lust. Sometimes, it feels like a person’s energy rises up to meet my touch, like it can sense the void in me and is eager to correct nature’s anomaly. Although that would require a world where there was more than what you could see, a world with depth. Fresh out of—

The door to the loft suddenly exploded off its hinges, and I turned curiously to see who else was joining this party.

A man entered, followed by two women. He had blond close-cropped hair and furious blue eyes, well-defined features, and was an inch or two shorter than my six foot four, though he looked even larger from all the muscle on his frame. The woman to his left had long red hair—impossibly red to be natural—and blue eyes, and to his right, a woman about equal height, five foot ten. If the left was the sun, this one’s raven hair and tiger-flecked eyes would be the moon.

Whoops, overshot it. Red smiled unapologetically.

L-something beside me rose up angrily. What the hell do you think you’re doing?

The redhead walked up and grabbed his arm along with his girlfriend’s and looked at them intently. Don’t mind us, just go back to sleep and forget you ever woke up before noon.

The two of them slumped lifelessly in bed, and before I could move, the blond man grabbed my chin and sized me up. His eyes relaxed themselves, and I almost swore white light suffused his irises.

You’re what I came here for. Let’s go. He dragged me along as he moved toward the door, and I twisted out of his grip.

Two things. One, I’m going to put clothes on, and two, you can kindly fuck off. My eyes darted about for my pants and shirt and finally came to rest on them in the corner of the bedroom. I bent and retrieved them before kicking my legs into the jeans and sliding the black tank over my head.

The man watched me silently until I was dressed and then shrugged. You don’t have a choice in the matter, you see—

The redhead tilted her head to the left and beamed, Umbral came to play. Shadow, you got this?

I’ll clear the way. All the air and light in the room seemed to surge forward as the other woman became the center of the universe and then vanished.

I should be shocked by this right? Someone emotionally stultified usually has a very intimate connection with the logical, but—

Get down! she shouted, and the blonde threw himself at me as the windows to the apartment exploded inward.

He fumed. They’re attacking this openly?

There’s no screaming. They must have a psychic with them. I hate psys. Red sighed.

Witch, run interference, and when you find the origin, tell Seeker to take it out. His hand dug into my arm. "We’re leaving. Now."

Nothing they were saying was making sense, but what did make sense was there was something attacking the apartment. That was all the reason I needed to jump up and follow after the guy. The woman they called Shadow appeared before us again in a shockwave that forced me back a few steps.

Down is a no-go, Witch. I secured the stairs. Let’s move.

Well, if you don’t want to clear the downstairs, then let me do it. I’ve been waiting for a little exercise. Witch grinned.

He shook his head at her. No. I won’t risk Rune getting hurt.

She looked at me and rolled her eyes before giving him a mock salute. "Fine. Do it your way, Seraph."

Witch? Shadow? Seraph? So that left me to be… Rune? What the hell did that mean?

Witch, lead the way. Shadow, cover us. He barked out and then rounded on me. Stay close to me. He ordered. Not like I had much choice in the matter.

Witch charged out the room and made her way to the stairs, her long leather jacket fanning out behind her as Seraph placed his hand between my shoulder blades and urged me along. I shot a glance back at Shadow and saw something that looked like ink coiling up her arm before I lost sight of her.

What’s the plan when we get to the roof? Got your own private helicopter or something? I mused.

Yeah, Seraph said without missing a beat.

Wait, seriously?

He owed Seeker some cash. Boys and their toys.

I heard Witch’s voice echo from within my head like I had consciously summoned a memory of her saying these words before. No pressure, no sense of forced entry. Just simply there and then gone. She smiled over her shoulder without stopping her long strides, and that confirmed it.

Three floors up, Witch froze, cocking her head toward the outside and began to mouth words with no sound, and I assumed she was communicating with whoever Seeker was.

Well, that blows.

Witch, what’s wrong?

We have got to get onto the other stairwell. She flicked her wrist, and the stairwell door mimicked her gesture without her missing a step.

Seraph shouted after her as we ran, What is it? What’s wrong?

They know we’ve found Rune. They aren’t using discretion anymore. Summoning magick has been called into—

A low moaning bellowed out from behind us before a swift crescendo into a high-pitched wail. We turned as one toward the stairwell we had just been in, and it would seem fear was a feeling my body could still synthesize.

A long mess of white spiderlike hair appeared just below the top of the doorway. It began to pool on the floor like rain running down a storm grate before it was followed by a face stretched too tightly across a skull and charcoal black eyes. It fell to the floor slowly like it had been suspended by marionette strings.

The back of my thoughts dictated I abdicate my morbid curiosity and continue to remove myself from any space that thing could possibly perceive, but for once, my emotional center was on overdrive, and my physical completely stagnant as I stood there frozen in place. It really is just one or the other for me.

It laid there like a discarded doll before a bleached white hand clawed out, and then another as it pulled itself across the floor faster than such a method of locomotion could enable.

I felt Seraph’s hand like a vice around my wrist as he yanked me toward him, and the spike of fear disappeared as quickly as it had taken hold of me.

I’m here, Rune. Focus on me. White light emanated from his eyes, and I felt sensation return to my body as his gaze burrowed into mine. His eyes searched mine like he was looking for something within them before he yanked me along again.

A series of daggers animated themselves into a circle in the air around Witch as we ran past, but Seraph yelled out, Don’t bother. We need Rune’s power for a chance of beating that.

I’m supposed to top telekinetic daggers? I snorted derisively as I watched the blades continue to spin around her.

She locked her jaw stubbornly, and the blades took aim.

Witch. He said the word flatly, and her eyes wavered before the daggers returned to her belt.

Have it your way, boss man. She took off without further reticence. We hopped the stairs two at a time and quickly burst out onto the roof without further incident.

Seraph kicked the door shut behind us before pressing a hand to it and closing his eyes. Light flared out over the surface of the door before he retreated to my side. The ward won’t hold off a wraith very long. Where is Seeker?

She shook her head. He stopped mental contact with me about five minutes ago. Something’s wrong. She looked more irritated than concerned.

Another shockwave about bowled me over, and I wheeled to find Shadow standing behind me. More guards on the way.

The wraith crashed against the door behind us, and icy branches encroached from the seams.

Shadow eyed the door. I might have to use a weapon for this.

Seraph ran to the edge and peered across to the building beside us. Damn it, too far to jump. Witch, can you—

I’ve been training my powers for precision. I wouldn’t recommend flying Witch airlines. She interjected.

You don’t need to. We only need the initial burst to clear the gap.

Oh well, if you’re willing to chip in on the workload, it might work.

I stepped forward. Why not teleport across?

Shadow shook her head. My power doesn’t work that way. I can’t take others with me unless you want to wind up a corpse on the other side.

Fine. I’ll go first. If I don’t make it, you mutant guys have a better chance than me.

Mutants? They echoed in unison as the door rattled once more behind us.

I smiled. No time for arguments.

I turned and sprinted to the edge, kicking off with all the strength I could muster. It was exhilarating—the feel of the earth falling away beneath me, and for a split second, I became part of the sky. I live my life without constraints. If I was going to die, I shouldn’t change my disposition now.

A surge of force shoved upward from beneath my feet, and I felt myself propelled up and over the building’s ledge. I rolled instinctively to cushion my fall and laid there for a second, feeling the adrenaline of cheating death. I grinned over at the three of them and gave a thumbs-up.

Seraph nodded to Witch before sprinting to the edge and leaping forward just as the doors exploded open behind them. An icy javelin came streaking through the air at Witch as she threw herself sideways to the ground, narrowly avoiding being skewered.

I stared in horror as Seraph fell. I reached out for him uselessly, and he did the same, eyes locked on mine.

"Tyrenell."

There was no way I could have heard that whispered word from him, but I did. It gripped my heart; and I felt my body, soul, and mind merge together for one perfect moment of realization. All the noise of the city faded to nothingness in my ears, and I felt more lucidity than I’d ever known.

Save Cade.

Cade, I whispered. The breath that left my lungs became the air itself, and the atmosphere became an extension of my body or I, a manifestation of the wind’s will. Regardless, the world was mine to incite into action. I felt the tattoos on my body awaken in pain like they were being branded anew. Bands of air tore away from my body and surged forward to encapsulate Seraph before snapping back toward me, carrying him along its currents.

He crashed into me, and we rolled over in a tangle of limbs. He looked down at me full of joy. "You remembered." He grinned before his arms wrapped around me, and he squeezed tight.

I don’t know who you all are confusing me with, but I’d like to meet him. He sounds like a real hero, judging by your voice.

I was helpless as I watched Witch and Shadow backing away from the wraith.

You’re a Seraph, aren’t you? Some kind of angel or whatever? Where’s all your exorcist mojo? I demanded.

This isn’t a possession. It’s a full manifestation by a contractor. It has to be destroyed, and without your help, I can’t fully utilize my magick.

Oh, so not mutants. Well, this seemed like perfect rationale considering what I’ve been witnessing.

I aimed my hands at the wraith. Do it again, Cade.

He arched an eyebrow. Do what?

You did something. You said some magick word that drew the wind out of me.

I don’t have a remote. I can’t draw magick out of you. You did that all on your own trying to save me.

Look don’t try and overromanticize this. You said something that triggered that power. Tyr something.

Tyrenell?

My heart thudded again, but no wind, no power. Something about that word… I couldn’t place it, but it felt like a word I had to know, needed to know. Something so important that I shouldn’t have forgotten.

You said that magick was my doing, right?

Seraph nodded in response. The knowledge is already inside you. No one knows the runes better than you do. Will it into being.

I imagined energy pooling in the palm of my right hand like the sensation I felt when I touched a person. Heat and intent transferred through a touch. I imagined using those same lines of power coming from my own body to seduce the wind to do my bidding.

Whether it was psychosomatic or magical, I felt my palm begin to heat, and I continued to focus on that sensation. It continued to grow, but it wasn’t enough. I needed more. Come on, Tyr. Reach deep.

Tyr? Why did I refer to myself as that?

My arm burned with power, and it was almost as if my blood sought escape as crimson runes etched themselves into my flesh, and I bit my lip to stop from screaming. I’d never felt such intense pain in my life as my body felt like it would rip apart without release. I concentrated, wanting the power to come forth and rid myself of it.

More. I chanted silently, knowing that I was dying and yet never had I felt so alive, so powerful.

I stared at the visceral runes lining my arm. I couldn’t possibly read what they said, but today was a day for impossibility, and somehow, I understood them intrinsically and felt compelled to speak them out loud, to give them the release they craved.

Blade of dragon flame that slumbers beneath the earth, arise and let your hunger become the world!

This is what I was born for, I realized in ecstasy as a detonation exploded across from us and the world went red with blood and fire.

*****

I blinked my eyes slowly and registered that I was in a bed with someone’s head resting on my bare chest. Eh, this was the usual manner of waking for me. I shifted slowly to get a better look at who was on me and saw that it was Seraph, fast asleep. I glanced down at my right arm and saw only a faint outlining of the scarred runes. Was that his power? He could heal or manipulate makeup deftly.

He stirred and rubbed his cheek against me murmuring sleepily. I shifted and coughed. His eyes darted open, and he pulled away. Tyrenell! You’re finally awake.

I cocked my head. Tyrenell, Rune. Why do you all have so many aliases for me? My name is Lucas Ephraim.

In this incarnation maybe, but Tyrenell is your true name, your essence.

I eyed him dubiously. Look, I can get onboard with the whole wind-and-fire thing, but reincarnations? Multiple lives? Let’s spread the crazy out over the course of the week.

It’s the truth. Why do you think the name Tyrenell has such a profound effect on you? Something inside you recognizes your true name.

Each time he said the damn word, my heart tried to sucker punch my lungs into being coerced into this farce.

What about Rune? Don’t tell me I have two reincarnated souls inside one body or some crap.

He smiled. That one is an alias like mine is Seraph. It is the name of our Asterion, or gift, you can call it.

Why do you remember all of this and I don’t? Clearly if I told you my true name in a past life, we must have been close friends.

His eyes grew distant. It is part of my gift as Seraph. My magick is closely associated with the earth, thus when I’m cycled through it, I don’t forget… I never get to forget.

There was something in his eyes. Here I was feeling empty about being empty, but somehow, the opposite being reflected in him was even more morose.

Since I’ve yet to be presented with contradictory reasons to doubt you, I’ll go ahead and say I believe you. What’s your true name?

You already know it. Just make sure you don’t say it lightly.

I nodded. They can be used to control us in the right hands, yeah? Or curses and the like?

You remember? He pressed closer.

If you mean a past life or something? No, I’ve just always had a fascination with mythology and magick, Wicca and the sort, and since you brought up ritualism, it made sense.

A crestfallen shadow crossed his face for an instant.

It makes sense. You’ve pursued magick ever since I’ve known you, Tyr. He smiled. Cade Aster.

Cade, I knew that name. Just like Tyrenell, it was something that I was supposed to know, something I shouldn’t have forgotten. But why?

So you’re Cade, and assuming I’m Tyr—

"You are Tyr."

Fine, so how long have we known each other?

He ran a hand across his stubble thoughtfully. Let’s just say it’s been a really long time. Even I don’t remember how long. I have countless memories buried away in my subconscious. I use my magick to create barriers—including barriers within my own head—to partition all but my most important memories. There would be too many memories for me to function cognitively, but let’s get down to the crux of the matter and the dilemma facing us.

He removed his right glove and extended his hand toward me. I’ll briefly connect our energy to help you see auras until you learn to do so yourself.

I clasped his hand firmly and felt power surge through me, warm and radiant. An image of liquid light came to mind as it traveled up through my veins.

An image suddenly burst into my head.

Tyr. This is the only way.

It was Cade; his eyes were shut tight, and all the light that seemed to perpetually surround him had been bled dry as he—

Tyr, focus.

I snapped back to reality and saw runes begin to engrave themselves all along my hands, wrists, forearms, and up along my biceps. The light intensified and began to extend past my skin into the air all around me.

What is all this? I knew what auras were, but I’d never heard of an aura resembling this.

The Astral Codex. So it’s true that your body is a grimoire, he said solemnly.

Countless formulas floated around me in a multitude of colors and shapes, runes, magick circles, languages of various kinds, and information from the ages that I couldn’t possibly decode, yet it felt like, just below the surface, all of it could be open to me.

So I’m a book on top of everything else. This was becoming extremely absurd, even to my standards.

In our most previous life, you found it. The grimoire that contains all the knowledge of our history and our Asterions, but Umbral found you, and you tied the book to your life force before you—

Killed myself. Now that I’ve been reborn, the book has too.

So there was a time when I cared about something.

What’s the dilemma you mentioned? I already knew, but I wanted to hear it aloud.

Since your body is the book, using its power expends your life.

The brand on my left arm and the blackout and the blood—all were very convincing evidence of that conclusion.

You don’t intend to use the grimoire by force? Seems rather roundabout for you all to achieve your reasons for tracking me down.

Cade looked at me evenly. You are under my protection. Not to mention there may be knowledge within the grimoire on how to separate yourself from it. I’m sure that’s how you figured out the binding magick in the first place.

There was a knock at the door before it opened, and a man entered. He had wild dark hair and blue eyes, with a lithe body that suggested he was more aerobic than weightlifting like Cade.

Boss, I’ve found it.

Cade’s eyes brightened. Excellent work. We’ll move out soon then.

The man’s eyes turned to me curiously. So he really is the grimoire. His eyes scanned the air around me, and it was obvious he could see it. He came forward and extended a hand, which I took tentatively. Silver light flooded from his eyes as he lost himself to a trance. I looked over at Cade uncomfortably, but he nodded.

There is no foreign magick afflicting him. His own poisons were willingly imbibed, but his bloodstream is completely cleared up now…good good, his magick is very potent. It’s hard to see it clearly. It’s like there is too much text written on top of one another for me to see him properly. The name is Alec, I’m Seeker.

I’m Lucas slash Rune slash Tyrenell. Nice to meet you. Thanks for the air-evac, Witch said there were some complications?

He frowned. My sister, Ashelynne, can be real dramatic. I was just listening to music, and I didn’t respond to her summons right away. Big whoop.

Psychic siblings? I’m guessing this is how you found me. I thought I was rather under the radar, but I guess this allows you to cheat conventional methods.

I’ve never been able to find you this quickly in other lifetimes, Tyr. I couldn’t have done it without the twins. Seeker and Witch reincarnated as siblings in this lifetime. It’s never happened before.

Alec’s eyes suddenly became silver pools. Bring Rune. He will be needed.

Tyr isn’t ready for combat yet.

That’s irrelevant. He will be needed. Alec turned and strode out of the room.

Cade’s shoulders sagged. I was hoping we’d have more time to get you up to speed.

What are Seeker’s powers? I asked curiously.

Cade’s expression softened as he sighed, Seeker has a way of…acquiring knowledge.

I would insist to come either way. I just found out I’m basically The Avatar, I want to see what I can do. I grinned.

Cade pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes in thought. You stay next to me at all times, do you understand?

Yeah but—

He grabbed the collar of my shirt and dragged me close. At all times. This is not up for negotiation.

I didn’t retreat or break eye contact with him. As you wish, boss.

Let’s gear up then. He moved but then paused, What is the avatar?

*****

The manor was enormous, but then again, if you have lived for thousands of years, I suppose you would eventually make some solid investments. This place was the epitome of solid investment. Polished black marble floors, red silk curtains over the countless windows exposing the place to the outside, and rooms after countless rooms. Through the window, I could see that someone had put painstaking amounts of effort into cultivating the massive garden that surrounded the enormous fountain of an incredibly beautiful woman. Every detail had been carved into the exquisite piece, like it was stone that had been turned to flesh. Cade had mentioned his power was associated with the earth, so this could be his doing, but he also had money; money was the normal world’s version of magick. The statue had been etched by a loving hand. There was no mistaking the craftsmanship. That had to have been done by Cade, perhaps a rendering of his wife? She was stunning.

He showed me to the basement and took me to the right before flipping on the lights, revealing row upon row of weapon racks and combat gear. It was quite the assortment. Even at a quick glance, I could see there was a collection from all corners of the world.

One of my many hobbies. He smiled. He moved with deliberation and hefted a blade before tossing it to me. Try this one.

I caught it by the handle and eyed it up and down. There was a large circular hilt and a fine double-edged blade that came to a razor-sharp point. I examined it further to find runes matching some of the language that was embedded into my body lining the blade.

It was a rapier. I’d taken a few fencing lessons before on a whim in college, which made sense now. This was probably a weapon I used in my past lives and why Cade suggested it.

I tested it with a few experimental thrusts and parries and decided I liked it.

Now, for your first of many lessons in magick, this one is a favorite trick of yours.

Cade came forward and took my hand in his. He traced a symbol in my palm again and again until the shape glistened with light and a pleasant heat that ran up my body.

I want you to trace over this and really wish for this word to be expressed.

I did as he instructed, concentrating on the symbol as my eyes closed. The darkness behind my eyelids began to swim in my vision, and I unconsciously traced the pattern with my eyes, training my vision at each vertex of the symbol.

Looking down, the symbol was now drawn in black like it had been tattooed there.

Rune’s power deals a lot with manipulating energy into new forms by manipulating the word form of the subject. Cade instructed.

I knew what this did. Everything lately felt like a door had been unlocked in my head, and impulses aspiring to become memories were pouring forth. It was scary, like having another person insert their mind into my own, but I couldn’t dismiss the usefulness that accompanied it.

I pressed the weapon blade-first into my palm, and the rune shined as the weapon disappeared.

I know the skills are still within you, but still, stay close to me, Tyr.

I couldn’t stop staring at the rune on my hand. There was a metaphor behind why it functioned as a dimensional sheathe, and it was right on the tip of my tongue, but I couldn’t remember.

Tyr?

I looked up and found Cade holding clothes out to me, which I took and smiled. Sorry, this is a beautiful symbol.

Change into these. Should be your size. He said before moving away to rummage through some cabinets. I stripped off my shirt and pants and tugged the form fitting black pants up to my waist and began looping the belt when a hand traced its way down my back. I looked over my shoulder and saw Cade’s eyes flitting back and forth and realized he was reading something.

Hey, I’m a book, not a public library. I pulled away from his touch.

He growled. Have you been using the book’s power? The runes are becoming even more pronounced.

I narrowed my eyes at him. I haven’t been out of your sight. Besides, you still have a roof over your head, correct?

The book is more than just destruction. He held out his hand, and white light radiated upward before cascading down like water to form a sphere around his hand.

The light was warm and inviting and my hand unconsciously reached out to touch it.

The light doubled in intensity and volume, becoming a small star in the middle of our hands.

You are more than just destruction, Tyr.

I pulled on the black tank top he had offered and then slipped into the leather coat. Runes flared out as if in recognition of its wearer along the sleeves, cuffs, and lapels of the coat before settling into dormancy.

You cut quite the imposing figure. He looked me up and down, then nodded.

This is from my past life, isn’t it?

Cade gave me a look. You remember?

Well, it’s tailored perfectly to my body, and these runes, they definitely recognized me. I felt their acquiescence.

He looked crestfallen again, a look I was becoming very expectant of whenever he looked at me.

I know how an Alzheimer’s patient feels now, you know, if they were aware their memory was supposed to be something more.

It seems callous, but for me, it would be nice to forget, just once.

*****

I found myself nestled between Alec and Ashe in the back seat of a black Dodge caravan with Cade in the driver’s seat and Shadow in the passenger’s.

Ashe’s eyes shone with violet light as she slowly massaged her temples.

Alec looked over at me. She is suppressing our presence from other mage’s detection.

So enemy mages can use a sort of echolocation to detect our aura signatures?

Alec arched a brow. I didn’t realize telepathy was a skill set of Rune as well.

I’m just creative. I shrugged.

The car smoothed its way up to the south side of a large corporate looking building and we parked in the lot.

So what’s the plan? I said bluntly.

Get used to not talking, just think loudly and I’ll make sure we hear. Ashe’s voice resonated in my head.

I can see where their awareness is concentrated the most. We simply avoid those areas. Alec instructed as he moved forward in confident strides.

My brother likes to think of himself as leader. Ashe moved past me with a smile and looked at me from the corner of her eye. We all know I’m the most powerful though.

Alec led us north-northwest to seek refuge behind a pillar. Borrow my sight, Ashe. There are two guards looking through that camera.

Static flared out across the connection and I winced.

All right. I put them on freeze. Let’s bounce.

Kill the camera in the top right corner of the room, Ashe.

Another static flare.

There are two guards approaching us, Alec. Shadow notified.

Yes. I want them to see us.

Two security guards spotted us and raised guns. Hands where we can see them.

Only two? Well this is disappointing.

Conserve your energy. Shadow commanded.

I’ll lose more energy with a bullet to the gut. She responded, annoyed.

Hands in the air!

We all complied and the guards moved closer.

Three.

Identify yourselves.

Two.

One last chance, identify yourselves—

Do your thing, Shadow. Cade nodded to her.

Shadow was a blur of movement as she slid across the floor and kicked the gun out of the guard on the left’s hand. Before either could react, she continued her revolution and swept his leg out so he dropped over her, serving as a shield for the other guard’s bullet fire. She planted both feet firmly on the wounded guard’s chest and propelled him at the remaining guard so that they toppled to the floor. Without losing momentum, she tumbled forward and planted a boot directly into his nose, rendering him unconscious.

Woah.

Alec touched both guard’s hands, and his eyes flared silver.

Got it. He dashed to the elevator on our right and pushed a series of numbers using the butt end of an arrow with a satisfying click.

The doors opened and we filed in. Alec punched in the fourth floor then settled his back against the wall calmly, twisting just enough to rest comfortably despite the quiver and bow he carried.

The doors opened with a ping and he scanned about cautiously, peering his head out to look up and down the hallway.

As Alec led us further, I couldn’t help but wonder where I fit in with this whole mission. I was kind of just following them. I stared down at my right hand and at the blade concealed there within the rune, but then my eyes continued upward to the runes etched into the flesh of my forearm. I know Cade is against it, but if it comes down to it, I know I will not hesitate to use the book’s power. That had to be why Alec insisted I be present.

Alec pointed to a set of double doors locked by a keycard panel. The air rushed away from me as Shadow disappeared, and seconds later, the doors opened up to her standing there.

Cade put a hand on her shoulder before moving past cautiously.

Ashe shook her head. Hello, obvious trap.

Alec moved past them both, straight toward the stage where a large azure sphere appeared to be sitting on the podium, dead center.

Of course it’s a trap, but this is what we came here for. It’s a Zenith Sphere. I told you we would need Rune.

Anticipating my question, Cade turned to me. It basically needs to be overloaded with a consistent form of energy.

I traced the runes with my right hand absentmindedly.

Heat good enough for you?

Cade gripped my wrist and growled. I told you, the book’s power is off limits. If we can get it back to HQ, you can try your runes or we can tap a ley line to—

Someone’s coming! Ashe hissed.

Cade pulled me along as we hopped over a row of chairs and flattened ourselves to the ground. His weight pressed against me as he shielded me with his body. I pushed at him, irritated with being cast in the damsel role, but he motioned me to be silent.

There was a detonation to the air as a concussive explosion tore through the auditorium, followed by the scent of burning wood and ozone.

Everyone stay down, I’m going to create a diversion. Cade ordered.

They have to still be in here. Fan out and search. A man barked out.

Let them get closer.

I pushed at him and tried to squirm out from beneath his frame, not needing to be protected. He glared at me and I saw that his irises were white lights. It was only then that I truly felt the power building in his body.

The sound of boots came closer until I was sure they were upon us, when Cade leapt to his feet and the power he tightly leashed uncoiled into a dome of white light around us. The sudden emanation of force struck two of the mages with the closest proximity and hurled them through the air.

Lightning struck and glanced off his protective barrier, discharging against the ceiling as debris fell opposite us. I stood and marveled at his creation. The light around us was bending into a perfect undulating sphere with Cade at its center, arms outstretched. A soft white light radiated from his body, especially around his shoulder blades, as if wings might sprout at any second. This was why they called him Seraph.

I could make out six more mages in the outer reaches of the auditorium, and one by one, they all raised their hands. Lightning began to build in unison, but right as it was ready to discharge, Shadow phased into the center of their ranks. She seized the forearm of the man on her left and pivoted, redirecting the bolt of lightning into the mage on his right, never slowing in her momentum as she continued to whirl then threw him at the mage on her left. I watched her in a trance. Redirection.

Drop the barrier!

No, stay safe. Let the other’s—

I don’t need to be safe, I need to be useful now. Drop the damn shield.

You need to learn to take orders, Rune.

I always had a tendency to resist authority. I slammed my hands against the barrier and felt it distort beneath my fingers as I darted out from his shield. I planted my feet firmly, grounding myself.

Now to get their attention. Another cheesy incantation ought to do the trick, let me recite something off the top of my head.

Hear my voice oh so frightening…come to me gathering of lightning…

Their attention turned from Shadow toward me, and one in particular exuded a stronger aura.

He’s casting! Stop him!

I felt the lightning manifest before it ever discharged from his fingertips.

I caught the bolt in my hands just as Cade’s energy had suffused me before. There should have been pain, but there was instead, invigoration, and I needed more.

Witch, aim their lightning at me!

Are you crazy? How are you even doing that?

Trust me.

The other mages aimed their lightning at Shadow.

Ashe!

She waved her hand and sent the incoming bolts arching my way. The lightning struck the nexus of energy that I held in my hands, and it surged furiously, threatening to break free, but I reached out and brushed my hands across its surface, containing the power. I felt connected to each of the enemy mages and, on some level, more connected to the universe itself. I hungered for more, needed to satiate my cravings. They struggled in fear, desperate to break the connection, but I reached past their defenses into the core of their magick and urged it to continue flowing freely.

Mine.

The pleasure began to mix with pain as the level of energy threatened to rupture my body’s intrinsic ability to metabolize this magick, but I wanted more. I needed to fill the gnawing emptiness that reverberated within every cell of my body for as long as I could remember.

Cade’s voice was angry. Rune, that’s enough!

I barely heard Seraph over the euphoria ringing in my ears. Never had I felt so alive, so powerful. The runes on my body began to solidify with perfect clarity and I reveled as they took form. A little more energy and I would be able to read the grimoire within me.

The mages began to drop to their knees, the vital energies that ran their systems running dangerously low and I grimaced at them. More! Don’t crap out on me now!

Cade formed a barrier around himself and forcibly interjected his body between mine and theirs, severing the connection.

No, damn it! I’m so close!

You are going to kill them.

The runes began to dim and fade from my body as I squinted, desperate to commit them to memory, but it was as if they were fading from my mind along with my body.

I turned toward the Zenith Sphere and pointed both my hands at it angrily. This paltry level of magick would serve no further use. I released the combined energy directly at the sphere, albeit sloppily. The rays of electricity forked all over and struck the sphere but more the walls than anything else.

Rune, it isn’t enough! I heard Seeker yell.

Use me.

Whose voice was that? It wasn’t Alec’s or Ashe’s. One of the mages?

Call to me.

I heard it as clear as any human voice. The book? It wanted to be used. It wanted to feel the power I felt, the freedom to chase any reality we sought. To break any hold over us.

Cast off worldly constraints and give way to power.

The bands of electricity doubled in diameter and the runes on my body carved themselves upon the air and around my right hand, forming a lens.

Cade screamed and I felt him reach for me from behind. Rune, stop it!

I ignored him.

Heaven’s testimony, make your presence known!

Alec ducked behind his sister and she projected a wall of force before them in anticipation of what I would unearth. The force of the electricity ripped the chairs out of the ground and sent them hurtling through space as the Zenith ruptured and the remaining energy escaped to discharge through the ceiling.

Disappointing. The presence vanished as quickly as it had appeared to be replaced by Seraph.

Are you hurt? Did the book—

"I’m fine, I was connected to a few batteries this time. I feel—phenomenal." It was like the world had become more real, or maybe I had been an illusion and now given flesh, but all my senses were on overdrive, like my soul had moved in three inches closer to the body I wore.

Ashe retrieved a briefcase from within the opened sphere and smiled while Cade growled. You could have killed them! You could have killed yourself!

Ashe waved Cade off. Rune is a badass. Stop lecturing him. We got what we came for, and a convenient exit.

Ropes descended from the ceiling as Shadow yelled down at us, Umbral’s forces will converge on us any second now thanks to the small terrorist attack of ours.

Alec drew his weapon and pressed a button, unfurling it into a bow. He readied an arrow and aimed upward, firing a cable along with it as a makeshift grapple. He cut it loose and then fired a second arrow, pressing a button to reel the wire in.

Shadow shook her head. Lazy.

Says the teleporter. He retorted.

Seraph kneeled and cupped his hands behind him in the piggyback position. I looked down at him derisively. You’ve got to be kidding.

"Last time you used the book, you were out for three days. I’m not taking any chances, now move."

Gladly. I shuffled past him and began shimmying up the rope with ease.

Always so damn difficult. I heard him grumble from below.

I had been in excellent condition before, but now, I’d even passed Alec’s ascent. My body felt so much lighter and more like—my body. Like I was nestled inside of it more securely now and more familiar with how it worked. That must have literally been a jolt to my system, innervating my muscle memory to awaken. I was really buying into this whole past life thing. It was like having test answers without having to study. Just what would have happened if those mages had been stronger? What could I become? The thought was tantalizing.

I pulled myself up onto the rooftop and watched as several black cruisers pulled up.

We have company. Shadow called down.

Alec came to stand beside me, and his eyes narrowed as his gaze flicked back and forth. Armed to the teeth. Police arriving this timely to a crime scene? Bullshit. They must be in Umbral’s pocket. I can take them out from here.

Cade pulled himself up and shook his head. We have enough exposure. We’re leaving.

Alec connected an arrow to the cable at his waist and shot downward to the apartment complex next to where we had parked. He affixed the other end to the roof before tying it off. He deposited several arrows on the ground. Use these to slide down.

I looked at the arrows dubiously.

Don’t give me that look, I engineered these myself. Look—he pointed to the engraved A with a circle around it on the arrowhead—satisfied?

He jumped and caught the arrow between both hands over the cable and slid downward. Watching Alec descend down the cable like a comic book vigilante had to have been the most bizarre and esoteric activity I’d ever observed. Something could still surprise the reincarnated were-book man. Where even am I right now? This has all been a very narcotic nascent episode.

Rune, you jumped off a building before. Don’t bitch out now. Ashe laughed as she followed after her brother.

Bitch? It was a rush to feel the ground plummeting toward me from below as I disengaged and rolled safely at the bottom.

When everyone had made their descent, we hopped in the car and shot out of the lot.

You’re pretty good at this. Ashe smiled from my right.

Guess I’ve been fun in all my lives, huh?

I wouldn’t know. Only Seraph keeps his memories, and he won’t let Alec or I peek.

There’s a lot I won’t peek at either. Cade said quietly from behind the wheel. Was this guy always such a downer? Ashe grinned at me and touched her finger to the tip of her nose.

Veer right! Alec shouted as his eyes exuded silver light.

Cade didn’t hesitate in throwing the wheel to the right, and the car jerked just as the sound of gunfire rang out in the streets.

How did they find us already? Ashe, aren’t you cloaking? Cade growled.

Ashe pointed at me. Blame the human supernova. I can’t eclipse the sun even with my talents.

Behind us. Alec called out.

Cade’s eyes locked onto his rearview mirror and he exhaled. The space behind us distorted and the pursuing car rammed into a barrier.

Cade, pop the trunk. Alec demanded as he hopped over the backseat.

The trunk slammed open as Alec shoved and drew his bow. He fired an arrow at empty space that was quickly occupied by another car’s tire as the vehicle flipped over onto its side, forming a blockade.

They are coming in from the right and left. Ashe yelled at Cade before he floored the accelerator. Cade wove in between cars deftly as Alec continued to hail arrows.

I focused and created flames above my hand. Ashe grabbed my wrist. Let us handle this. Your magick is too flashy and death-y.

She took her place beside her twin and flicked her wrist at the car that gunned it out behind us from a side street. The car’s brakes engaged manually and it flipped over.

Yeah, because this is completely low profile. I yelled. My moment of triumph over having conjured the flame so easily sputtered out along with my deathy magick.

Ashe nodded to her brother and then yelled over her shoulder, They are forming a choke point in front of us. We’re surrounded—

A bullet passed her and exploded the windshield as Cade quickly deflected the glass shards with a shield.

I was talking! She screamed with irritation before sending the attacker’s car into a deli’s wall. She saw my look and shrugged. Atkin’s never worked for me.

Seven separate SUVs reared up before us and Cade sighed. We’re ditching the car.

Alec spun around. You’ve gotta be fucking me, I just finished the repairs on her!

I’ll pay you back. They are creating an Enochian Field. They aren’t playing around. He set the cruise control and hopped into the backseat with us and pulled us all in close to him. Shadow, I’m counting on you.

A screen of light surrounded us as Shadow pressed her hands to it and took in a deep breath.

The world went dark.

*****

I stirred awake sleepily and groaned as my head throbbed with a stab of consciousness. Damn, I really needed to stop blacking out.

A hand reached down to me, and I clasped it as Cade helped me to sit up. You never get used to Shadow’s teleports. We try as much as possible not to use my shielding method in conjunction with her power. She cannot aim properly with that many of us, we got lucky this time.

Ugh, is that what that was? I thought Ashe threw one of those cars at us. I rubbed my neck and looked around. Speaking of Ashe, where did everyone go?

Cade pointed through the window of what looked like our hotel room and said, Keeping watch.

How long have I been out?

Only about an hour. He smiled. Better than the rest of us our first time. This is a safe house I set up. We’ll be good. You passing out was actually a great thing. Your power stopped broadcasting to all of New York where we were.

Is the package unharmed?

He reached into his coat pocket and produced a game case without any cover art. There is a disc inside. Take a look. He handed me the case and I opened it. The disc depicted some rune surrounding a tree drawn in slashing black lines.

I frowned. Astral Covenant Online? So we risked our lives for a videogame?

He picked up a headset that had