Atlantis Rising Read online

  “Long story. My car’s just a few miles up the road. I was too exhausted to take another step.”

  The drive didn’t take ten minutes. His car looked fine and there was no sign of the assassin. Once his car was running, he waved at the cabby, turned around, and followed him back to town. It seemed his guess about the assassin was right. She didn’t want to attract any attention. Still, he harbored no illusions that she’d given up. As he made the walk to his motel room, he could almost feel her eyes on his back.

  Clean, dry, and dressed in fresh clothes, Merik sat on the motel bed and laid out his full collection of crystals. His personal group sat on one side. Cold, smooth, and inert, they showed no sign of being ready to join the first one on his forehead. The six gray, magic-negating crystals and two clear ones rested on the opposite side while the large red one glittered in the center.

  It would probably be easiest to drive to Stonehenge, but that would leave him vulnerable to the assassin. Maybe a bus or train would be better.

  You cannot enter the circle of stones. The Lemurians’ magic prevents anyone with Atlantean blood from approaching.

  Merik frowned. “Then how am I supposed to free you?”

  A dupe must be found. One with no connection to Atlantis and stupid enough to carry out your instructions without too much thought.

  Merik scratched his head. Maybe he could pay a tourist to do it. No, they’d be sure to ask questions he didn’t want to answer assuming whoever he approached didn’t think he was a lunatic. He’d have to find someone with the correct mindset.

  We have been trapped for thousands of years. There is no need to rush. Best to do it right the first time. You must also seed the world with both the anti-magic and the detection crystals. Give them to those that fear and hate wizards as much as we do, preparing the way for our return.

  “Who should I give them to? I don’t know anyone that could do anything useful for your cause,” Merik asked.

  We leave that to your judgement. Our knowledge of the mortal realm is limited. Just make certain to keep one to protect yourself.

  Merik didn’t need to be told twice. What he did need was to start making plans and doing research. Bringing back Atlantis was going to be a far more complex task than he’d imagined. But he would do it.

  Hero of an entire race. That sounded much better than traveling salesman.

  His wife said he’d never amount to anything. He grinned. This would show her once and for all who was a failure.

  Chapter 1

  The two arms of the motorcycle’s front fork glowed as Conryu used earth magic to shape the prongs into a decorative twisted pattern. The weather on the floating island was perfect today, a light breeze blew and the sun shone down through a clear sky. He was happy to work outside. Behind him a simple shop constructed with magic had a sign over the door that said Koda Chrome. He’d always wanted his own place and now he had one.

  Since the madness two months ago with the Le Fay Society, Conryu had only visited Sentinel City to pick up his mother for a regular, short lunch. They didn’t eat in the city, instead he’d open a portal to London or wherever she wanted to go. The North American Alliance made it clear that they wanted him under their control. He made it equally clear that he wasn’t interested in being anyone’s pawn. They had a warrant out for his arrest should he appear anywhere in North America.

  Not that anyone had the guts to try and enforce it. One of the advantages of being the most powerful wizard in the world was that people tended not to bother you. Still, he saw no reason to push his luck. Better to avoid the place altogether.

  When the forks looked the way the client requested, he snapped his fingers, ending the magic. Another gesture sent the fork floating up into the slot on the bike’s front end. The best thing about magic was that he didn’t need a hydraulic lift. The whole chopper floated in front of him at the perfect height. He sighed, tightened the bolts, and lowered the bike to the ground.

  Done. He’d deliver it this afternoon and collect his payment along with any new projects that had come in.

  “Are you really going to use your magic to play mechanic for the rest of your life?” Maria Kane, the most beautiful girl he knew and the love of his life, stood with crossed arms glaring at the motorcycle like it was the bike’s fault he wasn’t following her preferred course. She wore her white robes and a gold belt at her waist that contrasted perfectly with her jet-black hair. “You could do so much more.”

  “Sure I could.” Conryu wiped his hands on his jeans and picked up the Staff of All Elements. The artifact allowed him to use magic without spells as well as access his private library. “But should I? I could run around, trying to solve all the world’s problems, but I’d probably just make new ones. I figure the best thing for me to do is mind my own business.”

  She snorted. “Like that’s going to last. You’re too important to be allowed to just hang around here. You should at least come back to the Academy with me and finish senior year, get your degree. I’m sure the teachers would welcome you.”

  “And how long before the military showed up to try and take me into custody? No, thank you. When do classes start again?”

  “Day after tomorrow.”

  “Want me to drop you off early? I’m on my way to deliver the bike anyway.”

  “I guess. You’ll pick me up for our Sunday date though, right?”

  Conryu grinned and kissed her. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

  He pointed the staff at an open patch of grass a few feet away and a moment later a door with a knocker that looked like a bearded old man appeared.

  “Prime!” Conryu said. “Quit sulking and get over here. We’re leaving.”

  A black book with an impossibly huge, fang-filled mouth glided over beside him. His familiar had been in a sour mood since it became clear Conryu no longer needed to learn spells. With the staff, he could shape magic at will into whatever form he desired. That didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate everything Prime had done for him. Without the scholomantic he wouldn’t have survived the past three years.

  “A being of my magnificence doesn’t sulk,” Prime said.

  “What do you call it?” Conryu asked.

  “A period of melancholy. I’m over it now.”

  “Good. Kai, watch the fort. I’ll be back in a couple hours.” His personal ninja-slash-bodyguard was currently watching over him from the border of Hell, but she would have no trouble hearing what he said.

  As he and Maria made the short walk to the library doors she asked, “Kai lets you out of her sight without a chaperone now?”

  “If I promise not to do anything dangerous.”

  Conryu opened the door, looked back, and pointed at the finished motorcycle. A light magic force field appeared around it and lifted it off the ground. Galen, the spirit that served as the librarian, didn’t like it when Conryu got oil or grease on the floor. It didn’t matter that it vanished with a thought. The idea of making a mess in the room seemed to offend the ancient spirit.

  He willed the bike to fly in ahead of them, Maria followed it, then Conryu closed the door behind them. Inside, the familiar bookcases stretched in every direction. Only the smell of parchment was missing. Since the books were just physical manifestations of Galen’s memory, they had no smell and little weight compared to their size.

  The only new addition to the library was a case that held a dozen elf artifacts he’d collected. Since he was the only one that could access the library, this was the safest place to store them. Maria had been studying them off and on this summer, but had made little progress.

  “I’ll drop you at the Academy before I head to London.”

  Maria nodded and sighed. “This will be the first time we’ve been apart in a while. It’s going to be strange not having you just a few floors away.”

  “You’ve got the rune stone I prepared, right? If there’s trouble, you can contact me at any time. I’ll be there quick as thought.”

  She hugged him. “
I know you will, but it still feels different. But enough talking. If we’re going to do this, let’s get on with it.”

  Conryu pictured Maria’s room in the dorm and willed the library doors to open. Beyond them was a modest two-bed unit with minimal decorations. Three suitcases sat beside the bed nearest the door. Her parents had shipped them ahead since she wasn’t arriving by train. Her roommate wouldn’t get there until tomorrow, which made this a safe place to drop her off. One of the teachers was bound to notice his presence, but he’d be gone before anyone could reach her room.

  “I’ll miss you,” Conryu said.

  “You could always stay,” Maria said.

  “Not a chance. See you Sunday.”

  She gave him a final kiss and stepped out of the library. Conryu waved and shut the doors. It was just him and Prime for a while now.

  He glanced at the demon book who said, “I’m not giving you a kiss.”

  Conryu barked a laugh and pictured the alley behind Pop’s Wheels, the London bike shop that he subcontracted for.

  Conryu left the library, sealing the doors behind him. As soon as he was clear, he dispelled the force field surrounding the bike and pushed it toward the loading dock at the rear of Pop’s shop. The clatter of machinery filled the air. London was under major construction after the damage Morgana caused. Even with all their resources focused on it, Conryu doubted the city would be back to normal for years.

  He placed the staff out of sight in a pocket dimension. Prime flew along beside him, entirely indifferent to what anyone might think. That supreme confidence, you might even say arrogance, was one of the few things he envied in Prime. Much as he liked to pretend otherwise, Conryu hated disappointing people.

  The door to the workshop was open and a familiar figure stood staring at a bike that had seen better days. In fact, judging by the amount of rust covering the engine, Conryu doubted it had run in his lifetime. Pop liked to buy old bikes and fix them up for resale. The custom work Conryu did for him was just a bonus.

  “Hey, Pop.”

  The old man turned and smiled through his grease-stained beard. He wore a leather apron that had two pockets overflowing with tools and a pair of old battered black boots.

  “Done already, Conryu?”

  “Yeah, see what you think.” Conryu pushed the bike up the ramp, put down the kickstand, and leaned it over.

  Pop walked all around it, nodding to himself. “Gorgeous work as always. I should have brought on a wizard years ago.”

  Conryu grinned. There probably wasn’t another wizard that would bother with this kind of work. They could make so much more money in so many other ways with their magic, it wouldn’t make sense. Conryu did it because he loved it, not for the money. Pop reached into a pocket and pulled out a roll of hundred-pound notes which Conryu accepted.

  “Got anything else for me?”

  “Not this week I’m afraid.”

  “Want to join me for some fish and chips?”

  “No can do. I’ve got to make a little progress on this rusted-out piece of junk.”

  Conryu shrugged. Pop never joined him for lunch, but Conryu always offered. “See you next week then.”

  Pop waved and went back to contemplating his new project. He wasn’t going to make much progress that way, but it wasn’t Conryu’s place to say so. Pop did things his own way at his own speed and that was just the way it was. He must have had money socked away somewhere.

  He left the old man to his work and walked back down the ramp. His favorite chip shop was only two blocks east. After a quick bite he’d head home and work on his own project, a motorcycle made completely using magic. It would be a first he felt certain.

  “Conryu.”

  He winced at that voice; his vision of a quiet afternoon puttering gone in a flash. “Jemma. I don’t suppose you’re here to join me for a plate of fish and chips?”

  “No. A matter has come to our attention. I’m hoping you can help.”

  He turned. Jemma St. Simon was the head of the Kingdom’s Ministry of Magic. She’d aged since the last time he saw her and that was only a month ago. Her eyes were streaked with red and her skin had an unhealthy pallor. The black robe that marked her as a dark aligned wizard was crisp at least and her hair was tied back in a neat braid.

  “What’s the problem this time?” he asked.

  “It might be best not to discuss this sort of thing out in the open. Never know who might be listening.”

  Conryu looked around. Other than a lost Yorkie, they had the street to themselves. Everyone was either working or at lunch this time of day. Not that it mattered. He’d get nothing out of her until she felt at ease.

  With a thought he summoned the staff and opened the library doors. “I trust this will be private enough for you.”

  “It will do.”

  Inside he willed a pair of chairs into being and dropped into one. “Let’s have it.”

  She sat more daintily and said, “You remember the True Face of God cult?”

  Since they were the first batch of lunatics that tried to kill him, he wasn’t apt to forget. “What are they up to now?”

  “Murder, specifically burning future wizards at the stake.”

  “That’s nasty even for them, but hardly unusual. Why is the Ministry interested?”

  “Somehow the cultists have found a way to identify potential wizards as young as thirteen. A new test. We have no details, but if it’s true and not just more of their mad propaganda, it would be a remarkable breakthrough.”

  “If it’s that important, why not send a team of your own? I know you have magic ops teams. Surely they could get whatever it is you need.”

  “I’m sure, but there’s the matter of getting government permission. You see, if there’s one thing that gets the bureaucrats in a twist, it’s interfering in another county’s internal affairs. They’re afraid that if we do it, someone else will feel free to stick their noses in here. Despite the fact that they’re a murderous theocracy, they’re still the government. Which brings us to you.”

  Conryu rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I hate politics. I left the Alliance because I didn’t want to be used by them. What makes you think I want to be used by your government?”

  “Hate us all you want, but it doesn’t change the fact that innocent girls are getting burned alive. We can’t make a difference, but you can. And if you should learn the secret of how they discover the girls at such a young age, I’m willing to buy it for fifty thousand pounds. Save some lives and make some cash, win win.” Jemma looked longingly at the library shelves. “As long as we’re here, I don’t suppose I could take a look?”

  “Nope.” The door appeared at his command. “I’ll think over your offer.”

  When she’d returned to the London street and Conryu sealed the library Prime said, “She’s not telling you everything.”

  “Of course she’s not. Jemma’s as secretive as any other government official. She is right about one thing. If innocents are being killed, I have to try and help. Galen.”

  The ghost of a bearded wizard appeared before him. “Chosen?”

  “Ever heard of a way to identify a wizard before she turns eighteen?”

  “No, though as I’ve told you repeatedly my knowledge isn’t total.”

  “Thanks.” Conryu willed the library back to his floating island.

  First he needed to find the girls, then he’d figure out how to save them. If he got the information Jemma wanted, well, he wouldn’t turn down fifty thousand pounds.

  Chapter 2

  Professor Angus McDoogle sat in the small office at the rear of his apartment and read his latest royalty statement. Sales for Merlin Reborn had dropped by half since Conryu left the Alliance. No one liked being told what to do, but you’d think the boy would have a little consideration for Angus’s position. All Conryu’s bad press was killing sales of his book.

  He tossed the paper aside and it landed on the pile of bills covering his desk. He’d been
so certain that when his theory was mostly validated, a teaching position would open up for him, but no, the deans were all jealous of his success and refused to give him a chance. No doubt they feared he’d upstage them.

  He’d shown them all once and he’d do it again. Angus needed a new project. One that didn’t involve ungrateful children. If Conryu didn’t appreciate all the publicity Angus had generated for him, let him handle his own PR from now on.

  Angus stood, stretched, and walked to the two overloaded bookcases that covered one side of his office wall. The titles were a mixture of scholarly texts and more theoretical pieces. This one about the Tibetan Yeti had potential. No one had yet proven definitively whether the creature existed or not. But that would require him to travel to the land of the Iron Emperor and the immortal ruler of China wasn’t known for his hospitality when it came to outsiders.

  Perhaps another subject. His gaze wandered over the spines as he waited for inspiration to strike. In the end it was the doorbell that brought his search to a close. He wasn’t expecting any guests. As a matter of fact, he hadn’t even had an interview offer in weeks.

  Curious now, he left the office, walked through his living room, and unbolted the door. Standing outside was a delivery man in a brown uniform holding a box perhaps six inches square wrapped in white butcher paper in one hand and a clipboard in the other.

  “Angus McDoogle?” the man asked.

  “That’s Professor McDoogle. Can I help you?”

  “Delivery.” The man held out the clipboard. “Just need you to sign by your name.”

  Angus hadn’t ordered anything and seldom received fan mail. He shrugged and signed. Maybe whatever was in the box would jar him out of his funk.

  “There you go. Good afternoon.” The delivery man handed him the package and marched off with that determined stride they all seemed to use.

  Angus closed and locked the door again before retreating to his office. His settled in his chair and took a letter opener out of the top drawer. A minute and some grumbling and swearing later and he found a finely crafted wooden chest, like a mini pirate treasure chest. Even if it was empty, it would make a fine collectable.