《New York by Night- Vampire Chronicles Book 1》


 One Hell of a Night

    The Crimson Lotus, New York''s most exclusive night club. Normally one had to be either rich or famous enough to even get a chance to wait in the queue. But tonight is about as far from normal as it could get. Before I get too far in my rambling I should probably introduce myself. My name is Jason Alexander Sinclair, during the day I''m a detective for New York''s finest. Working on special interests cases. Which is mundane speech for supernatural investigations. Thirty years ago the supernatural started to show up in our world once more. Panic ensued but a peace was attained within just a few short years. I''m especially attuned for this work, I''m a practitioner. User of the arcane arts, some people are lucky enough to be born with this gift. I say it''s more of a curse but alas we don''t get to choose our genetics. I''m rustled from my thoughts when a man to my left lightly nudges my shoulder. He''s rather tall, being around six foot three, standing almost four inches higher than me. His brown hair is cropped short in a Marine approved style. Square jaw and the brightest blue eyes you could imagine. This is David, one of my best friends and coworker. He turned to the force after being Honorably Discharged after the war. His voice is gruff, not showing the man''s truly kind nature "Jason you look dead. You''re in New York''s finest club. Live a little, it''s not like you have a piece waiting for you at home."


    That one stung, I''d say I''m recently single but that would be a lie. It''s been six months since Jennifer left and I haven''t quite bounced back since. But he is right, it''s not healthy for me to be forlorn like this. And under any other circumstance I would do as he said but I''m working. I fix him with a light glare, my emerald eyes fiercely staring him down. And in a low whisper that I made sure that only he could hear due to the blaring music I spit out "I''m working David. You may only answer to one boss but I have many. This place is run by Vamps and I need to make sure they are following the Accords."


    David rolls his eyes at me, he doesn''t understand the Conclaves. How could he? He is no Magus. He honestly believes that it''s the might of humanity''s militaries that keeps them safe. And while nuclear weapons are a great deterrent, the supernatural has very little else to fear from humanity. It''s the combined efforts of the various conclaves and the Church who does the real work. His hand clasps my shoulder and he shoves a cold beer into my hand. God I hate beer but David wouldn''t take no as an answer, so I quickly down the swill. He couldn''t even swing for high quality beer, Bud Light is what he handed me. "Now Jason, you''re going to get on that dance floor and you will bring someone home with you. I''m tired of seeing you mope around the office."


    A breathless sigh leaves my lips as I force myself to my feet. Before I even realize it I''m dancing. Some hip hop artist is blaring over the speakers and I quickly dance to the beat. Once I get my body into motion I use the distraction to force my senses outward. A rather simple spell but very effective. Within seconds I can tell exactly how many people are in the club. Two hundred and seventy five, each with their own unique aura. Most of the customers are supernatural in some form. I feel several fae dancing rhythmically. I may be a good dancer but I''m nothing compared to the fae. Several lycans are by the bar trying to pick up a dryad. Each taking their own attempt as if they were trying to show up each other. The dryad seemed amused if anything, as if this is a regular occurrence. I quickly change my focus once I feel the two succubi entertaining what appears to be a half-demon. No need to see the private rooms so I narrow my focus down to just the dance floor and bar. Nothing seems out of the ordinary for a supernatural zone. My concentration leaves me and I''m quickly snapped back to my body. A seductive voice caresses my left ear, a warm silky voice that promised pleasures unknown to the mundane. Her hand is placed at my hip. "Well you''re certainly new here. I definitely would have recognized you if you''ve come here before."


    A primal hunger was in her cadence, my body reacted burning with need. It took only a moment before I felt as if my blood had frozen in my veins. She completely escaped my sense, she was able to effectively blind my third eye. A breath gets caught in my throat as I turned slightly to face the woman. Unearthly beautiful is how I would describe her. Perfect porcelain skin not a single blemish could be seen, and a lot of her was to be seen. A form fitting red dress hugs at her curves, a small little number that stretches the term legal let alone modest. Long flowing white hair cascades down past her creamy shoulders. A sheen of bright red lipstick covers a pair of lips that make promises that shouldn''t be said in public. And for the briefest moment her eyes flashed a brilliant crimson.


    Fuck. A vampire, the apex predator of the supernatural world. I take a calming breath, I can''t risk showing fear. That would only go to exciting her further and making me dinner even faster. Once my heartbeat returns to a more normal rate I reply, my voice calm and confident. "First time for anything, may I get your name?"


    She comes closer pressing her body against mine causing me to stiffen in more than one way. I pray that she fails to notice but once I feel her hand trail down my stomach I know that to be futile. Her mouth is by my ear breathing heavily in hunger, be that lust or otherwise, which is not helping my libido in any form. The words come out soft and full of need "Anastasia. And who are you~"


    I try to answer but all that comes out is a moan. Anastasia''s tongue darts out caressing my earlobe and starts trailing down to my neck. I try fighting the arousal burning liquid fire in my veins. It''s then a thought flits through my mind. Why fight it? She certainly won''t risk execution by draining me. And if her actions are any judge, the night will certainly be memorable. I feel all my muscles relax and can feel her shiver of victory. She had me and she knew it. I also couldn''t find it in me to care, I would certainly enjoy being under her ministrations. A little blood seemed well worth it. I finally am able to form coherent words "Jason, it''s a pleasure to meet you" I put a bit of extra emphasis on the word pleasure allowing the thinly veiled offer to be known clearly. A smirk falls upon my lips when I see her shudder involuntarily. Seems like I''m not the only one who is entranced.


    Here''s a small fact about vampires, they love blood. Specifically blood filled to the brim with magical energy. It''s how they sustain their immortality, even the mundane have a bit of energy in their blood. But a practitioner is teeming with mana. Vampires are drawn to us like moths to a flame. Normally this is very bad for us. We generally want to remain unnoticed, but to hell with that I''m certainly enjoying being noticed right about now. Everything about her body is driving me crazy, and she''s allowing my hands to roam around her dangerously.


    I would soon lose any and all control that I have. I want to take her. To claim her and allow her due fill of my life essence. My arousal is immediately doused as if ice water were poured down the front of my pants. I quickly send my senses out and feel a massive buildup of magical power, and anything this large would be far from beneficial for my health. I quickly snap back into my body and barely have time to activate my protective sigils before an explosion rocks the club.


    I feel the blast rock against my barrier, tensing against the strength for a few moments before tearing through it like tissue paper. I''m not sure when I did, but I wrapped Anastasia up in my arms bringing her to the ground using my body to protect her against the blast. Pain blossoms throughout my body as the heat of the explosion lashes my back. Anguished screams pour out of my mouth as the flesh begins to melt from my bones. Within a moment the magic is gone leaving the club silent. I collapse to the ground whimpers of agony echoing through the near silent club. I fight off unconsciousness and try to take stock of the situation. It seems as if the explosion was contained to the dancefloor and nowhere else. Turns out that buildup was no mistake, someone planned this and wanted to make a point. They had to be skilled, that much power and such relatively fine control. I feel my head turn quickly and my eyes are now upon Anastasia''s. Slight concern is clearly visible on her face as her lips move but no words escape. I reach up and touch the side of my head feeling a wet, sticky substance leak down. Blood. That''s why it''s so quiet my eardrums must be ruptured. Anastasia''s eyes turn to a deep crimson and she stiffens. Sitting up straight and completely unmoving, it''s rather eerie to witness. Oh fuck the blood, and she was quite obviously trying to sate that hunger with me earlier. My eyes droop, unable to fight anymore to remain awake. The last thing I remember is Anastasia bringing her wrist down to my mouth as I slowly drift into oblivion.


    Unconsciousness is never a pleasant experience for a practitioner, once the restraints of our mortal mind are loosened we become one with the supernal. We become one with magic itself and it¡¯s hard to retain our sense of self. When we head to sleep we have to cast spells so that our mind can rest and retain itself without effort. It¡¯s like swimming up the current, being washed with the sensations of every practitioner on the planet. Our very life force can be used up if we¡¯re not careful, thankfully I¡¯m very good at this. What most young practitioners don¡¯t realize is that we can use magic while in the Supernal world. Not only that but we are much, much stronger here. Our mortal body is no longer shackling our power, and we can use as much of it as we want with no repercussions. With a quick application of my will I feel my form start to take shape, no longer am I a flowing mass of pure mana. If one were able to see the pure Supernal, which only practitioners are gifted, I would now be a glowing outline of my body. Much better from the formless cloud I was before, far easier to retain my mental faculties when I have a form. The Supernal world is breathtaking, even after experiencing it so many times I cannot quite fathom its beauty. First, there¡¯s no sun in the Supernal world but nonetheless it¡¯s quite easy to see. All around is vast expanses of vermillion. It¡¯s as if you¡¯re floating for there is no ground, just the open beauty of pure, undiluted magic flowing around you. Oh, and making sure you think of it flowing around you is critical. Once you see yourself as one with the Supernal you¡¯re done for. Your mind will inevitably deteriorate as your very being turns into the very magic we use to cast spells. I soon start to feel the shackles of my mind reign in the power of the Supernal. Coaxing it back into my mortal body, it seems like my time here is drawing short. My seemingly endless supply of magic starts to reach its limits, back to my normal reserves. And then came the blackness.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    The first thing I notice when I return to my mortal body is that I am in a completely unknown room. The bed I am lying in is far more comfortable than the one currently in my apartment. Quite obviously made of memory foam unlike my stiff boxspring, I honestly don¡¯t feel like leaving the bed. The sheets are made of the smoothest silk, wherever I am the owner is quite obviously wealthy. I let out a breath to steady myself as I let my senses expand out past my body. I¡¯m alone in the room, and it¡¯s lavishly furnished. A fifty-six inch flatscreen television covers the wall in front of me. I continue pushing my senses forward expanding as far as I can and my breath is taken away from me. This house, no mansion is a better term, is massive. A three story behemoth of a building surrounded by vast tracts of land. Quite obviously I¡¯m out of the city proper at this point. I also feel a slight sense of dread fill me, I know this house. Hell practically every supernatural entity in the state will. The manor of the Vasiliev family of vampires, a russian vampire family and more importantly the most powerful currently active in New York. I¡¯m obviously not being treated as a prisoner due to my current sleeping arrangements, but having the attention of the Vasiliev family is not ideal. ¡°You are quite interesting to watch Jason¡± A familiar female voice echoes through my ear causing me to snap back into my mortal body once again. The light surge of arousal courses through my veins and I have to suppress a shudder. I rolled onto my side, now realizing that I am completely bare for the world to see. Lying to my left, looking completely weightless is Anastasia. This time I cannot keep my jaw from dropping, I thought she was breathtaking while wearing clothes but like this she might as well be a goddess. She is not completely naked but the sheer white negligee is completely transparent. A teasing smirk is on her face obviously noticing my eyes trailing down her body. Her back arches thrusting her chest out for me to see. Her breasts are a perfect porcelain white tipped with bright pink and very erect nipples. I manage to tear my gaze away from her perfect breasts and continue trailing down her body. Her body had a look of softness to it as if she were a cloud given form, but I knew better than to believe that. I know the instant I touch her I¡¯ll be feeling highly dense muscle, if she wanted to she could reach over and tear my head off my body with the most minimal effort. Everything about her is built to ensnare and kill. ¡°Oh I see that you really like what you see.¡± I bite my lower lip suppressing a moan from leaving my lips as her hand brushes over my hardness. My blood runs cold when her hand grasps me from my base and tightens. Not enough to cause pain, but enough to quite clearly convey her threat. ¡°As much as I would like you to ravage me Jason, I think we both need some answers to what happened last night at my club.¡±


    Direct to the point it seems, I sit up but her hand stays right where it is causing me to panic a bit. Seems like I¡¯ll be having this entire conversation under the threat of castration. I feel myself begin to soften in her hand, the fear started to set in and took over my arousal. ¡°Oh no, we can¡¯t have that now can we?¡± This time I can¡¯t stop the moan from leaving my lips as her hand begins to slowly pump. Blood immediately rushes back to my crotch leaving me at full mast once more, damned hormones betraying me at all times. ¡°There we go much better, now tell me Jason who and what are you?¡± I do my best to keep my voice even and steady but the slow and steady movement of her hand made that impossible. A fucking viscious smirk is on her face, she knows exactly what I¡¯m feeling and knows it gives her the advantage in our verbal spar. ¡°I am Jason Sinclair, a special investigator with the New York City Police Department.¡± A gasp of pleasure escapes my lips as her thumb glides over the tip of my arousal. A soft giggle leaving from her sinful lips. She is enjoying torturing me like this ¡°We will get to that in a moment hon, I meant what kind of supernatural being are you.¡± Fuck, her hand speeds up at my moment of hesitation causing me to lose a bit of my control. ¡°I¡¯m a Practitioner.¡± I grip the sheets tightly as she keeps up with her motions. ¡°Well that certainly explains why I¡¯m so entranced by you. Why you smell oh so delicious. Now why were you in my club last night?¡± My breathing becomes heavy as lust courses through me. My mind becomes a haze and that¡¯s when it hits me. She¡¯s using Allure on me, sure most of it is her current actions but the feelings are so intense because of her magic. And I can¡¯t risk casting a spell on threat of castration. Looks like I have to ride this one out to its completion and hope I don¡¯t die. ¡°Two reasons, first a coworker dragged me to the Lotus. And second the Conclave told me to check the area for anyone breaking the Accords.¡± Her grip tightens and a dangerous glint appears in her eyes ¡°So I¡¯m not to be trusted? Do you truly believe I want war?¡± I quickly sputter out a response trying to save my manhood as swiftly as possible ¡°No, not you. They didn¡¯t tell me much. The conclave never does, I think I was supposed to be there to stop whoever planned to bomb the Lotus.¡± Her grip lightens as she returns to her rather enjoyable torture. Not that I would ever admit it to her or any living being. ¡°Hmm you speak the truth, interesting. Why did you help me? You had to know what I am, so why put yourself at greater risk?¡± I raise an eyebrow at her question shouldn¡¯t it have been obvious? ¡°I¡¯m a cop Anastasia. It¡¯s quite literally my job to protect others at the cost of myself. Sure I¡¯m a detective but that doesn¡¯t change the fact that I¡¯m sworn to serve and protect. You¡¯ve done nothing wrong. So the question is really, why wouldn¡¯t I save you?¡±


    Her hand stops its motions and a floored look appears on her face, her hand never left my still erect length but I can see her mulling over my previous statement. Soon she levels a seductive look my way and climbs into my lap. I can feel her heat brushing against me coating me with her need. Her voice was breathless, soft gasps leaving as she begins to slowly grind against me. She wraps her arms around my neck and leans in close to my neck gently kissing the skin. Our moans filled the room, but she still hasn¡¯t bitten me yet. At this point there is no stopping her. Anastasia¡¯s lips brush against my ear almost lovingly her soft moans echoing in my ear sending delightful shivers down my spine. She speaks, her breath just above a whisper but the words are just as powerful as a proclamation none the same. ¡°You are mine Jason Sinclair. You¡¯ve partaken in me and now I shall indulge myself with you. No other shall break this bond that we will create.¡± My eyes widen knowing the gravity of what she said but I have no time to voice any dissidence. Her fangs dig deep into the flesh of my neck, directly piercing my carotid artery. My entire body goes numb with pleasure and loud moans filled the room, I can feel her taking my blood in long gulps. Her body shakes with pleasure, her back arching as she apprehensively pulls away from my neck. A droplet of blood trails from the right corner of her mouth, her eyes a brilliant crimson. In that moment I didn¡¯t care about her binding us together, I didn¡¯t care about the repercussions from the various Conclaves. Hell I didn¡¯t even care about my position in Special Interests. All I cared about was the woman currently straddling my waist. I could blame it on a number of things. I could blame the bonding, or her allure. Hell I could blame the aphrodisiac coursing through my blood. But those would just be excuses, I am first and foremost a man. A man who hasn¡¯t felt a woman¡¯s touch in over six months and here is the most beautiful woman I¡¯ve ever met, and she¡¯s throwing herself at me. I know there are ulterior motives, I know that this is a mistake. But damn it, this is a mistake I¡¯m more than happy to make. I wrap my right arm around her waist and quickly turn us over. Her eyes widen a bit at the sudden change in position but I give her no time to react before plunging myself inside of her. I half expected her to stop me but instead her legs wrap around my waist forcing me deeper inside of her. A howl of a moan escapes my lips as her insides squeeze me for all I¡¯m worth. I knew I wouldn¡¯t last long, a combination of the lack of touch and edging she gave me just moments ago. I can feel her emotions through our fledgling bond, she doesn¡¯t need nor want this to last long. She much like me just wants the release, for our bond to be completed and our lives to change. My hips move quickly desperately trying to find my own completion her moans driving me absolutely crazy. As I felt myself come to my finish I did truly try to pull myself out of her, but her legs gripped me tight as iron and forced me deep inside her as I climaxed. With that our bond was sealed. Permanently. That was how I, Jason Alexander Sinclair became bonded to Anastasia Vasiliev.

 Being Chosen

    I lie there breathing heavily, a thin sheen of sweat covers my body from our previous activity. I keep my eyes close as I took a few steadying breaths, after a few moments I opened my eyes and looked down. Staring back at me is an obviously amused Anastasia the faintest hints of a teasing smile tugged at her lips. Christ she is beautiful, I soon start to feel the pull of her Allure dissipate from me. Now fully in control of myself once more I separate myself from her and notice a rather cute pout coming from the vampire. I quickly squash the emotion coursing through me, the bond is already in full effect. I can feel her hurt through the bond as she brings her knees up to her chest. In this moment she looks small, fragile and I feel like an absolute asshole now.


    Gone is the confidant and seductive vampire and replaced is a hurt woman. Hurt because of my callous action, while I may not particularly care about my own life I do have a soft spot for beautiful women. I sit down beside her and put my hand around her allowing the bond to affect me once again. Immediately she perks back up leaning against me, bonds are integral to a vampire. So integral that they become dependant upon them once they are made. ¡°Why me? Why would you make such a life altering decision with someone you¡¯ve known for less than a day?¡± I can¡¯t stop myself from asking the question, it¡¯s been burning in my mind for a while now. Why even save me in the first place. She takes a couple of moments, I assume to compose herself because she soon has that regal aura about her once again. Her voice is patient and kind, the Russian accent sending a pleasant shiver down my spine, ¡°How well do you know Vampires Jason?¡± I shrug as I rub my neck, the spot where she had drank from ¡°Enough to get by, the sun weakens you to the point where you¡¯re mortal but won¡¯t kill you. In the night you¡¯re near invincible, very little can even hurt you. Magic is fairly effective though.¡±


    A playful smirk tugs on her lips ¡°So you know enough to kill us?¡± To which I nod, ¡°Actually yes, my profession requires me to know these things. If I can¡¯t stop a rogue vampire then I can¡¯t do my job correctly.¡± She trails her hand over my chest causing an appreciative groan to leave my lips. God she knows exactly how to get through my defensives, it must have to be the link between us. ¡°Well Jason, every vampire has what is known as a blood mate. Someone whose blood inherently calls to them, we know this instinctually. Most never get the chance to meet their blood mate, and those that do will do anything possible to enrapture their mate.¡± I can¡¯t help but chuckle softly at that, it¡¯s far too coincidental and way too cliche to actually be true. ¡°I¡¯m calling bullshit on that one Anastasia. Come on tell me the truth, I know the bond is real but what is your actual reasoning.¡±


    Her hand stops dead in the center of my chest and she let out a sigh and sits up straight. Gone is the sultry look on her face and I stiffen, in an unwelcome way, as she turns completely serious. The words coming out crisp and quick ¡°I was hoping you would fall for that Jason.¡± She stands up and I cannot stop myself from staring at her body, her hips sway rhythmically as she strides over to the dresser in the corner of the room. From there she pulls out two glasses and an expensive looking bottle of scotch. She swiftly fills the two glasses with the dark amber liquid before offering one to me. I take a sip and immediately have to hide the displeasure on my face. It was certainly old, the alcohol was potent and burned at the back of my throat but I couldn¡¯t afford to show any weakness now. In front of me was an apex predator and any move could be my last. She sits down beside me again, but I don¡¯t feel at ease this time. Gone is the pleasant feeling and it is replaced with a cold fear, ¡°You are quite perceptive Detective. What I said about blood mates is patently false. I chose you for a very specific reason, you¡¯re quite talented for a practitioner of your age. I could use someone of your particular talents and I¡¯m sure it¡¯s quite obvious that the benefits are quite nice.¡± Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.


    She runs a finger down the side of her body drawing my attention to her breathtaking figure. The vampiress knows exactly how to throw me off my guard. I may throw myself face first towards death without hesitation, but I am still a hot blooded male in my twenties and beautiful women tend to make me a bit more apprehensive. I can¡¯t help the hormones coursing through me, ¡°I won¡¯t lie, what we did was incredible. But, I¡¯m still hesitant to trust you.¡± At this she lets out a hearty laugh and my eyes are drawn to the way her breasts bounce in tune with her melodious laughter. ¡°I would consider you a fool if you were to trust me so easily Jason. Just know that the bond I created is very much real, and it would hurt me quite badly if you were to be injured or otherwise in pain. I¡¯m taking quite a risk by doing this, and I¡¯m hoping the reward will exponentially pay off. It would benefit me greatly if you would continue to grow as a Practitioner, so take solace in the fact that I do not wish to harm myself by hurting you.¡±


    I nod once accepting that answer as truth from the vampire. I¡¯m not about to fall for some destiny bullshit, there is no such thing as destiny. Sure, I know for a fact that gods exist but even they cannot control our actions outside of slightly guiding us. At the end of the day we are all responsible for our own lives and what we do with them. After a couple of moments I finish my scotch and I return the glass to the corner cabinet. I start to stretch working out the kink in my neck before starting to get dressed. A small smirk comes to my lips as I notice the Russian vampiress shameless ogle my naked body. While I may not trust her, the boost in self-confidence certainly is nice. After I get my shirt on I look Anastasia in the eyes once again, ¡°We are going to talk about what happened at the club later. First I need to go to my apartment to change and not smell like sex before reporting to the precinct.¡±


    Before I could blink she is by my side once again, no warning, no signs besides the slight shift of my hair from her imperceptible movement. I stiffen once again as I notice her glare, centuries old vampires tend to not like being brushed off. I cannot stop the flinch as her hand comes up to cup my cheek. Her voice is soft ¡°Jason, please stop suppressing our bond¡± The words were like velvet to my ear but there was no hint of magic coming from her. No Allure to blame on the effect she was having on my emotions. I sigh softly and let my mental restraints free, immediately I¡¯m flooded with her emotions: pride, lust, avarice, joy, and love? That final emotion was rather surprising and clearly that confusion was felt by her end of the bond. Anastasia cups my other cheek with her hand, standing on the tips of her toes she kisses my lips softly. It was a chaste kiss, lasting but a moment, I had no time to register it and kiss back before she retreated with a gentle smile. ¡°Jason, this bond means you¡¯re my Chosen. I have chosen you to be my partner for eternity.¡±


    Her words floor me, I would have to do more research into Vampire society. I did know that this meant she is now my...girlfriend? Fiancee? Honestly, I¡¯m not sure which one fits or which one I¡¯m comfortable with. Everything is just moving so quickly, and I¡¯m far out of my league with what is happening. I let out an exclamation as the vampiress pinches my cheek a small pout on her lips ¡°Stop that. You are MY Chosen, you are capable of handling this or I wouldn¡¯t have chosen you.¡± The slight Russian accent in her voice along with her words starts to soothe my worries. I couldn¡¯t help it, it was almost as if she was made to calm me down. Put on this world to ease my worries. The pout on her perfect face slowly turns into a smirk, something incredibly self-satisfied and I couldn¡¯t bring myself to hate it.  ¡°We will talk later tonight I am rather tired. Return here at nightfall Jason.¡± With that she returns to the bed, the curtains doing their job of blocking out any hint of the sun. As I finish dressing I send a glance back towards my vampire before leaving. It wasn¡¯t until I reached the driveway that I realized just what my mind thought of Anastasia.

 A Familiar Face

    I shove my hands in my pockets as I start to walk back into the city, if I were to walk the entire way back it would take hours. However, being a mage does have its perks. After a rather brisk ten minute walk I reach a Conclave outpost. While it was not one of my outposts, I belong to the Moon Conclave, as a mage I would be allowed access to the teleportation circle. Besides this outpost is run by my master, the woman who took me in at a young age and taught me how to control my rather unstable powers. I¡¯m greeted by a young male receptionist, he wasn¡¯t even trying to hide the fact that he is half-fae. His pointed ears being a dead giveaway, though the lack of fae magic surrounding him tells me that he chose his human half. He looks up at me and smiles ¡°Oh Jason, Lady Cecilia told me to expect you. She is waiting for you in her office I will buzz you right in.¡±


    I sigh softly as I walk through the now open electronically locked door, I raise an eyebrow as I step on through. Wizards could wreck electronics at will and this seemed to be a rather lax security system for the magical world. When I step through however I realize my error, complex wards surround the door frame. Those that weren¡¯t invited would be leaving their magical prowess at the door. A shiver goes down my spine as I notice this, my mentor could be a terrifying woman at times. Thankfully I had access to all of my magic, but in a building with no threshold that level of ward is terrifying. The hallways are simple, painted white with sconces lining the walls giving the building a clinical vibe. Personally I find it very unsettling, though that may be caused more by the rather irrational fear of my master. I continue walking down the hallway, noticing the door at the end. It was a simple door with frosted glass, gold lettering sat in the center of the glass. Cecilia Rencroft, Sun Conclave District Leader.


    I knock on the door twice before stepping into the office, compared to the hallway her office is like a completely different world. The room is warm and inviting, candles keep the room lit. The room smells of spruce and cinnamon, wooden bookshelves line every wall filled to capacity with magical tomes. Set in the center of the floor is a magic circle, imbedded into the floor with what I assume to be silver. It spans the majority of the room, a pentacle shone in the center each point touching the inner line of the circle. A thin circle surrounds the pentacle filled with various runes. Several different types of runes can be seen, everything from Nordic to ancient Sumerian. To be able to create such a complex circle is well outside my current level of skill, I doubt I would be able to attain this for several decades of study. Set along the back wall is a large desk, made of dark wood and humming with magical power. Sitting in the chair is an older woman, looking to be in her mid to late thirties though I knew better. She is well into her three hundredth year on this earth. Long, voluptuous red hair cascades down past her shoulders. Bright red lips and a button nose, the most striking feature is her bright cerulean eyes. Fire dances in those bright orbs, an ancient power of arcane proportions hidden behind the youthful playfulness her aura exudes. My eyes trail downwards, she is wearing a red business suit, a bright red tie lightly tied around her neck.


    A bright smile spreads across her face, deep smile lines visible on her cheeks. Her teeth are a brilliant white. She stands up stepping away from her desk, she quickly moves past the desk I notice that she is wearing a pair of black heels. Her arms wrap around me quickly pulling me close to her. A smile spreads across my face as I hugged her back. Her frame is lithe, though she is far from thin. Condensed muscle like a gymnast or a swimmer, her rather sizable breasts pressing against my chest causes a light blush to spread across my cheeks. She pulls back and kisses my right cheek, thankfully she always seals her makeup and she wouldn¡¯t leave a stain on my cheek. ¡°Jason, it¡¯s been far too long. How are you doing?¡±


    She steps back a youthful pep in her step, her attitude far younger than her appearance would have you believe. I stretch my collar forgetting about the hickeys that Anastasia left on me from earlier. Her eyes zero in on my neck and a smirk crosses her face but she says nothing, thankful for that small reprieve that she lent me I respond. ¡°I¡¯ve been fine, just busy working within the city is all. They have us take on every minor crime a Supe commits, most of these could be handled by a normal officer.¡±


    She sighs nodding along to my statement, she leans back against her desk her shoulders slouched in relaxation. The pose causes her chest to jutt out, her curves accentuated by the dim lighting. The candles flickering causing a rather intimate atmosphere to settle over the room. It had been years since the two of us had been alone like this. It brought back memories of my younger years, running around her office and learning my magic. Things had changed around my sixteenth birthday, our relationship became much closer than master and student. She had helped me through my first real relationship and my first real heartbreak. When I turned eighteen things really changed, the day my apprenticeship was officially over we slept together. This was far from unusual, masters and apprentices often form romantic relationships. Some would even say it¡¯s encouraged by the various Conclaves. Those with an affinity for the arcane live far longer than a normal human, some claim that we are immortal in the sense that we cannot die, but we can be killed. So relationships between Mages is heavily encouraged between those that can actually trust each other. Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°I¡¯ve really missed you Jason, please reconsider transferring here.¡± She looks directly into my eyes, her gaze held many promises. Her feelings were clear she wanted me here with her, not just as coworkers but as friends and maybe more. It was more than tempting, no matter how scared of her I could be, I do care for my master. For Cecilia as a woman. I swallow my immediate reaction, I really wanted to work with her once more. We made an incredible team, but I also wanted to prove myself. Show the world I wasn¡¯t just my master¡¯s student.


    ¡°I would love working with you again Cecilia, we make an incredible team.¡± My eyes lock onto hers, she deserved to hear the honest truth from me and I wouldn¡¯t shy away from her. I would meet her eyes as an equal and explain myself. Her shoulders slump slightly, obviously she could tell where this conversation was going, hell we have had this conversation several times before ¡°But you want to rise up on your own merits. You want to lead your own office.¡±


    I nod once feeling regret come into my thoughts, I still wasn¡¯t completely certain I was making the correct decision but it is what I want. ¡°Yes, the Conclave of the Moon offers me that opportunity Cecilia.¡± She shakes her head a couple of times with a smile on her face, she looks back into my eyes ¡°You can¡¯t blame me for trying Jason, just please keep in contact with me. I don¡¯t want another year to pass without seeing you.¡±


    I smile and wrap her into a hug once again holding her close to me, the lilac scent of her shampoo invading my nose. My voice comes out soft and tender ¡°I¡¯ll make sure to come here more often.¡± I pull back smiling our hug having lifted both of our spirits quite visibly, ¡°Well I have to get to work, I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard of the explosion by now.¡±


    Her head nods in reply, her face becoming much more serious with the change in topic. ¡°I have, I assume you¡¯re here to use the teleportation circle. Feel free to use it, and keep me informed of any developments. I¡¯ll let you know if we have any suspicious activity outside of the city¡±


    ¡°Thanks Cecilia, I appreciate the help.¡± I take my hands out of my pockets knowing that our conversation was coming to an end. She gives me one last smile before I spin around leaving her office and making my way to the teleportation circle. The bare halls giving off the same unsettling vibe as before. Knowing my master she did this on purpose, wanting to have any advantage possible in a potential political scenario. As I enter the room marked as being the teleportation circle I notice that the room is slightly darker than the hall. Not enough to impede vision, but enough ambiance for the spell to go smoothly.


    Teleportation magic is tricky, very few mages can do it without a circle. Even fewer can accomplish it without a second circle as the second destination. Each field office has a circle so that members can get around the world quickly. I also decided that it would be advantageous to have a circle keyed into my apartment. Personal circles are rather common and can only be accessed by those whose magic has been used to make the circle. It was a minor risk as it can be traced with any tracking spell, but the expediency in most cases is invaluable. Plus it has saved me countless taxi fares when I¡¯ve been out drinking.


    I crack my neck letting out a stabilizing breath bringing myself to a state of complete calm. I move to the center of the circle closing my eyes. Magic is intimate in the purest way possible, each Mage would have their own list of spells. Their own incantations, you would be hard pressed to find two wizards with the exact same incantation. ¡°I beseech thee oh glorious Nyx. Grant me passage through the unrelenting darkness. Allow me safe travels to my destination.¡±


    My voice is soft, just barely a whisper but I can feel the magic course through the circle into me. My will directing the flow of arcane energy, I picture the circle in my apartment. The complete darkness of my lab. Within moments I am whisked away, allowing my form to be swept into the darkness.

 Home Sweet Home

    It takes only a few moments for me to appear in my magical lab, the room is dark the curtains keeping the outside light from pervasing the room. ¡°Illumare¡± with a whisper candles immediately ignite casting the room in a dull light. The room was small, I was standing in the center of my teleportation circle which took up half the room. A small Coleman burner sat on a metal table, the table is a mess various alchemical ingredients cover every inch of the metal. I opt for shelving to hold my magical tomes instead of bookshelves to save floor space. My collection is far smaller than my teacher¡¯s, only a dozen or so books align the shelves and only two are of any import. Both of which were gifts from Cecilia, otherwise I would have never been able to afford to obtain them. On a shelf below the tomes are several Gatorade bottles filled with viscous fluid, potions that I had brewed previously. Each bottle had white medical tape marked with black ink, clearly labeling each potion to its content. It only took one mistaken potion for me to start labeling my potions.


    I move to a corner of the room where a small table sat. Beside a magic circle was a small knife. I pluck a hair off my head and set it in the circle flinching slightly as the small sting of pain goes through my mind. I let out a breath as I grab the knife in my right hand, it is just a small pocket knife. I flick the blade out the metal shining in the low light, with an inhalation I drag the blade along my left palm. I bite my lip as my red blood begins to bubble up to surface, just a few drops but that is all I need. I squeeze my left hand tightly dripping blood into the circle, this is a simple bit of Sympathetic magic. By forming a connection between two objects one can cast magic to affect the other object. A wizard can do some nasty magic if they get a hold of the genetic material of another mage. Hair and blood can be used to track a practitioner anywhere they go, it could also be used to cast a litany of nasty curses. As a precautionary measure I cast this spell every day to destroy any of my shed genetic material. With a small application of my will the circle snaps into life thrumming with magic like a live wire. ¡°Fira¡± The hair starts to slowly burn as the blood begins to boil and after a few moments all that is left is a bit of unusable ash.


    I go to the burner and ignite it, I set the blade into the fire burning away any blood that was left on the blade. Just in case a mage managed to enter through my wards, with that done I return the pocket knife to its rightful place on the desk. I stride out of the lab using a small amount of will to extinguish the candles. I close and lock the door behind me as I make my way into my condominium proper. Being a member of a Conclave can have its benefits, a condo in New York is exorbitantly expensive. However for me this is free, well not free exactly. I do have to answer to them, take on any job that they assign me on. The living area is tidy with everything in its proper place, which is a stark contrast to the mess that is my lab. I close my eyes and channel my will outwards in an attempt to check my wards. With a sigh of relief I open my eyes allowing my will to drop. My wards were still intact meaning nobody had come into my apartment, it took me a few weeks to get used to checking my wards daily. I had someone break into my apartment while I was working a beat one day and if my wards were still stable they would have had no chance of entering. Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    I walk into my bedroom which is organized much like my living area, everything has its own spot. I start stripping out of my clothes, throwing them into a hamper in the corner which was quite close to being filled. Seems like I¡¯ll be having to do laundry in the next couple of days, I reach into the closet grabbing a towel before walking out of the room. With my towel slung over my left shoulder I walk into the bathroom, my cell phone was destroyed in the explosion and I was late to the office anyways. I could afford the time to shave and take a shower. I hang my towel on a rack as I step into the shower turning on the warm water. I flinch slightly as the cold water hits my skin but after a few moments it begins to heat up. I close my eyes allowing my stress to flow away with the water. There is something about a shower that seems to center me, it brings me back to myself. I start with my hair lathering shampoo and conditioner into my shoulder length black hair. I then grab a bar of soap starting to wash my body. The scent of Irish Spring invades my nose as I let the worries of yesterday was away.


    I sat in the shower for about ten minutes before getting out and drying my body. I use a blow dryer to dry out the water in my hair, it also has the effect of making my hair softer and lighter. I wipe the fog off the mirror as I grab my razor, as I look into the mirror I notice my bright green eyes. They are by far my most striking feature, a square jaw and a narrow nose. A thin scar goes from just under my right eye to my bottom lip. A remnant of a previous job, one of the first that I had taken in New York. I lather my face with shaving cream before getting on with the job of shaving.


    I took my time with shaving, making sure not to nick myself with the blades. I stretch as I move into my room.  I sling the towel into the hamper before setting out my clothing for the day. I dress professionally, black dress slacks, white collared shirt with a blue tie. Polished black shoes adorn my feet and to top it off I sling a blue blazer on. I put on my watch noting that the time was just past eleven in the morning. Well, I guess that it¡¯s time to get chewed out for being late. Again.