Showdown in Magic City (Magic City Chronicles Book 4) Read online

  Showdown in Magic City

  Magic City Chronicles™ Book Four

  TR Cameron

  Michael Anderle

  Martha Carr

  This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Sometimes both.

  Copyright © 2021 LMBPN Publishing

  Cover by Fantasy Book Design

  Cover copyright © LMBPN Publishing

  A Michael Anderle Production

  LMBPN Publishing supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  LMBPN Publishing

  PMB 196, 2540 South Maryland Pkwy

  Las Vegas, NV 89109

  First Edition April, 2021

  ebook ISBN: 978-1-64971-649-1

  Print ISBN: 978-1-64971-650-7

  The Oriceran Universe (and what happens within / characters / situations / worlds) are Copyright (c) 2017-21 by Martha Carr and LMBPN Publishing.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Author Notes - TR Cameron

  Author Notes - Martha Carr

  Other series in the Oriceran Universe:

  Books By Michael Anderle

  Connect with The Authors

  The Showdown in Magic City Team

  Thanks to the JIT Readers

  Dave Hicks

  Wendy L Bonell

  Diane L. Smith

  John Ashmore

  Larry Omans

  Angel LaVey

  Dorothy Lloyd

  Kelly O’Donnell

  Jeff Goode

  Paul Westman

  If I’ve missed anyone, please let me know!

  Editor

  Skyhunter Editing Team

  Dedications

  For those who seek wonder around every corner and in each turning page. And, as always, for Dylan.

  — TR Cameron

  To Family, Friends and

  Those Who Love

  To Read.

  May We All Enjoy Grace

  To Live The Life We Are

  Called.

  — Michael

  Chapter One

  Ruby Achera, her sister Morrigan, and her shape-shifting partner Idryll crept across the three-story high rooftops in the warehouse district south of Ely, Nevada, concealed by illusion and their usual disguises. She’d received the tip from Sheriff Alejo earlier, courtesy of her source among those selling magical black-market items in Magic City, that something was going down that night. The sheriff didn’t have confirmation of where it was going down, though, so following the informant was the only way to find the location. They paused at the edge of a roof, waiting to see what their quarry on the sidewalk below would do next.

  Morrigan complained, “This is boring.”

  Ruby snorted. The other woman’s clear voice came through the earpieces set in the magical mask she wore, after its upgrades by a friendly technician. “Quit whining. You’re here by choice. Besides, there will be fun soon enough.”

  Idryll, sounding decidedly superior, said, “Maybe you two could focus on work for a moment? He’s entering that building.”

  Ruby replied, “For someone who spends more than half her day pretending to be a house cat so she can sleep without being bothered, I don’t think you’re one to lecture others about professional behavior.” Her sister opened a portal from their current position to the other roof and waved them through. Had Morrigan not come along, they would’ve had to use magic to leap from one building to the other since Ruby couldn’t create a portal to a place she hadn’t physically been. One of the fun things about being me.

  She quietly crouch-walked to a small skylight despite being covered in a veil of illusion that would hide her from eyes and ears. Idryll's claws easily pried it open, and Ruby let herself down into the rafters, then slithered sideways so the others could do the same. Below, the warehouse floor was a bustle of activity as dwarves, Kilomea, and at least one elf shifted boxes to clear the space for the shipment to come. “I’ll take the near corner. Morrigan, all the way across opposite me. Idryll, you have the middle.”

  Her partners replied in the affirmative and moved, Ruby segmenting one part of her attention to preserve the illusion wrapped around the tiger-woman. While her partner could move in complete silence, given her feline nature, it was always possible that someone might look up at an inopportune moment. Besides, what’s the point of having the ability if you don’t use it? She made sure her own aural and visual concealment was solid, then muttered, “Connect Alejo.” A soft bing signaled an active connection. “He led us to a warehouse. They’re in here, as expected. You solid?”

  Valentina Alejo was Ruby’s best ally—okay, only ally—among the law enforcement that watched over Ely. Ruby didn’t trust the city’s local police, figuring criminals with deep pockets probably had someone on the payroll, or possibly the department simply leaked like a sieve because they couldn’t afford sufficient security. Either way, they weren’t on her list of reliable resources. The other woman’s voice was on the low end of normal and a little gravelly with adrenaline. “Yeah, we have it. Apparently, they don’t let their workers know which warehouse they’re headed to until they’re en route. Clever operational choice. Bastards.”

  “Paranoid, but effective.”

  The sheriff gave a derisive snort. “Fair enough. Guess we’re not dealing with total idiots, unfortunately. What do we have inside?”

  “Magicals, probably a dozen or so. A few humans, unless they’re in disguise.”

  “Okay, let’s proceed as planned. When the truck is in, we’ll wait a couple of minutes for things to get moving, then order them to surrender. If they do, all your hard work preparing is for nothing.”

  Ruby shook her head. “I don’t think the odds of that are particularly good.”

  Alejo grunted. “Me neither, which is why I asked you to join. If they choose any option other than standing down, do your thing. We’ll stay out of your way unless you call us to come in and help.”

  “Got it. See you soon.” She killed the external connection and reported, “Plan stands. Remember, we need to be completely nonfatal. We’re working with the police on this one. They can overlook bruises and broken bones, but if we step over that line, we become the bad guys.”

  Morrigan replied, “Seems unfair. Those scumbags below won’t pul
l any punches.”

  Idryll chuckled. “Consider it a testament to your incredible aptitude.”

  Ruby’s and Morrigan's replies overlapped. “Shut it.”

  The sound of the huge garage door sliding up on its tracks and a truck rolling in forestalled further conversation. It was twenty feet long or so, a rental, bright yellow and covered in scratches, dings, and dents. As soon as it was inside, the people below surged into motion, hitting the switch to close the door and using magic to begin pulling crates and boxes from the vehicle. Ruby breathed, “Damn, that’s a big truck. They must have a lot of stuff. Who would’ve thought little Ely was such a nexus of criminality?”

  Morrigan asked, “Have you been paying attention lately?”

  She ignored the comment. “Okay, looks like our initial plan will work pretty well. I’ll take out the ones at the back of the truck, Idryll jumps on the top and engages targets of opportunity, and Morrigan, you protect the informant’s identity.”

  Her sister confirmed, “On it. I don’t think he’s going to thank me for it.”

  Ruby shifted to get a better angle on her assigned criminals as she replied, “From what I understand, he’s a scumbag who got a deal. He deserves whatever he gets. Still, maybe no permanent damage, so he can continue to be useful?”

  “I’ll consider it.”

  A series of resounding clangs came from the metal garage door, followed by Alejo’s voice through a megaphone’s mechanical distortion. “You inside the warehouse. This is Sheriff Valentina Alejo. Open the door and get on your knees with your hands on your heads.” The reaction was instantaneous and not compliant. The thugs below took positions facing the entrance, clearly ready for whatever fight the authorities wanted to bring to them.

  Bad choice, chuckleheads. Ruby said, “Game faces. Going in ten seconds.” She ticked the time off in her head as she pulled a grenade from her belt. It was about the size of her palm and contained magical electricity that would discharge on impact. She’d made it herself and was pleased with the results, although she looked forward to working with Margrave to improve it. When her mental timer ran out, she dropped the disc at the back of the truck. Her hand was already in motion for another weapon, one of her techno-magical mentor’s concealment grenades, and she had it ready when the first went off.

  The trio of dwarves below shuddered and jerked in the grip of the arcane lightning. Two of them collapsed, while the third, apparently hardier than the others, remained standing, wobbling in place. She dropped the next grenade to protect her descent and jumped.

  As soon as Morrigan saw the object fall from Ruby’s position, she released her arrow. It sped true to its target, the dwarven informant who stood nervously to one side of the warehouse, notable by his immobility. His hair was mussed as if he’d run hands through it, and the stress of his situation showed on his wrinkled face and in his anxious bearing. The missile slapped him in the chest and wreathed him in magical lightning. He jittered for a moment before falling senseless to the concrete floor.

  Morrigan was already nocking her second projectile, which she loosed into the middle of a trio of nearby enemies. It struck one in the shoulder and released a cloud of billowing white vapor. Her target fell immediately, but another reacted quickly to create a wave of force that pushed air in front of it, lifting the knockout gas back toward her position. While the filter built into her magical mask would handle it easily, the action proved her cover was blown. She hit the button to collapse her bow into its baton form with her left hand while simultaneously grabbing a disk on her belt with the right. She tossed the concealment grenade at the floor and leapt after it.

  Idryll delayed through the initial flurry until her partners had released their magical smoke grenades. Clouds billowed up and around from both positions, blocking both magical and mundane senses. She threw hers to the far side of the warehouse as a distraction and dropped from the rafters to the roof of the truck below. Her landing wasn’t soundless, thanks to the groan of flexing metal as her weight hit it, but in the cacophony of yells and screams that accompanied the unexpected attacks from above, her move went unnoticed.

  She’d been tracking the trio of Kilomea positioned throughout the warehouse, naturally interested in engaging the most dangerous opponents available. A somersault took her off the top of the truck and feet-first into the nearest hulking figure’s chest. Even in humanoid form, she massed more than her size would suggest, and the strike knocked him backward. She landed cleanly and pursued his involuntary retreat, extending her claws then retracting them again as she remembered Ruby’s warning.

  A pair of punches slammed into his chest, right where her boots had hit, and his pained expression revealed she’d probably broken a rib. Still, the giant creature was roughly two feet taller, twice as wide as she was, and born and bred for battle. That makes him almost a worthy foe. He punched with his left, and she ducked and bobbed her head to the side. Fortunately, she’d moved away from his other arm, which whipped around with a pair of heavy, reinforced metal bands over his knuckles leading the way. She let herself roll into a backward somersault to avoid it and heard the sizzle of electricity as it passed. Oh, he brought toys. Lovely.

  She bounded up at the end of her move and tried a kick to his head, but he smashed her leg aside with a block that felt like a punch and followed up with the knuckles again. She didn’t get out of the way quickly enough, and electrical energy blasted through her, setting her nerves on fire. A small yelp escaped as she stumbled to the side. “Ow. Bastard. You’ll pay for that.”

  Her muscles wanted to shut down, but she wrestled them under control with a discipline instilled by long experience. Her foe waded in with a smile, thinking he had her number. She let him get close and flowed out of the way of the left that was the distraction, positioning herself for the right cross. He threw it. First mistake. He put his whole body weight behind it, going for the killing blow. Second mistake.

  The shapeshifter stepped in and grabbed his wrist with her right hand, spinning to smash an elbow into his face. The smart response would have been to retract the arm immediately and retreat, but he didn’t. Third mistake. She spun back in the opposite direction and used his wrist as a lever, locking it out and jerking him down to his knees, his only other option being to let the joint break. Fourth mistake.

  Idryll wrenched the wrist and snapped it anyway, then yanked on it to position his head for an ax kick. She lifted her leg and brought it down on the back of his skull, using less force than she would have if the police hadn’t been present. He went down, dazed, and she grabbed his hand and pressed it against his neck, where the knuckles discharged with a loud snap. He shuddered, twitched, and fell unconscious. She straightened, flicked her head back to get her long hair—normally orange and black, but now pure black in the mask’s disguise—out of her face. Okay, who’s next?

  Chapter Two

  Ruby dropped cleanly, using a small burst of force magic at the end to buffer her landing. She spun instantly into a roundhouse kick to the head of the dwarf that hadn’t succumbed to her electrical attack, laying him out on the concrete floor of the warehouse. The place was chaos, with people running around shouting commands and yelling in alarm.

  A scuff from behind warned her of an enemy. She crouched and launched a spinning no-look leg sweep in the direction of the noise. The Kilomea responsible for the sound hopped over her attack with unexpected nimbleness and threw a kick in response. She rolled to the side and came up to her feet while reaching for her sword. She drew it and slashed it down at his collarbone, releasing a tendril of force magic to coat the weapon and turn it into a bludgeoning implement rather than a cutting one. He blocked it with a circling motion that put the flat of his hand against the blade, a fearless move she couldn’t help but admire. His other fist snapped out at her face, and she leaned backward enough that it failed to connect.

  Ruby grabbed his wrist with her free hand, but he pulled the arm back and swiveled into a punch with his right. She
blocked, counterattacked with the hilt of her weapon at his nose, and he blocked in return. They traded several blows, then his speed suddenly increased. He must be using magic to boost himself. That’s fine. Two can play that game. She hadn’t yet mastered that particular technique, but she had other options. She snapped out a hand and sent a blast of force magic at his stomach, catching him before he could get into range to punch her again. It compromised his momentum, giving her time to throw another at his chest and a third at his head. He reeled back as his nose broke but didn’t look as dazed as she would’ve hoped. Dammit, this nonlethal stuff is for the birds. She pushed thoughts of going for her throwing knives or pistol aside and dispatched a repeat trio of force blasts at her foe. The Kilomea fell without attacking again before he went down. I need something better for these situations. Put it on the list.

  The inventory of tools and gadgets she needed to do the defender thing properly grew exponentially with each outing. She didn’t see a way she’d ever catch up to it, even with help from Margrave and Kayleigh. Her attention snapped back into the moment as the next nearest foe broke into a run away from her, passing a pair of large plastic buttons mounted on the wall. Ruby dashed forward and slammed her palm against the green one, then turned to look for another opponent as the garage door started its creaking rise.