Gloom Rising (The Book Wielder Saga 1)

  Kavarne and Lynette had returned shortly after the battle had ended. They were disappointed that they’d missed the action and even more depressed about the loss of Xavier, so upon their arrival they partied harder than most of the others put together. Alongside Winston, Veronica, Lucius, Alexander, Brooke, the Governor, and the Mayor, they stayed in the hotel’s gardens drinking, smoking, and snorting right through to the next morning.

  “To Xavier,” Winston raised a toast with a glass of champagne, “and to the beginning of a new world!”

  The other’s echoed his toast and clattered their glasses together before downing them in one go.

  It was indeed the beginning of a new world, and it would also be the beginning of the end for the old one, and to all those who defended it.

  Epilogue

  “It is done, Omniosis,” Mortissa said, finishing her work in the throne room and letting her glorious stolen hair down over her shoulders.

  “Will anyone be able to tell?” Omniosis asked.

  “Do not insult my abilities, Omniosis. I am no amateur!” she hissed back.

  “I meant no offense, Mortissa,” he said as softly and diplomatically as he could with his slightly distorted voice. “This has to remain completely secret for my plan to work.”

  “No one will be able to tell as long as he stays covered up. I’ve gone to extra lengths to keep the stitches well-hidden, just as you asked. You will now have total control over him, and any last ounce of self-awareness has been purged, so I suggest you keep him in character and well-dressed at all times,” Mortissa advised in her scary distorted voice, before packing up her equipment and leaving the throne room.

  “Are you ready to carry on playing your part, my puppet?” the Archmage asked.

  “I sure am, boss-man!” Lewis replied chirpily as he got up off the chequered floor.

  - - -

  To be continued in the next instalment: Reality Falling

  Acknowledgements

  A big thank you to Charlotte, Shaun, Connor and Lee A at work for all your help and input, and a massive thank you to my darling Laura, without your love and support none of this would have been possible.

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  Chapter 1: Gloom City

  Chapter 2: A Night to Remember in the Real

  Chapter 3: Woodsholme Road Trip

  Chapter 4: The Trinity Meet

  Chapter 5: The Trade

  Chapter 6: The Inquisitor General’s Report

  Chapter 7: Industria

  Chapter 8: The Attack on Orphan Isle

  Chapter 9: Archmage Revealed

  Chapter 10: Divine Intervention

  Chapter 11: The Chaos before the Storm – Part 1

  Chapter 12: The Chaos before the Storm – Part 2

  Chapter 13: The End of the Beginning

  Epilogue