Fear of Mystics (Saga of Mystics Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

touched it of the soldier who had rescued it from the museum ahead of the terrorist attack. He didn’t have time for reading yet, they would do that when they got back. But a thought popped into his mind about the fact that no one had entered this building since the event.
                  “Hey,” he said to his brother and Jenny, “Didn’t they have a kitchen here, a restaurant or something?”
                  Jenny nodded, “For events and things.”
                  Kin smiled broadly at his little brother, “This building hasn’t been foraged.”
     

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    EARLY SUMMER
    “You know the original paleontologists didn’t even know the term dinosaur.  They thought they were studying the origins of dragons.”  - Anthropologist, Dr. Kenneth Sloan

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER SEVEN
                                The clip-clop of galloping hooves was accentuated by a joyful laugh. Peri walked toward the sound. She had been told the tale of the woman, Annie Grace, whose power was said to be overwhelming and amazing.  Toward this clearing on the south side of Black Forest, she walked to her destiny. 
    All her life, Peri had dreamed of being a different type of entity, something fantastic.  She used to cosplay as a faerie or a witch, and when the new powers had arrived to the world, she had hoped to be one of those.  In the end, she had shown a rather mundane ability with light. She could make herself and the area around her glow, which was okay, but not that special.  Rumor had it that her old boss from the yoga studio, Jenny Martinez, was super powerful and was a member of the Council up at Red Rocks Bluff. But Peri had never been to see her, too ashamed of the way she had left her in the yoga studio back when the Event had happened. How could she face her now?
    As Peri stepped into the clearing, the fire suddenly died and all noise stopped. No longer could she hear joyful conversation, or laughter, or the twittering of interesting creatures.  Now she was in the pitch black of night, all alone.  Out of the darkness, a woman’s voice sounded.
    “Are you of the Faith?” the woman asked.  Peri was filled with dread.  She was sure that the tales were untrue about the church community at the edge of town that burned people, or hung them, or drowned them, for exhibiting powers.
    “I am not a member of a church, if that is what you mean.  I was out for a walk.” Peri peered into the darkness, her eyes struggling to adjust.
    “This is an odd place for a walk,” the voice said.  The tone of voice was colored with humor, Peri could make that much out.  She had to take a chance, she was sure the stories about oppression of powers were not true anyway.
    “Okay, I was looking for the lady.” Peri offered quietly.
    A rough voice from her right, low and earthen, rang out, “What lady is that?” There was a giggle to her left and a high pitched sigh from a tree nearby.
    The woman’s voice, calm as ever, asked, “Prove you are not of the Faith.  Show your power.”
    “It isn’t much,” Peri answered, “Just this.” Her immediate area lit up an almost daytime level of light. Unfortunately, it did not light up the surroundings, which remained shrouded in darkness.
    The fire in the pit roared back to life, and Peri was finally able to see with whom she was talking. All around the clearing danced a gaggle of mythic creatures.  There were three centaurs, talking to two satyrs.  In the tree nearby sat four harpies, their heads turning on their necks like a swivel.  Close to the fire stood five were-beasts, two of them like wolves, two of them like cats and one of them like a golden retriever. But at the center of the clearing, standing next to the fire pit, was a young woman in her thirties.  She was short and stocky, with hair that reached down to her waist, straight and the color of earth. She had dark