His magic roared inside him, ancient, primal, and cold as a glacier. The calming visions of the ocean vanished, swept away by an avalanche of fury. The magic chain that held his body in check vanished. Two tiny watch gears flew before his eyes, sparking with residual traces of magic. He jerked and heard the crunch of broken glass. They were trying to cut the watch off his wrist. Pain shot through his limbs in sharp, burning spikes.īlue waves … Azure … Calm … Just need to stay calm …Ĭold metal broke his skin. The world was turning darker-his lungs demanded air. He felt fingers prying at the metal band on his narrow wrist. “The watch, you little bitch,” the thug ordered.Ī muscular forearm smashed into his neck, cutting off his air. They would beat him just for the fun of it. It was about domination, humiliation, and inflicting pain. Adam looked into their blue depths and glimpsed a spark of vicious glee.

The man bent over him, folding his six-foot-two frame down to Adam’s five feet five inches, so their faces were level, forcing Adam to stare straight into his eyes. The larger of the thugs pulled him from the wall and slammed him back into the bricks. “You have the cash,” Adam said, keeping his voice low. Firefern Road sheltered scavengers, desperate and savage, eager to bite, but only when the odds were on their side. The real predators stalked their prey elsewhere, looking for bigger and meatier scores. This was Firefern Road, a place where the refuse of the city hid out among the ruins of the ravaged buildings, gnawed by magic to ugly nubs of brick and concrete. He should never have wandered into this side of Philadelphia, not in the evening, and especially not while the magic was up. The three thugs who pinned him to the brick wall looked half-starved, like mongrel dogs who’d been prowling the alley, feeding on garbage. “You think I am fucking with you? You think I am playing? I’ll rip your flesh off your body and make myself a skin suit.”Īdam opened his eyes. “Take off the watch! Now!” a male voice barked into his ear.

Where cool waves lapped hot yellow sand, where strange flowers bloomed, and birdsong filled the air. Adam Talford closed his eyes and wished he were somewhere else.

Hex Appeal by P.N. Elrod