Description:

Society still finds itself reeling from magic coming out into the open. As the world comes to grips with the fact that old legends are true, Homicide Detective Alison Kaur still has a job to do. After the corpse of William Lanner is found, Alison must delve into the ugly world of prostitution, gangsters and murder. All while she and her partner deal with the dangers of Mages, Werewolves, Succubi and others. Will Alison be able to track down the killer of William Lanner? Or will she become a victim herself?

Excerpt:

Gabriel Decor waited for the car to hit the ground with a grinding crash before turning to look back at the two detectives, one in awe, the other in stupefied fear. He spoke to Faith. “I’ve got this.” She nodded understanding that she was not to assist.

Gabriel turned back to the other Paladins. Tracy didn’t look all that shocked, though she did look apprehensive. Keith, on the other hand, looked appalled that Gabriel had deflected two attacks. I told you I was an Ark, he thought.

Tracy didn’t look to be a moron like her companion, but still Gabriel didn’t want the fight to last long. Keith obviously didn’t care about what he damaged; Gabriel would deal with him first.

Gabriel tapped into his Vis, power rushing into his body. He closed his eyes, feeling it infuse him, Vis saturated the air around him, too faint for the other Paladins to see, but with it he could see them perfectly. They were like silhouettes, their bodies a sharp contrast in Gabriel’s cloud of Vis. Tracy and Keith’s own Vis left a shadowy wake that Gabriel could see without effort. Had they had a Seeker, he wouldn’t have been able to do this. Stupid.

Gabriel opened his eyes letting Vis flow from his body, as he was wrapped in a cocoon of amethyst light. Tracy’s eyes hardened, her grip on Dolor visibly tightening, her corneas turned emerald and her body burst with green Vis, licking around her like translucent flames. Dolor’s edge glowed with Vis. Keith’s eyes turned orange, his body enveloping in a smaller cocoon of Vis. He can’t control his Vis output yet. Keith wouldn’t take Gabriel long and he could focus on Tracy, giving her the respect of fighting one on one.

Gabriel pushed with Vis, sending himself in the air, power gushing into Iram. He poured Vis into his body and mind, making time slow and his mind race, his limbs tensed with Vis-induced strength. His eyes and ears became stronger. Keith was rushing up at Gabriel with his sword pulled back. Gabriel swung Iram out with a casual flick. Metal clanged as the two swords glanced off each other. Gabriel twisted Iram, moving himself to the side to parry a thrust from Tracy.

Behind him, Gabriel could sense Keith, his sword’s silhouette rushing at Gabriel’s back. Gabriel waited until the last moment, Celeritate. He moved out of the way from Keith’s attack coming alongside the young man at the speed of lightning. Gabriel flexed Vis in the back of his right hand swinging it at Keith’s exposed side. “Rumpo,” he said as his hand met Keith’s side. Gabriel could feel the thin layer of wards around Keith buckle and with it the effects of his shattering spell. Gabriel’s hand didn’t even register the breaking ribs beneath his touch. Keith cried out, turning away from Gabriel and exposing his back. Gabriel brought the butt of Iram’s handle down on Keith, this time his shoulder blade making an audible crack. Keith’s orange Vis faltered a bit as he plummeted back to earth.

All this happened in the space of a few breaths and Gabriel moved out of the way of one of Tracy’s attacks, Iram catching the edge of Dolor in a block. He blocked a few more blows from Dolor before finally using Iram in an attack. Gabriel lashed out at Tracy, swinging at her left side. She barely blocked Iram and then said, “Celeritate,” becoming a green blur as her speed increased. Within the mist of Vis and using his increased senses, he again swung Iram to where Tracy would be. She tried to avoid the attack, twisting in the air. Iram cut a shallow wound into her arm. She didn’t make a sound, but dropped to the ground.

Gabriel did likewise, Tracy between him and his group. Tracy looked scared but determined. She growled, rushing at him with Dolor held high in the air. Iram rang as Gabriel deflected Dolor, both blades infused with Vis to the point of being near unbreakable. Gabriel sidestepped, still not putting much in the way of effort into the fight. Tracy twisted, swinging at Gabriel who dodged, leaving her front completely open. Gabriel brought Iram up in a slashing move to cut Tracy in half.

Vis-enhanced as she was, Tracy saw the attack coming and also saw that there was nothing she could do to stop it. Gabriel brought the sword up and looked into her eyes. He believed if you took a life you should, if possible, give the person the respect to look them in the eye as you killed them. Tracy’s deep blue eyes shone with fear, the look on her face that of sorrow. Gabriel leaned backwards. He didn’t know why he did it. He saw something in her eyes – she wasn’t ready to die, she wasn’t committed to the fight. Iram still hit her, slicing up her left side to her right shoulder.

She fell back in a gasping scream and hit the ground hard, blood spraying.

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