Page 1 of Anywhere

Centuries ago, our world descended into chaos as war erupted amid the masses. Those with magical abilities fought against those without, leaving the weaker of the two desperate to remain free. In the battle, we lost many, flooding our streets and waterways with the blood of the innocent.

After decades of war across the globe, peace settled amongst the people. Most forgot the years of death and destruction, though others spoke about it as nothing more than myths to be passed on to younger generations.

Factions became the new world order, run by those with magic. They outlawed guns, closed prisons, and disbanded armies. Yet crime rates were the lowest they had ever been. These mystical groups took control of the world’s leading industries, from food production to machinery and technology.

However, most of these factions wanted to remain untouched by a more modern society. They chose to bypass technological advancements, allowing only the most prestigious of families to own simple machines such as cars.

Those without magical abilities became known as Flitters. And to them, nothing had changed. But to those with powers, the world would never be the same. That was a secret they kept, day in and day out.

Like any world order, the Factions understood jealousy could still bring them down. They banded together to create stronger alliances.

The most powerful of those groups became a united front, controlling what they called Faction Three—The Brothers of Shadow and Death. The Adair, Kelly, McCabe, McGregor, and McKinnon families have grown to be an immensely powerful alliance. They now have dangerous targets on their backs, for the other envious families crave their power and prosperity.

Lurking within the shadows, there is yet another group that emerged from this war. The Hunters are a rebellious sect that comes from a long line of Flitters who remember those battle-stricken days and strive to annihilate the Factions at all costs. Their mandate is to set free the Flitters from their perceived oppression.

As each ritual moon draws near, and a new triad union is announced, the Hunters become more active. Their goal is simple: Eliminate the triads.

Welcome to Faction Three… Where you will meet the strongest and most desirable we have to offer.

Rook

“Holy fuck me,” I yelled as the plane violently jerked and tossed me from my seat.

I crawled back into the large chair, pissed off that I’d been woken from my peaceful nap. The plane shuddered violently, and a high-pitched whining sound started up outside. That was never something you wanted to hear. I leaned forward to look out the small cabin window to check the plane’s motor. It was trying to turn, but a mass of feathers had exploded like fucking confetti. Dark smoke streamed out in a long ribbon to join the feathers as we lost speed. The nose of the plane began to dip.

“Oh, that can’t be good,” I said.

A blink later, my head was slammed back into the seat. The plane tipped downward like it had reached the top of a hill on a rollercoaster and with a whine sound we streaked toward the mass of dark blue water and certain death. I could picture hitting the ocean and the plane simply disintegrating into a million little pieces, my body included.

The air mask dropped from the ceiling and smacked me in the face. I swatted the thing away, but it continued to jerk around, whacking my cheeks. I didn’t want to come to this godforsaken island, and now I would die in the tin can flying me there. Flying and I had never been friends, and my inner voice screamed in my mind as my fingers dug into the padded leather armrests. I closed my eyes, trying to compose myself. No. I refused to die because of fucking birds. This was not how Rook Adair went out.

My terror calmed enough, and I managed to focus on the engine. I could picture the plane's engine mechanics and allowed my power to reach out. I was instantly able to sense the presence of multiple dead birds. The coursing adrenaline felt the same as the first time I’d stepped out onto a large stage with screaming fans. I stopped thinking about the plane crashing and pictured the crowd, and the surge of energy I got from those first notes and hearing my name screamed under those bright lights. The power tingled along my skin like little pinpricks. As a young boy, I hated the sensation of the powers that would come and go at will.

My body heated and trembled in time with the shaking plane while the thump of my heart slowed in my chest as my power reached out to the engine. The birds' deaths felt like smoked candy on my tongue, and I rolled the flavour around in my mouth.

A soft groan left my lips as the power wrapped around the carcasses. Although the birds were now very dead, the essence of life still clung to their bodies as if desperate to revive what would never breathe again. My power tightened its hold, the wispy tendrils clenching the mangled bodies in its grip, and like a fisherman casting a net, I pulled back and drew the birds out of the engine.

I didn’t need to look out the window to know that I’d see a grotesque pile of flesh, blood, and bone. Licking my lips in anticipation, I counted to three. My back arched off the seat as the power crushed the ball of flesh and turned it into nothing more than ash to blow away in the wind stream, but the essence was mine. It was tempting, oh so very tempting, to suck it up and let it course through my body like a party drug.

Instead, my mind settled, and all came to a stop. The silver chain around my neck floated in front of my eyes as the plane stopped falling, and everything hung suspended in the air like a magic trick. I guess it was, just not the fake shows of mass illusion you’d see on stage. This magic was far more powerful and far more lethal. It was also the reason I’d been sent to the island and why I was in this fucking predicament.

“Fuck,” I roared as the power surged back into the engine. The tingling under my skin was almost unbearable as it raced through my body. Everything stood up, including my cock, as the magic did as I commanded. With a bang, the engine re-fired. The remaining wisps were sent to the front of the plane and slowly elevated the nose. The second engine that had stalled out re-fired, but we remained suspended in the air as the plane continued to right itself.

I would’ve paid money to see the reaction of anyone watching the free show. But there weren't many spectators in the middle of the ocean.

A scream ripped from my mouth as the engines roared and strained to be freed. Releasing my hold over the plane, I was snapped back and wondered if this was what it felt like to take off in a rocket ship. That was what I pictured, a small black rocket heading into space. The plane shook violently. I had to close my eyes as they began to water, and the pressure on my chest made me want to panic as it became hard to breathe.

The plane finally evened out, and we continued to sail along at cruising altitude. I gasped in short breaths as my body shook from the aftermath of the power surge. The cabin door opened, and the captain ran past me to the washroom. The door slammed into place, and I smirked at the distinct sound of his retching.

Settling back into my seat, I closed my eyes and flicked my hand, sending all the stupid masks back into their little cabinets. With another flick of my wrist, the fallen dishes and scraps of food flew to their original positions. I sighed as the weight of the power usage pressed down on me. My power was always strong, but what I’d done took way more than I could’ve done without the sacrifice. The only real issue was the drain when the extra boost left my system. Like taking drugs, there was a nasty side effect of using that much power all at once.

I grabbed a napkin to wipe the droplet of blood trickling from my nose. Magic always had a price to pay. I would be nauseous for at least an hour and hated feeling sick. I looked down at my cock, which was, of course, still standing at attention.

Just fucking great.

“This is a bad omen,” I mumbled. “Bad, bad fucking omen.”

The washroom door opened, and the captain emerged, leaning heavily against the door for a moment before he ventured into the main cabin. He paused as he reached me. His eyes were wide, and his skin was a pasty white as he dabbed at his face with a wad of toilet paper. My lip curled up with disdain.