Manhattan Magick! (A Meridian Stone Short Story)

Have you read Meridian Stone: The Transition and are in need of a fresh dose of magick until Meridian Stone: The Awakening (Book 2 in the Series) drops? Have you yet to take the wild ride with Alessandria and her Echelon and simply want a taste of real magick before you buckle up? Although the rush will still be exhilarating, you would miss a bit of the bite if you have not read Meridian Stone: The Transition before you sink your teeth into Manhattan Magick. But…

Magick is too delicious to pass up. So, I say to all mortals and immortals, subscribe today and receive our free gift to you for joining the Echelon family. Manhattan Magick: A Meridian Stone Short Story is a fun peek into a day of Alessandria’s Transition. And to those who have already read Meridian Stone: The Transition? You may just uncover a clue or two to what awaits you in Meridian Stone: The Awakening. Below is an excerpt from Manhattan Magick. Enjoy! And don’t forget to subscribe for the rest of the story…

“Alessandria, stop complaining and focus. If you can send your clothing away, you can certainly bring it back to you.”

Yanking tuffs of my hair, I stuck out my tongue at him and stomped my foot. “Easy for you to say, Mr. High and Mighty, High Mage. You aren’t the one who just recovered from being fried and had his magick all twisted together by some insufferable, arrogant, lame, maso…”

“Alessandria! Please! There is no need to anger the god. You are alive, right? You may not be so lucky again. So, I suggest that you move on and stop complaining. You’re beginning to sound like one of those humans from your movies.”

My mouth fell open. Now, that was just uncalled for. And very unbecoming for someone so, so, so…purple.

“I am not complaining!” I countered, throwing my hands in the air.

“Yes, you are!”

“Am not!”

This time when my foot hit the floor, the room shook, plaster dusted from the ceiling, and two of Brix’s fancy glass containers fell from the counter and shattered. Oopsie! Probably without thinking, Brix spun around to assess the damage then gasped when he remembered I was still naked. The clash of the red swimming over his cheeks and the tinsel-purple strands flying around him to his waist was hilarious and enough to douse my anger. Just as fast as he’d turned to me, he pivoted back around.

“Ummm. Sorry about that. I forgot you were…” he tried, but it was mostly a nervous mumble.

“No, worries. My fault.” I cut in, glancing at the clinic door with my arms and legs crossed in an embarrassing attempt to cover my important girly parts.

Not from Brix. That would be rather silly, since he’d been my attending physician while I scratched my way back from hell. He’d seen every inch of me. What I was preparing for was the inevitable crash entrance from Valerian, Galen, Uri, and Kaiya. Surely, all of the noise would have spurred them to call their weapons and armour and charge to my rescue. I had to admit, I was a bit disappointed when nothing happened. Bummer.

“I warded the room. The others are protected from your tantrums. They cannot hear or feel a thing,” Brix explained, as if reading my mind.

“Oh.” I dropped my arms. Fun police.

“Let’s try a different approach. Instead of concentrating on the gown, pull forth your power and visualize what you would like to wear. Anything. Just choose.”

“Uhhhh. You really want me to do that after…”

“Just do not touch me. I still have two pruned toes from the first time,” he teased.
I giggled, remembering the countless laps he’d swum to get Lil’ Brix to heel, though I doubted if his toes still showed any sign of it. He healed just as fast as any Meridian, probably faster, since he could zap the injury with a shot of his potent sugar plum mojo.

“Okey dokey.”

After rolling my head over my shoulders, I let it fall backwards as I lifted my arms out to my sides. Eyes closed. This new power of mine was a doozy to control, denser, stronger, and swifter than before that miserable, jerkface, no good…

“Alessandria!”

“What?!” My head sprang up and eyes bugged with agitation.

“Do not ‘what’ me. I can feel your tension. It’s making me itch. Think of a less menacing god. Happy god thoughts. Hermes, perhaps. Or Dionysus. Or…”

“Eros! How about Eros?” And why did I say that?

“Eros? What on this earth made you think of him? He’s not one of the Olympic Pantheon you’ve been studying.”

“Huh. I really don’t know. He just popped into my head. Maybe it’s because he’s the god of love.” Closing my eyes again, I whispered, “And maybe because you make me feel loved.”

“Awwww. That’s sweet, angel,” Brix replied, and I could sense the emotion in his tone. He was such a good guy. My personal big, soft teddy bear warrior buddy.

“Now, quit stalling and call some damn clothing,” he growled, rather harshly. Right. Clothing.

Back went my head again, the lids shutting over my eyes. As I struggled to control the power swirling within, strange images began to flash through my mind, blinking in and out with my happy god thoughts. It was becoming distracting and more than disturbing when all was burned away as my power suddenly surged, answering my call in a fierce ignition of pleasure, racing through my body and pushing a loud moan through my lips. Daaaang! So freaking good! I trembled from the force of it, nearly falling to my knees on wobbling legs. Brix began to resemble a massive slab of prime rib, soaked in one of Valerian’s homemade butters and glimmering in a bright gold light. Gritting my teeth to rein in the naughty impulses, I looked to my hands, now barely visible beneath a million sparks of gold. My power was so awesome!

“Call the clothing!” Brix yelled, spun to face me, then moaned. Louder than I had. I think. “Now, Alessandria! Call it!”

His eyes were glowing orbs of lavender light. So pretty. Clutching the edge of one of his pristine counters, he bent over, knees pressed together, panting. What was wrong with him? I knew I hadn’t touched him.

“Call the clothing or call back your power!” he yelled, and the room began to warp in a weird psychedelic sort of way.

Initially, I thought I was completely losing it under the pressure of the fiery magick raging through me, but the slightly purple tinge to the ripples and the crazy flapping of his hair in a nonexistent breeze identified the phenomena as Brix’s creation. He was pushing his power against mine, trying to shield himself from the onslaught of my magick, and judging by how he was expanding in certain areas, he was losing the fight. A sense of urgency took hold. I found no pleasure in Brix’s suffering. So, I clamped my eyes shut, attempted to block out the unnerving images that had found their way back through the inferno, and envisioned myself clothed. Before I could celebrate in the feel of fabric on my skin, though heavy and bulky, I heard Brix gasp.

“Oh, my gods, Alessandria! What the hell have you done now?!” Uh oh.