Hey everyone!
Happy Spring! I’m finally glad it's here, as I’m not a huge fan of winter. Early spring in the Rockies is still cold, but the warmer days breathe new life into me. I didn’t send an email on the 15th as usual as I got busy with work, and I’m developing a YouTube channel similar to my podcast, Neon Shadows & Eldritch Whispers. I’m hoping the first video will be up by mid-April.
I’m trying a new format for the newsletters. Instead of bombarding everyone with endless emails every week, I’ll send one a week with a chapter of my latest work in progress to my paid subscribers within it. I’ll try to make a short story for everyone else to enjoy. With that said, my YouTube channel will be talking about the same things I’ve done on my current 2-episode podcast, but you’ll get to see my face.
It won’t be edited much as I don’t have time, so it’ll be, for the most part, in the raw. I’d like to eventually showcase/interview authors and chat with others about urban fantasy, dark fantasy, grimdark, and cyberpunk. What kind of content would you like to see?
Anyway, have a great week, and enjoy the first chapter of Obscura Malevolence, A Nic Celestine Story #3!
~ Matthew
PS: I have a giveaway for a 2 week premium subscription to my substack! Enter below.
Chapter One
Beautiful people roamed the neon-lit streets of downtown Denver. The air was crisp with an early fall chill and the smell of food trucks that stood lazily by as most of the public snubbed their offerings. Gotta stay skinny and pretty. I'd rather have an extra plate of pasta than starve for shitty beauty standards. Strobe lights flashed like paparazzi as the local photographers did their best to capture a model in the latest high fashion clothing, strutting her stuff down the open-air runway.
Music blasted from speakers, sending a rumbling base through the onlookers as each heel fell in perfect rhythm. It was Denver Fashion Week, and the city was alive with desperation and over-priced outfits masquerading as clothing. The makeup was extreme and so were the hairstyles. It was supposed to be Avant-Garde but appeared high-priced trash.
I stood next to a fish and chips truck, stuffing my face with a delicious fried basket of shrimp as Stardust glanced up in hopeful anticipation of me dropping food for her to scarf up. Her tail wagged back and forth, trying in vain to get my attention so she could play me for a fried morsel of artery-clogging fish. I refused to look down at her, knowing if I did, I'd give in.
It was too easy with her, and she knew it. She may have been my familiar, but she had me wrapped around her like nothing else. The joys of owning a dog or being owned by the dog. These days I wasn't sure which was more correct. Guess it depends on your point of view. Either way, Stardust was my loyal companion and helped sniff out all types of magical trouble. You need little help finding that, Nic!
As much as I wanted to be at home trying out new magic, Lana sent me a vague text to meet her here. This was far from my scene, but Lana loved it. Even though she was a detective at the Denver Police Department Supernatural Division, she made sure she kept up with the latest trends. For me, the latest trend was which herb I could replace in a spell so it wouldn't backfire. We were on opposite ends of the spectrum, but we got along well, mostly.
That was the downside of us being past lovers. Our relationship was strained from the beginning and breaking up didn't make it better. At least we had mutual respect. She knew I was a wizard and hunted cursed artifacts, but hated I did my hunting on her turf. Lana was a Wiccan working for the law. She was all about those rules and I broke them regularly.
Exhaling deeply, I took in the awkward and horrid fashion designs. There were some celebrities here, but that wasn't what brought me here. While I appreciated the energy here, it was Lana that kept me from running back to the mountains to escape this madness. I didn't do people very well. Most wizards didn't. It was like a law of nature designed for us to be recluses.
Stardust barked to get my attention. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You still aren't getting any of this food. Maybe I'll get you a raw burger patty for later."
She spun and sat wagging her tail. Lana had a love-hate relationship with Stardust. She saw my dog getting in the way and couldn't understand that Stardust was more than a pet. Wiccans didn't have familiars I knew of, but you'd think being magically inclined, she'd understand it more. We argued a lot, but we made up like crazy. I think we were more alike than we wanted to admit.
It could've been me. Maybe. She was busy catching criminals using magic to do their dirty work, and I was always on the road hunting for more cursed items. You're over her, Nic. Right? Of course, I am... I sighed heavily and dumped my food basket in the trash.
"Come on, girl. Let's go get you a burger," I said, walking off.
Stardust spun in excitement and followed at my side. Because of city rules, I needed a leash, but hated it. Stardust had more control than the majority of humans here, but I understood it. The leash didn't bother her, so I let it slide. A few food trucks over had what I wanted.
"Hey, can I get a raw beef patty? It's for my dog."
"Sure thing, buddy," said the man behind the window. "Anything else for you or just your dog?"
"Nah, just for her, thanks."
He handed me a wrapped-up patty, which Stardust sat and drooled excessively over. I unwrapped it fast and watched in morbid fascination as she bypassed chewing and inhaled the food. She licked her lips and let out a small burp before rubbing her snout against my leg.
"You're welcome, Stardust. Shall we find Lana?" I asked.
As if on queue, my phone vibrated in my pocket. It was Lana. My heart hammered in my chest. I swiped to answer. "Hello, Lana."
Nic, I need your help. There is some awful shit going on here, and I need your expertise.
It wasn't every day Lana asked for help. Did I want to? No. Would I? Yes. "What's going on, and why me? Your department hates me."
That's true, but they can't handle this case. I'm at a loss as I'm trying to figure out what's going on here. So many models have come up dead, like all the fluids from their bodies have been sucked from their bodies, leaving them a dry husk.
"That sounds pleasant. Any leads?" I asked. "Wait, a minute. This reminds me of an old case you were on during this same event."
It is, Nic. I can't do this alone. The evidence has gone missing from the station. No one knows where it has gone.
"Cursed items don't stay where they are unless someone uses them. I mentioned that years ago. Hell, I even offered to take care of it but you couldn't allow it. Maybe that private investigator friend of yours can help. You know, the one who says he's an angel," I said, walking away from the crowd.
Dammit, Nic! I don't have time for this. You know damn well I couldn't give it to you, and Rian has his hands full. Are you going to help to not?
I wanted to toss my phone and leave, but I couldn't. No matter how much that woman rode my last nerve with my work, she needed my help, and I'd give it. At least I came in second. Maybe for once, I'd get to save a life today. Hopefully. Lately, my luck hasn't gone so well.
"Yes. How many victims?"
Four that we have found. Fashion Week is almost over and I'm afraid if we don't catch this guy, he'll go somewhere else and repeat the cycle.
"Fuck! That's a lot in such a short time, Lana," I said. I could hear her sigh, and my heart raced again. "I'm gonna need more information."
Fine. Nic, keep a tight lid on this. We can't let the media know about this.
"No one will believe me if I told them and did magic while doing so. Normal people aren't cut out for the truth at times."
Thank you, Nic. I want to say... thanks.
She hung up before I could say anything back. It was my luck and probably for the best. The less time we worked together, the better. We had our moments, but the bad ones could literally blow things up. Lana was a stereotypical spicy redhead, and I was a sarcastic Italian boy. We were two opposite ends of a magnet and rarely did one of us ever flip over.
Stardust barked, and I scratched her head. "Looks like it's just the two of us, girl."
Her tail wagged, and she licked her lips again. There was no way I was getting her another burger. It was time to find some models or photographers who knew of the missing persons. Investigative work wasn't my strong point, but talking to people to get information was worse. There was a reason I hung out with Stardust. Like I said earlier, reclusiveness was in the blood. Being Mr. Personality wasn't.
My phone vibrated, and it was a text from Lana. She sent me a file of the victims. Hopefully, they all worked with the same person, and I could tie this up. I downloaded the file and brought up my late grandfather's journal. The original was at the shop under lock and key and a few protection spells. I have since scanned it so I can see it on the go. Even wizards like me need technology these days.
"Stardust, this looks like a long week," I said, sitting on a bench. She hopped up next to me and leaned heavily against my arm. "At least you may get to bite a bad guy."
She barked excitedly. One of us was having a good time, at least.
To read the first two books in the series, visit the links below!
Here is the giveaway! It’s for subscribers only.