Magic and Mayhem

Marianne Lambert Fantasy

When Ayden and Absidae Walker were young, their family was attacked by a group of rogues who wanted to kill their mother, who was backing a piece of legislation that would condense the world around them into categories; who people could marry, what jobs they could have, how much education they were allowed, and how many children they could have. Their mother, father, and entire town was murdered before their eyes. At just 7 years old, Absidae was alone in the world, believing that her brother was also dead. Ayden, however, was turned into a vampire that night, and recruited by the Ceokian Council of Nonhuman Creatures as a Hunter; someone who would hunt down rogues like those who had destroyed his life. Absidae was sent to orphanage after orphanage, but everywhere she went people feared her. The rogues still had her blood scent, and she was constantly being watched, threatened, and attacked. Eventually, she was left on her own in the world. Running all her life, she developed a strange magic; the ability to manipulate people with her eyes and voice. Absidae reached out to Paris Graemeyer, the most powerful warlock in Ceokia, to train her. He accepted the mission, and brought her into his school, where she met his other apprentices. Cedar, his niece, who had the power to manipulate plants. Sinclair, Cedar’s childhood friend, who could speak to reptiles and bugs. Orion, a werebear with the power to harness the weather. Tristan, his master apprentice, who would teach her the art of potions and alchemy, who was nearly a master warlock himself. Orion’s father, one of the heads of the Ceokian Council of Nonhuman Creatures, discovered that Absidae Walker was learning with his estranged son, and demanded that Orion win her trust and deliver her to him, so that he could use her power to get more people on the side of his legislation, the very legislation that Absidae’s mother was murdered because of. Paris and his apprentices always put on an amazing display at the Autumn festival, which Absidae throws herself into helping with. The rogues near the area plan an attack on the politicians to try to get them to listen to their side; how they want to love who they love, learn what they can, work the jobs they want, and be free to make choices for themselves. Ayden and the rogues he abandoned the council for are dangerously close to the sister who thinks he is dead, and everything comes to a head at the Autumn Festival.

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