Book 1

Hidden City

Forced to witness his mother’s passing as a young boy, Mox discovers his magical abilities. Rather than retreat behind walls of sorrow, he believes these powers make him the perfect man to unlock the mystery behind the sickness plaguing the world. First though, he must find his long-lost father. In his search, Mox stumbles upon the hidden city of Guillan and realizes two things.

As he searches the city, he realizes that their power comes with a dark price.

Brand, Nikki, and their rebellious group known as Guillan Defenders (GD) reach out to Mox with hopes that he can be the one to save their lives.

Excerpt

Chapter One

The cold, bitter, snow whipped from all directions. Mox had always hated the wind most; the way that it cut through his body like a knife through butter. Even through the surrounding trees, the wind continued to whirl rendering no place safe.

            Along the dusty street, Mox continued to walk with his backpack, which was tattered from miles of wear. It had been ten years since he’d watched his mother pass, but he could remember it like yesterday. His face had hardened much since those days, and his shaggy brown hair was now trimmer. He often slicked it straight back but not now. Today it hid, concealed beneath a warm wooly hat, which only exaggerated his tall, six-foot stature. The sun shone high above, combating the cold as the clock approached noon. He gathered kindling to start a fire, utilizing magazines and newspapers that littered the road. Each paper talked about the same event.

Death! Death count to nearly a million as unknown disease continues to grow!

With the Government’s estimated death toll nearly hitting one million, they admit they are still no closer to finding the cause or cure. Government officials advise everyone to stay inside and minimize all contact with outsiders. Although strict, they urge people to comply in order to prevent the spread. Furthermore, if you begin to notice signs of fever and diaphoresis (sweating), contact the health district immediately. Other symptoms include hallucinations… (Cont. on p4).

January 15, 4018.

Mox had read enough. For while there was no page four to turn to in this paper, he’d read it all before. This “disease” had been what afflicted his mother long ago…

“Mother? We’re here. I brought some help!” Mox yelled, barging into the small house he called home. He was only twelve and wasn’t ready for this. An older man, Burt, lagged behind. “This way, hurry!”

            Burt bound after him, clearly out of breath. He followed Mox down the hall into a bedroom. There, atop a flimsy, sweat-stained mattress, lay Fay, gasping for air. Drenched in perspiration, her clothes clung to her skin.

“Fay!” Burt gulped.

            “Raylin told me to get you if this day came before his return,” Fay whispered softly. “I don’t think I can last much longer.”

            “Mom?” Mox spoke timidly. “You can do it. You must!”

            Fay smiled at her son softly. “For you, I’d do anything, sweetheart. But I’m afraid I don’t have a say in this.”

            “Do something!” Mox yelled at Burt.

            Burt looked at Mox gravely. “Okay, go fetch some cold water and bring something to fan her off. We need to cool her down. Go!” he finished, sending him out of earshot.

Mox ran to the nearest faucet and filled it. Running back, he did his best not to slosh it over the edge. “I’ve got the water!” Mox said busting back through the door.

Burt smiled softly at Fay and held intense eye contact. “Very good, boy. Grab some towels from the corner and soak them. We’re going to cover her body to help her cool down.”

Mox worked meticulously sponging his mother off with cool water. Her muscles unclenched, and she seemed to be breathing easier. “Hey, Mox, I love you,” Fay said quietly. “I think it’s time to go…” she finished screaming out in pain, eyes clenched shut. Fay squeezed Mox’s hands tightly before her hands went limp.

“Mom?”

No response.

“I love you, too,” Mox yelled, tears sprinkling down his cheek.

Fay started seizing and shaking violently.

“Mother!” Mox cried hysterically, jumping on her to hold her down.

Burt chanted silently until an electrifying white, blue ball appeared in his hands. Burt’s skin glowed a soft shimmering yellow. “Move, Mox!” he yelled. Hurriedly, he spread his hands up and down Fay’s skin allowing the energy force to pass to her, numbing the pain.

Fay stopped shaking and immediately sighed in relief, for one final time. “Be free, Fay. Come with me now,” Burt said gently putting an arm around Mox. “Your mother has asked I watch over you until you are of age. Are you okay with that?”

Mox stared silently at his mother’s pale body. Was he okay with that? With what? Trying to process what had happened, his head swirled. It felt like a hard lump of hot coal weighed in his stomach. Leaning off to the side, he wretched, coating the cool wash clothes within the bucket with yellow vomit. His father had warned him this day would come all those years back when Mox first realized he had powers. He had also told him not to try and do anything magical in her presence because it made it worse. If he needed to talk to anyone or show off a new trick, he could do so with him, or the neighbor down the street, Burt. Burt had powers like them, he said. After his father had left, Mox had done just that. At least once a month he would show Burt a new trick and he would always clap and ask him to do it again. Mox would happily oblige.

“Yeah,” he finally sputtered, tears dripping from his cheeks. “What did you do?” His mouth watered excessively, and he spat a few times into the bucket trying to clear his mouth.

“Eased her pain.”

“But how?”

“The power we share. We can harness it if properly trained to do all sorts of things. Pain relief is just one of these things.”

Mox thought about this. “Can you make my hurt go away?”
            “Physical pain, Mox. Emotional pain isn’t so easy. Maybe someone can do it, but not me.”

“I want to learn,” Mox concluded.

Burt smiled. “Of course, child. We need to take care of your mother first, but training starts tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow? I’ll learn tomorrow? What will you teach me?”

“Control,” Burt said simply. “I’m afraid there isn’t time to waste,” Burt assured him. “We won’t be learning this exactly, but we need to start flexing those muscles. Now, come on. Let’s get her buried before we’ve lost all daylight. Think of a spot she would like.”

They worked in silence, wrapping Fay in her favorite sheet before transporting her outside by the nearby lake. She had loved sitting by the lake watching the slow waves topple over each other. Mox dug continuously, trying to keep his mind preoccupied. The sun had finally set behind them when he finished the hold.

After checking no one was around, Burt extended his hands, skin shimmering. Fay’s body, wrapped tightly in pink, slowly levitated as Burt guided her body slowly down into the hole. “You will be missed,” he said to her, body laid to rest.

Mox grabbed the shovel to begin returning the dirt.

“Let me,” Burt said simply, arms still waving. Mox stepped back as the dirt funneled back to the hole like sand in an hourglass. “Sorry I couldn’t help dig too,” he said, seeing Mox’s face. “Much harder to lift something against gravity than assisting its natural force. Same rules apply, even for magic.” Burt said one last prayer before leaving. “You can stay with me in my house if you’d prefer not to be in your house.”

 Mox stayed with his mother, watching the water as darkness continued to grow. Thank goodness for Burt. He owed him big time, and he knew it. The thought of returning to his house, the house his had father left him in, the house where, now, his mother had left him, made his heart hurt. He loved that house, but now? It felt cursed. Yes, he would stay with Burt. He would focus on learning everything he could from the nice old guy. And when he finished learning… he would leave town. Leave behind him the cursed house, the memories, the pain. How he longed to be on the other side of this. His father used to say, ‘The only way to get somewhere is to start going.’ Well, it was time to start going. He departed without looking back…