The Brothers Locke: An Urban Fantasy Adventure - Part 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FOREWORD

EPISODE 1: SOLAS

EPISODE 2: DANGEROUS BURDENS

EPISODE 3: THE GOLD OF CAPTAIN HORSEFLY

EPISODE 4: YOU GET SOFT, YOU GET KILLED

FINISH THE STORY

YOU CAN MAKE AN IMPACT

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LEGAL

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FOREWORD

The Brothers Locke: An Urban Fantasy Adventure is the first taste into the world of the Dea and the upcoming five part series Dorian Delmontez. A colorful passel of characters will populate this world over the coming years in full length novels. This urban fantasy adventure will give you a glimpse into the expanded world full of action, adventure, epic stories, and fantasy landscapes.

In addition, our websites will further the experience of the Dea through interactive games, applications, videos and much more online. We hope to provide an experience that is both immersive and entertaining for you with a new mythology for those who love coming of age stories, fantasy stories and high adventure series.

So get comfortable, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and enjoy this trip into a reality that is just outside the edge of your own but may be closer than you think.

This is the first in a series of eBooks. To get more along with behind-the-scenes information and more free book offers in the future, please see the page following this story for more details.

- KC Hunter

PART 1

This is Part 1 of an epic adventure story. Get Part 2 now or find a link at the end of the book.

The Brothers Locke

Episode 1: Solas

Perry hated running. It hurt his feet, it hurt his knees, it hurt his lungs, and most of all it hurt his ankles. So when he got the call that a suspect was heading down to the main floor and he was the only security officer available, he knew when he caught this kid a beat down of historic proportions would follow.

Stop! he shouted as he caught sight of the boy.

Of course, the suspect didn’t stop, so Perry gave chase. He couldn’t imagine something more terrible than this. Not only did running make Perry ache all over, but he didn’t look particularly athletic doing it. His arms, which were short for his body size, swung at his sides and he had an upright posture that made it look more like he was running to the bathroom than giving chase.

I said stop! he shouted again. That means your legs don’t move anymore!

The kid clearly heard him but showed no intention of complying. Unlike Perry, the boy was athletic and putting more distance between them with every step. Leaping over crates, running through the food court, weaving between two jewelry kiosks, and hurdling over an incoming shipment of boxes, the boy and Perry provided quite a show for the patrons in the shopping center.

They were in the main lobby now, and with few obstacles to get in their way, it was a clear sprint to the front door. Outside was a large crowd and Perry knew if the boy got there, he’d be impossible to find. However, he was feeling winded. Slowing his stride, Perry couldn’t go any farther and stopped to catch his breath. If he was ten years younger, this thief wouldn’t have stood a chance.

There he is! came a voice from the nearby elevator.

Three other security guards had arrived and immediately gave chase to the boy, allowing Perry to not feel so guilty about letting the kid get away. He bent over and put his hands on his knees, gasping for air and wiping sweat from his brow.

I wouldn’t feel so bad, a heavy set man said nearby. I wouldn’t have chased him at all, given your size.

Perry looked at his midsection, which was admittedly rotund, but then threw his critic a sarcastic glare.

Oh, I ain’t got room to talk, the other man admitted, throwing his hands up in surrender. I’m just saying, I feel for you.

It wasn’t until now that Perry recognized the large man. He immediately regretted his prior glare. I’m sorry, didn’t know it was you, Sim Sam.

Don’t worry about me being offended. I’m not that sensitive, Sim Sam grinned. Save that for the boss.

They both looked out of the front entrance to the shopping center and saw the boy fleeing through the glass doors and into the crowd. The security officers were in pursuit, pushing people out of their way and shouting instructions.

The boy’s gone, Sim Sam noted as he pushed his square glasses up with his index finger. When your fellow officers are done trying to find him in that crowd, tell them to come upstairs. I’m sure the boss wants to get clues. You come too.

Perry’s face grew ashen, and he stumbled in his response, Y-yes sir.

Don’t be afraid—

I’m not afraid, sir. It’s just that… I’ve never met The Miscellany. I mean—

You didn’t let me finish.

Perry cocked his head. Perhaps this wasn’t a summons for punishment, but something else. Their employer might actually be sympathetic to the issue.

Sim Sam continued, I meant don’t be afraid, yet.

Undeterred by the cryptic warning, Perry took one last deep breath and headed back to the guard’s control room. Sim Sam chuckled to himself and returned his attention to the glass doors, wondering if the other guards could possibly catch the thief.

***

He went down that way! yelled one of the three guards.

The trio ran down a nearby alley, pushing violently through the crowd of people gathered in the main courtyard who were all more preoccupied with the images on the massive video screens around them than the chase going on in their midst.

This was the main square in Avidity, the largest city in the western part of the Dea. While the neighboring cities and towns were shrouded in darkness, this was a place of glittering skyscrapers and bustling sidewalks. But like any city, it had its secrets and shadows. In the darker corners, away from the hubbub, an entirely different world thrived.

In such a place, it can be fairly easy to disappear. Unfortunately for the guards, it appeared that their thief knew this all too well. The alley appeared empty except for a few dumpsters and crates. Still, they did their job and searched as best they could.

I saw him go down here, said one of the guards, a man named Taylor. He has to be here. There’s no way out of this alley.

If you say so, Marc, a smaller guard, sneered. This could all just be a giant waste of time.

I don’t think so, said Dod, the third guard.

He waved to the other two and pointed behind a nearby dumpster. There, with his back to them, was the thief. He was dressed plainly in jeans, tennis shoes, and a gray hoodie that he had drawn over his head.

Put your hands up! Taylor said, drawing his baton.

The thief would not comply.

"I said put your hands up! Now!"

Cautiously, the suspect raised his hands above his head, making sure to keep his face concealed under his hood. At that very moment, another person emerged from behind another dumpster, dressed in an identical outfit.

Don’t move! the guards all shouted. You! Put your hands up! Now!

As the second person put his hands up, the first suspect lowered his. Taylor told him to put his hands back up, and as he did, the second suspect lowered his.

Do you think this is a game? Marc asked.

Guys, Dod nudged his co workers and directed their attention to a third figure, who stood atop a parked truck behind them.

Just like the other two, he wore a gray hoodie, tennis shoes, and jeans. Not knowing which direction to focus their attention, the guards began to panic. They shouted out orders to all three suspects at the same time, telling them all to put their hands up. As one would put his arms up, the other two would drop their hands or cross their arms. It became a chaotic symphony of shouting voices until one of the suspects began to chuckle.

You, up there on the truck, stop laughing! Taylor shouted, his temper now getting the best of him. Take off that hoodie!

There was no response. All three of the guards now approached the truck, their batons gripped firmly. Once again, they called up to the third suspect on the van while looking back at the other two.

"Take. It. Off."

With one last laugh, the suspect reached up and pulled back his hood. It was a boy, no more than thirteen, with olive skin and wavy black hair. His features were sharp: a long nose and thin eyebrows that sat above almond eyes. His lips were curled in a defiant smirk.

Who are you? Marc asked. Give us your name and get down from there.

The other two boys took off their hoods and revealed the final surprise. The same face, the same olive skin, the same sharp features. All three were almost exactly the same,