The Sphere (The Magi Series #2)
Read The Sphere (The Magi Series #2) Online
Authors: Kevin M. Turner
THE SPHERE
A Novel
by
Kevin M. Turner
****
© 2013 by Kevin M. Turner.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying,
recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of Kevin M. Turner.
For further questions or permissions, you may contact at
www.kevinmturner.com
ISBN –
9781311086150
The Magi Series:
The Sphere: Book
2 (2013)
The Temple: Book
3 (Coming Soon…)
THANK YOU
!
I’d like to thank the following people for their support
and dedication to the completion of The Sphere:
Amber, Ashlyn, Brad, Candyce, Christine, Cindy,
Jasmine, Jacob, Kate, Kelli, Kenna, Lindsay, Kim, Mackenzie, Michelle, Pete,
Riley, and Todd
And a very special thanks to my amazing cover/graphic
designer Jordan Harris (Jayartist.com)
Without you all, this author would have been even more of
a mess
To Reuben:
The second-born is
rarely the first in anything,
so you will be my
first singled-out dedication.
A character is
just an extension of an author’s experiences with people.
I hope to write
you well in the years to come.
Chapter 2: The Legend of the Sphere
Chapter 4: Uncle Stan’s Hideout
Chapter 6: Miranda Roddick’s
Second-Most Shameful Act
Chapter 7: Preliminary Orientation
Chapter 8: The Very Mysterious Barracks
Chapter 12: Olivia’s Substitute
Chapter 14: The Secret Meeting
Chapter 15: Mr. Button’s Hidden
Corridor
Chapter 16: Circles, Squares, and
Tangents
Chapter 18: Paul’s Transforming
Experience
Chapter 22: Elijah’s Awkward Question
Chapter 24: Servants of the Magi
Chapter 25: The Resurrection of
William Hawk
One year ago…
Kyria Hawk shifted uncomfortably under the covers, pleading
with her mind to turn off. Falling asleep had always been difficult since the
night her parents told her about the Magi. She was never one for obsessing
over something—except for her schoolwork—but learning about a new world where
people could control the four elements took time to process. Add on the guilt
she felt for keeping this secret from her brother, Elijah, and she had the
perfect recipe for restless nights.
After tossing and turning for well over an hour, Kyria
finally decided to give up. She threw off the covers and paced her room. What
else was there to do? She thought about warming up milk. Too noisy. She
considered counting sheep. Too juvenile. And creepy. Seriously, who would
want to spend their last waking moments of the day numbering off an infinite
supply of barnyard animals? Kyria briefly contemplated running into the wall
at full speed to knock herself unconscious, when she thought she heard
footsteps in the hall just outside her room. It was probably Elijah getting a
drink. He did that often. She poked her head out of her room and saw that his
door was already open.
“Elijah?” she whispered, making sure he was actually awake.
No answer.
He was probably still downstairs, so she flipped on the
light switch. Nothing came on. Kyria flipped it on and off again several
times without any luck. Some drunk driver had probably just driven into a
light pole or something and cut the neighborhood’s electricity.
On her way back to her bedroom, she saw a shadow flicker
downstairs. It had to be Elijah, she thought. She decided to wait for him.
At least then she would have some company during her restless night. Kyria
grabbed the flashlight lying in her top drawer next to her diaries.
Just as she was about to turn on the flashlight, she heard a
deafening crash downstairs. It sounded like dishes breaking. Either Elijah
was being very clumsy, or something was wrong.
Then a strange sound came from just outside her window. She
rushed over, feeling an increasing sense of alarm.
From her vantage point, leaning slightly out the window,
Kyria could see her father, William Hawk, standing awkwardly in the back yard.
He was tense. His left hand shook violently. Kyria furrowed her brow,
becoming more concerned by the minute. Her father was never out so late. What
was he doing in the middle of the back yard all alone?
Then, from out of nowhere, something exploded through the
back door and fell into the shadows of the yard. Kyria almost screamed. Then,
more mysteriously, her brother leapt out of the side window on the first
floor. He gathered himself quickly, and ran to their father. Kyria’s
breathing became short and fast as she watched the scene from the second floor.
Elijah was being told something by their father. She tried desperately to
hear, but she only heard voices, nothing clear. Elijah’s body suddenly became
tight and rigid like he was going to pass out. Then, he bolted around the
corner, leaving their father standing alone in the back yard, watching the
shadows. Slowly, a man donned in black emerged, brushing himself off in the
light of the moon.
Kyria’s first instinct was to be afraid. She wanted to
give in and let the fear take control of her, but she knew that was useless.
If there was anything she learned from her secret trainings with her mother and
father it was that the mind controlled everything. Fear was just a weak mind
ill-prepared for the unexpected.
It was hard to remain calm, however, when this black-cloaked
man suddenly flung a stream of fire, looking like a terrible serpent, at her
father. Kyria’s father reacted swiftly with his own element. In the blink of
an eye, he shot his hands toward the oncoming blaze and extinguished most of it
with whatever water he could collect from the moisture in the air and from the
earth. Even with his quick reaction, however, it was not enough to completely
douse the flames, and William Hawk was hit and thrown to the ground, the fire
scorching his face.
In an instant, this man and her father were locked in a
fierce battle right underneath her window. From the depths of her gut, the
horrifying truth of what was happening hit Kyria like a bomb. She began to
feel a cold shiver race down her spine.
The Maliphists had found them!
It was all over. Everything she and her parents were
searching for was done. They were going to die!
She
was going to die!
Tonight! Her body began to convulse at the thought, but she forced herself to
block out the fear for the moment and stay under control because the Maliphists
were after more than just her family. Though no common person knew it, the
fate of the entire world was at stake.
She knew what she had to do.
The book!
She had to hide the book!
Kyria took one last look out her window, saying a silent
goodbye to her father as his fight was almost over. Tears flooded her eyes as
she blew him a kiss that he would never see. Her father was no match for this
man who was clearly more skilled and trained to kill. In moments, her father
would be finished. Kyria sobbed as she turned away, unable to watch her
father’s final moments.
She continued choking back her tears as she flew down the
stairs and burst through the French doors to their home library. Her eyes immediately
fell upon a section of books that had no purpose other than concealing
something very important behind it. She pushed the books aside but didn’t see
what she expected to see hidden behind the secret barrier.
It was empty.
Where was it?
Kyria began pulling down book after book from the shelves,
not caring how much noise she made until at last, all that remained of an
entire bookcase were the wooden slats. She looked around frantically,
wondering if it had been moved or misplaced, but it was no use. The book was
gone!
She hurried back out of their library and stood at the foot
of the stairs wondering what to do next. She knew she was in danger. Her
father would be dead soon, if he wasn’t already, which was enough to make her
sick at the thought. Then, that man would be coming for the book.
Kyria continued forcing herself to remain emotionless. She
still needed to make sure that man didn’t find out what was
in
the
book. Maybe it was hidden. Maybe her parents had moved the book since they knew
they were in danger. If that was the case, she needed to protect her diaries.
After all, she had been using them to take her own notes!
Kyria Hawk rushed back up the staircase, but on her way, she
heard the deep, guttural scream of a woman in absolute terror. That could mean
only one thing. Kyria quickened her pace. She couldn’t fight back the tears
any longer, knowing that her mother was next.
“KYRIA, RUN! GET OUT!!!”
Even the loud sounds of running footsteps and pleading from
her mother didn’t deter her from her mission. It was more important to dispose
of her diaries. Death didn’t scare her as much as the information in the hands
of the Maliphists did. She flew inside her room, shut the door, locked it, and
leaned a chair underneath the doorknob. It would never hold, but it might give
her time.
Kyria grabbed her diaries from her dresser when she suddenly
heard a thundering crack followed by a loud thud coming from the staircase.
Kyria paused. She listened.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
The slow footsteps became louder. He knew she was up here.
He was coming for her!
Kyria blanked her mind, erasing the fear once more. The
fear that her end was coming. She turned around and shoved her window open.
Thump. Thump. Thump. Louder and closer still.
Looking down below her, Kyria carefully released her
diaries. Her aim was true. They landed right on top of a collection of bushes
that grew just under her window. They even nestled inside. That hiding place
would have to do. It was as good as she was going to get. Kyria Hawk turned
around and faced her door.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Silence.
Deep breath.
Focus, she thought.
Be unpredictable.
Be wild!
Kyria gathered her emotions and focus together to prepare
for her own elemental battle. She didn’t stand a chance, but she was going to
fight!
CRASH!
The door began splitting in two and a blinding light
illuminated from behind it until her door was completely severed. There stood
the tall, dark figure of a Maliphist man. Two gleaming, yellow eyes stared at
Kyria. She could only look in horror as the man lunged at her like a ferocious
animal attacking its prey.
In an instant, Kyria knew nothing.
