Read Online Corruption (Grumpy Old Wizards Book 2) by John O'Riley - Free Book Online
Authors: John O'Riley
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Helen and Alice. Someday soon, you will outgrow them and you will grieve for the loss of family and friends but if you help us, you could have it all. Alice and Helen could live forever. Just like you.”
Josephine was shocked that this man knew so much about her. Obviously, Brad wasn’t the only one spying on her. How disturbing that she’d remained oblivious to these efforts.
“That is a compelling offer,” Josephine said. “What would I have to do in exchange?”
“We merely ask for you to create specific enchantments once in a while to further our objectives,” Lorcan said.
“I refuse to make deadly weapons.”
“Don’t worry. We would never request such a thing from you. We wish to create a perfect world. A safe place for everyone to live in.”
“Aren’t you hunting down members of the Phoenix Community?” Josephine doubted that his motives were so pure.
“No, we’re not. They are a bunch of fanatics. They can live in their forced isolation for as long as they want,” Lorcan sneered. “You probably spoke with Brad. I know he’s in the area recruiting. He likes to make promises and then fails to keep them. For example, everyone in your family is probably a latent six which means he can awaken their abilities. That includes Jake.”
“We already discussed Jake and he promised he wouldn’t approach him.”
Lorcan issued a bitter laugh. “And you probably believe him. How sad. Don’t be surprised if Jake disappears along with Gary and Vickie. You’ll probably lose other family members as well.”
Lorcan’s words elicited a chill of foreboding as information about him continued to trickle into Josephine’s mind. Lorcan was ruthless like all the Valituras. He would kidnap Jake and fake his death and experiment on him as they perfected their technology for creating sixes. They would do this just to make Josephine think that Brad broke his promise to her and had recruited Jake to his cause. If that wasn’t enough to gain Josephine’s cooperation, Lorcan would systematically kidnap the rest of the family until Josephine hated the Phoenix Community and agreed to help the Valituras out of spite and sheer desperation. Lorcan had used this strategy many times. Josephine could read that he would leave her friends and family alone if she convinced him she was on his side and would comply with all of his requests.
“What you say makes a lot of sense,” Josephine said. “I agree to help the Valituras and their noble cause.”
Lorcan’s thin lips formed a disgusting smile. “Excellent! I’m so glad you understand the good that we can do.”
Lorcan pulled out a couple of folded pages from the inside of his shorts and handed them to Josephine who held them by the tips of two of her fingers.
“What’s this?” Josephine eyed the paper with revulsion as she made a fervent prayer that Lorcan wasn’t going commando and that this hadn’t been pressed against his bare skin.
“It’s your first production job.”
“You do realize that I’m no longer retired and don’t have a lot of free time on my hands anymore, don’t you?”
“I understand. You have three weeks to make five of these enchantments,” Lorcan said in a reasonable tone.
“What kind of spell is this?”
“It’s a kind of magical battery.”
“All right. And how do I contact you when I’m finished?”
“I’ll meet you on your morning jog about once every week for a progress report,” Lorcan said.
“You can’t just give me your number?” Josephine asked.
Lorcan stared at her with a stoic expression for several seconds.
“Whatever,” Josephine muttered with annoyance and turned to resume her jog.
Lorcan allowed her to pass without attempting to extend their conversation. Josephine tucked the papers in her pocket and jogged at a light pace. She glanced at her watch and realized it was time to head back home. When she and her friends gathered at her dining room table for coffee and to play rummy, Josephine
Josephine was shocked that this man knew so much about her. Obviously, Brad wasn’t the only one spying on her. How disturbing that she’d remained oblivious to these efforts.
“That is a compelling offer,” Josephine said. “What would I have to do in exchange?”
“We merely ask for you to create specific enchantments once in a while to further our objectives,” Lorcan said.
“I refuse to make deadly weapons.”
“Don’t worry. We would never request such a thing from you. We wish to create a perfect world. A safe place for everyone to live in.”
“Aren’t you hunting down members of the Phoenix Community?” Josephine doubted that his motives were so pure.
“No, we’re not. They are a bunch of fanatics. They can live in their forced isolation for as long as they want,” Lorcan sneered. “You probably spoke with Brad. I know he’s in the area recruiting. He likes to make promises and then fails to keep them. For example, everyone in your family is probably a latent six which means he can awaken their abilities. That includes Jake.”
“We already discussed Jake and he promised he wouldn’t approach him.”
Lorcan issued a bitter laugh. “And you probably believe him. How sad. Don’t be surprised if Jake disappears along with Gary and Vickie. You’ll probably lose other family members as well.”
Lorcan’s words elicited a chill of foreboding as information about him continued to trickle into Josephine’s mind. Lorcan was ruthless like all the Valituras. He would kidnap Jake and fake his death and experiment on him as they perfected their technology for creating sixes. They would do this just to make Josephine think that Brad broke his promise to her and had recruited Jake to his cause. If that wasn’t enough to gain Josephine’s cooperation, Lorcan would systematically kidnap the rest of the family until Josephine hated the Phoenix Community and agreed to help the Valituras out of spite and sheer desperation. Lorcan had used this strategy many times. Josephine could read that he would leave her friends and family alone if she convinced him she was on his side and would comply with all of his requests.
“What you say makes a lot of sense,” Josephine said. “I agree to help the Valituras and their noble cause.”
Lorcan’s thin lips formed a disgusting smile. “Excellent! I’m so glad you understand the good that we can do.”
Lorcan pulled out a couple of folded pages from the inside of his shorts and handed them to Josephine who held them by the tips of two of her fingers.
“What’s this?” Josephine eyed the paper with revulsion as she made a fervent prayer that Lorcan wasn’t going commando and that this hadn’t been pressed against his bare skin.
“It’s your first production job.”
“You do realize that I’m no longer retired and don’t have a lot of free time on my hands anymore, don’t you?”
“I understand. You have three weeks to make five of these enchantments,” Lorcan said in a reasonable tone.
“What kind of spell is this?”
“It’s a kind of magical battery.”
“All right. And how do I contact you when I’m finished?”
“I’ll meet you on your morning jog about once every week for a progress report,” Lorcan said.
“You can’t just give me your number?” Josephine asked.
Lorcan stared at her with a stoic expression for several seconds.
“Whatever,” Josephine muttered with annoyance and turned to resume her jog.
Lorcan allowed her to pass without attempting to extend their conversation. Josephine tucked the papers in her pocket and jogged at a light pace. She glanced at her watch and realized it was time to head back home. When she and her friends gathered at her dining room table for coffee and to play rummy, Josephine
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