Marked For Death: A Dark Urban Fantasy Novel Becca Blake (fiction novels to read .txt) 📖

orders of applying healing herbs every few hours. I slathered more of the mixture on and tucked the jar away in my bag.

Over the fresh bandages, I slipped on a basic black tank top and jeans, then headed downstairs. I found Jacob passed out, with the remote still in his hand. Judging by the pile of dirty plates on the floor next to him, he’d found the pantry and made himself right at home.

Even though our orders from Orion said we needed to stay home and get to know each other, I didn’t want to be around when he woke up. Going to the alchemy lab to check on my sword like Orion suggested seemed as good an excuse as any to get out of the house. I grabbed a granola bar for breakfast, then slipped out the front door, moving quietly so I wouldn’t wake my partner.

I made my way to the alchemy lab on Market Street and hesitated at the entrance to the single story brick building. It was unremarkable, aside from the massive greenhouse attached to it, where they grew Haygrove’s supply of healing herbs. The sign on the front read: Dr. Edward Moran, Alchemy. There was no mention of what sort of doctor he was, and I assumed his credentials wouldn’t hold up to any scrutiny outside of Haygrove.

All the weapons I’d purchased before were already enchanted when I brought them home. I’d never had any reason to go to the alchemy lab before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

A bell chimed as I entered a dimly lit waiting room. A young woman who looked to be in her teens sat behind the reception desk. She focused intently on her computer screen, either not noticing or not caring that I’d walked in.

I cleared my throat.

“Let me finish this raid,” she said without even glancing at me.

As I wandered around the empty waiting room, I turned my attention to a pile of magazines in the corner and flipped through the one on top, which had a recent interview with the president. Haygrove isolated us enough from the rest of the country that civilian politics didn’t have much of an impact on us. Hell, I didn’t even know which political party the current president belonged to. The civilians who read this sort of magazine had no idea what was really out there. In a way, I envied them.

A loud curse told me the receptionist finished her game, so I tossed the magazine back onto the pile and returned to the counter.

The woman’s name tag, visible now that she’d turned her body to face forward, informed me her name was Judy. She tapped on the keyboard, and her wandering eyes drifted toward the monitor even as she spoke.

“What do you need?”

“I have a weapon that was dropped off for enchanting, and I was wondering if it was done yet.”

“You could have just called.” Judy minimized her game and scrolled through something on the screen. “Name?”

“Riley Collins.”

“I’m not seeing anything for you in our system, but you can head back and check with Dr. Moran, if you want.”

Judy pushed a button, and the door next to her desk slid open with a loud buzz. She turned back to her monitor, and the clashing swords and growling monsters returned.

The door slid shut behind me, and I found myself in a short corridor with three doors, all labeled with golden script: ENCHANTING, STUDY, and GREENHOUSE.

I tried the closest door, the one that led to the study, first. I had barely pulled my hand back from knocking when the door opened a crack, just enough for a short man to peer up at me. His unkempt, dark hair was highlighted with unruly grey strands that stuck out in every direction, and the thick lenses that rested underneath his bushy brows exaggerated his dark brown eyes.

“Didn’t Judy tell you I’m not to be disturbed? What do you want?” He spoke quickly, blending the words together like a TV announcer rushing through terms the law required him to mention. He blinked rapidly as he waited for my response.

“You’re the alchemist? Dr. Moran?” I asked.

His eyebrows dipped low. “Ed is fine. But, yes.”

I didn’t know what I expected, but I’d always imagined the town alchemist as someone more… professional.

“I’m sorry for bothering you. I was just wondering if you’d had time to enchant my weapon.”

The alchemist groaned and buried his face in his hands. “Did she check the computer system? We’ve got a computer system for a reason.”

“She said I wasn’t in the system, but she seemed a little preoccupied,” I said.

This was met with another groan. “I always tell her there’s no point fighting digital demons when there are real ones out there. She doesn’t listen to me, though. How long ago did you say you dropped off your weapon?”

“Yesterday.”

Ed threw his head back and laughed. “I’m very busy right now. That’s not nearly enough time. I can’t add another weapon enchantment to my schedule for at least…” He counted on his fingers. “Two weeks. No! One month.”

“I’ll be back out in the field by then,” I said. “Commander Orion told me you’d be able to get it done sooner.”

“Can’t do it, Miss. Out you go. Leave it with Judy. She’ll call when it’s done.” He waved his hands at me to shoo me away, then started to shut the door in my face.

I wedged my boot in between the door and the wall to hold it open. “Orion already left it here.”

“Get a different weapon from the armory until it’s done, then.” He shooed me again.

“I already have one. This one is important to me. It’s a gift from my dad.”

The alchemist’s head cocked to the side as he looked me over. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and squinted. “Ah! You’re Owen Collins’s girl, aren’t you? You won’t take no for an answer, I expect. Fine. I owe your dad a favor, anyway. Come along.”

I followed him across