Prohibited Magic is the third book in the Grimoire Society of Dark Acts series. Episode 20 is up on my Patreon—it’s pay-what-you-like—and it’ll go up later on Kindle Vella.
Episode 20: Carmichael’s emotional pain and magical expenditure are too great. Are the consequences worth it?
In my Patreon post, you’ll always get exclusive content, like the song I listened to on repeat to write this episode! This is now Carmichael’s song permanently.
What Prohibited Magic is about:
With Grimoire Society of Dark Acts’s magic book and crystal ball in the hands of the parasitic Ruin Rats, Carmichael’s decision to take the Book of Blessings and infiltrate the magical gang has left Dark Acts magically crippled. Gertrude is trapped in Grimoire Assassins’s magical realm; only the never-before-seen Grimoire of Blood can save her. Dark Acts and its allies split up to stop the worsening imbalance in the Magic Societal Universe, an unprecedented state with unfathomable consequences.
Episode 20: Turning Point
CARMICHAEL
“That damned Roach Guard!” Wood shouted as soon as Carmichael and his band of Ruin Rats reappeared back at their lair. Wood let go of Grace’s head and grabbed his profusely bleeding torn left shoulder and upper arm, stomping his foot, his teeth clenched. He spun toward Carmichael. “It hurts like blazes. Heal it!”
Carmichael plunked down on the table and pinched the bridge of his nose, exhausted from the enormous amount of magic it had taken to transport so many people all at once—twice within a few minutes.
“Carmichael, you fool!” Grace shouted. Bill grabbed her by the wrist and wouldn’t let go no matter how hard she tugged. Her scathing glances had no effect either. She turned back to Carmichael. “Can’t you see you’ve made a grave mistake?”
“That Dead Rabbit scum broke my ribs,” Harding wheezed, his hand gingerly prodding the spot. “More too, but that hurts the worst.”
“Yeah, that guy did a job on you,” Bones said. “Looked like a metal slungshot. Never seen anything like it.”
Closing his eyes, Carmichael tried to drown out the voices around him, but they just kept coming. They didn’t understand how much emotional turmoil he’d had to kick up to move them all back and forth. And he didn’t want to let on about the internal pain that clawed at his heart, the overwhelm that made his brain feel stuffed with rocks.
“All right, men, all right,” he heard Snap say. “Give him some space.”
“What about my arm!” one of them yelled. It had to be Wood.
“You idiot,” Snap bit. “Didn’t you absorb any of his magic when he used it?”
“I was too busy lettin’ the daylight into my flesh!”
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© Christie Stratos 2023