Page 1 of Stone Temptation

ONE

Luke

My day began with cornflakes and theft.

I would’ve preferred a lie-in, or a lazy morning listening to my jazz records.

Maybe tomorrow.

With the cereal now fully digested, I parked my car in a layby on a country lane, preparing to make myself invisible for the theft part.

Worry snaked through me as it always did in these situations. I popped a strawberry fondant cream in my mouth to help.

Those chocolate-covered wonders always made things better, cavities be damned.

“I can do this,” I told myself in the rearview mirror between deep breaths.

I gave myself ten seconds, doing the whole hippopotamus thing as I counted down.

Upon reaching zero, watery-like magic rippled across my body, removing my reflection from the mirror, confirming a successful vanish.

As long as nothing startled me, I’d be able to hold onto the illusion.

You can do this.

After a few more deep breaths, I got out into the bitter, early December air, heading toward the village of Periwinkle.

What a miserable, overcast day. The gray clouds smothered the sky with no break in sight, my winter clothing barely keeping the cold away. My invisibility didn’t hide my footprints, so I kept to the edge of the path, avoiding the wet and pulpy leaves, going for strong mouse energy.

Becoming a thief wasn’t ever on my agenda. I fell into it a year ago when I received my invisibility power. It opened up new possibilities, giving me access to a variety of magical methods in my quest to help my brother.

Always for you, Finn…

I took a narrow path away from the road, cutting through fields. A canopy of dead trees bent over the only path into the village, sleeping in winter’s embrace.

God, I hated winter.

I passed two dog walkers gossiping about a man called Jim and his terrible poodle. A cluster of sparkly, purple motes wafted past my face.

I lived in a world where humans literally breathed in magical motes every day. The glittery, indestructible particles of many colors had been around since the dawn of time, released from the bowels of the earth through mote vents scattered around the planet. There was one on the northwestern tip of my town, Brinecrest, located on the southern coast of England, and ten miles south of Periwinkle.

Motes endowed humans with magical properties, like my invisibility. Some of us, like me, were mote enchanters, able to harness the energy of the motes to make potions or charms, all with the right magical touch.

Years ago, enchanter power was much greater, history books filled with tales of great mote enchanters and their magical prowess. Nowadays, a decent level of skill is rare. My potions often turned to mush, my charms useless. The magic of the motes was a tricky beast to tame. Any talented enchanters were quickly snapped up into awesome jobs, often to support the gargoyles—our stony protectors.

My weaknesses didn’t stop me seeking out magical solutions to save Finn from a monster’s curse. There were plenty of scrolls and books to steal, along with special filtering equipment. And outside of being a robbing bastard, I kept trying to find a better enchanter for help. Of course, I’d had as much success as a chocolate teapot, but cold shoulders wouldn’t deter me.

Nothing would.

Never give up.

The path curved to the left, passing a dog poo bin and an information board detailing the local flora and fauna. Another dog walker approached with a black Labrador. I kept my distance, quickening my pace, the dog more interested in the verge than me.

Phew.

The sooner this was over, the better.

Over the past three years, I existed between grief and hope. I mourned Finn yet remained hopeful for his return. He wasn’t quite dead but wasn’t here with me either.

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