Not My Fae, page 19
part #8 of Vegas Fae Stories Series
"Sure thing, LT," he said, handing it to me. "No one would believe it anyway. I'm not even sure I do. Where did all these bastards come from?"
"You can thank that prick, Beelzebub," I said, turning the dial. "How many we lose?"
"Two for sure," he said, his eyes downcast. "Everyone else is wounded in some way. It was a bitch out there, LT."
"Mal, you there?" I asked, keying the mic as I shook my head. "Everything's code four. Marissa and her cronies are dead. There's no one left here to fight."
"Give me a second, LT," he replied. "That’s good news, but I'm trying to wade through piles of shit to get to you. It's going to be a few before I can get to your location."
"Say again?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Shit," he repeated. "S, H, I, T! Tell that half-ass Wizard partner of mine that we found the one that got away. That's why the bus turned right on Second Street instead of going straight through. They blocked the road with shit. There's half a block and more of road and yards covered in big piles of it over here. Be thankful the wind isn't blowing your way. I will say it makes for good cover; we've been using piles of it to hide behind between trading fire with your friends over there. Whoever heard of using this much shit as a diversion. I'll get to you when I can."
"Copy that," I said before I keyed the mic again. "Status of your squad?"
"Multiple injuries," he replied with a groan. "We're beat up. I'm still missing one but everyone else is accounted for. At least until the sepsis kicks in. We need medical when they can get here."
I didn’t have the heart to tell him about Björg on the radio. I'd let him know when I saw him in person.
"Anyone tell dispatch we were code four?" I asked Roberto. He shook his head as I pressed hard on my ribs and side from the pain. I switched to the area channel and keyed the mic again.
"Control, 301M. Code four. I repeat, code four," I said, reverting back into Lieutenant mode. "All suspects are down and the Magical situation is contained. Have Patrol stand by on the perimeter for crime scene control and tell them to expect civilian contact. There's a lot of frightened citizens out here. Notify all concerned we have multiple suspects down and several fallen officers. Let BOP know their Bus and personnel are down and that they won't need a second transport. Let Homicide, IAB, and the Coroner know I called it in and that the scene is mine."
It was time to see just how far my get out of jail free card would get me. Even then, BOP would still need to do their own investigation where the bus was concerned, as well as retrieve their fallen.
"I need medical en route to the VFW on Second Street. Make sure they've got Fae Healers on board. Tell them to avoid Bonanza and come in off Washington. I'm gonna need FD for fire control and a water clean-up at Bonanza and Second. They'll see what for when they arrive. Contact 200 at the South CP and advise him of the situation and that I'll be out here a while."
"See to your folks," I said, not waiting to hear the rebroadcast as I handed him back the radio. "We'll talk later. Remember what I said. Oh, and find me that shit Demon if he's still around. I don’t need any more of his crap, it stinks enough as it is."
"You got it, LT," he replied, chuckling, then shuffled back in the direction he came.
I slid down against the wall I'd been standing next to and reached over for Charlie, slapping my other hand against my thigh where it was bleeding.
"Remind me to pimp slap Gaea if I ever see her again," I said, groaning in pain as I slid my arm around him. "What the Hell was this all about? Not that I'm complaining about Marissa, but still. Did we miss anything else or was this it?"
"You defeated her and this time she is dead," the big dog said. "I believe the words of the Oracle were, seek not your past reflection in the waters. Perhaps it meant that you could not expect to see the past repeated here. If that is true than her death is what this was all about."
"Let's hope you're right," I said, grimacing as the pain kicked in now that my adrenaline rush was subsiding. "Oh, I saw Belina too. I think she was the one that killed the Troll before I offed Marissa. Gaea's hint was well played. It was her headshot that gave me the opportunity to grab my dagger. Too bad she didn’t stick around. I've got her rifle in the trunk and now that I think about it, I'd like my CAR-15 back."
"It is a shame that it was not enough," he said, letting out a long breath.
"What do you mean?" I asked, hearing the sound of sirens in the distance. "You just said it. She's really dead this time."
"True," he said, sighing. "But Gaea cannot be finished with us if we are still here."
I didn’t know how to reply to that.
The End
A Note from the Author
Thank you for reading Not my Fae, the 8th book in the Vegas Fae Stories. I know you have a lot of choices out there when it comes to what you read. I appreciate you choosing one of my books for your entertainment.
A lot of people ask about Robert and especially about Charlie. Well, when I started the series, I wanted to write something I might read. Something that would offer me a break from the real world. That's what fantasy does for us, it gives us the chance to throw off the chains that hold us earthbound and vacation in a land far away. Corny? Yeah, probably, but there's not anything like a good book to keep your imagination flowing and nothing beats it as a form of entertainment on a lazy afternoon.
As for Robert, I write what I know. I tried to incorporate the thought processes of an ex-cop and P.I. that finds himself in a fantasy world. Just what would he do if the world changed and he found out that Faeries and Demons were real? I admit to turning mythology upside down at times. But who's to say my version is wrong. There's no one left around that was there in those days. Paintings? Bah… If you ain't got video or photos, you ain't got nothing. Of course, that’s changing a lot in this digital world, so let me put it another way. When I was a little boy, my grandmother used to tell me stories about the Dryads that lived in the oak trees in her back yard. Folks, my grandmother was a saint. This was the kind of woman that could pick up a fallen baby bird from its nest and return it to her mother without it ever being abandoned again. Most importantly, my grandmother would never lie. Especially not to me.
Then there's Charlie. He's based on a real dog that thinks he's human. Okay, so in the books, he's a royal Fae but I'd swear he might be that in the real world too. He's gotten a little more talkative as the series goes on. All I can say is that Robert's bond with him gets stronger all the time. Of course, he doesn’t talk in the real world, but somehow he communicates mentally just fine. Why else would I have to buy an extra cheeseburger every time I get fast food. Dog treats? Forget about it… I should own stock.
Several people have emailed me about the current story arc. Let me be honest. I've got to beat Robert down every few books to keep things real. The more of a Superhero he becomes the harder is to find bad guys that can threaten him or obstacles for him to overcome. For what it's worth, we'll get back to the real Vegas in a book or two. I've got a few ideas in mind that just might work.
If you'd like to know more or just keep up with the Vegas Fae Stories you can find me on Facebook at the links in the About the Author section below. From there you can join my mailing list or the Vegas Fae Fans Page. I try to post on the Fan page as often as possible and that’s the first place you'll find notifications of new works. It's also a fun place with some nice folks on there to chat with. As to the mailing list, I only send out emails when a book is coming out and I really hate spam. Not the canned kind, I like to cook that with teriyaki and fold it into some rice wrapped in dried seaweed. Spam Musubi, don’t knock it till you tried it.
All kidding aside, I always appreciate it when a fan leaves a review. Reviews are an important part of Amazon and every one helps out. That goes for the negative ones too. Of course, you can always send me a Facebook message or send a private email. I try to respond promptly as best I can.
About the Author
Tom Keller is a retired cop and former computer forensic expert who's also spent time as a Federal Public Defender Investigator. Back in the early days, he was a busboy, a cook, and a shoe and real estate salesman. He's taught courses at the local Community College as well as lectured to others in his field on a variety of topics. These days he works as a P.I. in Las Vegas, Nevada. A place he's called home for over 40 years.
He had a website design business back in the days when you still accessed the Internet by modem. He's sold model airplanes and electronics on the web and eBay. He even had his own TV show for a season or two (okay, it was really low budget, better call it no budget, and it was on UHF for those of you that remember those kinds of things. But, hey, it did snag a 2.0 share one episode). He collects toy space guns, lunch boxes, and coffee cups, among other memorabilia. If he had a personal card it’d probably say something like ‘specialist in generalities,’ or as his brother would say, polymath.
Tom is still married to his college sweetheart and spends his free time with his family and spare time writing. Not my Fae is his eighth book in the Vegas Fae stories. His other books are also available on Amazon.
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Books by Tom Keller
Return of the High Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 1)
When ex-Cop turned Private Investigator Robert Hoskins saves the life of ex-mobster and casino owner Eddy Milagre he figured that he might have stepped into something he shouldn't have. After taking down two of the 'would be' kidnappers, Robert finds himself in Milagre's office getting the third degree, but that's just the beginning. When Milagre's people start asking him about Wizards and magic all he wants to do is to get out of there in one piece. Mobsters or not these people are nuts!
But when his dog starts talking to him and he gets a mystical visit from an Aunt and a Dwarf he knows his life has changed, and not necessarily for the better. What kind of world has Robert stepped into when he finds out he's descended from the Gods?
From disbelief to acceptance, Robert encounters a variety of mythical beings. From Faeries and Norse legends to the Oracle at Delphi, from Mermaids to Werewolves to everything in between, Robert's world has definitely changed. While his path through that world appears chosen, he soon learns that the beings that reside in the world of myths and fairy tales aren't that much different than those of the mortal world. Good and evil still battle one another and it's time to take sides.
What should Robert do when the world around him stops making sense? When he finds out from a Dwarf that his dog is descended from Fae hunting dogs. When he knows that corporations and even the mob don’t run Vegas, it's the Fae. When the prettiest girls he meets are over 3,000 years old and some of them drink blood. And that stripper, is she really a Faerie? Let's not even go there. What should Robert do when he learns that strength in his new world is measured in magic and he barely has a clue how to wield it?
Do Demons, Gods, Elves, and Faeries really exist? Are Vampires truly the children of Lilith? Robert didn't believe it at first either.
Of Gods and Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 2)
You see plenty of strange things when you're a P.I. in Las Vegas, but even that couldn’t prepare ex-cop Robert Hoskins for what was to come. At first, he couldn't believe that all those stories he'd been told as a child were true. But hearing that the Fae had taken the casinos over from the mob was something else. Elves, Dwarves, Werewolves, and Faeries were just the beginning and battling dark Mages, the opening act.
Having banished his enemy to the cold hell of Tartarus he'll now have to travel to the Fae lands to claim his birthright. Along the way, and after, there's Demons and Dragons to fight and a trip down the river Styx to the gates of Hades itself is on the playlist if he'll want to defeat the dark Fae's minions and undo an ancient curse.
From the author of "Return of the High Fae," this is book two in the Vegas Fae stories but a standalone novel in its own right.
Sin City will never be the same.
Twist of Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 3)
As an ex-cop and P.I., Robert Hoskins thought he'd seen it all. Then, while working a simple case, his world changed. The next thing he knew he was battling Wizards, Demons, and even the occasional Dragon.
Now, with government agents closing in on him in the human world, and the ancient Dwarves threatening the Fae lands, he's got to prepare himself for his most daunting task of all: telling his adult children they are the descendants of Greek Gods!
But there's more going on than even Robert can imagine when a visit to Fae uncovers hidden secrets that could change everything. To Robert, family comes first, but this time his adventures are a little too close to home.
Not Just Another Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 4)
Ex-cop and P.I., Robert Hoskins knows some cases are tougher than others, especially when dark magic is involved. A call from the local pack master about some missing Weres is more than it seems.
Portals to the Underworld have opened and ancient creatures long thought dead have returned. As a Fae, Robert's faced off with Demons before, but always as the hunter, never the prey.
What magic force has opened the portals and why is it traveling through the Hells of the Underworld releasing Demons in its wake? Robert needs old friends and new allies to find out.
But knowing what the problem is won't be enough. He has to find a way to stop it — making this his most difficult case of all.
Night and Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 5)
Ex-cop and P.I. Robert Hoskins didn't think twice when an old friend needed help. But little did he know where the evidence would lead him when he dug deeper into the case.
Demons, Dragons, Monsters and Fallen Angels are only the tip of the iceberg when his old enemy escapes from Tartarus and seeks her revenge. There are wars to be waged and enemies galore as an ancient prophecy resurfaces and the universe attempts to seek balance.
Even the Gods will step down from the heavens when bloodlines are revealed and Robert faces off with the dark High Fae in an epic battle that will shake the very foundation of the Fae worlds.
Jewel of the Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 6)
It's good to be a God! Unless, of course, you're the God of the Hades. It's not exactly known to be the garden spot of the universe. But that’s the latest twist in the life of ex-cop and Private Investigator, Robert Hoskins.
If that's not enough to ruin his day, Robert suddenly finds himself embroiled in a desperate search for an ancient talisman. One that could save, or doom, Diantha, the Oracle of Delphi, Robert’s on-again-off-again girlfriend. To make matters worse, it's found its way to Vegas, and he's not the only powerful Fae searching for it. But that's just where it begins!
The mysterious jewel offers whoever possesses it immortality and unlimited power. The negative effects of the jewel are already being felt in the human world. Robert must find it first to protect the world of man from the world of magic. If he can fit it into his schedule.
He never asked for the job, but it seems that saving the world from the forces of darkness is just another day in the life of Robert Hoskins, High Fae and Lord of Hades.
Once a Fae
(Vegas Fae Stories Book 6)
The Goddess giveth and the Goddess taketh away.
One minute Robert is fighting Demons in the pits of Hades and in the next he's standing in his old office at the local P.D. He's back in Vegas and wearing a badge, only something isn't right. He's human again and this isn't the Vegas he grew up in. This is somewhere else.
It was good to be a God, even if he was only the God of Hades. It wasn't exactly glamorous, but there were worse things a person could be. All in all, things were going just fine for ex-cop and P.I. Robert Hoskins. Hades was getting a makeover and his side gig as Gaea's Hero kept things interesting.
But Goddesses can be fickle and Gaea is no exception. Especially when she's feeling underappreciated.
Now Robert will have to navigate a world where magical creatures live openly with humans and magic spells are something you can buy at the corner store. If he can’t find out why Gaea sent him here, he could be trapped forever in a place where he’s mortal, and the constant target of Demons and other nasty creatures.
But Robert has one thing the other humans lack, and that's knowledge. He may have lost his ability to make magic, but that doesn’t mean he's lost his edge. Vegas is still Vegas, and an edge is all a player needs to beat the odds.
For Robert Hoskins, it's good to be a God, or at least it used to be.
FAE: GENERATIONS
(Heirs of the Vegas Fae Book 1)
What do Jay Hoskins, Jasmine (Jazzy) Chibeaux, and Jesse Ordunez have in common? They're all agents of the External Affairs Bureau, the agency that monitors magical creatures for the government. They're also the children of powerful Fae. A Fae warrior, a Werewolf, and a Wizard, they're the EAB's newest Demon Hunter Unit.
On the surface, their mission is simple. Hunt Demons and creatures that threaten humans. But not every Demon or Vampire is a threat, and they'll have to weave their way through the hidden society that most humans never see.
When a simple burglary leads them to a powerful Witch and a Duke of Hell, they realize they're on to something big. A long-lost Grimoire might be the catalyst that starts the Apocalypse, and unfortunately, it's already in her hands.
