by 
The
Curse Merchant, by J.P. Sloan
Curse Merchant, by J.P. Sloan
Genre:urban-fantasy
Publisher:Curiosity Quills
Press
Press
Date
of Re-Release: September
15th, 2014
of Re-Release: September
15th, 2014
Cover
Artist: Conzpiracy
Digital Arts (http://www.conzpiracy.co.uk/)
Artist: Conzpiracy
Digital Arts (http://www.conzpiracy.co.uk/)
~Description~
Dorian Lake spent years cornering
the Baltimore hex-crafting market, using his skills at the hermetic arts to
exact karmic justice for those whom the system has failed. He keeps his magic
clean and free of soul-corrupting Netherwork, thus avoiding both the karmic
blow-back of his practice and the notice of the Presidium, a powerful cabal of
practitioners that polices the esoteric arts in America. However, when an
unscrupulous Netherworker interferes with both his business and his personal
life, Dorian’s disarming charisma and hermetic savvy may not be enough to keep
his soul out of jeopardy.
the Baltimore hex-crafting market, using his skills at the hermetic arts to
exact karmic justice for those whom the system has failed. He keeps his magic
clean and free of soul-corrupting Netherwork, thus avoiding both the karmic
blow-back of his practice and the notice of the Presidium, a powerful cabal of
practitioners that polices the esoteric arts in America. However, when an
unscrupulous Netherworker interferes with both his business and his personal
life, Dorian’s disarming charisma and hermetic savvy may not be enough to keep
his soul out of jeopardy.
His rival, a soul monger named
Neil Osterhaus, wouldn’t be such a problem were it not for Carmen, Dorian’s
captivating ex-lover. After two years’ absence Carmen arrives at Dorian’s
doorstep with a problem: she sold her soul to Osterhaus, and has only two weeks
to buy it back. Hoping to win back Carmen’s affections, Dorian must find a
replacement soul without tainting his own. As Dorian descends into the shadows
of Baltimore’s underworld, he must decide how low he is willing to stoop in
order to save Carmen from eternal damnation… with the Presidium watching,
waiting for him to cross the line.
~Excerpt~
My
mood was greatly improved the next day. I was counting the hours until I hit
the Druid Hill Club. I fried myself an egg and ate it on toast, then walked to
the café at the corner and had a nice long cup of coffee as the autumn clouds
rolled in off the bay.
mood was greatly improved the next day. I was counting the hours until I hit
the Druid Hill Club. I fried myself an egg and ate it on toast, then walked to
the café at the corner and had a nice long cup of coffee as the autumn clouds
rolled in off the bay.
It
would have been a longer cup of coffee if a walking mountain of human flesh
hadn’t interrupted.
would have been a longer cup of coffee if a walking mountain of human flesh
hadn’t interrupted.
He
was a tall, thick-shouldered Polynesian with a square jaw and pythons for arms.
He wore a sharp business suit, which screamed sophistication about half as loud
as it bellowed “thug.” He towered over me for a few seconds as I
finally pulled my head out of my thoughts and looked up at his lumbering frame.
was a tall, thick-shouldered Polynesian with a square jaw and pythons for arms.
He wore a sharp business suit, which screamed sophistication about half as loud
as it bellowed “thug.” He towered over me for a few seconds as I
finally pulled my head out of my thoughts and looked up at his lumbering frame.
“Am
I speaking to Dorian Lake?”
I speaking to Dorian Lake?”
His
voice was clean and crisp, almost intelligent. I gambled whether to answer in
the affirmative, and hoped he wasn’t there to collect some debt I had forgotten
about.
voice was clean and crisp, almost intelligent. I gambled whether to answer in
the affirmative, and hoped he wasn’t there to collect some debt I had forgotten
about.
“That’s
me. Who are you?”
me. Who are you?”
“I
represent a Mister Neil Osterhaus.”
represent a Mister Neil Osterhaus.”
I
might have actually rolled my eyes.
might have actually rolled my eyes.
“Really?”
I examined the man’s dress and his expensive sunglasses. “Okay. Represent,
my friend.”
I examined the man’s dress and his expensive sunglasses. “Okay. Represent,
my friend.”
He
lifted an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses and cleared his throat.
lifted an eyebrow from behind his sunglasses and cleared his throat.
“He
would ask that, as a courtesy, you discontinue your association with a Mister
Julian Bright, as he is currently a client of Mister Osterhaus.”
would ask that, as a courtesy, you discontinue your association with a Mister
Julian Bright, as he is currently a client of Mister Osterhaus.”
“Bright?
This is about Bright?”
This is about Bright?”
He
stared at me without response.
stared at me without response.
“That’s
a nice suit.”
a nice suit.”
“Thank
you.”
you.”
“So
what do you want from me?”
what do you want from me?”
“I
would very much like to return to Mister Osterhaus with your pledge that you
will discontinue your association―”
would very much like to return to Mister Osterhaus with your pledge that you
will discontinue your association―”
“―with
Mister Bright, yeah. I get the picture.” I snickered. “I can’t
believe this.”
Mister Bright, yeah. I get the picture.” I snickered. “I can’t
believe this.”
I
pushed my chair back to stand up, but the man held out a flat palm at my
shoulder level. I froze, watching him carefully. Discretion being the greater
part of not getting my ass kicked, I decided to stay seated.
pushed my chair back to stand up, but the man held out a flat palm at my
shoulder level. I froze, watching him carefully. Discretion being the greater
part of not getting my ass kicked, I decided to stay seated.
“Now,”
he continued in an even tone, “what can I tell Mister Osterhaus?”
he continued in an even tone, “what can I tell Mister Osterhaus?”
“Really?
He’s strong-arming me? That bottom-feeder is trying to strong-arm me?”
He’s strong-arming me? That bottom-feeder is trying to strong-arm me?”
His
face blanched slightly. He shifted back and forth on his feet.
face blanched slightly. He shifted back and forth on his feet.
I
shook my head at him. “Look, this is just precious. Honestly. You look
like a smart enough guy, maybe even educated.”
shook my head at him. “Look, this is just precious. Honestly. You look
like a smart enough guy, maybe even educated.”
His
brow wrinkled, and he spat, “Penn State, thank you.”
brow wrinkled, and he spat, “Penn State, thank you.”
“No
shit? Did they have a good theater department there?”
shit? Did they have a good theater department there?”
“Excuse
me?”
me?”
“Listen.
You did a great job. The sunglasses were maybe a bit much. So, I don’t want to
string this out too long. Go tell Osterhaus that Dorian Lake says if he has a
problem with free enterprise, he can take it up with the Founding Fathers.
Until then, he should go crawl back into his playhouse and let the big boys
play ball. Can you do that for me?”
You did a great job. The sunglasses were maybe a bit much. So, I don’t want to
string this out too long. Go tell Osterhaus that Dorian Lake says if he has a
problem with free enterprise, he can take it up with the Founding Fathers.
Until then, he should go crawl back into his playhouse and let the big boys
play ball. Can you do that for me?”
He
stood silent for a long moment, shuffling back and forth.
stood silent for a long moment, shuffling back and forth.
“You
really want me to tell him that?”
really want me to tell him that?”
“In
the worst way.”
the worst way.”
He
shrugged and nodded.
shrugged and nodded.
“Your
call.”
call.”
The
man turned and sauntered halfway down the block before he looked back at me one
more time. I waved back, trying not to look like a complete smartass.
man turned and sauntered halfway down the block before he looked back at me one
more time. I waved back, trying not to look like a complete smartass.
I
had to give Osterhaus credit. It took balls to play the Old World Enforcer Card
on a complete stranger. It took even bigger balls to push a practitioner who
was clearly his superior. Losing Bright’s business must have put him in a
desperate situation.
had to give Osterhaus credit. It took balls to play the Old World Enforcer Card
on a complete stranger. It took even bigger balls to push a practitioner who
was clearly his superior. Losing Bright’s business must have put him in a
desperate situation.
~About The
Author~
Author~
I am a storyteller,
eager to transport the reader to strange yet familiar worlds. My writing is dark,
fantastical, at times stretching the limits of the human experience, and other
times hinting at the monsters lurking under your bed. I write science fiction,
urban fantasy, horror, and several shades in between.
I am a husband and a
father, living in the “wine country” of central Maryland. I’m surrounded by
grapevines and cows. During the day I commute to Baltimore, and somehow manage
to escape each afternoon with only minor scrapes and bruises. I am also a
homebrewer and a certified beer judge. My avocations dovetail nicely!
Find J.P. Sloan Online:
