Free The Twisted by Joe Prendergast

CHAPTER 1
    27 Renaissance Road
    U2’s With or Without You played loudly on the stereo as Giuseppe Fragola relaxed, in the company of his brother Paolo, after another successful magic show in Venice. The pair, who had perfected a selection of new tricks since returning from New York, just three months previous, were confident that the sell-out tour of Europe would be the making of them and all dreams of cracking the US were a distant memory.
    The last time the brothers packed their bags and journeyed to the states their plans to increase their fame there were scuppered by an unexpected adventure involving a kidnapped actress and two secret societies. Exciting and all as it was Giuseppe and Paolo were exhausted by the time Dawn Hughes was rescued and decided that rather than stay the planned in the city there they would get a flight home and rethink their futures.
    Both men were relaxing, Paolo on his favourite armchair reading a book called “Magicky Magic” and Giuseppe on the couch with a newspaper over his face – snoozing.
    Suddenly the phone rang and Giuseppe jumped up with the fright.
    As it was right beside him on the table, though, he picked up the receiver.
    â€œHello?” he said, a little cautiously.
    â€œHi, Giuseppe. It’s Dave.” Giuseppe had to think for a moment. Dave….Dave?
    â€œOh Dave! What’s up?” He should have known from the American accent – it was Dave Brackett. The Chief Assistant to the head of The Three Circles Society, which rescued Dawn Hughes.
    Suddenly he had a sinking feeling – what did Dave want. He hadn’t exactly called for a chat since they got back.
    â€œWell, we kinda need you back in New York.”
    â€œWhat?” Giuseppe wasn’t sure he liked the sound of this. He glanced over at his brother who was gesturing with his hands and mouthing ‘what?’ as though Giuseppe could just ignore Dave and start explaining to him what he had just said.
    â€œWe have learned of the Grand Sorcerer – Richard Blake’s plan to rid the world of humans with a group of monsters known as The Twisted.”
    â€œWhat?” Destroying the human race, monsters….he just couldn’t get his head around it.
    â€œWe need you to catch the next plane here. Book a flight now! Please!”
    Giuseppe wasn’t sure what role he and Paolo could play in this, and there was the European tour and the uncertainty as to how long they would be away.
    Dave could sense his hesitation.
    â€œPlease Giuseppe. We need you both. If there are enough of us with a varied range of skills then we can take them on and we hear you have been perfecting a new set of magic tricks.”
    Giuseppe could feel a swell of pride within himself.
    â€œWell actually…you are right. We have but we also have a European tour coming up so we aren’t really available…” His voice was trailing off.
    â€œPleeeease,” begged Dave.
    â€œFine. We’ll come but if this ends in a disaster – you’re paying for our health bills.”
    Dave laughed down the phone. “Ok. Get a flight as soon as possible though and a cab straight to Mahogany Castle.”
    â€œOk. Bye Dave.”
    Giuseppe put down the phone and whirled around to Paolo. “Paolo! They want us back in New York! Richard Blake is starting an army of evil monsters! We need to get the next flight.”
    â€œWell get on the computer then, you idiot!”
    â€œDon’t you ‘idiot’ me Paolo. I’ve got work to do.”
    Giuseppe rushed to the laptop and started typing. He clicked on a button and Venice Airport Flights came up in blue writing.
    About 20 minutes later he came back with their boarding passes and passports. “The plane leaves at 9am in the morning and we have to be there at 7am so we have to leave at a quarter to 7.”
    The men were very lucky to live so close to the airport as neither liked getting up too early in the