Free The Obsidian Dagger by Brad A. LaMar

made it into the guy’s mouth. Most of it.
    â€œI’m heading to Gilshery,” called a voice from the doorway.
    Oscar turned and saw a well-dressed gentleman smiling with an extended hand. He was extremely pale, but had the darkest hair he had ever seen.
    â€œThe name’s Charlie,” said the stranger.
    Oscar took his hand and shook. “I’m Oscar.”
    â€œLook, you’re welcome to come along with me to Gilshery. I was just about to leave now.”
    Oscar cringed. “Oh, well, I needed to drop by my hotel and leave some money for my kids, first, but I don’t want to hold you up.”
    â€œNonsense,” replied Charlie. “It will only take a tic, and besides, this town isn’t all that big.”
    â€œWell, I appreciate the ride, friend. I’ll call them on the way.”
    Oscar followed the man to the expensive Mercedes and slid into the front seat.
    â€¦
    Driving out of Corways, Brendan found that the conversation quickly gave way to silence. The hum of the 2.5 liter engine and the movement of wind were the only sounds around. Lizzie and Biddy had settled for staring out of the side windows from the back seat. Dorian stared ahead, sullen and contemplative, and Rory perched on Brendan’s seat back.
    â€œBrendan, have you been holding out magic on us?” commented Rory after a time.
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œYou’ve got your pocket flashing with some fancy colors,” Rory pointed out.
    Brendan glanced down at his pocket and noticed the red and blue lights of his smart phone showing through his apparently too thin khaki pants. He would have to remember to not wear that pair to school. It would make it a lot harder to get away with texting if the teachers could spot when he had a text or a call before he could.
    â€œOh, that’s my phone.” He pulled it out and saw his dad’s name on the LCD display as a missed call. “It was Dad, Liz.”
    Brendan slid the bar and then pressed the screen and held the phone out. Oscar’s message played over the speakerphone. “Brendan, I hope you and Liz are having a great time here in Galway. Listen, kiddo, I need to get over to a little town called Gilshery. I have a lead that I need to follow. I’ll be back in a couple of days. I left you some money in the room. Love you guys. Call me anytime. I’ll be checking in with you every now and again. Enjoy the car; I caught a ride. See you later.”
    â€œGilshery?” Rory asked with a twisted-up expression. “Why on Earth would someone want to go to Gilshery?”
    Brendan shrugged. “It’s our dad; he’s looking up family history.”
    â€œWe have ancestors that went to the U.S. from here,” added Lizzie.
    Biddy leaned forward. “What’s the name that he’s looking for?”
    â€œO’Neal,” answered Lizzie.
    Rory perked up at the name. “You don’t say. We used to have plenty of O’Neals back in Corways.”
    â€œThat’s what some drunk told us, too.” Brendan rolled his eyes thinking back to the experience in the pub. It seemed like a year ago, but it had only been about a day since they had heard that crazy tale from that pub full of nut jobs.
    A thought, a terrible and slightly disgusting thought entered Brendan’s mind and he looked over at Dorian. “Uh, your last name isn’t O’Neal, is it?”
    Dorian came out of her thoughts. “Me? No, I’m a MacFlannery.”
    Brendan breathed a sigh of relief. “Good,” he said looking away.
    â€œOkay, I have to ask,” said Lizzie sitting on the edge of the tiny back seat. “Does anyone know where we are going?”
    Dorian opened her bag and pulled out a fairly large feather. It was golden and shimmered in the spotty sunlight. She set it on the seat between herself and Brendan and the feather righted itself like a compass.
    â€œWhoa!” exclaimed Lizzie. “What