Breaking the Nexus (Mythrian Realm) by Lindsay Avalon Read Free Book Online Page A

know your mythology?”
    The random question drew blank looks from both of the detectives. “Are you back to playing games?” Connor asked.
    “The simplest way to put it is this: all the myths, legends, and fairytales from your childhood that you believed were nothing more than fiction are based on reality.”
    Ian burst out laughing. “I think we need to redo your drug test.”
    “I’m serious, Detective.   Think about it for a minute, suspend your skepticism. Cultures all across the world share common mythologies, like shape-shifters and dragons. Haven’t you ever wondered why?”
    Connor scoffed. “Sure, but those things are just stories to entertain kids.”
    “How can you prove they’re only stories?”
    “How can you prove otherwise?” Ian countered.
    “I can’t, not now. If I could find another portal in the Nexus, it’s possible to show you. Before you ask, the Nexus is a barrier that separates two realms. This world you live in is called the Human Realm. My home lies in the other realm, Mythria, inhabited by those creatures you say don’t exist. I ended up in that alley after I fell through a collapsing portal that we call a Gateway.”
    Connor opened his mouth, but no words escaped. A sudden commotion outside of the interview room drew everyone’s attention. “Don’t move,” he snapped the order as he and Ian rose.
    “Where else would I be?” Sha slumped in her seat, resigned to never escaping this damn room.
    The door swung open and she saw the stern man from earlier, their captain if she wasn’t mistaken. His voice was grim as he addressed the detectives. “We’ve got a problem.”
    That was never a good phrase to hear.
    *******
    Captain Morrison’s troubled expression had been indication enough that something serious had happened, but walking out into the eerie silence of the bullpen clenched it. The only time it was ever this quiet was when one of their own went down in the line of duty. Every cop, and a few handcuffed criminals, were glued to TVs and computer screens looking dumbstruck. At least nobody was grief stricken. Connor was at a loss for what could be so shocking to so many people.
    “In my office. You’re going to want to see this.” Growing more curious by the second, Connor followed the captain to the glass enclosure that served as an office. Once the men were inside, Captain Morrison shut the door and closed the blinds. Faint alarms began ringing in his head; the captain never closed the blinds unless the shit was hitting the fan. “Before I show you this, has she said anything…unusual?”
    Ian stepped forward and gave him a summary starting with the prelim report from CSU and ending with the revelation Sha had given about the two realms. Connor expected his superior to laugh off the notion, but the older man just grimaced. Unable to wait for answers any longer, Connor cleared his throat. “Sir, with all due respect, what the hell happened out there?”
    “Just watch.” Captain Morrison turned on the TV and Connor swore he could feel his jaw hit the floor.
    The video was grainy and jumpy, obviously shot by someone using a cell phone, but it was clear enough. It showed the alley from this morning, without Sha, the bystander zooming in to get a look at the body. Then, a deafening boom rocked the area, sending the amateur photographer stumbling back. As the person fell, the camera phone caught a glimpse of something falling.
    Puzzled, Connor looked to the captain. “Can you rewind that a bit? To the part where something falls?”
    The footage rewound to the frame where the explosion sounded then resumed playback, advancing a single frame at a time. This time, he watched as a dark oval formed out of thin air, the outline surrounded by glowing, pulsating runes. It grew larger and he could make out the outline of trees in the swirling dark mass within the shape. Trees? In the middle of the sky? Holy hell! In the next frame, a figure materialized within the bizarre