Illusion Town Read Online Free PDF Page A

meteorological rules didn’t apply whenever there were a lot of Alien ruins in the vicinity. And in the case of Illusion Town, the ruins were underground aswell as on the surface. And those ruins were weird, even by Harmony standards.
    The city consisted of eight zones, each corresponding with one side of the vast octagon-shaped wall that enclosed the aboveground ruins. Each zone had its own unique characteristics. Two of the zones—the Storm Zone and the Fire Zone—were considered virtually uninhabitable due to the intense paranormal radiation that infused those regions.
    Most of the upscale, opulent casinos and nightclubs were located in two of the so-called gem zones: the Amber Zone and the Sapphire Zone. The lower-rent gambling establishments and the racier shows and entertainments were found in the other gem zones—Amethyst and Emerald.
    The Dark Zone, where Hannah had been raised, was more of a neighborhood community. There were plenty of small gaming establishments and a smattering of clubs, but it was where many of the people who worked in the big gem zone casinos, hotels, and clubs made their homes.
    The Shadow Zone, however, was the least prosperous side of a generally prosperous town. Whatever glamour it aspired to project was only evident after dark. By day it looked almost deserted. The casinos and clubs were dingy and unwelcoming. Most were actually closed during the daylight hours. A closed casino was unheard-of in the gem zones.
    The oppressive, paranormal fog of the Shadow Zone gave people a significant buzz, especially after dark, but few visitors hung around after sunrise, not if they could afford to take their business into the brightly lit gem zones.
    â€œAccording to the desk clerk, the Enchanted Night Wedding Chapel is just a block away,” Elias said. “He said to turn left when we got to the corner. ‘Can’t miss it,’ he said.”
    â€œSlow down. I’m carrying Virgil, remember? He’s heavier than he looks. All muscle.”
    Virgil chuffed at the sound of his name.
    â€œHere, give him to me.” Elias plucked Virgil from Hannah’s arms and plopped him down on his shoulder.
    Virgil was thrilled with the higher perch.
    â€œHow did you and the dust bunny find each other?” Elias asked.
    â€œHe just showed up at my back door one evening.” Hannah smiled at the memory. “I thought maybe he was hungry so I put some of the quiche I had made on a plate and set it on the step. He ate the quiche and disappeared. The next morning I found a lovely little piece of green amber on the step. He came back the following evening and I fed him again. Things went on like that for a few days and before I knew it, he had moved in with me.”
    â€œMy brother’s wife, Ella, has a dust bunny companion. Her name is Lorelei. No question but that they’ve got some kind of psychic bond.”
    â€œI think that’s what happened with Virgil and me. I admit I felt a certain connection with him right from the start.”
    â€œThat fast?”
    â€œWe had something in common. He showed up on my doorstep pretty much the same way I showed up on my aunts’ doorstep. Well, technically, they aren’t my aunts,and he wasn’t wrapped in a blanket and he wasn’t in a basket, but you get the picture.”
    Elias looked at her, evidently fascinated. “Someone left you on a doorstep?”
    â€œMy mother. She was a friend of my aunts. They were all working in a show in the Emerald Zone. My mom was in love with a magician. They were in an MC. Anyhow, shortly after I was born, Mom left me on Clara and Bernice’s doorstep with a note saying she and my father had to take care of some important business. The note said that they would come back for me. Only they never did.”
    â€œDo you know what happened to them?”
    â€œThey were found shot to death in a cheap hotel room. The police declared it a drug deal gone