The Victorian Nexus: Where the Old World Meets the New (Agent Blackwood, #2)

David Blackwood thought he had closed the book on the supernatural with his wife's sacrifice. But the phantom limb pain of his missing arm was the hardest part. That, and the low, persistent hum—an 18.86 Hz frequency that rattled in his skull like a silent, unsettling echo of the cedar mill that had taken everything from him. His life had been reduced to a simple, quiet retirement, a testament to the stubborn human ability to survive and function despite loss.
Then Helena Van Helsing-Cartwright walked into his life, and the ghosts of the past came back to haunt him. She wasn't just a consultant from the European Union , but a descendant of a family that had been managing a hidden supernatural world for over 160 years. Her family's work was filled with blessed silver and hand-carved stakes, a stark contrast to David's world of encrypted databases and heavily redacted reports.
Helena's review of his case file revealed a truth far more complex and terrifying than David had ever imagined. The "industrial contamination" that had cost him his arm and his wife was actually the Heartwood Blight , a parasitic entity converting the mill into a node in a much larger supernatural network. Tucked away in David's own case files was the proof: a "Treaty of Shadows" , a formal agreement between humans and supernatural communities, which was now in active collapse. He had stumbled into a conflict that spanned three centuries, two continents, and countless species.
At the center of it all was Dmitri Rasputin , a powerful vampire noble who had been biding his time for over a century. He was systematically tearing apart the carefully maintained peace, poisoning blood supplies, corrupting neutral sanctuaries, and planning a supernatural war to establish a new empire. The mill's destruction was a signal he had been waiting for, a justification to begin his reign of terror. David and Helena, armed with ancient knowledge and modern federal resources, formed an unlikely alliance with a desperate vampire community and a formidable werewolf clan to prevent a supernatural apocalypse.
But as David returned to the mill to face Dmitri, he realized the entire conflict was a meticulously designed trap. The global uprising, the fragile alliances, the very reason for his involvement—all of it had been orchestrated by Dmitri to eliminate his enemies. The mill wasn't a broadcast station; it was a bomb, ticking down to the moment it would take out everyone standing in Dmitri's way. With his wife's spirit as his only guide and time running out, David had one final chance to honor her sacrifice and save a world he never knew existed.
In a war where the hunter had become the hunted, could one man's courage build a bridge to a new future, or would the old world and the new be consumed in the coming darkness?

My life has been fueled by a secret passion for captivating tales and a desire to create stories that carry uplifting messages of enlightenment. I am a retired pharmacist and programmer. Once my professional career came to a close, I set forth on a new journey...one that would allow me to share the values and lessons I hold dear. Became a member of the Kitsap Literary Arts and Writers Guild. KLAW
My stories are designed to challenge the reader, stirring curiosity and introspection while maintaining a sense of positivity and humor. By weaving poignant messages into narratives, I aim to provide an immersive reading experience that leaves a lasting impression. My ultimate goal is to create a legacy that will be treasured by my grandchildren and future generations...a collection of tales that serve as a guiding light for their worldviews and character development.
Creative Process
In each of my stories, readers can expect to embark on thrilling adventures filled with unexpected twists and enlightening discoveries. As the plot unfolds, they will be invited to contemplate the profound possibilities of life and the boundless potential of the human spirit.
The creation of my captivating stories is a testament to the power of merging human creativity with the wordsmithing capabilities of artificial intelligence. Each story began as a spark of inspiration in my mind, which I then artfully transformed into outlines that laid the foundation for the imaginative worlds within these pages.
The story has been enhanced with the use of advanced Artificial Intelligence Technology. I extend my deepest gratitude to the remarkable AI tools and platforms that facilitated this groundbreaking way to enhance the creative process, enabling a seamless fusion of traditional storytelling techniques and cutting-edge technology. This story underwent extensive editing and rewriting until it was the prose that I wanted to share.