Stories by Alethea Lyons
The York Supernatural Agency
Book 1 - The Hiding - To be published Spring 2024
Book 1.5 - The Awakening - A series of short stories set between The Hiding and The Somnia
Book 2 - The Somnia - Drafting
See below for more information on the main characters in The Hiding and for links to some photos of York.
The Hiding
Arcane archivist Harper is plagued by nightmares of grotesque creatures and bloody deaths. Her visions are becoming more frequent, more violent… and they’re coming true. She is guilt-ridden when a man is killed after she had a visceral experience of his death and did nothing to prevent it. The unusual markings on his corpse, combined with his neatly excised vocal cords, send a ripple of terror through York and rumours of witchcraft abound.
Harper tries to harness her powers to stop the murderer before they kill again. She can’t trust anyone, not even those closest to her, as any hint of magic is punishable by death and supernatural creatures have been hunted to extinction. While trying to keep her secret, Harper teams up with her Christian, demon-hunting foster-sister; a Muslim forensic scientist; and the deception demon she accidentally summoned.
By becoming embroiled in the supernatural, Harper risks the authorities discovering her secret. Yet her magic brings her closer to her own forgotten past, a mystery she’d sacrifice almost anything to unravel. To protect both human and supernatural, Harper walks the thin line between their worlds. Through her divided loyalties, there is one thing she knows for sure: if either side catches her, she’ll die.
Characters
Harper Ashbury
Harper was found wandering in the mists of Swaledale at approximately 13. She was taken in by the De Santos family who are as close to her as blood. She and her foster-sister, Grace, share a house in York.
In a world where magic is punishable by death, Harper spent years trying to suppress her innate abilities. When her visions may be the only way to stop a murderer, she is forced to embrace her heritage as a seer and witch.
Occupation: Arcane archivist at York Cathedral
Hobbies: Reading, playing violin, sketching, hiking
Likes: Hanging out with her sister, picnics, music, art, books, cats, star-gazing
Dislikes: Nightmares, the dark, dating, training
Grace De Santos
Grace is from a renowned family of demonhunters who enjoy high standing both politically and socially, and she's not afraid to use the fact to her advantage.
When her father found Harper, she devoted herself to her newest sister and they've rarely been apart since. Although Grace enjoys being a demonhunter, she's also a softie underneath and has given up the family calling in order to protect Harper.
Occupation: Vet
Hobbies: Reading, playing piano, cooking, martial arts
Likes: Hanging out with her sister, any kind of animal, dating, romance novels, Italian food
Dislikes: Most people, Harper's magic, people getting hurt, laziness, untidiness
Saqib Siddique
Saqib is enthusiastic about anything he sets his mind to doing. Incredibly optimistic and outgoing, he is the most personable of the group and smooths over ruffled feathers after Grace is finished ordering people around.
His love of science comes from a desire to right a personal loss and help others caught by the same tragedy. New discoveries thrill him. It was his scientific abilities and trustworthy personality that led Harper to asking him to join the group. That, and he has a car.
Occupation: Doctor of Supernatural Forensics
Hobbies: Photography, researching, gaming
Likes: Discovering new things, anything science-related, meeting new people
Dislikes: Heights, fighting, disrespect, sloppy experiments and poor record keeping
Heresy
Heresy has flitted in and out of the human realm for centuries, training some of the most well-known magicians and illusionists in history. Sadly for him, he's stuck with Harper, a witch who can barely light a candle. Heresy is basically a ball of soot with a Cheshire Cat grin and manically waving tentacles. Think Studio Ghibli soot meets Calcifer.
Sarcastic, teasing, and there entirely for his own amusement, Heresy nonetheless feels a genuine affection for Harper and would be sad for a whole 5 minutes if she got hurt.
Occupation: Harper's sidekick
Hobbies: illusion magic, escape tricks, making fun of people
Likes: Cats, Harper making mistakes, the internet, the human realm
Dislikes: Magic which looks mundane, his home realm, bigger demons, being bored
