Excerpt from Child of the Stars
Available at Amazon.com
The elevator ride.
When she opened her eyes next the late afternoon sun was streaming through the window. Thad was gone from the bed. She gazed around the suite searching for him. The door latch rattled, and she glanced in that direction. Thad strode into the room with a bag in his hand.
He set the bag on the bar and removed two to-go cartons. “I didn’t know what you wanted and you were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t want to wake you. I got us good old hamburgers and fries.”
“Sounds and smells delicious.”
“Then come over here and eat.”
She gazed around the floor, but didn’t see any of her clothes. “Um would you mind getting my clothes?”
“What clothes?” he teased.
“Ha, ha, the ones I wore up here last night. They don’t cover much, but they are something.”
“Oh those. They were saturated with suntan oil so I sent them out to be cleaned.”
“Thad, I don’t have anything here other than them to wear.”
“Guess we’ll just have to wait for them to be delivered back tomorrow.” He took a bite from his burger and poured himself a coke. “This tastes great. Come over here and eat while it’s hot.”
“Tomorrow? Thad! At least give me one of your shirts to wear.”
“Nope.”
“Thad, I’m hungry. If you won’t give me something to wear at least bring my food over here.”
“Nope, I don’t allow eating in bed. Why are you so shy today? Last night you flaunted your body for me to see.”
“Grr,” she growled at him. The smell of French fries wafted across the room and caused her stomach to growl. “I was intoxicated last night in more ways than one.”
“And you need to be tipsy to show off you beauty?”
Elvie sighed. Why did this man always seem to say just the right words? “Fine.” She threw back the sheet and marched across the floor naked. “Get your eyes full, you terrible man. Bad enough my makeup is smeared and my hair is a fright—”
“You’re beautiful, Elvie. I like seeing you nakies. I like seeing the body I’ve spent all night touching and fucking in the light of day.”
She perched on the stool next to him and bit into her burger, while feeling his gaze all over her. Although she complained vocally, inside she glowed at the thought he seemed to like the way she looked even the day after and showered praise on her. While she wolfed down her fries and burger then washed them down with a coke she glanced up at the digital clock located above the bottle rack. It was nearing five.
Thad finished his meal and stepped behind her. She paused before taking her next bite when he brushed his lips over her shoulders and up and down both sides of her neck. The embers of passion that remained in her from the night before blazed to life once more. A shiver ran the length of her spine.
“Eat,” he whispered.
“I can’t when you’re doing that. You have no idea what it is doing to me.”
“Learn to, because as long as we’re together I want to be touching you.” Reaching around her, Thad pinched each of her nipples between his fingers. “Eat,” he repeated. “My goddess must have food to keep up her strength so that I may enjoy her body.”
“Oh my God, Thad stop,” she said but secretly she didn’t want him to stop. Elvie forced herself to take another bite and obeyed although each bite was a struggle.
He tormented her body with gentle touches and kisses until she finished the last bite of her sandwich and ate the last fries. Elvie took a sip from her coke then he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. She gazed up at him, her vision slightly blurred while a roaring fire burned bright in her again.
“Open yourself,” he ordered.
Being commanded in this manor was something Elvie had never experienced. She wasn’t certain how she should feel about it. I’m not your pet, you don’t own me. I control my body, not you.
“Open,” he repeated.
Who am I trying to kid? Her body decided her fate for her, capitulating and responding to his gentle, and yet forceful command with a will of its own. It’s like you have magical control over me, like you’ve cast an obedience spell on me. She blushed slightly and slid her legs wide on the satin sheets.
Thad knelt between them and dined on her.
“Oh God!” She squirmed and wiggled then came apart for him again. After eating her, he fucked her, filling her with more of his seed while tasting her lips and tongue.
Thad rolled from on top of her and cuddled up to her side. He rested his head on her stomach, still damp from the sweat of loving while smoothing his hand up and down the soft flesh of her inner thighs. Elvie combed her hand through his hair.
“Would you like to go dancing tonight?” he asked.
“Is that what you want?”
Thad chuckled and kissed her lower stomach. “What I want to do is to keep you naked and in my bed the rest of the week and fuck you often, but that would be unfair to you. You’re on a once in a lifetime vacation.”
Elvie giggled. “What kind of place do you want to take me to?”
“It’s a private nightclub that I’m a member of. The women and men who go there dress sexy.”
“I think I have a dress in mind. Only problem is, it’s in my room and I have no way to get there.”
Thad shifted to face her. “How daring do you feel, beautiful?”
She saw the humor in his eyes. “Oh hell. No way. I’m not daring enough to go from here to there naked.”
“What if I loaned you one of my shirts?”
“I’d have to see it before answering.”
Thad went to his closet and showed it to her. Elvie slid out of bed and held it in front of her and gazed down. The tails ended just above mid-thigh.
“Well?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She slipped it over her shoulders and buttoned it then put on her sandals. Thad took her keycard out of his pack. He held her hand on the elevator ride down and across the lobby. While they waited for the elevator that would take them up to her room she asked him in a low voice. “Is this daring enough to suit you, wicked man?”
“How do you feel?”
“Self-conscious, uncomfortable, terrified, I’m not wearing a damn thing under this shirt.”
“It’s just as covering as what you wore yesterday, more even.”
“I can’t explain, but it’s different. I was wearing a swimsuit then.”
Thad winked. “A tiny one.”
Elvie squeezed his hand. “Complaining?”
“Not at all.”
She went on with her description of her current emotional state. “At the same time, I’m feeling delightfully naughty and that is arousing. I shouldn’t admit this to you, but I enjoy being your bad girl, your naughty little cunt.”
“I enjoy having you be my naughty girl.”
Three more couples joined them, ending their conversation. They moved to the rear in the car and while they rode up, Thad reached under the shirt and caressed her butt and between her legs. She tensed when he inserted a finger into her. More mixed signals surged through her. She feared that one of the other passengers would turn and bust them and was simultaneously excited by the risk of that very thing happening. Her arousal burst into flames again.
“Thad, stop it,” she whispered in his ear. “Someone might see what you’re doing.”
“No,” was his simple answer.
Her growl of complaint changed to a low moan when he added another finger.
“You’re wet, sweet thing,” he whispered in her ear.
“I know. You seem to have a way of keeping me that way.”
“I like you always ready for me.”
Elvie squeezed her legs together trapping the fingers that were probing her. “Stop it, we’re going to get busted,” she whispered.
Thad pulled his fingers from her and put them in her mouth. “Taste yourself. You taste divine.”
She sucked on his fingers while she focused on his beautiful green eyes. This wicked, magical man seemed to have a way of making her do things that should have mortified her. The last of the car’s passengers left and when the doors closed, they kissed until they slid open again on their floor.
Available at Amazon.com
The elevator ride.
When she opened her eyes next the late afternoon sun was streaming through the window. Thad was gone from the bed. She gazed around the suite searching for him. The door latch rattled, and she glanced in that direction. Thad strode into the room with a bag in his hand.
He set the bag on the bar and removed two to-go cartons. “I didn’t know what you wanted and you were sleeping so peacefully I didn’t want to wake you. I got us good old hamburgers and fries.”
“Sounds and smells delicious.”
“Then come over here and eat.”
She gazed around the floor, but didn’t see any of her clothes. “Um would you mind getting my clothes?”
“What clothes?” he teased.
“Ha, ha, the ones I wore up here last night. They don’t cover much, but they are something.”
“Oh those. They were saturated with suntan oil so I sent them out to be cleaned.”
“Thad, I don’t have anything here other than them to wear.”
“Guess we’ll just have to wait for them to be delivered back tomorrow.” He took a bite from his burger and poured himself a coke. “This tastes great. Come over here and eat while it’s hot.”
“Tomorrow? Thad! At least give me one of your shirts to wear.”
“Nope.”
“Thad, I’m hungry. If you won’t give me something to wear at least bring my food over here.”
“Nope, I don’t allow eating in bed. Why are you so shy today? Last night you flaunted your body for me to see.”
“Grr,” she growled at him. The smell of French fries wafted across the room and caused her stomach to growl. “I was intoxicated last night in more ways than one.”
“And you need to be tipsy to show off you beauty?”
Elvie sighed. Why did this man always seem to say just the right words? “Fine.” She threw back the sheet and marched across the floor naked. “Get your eyes full, you terrible man. Bad enough my makeup is smeared and my hair is a fright—”
“You’re beautiful, Elvie. I like seeing you nakies. I like seeing the body I’ve spent all night touching and fucking in the light of day.”
She perched on the stool next to him and bit into her burger, while feeling his gaze all over her. Although she complained vocally, inside she glowed at the thought he seemed to like the way she looked even the day after and showered praise on her. While she wolfed down her fries and burger then washed them down with a coke she glanced up at the digital clock located above the bottle rack. It was nearing five.
Thad finished his meal and stepped behind her. She paused before taking her next bite when he brushed his lips over her shoulders and up and down both sides of her neck. The embers of passion that remained in her from the night before blazed to life once more. A shiver ran the length of her spine.
“Eat,” he whispered.
“I can’t when you’re doing that. You have no idea what it is doing to me.”
“Learn to, because as long as we’re together I want to be touching you.” Reaching around her, Thad pinched each of her nipples between his fingers. “Eat,” he repeated. “My goddess must have food to keep up her strength so that I may enjoy her body.”
“Oh my God, Thad stop,” she said but secretly she didn’t want him to stop. Elvie forced herself to take another bite and obeyed although each bite was a struggle.
He tormented her body with gentle touches and kisses until she finished the last bite of her sandwich and ate the last fries. Elvie took a sip from her coke then he picked her up in his arms and carried her over to the bed. She gazed up at him, her vision slightly blurred while a roaring fire burned bright in her again.
“Open yourself,” he ordered.
Being commanded in this manor was something Elvie had never experienced. She wasn’t certain how she should feel about it. I’m not your pet, you don’t own me. I control my body, not you.
“Open,” he repeated.
Who am I trying to kid? Her body decided her fate for her, capitulating and responding to his gentle, and yet forceful command with a will of its own. It’s like you have magical control over me, like you’ve cast an obedience spell on me. She blushed slightly and slid her legs wide on the satin sheets.
Thad knelt between them and dined on her.
“Oh God!” She squirmed and wiggled then came apart for him again. After eating her, he fucked her, filling her with more of his seed while tasting her lips and tongue.
Thad rolled from on top of her and cuddled up to her side. He rested his head on her stomach, still damp from the sweat of loving while smoothing his hand up and down the soft flesh of her inner thighs. Elvie combed her hand through his hair.
“Would you like to go dancing tonight?” he asked.
“Is that what you want?”
Thad chuckled and kissed her lower stomach. “What I want to do is to keep you naked and in my bed the rest of the week and fuck you often, but that would be unfair to you. You’re on a once in a lifetime vacation.”
Elvie giggled. “What kind of place do you want to take me to?”
“It’s a private nightclub that I’m a member of. The women and men who go there dress sexy.”
“I think I have a dress in mind. Only problem is, it’s in my room and I have no way to get there.”
Thad shifted to face her. “How daring do you feel, beautiful?”
She saw the humor in his eyes. “Oh hell. No way. I’m not daring enough to go from here to there naked.”
“What if I loaned you one of my shirts?”
“I’d have to see it before answering.”
Thad went to his closet and showed it to her. Elvie slid out of bed and held it in front of her and gazed down. The tails ended just above mid-thigh.
“Well?” he asked.
She rolled her eyes. “Fine.” She slipped it over her shoulders and buttoned it then put on her sandals. Thad took her keycard out of his pack. He held her hand on the elevator ride down and across the lobby. While they waited for the elevator that would take them up to her room she asked him in a low voice. “Is this daring enough to suit you, wicked man?”
“How do you feel?”
“Self-conscious, uncomfortable, terrified, I’m not wearing a damn thing under this shirt.”
“It’s just as covering as what you wore yesterday, more even.”
“I can’t explain, but it’s different. I was wearing a swimsuit then.”
Thad winked. “A tiny one.”
Elvie squeezed his hand. “Complaining?”
“Not at all.”
She went on with her description of her current emotional state. “At the same time, I’m feeling delightfully naughty and that is arousing. I shouldn’t admit this to you, but I enjoy being your bad girl, your naughty little cunt.”
“I enjoy having you be my naughty girl.”
Three more couples joined them, ending their conversation. They moved to the rear in the car and while they rode up, Thad reached under the shirt and caressed her butt and between her legs. She tensed when he inserted a finger into her. More mixed signals surged through her. She feared that one of the other passengers would turn and bust them and was simultaneously excited by the risk of that very thing happening. Her arousal burst into flames again.
“Thad, stop it,” she whispered in his ear. “Someone might see what you’re doing.”
“No,” was his simple answer.
Her growl of complaint changed to a low moan when he added another finger.
“You’re wet, sweet thing,” he whispered in her ear.
“I know. You seem to have a way of keeping me that way.”
“I like you always ready for me.”
Elvie squeezed her legs together trapping the fingers that were probing her. “Stop it, we’re going to get busted,” she whispered.
Thad pulled his fingers from her and put them in her mouth. “Taste yourself. You taste divine.”
She sucked on his fingers while she focused on his beautiful green eyes. This wicked, magical man seemed to have a way of making her do things that should have mortified her. The last of the car’s passengers left and when the doors closed, they kissed until they slid open again on their floor.
Excerpt from Passion & Betrayal
Available at Amazon.com
Gabe and Olivia are back and wherever they go murder and mayhem seems to follow. This time it is in snow covered mountains and the romantic setting of a log cabin.
(Olivia)
I sat on the swing with my feet curled up beneath me wearing nothing but my robe. A soft, fuzzy and heavy blanket covered all of me except my head. I was leaning against Gabe who shared the blanket. We swung back and forth in the swing gently.
Of course, under the blanket my robe was partially open and Gabe's hand was busy fondling my breasts. I had come to expect no less from him. My body belonged to him to use however and whenever he wished. He knew that, and I knew that. He loved touching me, he said it often, and I was flattered he felt that way. I recalled the song he often sang to me, off key but sweet nonetheless. I can't get enough of you baby.
From my spot on the porch swing, I could see into the darkness. I made out the thick rows of trees a few yards away that went on as far as the eye could see. I watched the snow drifts swirling down from the sky and smiled thinking about the first movie Gabe and I ever watched together; Serendipity. Serendipitous is defined as “coming upon or found by accident; fortuitous.” Although, Gabe was not my favorite person in the world when we first met, I could not imagine my life without him in it now. Our meeting was serendipitous in every form of the word. I sighed and tipped my head back, staring up at the scene that reminded me of what it would be like to zoom through the Twilight Zone, until my eyes adjusted. I shared amazingly happy memories with Gabe. No matter how simple, elaborate or adventurous they were, they were ours.
Gabe removed his hand from my breast and stood. "Coffee's ready. I'll be right back." He strode into the house.
I sat up thinking I heard something in the distance and squinted my eyes, focusing on the tree line. I looked for movement anticipating a deer or something larger like a bear, to come bursting from the wooded area. I leaned forward, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders. I swore I saw movement ahead. It was too slender to be a bear though it moved swiftly. If it hadn’t been for the white of the snow illuminating the figure, I probably wouldn’t have been able to make out the black on black. I got to my feet and walked to the railing, holding onto it with one hand. Whatever it was paused and turned to face me. I squinted again, certain I wasn’t seeing things and whatever it was, was standing on two legs. Whatever I was seeing wasn’t a whatever but a whoever. It was human unless our alien book had come to life and was now lurking in the darkness. The thought gave me the chills briefly.
“Babe? Everything okay?” I turned to see Gabe pushing the screen door open with his butt while holding two steaming cups of coffee. I hurried over to help him, glancing back at the trees, disappointed that whoever had been out there was now gone.
Available at Amazon.com
Gabe and Olivia are back and wherever they go murder and mayhem seems to follow. This time it is in snow covered mountains and the romantic setting of a log cabin.
(Olivia)
I sat on the swing with my feet curled up beneath me wearing nothing but my robe. A soft, fuzzy and heavy blanket covered all of me except my head. I was leaning against Gabe who shared the blanket. We swung back and forth in the swing gently.
Of course, under the blanket my robe was partially open and Gabe's hand was busy fondling my breasts. I had come to expect no less from him. My body belonged to him to use however and whenever he wished. He knew that, and I knew that. He loved touching me, he said it often, and I was flattered he felt that way. I recalled the song he often sang to me, off key but sweet nonetheless. I can't get enough of you baby.
From my spot on the porch swing, I could see into the darkness. I made out the thick rows of trees a few yards away that went on as far as the eye could see. I watched the snow drifts swirling down from the sky and smiled thinking about the first movie Gabe and I ever watched together; Serendipity. Serendipitous is defined as “coming upon or found by accident; fortuitous.” Although, Gabe was not my favorite person in the world when we first met, I could not imagine my life without him in it now. Our meeting was serendipitous in every form of the word. I sighed and tipped my head back, staring up at the scene that reminded me of what it would be like to zoom through the Twilight Zone, until my eyes adjusted. I shared amazingly happy memories with Gabe. No matter how simple, elaborate or adventurous they were, they were ours.
Gabe removed his hand from my breast and stood. "Coffee's ready. I'll be right back." He strode into the house.
I sat up thinking I heard something in the distance and squinted my eyes, focusing on the tree line. I looked for movement anticipating a deer or something larger like a bear, to come bursting from the wooded area. I leaned forward, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders. I swore I saw movement ahead. It was too slender to be a bear though it moved swiftly. If it hadn’t been for the white of the snow illuminating the figure, I probably wouldn’t have been able to make out the black on black. I got to my feet and walked to the railing, holding onto it with one hand. Whatever it was paused and turned to face me. I squinted again, certain I wasn’t seeing things and whatever it was, was standing on two legs. Whatever I was seeing wasn’t a whatever but a whoever. It was human unless our alien book had come to life and was now lurking in the darkness. The thought gave me the chills briefly.
“Babe? Everything okay?” I turned to see Gabe pushing the screen door open with his butt while holding two steaming cups of coffee. I hurried over to help him, glancing back at the trees, disappointed that whoever had been out there was now gone.
Excerpt from Garin's Destiny
Available at Amazon'com
When the gauge reached five thousand kilometers he announced, “Here we go. Transition in 5—4—3—2—1, now.” For the count of five heartbeats his vision blurred and he felt like his body was being shredded into millions of tiny shards, then it was over. The stars on the monitor screens stretched from tiny points of light sprinkling the blackness to elongated streaks on an inky background. This was an indication of their now incredible velocity.
“Everybody okay?” he asked.
Murmurs of “yes” came from each crewmember.
Garin toggled several switches turning complete control over to the ships computer, unstrapped the harness that held him in his seat, and stood. He strode across the control cabin to the door at the rear which led to the galley. The others followed. After a brief time spent eating and drinking, they proceeded into the next room which was their living quarters and among other things, contained their extended sleep capsules. On the wall across from the capsules were the restroom and bathing facilities. Garin removed his clothes until only his underwear remained and climbed into his bed. Gazing around he saw the others had followed suit. “Just a short sleep and we’ll wake up in the Tranus386 system,” he said.
“Sweet dreams,” Margaret said.
All of them closed the clear tops and robotic controls completed the suspended animation process on each of them. Garin’s comment on a short sleep had been in jest. In reality they were destined to slumber for fifty years.
It seemed as if no time had passed when the clear top of Garin’s extended sleep capsule cycled open. He took in a deep breath, the first he had taken in fifty years, then slid his legs to the side. Garin stood bracing himself against the capsule and waited for the room to stop spinning. While he waited, Garin gazed around at the other sleep capsules. The rest of the crew still slept. Only he, the pilot, had been awakened. The others were not needed yet. He stumbled across the room to splash water on his face and relieve himself. After that he pulled on his flight suit and entered the galley. He poured a cup of coffee and sat at the table waiting for his physical and mental systems to stabilize.
He took the last sip of his coffee and strode to the control cabin. Sliding into his seat, he studied the readouts on the instrument panel then smiled in satisfaction. All the readings were normal. Garin began toggling switches. Here we go. Opening a passage hole from subspace back to conventional space wasn’t nearly as complicated and didn’t require the massive amount of energy. A beam of green light jumped from the emitter located on the prow of the ship to an area of space in front of them. The familiar expanding hole in the blackness flashed into being and Garin guided the ship toward it. Transition into and out of subspace had become almost routine.
The spacecraft blipped into conventional space and any semblance of routine, vanished. Collision alarms blared and one red light after another lit up on the control panel. The Starseeker lurched and trembled from multiple collisions. Garin desperately toggled on the ships protective shield and activated the main thrusters. The vessel surged upwards out of the asteroid belt and away from the multiple impacts taking place. Even though his reactions had been lightning fast he had a dread feeling it was too late. Atmosphere levels in the interior dropped rapidly telling him the hull had been breached. The computer activated emergency ship repair. The loss of atmosphere slowed then stopped. Some, but not all of the readouts on the panel in front of him ceased to flash red.
Quick evasive maneuvers took the ship clear of the asteroid bombardment, and Garin switched off the main engines. Only now that the immediate danger was past, Garin’s hands began to shake as tension drained from him. He continued to watch his control panel as more of the flashing red warnings ceased, but even when the system stabilized, there were far too many glowing red readouts remaining.
I need to wake the crew. We need to physically examine how much damage has been done. After consulting a readout, Garin ascertained that artificial gravity had been restored, shoved himself to his feet and headed to the rear. The door leading into the galley slid open, and gazing around, he saw a number of the tiny robots finishing up on hull patches. He punched the open button for the door leading into the crew quarters, but it refused to open. He punched it again and a robotic voice addressed him.
“Decompression has occurred in crew quarters. Hull repairs have been performed and restoration of atmosphere is taking place. Door will not open for another two-point-six-five minutes.”
A sinking emptiness came to life in the pit of Garin’s stomach. The allotted time passed and he punched the green door open button again. This time the door slid aside. Garin gasped and dropped to his knees. His eyes hazed. Numerous patches plastered the wall and all six sleep capsules showed heavy damage. Closer inspection revealed that all had been pierced by multiple holes and the computer controls below each displayed major destruction. The bodies of the sleeping crew had fared no better.
“God,” Garin strangled. For several minutes, he remained on his knees gazing at his dead companions with all desire to further inspect ship’s damage halted. Finally, struggling to his feet and looking away from the bodies, he continued to the next door at the rear of the room. This one led into the supply room which housed access to the attached surface exploration craft and a decompression chamber to allow passage to the outside. It also contained spacesuits and equipment. The damage here was slightly less extensive. Garin crossed the room to the final door which led to the engine room. It, too, was shambles. It’s a wonder the main engines fired at all when I needed them.
In complete depression, Garin returned to the control room and sat in his seat. “Computer,” he said into the air. “Damage report.”
“Report will be supplied when completed,” the machine answered.
“Understood, report when ready,” he said. Garin’s thoughts began to focus on coulda’s, and self-recriminations. If he had delayed reentry into normal space by a few seconds they would’ve avoided the asteroid field completely but there was no way to detect what conditions existed on either side of a wormhole.
Garin massaged his fingers against his temples and shifted his thoughts. Space exploration was risky. The list of things that could go wrong was lengthy. Each member of exploration teams realized that and accepted that danger. When he returned to Earth, he would file his report and another team would continue the exploration of Tranus386 while the Starseeker was being repaired and recrewed.
Garin climbed to his feet and went to the galley to get a cup of coffee while he waited. To his dismay he discovered the only system in operation was the water dispenser and this was unchilled. Filling his cup, he returned to the control cabin and waited. Hours later, information on ship damage, status of repair, and estimates of time required until the system was available for usage, appeared on the monitor facing him. Garin scrolled down the list.
He paused in his scrolling at the system that opened the entrance into subspace. There was no estimate of when it would be restored. “Computer,” he said. “When will subspace system be available for usage?”
The emotionless voice of the computer replied. “Unable to restore that system with available resources. It will require extensive repair at ship reconditioning facilities.”
The computer’s emotionless statement stunned him into complete silence. That simple announcement told him there would be no going home. He was stranded in this solar system and destined to be alone for the rest of his life.
Excerpt from A Witch and Her Dragons
Available at Amazon.com
Kiya glanced up at the wall clock and sighed in relief. Finally, it was nearly six and bank closing time. This final hour had seemed to crawl by. Kiya was certain it was her anticipation about seeing her cousin who she hadn't seen in years. Mina only lived across town, but the two of them hadn't even spoken in months much less seen each other until a week ago. They didn't exactly see eye to eye concerning lifestyles.
It had taken her by complete surprise when Mina called to invite her to supper. Her cousin had hinted she had something important to discuss, but had refused to elaborate. Tonight was the night Kiya would hear the important news.
Gazing through the glass wall of her office, she saw there were only two customers in the lobby. One of them stood at the counter with the teller and the other talked to the receptionist. The receptionist turned and walked toward her office and poked her head through the glass door.
"Mr. Clark needs to sign the final papers for his loan," the receptionist announced.
"Tonight?" Kiya asked.
She nodded her head. "He insists it has to be before the weekend. I'm sorry, I know it's going to make you late getting off."
"Fine, just give me a minute to make a call, then show him in."
"Okay." The receptionist pulled her head back out the door and returned to the greeting desk to talk to Mr. Clark.
Kiya picked up her personal phone and punched in her cousin's number while swearing under her breath. Mina answered on the third ring.
"Mina, I'm going to be a little late because of some last minute bank business to take care of. It shouldn't take too long. I intended to go home and change, but instead, I'll just come over in my work clothes."
"That's fine," Mina said. "I'll just turn down the fire on the stove to keep things hot. I may have the music loud and not hear the doorbell. I'll leave the patio door unlocked, so just come in the back if I don't answer. See you in a little."
"Okay, see you soon." Kiya disconnected just before Mr. Clark was shown into her office and she pasted a smile on her face as she greeted him.
Kiya resisted the urge to tap her foot impatiently as the minutes crawled by. Thirty minutes later, with his business complete, Mr. Clark left her office. Kiya quickly logged off of her computer and cleared her desk. She left the bank and rushed across the parking lot as fast as her high heels would allow. Before climbing behind the steering wheel, she removed her fuchsia pink suit coat and tossed it into the passenger seat. Then she removed the bun from her hair and shook her head. Freed of its restraints, her fiery red mane spread across her shoulders and cascaded to mid-back. By the time she reached the freeway, the car’s air conditioning had started to lower the heat that had built up inside during the day.
Kiya unbuttoned the two top buttons of her white blouse, and with a smile, hiked her knee-length fuchsia skirt upward above mid-thigh. She spread her legs as much as her newly positioned skirt permitted and sighed as the cooler air coming from the vent located under the steering wheel, kissed her thighs and core. Kiya thumbed through her CD selection and picked one of her favorites. As she sped down the interstate, she used her knee to steer for a moment and fed the plastic disc into the player with one hand while cranking up the volume with other.
She grinned. "One thing Mina and I have in common is a liking for loud music."
When the song by Donovan reached the chorus, she belted out at the top of her lungs Oh, no, must be the season of the witch. The next CD she selected had "Cry for the Moon" by Epica on it.
Kiya pulled into the driveway of Mina's three-bedroom wood frame home, situated in a housing development containing identical homes only different in color, and glancing at her watch, saw she was forty-five minutes late. "Not too late."
She swung the door open, stepped out of the car, and smoothed her skirt back down to her knees. The spikes of her heels clicked on the cement driveway and sidewalk while she strode to the front door. Music blared loud even through the closed door. Kiya didn't hold out much hope Mina would hear, but she rang the bell anyway. After the third try, she walked to the back, through the gate and to the glass patio door, which was slightly ajar. She stepped into the dining room beyond, and the song "The Howling" by Within Temptation shook the air around her.
"Mina, I'm here," she yelled.
No answer. The smell of a dish she liked, but hadn't tasted for years drew her to the kitchen. Kiya stepped into the room and stopped abruptly while she scanned the scene of horror with her witch senses tingling in warning. She tossed her clutch purse on the counter and hunched forward into a defensive crouch. Mina was tied spread eagle on the tabletop. Her limbs were secured to the table legs with plastic ties. As Kiya crossed the room, her witch senses reached out, searching each room of the house for threat. Her stomach churned at the sight of her cousin's body. Mina’s top and skirt had been ripped open, the shredded material still hung on her arms and legs.
Mina had been cut open from her neck to lower stomach and disemboweled. Blood covered the table and pools of it spread in widening circles on the tile floor. Broken dishes and glasses along with silverware were strewn over the floor.
Mina's heart had been cut out of her chest. A table knife driven through the organ and into the table surface. Below that was another organ that looked much like a human liver, but Kiya recognized it for what it was. She had one too, all witches did. It was the seat of, and storage organ for, their magic. Another knife held that organ in place. Mina's bra and panties had been torn away to be tossed to the floor and they were rapidly getting soaked in the spreading blood.
Mina's long, raven-black hair dangled over the edge of the table. A piece of tape covered her mouth and an upside down pentagram had been carved into her forehead. Her open eyes were glazed in death, but they reflected terror and horror. She knew with certainty that Mina had been alive during her evisceration, at least in the beginning.
"What kind of sick animal did this?" she whispered as tears flowed down her cheeks. Kiya raised her head, sniffed the air, and committed the evil scent that assaulted her nose to memory. "Demon," she hissed. "A demon did this." She also detected in that odor, great power. A stronger power than she'd ever seen or even heard of in her life. She would never forget the smell. Kiya mumbled words in a chant and spread the fingers of one hand. Soon, flames danced between her splayed digits. Her cousin had a firm belief of never using her magic for harm. Her spells had been mainly for health and healing. Kiya didn't share that belief; she had no qualms about using her magic to cause as much harm as possible to combat what she interpreted as evil. Such as the evil thing that had killed Mina. This difference in beliefs was part of the reason she and Mina had not been close. Kiya watched as the magic organ shrank ever smaller and finally vaporized.
Crossing to the stove, she turned off the flames set on low. This terrible thing couldn't have taken place more than minutes before I arrived. She read a slip of paper she found on the kitchen counter. Such is the fate of all witches, the note read in blood. A snarl of anger ripped across her lips. "Mina," she spoke to her dead cousin. "This demon will pay for your death. He will pay much more than human law allows. I will not stop searching until I find it and destroy it. This I swear to you."
Available at Amazon.com
Kiya glanced up at the wall clock and sighed in relief. Finally, it was nearly six and bank closing time. This final hour had seemed to crawl by. Kiya was certain it was her anticipation about seeing her cousin who she hadn't seen in years. Mina only lived across town, but the two of them hadn't even spoken in months much less seen each other until a week ago. They didn't exactly see eye to eye concerning lifestyles.
It had taken her by complete surprise when Mina called to invite her to supper. Her cousin had hinted she had something important to discuss, but had refused to elaborate. Tonight was the night Kiya would hear the important news.
Gazing through the glass wall of her office, she saw there were only two customers in the lobby. One of them stood at the counter with the teller and the other talked to the receptionist. The receptionist turned and walked toward her office and poked her head through the glass door.
"Mr. Clark needs to sign the final papers for his loan," the receptionist announced.
"Tonight?" Kiya asked.
She nodded her head. "He insists it has to be before the weekend. I'm sorry, I know it's going to make you late getting off."
"Fine, just give me a minute to make a call, then show him in."
"Okay." The receptionist pulled her head back out the door and returned to the greeting desk to talk to Mr. Clark.
Kiya picked up her personal phone and punched in her cousin's number while swearing under her breath. Mina answered on the third ring.
"Mina, I'm going to be a little late because of some last minute bank business to take care of. It shouldn't take too long. I intended to go home and change, but instead, I'll just come over in my work clothes."
"That's fine," Mina said. "I'll just turn down the fire on the stove to keep things hot. I may have the music loud and not hear the doorbell. I'll leave the patio door unlocked, so just come in the back if I don't answer. See you in a little."
"Okay, see you soon." Kiya disconnected just before Mr. Clark was shown into her office and she pasted a smile on her face as she greeted him.
Kiya resisted the urge to tap her foot impatiently as the minutes crawled by. Thirty minutes later, with his business complete, Mr. Clark left her office. Kiya quickly logged off of her computer and cleared her desk. She left the bank and rushed across the parking lot as fast as her high heels would allow. Before climbing behind the steering wheel, she removed her fuchsia pink suit coat and tossed it into the passenger seat. Then she removed the bun from her hair and shook her head. Freed of its restraints, her fiery red mane spread across her shoulders and cascaded to mid-back. By the time she reached the freeway, the car’s air conditioning had started to lower the heat that had built up inside during the day.
Kiya unbuttoned the two top buttons of her white blouse, and with a smile, hiked her knee-length fuchsia skirt upward above mid-thigh. She spread her legs as much as her newly positioned skirt permitted and sighed as the cooler air coming from the vent located under the steering wheel, kissed her thighs and core. Kiya thumbed through her CD selection and picked one of her favorites. As she sped down the interstate, she used her knee to steer for a moment and fed the plastic disc into the player with one hand while cranking up the volume with other.
She grinned. "One thing Mina and I have in common is a liking for loud music."
When the song by Donovan reached the chorus, she belted out at the top of her lungs Oh, no, must be the season of the witch. The next CD she selected had "Cry for the Moon" by Epica on it.
Kiya pulled into the driveway of Mina's three-bedroom wood frame home, situated in a housing development containing identical homes only different in color, and glancing at her watch, saw she was forty-five minutes late. "Not too late."
She swung the door open, stepped out of the car, and smoothed her skirt back down to her knees. The spikes of her heels clicked on the cement driveway and sidewalk while she strode to the front door. Music blared loud even through the closed door. Kiya didn't hold out much hope Mina would hear, but she rang the bell anyway. After the third try, she walked to the back, through the gate and to the glass patio door, which was slightly ajar. She stepped into the dining room beyond, and the song "The Howling" by Within Temptation shook the air around her.
"Mina, I'm here," she yelled.
No answer. The smell of a dish she liked, but hadn't tasted for years drew her to the kitchen. Kiya stepped into the room and stopped abruptly while she scanned the scene of horror with her witch senses tingling in warning. She tossed her clutch purse on the counter and hunched forward into a defensive crouch. Mina was tied spread eagle on the tabletop. Her limbs were secured to the table legs with plastic ties. As Kiya crossed the room, her witch senses reached out, searching each room of the house for threat. Her stomach churned at the sight of her cousin's body. Mina’s top and skirt had been ripped open, the shredded material still hung on her arms and legs.
Mina had been cut open from her neck to lower stomach and disemboweled. Blood covered the table and pools of it spread in widening circles on the tile floor. Broken dishes and glasses along with silverware were strewn over the floor.
Mina's heart had been cut out of her chest. A table knife driven through the organ and into the table surface. Below that was another organ that looked much like a human liver, but Kiya recognized it for what it was. She had one too, all witches did. It was the seat of, and storage organ for, their magic. Another knife held that organ in place. Mina's bra and panties had been torn away to be tossed to the floor and they were rapidly getting soaked in the spreading blood.
Mina's long, raven-black hair dangled over the edge of the table. A piece of tape covered her mouth and an upside down pentagram had been carved into her forehead. Her open eyes were glazed in death, but they reflected terror and horror. She knew with certainty that Mina had been alive during her evisceration, at least in the beginning.
"What kind of sick animal did this?" she whispered as tears flowed down her cheeks. Kiya raised her head, sniffed the air, and committed the evil scent that assaulted her nose to memory. "Demon," she hissed. "A demon did this." She also detected in that odor, great power. A stronger power than she'd ever seen or even heard of in her life. She would never forget the smell. Kiya mumbled words in a chant and spread the fingers of one hand. Soon, flames danced between her splayed digits. Her cousin had a firm belief of never using her magic for harm. Her spells had been mainly for health and healing. Kiya didn't share that belief; she had no qualms about using her magic to cause as much harm as possible to combat what she interpreted as evil. Such as the evil thing that had killed Mina. This difference in beliefs was part of the reason she and Mina had not been close. Kiya watched as the magic organ shrank ever smaller and finally vaporized.
Crossing to the stove, she turned off the flames set on low. This terrible thing couldn't have taken place more than minutes before I arrived. She read a slip of paper she found on the kitchen counter. Such is the fate of all witches, the note read in blood. A snarl of anger ripped across her lips. "Mina," she spoke to her dead cousin. "This demon will pay for your death. He will pay much more than human law allows. I will not stop searching until I find it and destroy it. This I swear to you."
Excerpt from Empress of Evil
Available at Amazon.com
Aiden climbed the two steps up to the veranda and stamped his boots, then looking at the rotted boards, he sat and pulled out his pocket knife. He began scraping off the mud instead, fearing if he stomped too hard he might fall through.
While scraping, Aiden gazed around at the dilapidated structure. "Bad enough I had to park the car a quarter mile from here, then walk along a path with mud up to my ass to get to this," he groused. "So this is my inheritance? Thanks a lot, Uncle Mitch," he added sarcastically. "I'll probably have to pay someone to take this dump off my hands rather than try to sell it."
For a moment, Aiden recalled being contacted by his uncle's lawyer and being advised of his inheritance. He hadn't seen Uncle Mitch for years. His death came as a surprise, and even more so, being named sole heir in his uncle's will.
Aiden gazed around at his surroundings. "At least being here, lost in the swamp, there is reduced risk of being tracked down by the ones trying to kill me."
With the major amount of mud removed from his boots, Aiden forced his way through the sagging front door into the house's interior. The sight that confronted him was dismal. The inside condition was just as bad as the exterior. "Christ," he said as he gazed around at the major state of disrepair. "What a fucking mess."
After one look at the sagging banister and questionable stairs Aiden decided not to explore the second floor. He spotted the only thing that appeared unaged in the room, a jewelry box on the mantel over the crumbling fireplace. I'll check that closer, but first, let me search the first floor a little more.
There was an arched entrance left of the fireplace and Aiden went through it to what he judged had once been a formal dining room. Beyond that was the idle remains of a kitchen. When he returned to the front room, he stopped short of going through the doorway on the other side of the fireplace when curiosity got the best of him. He approached the box containing ornate golden decorations. Engraved on the lid was a warning.
Do not open this box and release the curses inside.
"Great, a wreck of a house and a curse in addition. Again, thank you, Uncle Mitch." His lips twisted into a half smile at the end of his sarcastic comment. He removed the sealed envelope from his shirt pocket.
Not to be opened until you are inside the house, was scrawled on the outside of the envelope.
"Okay, I'm inside the house, what are your great words of wisdom, Uncle?"
Aiden unsealed the envelope and read the lines.
Aiden,
I know the house is in a bad state of repair. I never lived there. My wife wouldn't even set foot in it. I'm told in the past, before they damned up the river downstream and the water backed up, the property was very desirable. But what has been done has been done and that isn't the reason for this letter.
You've doubtless discovered the jewelry box on the mantel. That goes with the house as well. I never opened it. The words of warning written on the lid were enough discouragement for me. I did examine the outside. There is a key attached to the underside. There was also a slip of parchment with a note written on it. It crumbled from age but not before I copied the message. This is what it said:
If someone should accidentally open the box and release the curses inside, the contents may be returned to the box by drawing the infinity sign in the air and adding a dot in each circle.
That's all it said. My advice is don't open the box. There are enough curses floating around in this world without adding more, but you must make your own decision.
Either way, I'm dead or you wouldn't be reading this, so it won't affect me.
Uncle Mitch
Aiden read the note again as he peered down at the warning engraved on the box lid. "Humph…I'm not superstitious and never had much fear of curses." He lifted the box and removed the key which he put in his pocket then opened the lid.
A puff of air, probably from the box having long been sealed, caused Aiden to jerk his head back and close his eyes. When he opened them again he scrutinized the two tiny beds and chairs inside. "Miniature doll house furniture but otherwise nothing, just as I thought."
He turned to enter the opening on the other side of the fireplace, intent on exploring other parts of the house. Behind him two columns of smoke blipped into being. The smoke quickly dissipated. He spun quickly at the sound of the female voice. "Thank you for freeing us, Aiden," it said.
The one who had spoken had brunette hair with blue streaks. The woman standing beside her had blonde hair with red streaks.
"About damn time someone set us free," blondie said. "This place is a fucking mess, by the way. I can hardly wait to get the hell out of here."
"Great, I've loosed two sawed off little runt ghosts to add to my misery and one of them has a smart mouth."
Brunette scowled at her companion, and said, "I'm Sierra and this is Raine. We're not ghosts, we're sprites."
Aiden took a closer look at the two. True, they didn't wear billowing shrouds as he'd expected from descriptions he'd read of spirits, nor were they semi-transparent. Instead, Sierra wore a blue corset and Raine a crimson one. Both wore collars around their necks and had mittens on their hands. Aiden snorted at the skirts they wore. Hot pink tutus. "You may be short little shits, five-foot-nothing I estimate, but you're taller than any fantasy pictures of sprites I've seen. I have to admit your assets are wonderfully displayed and the hot-pink tutus are a nice touch."
Raine gazed down at the garment and shrieked. "This had to be Pequa's idea. She knows how much I detest pink. Fucking bitch." She ripped it away and flung it to the floor. Sierra calmly removed hers and dropped it beside her.
Aiden turned his back to them and dismissively waved his hand in the air. "Go away, spooks, I have other more important things to do, like checking out the rest of this dump."
The block of wood, a piece of the crumbling furniture he decided, struck his back moments later with a thud and stung. Aiden spun in time to see Raine pick up another piece.
"Hey, we weren’t done talking to you," she said.
"That hurt. Don't do it again. So you have the ability to move objects. I've heard some ghosts can do that. What makes you think it's your decision to make whether our conversation is over or not?" he asked.
"Raine—" Sierra started.
Raine stamped her foot in anger. "We're in charge here, not you." She flung a second piece. This one struck his thigh just to the right of his balls.
"You little shit," he shouted. "That was too close. A little more to the left and you'd have hit something I don't want hit."
Raine smiled. "You're lucky my aim is off from being imprisoned so long or you'd be lying on the floor doubled up in pain. I won't miss the next time. You're lucky I'm wearing this collar or you'd get a taste of my lightning magic."
Excerpt from Primal Lust
Available at Amazon.com
Brace yourself Rebecca, we're going down
Rebecca jolted awake at the crash of thunder. She peered out the window beside her and saw the sky surrounding them was dark, but frequent flashes of lightning dispelled the gloom. Unlike the major carriers, this small plane, she thought of them as tree-top airlines, was unable to climb above the storm. Instead, they were forced to fly around them, or fly through the thick of storms. Obviously, they were flying through the thick of this one. The air became turbulent and the pilot advised them to fasten their seat belts. Casting a glance at Bret showed her that somehow, he was smiling as he slept through this.
The plane skidded sideways, then her stomach jumped to her throat as the floor abruptly dropped away like a runaway elevator. The nose of the plane rose as it struggled to regain altitude. Another crash of thunder split the air. The interior of the plane was illuminated brightly followed by a roar that deafened her.
Rebecca stole a glance out her window and along the wing. To her dismay, she saw smoke erupt from the engine there. The propeller came to a halt and the nose dipped down. The interior lights winked out, plunging them into darkness.
Distantly, Bret exclaimed, "Holy shit!"
Rebecca gripped the armrests white knuckled while the craft continued to plunge toward the ground.
"Brace yourself, Rebecca. We're going down!" he shouted.
She grabbed the pillow wedged in her seat, placed it in her lap, and planted her face in it. Wood snapped in the distance. The plane skewed sideways and something flew out of the darkness to strike the back of her head. After that she didn't hear or feel anything.
The craft struck the treetops and one branch, thicker than the rest, hit the right wing, shearing it away. The plane pitched to the right and another branch sheared away the left wing. The fuselage plunged deeper into the trees, and the nose buried into the ground, causing the passenger cabin to surge upward. Tree trunks snapped and tumbled away. In the process, the passenger cabin broke apart, spewing people and interior contents into the jungle growth.
Rebecca became aware with a start. She couldn't breathe because her face was pressed into something thick and soggy. Instinct kicked in. She pressed her hands forward, and at the same time, rolled to one side. Spitting mud from her mouth allowed her to inhale and take in a welcome breath of air.
For a moment, she lay still as she slowly came to grips that she was still strapped into her seat, she was no longer moving, nor was she in the plane. It was still daytime although the light around was the same as in twilight, so she reasoned she hadn't been blacked out very long. Torrential rain poured down on her as if she was standing in a shower.
I'm on the ground and I'm alive.
She performed a quick reconnoiter. None of her limbs was broken. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she rolled away from the seat and stood on shaky legs. Rebecca quickly examined herself. She had multiple cuts and scrapes. She brushed her hand through her sodden hair and felt something sticky. Just before the heavy downpour washed it away, she saw her hand was red with blood.
Head wound. They always bleed heavily, so hopefully it isn't real bad. Okay I'll live, but did anyone else survive?
She cast around in the thick foliage searching for others. The first two passengers she found were dead. Turning over a seat, she saw Bret. While she was searching him for a pulse, he inhaled sharply. "Thank God, you're alive," she shouted to be heard above another roar of thunder.
Bret unfastened his seatbelt and stood. Rebecca quickly examined him. Like her, he had many cuts and scrapes but otherwise appeared to be intact.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm alive, and I'm not alone anymore, so yes, I'm okay for now. Unless you need me to treat one of your wounds right away, help me locate the others if you feel up to it."
"I'm okay and will do."
They separated and searched. Each time they located one of their fellow passengers, they called out to each other. The news was grim. Including them, all but one were soon accounted for, but except for them, all were dead.
Rebecca stumbled across the final passenger, a man. He was alive, but one of his arms was twisted to a wrong angle. While she examined him, he opened his eyes but they darted to each side and appeared unfocused leading her to believe he was disoriented.
"What are you doing?" he asked, then groaned.
"What's your name? I'm Rebecca. I was one of your fellow passengers on the plane. We crashed. I'm a doctor and I'm checking you for injuries. It appears you have a broken arm along with a number of other less critical injuries."
"My name is Rubo and get away from me. I need a real doctor, not some fucking woman pretending to be one."
Rebecca stepped back, aghast. "I am a real doctor," she said.
"Women aren't real doctors. That is a man's occupation."
Available at Amazon.com
Brace yourself Rebecca, we're going down
Rebecca jolted awake at the crash of thunder. She peered out the window beside her and saw the sky surrounding them was dark, but frequent flashes of lightning dispelled the gloom. Unlike the major carriers, this small plane, she thought of them as tree-top airlines, was unable to climb above the storm. Instead, they were forced to fly around them, or fly through the thick of storms. Obviously, they were flying through the thick of this one. The air became turbulent and the pilot advised them to fasten their seat belts. Casting a glance at Bret showed her that somehow, he was smiling as he slept through this.
The plane skidded sideways, then her stomach jumped to her throat as the floor abruptly dropped away like a runaway elevator. The nose of the plane rose as it struggled to regain altitude. Another crash of thunder split the air. The interior of the plane was illuminated brightly followed by a roar that deafened her.
Rebecca stole a glance out her window and along the wing. To her dismay, she saw smoke erupt from the engine there. The propeller came to a halt and the nose dipped down. The interior lights winked out, plunging them into darkness.
Distantly, Bret exclaimed, "Holy shit!"
Rebecca gripped the armrests white knuckled while the craft continued to plunge toward the ground.
"Brace yourself, Rebecca. We're going down!" he shouted.
She grabbed the pillow wedged in her seat, placed it in her lap, and planted her face in it. Wood snapped in the distance. The plane skewed sideways and something flew out of the darkness to strike the back of her head. After that she didn't hear or feel anything.
The craft struck the treetops and one branch, thicker than the rest, hit the right wing, shearing it away. The plane pitched to the right and another branch sheared away the left wing. The fuselage plunged deeper into the trees, and the nose buried into the ground, causing the passenger cabin to surge upward. Tree trunks snapped and tumbled away. In the process, the passenger cabin broke apart, spewing people and interior contents into the jungle growth.
Rebecca became aware with a start. She couldn't breathe because her face was pressed into something thick and soggy. Instinct kicked in. She pressed her hands forward, and at the same time, rolled to one side. Spitting mud from her mouth allowed her to inhale and take in a welcome breath of air.
For a moment, she lay still as she slowly came to grips that she was still strapped into her seat, she was no longer moving, nor was she in the plane. It was still daytime although the light around was the same as in twilight, so she reasoned she hadn't been blacked out very long. Torrential rain poured down on her as if she was standing in a shower.
I'm on the ground and I'm alive.
She performed a quick reconnoiter. None of her limbs was broken. Unbuckling her seatbelt, she rolled away from the seat and stood on shaky legs. Rebecca quickly examined herself. She had multiple cuts and scrapes. She brushed her hand through her sodden hair and felt something sticky. Just before the heavy downpour washed it away, she saw her hand was red with blood.
Head wound. They always bleed heavily, so hopefully it isn't real bad. Okay I'll live, but did anyone else survive?
She cast around in the thick foliage searching for others. The first two passengers she found were dead. Turning over a seat, she saw Bret. While she was searching him for a pulse, he inhaled sharply. "Thank God, you're alive," she shouted to be heard above another roar of thunder.
Bret unfastened his seatbelt and stood. Rebecca quickly examined him. Like her, he had many cuts and scrapes but otherwise appeared to be intact.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I'm alive, and I'm not alone anymore, so yes, I'm okay for now. Unless you need me to treat one of your wounds right away, help me locate the others if you feel up to it."
"I'm okay and will do."
They separated and searched. Each time they located one of their fellow passengers, they called out to each other. The news was grim. Including them, all but one were soon accounted for, but except for them, all were dead.
Rebecca stumbled across the final passenger, a man. He was alive, but one of his arms was twisted to a wrong angle. While she examined him, he opened his eyes but they darted to each side and appeared unfocused leading her to believe he was disoriented.
"What are you doing?" he asked, then groaned.
"What's your name? I'm Rebecca. I was one of your fellow passengers on the plane. We crashed. I'm a doctor and I'm checking you for injuries. It appears you have a broken arm along with a number of other less critical injuries."
"My name is Rubo and get away from me. I need a real doctor, not some fucking woman pretending to be one."
Rebecca stepped back, aghast. "I am a real doctor," she said.
"Women aren't real doctors. That is a man's occupation."
Excerpt from Blood Rage
Available at Amazon.com
Their comical banter ceased. In front of her, Bret climbed to his knees and stood. His feet moved to the side, out of her view. She joined him and stood. One by one, the rest of the team entered the chamber and climbed to their feet. Bret removed one of the glow sticks, activated it, and held it aloft. It provided additional illumination in the large chamber. Shane played out rope from the coil he carried, allowing them to spread out while remaining linked. They moved apart, testing each step before putting full weight on that foot. It wouldn't be the first time the floor had caved-in out from under one of them.
"What the hell is that?" Efren pointed across the room and all of them approached.
"What is a wooden door doing down here?" Shane asked.
While Bret held the glow stick high, Nash knelt in front of the door for closer inspection. A wooden plank stretched across it, with two metal U-shaped brackets holding it affixed to the rest of the door. The ends of the plank went through two additional brackets secured to the rock wall. There were the rotted remains of ropes that had additionally held the plank in place.
"Easily removed from this side," Nash said, "and impossible to open from the other side."
"Which leads me to wonder what was imprisoned on the other side," Bret mused.
"One way to find out," Nash said. With Efren's help, he lifted the plank from its brackets. The massive door hinges groaned when Nash pushed it open.
The tunnel beyond was obviously manmade and large enough to walk through erect. The team proceeded. After a few yards, the tunnel ended in another chamber, this one much smaller, room-sized. Three human skeletons lay in one corner.
"Is that what it looks like?" Efren asked and pointed to the metal box across the room resting on the floor and against the wall.
The team crossed the room and Shane knelt beside it. "It looks like a damn coffin."
The hinges squealed in protest when Shane pried the lid open. Mia looked down in shock. Instead of bones, or the half-rotted corpse that she’d expected to see, the body inside was so life-like she expected him to open his eyes at any moment.
"Damn," Nash swore when he cut his hand on a jagged part of the casket. Blood welled up on his palm and dripped down onto the corpse. Two drops touched its lips. The man's eyes snapped open. His irises were grey, circled by red. He blurred into action so fast her mind couldn't absorb it. The next thing she knew, she was flying through the air. At the same time, she heard screams and shouts. She collided with the rock wall and slid to the floor. She closed her eyes and passed out.
Mia woke to awful pain. She opened her eyes, but it was just as black as when they were closed. She couldn't move her left arm or right leg, and her head felt like it was on fire. She reached up with her good hand, and first discovered her helmet was missing. When she pulled her hand from the back of her head, it came away sticky.
What happened?
"Bret…Nash…Efren…Shane," she called out to each member in turn. "I'm hurt. Hurt bad. I think one of my arms and legs are broken and I have a bad laceration on the back of my head. Maybe a concussion."
Only silence greeted her. She listened intently for any sound of breathing, both in the room and over her earbud.
Nothing.
She felt her tool belt then groped the floor around her, searching for her spare flashlight. "Damn," she said when she was unable to locate it. Her ears perked when she heard a noise in the dark. "Is that you, Bret?" she asked. "Anyone? I'm over here."
The sound grew louder, like wet bare feet slapping on a tile floor. A strange voice just inches in front of her face whispered, "I'm here."
Putrid breath assailed her nostrils. A hand twined in her hair and snapped her head to the side. Another hand pressed against her chest, pinning her back against the rock wall behind her.
"Ouch. You're hurting me. Whoever you are, don't be so rough.
Excerpt from The Eve of Destruction.
Available at Amazon.com
The capsule dropped like a stone through the night sky firing braking rockets in the last seconds before it splashed into the mountain lake. It plunged deeper and deeper shedding its velocity and at last came to a halt. Next, it started its upward climb. It bobbed to the surface and small maneuvering jets kicked in to direct it toward the shore. It settled to the ground and became silent.
Gazing out the view screen, Naa’dia waited until the area began to brighten with the dawn. Once it was fully light, she opened the hatch and stepped out onto the ground. The surroundings did not remotely resemble her home planet. Trees grew thick just feet from the shore but they weren’t violet and red like she was used to. Instead, the forest was a mix of green and brown. The calling of birds was the only sound.
Stooping down she picked up a handful of black dirt feeling its texture. Earth. I’m on Earth, her lips stretched into a smile, and so far, it appears, undetected. Scanning up and down the shore, she spotted a wooden cabin almost hidden in the trees. Quietly she crept up to the structure and stood at the edge of the small clearing in front of it.
The single door opened. A man wearing a checkered shirt and blue denims walked out. He was carrying a long thin rod in one hand and a case in the other. Naa’dia stepped forward approaching him. With a jolt, the man looked up.
"Damn, Missy you scared me." His gaze drifted over her, taking in her short skirt and baggy blouse. "You’re hardly dressed for hiking in the mountains. Where did you come from?"
Not saying a word, she struck without warning. Her fist blurred forward driving into the man’s stomach, causing breath to whoosh from his mouth. He dropped the long stick and case placing his hands to his belly. Went he doubled over in both surprise and pain she gabbed both sides of his head. With a violent twist, she snapped his neck. He crumpled to the ground, his dead eyes fixed with a look of shock.
Naa’dia grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him into the cabin. She tossed the body to the side and began her inspection of the cabin’s single room interior. On the nightstand next to the bed, she found keys to the truck parked outside, a comb, eyeglasses and some loose change. On the small table was a fanny-pack with nothing of interest inside. Next, she examined the elderly man’s pockets which yielded a wallet. Naa’dia learned his name was George. She removed the contents and stuck all of it in the fanny-pack, which she belted around her waist.
Finding nothing else of interest, she shouldered the body and retraced her steps to the capsule. She dumped the body in one of the seats and removed her two bags. Naa’dia removed her clothes and kicked off her shoes before climbing back in to the craft. She idled out to deep water, used maneuvering jets to tilt it to the side and opened the hatch. Water flooded in. Naa’dia kicked from the seat of the rapidly sinking craft and swam to shore. While she dressed, she watched the capsule sink beneath the waters surface in satisfaction.
Naa’dia sat in the truck a few minutes familiarizing herself with the controls. When she opened the glove box, she discovered the owner’s manual. After scanning through the pages, she inserted the key and started the vehicle. She learned how to work the built in GPS and punched in the address given on the man’s id. A route appeared on the screen. Guiding the vehicle was tricky at first and several times, she nearly drove into trees. By the time she had driven the thirty kilometers to the city, she controlled the truck with much greater confidence.
Following the directions displayed, she arrived at the small frame structure located on the outskirts of Denver where George lived. Naa’dia used a key and let herself into the house.
"George is that you? My you’re home early. I didn’t look to see you until late this evening," a woman’s voice called out from the other room. "Fishing must have been really bad for you to be home this early."
Following the sound, Naa’dia slipped into the room. The elderly woman was facing away from her making the bed. In three silent strides, Naa’dia crossed the room. She chopped down with the edge of her hand striking the woman in the back of the neck. The force of the chopping blow drove the woman face first into the mattress where she bounced twice. The body settled to the bed, twitched a couple times and became motionless.
Naa’dia waited in silence. From the odd angle of her head, Naa’dia was certain the woman’s neck was broken. Reaching out she felt for a pulse and found none. She turned dismissively and checked the other rooms to make certain there were no more humans present. There were none and to all indications, the woman and man were the sole occupants.
Good now I have a place to headquarter.
She strolled through the house examining things and reading anything she found. She turned on the TV and Radio tuning them to News. By the time she crawled into bed in the extra bedroom that night, she knew much about the deceased couple and how to access further information.
Available at Amazon.com
The capsule dropped like a stone through the night sky firing braking rockets in the last seconds before it splashed into the mountain lake. It plunged deeper and deeper shedding its velocity and at last came to a halt. Next, it started its upward climb. It bobbed to the surface and small maneuvering jets kicked in to direct it toward the shore. It settled to the ground and became silent.
Gazing out the view screen, Naa’dia waited until the area began to brighten with the dawn. Once it was fully light, she opened the hatch and stepped out onto the ground. The surroundings did not remotely resemble her home planet. Trees grew thick just feet from the shore but they weren’t violet and red like she was used to. Instead, the forest was a mix of green and brown. The calling of birds was the only sound.
Stooping down she picked up a handful of black dirt feeling its texture. Earth. I’m on Earth, her lips stretched into a smile, and so far, it appears, undetected. Scanning up and down the shore, she spotted a wooden cabin almost hidden in the trees. Quietly she crept up to the structure and stood at the edge of the small clearing in front of it.
The single door opened. A man wearing a checkered shirt and blue denims walked out. He was carrying a long thin rod in one hand and a case in the other. Naa’dia stepped forward approaching him. With a jolt, the man looked up.
"Damn, Missy you scared me." His gaze drifted over her, taking in her short skirt and baggy blouse. "You’re hardly dressed for hiking in the mountains. Where did you come from?"
Not saying a word, she struck without warning. Her fist blurred forward driving into the man’s stomach, causing breath to whoosh from his mouth. He dropped the long stick and case placing his hands to his belly. Went he doubled over in both surprise and pain she gabbed both sides of his head. With a violent twist, she snapped his neck. He crumpled to the ground, his dead eyes fixed with a look of shock.
Naa’dia grabbed him by the shirt and dragged him into the cabin. She tossed the body to the side and began her inspection of the cabin’s single room interior. On the nightstand next to the bed, she found keys to the truck parked outside, a comb, eyeglasses and some loose change. On the small table was a fanny-pack with nothing of interest inside. Next, she examined the elderly man’s pockets which yielded a wallet. Naa’dia learned his name was George. She removed the contents and stuck all of it in the fanny-pack, which she belted around her waist.
Finding nothing else of interest, she shouldered the body and retraced her steps to the capsule. She dumped the body in one of the seats and removed her two bags. Naa’dia removed her clothes and kicked off her shoes before climbing back in to the craft. She idled out to deep water, used maneuvering jets to tilt it to the side and opened the hatch. Water flooded in. Naa’dia kicked from the seat of the rapidly sinking craft and swam to shore. While she dressed, she watched the capsule sink beneath the waters surface in satisfaction.
Naa’dia sat in the truck a few minutes familiarizing herself with the controls. When she opened the glove box, she discovered the owner’s manual. After scanning through the pages, she inserted the key and started the vehicle. She learned how to work the built in GPS and punched in the address given on the man’s id. A route appeared on the screen. Guiding the vehicle was tricky at first and several times, she nearly drove into trees. By the time she had driven the thirty kilometers to the city, she controlled the truck with much greater confidence.
Following the directions displayed, she arrived at the small frame structure located on the outskirts of Denver where George lived. Naa’dia used a key and let herself into the house.
"George is that you? My you’re home early. I didn’t look to see you until late this evening," a woman’s voice called out from the other room. "Fishing must have been really bad for you to be home this early."
Following the sound, Naa’dia slipped into the room. The elderly woman was facing away from her making the bed. In three silent strides, Naa’dia crossed the room. She chopped down with the edge of her hand striking the woman in the back of the neck. The force of the chopping blow drove the woman face first into the mattress where she bounced twice. The body settled to the bed, twitched a couple times and became motionless.
Naa’dia waited in silence. From the odd angle of her head, Naa’dia was certain the woman’s neck was broken. Reaching out she felt for a pulse and found none. She turned dismissively and checked the other rooms to make certain there were no more humans present. There were none and to all indications, the woman and man were the sole occupants.
Good now I have a place to headquarter.
She strolled through the house examining things and reading anything she found. She turned on the TV and Radio tuning them to News. By the time she crawled into bed in the extra bedroom that night, she knew much about the deceased couple and how to access further information.
Excerpt from Desert Water
Available at Amazon.com
Still deep in thought Andrew closed the door to his hotel room and tossed his briefcase on the table. I've become a paper pusher and PR man. No more. Time to go to the platform tomorrow and get my hands dirty.
He dropped into a chair, placed his head in his cupped hands, and massaged his temples in effort to relieve his headache. Only now did he hear the shower running. What the hell? Just what I need to cap off a screwed up day.
Upon checking it, he discovered the bathroom door locked. Glancing around, he couldn't see anything amiss with his possessions. He turned from the bathroom door to call the front desk and ask if there had been a mix up in room assignments. The sound of water ceased and he heard the shower door slide. Soon he would know the identity of the person in the bathroom. The doorknob turned and the door swung open. Andrew prepared to confront the person and tell them they had the wrong room. He took a step back and his jaw dropped open.
"Jennifer? What the hell are you doing in my room? What the hell are you even doing in this town?"
The woman, wrapped in a towel and dabbing another at her hair, smiled. "Now is that anyway to greet an old friend Andy?"
He bristled as flashbacks of his previous relations with her coursed through his mind. "We're not friends Jennifer and I'll thank you to get dressed and get out of my room."
The woman calmly crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed. "Still mad at me?"
He didn't answer but glared at her instead. With her long blond hair, striking blue eyes and chiseled to perfection body, it was hard for him to maintain his anger but the memories of what she had done helped.
A slight frown wrinkled her brow. "Guess so. If it makes any difference, I'm sorry I hurt you."
Gazing at her it was difficult to imagine she was in her mid thirties like him. She looked as if she couldn't be more than early twenties.
"Sorry doesn't cut it. And even less so after all these years," he grumbled. Had it actually been seven years ago that she had walked out of his life. That she had moved out of the apartment they shared and broken off they relationship overnight.
"We were younger back then Andy. We were working together on our first project after college and playing house at the same time."
"Is that what you call it… playing house?"
She shrugged. "I had deep feelings for you Andy. Still do in fact."
"Yeah right," he scoffed. "But not deep enough to keep you from dumping me for Jerome, a man three time your age."
She shrugged again and leaned back. "He made me an offer I couldn't refuse. He agreed to fund a research lab just for me and the only thing I needed to do in return was spread my legs for him and go with him to provide eye candy at the functions he attended."
Andrew shook his head. "So where is Jerome now? Does he know you’re here taking a shower in my room?"
Jennifer unhooked her towel, spreading it wide and fully displaying herself. "He's at his house in San Antonio I presume. I haven't seen him for several years." Jennifer grinned and propped herself up on her elbows.
He swallowed his groan. Her breasts, although not large, stood straight out with little sag. He felt sure they had been surgically enhanced. I wonder if Jerome paid for that? Probably.
He tried desperately to look away from her, failed miserably and stumbled on.
"Next question, how did you get into my room?"
"I stopped at the front desk, told the clerk there I was your wife. I'd come here to surprise you and he issued me a key card."
"I can't believe it was that easy."
Jennifer's grin widened. "Well maybe not that easy but… I showed him the diamond on my left hand, one that Jerome gave me and told him how you had given it to me. A lie of course, you couldn't afford a stone like that if you mortgaged everything you owned. I leaned on the counter and my top just happened to fall open giving him a great view of my breasts and the fact I wore no bra. Then I made up a few juicy stories about our sex life, which I told to him in a low voice. He was still glancing at my assets as he coded the key."
"You're a real piece of work."
"Thank you. Some men are so easy to manipulate it almost isn't worth the tiny effort required."
"So bottom line Jennifer, why are you here? You still haven't answered that question."
"I'm here because I want to be a part of this new project of yours. I happen to know that you are in need of a good electrical engineer and I'm, if not the best, one of them."
Excerpt from The Demon Feeds
Available at Amazon.com
"This place is different, you'll see," Mark said to them.
Meg wiggled into a more comfortable position in Joseph's lap. Every one called him Joseph except she and Mark. Joe chuckled in her ear and walked his fingers across her belly. "I'll bet." He chuckled.
He fingered the silver dangle hanging at her navel and brushed her long brown hair to one side. He kissed the nape of her neck sending shivers racing along her spine.
"And what makes this place any different from any other strip joint," Meg asked, "Besides the fact it's out in the middle of nowhere?"
Mark grinned. "The drinks are cheap, the table dances cost half as much as other places and some of them are even free."
Meg shifted and her tight mini skirt rose a little higher. Her legs spread open more. She smiled when she saw Mark's eyes shift to her lacy white silk panties. The relationship had started with her and Joe living together. Joe was just over six feet tall and thin but by no means skinny. He had short blond hair and the dreamiest blue eyes she had ever seen. His light complexion contrasted with Marks darker one. He had large hands. That's not the only large thing he has.
Meg wiggled a little feeling his erection slip into the crack of her ass. She reminisced about the awkward conversation that occurred not long after they had moved in together. Joe had suggested that his friend Mark move in with them to share apartment rent and other expenses. He hinted about sharing more. At first I was reluctant, shocked really. Having two men in bed with me at the same time, both with the intention of having sex, sounded very kinky. In the end, the very naughtiness of it made me decide to give it a try.
She turned a little to provide Mark with a better view. Now I wouldn't have our arrangement any other way. Mother would have been shocked at the very thought of me living with and loving two men. But I keep them satisfied Mother. They aren't leaving me to run away with another woman like Dad left us. Dad's to blame but so are you for you prudish ways.
Excerpt from The Daughters of Darkness
available at Amazon.com
Garnet stared at the man across the hall. He had on a backpack and fannypack. That he was wearing latex gloves and sneaking out of the room made her suspicious immediately. Robbery? She had seen the woman staying there yesterday even spoken to her a couple times when they had met in the hall. The impression she got was the woman was a nice lady. Early this morning she had watched that woman come down the hall with a handsome man beside her. That man had left earlier in the afternoon. This man was not the same one.
Her demon senses kicked in and the short hairs on the back of her neck rose much like a dogs hackles. Danger, predator, her thoughts shouted. The man spoke in a low menacing voice and his eyes were cold pools of malice.
"Lady, you are in the wrong place at the wrong time." At the same time, he took a gun out of his fannypack.
Garnet crossed the hall with inhuman speed but even so, it seemed like slow motion to her. Midway across to him, his gun chugged, a bullet tore into her and imbedded itself in her stomach. Garnet ignored the pain and finished crossing the distance. She ripped the gun from his hand and shoved him back into the woman's room.
He reached for her throat and growled. "Who the hell are you?"
"A predator similar to you but my bet is I'm more deadly." Her backhanded slap sent Boyd sailing across the room to crash against the opposite wall. He slid down it to become an unconscious heap on the carpet with his cheekbone shattered.
She glanced around the room and saw the woman renting this room. She was lying on the bed naked and hadn't moved during all the noise and commotion. Something is wrong with her. What's going on here. Garnet was beside the bed in instants. The woman's chest rose and fell but her breathing was slow and she shuddered at the end of each breath. She checked the woman's pulse. It was there but this too was slow and weak.
Garnet focused her attention on the man. And you have the answers to my questions. Answers you're going to give me.
She knelt beside him. The right side of the man's face sagged from the broken cheek she had given when she cuffed him and already his right eye had begun to swell shut. Blood trickled from his mouth and reddened his lips. A couple broken teeth lay on his chest. Garnet lightly slapped his left cheek to arouse him to consciousness. He groaned and opened his eye.
"What did you do to her?" she demanded.
"Fuck you," he slurred.
Her expression hardened into a scowl. "Oh we are going to alright and when we have, you're going to tell me everything."
He glared up at her with his single open eye. The watery grey orb reflecting cold hatred. She braced a hand against his chest and wrapped the fingers of the other around his fanny pack. With a single jerk, she tore the pack free and tossed it away, next Garnet closed her hands on his shirt and pulled them apart sending buttons flying and exposing his chest. His belt was the next to go as she tore it open then tossed it away to join his fannypack. Hooking the fingers of one hand under his waistband and bracing her other hand on his bare chest she ripped them apart leaving only tattered remains around his ankles. His boxer briefs joined the pack and belt and left his midsection bare.
She met his gaze with hers again. The hatred in his eye had been replaced with terror. "You look like a beautiful woman but what are you?" his words trembled.
"It is good that you fear me. You have reason to. I'm you're worst nightmare. You're last one, you waste of a human."
Excerpt from The Shifters
Available at Amazon.com
“Do you mind if I put you on speaker phone so my partner can hear and share in this conversation?” When she said, no, he activated the speaker and introduced Gail.
“So,” he continued, “You’re a friend of Karla’s, what can we do for you?”
“I'd like to hire you as a bodyguard and investigator, but I'd rather not discuss the details on the phone. Is there any way I can meet you in person?” Catharina asked in a voice that dripped in fear.
“Well sure. Where are you now and where would you like to meet?” Jeff asked.
“I’m in Boston,” she said.
Jeff was silent for a moment. “Uh…Catharina, we're clear across the country from you. If we were to come meet you, it would be tomorrow at the earliest, provided we are able to get a flight and it would be longer if we drove. We'd like to know more details before we came across country.”
“You don’t understand Jeff. I want to meet as soon as possible. My company owns a plane and I’m only a few minutes from the airport. Is there any way I could come to you. I’m afraid to stay here any longer, at least until I have someone I can trust protecting me.” Her voice almost quavered in fear.
Jeff looked at Gail and she nodded. “Sure, we’ll meet you at the airport. Will you be leaving in the morning? You can tell us what time you expect to arrive. I’m sure you need to get permission to use the company plane––“ Jeff was still talking when Catharina interrupted.
In a voice filled with undertones that almost shouted to him, that Catharina was used to doing most anything she pleased, she told him, “You don’t understand Jeff. I’m leaving right now, or as soon as I can get the plane airborne. I don’t have to get permission, I own the damn thing. I own the damn company. Just give me the name of the airport and I'll call you when I get there.” As an afterthought, she added, “Please.”
“Okay,” Jeff answered, suitably corrected. He gave her the name of the airport.
“Good, I’ll see you in a few hours. Got to go. I feel like I’m being watched. It doesn’t matter where I go, I feel like I’m being observed. Anyway I’ll see you soon Jeff and Gail,” she hung up.
Jeff looked at the dead phone and turned to Gail. “That is one terrified lady.”
Excerpt for The Daughters of Teelan (Gina and Becky)
Available at Amazon.com
Gina's rude welcome
Excerpt from The Daughters of Teelan (Gina and Becky)
She took another bite from the tasteless ration stick and chased it with a swig of water. She frowned at it. These may sustain life but they sure as hell wouldn’t qualify as fine cuisine.
An earsplitting roar assaulted her ears. Something struck the side of the life pod and sent it tumbling over and over. Gina tossed around in the interior like a rag doll in a dryer. When the craft stopped rolling, it was upside down. Again, a tooth-rattling roar came from outside and something struck the side of the pod, sending it rolling once more. This time she managed to grab hold of a chair and controlled her tumble.
The ship ceased its wild rotations with the hatch on top. Gina opened it and stormed out like an angry hornet defending its disturbed nest. The creature she faced was the most horrible sight she had seen in her entire young life. She estimated its head was thirty feet above the ground. Its open jaws revealed row upon row of sharp teeth. Two eyes, each half the size of her body, glared at her. The beast had green, tough looking hide. It had a long tail, two powerful looking legs and smaller arms midway up its torso with deadly appearing talons.
She splayed her legs slightly to brace herself on the slopped hull. Brushing a lock of disheveled hair from her eyes, Gina glared at the animal. Anger and frustration took control. "You will not destroy my ship you damned ugly brute!" she screamed. "Ever since the Men-gar I’ve been spoiling for a fight. Something to take my aggressions out on. You’re fuckin it!"
She pointed her digits at the beast. Flames streaked across the distance to explode in the creature’s face. It roared in surprise and pain. Its head darted forward with jaws opened wide. The creature's putrid breath made her gag and sent her hair swirling. More fire burst from her fingers. This time flames reached deep in the beast's open maw. The roar cut short when the creature’s jaws snapped shut to extinguish the fire in its mouth.
"Take that asshole. I may be little but I have a vicious deadly bite."
The beast took two steps back. She launched more fire. It screamed in anguish vanishing for a moment in a shroud of an intensely raging inferno. The acrid smell of burning flesh filled the air. With its entire body engulfed in flames, the creature voiced a final shriek of agony. It toppled to the side creating a huge splash of muddy water that drenched her. The creature lay still.
Gina remained stiffly erect for some time waiting for it to rise. She pulled her drenched hair back from her face. With one hand, she wiped the mud from her eyes. The sudden silence was eerie.
"I think it's dead Gina."
"I guess that answers the question of life existing on this planet."
The pod shifted under her. She gazed down and saw the creature had ripped a huge gash in the side. The craft had come to rest in deeper water which poured into the gaping hole. She leaped back inside and in dismay, saw water already sloshed across the floor. Grabbing the four packs, she climbed out, slid down the side of the rapidly sinking ship and swam to shore.
She sat in the sand breathing hard from exertion and the energy expended from expending her flame. The pod settled deeper and finally sank beneath the surface. "So much for my home." Turning to the side, she glared at the dead animal. "Grant we need to find shelter." She glanced up at the sinking sun. "Soon," she added. "I don’t fancy sleeping here on the beach and having my slumber interrupted by one of those." She pointed at the dead beast.
"If you wake up before it eats you," Grant teased.
Gina was in no mood for her AI’s humor. "I’m assuming you’ll remain alert and warn me before something like that occurs. I’ll remind you that if I perish so do you."
"I’m aware of that and will remain vigilant while you sleep."
"Thank you," she said sarcastically.
She gathered the packs, two to an arm. "Something above the ground in the trees for tonight I think."
"I agree. I will help you search."
To add to her discomfort, the rain that had been threatening all day, began to fall in earnest. In no time, she was drenched. She settled into the branches of the selected tree surrounded by dripping leaves and soaked to the bone. Her nightshirt was a shambles after tumbling and rolling inside the pod. The rain tapered and quit shortly after dark.
"While I’m trying to sleep I want you to access your archives and look for the methods of tanning and curing hide. I’m going to need clothes soon and that beast out there has a lot of hide I can use."
"I will do so. You need sleep. It has been a big day."
"Goodnight. Talk to you in the morning. Remember to wake me if danger threatens."
"I will."
She spent a miserable night tossing and turning, trying to stay warm and get comfortable in her wet clothes.
Excerpt from My Enemy My Ally
Rho'naa hesitated before knocking on the door to Kyra's office. Since completing the trials on Euganta she had been patiently and waiting for assignment. Both of her companions had already received theirs and were gone. This must be it. I wonder where I'm going?
"Enter," Kyra answered her knock.
Coming to a halt in front of the desk, Rho'naa saluted. "Reporting as requested ma'am,"
Kyra returned the salute. "At ease. Have a seat. We have a lot to discuss and much of it is unpleasant."
This is not how I expected this meeting to begin.
"I'm going to start with the bad news," Kyra said. "Tylee's ship never reached Zanatha. In the past we suspected the Men-gar attacked and destroyed it and all hands."
Rho'naa's stomached lurched and twisted in a knot. Tylee dead? Oh no, oh God no.
"This is the supposition we had until the occurrence of recent events," Kyra said. "A month ago we recovered a Men-gar warship. We discovered it adrift with all of her crew missing. Further investigation has revealed the ship was attacked but it is largely undamaged. All the crew are missing however and by the bloody evidence found throughout the ship they are presumed dead. This attack was not our doing." She shoved a folder across her desk. "This file contains a detailed report on the findings. I expect you to read it tonight."
Rho'naa reached out and picked up the folder.
"This is not the only thing that has occurred." Kyra pressed a button set in her desk and addressed the surface. "Keish'ar will you join us?"
A door at one side of Kyra's office opened. It took every bit of discipline Rho'naa could muster to remain in her chair and avoid leaping from her seat to enter attack mode when the tall alabaster white being joined them.
Men-gar! she hissed mentally. What's this thing doing here…alive? Millions of years ago, this species tried and almost succeeded in destroying all intelligent life on Earth. They tried again a few years ago. Since early childhood, I've been taught to hate these loathsome creatures.
Her eyes darted to Kyra searching for an answer to her question. Her fingers turned white as her grip on the chair arms tightened.
"Have a seat Keish'ar and I'll fill Rho'naa in with the rest of the story."
Rho'naa shifted her attention back to Kyra while keeping an eye on Keish'ar.
"A week ago we intercepted a summons for help. To our surprise, the broadcast came from a Men-gar ship and was directed toward our location in space. We rushed to investigate and found Keish'ar in a failing lifepod. He told us a story that I even yet find difficult to believe but extensive tests, which he volunteered to take, have shown he is telling the truth."
From the corner of her eye, she saw Keish'ar shift in his seat.
The words extensive tests caused a shiver to run the length of Rho'naa's spine. Although ninety percent accurate, some of those tests were decidedly uncomfortable for the individual taking them. And he volunteered?
"He told us of a race of insect type beings. They invaded his home planet and subdued it in a matter of hours. They have a weapon that renders most if not all electronic equipment inoperative."
Other than the weapon, it sounds much like the Men-gar. She didn't say anything but she was certain Kyra knew what she was thinking.
"We are enemies but I think you should know," Keish'ar said, "They eat their captives. We had human slaves on Sto'kan. They do not distinguish one of our species from yours. They eat both."
"Why did you come to us? Why not go to your own people?"
Keish'ar looked at his feet and mumbled, "First because your area of space is closer… But more importantly, I think humans have a better chance of defeating them than we do. You're winning this war you know. The Men-gar can't defeat you."
Rho'naa sat back in her chair for the moment speechless. To hear a Men-gar admit they were losing the war was unbelievable.
Keish'ar continued, "They must have a shield of some type because although nothing electronic of ours worked, theirs did."
"So we need to capture one of their ships and duplicate the shield. Where do I come in? It sounds like a navel operation to me."
"But one of your ships would never get close enough to capture an enemy ship before all the electronics were rendered useless. That's where we come in."
"We?"
"You, I and a small team," Keish'ar said. "Their large ships are in orbit around the planet but smaller ships are on the planet itself. I think I can get us close enough to steal one."
"And then what? From what you describe these small ships are like shuttle craft how are we supposed to get away into deep space?"
"They are interplanetary capable. We had a base on the moon. The small craft are able to fly from the planet to there. If they can go that far, they can probably go further."
"Sounds like a lot of guessing to me," Rho'naa snapped while glaring at him.
"I'm willing to risk that my guess is right… Are you?"
A scowl from Kyra caused Rho'naa to squelch her retort. The chair arms creaked as her hands tightened and her enhanced strength left deep finger impressions in them. Just in time, she relaxed before shredding the chair arms and forced herself to remain seated. How dare this vile being question my bravery?
"Tell her what else," Kyra said.
"Kyra tells me you have a good friend that looks feline."
Rho'naa narrowed her eyes. "If you have harmed her I will kill you where sit before Kyra can prevent it."
Excerpt from Zumia
And the adventure begins.
It took longer than Grady calculated but at last, the continent loomed ahead. As they drew near the coast, he expected to see signs of civilization but saw none. Even when they passed over the landmass, there were still no signs. They flew over an inlet that appeared slightly familiar but still looked wrong. Gazing down a frown came to his face.
"What?" asked Tuyen.
"Something doesn’t make sense here. Right over there should be Machala, Ecuador a sizable city." Tilting the wings slightly, he pointed to the location, "but as you can see for yourself, there’s no sign of it. In fact, there isn’t any sign of people at all. I’ve flown over Machala several times in the past and this bay looks like the right one, but it’s somehow different. I’m going to fly up north and try landing near Guayaquil an even larger city. Besides I need to get this plane on dry land and assess any damage."
"Grady, I haven’t been able to get anyone on the radio either. There’s nothing. I’ve searched many bands and there is just nothing. No chatter at all."
When he was unable to spot any airports, he finally landed the plane in the large river that emptied into the bay. Extending the wheels, he drove up on shore. After shutting the engines down, he got out to begin his inspection. Both Tuyen and Carson went with him. Lush dark-green jungle foliage ended a few yards from the sandy shore.
"Grady, while you check the plane I'm going to look around a little," Mr. Naplier said.
"I wouldn't advise going into the jungle Mr. Naplier. Especially not alone," Grady advised.
"No, I'm just going to walk along the beach. And please, call me Carson."
"Okay, Carson, but stay close."
"I will."
He didn’t find any major damage and looked up at Carson’s shout. When they joined him, Carson pointed to the tracks on the beach. They came from the jungle, to the water, and then led back into the jungle. The tracks were the right size and shape to be made by a person.
"Well I guess there are people around here. Maybe we can follow these tracks and find a village. Then maybe they can tell us where we are. If we’re really lucky, they may have a radio," Grady said.
"Grady, I’ll remind you that I’m hardly dressed to go hiking through the jungle. Besides it’s going to get dark soon." Tuyen nodded toward the setting sun.
"I think we should sleep in the plane and get an early start in the morning. Does everybody agree?" He looked at Tuyen and Carson who both nodded in agreement.
They stood facing the jungle and listened to the sounds of the birds chirping. Grady wondered how far they would have to walk before they found the village. The chirping stopped and the jungle grew quiet. Almost eerily quiet. The three of them nearly jumped out of their skins when an ear-splitting roar broke the silence. Dashing back to the plane they scrambled onboard. Tuyen looked at first Grady and then Carson in fear.
"What the fuck was that?" she asked.
Carson shrugged. "I have no idea. I’ve never heard a sound like that before."
"I don’t know either, but I don’t want to be on this damn beach when we find out."
Hurriedly, Grady went through the startup process and soon the engines roared to life. Turning the plane, he headed out into the water. When he was several hundred yards from shore, he slowed the engines and let the plane drift. Looking around, he spotted what he was searching for. The island was large enough to have some good-sized trees but small enough, he hoped, to be uninhabited by any large creatures. He had Tuyen idle up the engines to hold the plane in place. He stripped to his boxers and waded to shore with a rope that was attached to the nose of the plane.
After tying the rope off to one of the trees, he returned. Slowly, Tuyen idled down the engines and finally shut them down when they determined the rope would hold the plane in place. With the engines silenced, it was very quiet on the water. So quiet that they could easily hear the jungle noises in the distance. In addition to the normal chirping of birds and other sounds, they could not identify, several more loud roars, split the air.
Grady climbed back onboard, nodded to Carson along the way and squished to the cockpit in his wet clothes. "The current isn't strong but to be on the safe side, I'm going to tie off another rope," he announced. "In the meantime, how about getting out some blankets and pillows for us?"
Tuyen made an awful face. "You're asking me to go back in that cabin alone with Mr. hands? You know how much I dislike him."
"You could always go wading in your mini and tie off the plane partner. This is South America though, and there are many fine aquatic creatures that may be in the water Do I need to remind you you're wearing a mini that is open at the bottom."
"Ick that is a disgusting thought. Point taken though." Tuyen tightened her lips. "Just be certain you hurry back if you want to find our passenger in one piece."
To his relief when he returned from tying off the second rope, both Tuyen and Carson were in one piece. Blankets and pillows were stacked on one pair of seats. After raiding the snack supply for a meager supper, they sat talking and listening to the jungle sounds.
And the adventure begins.
It took longer than Grady calculated but at last, the continent loomed ahead. As they drew near the coast, he expected to see signs of civilization but saw none. Even when they passed over the landmass, there were still no signs. They flew over an inlet that appeared slightly familiar but still looked wrong. Gazing down a frown came to his face.
"What?" asked Tuyen.
"Something doesn’t make sense here. Right over there should be Machala, Ecuador a sizable city." Tilting the wings slightly, he pointed to the location, "but as you can see for yourself, there’s no sign of it. In fact, there isn’t any sign of people at all. I’ve flown over Machala several times in the past and this bay looks like the right one, but it’s somehow different. I’m going to fly up north and try landing near Guayaquil an even larger city. Besides I need to get this plane on dry land and assess any damage."
"Grady, I haven’t been able to get anyone on the radio either. There’s nothing. I’ve searched many bands and there is just nothing. No chatter at all."
When he was unable to spot any airports, he finally landed the plane in the large river that emptied into the bay. Extending the wheels, he drove up on shore. After shutting the engines down, he got out to begin his inspection. Both Tuyen and Carson went with him. Lush dark-green jungle foliage ended a few yards from the sandy shore.
"Grady, while you check the plane I'm going to look around a little," Mr. Naplier said.
"I wouldn't advise going into the jungle Mr. Naplier. Especially not alone," Grady advised.
"No, I'm just going to walk along the beach. And please, call me Carson."
"Okay, Carson, but stay close."
"I will."
He didn’t find any major damage and looked up at Carson’s shout. When they joined him, Carson pointed to the tracks on the beach. They came from the jungle, to the water, and then led back into the jungle. The tracks were the right size and shape to be made by a person.
"Well I guess there are people around here. Maybe we can follow these tracks and find a village. Then maybe they can tell us where we are. If we’re really lucky, they may have a radio," Grady said.
"Grady, I’ll remind you that I’m hardly dressed to go hiking through the jungle. Besides it’s going to get dark soon." Tuyen nodded toward the setting sun.
"I think we should sleep in the plane and get an early start in the morning. Does everybody agree?" He looked at Tuyen and Carson who both nodded in agreement.
They stood facing the jungle and listened to the sounds of the birds chirping. Grady wondered how far they would have to walk before they found the village. The chirping stopped and the jungle grew quiet. Almost eerily quiet. The three of them nearly jumped out of their skins when an ear-splitting roar broke the silence. Dashing back to the plane they scrambled onboard. Tuyen looked at first Grady and then Carson in fear.
"What the fuck was that?" she asked.
Carson shrugged. "I have no idea. I’ve never heard a sound like that before."
"I don’t know either, but I don’t want to be on this damn beach when we find out."
Hurriedly, Grady went through the startup process and soon the engines roared to life. Turning the plane, he headed out into the water. When he was several hundred yards from shore, he slowed the engines and let the plane drift. Looking around, he spotted what he was searching for. The island was large enough to have some good-sized trees but small enough, he hoped, to be uninhabited by any large creatures. He had Tuyen idle up the engines to hold the plane in place. He stripped to his boxers and waded to shore with a rope that was attached to the nose of the plane.
After tying the rope off to one of the trees, he returned. Slowly, Tuyen idled down the engines and finally shut them down when they determined the rope would hold the plane in place. With the engines silenced, it was very quiet on the water. So quiet that they could easily hear the jungle noises in the distance. In addition to the normal chirping of birds and other sounds, they could not identify, several more loud roars, split the air.
Grady climbed back onboard, nodded to Carson along the way and squished to the cockpit in his wet clothes. "The current isn't strong but to be on the safe side, I'm going to tie off another rope," he announced. "In the meantime, how about getting out some blankets and pillows for us?"
Tuyen made an awful face. "You're asking me to go back in that cabin alone with Mr. hands? You know how much I dislike him."
"You could always go wading in your mini and tie off the plane partner. This is South America though, and there are many fine aquatic creatures that may be in the water Do I need to remind you you're wearing a mini that is open at the bottom."
"Ick that is a disgusting thought. Point taken though." Tuyen tightened her lips. "Just be certain you hurry back if you want to find our passenger in one piece."
To his relief when he returned from tying off the second rope, both Tuyen and Carson were in one piece. Blankets and pillows were stacked on one pair of seats. After raiding the snack supply for a meager supper, they sat talking and listening to the jungle sounds.
Excerpt from The Otherworld
Jeff closed the hanger doors giving thanks the long day was finally drawing to a close. The aircraft mechanics had found the overheating problem on the jet and fixed it but it had taken much longer than expected. He still had the drive home to look forward to and he sighed.
I wonder what my little witch is up to? Then he remembered Isa was there. He bristled slightly as he thought of Isa. Especially when he thought of her and Gail together. And to think I told them to be together. Grudgingly, he was learning to accept the idea that Isa loved Gail and Gail in turn, loved Isa. He wasn’t happy about it, just resigned.
He swerved wildly and nearly drove his car in the ditch when the air shimmered and Marla, materialized in the passenger seat next to him. Great, it's been a long day, the last thing I need is the ghost of Gail's friend-lover to appear. I abhor her.
"Go the fuck away," he swore.
"Thanks, I love you too," Marla chuckled.
"What the hell do you want?" he growled.
"Actually Jeff, I do love you in a way. You take good care of one I loved when I was alive and still love even though I’m dead. You also meted out justice to the ones who took my life. Thank you."She leaned across and kissed him on the cheek making him recoil in disgust. "And please don’t talk about hell you know we don’t believe in that place. Gail would be teasing you if she heard you mention it." Marla chuckled.
"It’s a damn good thing it’s dark. People would think I was out of my mind if they saw me talking to an empty seat."
"Ah but you know it’s not empty. Don’t you Jeff? You can see and hear me just as well as Gail does. You’ve also heard and seen the Goddess. You’ve witnessed and experienced many things. You may say differently to others, but you know you believe. Maybe you haven’t formally declared yourself to be Wiccan or gone through the coven’s initiation, but you know you believe. I didn’t come here however to talk about that. I came here to talk about our favorite witch, Gail."
Jeff’s jaw locked squelching the angry retort that wanted to slip past his lips in response to Marla referring to Gail as "our witch." He didn’t like sharing Gail one-bit. And especially not with the bitch. That’s the name he used to refer to Marla.
Why do I dislike Marla and Isa so much? He wondered. He answered his own thought seconds later. Because I think of them as competition for Gail’s love. This, despite having been assured by Gail, Isa and Marla we're not competing.
"So what about her?" he asked in a controlled voice.
"Gail is becoming a very powerful witch. She doesn't even realize how powerful she has become. Never that I can recall, has a single witch been able to summon the powers of all the elements. Most of us can only summon one of them. Mine was water and Isa’s is air. Gail’s is earth. A certain item has vastly increased her power. You know what item I am referring to."
"The spell book we recovered?" Jeff asked, knowing even before he asked the Book was exactly what Marla was talking about.
"Yes. There are many powerful spells in the Book but just reading the Book has increased her powers even when she is not casting spells from its pages. There are those who wish to possess that Book Jeff. They also wish to kill Gail so that she cannot interfere with their plans. We must protect her. Isa and I will and I know you will too. You’re best suited for that task."
"You know I would give my life for her Marla," he said emotionally.
"Io muoio per te."
"What?"
"The saying, Io muoio per te, translated from Italian means I give my life for you. Or I would give my life for you. You should know, if you don't already, that Gail feels the same about you. She loves you very much. Jeff, you, I…, and Isa must learn to work together. You may not much like us right now but we all have one thing in common. Gail. We must protect her at all costs for I sense evil coming. I don’t know when, or who, or even from where, but it will come. I will give you more information as I can learn of it. You, Isa, and I must become allies to keep her safe. Before I go, I'll tell you one more thing. In addition to your expertise with material weapons, you have great powers inside you. Powers that you yourself do not even know about and have not learned how to use. Now I must go because you are almost home. I'll be talking to you soon." As was the custom of the coven they belonged to, Marla leaned across the seat and kissed Jeff on the lips.
A shudder ran through his spine. He had grown used to this custom but never had been kissed by a ghost. That is just fucking weird.