Superstar, Ripp Collins had the crowd spellbound, enthralled by his beauty and raspy, haunting voice as he belted out a verse. “When you look at me, tease my desire with a mere gaze, it shreds the edges of my soul…”
The indie rock band Devil’s Avenue was under the spotlight tonight, and they had the club packed to capacity.
The pulse of the bass drum and the cry of the electric guitar whipped through the building like a harsh, metallic rock n’ roll storm. The music’s roar mingled with the fans’ zealous screams. Multicolored lights flashed over the performers, adding to the dark and mysterious ambiance they created.
But Ripp… He glistened under the fluorescent beams, like a divine being. Flicking his fingers across the guitar strings, he rocked his hips to the beat, threw his head back, and let out one of his gritty primal cries.
The crowd went wild.
An unwanted smile dared to cross my face. I sat rooted to the barstool at the back of the club, refusing to let his bad boy allure draw me under his spell, like everyone else. But damn, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him, which meant, I was already enchanted. Now that I think about it, I’ve been spellbound for quite some time now.
Staying low to the ground, Alexis crept into the hangar. She slipped into the nearest shadow and crouched against the wall.
The retractable ceiling was left open. Strange. There were no missions on record for the day. At least that’s what was reported on the log. So, why was the ceiling open? Several drones zipped by. They circled the field, lingering around the aircraft building.
Damn, this is gonna be harder than I expected.
She never backed down from a challenge before. So why start now? She flash-stepped across the massive space, going from one hovercraft to another, using them as cover. Hopefully, she moved fast enough to evade the drones’ radar. All she had to do was make it to the rear door. That would bring her closer to the canal, and closer the secrets within.
Almost there. I can do this. She took a deep breath and made a dash for the door.
Suddenly, the sharp shrill of a sword being drawn reached her senses. Alexis scanned her surroundings. The hangar seemed vacant, but that apparently wasn’t the case. She slowed her pace, but she kept moving. A threatening breeze rushed into her from the right. With it, a blade whistled through the air.
Reaching for her own sword, she ducked and swept her right leg out. Her foot caught the ankle of her unseen opponent.
A shadowy apparition emerged and flipped back away from her.
Alexis drew a trio of shuriken and launched them at the shadow. A series of silver streaks deflected the tiny blades.
Sword in hand, Alexis squared off. “If you wanted a battle, all you had to do was ask… Helena.”
Her adversary shed her ghostly form and stepped forth, wielding twin katanas. “You knew I would attack you?”
“The way you swoon over Tristan…” Alexis pushed her leather jacket from over her shoulders and let it fall to the ground. “Yeah, I knew it was only a matter of time before you made a go for me.”
Her preternatural eyes narrowed as her lips kicked up in a snarling sneer. “You don’t deserve him and I’m going to prove it.” Crossing her blades, she crouched in a battle stance. “I hope you’re ready, Moonlight. ‘Cause I’m not going to hold back.”
Smiling, Alexis held her weapon in a double grip. “Bitch, I stay ready.”
Available at the Ice Dragon Press Online Bookstore
Humans are idiots!
For thousands of years, mankind was under the notion that they were at the top of the food chain. Strange happenings over time proved otherwise. But they couldn’t be convinced. The arrogance of it all. Or perhaps one should call it ignorance.
Mankind had once again thrust itself into a war built on hate, bigotry and power. History repeated itself tenfold. Only this time, it was worse. Racism and prejudice escalated to an all-time high. More than half of the world’s population were what society labeled as Exoticals, which was just another way of saying bi-racial. Despite that, humans still found reasons to hate each other. If that wasn’t bad enough, they damn near destroyed the ozone layer, so much that there were certain sectors—dead zones—where the air was unbreathable. Creators of their own demise.
Again, idiots.
Mother Earth was deteriorating, due to mankind’s incompetence and lack of compassion to her needs. Healthcare went to hell with the economy. Gas prices soared and religious beliefs were demolished.
In the midst of all that, the wealthy society took over. The Blue Bloods. Money ruled the world. Guess there was nothing new there.
A new division was formed. Now, it was the Blue Bloods against the middle class and the poor. Classism. Right when the wealthy were on the verge of systematically exterminating the society they called commoners, it happened.
Year 2066, October seventeenth, everything changed.
Creatures only believed to exist in fantasy novels and horror movies crawled up from their graves and declared in one powerful roar that they were the supreme species.
The immortals.
For mankind, the end days were here!
The devil spawns rapidly multiplied, turning their victims into demons against their will. They spread around the globe like a plague. Humans died in droves. Blood and tears ran like rivers in the streets.
Mankind was forced to put their differences aside to survive. Such a shame that’s what it took. Maybe that was the idea. Maybe that’s why God had forsaken the human race. It was because they had forsaken him.
As a response to the threat, the United Nations formed the Cross Federation. Interesting name considering they were basically a league of Blue Bloods from different countries who detested religion. All that aside, they thought they knew what was best for the world, and since the world had no one else to turn to, the Cross Federation was their only hope.
Walls were built and technology was advanced in an effort to preserve the human race. Men and women were trained as knights and pumped with a drug that afforded them the special ability to annihilate the opposing force.
Sanjay returned with a loaded injection gun in hand. The cobalt blue liquid sloshed around in the bullet-sized vial. He held it out to her. “Take it, so we can head out. You’ll need your strength for what we’re about to face.”
Heat rushed straight to her head as she glared at him. “No,” she bit out on a growl.
His Adam’s apple bobbed. He muttered something in Arabic as a slow menacing smile found its way to his lips. “Disregarding a direct order, Officer Moonlight?” He moved in closer, his approach demanding. “That would usually end in sex, but right now we don’t have the time for it. Either take it of your own will, or I’ll hold you down and shove it into your fucking neck myself.”
Alexis sprung toward his silky voice. Her wrist was caught in mid-swing, yet her blade still tasted vampire flesh.
The weight of his body shoved her to the floor. Strong legs straddled her hips, pinning her down.
She punched him in the jaw with her free hand. Her fingers cracked. With it, a sharp pain rushed up her arm and through the entire left side of her body. “Fuckin’ holy mother of oww!” she cried out. Felt like she’d jabbed stone.
His husky chuckle fluttered over her face. “Yeah, I could’ve told you that was a bad idea.”
I was tagged by Author Stephanie Burke, Rae Lori, and Kate Baum to post the 7 lines of my WIP. So here I go. I hope you enjoy!
This is a snippet from my cyberpunk tale Alexis Moonlight (The Cross Knight Chronicles)
“I hate that we’re forced to do this, but you have to pay for the choices you’ve made. Look at this way, it could be much worse.” Sanjay held a signature pad out. The outline of a hand emerged on the screen. “Place your palm here to show you understand everything I’ve explained and that you comply with the terms.”
She slapped the pad out of his hand. “That droid is not staying here, Sanjay,” Alexis gritted out.
He eyed her in silence, his jawline set hard. He seemed indifferent about the whole situation. That was clearly just a front though. The droid was not only a problem for her, but for him as well. It would monitor her every move, twenty-four seven. That meant no more alone time for them.
Blaze wanted to sear the smile from his smug face, but she couldn’t move. She couldn’t even will a flame into existence, and lord knows she wanted to. He not only stole her powers, he stunted her spirit energy too. Didn’t help matters that she still suffered the muddling effects of the Warlock’s possession spell.
Lucius consumed another gulp, swallowing faster this time. “Do you feel the ache to call out to my Queen? I truly wish you would. I imagine she would break through any barrier to get to you. After all, she did conjure a moonlight mirror.” He released a breathy chuckle. “It’s unheard of for any demon to accomplish such a feat alone. She’s so powerful. If you would just call for her aid…” Voice lowering to a whisper, he sidled in closer. His death-tainted breath feathered her face. “We both need this. I’m not certain of what I will do to you should I be forced to wait any longer.” He brushed the back of his hand over her arm, making her flinch. Frozen goosebumps formed where he touched her. “Bring her to me. Let us both be freed of this torment.”
“No.” It became increasingly difficult to remain grounded. His presence, this place… It was breaking her down.
“Hey, I don’t like this situation any more than you do. Steel should’ve left me with Spade. At least he’s funny.”
This wanka must think I’m here for his entertainment. Flipping her auburn ponytail back, Copper spun around to face him. “I have the right mind to kill you just to get rid of the persistent headache that comes along with your annoying voice. So, for the last time, shut it!”
“Kill me?” Crouched between the two patients, he paused on administering a shot to the girl with the missing leg. Wide frightened eyes rested on her. “You wouldn’t do that.”
She let a malicious smile slip across her lips. “I most certainly would, and in case you’re wondering, I would take great pleasure in it.”
Cautiously, he stood and scuttled further back into the vehicle. “You’re a soldier for mankind, not some ruthless murderer.”
“Laughable. I’ve been in your presence for no more than twenty minutes and you speak as though you know me, when in fact, you have no fuckin’ idea who I am.” Moving closer, she held onto the boy’s fear-filled stare. “What do you think I did before becoming an Andausian soldier? Bake cookies and read romance novels?” A snorting giggle erupted from her. “I’m equipped with a special set of skills. I can take life and cover my tracks without anyone being the wiser.”
“You—you’re just trying to scare me.”
“Am I?” She twirled her dagger between her fingers. “Let’s see. How would I conceal your unfortunate, yet timely death? Ah, I know. I’ll just say a demon possessed you. Yes, that’s it. A demon seized control of your mind, therefore, I had no other choice but to do away with you. After all, a possessed human is a lost soul.”
“Well, your friend Blaze…” he muttered, his voice shaky. “She’s been possessed. Do you think of her as a lost soul?”
And now he’s done it!
Fire ignited behind her eyes. In a flash step, she bolted into the truck. The sharp edge of her blade found his throat, jarring a startled gasp out of him. “You daft fool!” The stinging tears came back as a burning sensation inflamed her heart. “You just don’t know when to shut your fuckin’ pie hole!”
The jeeps pulled up fast, with one leading the path. Each vehicle carried many muscle-bound shifters. The one in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle hopped off before the wheels came to complete stop.
He approached her, his gait long, his expression austere and solid. His powerful physique was padded in navy blue fatigues.
She’d never seen a shifter strapped so bloody tight, and with the latest artillery.
A large barreled pistol was harnessed to his muscled thigh. His right thigh carried a holster filled with sheathed daggers. Other pistols were holstered to various places on his body—chest, waist, and hips. Protruding at an angle from over his right shoulder was the ivory clad grip of a spear. From the glimpse of the handle alone, she could tell it wasn’t a design created in this realm.
Right away, she noticed his spot-on resemblance to that sexy demon vampire—Demetri. Only features to set him apart was his dusty light brown hair and eye color, which was a deep cerulean hue. Bright blue vapors, lighter than a normal shifter’s, sailed around his commanding form, trailing sterling streamers as they went. “Are you Sergeant Fiona ‘Copper’ Delany from Sector twelve?” His voice was surprisingly soft.
“Depends on who’s asking, Spear Master?”
“Commander Ronan Bithanos of the Chalvaiz Death Squad is asking,” he responded without missing a beat, his probing gaze unwavering.
“In that case, I guess I’m your solider.”
“Our grand alpha instructed me to pair you with a fellow soldier to drive the medical transport to the rendezvous point.”
Coming out of his mouth, it sounded more like she needed to be babysat. She clucked her tongue and scoffed, “Yes, per orders. However…” Her gaze roamed up and down his impressive frame. “When my captain informed me I’ll be riding with a fellow soldier, I didn’t expect some beefed up shifter.”
He cocked a single brow. “And I didn’t expect to be greeted by a mouthy redhead. So, I suppose we’ll both have to adjust to the unexpected.”
The downpour had let up some, but it continued to drizzle. Lazy clouds drifted across the sky, covering and uncovering the sun. They would be forced to rely on the leaves, along with the cloak she’d borrowed from the priestess for shade.
The mysterious magic weaver’s unexpected visit this morning invaded her thoughts. Like a divine dream, the sorceress appeared in her bedroom. She’d broken through the spiritual barrier cast around headquarters, without alerting any of her teammates. Even Cain, who slept soundly next to her, was unaware of the woman’s presence.
Havoc vividly remembered her appearance.
Dark amber dreads dangled past her waist and stormy brown eyes peered into her soul. “You’re going to need this if you expect to bring him back alive.” As the priestess stared down the barrel of Havoc’s double gauge pistol, she tossed the cloak onto her bed and bowed. “May the Gods be with you, young huntress.”
A moment after the priestess vanished, a penetrating pain brutally assaulted her. Her throat-searing scream followed. Havoc ran a hand over her chest, remembering the feeling of something alien being shoved into it. She’d never felt anything like it before.
Her teammates bombarded her with questions after the incident. How did you tell a pack of supernatural hunters that you had a blood connection to a vampire—namely the worse vampire of all—and that you had to bail out in the darkness of the morning to go to that particular vampire because he was in danger?