Free Kindle Offer

Free Kindle promotion for the next few days:
An Other Kind Of Fury

An Other Sanctuary

"Alastor Shade leaned back in his chair, unconcerned as the next delegate stood to make their case. He let his shirt gape a little, revealing his long collarbone and strong neck. The move was calculated to distract and it was certainly effective. The women in the audience were either captured by his deadly allure or were incensed by his lack of respect.

He drummed his fingers on the arm of his chair while his eyes scanned the view before him. His half-lidded gaze rose to roof level and he gave a deliberate smile of anticipation.

Twin shots rang out; one silent as a whisper, one not. Their discharge set in motion an irrevocable chain of events."

Last day for free Kindle version of 'Sanctuary'

Excerpt from An Other Sanctuary:

Cursing himself for getting caught with his guard down, Bryan flicked off the safety in a fluid motion and aimed the barrel at Jayce. “Freeze!” he barked harshly.

Karla’s older brother was relaxing on the couch facing him, sitting next to what was left of Bryan’s Superintendent. Jayce ignored Bryan’s order with an aplomb that he was beginning to learn was a Hunter trait. Jayce turned his head to look at the corpse, draping his arm over its shoulder. “I told you he was uptight, didn’t I?” he said companionably to the dead man. Jayce gave a cold cheek a pat while shooting Bryan a mocking sneer.

Bryan’s eyes narrowed, “I’d ask how you got in here, but I think I know the answer.”

“My buddy Ernie here let me in. Nice guy, Ernie.” Jayce said warmly. His eyes however, were like frost rime.

Lips tightening Bryan responded, “Ralph. His name was Ralph. And he had a family you asshat!!” It looked like Jayce had forced the Superintendent to let Jayce into his apartment and then shot him, point blank between the eyes. Fuck man, you didn’t deserve that.

“Because I’m having a bad fucking day--” Bryan snarled through clenched teeth, I’m not going to bother with a warning. He pulled the trigger.

He heard the resulting report but suddenly found himself spinning around violently. Something looped around his neck and tightened, pulling him back in an arch. He felt and heard the bones in his firing hand snap as his wrist was crushed. His SIG dropped to the floor. Jayce kicked it across the room.

“Bad show, Blue. That wasn’t your first mistake.” Jayce said low into Bryan’s ear. “Now. You and I are going to have a little chat--!”

Bryan’s snarl strangled out as Jayce flexed his muscular arm and cut off his air. He tried to maneuver out of the arm lock but Karla’s brother was unnaturally strong as well as lightning fast. He countered all the Jiu Jutsu moves Bryan attempted to break his hold.

“Where. Is. She.” Jayce’s voice was hard. His fingers dug into Bryan’s crushed wrist and it took an inhuman effort not to make any sound. His face contorted with the pain. He could feel the broken bones and cartilage grinding.

“Fuck you!” Bryan managed, sweating from the effort to remains stoic. Goddamn it Karla you better not have followed me!! It was a fucking trap.

Bryan felt the rumble of Jayce’s laugh against his back and tried once more to jerk free. His anger was almost strong enough to bypass the pain. Almost. Jayce still held the advantage.

“Wrong answer,” Jayce said shortly. 

Get it free here:  http://amzn.to/1BZnCHu

And now An Other Sanctuary is Free! Go for the 2nd installment in the Call of Blood Series!!

           Excerpt from An Other Sanctuary:

           Charlie’s eyes were filled with tears; they were locked on Mika’s face hopelessly. He was barely breathing, his body limp and unresponsive. She knew the moment his heart stopped, she was as good as dead. She realized that she wasn't as bothered at this as she should have been.

            She wouldn't have seen the signs if she hadn't been locked on his face. Mika’s eyelids twitched. His eyes opened a crack and she had to bite her lip to hold back a sob at the dying flicker in their colorless depths. He moved his lips soundlessly.

            —Knife—

            The knife. 

            Not I love you or Goodbye Charlie Bean, his nickname for her, but as she felt him slip away underneath her, it was a declaration of love so blinding that Charlie felt it burning through her cells with energy so pure it filled her with strength she never felt before. It cleared her mind, sobered her to the point that the heavy body filling her up from behind wasn't the focus any more. It was the knife.

Free for a limited time:   http://amzn.to/1BZnCHu

Okay! GO!! An Other Kind of Fury is Free for the next five days!

Go here: http://amzn.to/1JNMLID

Please be kind to an Indie Author and review!! Thanks one and all!!

Soon to be Freebie!!

It's that time again! I will be promoting my books in the next few days. From Jan 29 to Feb 2 An Other Kind of Fury will be FREE on Amazon for Kindle users. For fun I've included a little excerpt:

“Karla--!” Jael’s voice wavered but went unnoticed.

“Morning!” Karla said pleasantly. She spun around and came up short. A blue jacket stood right in her way. With an unpleasant sinking feeling, she recognized the close up of Kevlar signature weave.

Oh come on, she thought aggravated, could I at least have my tea first?

“You recovered quickly.” Bryan said obliquely.

Feeling uncharitable and not at all responding well to the cool look he was giving her, Karla ignored his odd comment and made to push past him. For his part, he stubbornly held to his human barricade impression and refused to budge.

“Can I speak to you for a moment?” he persisted.

She huffed in exasperation. “Can I eat first? I’m starving--” Karla had a feeling that her yummy breakfast would now hold the consistency of moldy sawdust but damned if she’d give him the satisfaction.

He let her pass and stony faced she headed for the table where her brothers sat.

Her arrival had the effect of chlorine gas on her flesh and blood. She was pretty sure she’d never seen them scatter to the wind so completely. There was a confusing chorus of “We’re just heading out!” “Later!” “Got somewhere to be--!” and most incriminating of all Jesse slinked away without meeting her eyes.

*Scott--?!* Karla’s accusing telepathic growl followed him out the door.

She found herself standing all by herself at the empty table. Her suspicions were coming together to offer a theory; one that involved a departing Kidd and an arriving Bryan. Throw her brothers into the mix, and a squirrely Jael to top it off and she concluded that she’d just missed a spectacular display of male posturing. Lucky her.

Enjoy!

Prequel in the works among other things.

There are people out there that think like me--scary.

So I just happened across this picture on Tumblr the other day:

It was like someone reached into my brain and pulled out the Penthouse bedroom where Jake kept Karla locked up in Ch. 15 of An Other Kind Of Fury.

"The suite was nowhere she would have dreamed Jake would be staying. It was uncharacteristically luxurious for Steel Panther standards. The large (here Karla’s mind skipped over the details) four poster bed was on a dais. She stepped down; the marble floor was cool to her feet, black and white furs scattered the floor and she imagined they were of the real variety; Jake wasn’t exactly a card-carrying PETA member. The walls were varying shades of gray and the accents were black and rose and white. The furnishing she discovered were made of rare and priceless ebony; Heavy, dense and dark.

A large landscape mirror hung over two empty ebony dressers and with a fluttering feeling in her stomach like a nervous butterfly trying to escape she noticed her reflection revealed the black draped four poster directly behind her. She turned away abruptly.

Like the bed the high-backed chairs in one corner were draped in luxurious silks. In the parallel corner of the room, Karla found herself standing on the edge of a sunken marble tub. Goosebumps rose on her arms and shoulders at the thought of the intimacy implied at its presence. She felt her cheeks prickle as the blood left her face. At the farthest end of the room was an open arch through which she could see a large marble fountain sink with a mirror reflecting the water above it. A quick glance inside confirmed an open stand-up shower in one corner and the usual facilities in the other. No doors, no locks, no privacy. It was a cage. Pretty if one could appreciate the trappings, but a cage nonetheless."

I can practically see Jayce leaning against one of the posts. So amazing to see something in my head come to life...

We've moved!

Obviously. My site helenaperry.net was giving me major attitude so I transferred everything here. Sorry 'bout the confusion. It's made me wonder about what else I could be doing with the website, so if there are any suggestions feel free to pass them along in case I look at bigger and better horizons.

It's gonna get bad before it gets worse - excerpt

            Karla was huddled on the couch when Bryan returned, rubbing a towel through his wet hair. She pulled her wrap tighter around her shoulders and hugged her long legs. Kidd was dumping the broken dishes into the garbage; he watched their exchange silently from the kitchen.

            Sitting next to her on the couch, Bryan examined Karla for a moment. Her black hair slid over her shoulder and provided an effective curtain while she gathered her thoughts. She knew he was waiting for an explanation.

            “Jayce was looking for me,” she said finally.

            Bryan couldn’t help the chill at her words. “How?”

            She looked up at him, “He can sense where I am. He . . . he did something to create a . . . tie with me.” Though her words were said vaguely Bryan and Kidd could read into her statement and imagine how Jayce had managed to do something so invasive. Unaware of their darkening gazes, Karla continued, “The others can’t sense me now. Or talk to me, y’know, telepathically because of him.” She glanced warily at Bryan.

            “Does he know where you are now?”

            She shook her head slowly, “I don’t think so. He was too angry.”

            “I need to understand how he almost made you leave,” Bryan asked. His voice was a quiet rumble of unease.

            Karla’s fingers closed tightly into a fist. “It’s hard to explain,” she said weakly. “The . . . tie . . . he can control me with it.”

            “The Café!” Kidd barked suddenly.

            Karla jumped, eyes wide.

            “That’s how he fucking got to you!!” He slammed his hands down on the counter. “Son of a fucking bitch!”

            “Kidd--?” Karla whispered.  She inhaled, “Wait—what?!” She stood up abruptly, the color draining from her face. “No! It’s not what you’re thinking! I mean he was there! But it was Jake! Jake--!”
            Oh shit, thought Bryan. He shot a pained glance to Kidd hoping the other man would get the hint and stop revealing how much they knew. Shut up you fool!

            Kidd came out from behind the counter. He held his hands out to Karla. “It’s okay! You don’t have to keep the secret anymore—”

            Bryan was pretty sure he heard when Karla’s heart stopped. “Goddamn it Kidd!!” he snarled.

            He jumped up as Karla shakily began backing away.

            Kidd ignored him. He didn’t dare look away from his girlfriend. Her eyes were filled with betrayal as she looked back and forth between him and Bryan. She shook her head. “No!” she moaned, “No! How do you know?!”

            “Sit back down Karla and I’ll tell you how, babe. It’s okay . . .” he spoke calmly.

            Her hand covered her mouth. She looked at Bryan, lost and devastated.

            “Fuck!” Bryan exploded, “Shut UP, Kidd!”

            He anticipated Karla’s next move and his muscles bunched with tension.

            They know about Jayce? Karla wanted to wrap her arms around her waist because she was convinced someone just gutted her. The cold feeling of losing all her insides in one swift shining arc reminded her of the nightmares she used to have after sword fighting with Alex. Only she easily would have traded her blood for what spilled instead. Oh GOD they know what my brother did to me!!

            Her reality began to fragment. I have nothing. Jayce was right. Darkness began to pull at her. I can never see them again; she decided dully, it’s over.

            Through their bond Kidd could sense something of her decision. “No!” he rasped.

            She had already spun around and focused her growing tide of desperation at the door. It blew open with an explosion of shame fueled panic. Karla leapt for the empty freedom waiting beyond.

Everything happened in a blur of motion but Bryan was only an arm length behind her and Kidd only seconds behind him. She’d hit the hallway at a sprint, trying to throw the door closed behind her to slow them down. Bryan plowed through it like a wrecking ball.

            As soon as Karla’s feet touched the carpeted floor of the hallway it was like a drop in a pond. An undetectable ripple began to spread out, reaching for a distant shore.

            Jayce sat to attention. Something shivered against his awareness. It was a touch like a feather against his cheek and then THERE she was.  A crooked grin spread across his face. He was back in business.

storyboard for chapter 3 - an other sanctuary

Irish Eyes

disclaimer-images are not my own they are complete and utter eye candy.

Just a quick little St. Patrick's Day wisdom, inspired by Kidd. :P 

Friday the 13th Freebies!!

From Friday March 13th to Tuesday March 11th Kindle is offering a Free Promotion for my books! Head on over to Amazon to get a digital copy of An Other Kind of Fury and/or An Other Sanctuary. Immerse yourself in my dark, twisted, trigger-y world. 

An Other Kind Of Fury 

An Other Sanctuary (A Call Of Blood)

Author note: So I noticed that it wasn't exactly the 13th...more like the 14th. I blame it on migraine brain. 

Authors note #2: ZOMG the date was supposed to be the 14th to the 18th!! 

I need a working . . . thinking . . . thing. 

Excerpt - Chapter Two - An Other Kind Of Fury

“We should do a report on your attack while the details are still fresh,” Bryan interrupted her thoughts.

“Report?” Karla said dumbly.

“The Panthers,” he coaxed her gently. “I know the regular police handle gang related reports, but I can take a statement and pass it on to one of their officers once the weather lets up. At least it will be taken care of.”

“Uh, no. That’s not necessary,” she told him, avoiding his gaze. Her fingers tightened on the mug. This is bad.

His eyes narrowed. “Did they threaten you? You know you’re safe now right--?”

“No. I know. It’s...just not necessary.” Karla tried to reassure him. “I’m safe. I’ll be smarter next time I go out.” And armed.

He didn't like her answer. “They will never be held responsible if you don’t.” His voice was curt.

“Don’t tell me they’ll be held responsible!” Karla snapped, “That’s a load of shit, and you know it! The police don’t mess with the gangs, especially those with hot lawyers like the Steel Panthers!”

Bryan wanted to tell her she was wrong but he knew he’d be lying. Didn't mean he had to like it. “You could have been hurt.” He didn't like how much that bothered him.

Her blue eyes flashed. Too late, she thought bitterly. “Yeah, well it’s a good thing I have a stalker in blue.”

He coughed as his hot cocoa went down the wrong pipe. He chuckled, “Found me out did you?”

Okay, you didn't have to prove me right, Karla wanted to say. She just shook her head in exasperation. She opted out of that line of conversation quickly. “I should call the Cafe and let the others know I’m safe. Phone?”

Bryan handed it over to her. She ignored the little jolt of electricity that tingled through her fingers as their hands brushed. Damn it, she fumed at herself.

Karla dialed the Cafe. Liesl’s face appeared on the video screen.“Karla! Where are you? We were worried!”

“I’m fine, Lis.” Karla assured her. “I've got a place to stay.” She didn't elaborate, but her cheeks warmed knowing that Pandora would know exactly where she was.

“Scott, Drew and Jesse landed here,” Liesl informed her.

Oh hell, Karla thought desperately. Don’t let them know where I am!  I’ll never hear the end of it!

“Look, I have to go,” Karla said abruptly. “I’ll be home when the storm’s over.”

Liesl’s brown eyes were wise. “Stay safe.”

She hung up. Well crap. This night can’t possibly get any better.If her siblings got wind that she was at Bryan’s apartment she’d never live down their knowing glances and teasing jokes. Kidd was closest to Scott and it would only be a matter of time before he got the wrong idea.

Karla wanted to sink into the armchair in utter misery.

“Want to watch a movie?” Bryan asked her.

“Sure,” she mumbled. She wanted to add, only no romantic comedies or dramas, and definitely no porn.

Her cheek was throbbing. Karla absently pressed her fingers lightly to the spot and Bryan caught the motion. He leaned forward with a sudden change in expression. She froze at the look on his face. “What--?”

“They hit you?” he growled angrily.

“It’s nothing,” she murmured, cursing her double-crossing fingers.

He was suddenly examining her and Karla found herself unable to move as he carefully tilted her chin up to get a look where she’d been belted twice across the face. Her cheekbone was starting to discolor. “Shit! I didn't know you were hurt--!!”

She didn't trust her voice to respond. His touch was shockingly gentle. It fried any working synapses in her brain that would have provided a snappy comeback, or at the least, a coherent response.

“Are you hurt anywhere else?” Bryan demanded, his blue eyes bored into her with a mixture of concern and anger.

Biting her lip, she began to shake her head no. At the simple action, the shirt she had borrowed, gaped open at the neck and slid to bare one of her shoulders. She jumped in surprise when Bryan suddenly yanked it down further to bare the angry weal where the chain had caught her.

“For fuck sakes woman! Why didn't you say something?” he snarled at her.

Her heart raced. All she could do was stare at him in mute dismay.

“Fuck. I’m sorry!” He let go of her abruptly, realizing that he was manhandling someone who’d just been physically assaulted. “I’m no good at this shit...wait here.” He stormed out of the living room, leaving Karla in a shaken state.

*Karla? Are you alright? Where are you? What happened?* Scott’s unexpected telepathic interrogation only added to Karla’s raw nerves. It was clear he was picking up on her distress.

*I’m fine!*

*Are you?  Damn it, I’m worried!  The Panthers were spotted in our area...*

*Yes, I know!  And no, I’m not going to tell you any more until I get back to the Cafe!  Leave me alone!*

With that, she slammed down her mental wall and cut off any reply that Scott may have had.

Bryan returned with his first aid kit. His lips were pressed tightly together as he cleaned and bandaged her shoulder. She watched the forgotten TV over his shoulder with unseeing eyes. He finished by retrieving an ice pack from the kitchen. “Lay back,” he said brusquely, holding the pack to her cheek.

He noticed the new silver necklace around her neck, and the ring, and guessed what it symbolized.

“I can hold it.” Karla placed her hand over his to claim the ice pack for herself and gain some personal space. He stared at her for a long moment before he relinquished his hold. She closed her eyes briefly in relief as he returned to his spot on the couch.

A blast from the past--who wants a prequel?

Kidd tromped up the stairs to the second floor. He fished his keys out of his pocket and flicked through the bunch, trying to find out the room key. He almost didn't notice the huddled figure pressed against the balcony railing.
It was the off key strain of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Sexual Healing’ that caused a chill to fission down Kidd’s spine. He froze in mid-step.His eyes zeroed in on a strangely dressed figure. It was a girl; she looked like she’d wandered away from a Steampunk gathering with her odd getup. A black top hat was pulled low over her face, hiding her features. Ultimately it was the voice Kidd identified, though it hitched and skipped like a broken record.“Rae?” Kidd called her name in disbelief.Her head flopped back and indeed it was her. He saw that she had trouble focusing on his face and recognized the telltale pupils.“You’re high.” He said shortly.“You’re here.” Rae chirped happily. “Hiiiii!”Kidd shook his head impatiently. What the hell?
“Did you bring the pretty stars for Karla?” Rae asked him, “She likes presents! She liked my fireworks!!” Then the happy expression on her face dimmed, “She’s mad at me.”Kidd knelt down and grabbed Rae’s shoulders. “Karla? Is she here?”The smile came back but this time it was coy. “Uh uh. Can’t tell you. You’re a kitty cat.” She growled at him playfully. “A bad kitty cat.”That almost sat him on his ass. She knew he was a Panther? That explained a lot. Shit!“I’m not going to do anything bad to Karla, Rae. You have to trust me.” He said urgently. “Is she like you? Is she high? Where is she?”“Are we playing twenty questions?” Rae asked him soberly. “Cause that sounded like twenty—”Kidd wanted to growl in frustration but he didn't dare scare her. She’d lock up tighter than a bank vault. He took a slow breath through his teeth, “Rae. Where’s Karla? I have to give her my present.”
“The stars?” Rae guessed excitedly. “Oooh! I can’t wait to see her face!!”He nodded quickly, “That’s right. Let’s go show her the stars--!”He was about to help her to her feet when Rae pulled back with a frown.“No, we have to wait our turn.”Kidd wanted to shake her. He was getting worried. “Wait for what Rae?”“Sexual Healing,” She said like ‘duh’.He was going to throw up. It took him a few deep breaths to gather enough control to ask, “Is it Karla’s turn now?”Rae nodded, blinking guilelessly.Kidd couldn't wait any longer. He started searching Rae for a key. “Rae, so fucking help me, you have to tell me where Karla is--!” He snarled.
She was too far gone. As he searched Rae frantically, she giggled as though he were tickling her. All Kidd could think of was that somewhere in the building behind him was Karla. She was being hurt by someone and he couldn't fucking help her because her best friend was out of her mind high!
“God dammit Rae!” Kidd exploded impatiently.Hang on Karla! 

Who's the EVILLEST baddie in my books?

If you had to pick thebad guy from An Other Kind of Furyand/or An Other Sanctuary which douche canoe would it be? Leave a comment!! :)

Fenris – Scruffy, slightly crispy ex-Panther-now-reinstated with a vendetta. Hobbies include dressing in drag and employing the equivalent of human rope origami.

Malcolm – Solntsevskaya. Other. A dangerous combination of soldier, techie and supernatural. He’s a smooth operator with underworld influence.

Alastor – The self-assured, nauseatingly powerful, CEO of Digitalis Corporation. Pretty to look at and he knows it. Hobbies include felating sharp objects and ditching shoes.

Jayce – Poster child for having inappropriate sexual relations. The oldest Hunter sibling and psychic vampire. Questionable sanity.

Jake – Leader of the Steel Panthers. Dark savant. Has more money and power than he lets on. Obsessive. Once he gets his teeth in something he refuses to let go. 

ohboy these guys look like famous persons. how bout that? good thing i'm only using them as eye candy :)

Flashback

Midnight found her on a hill overlooking the bridge. The city lights blurred to her gaze like an artist’s wet canvas. The bottle hung in one loose grip as she leaned against her motorcycle and surveyed the view.

“Not quite the same,” she said out loud, thinking of the suspension bridge in Wabun where she and Kidd just about died trying to out run the Steel Panthers. “Not as pretty.”

She took a swig of whiskey and let the fire burn away the regret.

“Should have listened to you when you asked me to run,” she wiped the back of her mouth with her sleeve. “Maybe you’d still be here and I wouldn’t be . . .” Her voice caught painfully.

Shrugging she set the bottle down on the saddle and looked at the schematics she had drawn onto her wrist with a pen earlier. Like she didn’t know they had a tracking device embedded in her body. What? Did they think she was stupid as well as a slut? Tears spilled over her cheeks as she traced the outline with her finger. Yeah well. Maybe she was both after all.

Digging into her boot for the knife she had kept all these years, she pulled out Jayce’s old knife into the moonlight. She weighed it in her hand and tested its sharpness with her thumb. Yup still sharp. Karla sucked at the welling blood.

She pulled her hair over to one side and let it hang down her shoulder. The other shoulder she stretched the neck of her dress until it was bared to the night sky. With searching fingers she traced the muscles and ligaments of her neck until she found the spot she was looking for. She poised the knife point to her neck and closed her eyes.

“If I said yes now, I know it’s too late,” she murmured to Kidd’s memory. Probably if she was sober, the thought of talking to his ghost would give her a hint how unhinged she was acting, but oddly enough, right that moment, it was comforting. “But I’m going to run anyway. For the both of us.”

Her whole body tensed in anticipation of what she was about to do. Her grip tightened on the hilt of the knife and in the split second before she stabbed herself, she though she heard someone call her name.

White hot pain flared through her shoulder. A spasm shot down to her hand and almost made her drop the knife but her other hand tightened determinedly. The sensation of the cold hard blade digging into her flesh was wrong. Karla’s stomach rolled and she closed her lips tightly around the urge to throw up.

In her inner mind she saw the schematic and pushed down harder with a whimper. She felt the blade scrape bone. The cold sweat of shock broke out on her forehead and upper lip. Her breath exited in quick harsh bursts as she traced the spot with steel.

When she was sure she had successfully obliterated the tracking tattoo on her clavicle she let go of the knife. Her fingers spasmed open as she hunched over and dropped to her knees in the grass.

She stared wide-eyed and in shock as blood dripped onto the grass in front of her.

That was a lot of blood.

She must have nicked one of the arteries when she let go of the knife. Damn it.  

Placing her hands over the wound was rather wishful thinking; she could feel her heart beat in the woosh of spray against her fingers. Her vision was graying out and she couldn’t find it in her to care.

“I guess we’ll be running together after all,” she mumbled. She felt the curve of a wistful smile on her lips. “Sorry it took me so long.”

She fell forward onto the grass, using the last of her strength to roll over onto her back. She wanted her last sight to be the night sky.

So she couldn’t understand why Grant’s worried upside down face was the last thing she saw.

Falling to Pieces

She raised a shield in self-defense just to see how much it would drain her energy. It was haphazardly constructed, meant only to act as an early-warning system of sorts. If she needed she could feed it more energy with just a pull. To her satisfaction, she didn't feel much of a physical demand. She was getting better at it.  

Karla then returned her attention to the approaching figure. Her eyes widened when she realized his form was hastening towards her at a quicker pace. In fact he was just about to round the corner—

She dove for the floor, intending to ricochet off the opposite wall and take him by surprise when she caught first glance of his figure through the moonlight shining through the window.

He was big. He wore a black leather jacket—

Actually that was where her thoughts screeched to a stop.

Big. Leather jacket.

Karla’s ricochet was more of a face-plant  Her head struck the cement wall instead and her face radiated pain. Her nose burned, she tasted blood. But through it, all she could see was Jayce staring her down.

Pure terror.

Her hand was shooting out before she could connect rational thought and her shield was expanding out with unequivocal purpose. To hit first and hit hard.

*Karla!* Scott’s alarmed telepathic shout cut through her panicked reflex.

She didn't know where she found the strength to pull back but she did. Karla pulled the shield back within herself with a sharp wrench, suddenly horribly sober with the realization that she was in a training exercise.

She found herself on her knees in the hallway, coughing as dust rained down on her from the stressed concrete.

Short Story itty bit

               Without the element of surprise, Mika saw no option but to rush him. Charlie was clutching his jacket so hard, he was counting on it. When he lunged forward, he kept his arms straight so that the jacket stayed behind with her. Then he was moving forward unencumbered.

            “Mika!” Charlie screamed.

            “Go Charlie!” Mika yelled desperately as he threw a punch at the smug looking Panther.

            With an ease that was embarrassing, Jayce blocked Mika’s punch with a Jiu Jutsu wrist lock and pulled him forward into the switchblade he had waiting in his other hand.

            Mika made a surprised sound that was muffled by the leather jacket his face was currently pressed up against. He was glad his expression was hidden. He could feel the foreign wrongness of the steel in his belly.

            Charlie was caught in midflight by the sound of the indrawn gasp Mika made. His order for her to flee evaporated and she whirled in time to see her boyfriend slowly sink to his knees, arms limp by his sides.

            “M-Mika?”

            She thought she’d reached the limits of her capacity for terror. But when she saw his profile, the crimson stain on his lips, she discovered it was possible to reach a new plateau. Her legs locked and she forgot all about the promise of freedom. 

            Woosh. There was a displaced blast of air and Charlie suddenly found herself being dragged back to Mika’s side. Though the fingers crushing her upper arm were punishing she didn’t resist. She wanted to be closer to her boyfriend. Her eyes swam with tears.

            “Charlie--!” Mika groaned. His brown eyes were agonized. “No! Run--!”

Out Of Control

Kidd closed the apartment door quietly behind him. It was late and Bryan’s place was dark. He tossed his leather duster over the arm of the sofa directly in front of him. Turning to the left he made his way carefully towards the kitchen where he illuminated the room briefly by refrigerator light. He popped the tab on a can of beer the same time as he heard a sound float down the hallway.

He paused, can half way to his lips. He glanced in the direction of Bryan’s bedroom where he expected the Karla and the cop to be sleeping this time of night. Kidd tipped his head in acknowledgement of the unreal predicament he found himself in; calmly noting his girlfriend in bed with another man. It was the makings for a song that was for sure. He swallowed the cool draft as he reflected reluctantly on how he’d come to spend more time here than at his own place.

The faint sound reached his ears once more. Kidd froze where he stood. This time he recognized the soft breathy little moan.

It was Karla’s soft breathy little moan.

Air exploded from his lungs with his disbelief. Are they--?

Emotions assaulted him at once. He was surprised to find that he had actually placed a measure of trust in Bryan. After all this time he’d actually begun to believe that the annoying prick of a cop wouldn't take advantage of Karla. Clearly he was fucking wrong.

Ch 4 - Ode to a Door excerpt

            The passage of time was carefully marked until they heard the sound of gravel crunching under tires. Jesse nodded in silence and Lucy unzipped her duffle bag to pull out a long cylindrical object which she slung over her shoulder. She silently climbed to the top of the dumpster and crouched in the darkness, watching the distant approach of a black armored van.

            Below her, Jesse had flipped a visor over his head fitted with binoculars.  He peered down the lane with the enhanced view and read the signature of four Panthers within the van.  *Four* he shared with Lucy.

            *Gottit!* she confirmed peering through the night sights of the AT-4 rocket launcher she was setting up. *Recognize any of those dipshits?*

            Jesse was too busy focusing and adjusting to answer her at first. *Driver, no. Passenger looks like Fenris. I can’t see the two in the back.*

            *I’m getting a major yuck vibe. I’ll bet fifty credits Gomer in the back there is Jayce.*

            There was no response from Jesse but she guessed he already sensed his father’s etheric trace; it was like a black hole, hard to miss.

            **HEY!**

            Lucy and Jesse froze. Their eyes met guiltily.

            **WHERE ARE YOU TWO SHITS?** Drew interrupted.

            Fuck! How was that for timing?! They needed to get rid of the Big Brother Brigade before they realized the two youngest Hunters were up to no good.

            *Ow! Can you fucking keep it down?!* Lucy growled, thinking fast. *I’m on the rag alright?!*

            There was a nonverbal version of *Eep!* from Scott and Kelly who had checked in right at that instant. They withdrew just as abruptly; Lucy could almost hear the vacuum of the headspace they left behind.  Drew kind of flopped around gracelessly as the unwelcome mental image caught him like a poleaxe to the back of the head.

            *She’s making me watch movies.* Jesse added for emphasis. *Anyone for Notebook? We have popcorn—*

            **Nuh nuh—no thanks!** Drew backpedaled. **Uh . . . have     fun--?**

            With that Jesse and Lucy were alone once more. They gave each other a mental high-five.

            *That was too close!*

            *Notebook?* Lucy drawled. *I’d have to be in a coma, not just pmsi—heads up!!*

            He tensed as the passenger to the van opened and the figure he guessed was Fenris jumped out. Jesse hurriedly tore the binoculars from his head and readjusted his beanie. He reached for the skateboard and unhooked it from his backpack.

            *Remember,* she reminded him as she removed the safety pin at the rear of the tube and took a crouching position. *We get what we came for and split. No blood feuds today okay?* As much as the thought of killing a Steel Panther was appealing, killing an Echelon-level Panther like Fenris or unfortunately, Jayce, would fatefully mark them in Wabun’s powerful underworld. Only Echelon could kill Echelon. You could also get away with it if you had the poor taste of being a cop but not many of them even risked the gang’s wrath these days. She and Jesse had an idea on how to get around the status issue but it wasn't going to happen in one night.

            Jesse didn't take his eyes from the van. *You’re preaching to the choir firecracker. In. Out. Just like one of Drew’s dates.*

            Lucy wanted to snort. *Classy.*

Hate You



images are not my own. though the hawt badness is. :)