USE ENOUGH GUN
LEGENDS OF THE MONSTER HUNTER III
When The Hunt Goes Wrong
Copyright © 2013 Emby Press
First Edition
Cover design by Brian P. Easton
All stories contained in this volume have been published with permission form the authors.
All Rights Reserved.
No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any electronic system, or transmitted in form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise, without written permission from the authors. This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, events or locales is entirely cincedental.
Kindle Edition
FOR BETHANY AND LACHLAN
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction by Miles Boothe
Hell’s Ambush by Derek Anderson
A band of mercs pays a heavy toll when they mix it up with demons that seem to know more about the merc’s employer than the band themselves.
Cautionary Tale by Jennifer Barnes
A dhampir detective helps a young mystic who has fallen victim to a force preying upon the streets. Only death can decide the outcome as forces much more powerful than the two are called upon for help.
Shame of the Huntress by Jon Callot
When a woman hunter is raped and her child stolen by vampires, she discovers a rage that drives her revenge. But when she learns the truth, she discovers a new depth of pain that she never could have imagined.
The Predators of Winter by E. Dagforth
A lone family struggles to survive a winter that won’t give up its icy grasp, but it’s nothing so simple as the snow or the cold that preys upon them.
Blood Devil by Eric Scot de Bie
A man slays the witch that took the life of his daughter, but as time passes, he finds that death is not always the end.
The Bear Trap by Daniel Durrant
When a government turns a virus into a weapon, the result is far more devastating than anyone could have imagined—especially the team in charge of containing it.
The End of Things in Underthings by T.W. Garland
Victorian London has survived tentacle-beasts and electrical-beings, but can it survive the leviathan that dredges itself up from the Thames?
One Less by Steven Gepp
No matter how clever the hunter, there are some puzzles to which there is only one solution: a silver bullet.
Second Chances by H.J. Hill
A blade that cannot be broken is halved and a family secret exposed, leaving one hunter to face their true purpose and another to die.
Viral by Dev Jarret
It was only a matter of time before Hell worked its way into our technology, exorcisms went digital, and a clever demon found a way past the firewalls that had kept it out.
Arrival by Christopher Nadeau
A man confronts the ultimate truth, ending a chase that brings him face-to-face with the mutant that has controlled his destiny since the beginning and seeks to control the world.
Jack by Phillip Norris
An odd duo of mystics faces the gruesome charge of outing the demonic threat that terrorizes Victorian streets. Blood and madness are the price they pay.
Dogpile by Rob Pegler
As werewolf packs fight amongst themselves and other packs over territory, a group of hunters hope to profit from it. Only the strongest will survive.
Victims by Mike Phillips
A winter night in a forest is the perfect setting for a story that can be described as equal parts fable and nightmare.
Hell Knight by Angel Propps
Hunting goblins disguised as human is task enough for any hunter, but to endure it over centuries while suffering the deaths of those you love is a true torment.
In the Dark and Quiet by Joshua Reynolds
The Royal Occultist is charged with protecting The Crown’s interests from the forces of darkness, but there are things that even he does not fully understand.
The Demon and the Manuscript by Marc Sorondo
A famous hunter is called to face an even more famous foe, but will scattered thoughts cost that hunter everything as he hunts down Spring-heeled Jack?
Weapon of Choice by Paul Starkey
When the rich truly want a monster dead, they pay to make it happen, but money is not always enough to make it stop.
Skin and Bone by Jonathan Templar
Life can change in a heartbeat and when tragedy strikes, a man finds himself engrossed in a hunt for the monster that stole his wife’s skin.
Vermin by Blaise Torrance
A young girl adopts a cat to hunt the tiny creatures that torment her at night. For a while it works, but when the cat disappears, the balance of the fight is tipped.
The Shape of a Cage by John M. Whalen
Most cages come with bars, but some are traps for the soul and even the most experienced of hunters must sometimes search themselves to navigate between odd beauty and the grotesque.
House Hunters by William R.D. Wood
In a surreal fight against a mysterious entity, a team discovers the answer they have sought for years coupled with a new puzzle beyond anything they could have imagined.
The Longest Night by H.L. Yates
A young woman is instructed in the supernatural arts by a god of death, but an unexpected creature pushes both of them to the limit, and then beyond.
Afterword by Brian P. Easton
Introduction
“The final stories are about what happens when the hunt goes wrong.”
That’s a direct quote from the call for submissions for the book you are holding now, and in what could be labeled a true touch of irony, this hunt did go wrong.
It started a year and a half ago as the third book in the Legends of the Monster Hunter trilogy. The stories came in, and as you are about to find out, they are some of the best so far. Everything was lining up for a triumphant conclusion, and then…nothing.
The original publication date was missed. At the time, it looked like a few months would pass before it was met—no big deal.
Then that publication date was missed. A number of months later, the publisher who was set to print the book announced that it had closed and we were suddenly monster hunters left without a camp to call home.
Sometimes the hunt does go wrong. And sometimes, there’s nothing for it but to tighten your belt, count the rounds you have left and to keep on hunting.
Being monster hunters, that’s exactly what we did.
I’m very pleased to present this collection of tales that is every bit the equal and in some ways even superior to the prior two volumes. Within you will learn the fates of old hunting acquaintances and new, and just as we have struggled to overcome the challenges that beset us, so will they each struggle with their own.
The following pages are not for the faint of heart, nor for those hoping to read a happy ending. But, if you are looking for tales that reflect the hardship and tragedy that is monster hunting—if you are looking for resolve, grit, and the kind of death that follows, this book is for you.
And so I give you Legends of the Monster Hunter III – USE ENOUGH GUN. I salute all of the authors who stood by their guns and all of the readers who have been waiting patiently.
The hunt is on.
Miles Boothe
Hell’s Ambush
Derek Anderson
“Cats?” Chase Reger exclaimed, “You’ve got to be kidding me. Why the hell would demons choose to come over to this side of the rainbow through cats?�
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The other four passengers in the back of the van were silent—Chase searched their faces for a hint of amusement or jocularity, but all he found were tired eyes and flat-lined lips. Then Dusty spoke up.
“Kid, one thing you’ve got to realize about the type of demons we deal with is that they look for the easiest way into our world.”
Chase scowled. “And cats are the swinging door between dimensions?”
Regina stopped fiddling with her Bowie knife to look up at Chase. He repressed a shudder; he still hadn’t gotten used to the diagonal scars that burrowed into her flesh from below her right eye to the bottom of her left cheek.
“Cats are one of the weirdest animals out there,” she said. “They slink, they scurry, and they poop in stealth.”
Bryant, a black man with biceps as thick as Chase’s neck, chuckled.
“They’re mysterious little things,” Regina continued. “They see things differently than we do, feel things differently than we do. Cats are closer to the other side than any human or wolf or whatever other animal you think is more badass.”
Bryant nodded. Dusty took off his leather Stetson hat and stared off into space, as if recalling old memories.
Regina pointed her knife at Chase, foot-long blade shimmering in the gloom. “But don’t you ever think for one second, no matter how chill you think a cat is, that it won’t do this to you.” Regina lifted her chin to feature her scar.
Chase swallowed. “A cat did that to you?”
“No,” said Dan, a skinny guy sucking on a dry cigarette. “It was a demon in cat form, before it shifted into its natural state. As I recall, Bryant put two lead shots in its belly before it could do more damage.”
“You’re damn right on that one, Danny Boy,” Bryant said, his voice booming in the aluminum interior.
Regina nodded and slipped her knife into a hip holster.
“Okay, I get it,” Chase said, holding up his hands in surrender, “Cats are not to be messed with. I’ll shoot first and check for demons after.”
Dusty snapped out of his reminiscing state and put his hat back on. “That’s a better attitude, partner, but it still ain’t right. Only kill cats that are possessed by demons—we don’t go around blasting away at just any ol’ kitty. I don’t think I could sleep too well at night knowing that I just blew away some little girl’s furry best friend.”
Bryant chuckled, “Hell, I’d still sleep like a bear in hibernation.”
Regina glared at the large man. “Yeah, but only because you slam down a case of beer before bedtime every night.”
Bryant growled.
“Alright, you two save that for later,” Dan said.
Chase cleared his throat. “But how can you tell which cats are good and which ones are…”
“Fucked up?” Bryant muttered.
“Uh… yeah.”
Dan smiled. “You’ll see soon enough, kid. Ms. Jamison has us equipped with all sorts of bells and whistles.”
The window between the cab and the back slid open and Jared, a man with a thick black mustache and bags under his eyes, poked his head through. “Five minutes until arrival. Get your shit together.” His eyes lingered on Chase for a second before he shut the window and returned to the passenger seat.
Chase’s cheeks reddened; he was the newest addition to the team. He was also the youngest. He knew that if everyone had to bet on one person who would screw up tonight, he’d be the clear winner. But Chase silently vowed that he wouldn’t be the guy to mess things up—especially because doing so on a mission to destroy demons could get himself or another person killed, a thought that made Chase’s chest and armpits burn. His sole comfort was the simple fact that he’d been chosen for the job by Ms. Jamison; hand-picked for the squad just like everyone else had been at one point in time. Ms. Jamison certainly wouldn’t have chosen him unless she was certain he could take care of business.
The van pulled to a stop. Chase licked dry lips and rubbed feeling back into his cheeks.
“You worried, kid?” Dusty asked.
Chase looked at the man who had become the closest thing to a friend he had since he’d been recruited. Wrinkles and stubble were at home on Dusty’s rugged face and it was easy to picture him as a lumberjack back in the real world. In addition to the two .357 Magnum revolvers resting in shoulder holsters, Dusty always carried a hatchet with him, strapped to his calf. The blade was worn but sharp, because Dusty sharpened it religiously. He once told Chase that it was a remnant from his past, a reminder of where he came from.
Chase managed a smile. “I’ll be alright. I felt the same way before my first varsity football start.”
“What position did you play?” Dusty asked.
“Outside linebacker.”
Dusty eyed Chase’s six foot two, 190-pound frame. “Yeah, you’re the right size for it.” He gripped Chase’s shoulder. “Just like you’re the right guy for this group. Don’t forget that.”
Chase nodded.
“We’re here!” Jared bellowed from the cab.
“About time,” Regina muttered as she stood up and opened the back doors.
The others began to exit silently. Chase stood up and did a quick pat—two Slovak semi-automatic pistols in his hip holsters and one fighting knife strapped to a combat boot. The leather jacket he wore was weighed down with ammo. Chase grabbed an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle from the rack above his head before slipping out the back and into the night.
“Gather ‘round, into a huddle,” said Nicole, a woman in her mid-thirties with a black pixie cut, driver and team leader for this mission. Chase and the other five gave her their full attention.
She clasped her hands behind her back and whispered, “Right now we are in the parking lot of a warehouse district. Behind us, beyond that thin copse of trees, is a suburban neighborhood. It is absolutely imperative that we do not let our enemy leak into that area—we do not want to involve innocents.”
“Ma’am, are we going to have to worry about guards?” Dan asked.
“Excellent question, but no, we will not have to worry about guards getting into the crossfire. Ms. Jamison paid them a handsome sum to take the night off.”
Bryant grunted in approval, cradling a sawed off shotgun like a baby in his beefy arms.
“Who’s our target?” Dusty asked.
“A demon called Munchati,” Nicole said. “Our sources say he is part of Satan’s inner circle, somebody he could trust to lead a small group and prepare for future invasions into our dimension.”
“How many total?” asked Regina.
“Four, maybe five; a small force. They just crossed over last night, so their magic energies will still be weak.”
“So they won’t be able to transform out of their cat states?” Dan prodded, his tone hopeful.
Nicole frowned. “We can’t be certain. It’s true that it should be difficult for Munchati and his friends to revert to their natural, monstrous forms. But they are very powerful and we can’t discount the possibility.”
“Which is why we’re gonna blow their furry asses away before they can even think about mutating?” Bryant said.
Nicole’s lips curved up at the corners of her mouth. “That’s the plan.”
Regina spoke up. “Do you know what type of cats Munchati and his friends possessed?”
“No,” Nicole admitted. “We only know that they’re holed up in Warehouse 5, an empty building a few blocks from here. We’ll just have to trust the demon sensors to do the deciphering.”
With that, Dan pulled a cardboard box out of the van and walked around the circle. Everyone stuck their hands in and grabbed a pair of the specialized glasses.
When it was his turn, Chase slowly held the pair of glasses to his eyes. They were clear lenses with a dark frame, but he’d already been told that any cat possessed by a demon would appear to have a red ball of light attached to it.
“Just like a bulls-eye,” Dusty whispered from behind him.
Dan joined i
n, “When you see the light, pull the trigger tight!”
Chase slid the glasses up the bridge of his nose and did a final weapons check. Rounds were chambered, knives were secured into sheaths and knuckles cracked.
“One last thing,” Nicole said. “Once the first shot is fired at Munchati and his cronies, the neighborhood residents will be awake, so our job is to clear Warehouse 5 with a quickness and double-time it back to the van before the local police arrive. Understood?”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“Good. Let’s roll.”
They merged into a single file line with Nicole at the lead. She pointed a Glock 17 pistol at the ground as she jogged across the open lot to the nearest building. Jared followed Nicole, trailed by Bryant, Regina, Dusty, Chase, and finally Dan.
Nicole stopped at the corner of a hanger and pressed her back against the concrete wall. The others mimicked her as Nicole peered around the corner. Around the corner was a skinny, empty alley, just wide enough to allow a forklift to squeeze through. Warehouses sat on either side of the alley, solid walls giving way to random side alleys here and there. Pole lights jutted out of the asphalt about every twenty yards, bathing most of the alley in a dim, sodium glow interrupted occasionally by fleeting moths near the bulbs. Nicole saw nothing move, which was good. She turned to the group.
“Clear,” Nicole said, her voice hushed. “Three buildings down on this side of the alley is our target warehouse. There’s a side alley with a back door. That’ll be our entrance. Everyone ready?”
Chase nodded along with the rest of the team. His skin prickled, and his stomach felt like it was trying to escape the rest of his body. But he still nodded, because he didn’t have a choice.
“Move.” Nicole spun into the alley and ran along the walls, skirting the shadows, turned sharply to the right and seemingly vanished into the side alley. The others followed, all pausing before a red steel door.
The entrance to Hell, Chase thought.
Bryant held a huge pair of pliers in one hand, ready to snap a chain lock, but Nicole waved him off when she saw the door was unlocked and slightly open. She put one hand on the handle…
Use Enough Gun (Legends of the Monster Hunter Book 3) Page 1
