The Bringer of War (The Sheynan Trilogy Book 2)

by Dylan Birtolo

  THE BRINGER OF WAR

  Dylan Birtolo

  The Bringer of War

  Book Two of

  The Sheynan Trilogy

  Dylan Birtolo

  Apocalypse Ink Productions

  Kenmore, Washington

  Credits

  Copyright ©2014 by Dylan Birtolo

  All rights reserved. No part of the contents of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of the publisher.

  Edited by Jennifer Brozek

  Interior design by Jeff Brozek

  Cover art ©2014 by Larry Dixon

  PUBLISHED BY

  Apocalypse Ink Productions

  6830 NE Bothell Way, STE C #404

  Kenmore, WA 98028

  http://www.apocalypse-ink.com/

  First Edition Details:

  Copyright ©2008 by Dylan Birtolo

  First Edition ISBN: 978-1-4357-2937-7

  Printed in the U.S.A.

  Revised Edition Published September 2014

  ISBN: 978-1-940444-04-8

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

  This is dedicated to Kelly, for being with me every step of the way and keeping me walking when I wanted to fall.

  Table of Contents

  Acknowledgments

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  About the Author

  Acknowledgments

  A huge thanks needs to go to my editor, Jennifer Brozek. She was instrumental in helping me to reshape this story into the version you are currently holding. It is a much better and stronger tale, something that would not have happened without her guidance and critical eye.

  I need to thank Kelly and Janina for being the best alpha readers that a writer could ever hope for. I wouldn’t be half the writer I am without your honesty and input.

  I want to thank Larry Dixon for creating amazing covers and inspiring me to make the stories even better to live up to his artwork. Hooray for positive feedback loops!

  And a special thank you to all the supporters who believed in the Sheynan Trilogy enough to make it a reality:

  Alana Joli Abbott, Alexander 'Orion' Kiwerski, Amber Rose Roberts, Andrew Singleton, Anna Garza, Anne Bennett, Bill Hunsinger, Blair Burns, Carmie Burdi, Chenelle Bremont, Christina Mulligan, Christine Moeller, Colby "Cheese Boy" Williams, D. Moonfire, Danette, Dave Olsher, David Zych, Deirdre and David Nakushian, Derian Reuss, Dolores Fetters, Don, Beth, & Meghan Ferris, Donald J. Bingle, Douglas Lavan, Dylan "the cat lover", Emmilia, Flora Lee, Gary Kaleniecki, Gary Moore, Gozer Games, Gregory Gregoritch Coates, Heather Ziese, Holly and Adam, Iesha Dover, Indra Djedi, J.R. Riedel, Jackie Converse, Jamie O'Connor, Jean Rabe, Jennifer Berk, Jennifer Brozek, Jenny DeBonte, Jessica D McComas, John A., The Jozwowskis, Kayce, Kelly L. Hellmuth, Kerrie L Hughes, Kevin Joel Coughlin, Kyra Olds, Lani Bertino, Laura S., Lori Joyce Parker, The Malek Family, Marc Gunn, Maria Kolibri-Edwards, Marissa Santa Ana, Mary Egan, Michael Richards, Nicole Ferguson, Peter Adkison, PeterPam, Philda T., Pixel8ed, Quan To, Renée Nicholas and Casy Pearson, Rick Van Meter, Roxy, Rusty Brown, Scott Seiber, Shane Barrett, Sheena Nicholson, Sheryl R. Hayes, Silence in the Library Publishing, Stacy O., Suzette Vandivier, SwordFire, Tara & John Kowalski, Todd Moscinski and Kim Miller, Traci and Joe Charles, Tracy Chowdhury, Uncle Llew, Vance Agte, The Wards, and Zack Kline.

  Prologue

  Two men rested against the brick wall of an alley next to an open dumpster. Small pieces of trash swirled around their feet as the wind picked up. One of the men looked to be in his mid-twenties while the other was well into his fourth decade. Cars drove by on the street, many slowing down to look for a possible parking space. The entire length of the street was lined with vehicles parked so close together that even the most skilled driver had to reverse directions four times before being able to join the light traffic. At the far corner, parked in the last spot, was a black pickup truck.

  The younger man shivered and reached up to close his jacket tighter. He shifted his weight from foot to foot and peered around the corner, squinting in the bright midday sun.

  “Stop looking. You’re getting on my nerves. We’ll know if he leaves.” The older man didn’t bother to open his eyes.

  Jason slammed his shoulders back against the wall and kicked a bottle at this feet. “I can’t help it. If he gets away, we’re gonna be in for it.”

  Sam shrugged his shoulders. “For the tenth time, we can follow him. I’m not worried and you shouldn’t be either. Hell, it’s like you’ve never done recon before. When he starts up the truck, we’ll change, take to the skies, and follow. In twenty years, I’ve only lost my quarry once.”

  “What happened that time?”

  “She changed into a mole and went underground. Not much I could do about that.” He let out a soft chuckle and shook his head.

  Jason relaxed for a moment and studied the ground. Within a minute, he stepped away from the wall and peered around the corner. He spoke before his companion could reprimand him.

  “Why don’t we just get some help, go in, and bring him back with us? He’s alone right now and it’s a public place. He wouldn’t shift here.”

  “So you think you know better than the Dark? What were our orders? Just to observe and track. Not to draw attention to ourselves.”

  “But…”

  Sam opened his eyes and stared at Jason, making the younger man shift under the weight of his gaze.

  “Just think your plan through for half a second. You don’t think he’d shift in public? Why not? What’s he got to lose? If a story comes up in the Inquirer, he’s not the one who has to worry about political and legal connections. He can disappear. We can’t. You’d literally throw away years of work in a matter of seconds.”

  There was a brief silence between the pair. Sam closed his eyes and relaxed.

  “I still think we could take him. He’s just one guy.”

  “How do you even know you’re the predator and not the prey? There’s always a bigger hunter out there, fledgling.”

  Letting out his breath in a sigh, Jason fell back against the wall with a dull thud. He placed his hands in his jacket pockets and stared across the street. Sam pulled a pen out of his pocket and began spinning it across his thumb. When Jason moved to lean forward, Sam slapped him in the shoulder with the bottom of the pen.

  “Since you can’t relax, why don’t you go down the street and grab me something to eat. Grab a coffee, too.” Sam fished a ten dollar bill out of his pocket and handed it over.

  “What if he comes out while I’m gettin’ you food?”

  “If you don’t hear the truck, which I know you will, I’ll call you. You have your cell phone on you, right?”

  “Course I do.”

  “Then there’s no proble
m.” Sam held up a hand. “Just get me something to eat, okay? Work off some of that nervous energy.”

  Jason turned around and jogged down the street. Sam went back to relaxing against the wall and listening. The sound of footsteps made him jerk his head up. Jason walked towards him, rubbing his hands together.

  “Weren’t you supposed to be returning with something?”

  “Sorry, I couldn’t help it. I didn’t want to be gone that long. I mean, this is Darien Yost we’re talking about; he’s a Sheynan—a multi-shifter.” His voice carried a sense of reverence.

  Sam continued to stare at the ground in front of him with half closed eyes. “You know, a warm cup would feel really good in my hand right about now.”

  Jason continued on, his tone becoming increasingly distant. “It must be amazing to have his power. Can you imagine what he must be capable of? Have you met him?”

  Sam tilted his head and looked at his companion. Jason’s eyes were bright and alert, with a shine indicating an eagerness that wasn’t there before. He also stood straighter, with better posture. The hairs on the back of Sam’s neck stood up. He rubbed his neck with his right hand.

  “No, I haven’t. Why the sudden interest?”

  His partner began to stammer a response, but it was cut short by the sound of an engine turning over and emitting a low roar as the black truck came to life.

  “Come on, it’s time to earn our keep,” Sam took a few steps away from the mouth of the alley.

  When he reached the other side of the dumpster, he turned to duck behind it. As he turned, he noticed that the alley was empty. Jason couldn’t be that stupid to rush out after the truck in broad daylight, could he? He pulled out his cell phone and paged down to his subordinate’s phone number. All of a sudden he felt a sharp stabbing pain in his leg that made him drop his phone. It cracked when it struck the pavement. Looking down he saw a flash of color disappear under the dumpster.

  Within seconds, his leg felt like it was on fire and the flames were spreading up his body. His fingers fumbled as he pulled up his pants leg to see what had happened. Once he hitched them up to his calf, he saw two small streams of blood running down his leg from holes about the size of a nail head. The skin around the wounds had already swelled and turned an unhealthy purple color. The visible confirmation caused him to panic, stumbling behind the dumpster as he tried to get away from the unseen assailant. His lungs tightened and he had trouble pulling in air.

  He forced himself to calm down, closing his eyes and willing his body to change. It shimmered as it disappeared and a pigeon replaced it. He realized his mistake as the venom continued to assault his body and his lungs seized. He collapsed to the pavement, able to see but unable to breathe or move.

  A coral snake crawled out from under the dumpster and paused near his body. The scales faded away and a thin young woman stood in its place, flicking waste from her suit jacket. She brushed her red hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ears. Her gray eyes sparkled as she looked at Sam.

  “Changing into a bird when poisoned? I didn’t think you’d make it that easy.” She bent down and picked Sam up, holding him only a few inches from her face. “Darien’s mine.”

  She dropped the pigeon and Sam didn’t feel the impact with the ground. His vision was dark around the edges. The last thing he saw was the woman shift into a hawk and take to the skies.

  By the time you read this message, I’m sure you will have already read reports about Darien Yost, the shifter responsible for the Seattle incident resulting in the loss of several agents. The rumors are true. He can shift into any animal, just like Bridget Ellison. Attached are his psychological profile and medical records. Because of his abilities, I dispatched a special task force to keep track of his movements.

  Currently, he is in Austin, attempting to locate the Shadow conclave in the area. We have informed them and they are taking the appropriate precautions. The leader of the conclave has assured me that he will bring Mister Yost under their influence. It will be enlightening to see how the target responds to such pressure. Because of his importance, we will be watching and making sure he is handled with care. His value should not be underestimated.

  Chapter 1

  Richard sat in the hotel room, staring at the wall and lost in his own thoughts. He was broad shouldered and tall, so much so that the chair felt too small for him. His close-cropped dark hair was almost military in style, but the exaggerated five o’clock shadow did not give the same impression of regular maintenance. Even wearing loose-fitting clothes, it did little to hide his muscular form.

  He was enjoying the brief moment of solitude, even if it would only last as long as Susan’s shower. Those moments had been few and far between. After spending years on his own, it was an adjustment to be traveling with two other people. It was not that he regretted teaming up with Darien and Susan, but sometimes he longed for the days when he had only his own musings for company.

  The room around him was par for the course for their little group. Even though the room boasted everything they needed—two twin beds, a couple of chairs, a nightstand with a lamp, a television, and a phone—he preferred being out in the wilderness. Somewhere remote suited him much better, but the hunt took priority. The Shadows were in Austin, the only question was where. After months of searching, they were no closer to figuring that out.

  Richard glanced over at the table near the bathroom door. A large briefcase rested there with a handgun on top of it. The briefcase housed a disassembled rifle he acquired several years ago. It had seen a fair amount of use in that time, but he no longer considered it his. Susan wasn’t a shifter, but she was an experienced hunter who knew her way around conventional weapons. As long as they worked together, she needed something to defend herself with. Also, if he was honest, she was a better shot.

  The door opened, pulling Richard back into the real world. He relaxed when he saw Darien enter.

  “Any problems?”

  “No, but no leads either.” Darien fell face-first onto one of the beds.

  He rolled onto his back and shrugged out of his lined winter coat. He arched his back, pulled the coat out from underneath him and tossed it onto the floor. He rubbed his fingers together and blew on them for warmth. With a sigh, he dropped his hands to the bed on either side.

  “It’s frustrating. It’s like they’ve gone into hiding.”

  “They’re called Shadows for a reason, kid.”

  “But I can feel them. They’re definitely around. It’s like when you catch something out of the corner of your eye, but when you turn to see it, it’s not there.”

  “We’ll find them. Or they’ll find us. Either way, it’s only a matter of time.” If he said it enough times, he might start to believe it. “They know we’ve been after them ever since they tried to convert you and you fought your way out.”

  Convert wasn’t the appropriate term. Kidnap and enslave would be more appropriate. Richard remembered his own ritual when the Shadows tried to bind him to their will. He could still feel the burn marks on his chest even though it was over three years ago. At least he wouldn’t have to worry about the binding ritual again.

  “But it’s been three months, and nothing!” Darien ran his fingers through his hair, tugging at it. He let out a sigh and let his arms drop by his sides. When he continued, his voice was calm. “It’s more than that. It’s something I feel in my gut. I can just tell when they’re near. Do you know what I’m talking about?”

  Richard shook his head. “Can’t say that I do, but it wouldn’t surprise me if you can do things none of us can. Sheynan are the stuff of legends.”

  There was a silence as Darien studied the ceiling for a few moments before responding. “Maybe the Arm would help. They have information. I know Alyssa’s still keeping tabs on us.”

  Richard growled, not bothering to hide his displeasure at the thought. “I’d expect no less. I doubt she’ll ever leave us alone.”

  “We could use her help
in trying to find the Shadows.”

  “The Arm is almost as bad as the Shadows are, and she’s one of the worst. She’ll tie you to her way of thinking; she’ll just use flowery words and distorted logic rather than open violence.”

  “What about the enemy of my enemy is my friend?”

  “If you want to talk to her, it’s your call. But if I see her, I’ll rip her head off. If you’re smart, you’d do the same.”

  A small cloud of steam rolled out from the bathroom door and dissipated into the air. Susan stepped out, dressed and drying her long blond hair with a towel. When she saw Darien, she smiled, tossed the towel back into the bathroom, and jumped on the bed next to him. She placed an arm around him and squeezed. Darien returned the embrace with a grin. Richard turned away as the couple kissed. He had seen more than enough of their affection.

  “How’d it go?”

  Darien’s smile faded. “No luck. If they’re still keeping track of me, they’re a lot better about being discreet than they used to be.”

  Susan reached over and ran her fingers through his hair, smoothing it out. “Don’t worry, we’ll find them. And when we do, we’ll stop them from hunting people down. Have a little bit of faith in yourself. You can do things that none of them can, and you’re getting better and faster at it every day.”

  “True, but that’s no reason to get cocky. I’m still a novice. Even though I can do more, Richard shifts in a blink but I look like a bad teleport on Star Trek.”

  A knock on the door captured everyone’s attention like the crack of thunder. Susan jumped to the chair near the bathroom, grabbing the handgun and chambering a bullet. Darien rolled over until he dropped to the floor on all fours, staring at the door just over the edge of the bed. Richard shot up and was at the door in two strides. He put his right hand on the door handle and placed his left flat against the metal frame. Leaning forward, he peered through the peep hole.