The Bloody Ripper (Leopard King Saga)
Page 14
“Jack, kill them!” said Vampiress. “They look dangerous.”Almost immediately Lok chimed in. “Jack, find a place to hide, and study them first before making any aggressive moves.” The pain in his temples returned in spades and he buried his face in his palms and grunted.
When he lifted his face from his fingers, he was surrounded by the soldiers, they stared at him acrimoniously.
One of the three officers approached on horseback and spoke to Jack. He gesticulated as he spoke, trying to communicate with Jack. “Defend yourself, Jack, or you’ll be dead!”said Vampiress.
“If you won’t go and hide then relax, and stand still,” said Lok. “Look non-threatening.”
One of the soldiers began inching his way toward Jack while the mounted officer with the red-plumed helmet kept talking to Jack−his voice louder now.
“Jack don’t do it,” Lok begged.”
Jack drew his sword, and its blade shone pristinely under the sunlight. The soldiers began chattering excitedly amongst themselves. The officer on horseback spoke to them but Jack still didn’t know what that mean. Was he ordering them to attack?
Jack plunged his sword into the exposed neck of the closest soldier and blood spurted onto the mortar road. He didn’t stop there. With surprising agility he cut down four more soldiers before any of them could so much as take a jab at him with their spears and swords. Jack leaped into the air and took off the head of the mounted officer, the red-plumed helm with his head sailed through the sky before landing onto the meadow grass. He battled the remaining soldiers with a ferocity of a rabid creature. He did not know where he had got this strength but he was glad to possess it. He ripped off limbs and used them to beat down his opponents. Jack felt like an unstoppable cyclone: leaving blood, gristle and dented armor in his wake.
When the soldiers lay dead at his feet he was surprised to still feel energetic. He looked upon the carnage he had inflicted and smiled, but, moments later, he scowled and cursed himself for being rash. What did I do? Why did I act like an animal?
“Because you’re a Bloody Ripper,” Vampiress said.
Jack dropped his sword and dropped to his knees, burying his face in his blood-stained palms, while inside his brain Vampiress and Lok fought a relentless battle for control of his thoughts.
He felt something warm pool around his knees. When he looked up he saw his reflection in a puddle of glistening blood. He did not know what to do next, but he would think of something.
The Bloody Ripper returns in The Leopard Stratagem, available now!
Message to the Reader
Dear Reader,
If you enjoyed this book, may I ask that you write a review on Amazon.com so that I may continue to provide more novels for a growing audience? It would mean a lot.
Thank you,
T.A. Uner
January 2014
Final Thoughts
The Bloody Ripper is the second book in a planned trilogy of prequel novels that can be read separately as standalones, or as a growing part of the Leopard King Universe. You may wish to start with my debut novel, The Leopard Vanguard, the first part of the Leopard King Saga, which tells the story of Tullus and Celestra the Incantra Leopardess. But you do not have to read The Leopard Vanguard to understand, or enjoy, The Bloody Ripper or any of the other two books that comprise the trilogy. The versatility of The Bloody Ripper, much like its predecessor Kill Zombies, and the final standalone that will follow, is they set the stage for three key antagonists that will appear in the second part of the Leopard King Saga: The Leopard Stratagem, to be released in summer 2014. Now we move to the final book in the prequel trilogy. To the Kingdom of Rek, where a blind shepherd boy is about to make a startling discovery…
Also by T.A. Uner
The Leopard Vanguard: Tome One of the Leopard King Saga
Kill Zombies
Stone Ram (Coming Soon)