“Lynn!” I lunged forward, desperate to do something, to rip the eyes out of the hunter’s head and tear his jugular out with my teeth.
Two more men in black ran up the stairs, jumping over the pieces of Lynn. I broke free of Kat’s hold, pouncing on the nearest hunter. Red glazed my vision as my fangs shot out, and I chomped down on his shoulder, sucking as hard as I could.
The second hunter aimed his gun at me, searching for a shot. He yelled something, but I couldn’t hear over the sound of blood pounding in my ears. I yanked my struggling victim around to shield my body, thrusting a hand at the other hunter.
A blast of air erupted from my palm, knocking the second hunter back. He rolled, slamming into the burning heating unit, his head at an odd angle. I turned my focus back to the man in my embrace, tearing a chunk out of his shoulder. His scream died before he dropped to the roof, blood pooling around him.
A zing of pain ran through my shoulder. I yelped and spun around, reaching over to feel for what hit me. The butt of a handgun slammed against my temple, knocking me to the ground, landing on my aching shoulder.
Through my reddened vision, I looked up at a hunter sneering down at me. Before he could bring his gun down to aim at me, I was on him in the blink of an eye, mindless with rage. I rode him as he tumbled back, slamming his head against the roof with all my strength.
A satisfying snap and crunch reached my ears, and I glared down at the hunter’s dead eyes.
The air around me sweltered as little fires burned all over the roof. I bounced up and scanned for any more sneaky bastards. Finding only shadows, I searched for Kat.
A rain of fire on the other side of the access structure told me where to find her. I raced to her side as she yelped. A bullet sliced through her leg. The light of several fires cast shadows across the rooftop, and I squinted, searching for Michael.
“I thought we were friends, Michael,” Kat yelled through gritted teeth, sneering at a shadow.
“Not a chance, vampire. We’re enemies, and we always will be.”
“Let’s meet in the middle, shall we? Frenemies?”
“Never!” Michael bolted from his hiding place, diving to the other side of the heating unit. “Martelle, shoot them!”
Spinning on my heel, I spotted a hunter edging out of the stairwell. A bullet hurtled towards me in slow motion as I jumped out of the way at vampire speed. I expelled my rage in a hurricane force of air, hurling Martelle down the stairs. Several men cried out. Strike!
I turned back to help Kat, zeroing in on Michael’s location. He frantically swatted at his back as she sent another fireball his way, surrounding him in a ring of fire.
Michael pulled out a strange looking handgun, like the one that killed the queen. The large metal barrel gleamed in the firelight. A loud click echoed through the air as Kat grabbed my arm and the now-familiar lurching sensation rolled through my body.
A bright, neon-blue line zipped through the space I just vacated, reminding me of the trailing glow of Fourth of July sparklers. My feet landed two buildings away from the commander. Kat shoved me to the ground behind a large ventilation outlet as the neon-blue flashed a blueish white, bright as the sun, lighting up the night sky.
“Close your eyes!” Kat clapped her delicate hand over my eyes.
The flare shined through the cracks between her fingers, flickering out several seconds later. Blackness surrounded us when I opened my eyes, blinking away ghost lines from my vision, clinging to Kat’s stiff arm.
“You can’t run forever, bitch!”
“Hold tight, we’re getting out of here.” Kat faded us away from the commander, each hop four or five roofs farther away. I glanced back, my enhanced vision picking out the angry man shrinking from view as my sire took us north, away from the bar, away from the bear of my dreams, and away from my first taste of that sweet nectar… blood.
The End
(For now…)
Vamp Tales Book Two Sneak Peek
Meet the Clan
“Welcome to the Golden Dragon, please follow me.” A tiny, hunched Chinese woman waved us toward a dark hallway labeled ‘Restrooms.’ Nearly wrenching my arm off, Kat pulled me along as we filed after the old woman. The smell of pork-fried rice made my mouth water.
“Does she know who—”
“Hush!” Kat demanded as she gave my throbbing arm a good yank.
With a grumbly huff, I clamped my mouth shut, biting back angry words. This bossy shit is getting old!
The elderly woman led us through a door marked ‘Employees Only,’ pointing at another door with no markings. Kat bowed her head at the woman, yanking on my arm until I repeated the gesture, then rushed through the unmarked door. The restaurant noise faded behind us.
Clattering down the rickety stairs, we plunged into the darkness of an endless basement filled with dusty shelves and moldering boxes. I guess they don’t keep their stock down here. A dim glow emanated over the shelves from the right, and we cautiously headed that direction.
Before we got close enough to see the source of the light, a voice boomed out. “Show yourself, vampires. Now!”
With a stiff back and halting step, Kat inched us forward until we reached the last set of shelves. She peeked around the corner, jumping back with a screech, and knocking me down as an enormous lion leaped at us. The beast straddled my prone form, pinning me with his amber-eyed gaze, the tips of his mane tickling my cheeks.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” I closed my eyes and turned my head, unwilling to watch those giant teeth take a chunk out of my hide.
Gusts of hot breath blew across my face as I heard something that just didn’t seem right.
“Meow.”
Opening one eye, I peeked through the strands of lion mane to find a large, long-haired Maine Coon cat. Calculating gold eyes glittered as the silver feline pranced over and plopped down next to the lion who grudgingly tore his eyes away from mine, a menacing growl rolling from his terrifying mouth.
“Meow.”
The lion huffed, his breath fanning the cat’s long, silver fur back in waves, then walked backward as I scrambled to huddle at Kat’s legs. Did that cat just order the lion to back off?
“Get up. We’re safe.” She pushed at me with her knee, and I looked up at her, confused by how calm she sounded.
“There’s a f-fucking lion over there,” I said, my voice wavering with fear. “H-how can you say we’re safe?”
“Because that—” she pointed at the regal feline “—is Mr. Julius Hartfell.”
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A tidbit about the author:
I’m just a laid-back chick with eccentric tastes who loves writing, reading, music, horror flicks, crafting, and unusual things.
A few words:
A huge thank you to Danielle, my go-to gal and treasured sister, and to my beta readers, Benjamin Phillips, Lynn Sheridan, and Diane Velasquez for helping me whip this story into shape. Also, thanks to Michael Anderle and the 20booksto50k crew for offering invaluable advice that led me to trying my hand at short stories in a second genre. I really had a blast writing this story, and the second, which is in the editing process while I start on the third.
While I plan to release these stories as fast as possible, I'm still also writing my main SciFi/romance series. So, the waiting period between each book may vary as I learn to write better, faster. I hope you enjoyed this story and come back for more. I would love to hear from you!
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Also written by Melony Paradise:
The Discordant Earth Series
Broken
First in the series
A baby is precious, even a half-alien one, and Alyssa Rose will do anything to protect hers.
Twenty-two-year-old Alyssa had an idyllic childhood, growing up among the aliens that saved Earth from a third world war. As assistant to Kayn, Commander of the Szu’Kara, she dreams of a long, fulfilling career and a future of eternal bliss. Dating the gorgeous commander is just the cherry on top of her perfect life.
But a visit to the clinic has Alyssa’s world spinning when she finds out she’s pregnant, which shouldn’t be possible—they’re different species. Commander Kayn couldn’t be prouder, but Alyssa has her doubts, especially when things between them start to change.
When tragedy strikes her family, Alyssa realizes things aren’t what they seem, and her dreams are slipping through her fingers. Torn between what’s real and what’s not, she struggles to understand the secrets that lie beneath the surface. She just never imagined she would find her only chance to uncover the truth through Sebastian, an intensely attractive rebel leader.
Alyssa must make her choice: cling to the remnants of her life with Kayn, or side with the rebels… and Sebastian.
Available for purchase at Amazon.com
And…
New Enemies
A Discordant Earth Prequel
Hell is made for those who find love…
The year is 2020, and Earth is embroiled in a worldwide war. Drafted at the age of fourteen, Sebastian Roberts has a few reservations. As his detachment arrives on Seattle’s battlefield with little to no time to spare, he wonders just how much he will have to give up fighting a hopeless war.
But when aliens intervene, abruptly ending the war, their promises of rebuilding a prosperous new world with society living in harmony has Sebastian convinced nothing is what it appears to be. Struggling with the memories of battles fought and lives lost, Sebastian searches for the one thing he needs most—a place to call home.
Can Sebastian find a way to survive the chaos of a world seemingly at peace? Or will his hidden scars lead him to his own grave?
Available for purchase at Amazon.com
Other Books by Melony Paradise
The Discordant Earth Series:
The Interview (Prequel)
Broken
New Enemies (Prequel)
Unchained (Coming Soon!)
Vamp Tales Series:
Along for the Ride
Meet the Clan (Coming Soon!)
Along For The Ride (Vamp Tales (A Short Story Series) Book 1) Page 5
