Rebels and Realms: A Limited Edition Urban Fantasy Collection

by Heather Marie Adkins

  The looks on their faces showed that they weren’t satisfied. After all, burning a witch provided catharsis for the current situation. Her death would not only spare the town of witchcraft, but punish somebody who’d been a product of the Rift. It was widely rumored that witches hadn’t existed prior to the arrival of the Cloud Lords. The populace had made the connection between the two phenomena and had factored that into the reasoning for burning those who may hold some connection, however tenuous it might be. However, no matter how much the posse seemed willing to use their weapons to recapture Chloe, the sheriff immediately released Chloe’s arm upon mention of the governor’s decree. His authority came from the governor. And since the sheriff led the posse, the dispute had been summarily resolved even if the tension remained palpable.

  Thad helped Chloe climb into the back of the convoy truck. She sat at the rear near the tailgate and stared out at Wayne. During the conflict, two men had taken hold of Wayne’s arms. It wasn’t clear if the townsfolk believed their ruse about Chloe taking him captive. In any case, they weren’t taking any chances, and Chloe feared for his safety. As he watched Chloe, he frowned and shook his head in disappointment as if telling her that he was sorry they’d been caught. He couldn’t do much else without giving himself away.

  Now that the conflict had been settled, the general’s troops fell into line and returned to their vehicles. Four additional soldiers climbed into the back of the truck, and the space was very cramped particularly because they’d lain the Night Flyer upon two wooden planks, stretched across the benches up near the cab. As the convoy truck pulled away, Chloe wondered if this would be the last time she’d ever see Wayne. Their flight had provided neither safety, nor the promise of love, and somehow she felt like being lobotomized might not be such a terrible fate. For if she had part of her brain removed, she wouldn’t remember anything, including the fact that Wayne would either be burned for treason, or return to his arranged marriage with Lillian.

  10

  THE CONVOY TRUCK SHOOK and jostled its passengers as it passed over the rough terrain. Chloe couldn’t help noticing that most of the soldiers were her own age. Training and physical exertion must have been the cause of their athletic physiques and toned faces. She found all of them to be more attractive than the average guy back home in Dragon’s Faith, with the exception of Thad. All the same, these were her captors, not eye candy, and she knew that learning something about them might help her escape later.

  At first, they were far more curious about the Vampirii, who had been placed up near the cab. They couldn’t resist prodding and poking him, especially his wounds.

  “Dead for sure,” a blond soldier said.

  “Don’t be so sure,” another replied, “these Night Flyers are like vampires. You can’t kill something that’s already dead. Check out these teeth.”

  “Day-um!” A soldier said. A few others couldn’t help swearing in agreement with him.

  “When he wakes up, we can put him to work opening the lids on our ration tins,” Thad said, laughing heartily at his own joke.

  Annoyed with the inane banter, Chloe groaned, but then instantly regretted it when Thad’s attention turned to her.

  “So…you’re a witch?” Thad asked.

  To have gone so far only to fail and see Wayne taken captive had drained her. Now I have to deal with these morons. She had no desire for conversation and simply stared back at him.

  “Do something ‘witchy’,” he said. “You’ve got to earn your keep unless you want to be handed back to the local rabble.”

  What would be the point? That would just give them more reason to lobotomize her? And even if Chloe wanted to show them, she was too exhausted.

  “There’s no reason to mess with her, Thad,” a red-headed soldier said. He had a facial tick—a blinking eye that betrayed his fear of Thad.

  “You prefer I mess with you, winky?” Thad said, “We’re just having a little friendly conversation, that’s all…”

  For Chloe, Thad represented the dark side of an alpha male—a man who compensated for his own insecurities by intimidating others. A truly strong alpha male, she thought, doesn’t need to show off or put down others.

  “I think she put a spell on me,” he exclaimed, “and I can’t resist giving her a kiss.”

  The truck bounced to a stop. It had already stopped several times on the route when a large object such as a tree branch or rusted out motorcycle needed to be removed from the road. Thad placed his enormous hand on her thigh, and Chloe felt every nerve in her body quiver with alarm. Her hands were bound by handcuffs, and she felt completely helpless. Although the other soldiers weren’t amused, they also didn’t seem concerned by Thad’s announcement that he was going to kiss her.

  His bulbous nose came closer and a thought flashed through her head. I’ll bite that sucker right off his face. Even a stallion is sensitive on its nose! Once she knew what her plan of action was, she kept her cool so that he would draw closer. He’s going to learn that I’m not the only one who’s vulnerable. And as his lips opened, she smelled the first whiff of his god-awful breath.

  “Corporal! What on earth are you doing?!?”

  “Flirting,” Thad replied, snapping back in his seat. “But I guess you wouldn’t know anything about that.”

  “Listen numbnuts, if I see any more untoward behavior, I’ll have you put in the stockade.”

  Thad’s thin smile proved how little he felt threatened. The captain kept a stern jaw as he motioned for Chloe to get out of the truck. He led her around to the front of the vehicle.

  “You came just in time, Captain,” Chloe said, “None of the others were willing to stand up to him.”

  “My name is Roman,” he said, “Feel free to use it when we’re not in front of the others. Tell me if you encounter any more problems with Thad. This is the Army. He needs to follow the regulations like everyone else.”

  “He doesn’t seem like the sort who gives a damn about regulations.”

  “General Armand will discipline him if necessary,” Roman said. He winked as he took off her handcuffs. “And there’s no reason for handcuffs since the general has dealt with individuals far more unsavory than yourself.”

  Roman led her to the general’s jeep and gallantly offered his hand for her to step up into the back seat. Then he walked around to the driver’s side, took his seat at the wheel, and drove off. The jeep was lower to the ground than the convoy truck, and it provided a bouncy ride across the old road littered with debris.

  The general raised an eyebrow as he scrutinized her and said, “Hard to believe a teenage girl could be the cause of all that commotion back there.”

  “My very existence seems to provoke people these days,” Chloe retorted, “After all, even the army seems out to get me.”

  “We came seeking the Night Flyer. One of our scouts saw him fall during the battle. When one of our search parties heard the gunshots, we rushed to the scene believing that some citizenry were taking the law into their own hands. We wanted to get to the Night Flyer before they killed him.”

  “He’s not dead,” Chloe said.

  “I know,” said the general said with strange certainty. “Was he still awake when you found him? Did he say anything to you before he fell into a coma? And did you encounter any of the other Cloud Lords where he crashed to earth?”

  How does the general know the Night Flyer is alive? I can sense Aethan is alive, but everyone else seems to believe he’s dead.

  “No,” she lied. She wasn’t sure what the general wanted from her or Aethan and didn’t want to give away any information just yet. Once again, she couldn’t understand why she felt a bond with the Night Flyer. His stare had created a connection that made her feel like his life was in her hands. And as for the Drakonin, she hadn’t decided what role they played in the story, either for good or for bad. So why give up this information to her captor?

  “Hmm,” the general said, “today, I’ve gotten more than I could’ve ba
rgained for…an incapacitated Cloud Lord and a young woman with enormous potential. I will be fascinated to see what the future holds for both of you.”

  His statement took a minute to sink in before Chloe asked, “You mean, I’m not going to be lobotomized?”

  The general laughed. “Of course not. The civilians wanted blood, and if they found out that you were going to be let off scot-free for your perceived crimes, there would’ve been hell to pay. I had to invent something, or we would never have gotten out of there.”

  “You mean you’re going to let me go?”

  “No,” the general said, “I can’t do that, I’m afraid. If you have any sort of power like the sheriff described, it would be imprudent to set you free into the wild. However, I am asking you to join us.”

  “The army?” Chloe asked. “I don’t think I’d make a very good soldier.”

  The general shook his head. “Not the army…the Program.”

  “I’ve never heard of this program before,” Chloe said, “What am I supposed to do?”

  “Actually, I don’t know what role you can play yet,” the general replied, “It really depends upon your ability. We’ll have to test you. If you prove useful, you might contribute to rebuilding this world for humankind.”

  Humankind wanted to burn me at the stake. Chloe grimaced at the souvenir of her near escape and flight into the wilderness.

  “What about that brute with the overgrown muscles?” she asked. “Is he part of your program? If so, I doubt I’ll be able to fit in.”

  “Thad? Yes…and despite his gruff exterior, he’s an exceptionally valuable asset,” the general said, “and he also happens to be the governor’s son.”

  Chloe groaned. A sexual predator with political connections? That was almost enough to make her pine for simpler times when she only had to deal with Lillian.

  The general seemed a little perplexed that Chloe didn’t immediately display gratitude at his offer. He added, “In the program, you will not only learn more about your gift, but why you have it,” he said, “And we will teach you about the history of our world before the Rift occurred—as well as everything we know about the Cloud Lords.”

  She was enticed by the potential to obtain answers to the questions that had been haunting her, but her greatest worry still needed to be resolved, so she countered, “I’ll join your program as long as you promise me one thing.”

  “You don’t really have anything to bargain with,” the general told her with an annoyed air. “You see, I can have you lobotomized. If I’ve made it seem like you have a choice, it’s only because I’d prefer to use persuasion as opposed to blackmail in order to turn you into a recruit.

  “This is deeply important,” Chloe insisted, “and I can’t join unless you’re willing to help.”

  “All right,” the general said, bemused. “I’ve never had a potential recruit dare to negotiate something in exchange for entry into the program. You’ve gotten my curiosity all riled up. What is it that you want?”

  “I want you to convince the commission of Dragon’s Faith that Wayne should not be tried for treason,” Chloe said.

  “That might be difficult,” the general said, “when times are tough, people always look for a scapegoat.”

  “You can tell the leaders of the Commission that he’s innocent,” Chloe insisted, “just explain that I used my sorcery to compel him to help with my escape.”

  “Yes…yes…” the general said, “that might work. I suppose I could ask for intervention from the governor…and your friend is the sheriff’s son. Both of these facts might help his case as well. Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”

  “Then I’ll join,” Chloe said.

  The general laughed. “My, my…not only do you have the gumption to stick up for yourself, but that was an ideal cover story you came up with to protect your friend. You truly are a find. You see, it’s not enough to merely possess an innate power. Our program needs recruits who are willing to dare.”

  Even as she agreed, Chloe had mixed feelings. As much as she had put off with her experience with Thad, she had no choice but to trust the general. She hoped her acquiescence would keep Wayne safe, assuming the general was going to keep his word. And then, there was the fallen vampire, Aethan. That look in his eyes had made her feel responsible for what was going to happen to him. She thought she had heard his voice in the back of his head, but couldn’t be sure if it was only her imagination. She had heard his question, “Where is the Pillar of the Firmament?” It was too strangely specific for her to write off as a hallucination. She had seen imagery in Aethan’s brain back at the farmhouse. Had they established some sort of mental link from that brief connection?

  What did the general plan to do with him? Chloe didn’t want to worship the Cloud Lords, but she didn’t hate them either. Maybe there could be some way for the Cloud Lords and humanity to reconcile their differences and exist as equals?

  As dusk began to fall, the jeep and the convoy truck hummed across the landscape toward wherever the ‘program’ was located. And Chloe wondered if the foundation she so desperately hoped to find was only a mirage.

  ~~~ THE END ~~~

  Continue FLUX & FIRMAMENT – THE CLOUD LORDS with Book One:

  Vampire and Outcast

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  About the Author

  Thank you so much for taking the time to read this book. I hope you enjoyed reading these pages as much as I loved writing them.

  After spending the past few years filling Moleskins full of world building and character notes for my YA dystopian romance series, Flux & Firmament: The Cloud Lords, I have finally taken the plunge and published. The world in which these adventures will take place is epic in scope. Although I have this series plotted out, every time I sit down to write, I discover new things about the characters as they come to life and fulfill their own destinies.

  Please join me on this journey that will have many surprises along the way. I promise you, it will be a wild ride!

  In order to flourish, an author needs support and feedback from readers. I’m always happy to hear from readers, so please feel free to ‘friend’ me on social media. On my website, you can find links to my typical ‘hangouts’.

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  Shaman States of America: The Black Spur Hunt

  Chrishaun Keller-Hanna

  Shaman States of America: The Black Spur Hunt © copyright 2018 The CKH Group

  * * *

  Copyright notice: All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

  Shaman States of America: The Black Spur Hunt

  A mother’s grief can be the hardest monster to fight.

  When Kyla Pulter was six years old, she saw a miracle. Her grandmother, a mighty Hunter, used a monster called a Triskull to resurrect her brother.

  Now she will attempt the same feat to bring back her daughter, Baylee. She found the Triskull, she convinced the Black Spur community to unknowingly create a hotspot to feed i
t. Everything was going according to plan.

  Until the Hunters Kyla hired to retrieve the final piece of the puzzle gets torn to pieces, she finds herself in the crosshairs of the Elite Hunter, Mama Ray LaCoure.

  Not like Mama Ray has it easy. There are no easy answers, and the investigation is being blocked at every turn. And with the Triskull being one of the quickest ways to destroy an area, the clock is ticking. Will Ray find and stop Kyla before she destroys Black Spur under the weight of her grief?

  Prologue

  Monster Media

  "Good morning, ladies. The target today is a group of reanimated skeletons and their hot spots. The contract indicates that there are five in the group, but we will be given a bonus for each additional one that we clear in the area." Anna took a sip of her coffee as she gave the instructions. "There are no secondary targets in the area, but there are slimes, hiss beetles, and a few spiders, so I am glad that I am not on the ground for this."

  "There's nothing wrong with a few spiders, Anna." Fish's voice came through the comm. Anna could hear the smile in her big sister's voice. Fish let out a long sigh through the comm. "At least they’re natural. Skeletons only come up because some yahoo has a spectral power hot spot and bad intentions. They don't even look natural, walkin' around like they have muscles and shit. That's what creeps me out. I'm going to get a better view."

  Anna was also glad there was a blind in the area, though she wished it were higher so Fish could clear the fog of war from her map a little more. Fish's field of vision swept smoothly from left to right, turning the map from wire-frame representations of grass and trees to rendered versions like you see in a video game, complete with a tiny generic female avatar climbing up the side of the blind with her rifle on her back. She pulled herself on the roof and then got into position.