by KD Bond
Dedication
To My Family:
Thank you for all the support and for continuing to laugh with me. All of you know I’m goofy.
To My Son:
You created my dream through a dream, and for that, I thank you.
To My Pushy Co-worker:
Thank You
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2019 by Katherine Bond
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any manner without written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of quotations in a book review. For more information, address: [email protected].
First paperback edition March 2019
Book design by Germancreative
Editing by Tam Jernigan
ISBN 978-1-7337906-1-1 (paperback)
ISBN 978-1-7337906-0-4 (ebook)
Phantom Knights Series Book One: Electric Pulse
Every urban fable begins with a little bit of accuracy. Unless you’re human, then you can’t begin to comprehend our truth. To you, we are creatures created to be feared or romanticized — paranormal beings created through your imagination for entertainment. I’m here to tell you my story, our story. We are strong, independent, harpy fairies, tasked with the job of protecting those that don’t believe in our existence. Defending humanity against creatures from our world, the Phantom realm that would love nothing more than to turn Earth into their own personal playground. In a world surrounded by darkness, we are the light. We aren’t sparkling, damsels in distress, but beautiful, bloodthirsty, ruthless Knights ready to send any man to their knees. I hope you’re ready.
-Sky
Chapter One
“Once upon a time....” Fucking seriously, who starts a story like that. Katrina Thorne, aka Kat, sat on the edge of the roof on top of the highest sky rise in the city, doubting people were that dense. Here she was, reading a sappy Disney princess story called Cinderella, pondering. How could humans believe in such an obscure fantasy? Why would women romanticize a man swooping in to save the poor damsel in distress; then assume they’re going to live happily ever after with the man of their dreams? Bullshit stories like this just weren’t realistic. And why teach women that one needed a man to empower them. Hell, women were much stronger than men. Even human women. Physicality’s aside; it wasn’t much females couldn’t conquer.
Kat looked around the city while swinging her booted black bitch kickers in the wind. As she chewed her favorite strawberry bubble-yum, Kat continued to read this so-called fairytale. The electrical current, which usually laid dormant, pulsed from the pit of her stomach to the top of her fingers. She couldn’t remember any of the Disney princesses being able to cause destruction and mayhem with the flick of their wrist. If human women could produce catastrophic events, without technology involved, then maybe they wouldn’t think they’d need a man to save their fragile little hearts. Not if they had the power to protect themselves. Come to think of it maybe there was one ice queen that could let it go. Now she was badass.
Looking down towards the hand, not holding the book, Kat regarded the curse. That’s what Kat thought of her "gift." Every Phantom Knight inducted into the league had a gift. A unique ability which gave the Knights the edge they needed to protect humanity from phantom creatures, like herself. The power to create lightning and manipulate electricity belonged to her. Kat tried as a child to hide her gift. Soon as Kat realized her abilities, she knew the leaders of her kind would come with demands. However, the electrical current always showed itself when her temper flared, and Kat had a legendary temper. Hell, all Harpy’s had legendary tempers. Because that’s what Kat was, a harpy. A mythological creature with small delicate transparent wings, retractable thick black claws, and a top velocity speed that rivaled a fire jet.
Yes, they existed, almost every mystic creature human-kind believed was fiction existed. Vampires, werewolf’s, demons, trolls, witches, shifters, and the list continued. Some humans knew the truth, the smart ones anyway. Others were oblivious to the fact that they shared an Earth with creatures that had the power to destroy them all with a singled. Creatures like Kat, for example. Humans would freak, go utterly bat shit crazy, then the wars would ensue, and the hunting would commence. That’s what humankind did to anything they feared or couldn’t comprehend. Fight or capture. Therefore, it was their job, as Phantom Knights, to ensure their other "world" remained hidden. The Knights stopped those who threatened their existence; while protecting the human race from the phantom creatures. Paranormal beings who wanted nothing more than to see the humans fall.
The harpy elders managed to eliminate those that threatened the new world. A planet later named Earth by the humans. The elders pushed other phantom paranormals from Earth back to their realm. The elders wanted to ensure the Earth remained unharmed by their people. After all, the Earth was not theirs to take.
The two worlds were created simultaneously; however, due to the Goddess impatience, only Phantoms existed. The higher power created her people in her image; powerful, resilient, immortal. The elders prophesied God’s creation to be more durable. Individuals with short life-spam with hopes of learning how to value their existence. With respect to God’s people, the elders knew the humans deserved their own planet. They believed the different realms were designed to keep them apart and to this day, thousands of years later, the Knights fought to make sure the separation remained.
The different hidden underground tunnels helped keep their realm and Earth apart. The elders of Phantom discovered the portals soon after the humans God created his new planet. The tunnels allowed them to jump from the Earth plane to the Phantom realm when a wormhole was opened by one of their kind. Humans couldn’t see the possible openings to their domain without the help of a phantom creature.
Not long after their unearthing, the leaders tried to find a way to close the portals. As more phantoms were created, their curiosity threatened the other world. Being the most powerful creature on their planet wasn’t enough. They wanted more. However, the elders thought if they were successful in closing the portals and somehow didn’t rid the Earth from evil, they would later regret that decision. Therefore, the portals remained open.
Kat could understand why phantoms wanted to get out. She hated the Phantom world. There wasn’t anything wrong with her world per se; it was just country. Besides, every creature that lived there had a God, or Goddess complex. They were “fear me or die, weakling,” Kat rolled her eyes give me a break. So, the human realm was where she called home. With this new generation of Knights and phantom creatures, it was common for their kind to hide and blend in on Earth. If they didn’t cause trouble or reveal they weren’t mortal, then living on the human planet was accepted amongst their species.
Like herself, phantoms preferred to live amongst humankind, even though Kat despised humans. They were soooo, blah. Each fighting to live a dream of happily ever after. The load of them, working to death trying to acquire what they perceive they needed to be self-satisfied. To her, each exhibited the seven deadly sins of to the tee. But oh, my Goddess, the Earth was beautiful; with the many oceans, forest, mountains, and wildlife. The pyramids, the Great Wall, all the monuments were breathtaking. The vibrant life of it all was fascinating, especially Kat’s city.
Lake Placid was right on the outside of New York City. A little island oasis far enough away from the noise of the bigger cities. But close enough where all Kat had to do was hop on a ferry to be close to the action. One of the reasons the Knight was
here.
Kat looked down from the top of Fall Heights, a new Tech company, envying the busy streets. Soon she would have to get to work, but damn this view was spectacular. Kat decided to take just one more min...
The wind changed then; the sudden breeze silently licked along her long flowing fire-red hair — the slight shiver startling her into dropping the fairy-tale bullshit. Kat looked dejected, seeing the novel floating down the forty-floor building. Inwardly Kat cursed herself. Not because she’d lost her sappy ass book, but because she had been caught slacking on the job. Kat dreaded, who was behind her, and didn’t dare turn around.
"Hello oh, fearless leader," Kat said to Sky, captain of the Phantom Knights. Nowhere near bold enough to peek over her shoulder.
"I thought I'd find you up here," Sky doled.
Kat could practically feel the holes being drilled into the back of her skull. Even more of a reason not to turn around. Kat knew she was fucked. No point in rushing to her untimely demise.
Kat decided, after a few beats of breathless silence, to sneak a peek at her leading lady. And yep, there she was all six feet one inch of her. Boss lady was standing tall in a black leather catsuit with kick-ass leather boots that matched Kat’s own.
Sky was probably the most beautiful harpy Kat ever seen. Usually, harpies were uncharacteristically stunning; however, Sky took the cake. With her long jet-black hair that fell to her ass, ruby red lips, porcelain skin, and night shadow eyes vast as space itself. The female was perfection personified. She reminded Kat of Selene in that Underworld movie played by Kate Beckinsale. Hot, Hot, Hot. But Looks meant nothing to someone like Sky. To her, attractiveness was irrelevant. Beauty served no purpose in everyday life; Cap valued loyalty above all else.
"Yeah well, you know how I like to live on the edge. Get it? Cause I’m on edge." Kat threw over her shoulder with a slight smile in her voice. Sky just shook her head slightly continuing to stare.
"So, what can I do for you?” Kat spoke as the silence resumed, “I know you didn’t come to loom, even though you’re a damn fine Loomer." Kat uttered in the wind.
Sky,however, didn’t respond. She just continued to glare, with those black bottomless pits that promised pain. The boss did tilt her head slightly as if to study Kat’s words.
"Look I was just about to hop down and kill something evil I swear." Kat finally jumped up and stood on the edge to face her courageous leaders’ scrutiny. And still, she got nothing but silence. Kat knew why, but she wasn’t willing to give in just yet.
"Damnit, in five minutes I was going to hop my happy ass down there and get this shit rolling." That got Kat an arch of one dark black eyebrow.
"Okay, maybe I wasn't. I deserve some time off. I've been working around the clock, and I need a break." Kat stated, and staring her leader down.
Yet, Sky never even blinked, not even once. Man, that shit isn’t natural. Sky certainly had an overbearing authority. Kat knew she wasn’t going to be able to play chicken with her eyes for long. So Kat made the only logical decision in front of her. She started spilling her guts.
"Alright, I took a couple of days off already. No big fucking deal. There was a walking dead marathon on, and we all know I love watching Daryl in action." Kat finished, stomping her foot in emphasis.
That got Kat a chuckle from her static leader. Great, so maybe she wasn’t going to die today after all.
The next thing Kat knew the air shifted, and she looked down to see her leader sitting beside her on the ledge. Kat resumed seating herself and braced for the lecture she knew she was about to receive.
"Kat listen," Sky began. Yep here it comes. Kat barely resisted the urge to roll her green eyes to the back of her head.
"I know you hate this job; nevertheless, being a Knight is a high privilege amongst our kind. To be able to help protect our race and defend the Earth is an honor most harpies would kill to have. Think of how many people get to go home to their families because of what we do."
Yeah, yeah. Kat deserved an award for being able to hon in her facial expressions. Not rolling her eyes required great skill and strength. Not because Kat didn’t agree on some level with Sky, but because she liked her eyes right where they were in her head. And not in her leaders’ hands.
Not every harpy was born with a unique gift. Some harpies without abilities thought their Goddess deem them unworthy to protect the race. Kat felt it was the other way around. It may have been years ago, but Kat remembered what it felt like to be free of the burden of being a Knight. Some days Kat just wanted to do her own thing without fear of retribution.
"Yeah, I know I’m soooo honored and shit," Kat retorted, "but it’s a real buzz kill on my social life."
"Ha! What social life? We rarely see you except for meetings, and you hardly show up for those. The Knights never see you at our occasional events because you’re always on earth. And even here you have no life." Sky glanced at Kat as if daring her to disagree.
Kat mumbled under her breath. Kat knew her leader’s pointy ears picked up on the grumble "because everyone sucks."
“If I’m putting too much pressure on you,” Sky continued as if Kat hadn’t spoken, “it’s because you’re one of the best fighters I have, Katrina. Hell, your name alone strikes fear in phantom creatures across the realms."
Oh yeah, that made her shiver with delight. One thing that got Kat off, and let’s say it’s been a long time since anything else got her off, was fear from the enemy. Kat loved it, the screams, the terror, the surprise that a little five-foot six-inch red-head with light freckles could light them up like a firecracker on the fourth of July. But damn, life was getting a little redundant. Kill, main, eat, sleep, and repeat. She was... bored.
"We all know I love a good fear-induced blood bath, but where’s the challenge? All these assholes want to do is prey on the weak. They never want to challenge their strength and come after us. Noooooo” Kat dragged out, throwing her hands in the air “it’s always the humans they’re trying to pursue. Then they try to hind from us like cowards. Seriously we’ll find you dumbass." Kat threw her hands outward to jester her frustration.
"Yes, well that’s what our job entails Kat.” Sky replied, pausing to pin Kat with a death stare. “That’s what you were groomed to do since childhood. Be a warrior, a hunter; we help those who can’t help themselves. We are the balance that is needed in the universe. We are yen and yang. Without the Knights to keep the stability amongst our people, the worlds as we know it will end in chaos." Sky spoke smoothly — the lyrical voice of common sense.
Goddess damnit, Sky was right. The Knights couldn’t let the phantom creatures’ prey on humans until extinction. Where would she live? What would happen to the beautiful planet Kat loved? Earth, with all its vibrant colors and shapes, architectural structures and the food, let’s not forget about the food — goddess above what would Kat do without funnel cakes and Philly cheesesteaks?
But damn, what Kat wouldn’t give to have a life. A life without a unique purpose. Maybe the humans did have something going with their pursuit of happiness. The lot of them living without a care in the world. Perhaps Kat was experiencing a little envy herself, or maybe she needed to get laid.
"Yeah, yeah alright I hear ya. Give me ten minutes. I'll bring you all the evil heads you want on a silver fuckin platter, oh great one," Kat responded, sarcastically. She put her hand on her chest and bent a little at the waist in a mock bow.
Sky cut her eyes and exhaled an exhausted sigh. "You have five, and I want blood guts and glory. I want you fighting until daylight arises. You had a whole week off." Sky cut Kat off before she could voice a protest, okay a lie, definitely a lie. "Yes, I know you were off for a week because your quadrants were extremely quiet, so you are to battle until you can’t breathe, move, or shit comfortably or I’ll return with a baby sitter. And you know exactly who’d I send.”
Ahhhhh yes, Sia her lovable big sister, by three damn minutes considering they were twins. Not that it made a differe
nce to Kat’s other half. Sia would kill to hold this over her head, and Sky knew it.
Kat threw up a middle finger salute and drummed out a "Sir yes sir," as her boss disappeared into the night. No doubt to create her own destruction.
Damn, Kat wished she possed the ability to teleport. That was until her wicked electrical current danced on her fingertips triggered by that conversation Sky. Yes, one gift was plenty. Certainly enough to get a job she knew would eventually get her killed. Especially knowing she couldn’t live another day with the same old routine. Kat needed something more enjoyable and exhilarating. Something to look forward to in the morning when she came home to her empty loft.
Kat knew the isolation was partly her fault. She'd shut everyone out of her life a long time ago. Kat just needed to figure shit out on her own, and well, people moved on. Time waits for no one. Maybe she wasn’t meant to be happy. It’s not like Kat knew precisely what it was that was missing in her life.
Out of all the Knights in existence, Kat seemed to be the only one that was fucked up about her “calling.”
Snapping out of the destructive thoughts, Kat stood on the edge. The spectacular golden lights below allowed Kat to refocus. She slipped from the side of the roof and let her body free fall against the gush of the wind. As the air kiss her cheek, Kat thought of happily ever after with Cinderella and her prince. Yeah, what a crock of shit.
Chapter Two
If Lucas Mason thought life couldn't get any better, well he'd be right. Life couldn’t get any better, not his life anyway. Lucas, aka Luke, sat at his plain maple wooden desk on the thirty-ninth floor of Fall Heights, envisioning himself screaming. Yet another one of his coworkers was congratulated on a promotion Luke deserved.
Why couldn't that be him? Luke had a master’s degree in computer engineering from MIT. He was by far one of the best hackers in the world. Luke’s intellect was uncanny. The guy graduated at the top of his class. The high honors lead to countless job offers from different organizations, including military establishments. Luke’s resume was stacked. To top it off, Lucas was kind of funny. Well, maybe not funny, but he had an overall great personality.
