The Adventure of Immanuel
Page 3
been his first, true love, but it hasn't always been his career. He worked for 15 years as a biomedical researcher, then for 3 years as a web designer. However, after 30 years of trying to be published in print with little success, he has decided to try his hand at self-publishing. Most of his works will be sold as ebooks through various online retailers, but he also plans to make some available for free exclusively on Goodreads.
He writes primarily speculative fiction--fantasy, science fiction, horror, and their sub-genres--but he also likes to try his hand at thrillers, suspense, mystery, and even westerns. However, his stories tend to have a fantasy element, no matter how subtle.
Most of his stories involve the following three main characters:
Medb hErenn [https://www.medbherenn.com/]--One-time queen of Ireland, she is over 3500 years old. A warrior and a sorceress, she cannot be harmed by any weapon made by the hand of man.
Eile and Sunny, Team Girl [https://www.teamgirlforever.com/]--They are two adorable, vivacious, fun-loving young women whose motto is ONWARD TO ADVENTURE!!! Yet trouble follows them like a love-sick puppy wherever they go.
Sir Differel Van Helsing [https://www.sir-differel.com/]--The descendent of Abraham Van Helsing and King Arthur, she heads the Caerleon Order, the premier monster-hunting organization of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. She commands Dracula, the most powerful vampire extant, and the greatsword Caliburn, better known as Excalibur.
He also writes a series of sword & sorcery stories set in an alternative universe known as the Lands of the Dreams of Men.
Kevin lives in Denver with his family and 4 cats.
For more information, see the Songs of the Seanchai [https://www.seanchaisongs.com/].
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Discover other titles by Kevin L. O'Brien:
Enjoy these other titles at fine ebook retailers everywhere.
Available on Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/story/list/20075368
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Connect with Kevin L. O'Brien Online:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KLOB_writer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kevin.l.obrien.1
Website: https://www.seanchaisongs.com/
DeviantArt: https://teamgirl-differel.deviantart.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/Kevin_L_OBrien
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Sample Excerpts
From "Man Friday
Differel awoke. Her tiny portion of the convalescence ward was dimly lit by a single fluorescent lamp above and behind her head. One of the nurses stood beside the IV holding an empty syringe.
She must have just injected me with something. That's probably what woke me up.
She tried to turn her head to ask for a drink of water, and discovered that she couldn't move. Her heart raced as she realized her body was completely paralyzed except for her eyes. She couldn't cry out; she was helpless.
"Ah, you're awake."
That voice; I know it from somewhere.
The nurse stepped into her field of vision, and her gut clenched when she recognized her as the nurse Mandy hired to look after her stricken father. The same nurse who helped Mandy try to infect her with the embryonic Fomorian!
"I hadn't anticipated that, but perhaps it's fortuitous. You should know what's going to happen to you. It will make your demise all the more devastating."
She moved out of her field of vision. "I've injected you with a paralytic. Not enough to stop your breathing, just to keep you quiet." She reappeared by the IV and held out another syringe for her to see, this one filled with an amber fluid. "This will stop your heart, but leave no trace. Even after an autopsy, the only conclusion a doctor could reach will be that your heart gave out due to your injury. Your staff may suspect foul play, but they will have no proof. In any event, once you're dead, the Vampire will be released, and without him there will be no need for the Caerleon Order. If it will give you comfort, consider this: you will never have to bear the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, for your hour upon this stage will have come to its end."
She grasped the IV line and poised the needle against the injection port, preparing to push it in.
Dear God, I've got to do something! Vlad! Where are you?!
Even as she inserted the needle, a burst of shadow appeared behind her. A red-gloved hand grabbed the syringe hand and forced her to let it go before she could depress the plunger. Vlad then dragged her away from the IV as he secured her arms behind her back.
"Let me go! Help! The Vampire's trying to kill me!"
The curtain that closed her bed off from the rest of the ward was pulled aside and LCpl. Holt looked in. When he saw the nurse in Vlad's grip he pulled his pistol and aimed for his head.
"Let her go!"
"No," he replied in his deep, resonate, bass voice, "she wishes to kill Sir Differel."
"That's a lie! I'm trying to save her life! If she doesn't receive that injection in the next few minutes she'll die!"
Differel could see that Holt was uncertain, but she figured he would believe a Human over a Vampire.
"Ma'am, is this true?"
Bloody hell, I can't respond!
"She's unconscious. Please, there isn't much time left!"
"She gave her a drug to induce paralysis. Sir Differel is very much awake, but unable to speak."
"That's another lie!"
"Listen, I understand you were locked away for thirty years, but medicine has advanced considerably in that time. A syringe doesn't mean it's lethal."
"You fool. I heard her gloat of her intentions. She said the injection would stop her heart."
"What?! No, I said no such thing; I didn't say anything!"
Holt shook his head in frustrated confusion. "How could you hear her? The last report I had five minutes ago placed you in the library."
"Sir Differel heard her, and I heard her thoughts."
Differel's mind skipped a track. He can read my mind!?
{Naturally, My Master.}
Holt looked shocked. "You can read minds?"
"Only Sir Differel's. Whatever she thinks or experiences, I know, but I cannot read her memories, unless she plays them for me before her mind's eye."
"That's impossible." But he didn't sound very certain.
Vlad, tell him to test me!
"Sir Differel commands me to have you test her."
"Don't listen to him! He's lying! For God's sake, make him let me go before it's too late!"
Holt licked his lips and sweated as his eyes darted from Differel to Vlad and back. She realized he didn't know what to do, and it agonized him.
What if he takes her side!?
"What's going on here?" Aelfraed appeared behind Holt. He sidestepped away from the opening so that her butler could enter, but his gun never once wavered. Aelfraed rarely displayed his emotions, but she could tell from his tense body, stern look, and terse voice that he wasn't pleased.
"I'm not sure," Holt replied. "The Vampire claims the nurse is trying kill Dame Differel, but she says that Madam will die unless given that injection."
"It's true! I must give her the drug immediately or she won't make it!"
Aelfraed glanced at the syringe. "Why does he accuse her?"
"He told me he read it in Dame Differel's mind."
Aelfraed raised an eyebrow. "Can he prove that?"
"He said she wants me to test her."
He nodded. "Then do it."
"No! There's no time!"
"My Dear, I cannot allow you to intervene if there is even the slightest chance Vlad may be right."
"You idiot! If she dies, it'll be on your head!"
"Then I accept the responsibility, and the consequences."
Her heart skipped a beat with surprise. She had never seen him so determined or resolute! It made her wonder what else he hid under that stiff shirt.
"Carry on, Mr. Holt."
He lowered the pistol and looked
towards the bed. "When you and I first met, I was on guard duty. You tried to distract me by singing a song. What was it?"
Oh, bloody damn good, old man! Vlad, I didn't sing, I tap danced, and he knows I can't carry a tune in a bucket.
"She said that she performed some soft-shoe, and her singing could wake the dead."
She felt her temper flare. Don't embellish!
{Never, My Master.}
Holt looked surprised. "He's right."
But Aelfraed didn't seem impressed. "That's no secret."
Bloody cheek!
"She replied, 'bloody cheek'."
That floored him as he visibly started. "Try another, Mr. Holt."
"Of course. At our first tea party, your other guests were Winnie the Poo, Mrs. Snuggle-Bunny, and who else?"
Sooty. She recalled a memory of what it looked like.
"A puppet bear named Sooty."
"Correct again."
"But everyone knows those were her favorite soft toys." Still, Aelfraed didn't look quite so certain.
"Then how about this: shortly after your father assigned me to be your companion and bodyguard, there was an incident. You swore me to secrecy, but unbeknownst to you I informed Aelfraed and your father, and they both agreed to keep the secret with me. That was the reason I was promoted to lance corporal. What was the incident?"
Oh, bloody hell!
Aelfraed raised an eyebrow, but he didn't object.
"I do not believe she wishes to answer."
"There," the nurse crowed, "you see? He's making it all up!"
Aelfraed looked grave, but his tone was as resolute as before. "I'm afraid I must agree, unless you can provide the answer."
{Master, tell me, it is their only hope.}
I beg your pardon?
{I will not allow anyone to