“No!” Kira snapped. The pain in her throat added to her fury. The chemicals in the spitter venom had worn off, even if the eggs buried in her torso released their own. She’d finally achieved tolerance of it, but at what cost?
“Doesn’t matter,” she whispered this time. “I won’t let them be born!”
She took the spear and touched it again, inciting a brighter pink to it until it began to turn green where her finger touched it. Death was her only option, she knew that now. Death while three more spitter hybrids were born would be a failure. The failure would grow to a damnation of Treetown in no time, she knew the hybrids that would come from her would be females. If a male hybrid survived and met a female…
“I’m sorry, Eric,” she whispered. She sucked in a deep breath and jammed the spear into her belly, directly where the queen had implanted the embryos. The crystal flared a brilliant green, glowing as bright as when she’d used it to fight off the horde of spitters that swarmed Klous and Ling. She let it fall to the ground, surprised to see very little blood gushing from the wound.
Kira stared at the jagged gash in her belly. There was almost no pain from it. She felt movement inside, movement that tugged and burned. She reached through the gash, her hand finding a hard lump immediately. She pulled it free and saw that it was a dead baby hybrid, no bigger than her fist. It was nearly cut in half by the crystal, its blood merging with hers. She cast it aside then jammed her fist back inside of her abdomen.
The second hybrid was off to the side, but also easy to find. She pulled it free and saw it had been cut badly. Before her eyes it shuddered and died, tiny mandibles and mouth opening to reveal red streaked teeth. She let it fall to the ground then gasped as the third one moved deeper inside of her.
She thrust her hand in a final time, feeling her slippery organs twist around her fingers. The absence of pain did not prevent the pressure of the creature inside of her and her own hand as she struggled to locate it. Twice she grabbed onto something that turned out to be a part of her before she located the harder mass of the hybrids body.
She pulled it free, feeling a fresh burn inside as whatever it clung to ripped. She pulled it out and held it up to stare at it. Her eyes were blurred with tears and now that the last of them was free, she started hiccupping. Each attempted mini-convulsion spread a deep agony through her body. It wasn’t the sharp pain she expected, but a muted pain that was all the more frightening.
Kira squeezed until she felt the hybrid crack in her hand, then she tossed it aside and fell back to the ground. The spasms left her and she lay dazed, wondering how long it would take for her to die. Would another spitter come by and take her back to try again? Or would they just kill her and eat her?
The sun crossed the sky and began to dip towards the western ocean when she felt lucid enough to contemplate her life. She was weak, weaker than she’d ever been. She held up her hand, marveling at how complicated and yet so fragile it was. This particular hand was coated in dried blood. Her blood. She vomited before she could turn her head, spewing dark blood all over.
As if in answer to her silent prayers something landed on her cheek. She turned her head slowly, wondering what the strange sensation had been. Another drop of water hit and then another, until a soft downpour or warm water was falling on her. A jagged stroke of lightning, parted above her, split the twilight sky. The crack of thunder was instant, though the sheer force of it could only draw a twitch for her defeated body.
The rain continued to fall, filling her mouth. Kira swallowed, rinsing out the taste of blood. The fire in her throat was put out, only to make way for an ache in her stomach. She feared she’d lose control again, but after only a moment it settled.
The water also served to rinse he blood off her body. It pooled in the hollow of her belly where she’d stabbed herself, gathering until it overflowed and ran down her sides. Even after the squall was over the water diminished slowly, draining inside of her. She stared at the sky as the clouds drifted east and broke apart, disappearing as quickly as they’d come. Her strength exhausted with the effort of swallowing the water, she mouthed the words, “Thank you, Mother,” before passing out again.
She woke again with the stars overhead. Had it been minutes or days? Whatever the case, her time was near. She felt warm and as if she was floating, adrift in a sea filled with all sensations and no sensation. All she had to do was imagine it and she’d feel it. Eric’s hand brushing against her skin. Her lips touching his. The feel of her spear in her hand. The kiss of a coastal breeze blowing through her hair.
Her eyes glanced around, rolling almost of their own volition in their sockets. Her surroundings had changed. The breeze wasn’t an imagination, it was real. The floating was only a half-truth, she was being carried. And what was left of her spear? She must have grabbed onto it when she fell unconscious. She barely managed the strength to roll her wrist and bring the crystal in contact with her arm. The pinkish glow sparked, drawing a hiss from the creature that cradled her in its arms. The crystal wouldn’t shed more than a faint tendril of light. She tried to look up but couldn’t see past the bulky chest and shoulders of the being that held her. Even that much lacked details in the darkness. It felt warm, whatever it was. Warm and coated in a soft fluff that she felt certain was feathers.
Her energy was nearly gone, the crystal was proof of that. She closed her eyes, knowing that whatever happened to her, she wouldn’t be there to witness it. Distantly she felt herself lowered to the ground. Instead of the hard ground she felt her body immersed in water that was so warm it almost felt hot against her skin. She moaned when the water lapped over her stomach. Her belly was jabbed, parting her severed flesh and letting the water mingle with her fluids. She struggled to keep her eyes open but failed. She was being cleansed, she knew. But for what she could only guess.
With darkness fast approaching again Kira felt someone beside her. Someone she’d not known in years. Emily was there, her alter-ego that she’d hid behind when she hadn’t known what to do.
“You did good,” Emily whispered, comforting her. Kira wanted to nod but she didn’t have the strength. “You killed those female hybrids, your people are safe. Elsa will lead your people, she has much to learn but she can take care of them now. I’m proud of you. Of us. I made the right choice.”
Emily faded away, leaving Kira alone again with the strange being that was cleansing her. Was this Vitalis rewarding her? Was she being baptized for acceptance to join with the spirit of the world? Kira felt her cheeks tighten as she smiled. She’d done all she could and she knew her people were safe. This was a good way to die.
###
Afterword by the Author
I do my best to make a living at writing, yet words escape me to explain how appreciative I am that you’ve read and enjoyed this book. The story of Vitalis continues in the next full length novel, Vitalis: Resurrection. And don’t worry, I have a lot more in mind beyond Vitalis: Resurrection. This is science fiction, the opportunities are endless!
Thank you again and by all means, please feel free to let me know what you thought of it. Send me an email ([email protected]), leave a review, tell me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter (@booksbyjason).
About the Author
Jason Halstead is a science fiction and fantasy author who spends his daytime hours as an IT Manager in the automotive industry. In his spare time Jason enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, writing, and competitive powerlifting.
He enjoys reading and responding to fan mail as well, so if you liked any of his books, don't be shy! Find him on the web at http://www.booksbyjason.com, email him at mailto:[email protected], or follow him on Twitter: @booksbyjason.
Other books by Jason Halstead
Child of Fate (Blades of Leander, book 1)
Victim of Fate (Blades of Leander, book 2)
Silver Dragon (Blades of Leander, book 3)
Blades of Leander (all 3 books in one)
Voidhawk (
Voidhawk, book 1)
Voidhawk – The Elder Race (Voidhawk, book 2)
Voidhawk – Redemption (Voidhawk, book 3)
Voidhawk – The White Lady (Voidhawk, book 4)
Voidhawk – Lost Soul (Voidhawk, book 5)
Voidhawk - The Edge of Forever (Voidhawk, book 6)
Wanted (Wanted, book 1)
Ice Princess (Wanted, book 2)
Bounty (Wanted, book 3)
The Wanted Trilogy (all 3 books in one)
Dark Earth (Dark Earth, book 1)
Devil’s Icebox (Dark Earth, book 2)
Soul Mates (Dark Earth, book 3)
Voices (a Dark Earth Book)
Bound (a Dark Earth Book)
The Lost Girls (The Lost Girls, book 1, a Dark Earth novel)
Traitor (The Lost Girls, book 2, a Dark Earth novel)
Wolfgirl (The Lost Girls, book 3, a Dark Earth novel)
Black Widow (The Lost Girls, book 4, a Dark Earth novel)
New Beginnings (Vitalis, episode 1)
The Colony (Vitalis, episode 2)
Parasites (Vitalis, episode 3)
Screamer (Vitalis, episode 4)
Squatter's Rights (Vitalis, episode 5)
Evolution (Vitalis, episode 6)
Matriarch (Vitalis, episode 7)
Vitalis Omnibus (Vitalis, episodes 1 – 7)
Vitalis: Resurrection (Vitalis, book 2)
Vitalis: Provenance (Vitalis, book 3)
Human Nature
Sex Sells
Gunship Omnibus
by John M Davis
A captain, his crew and the life of a smuggler.
“Another hand, or should we just count you out Michaels?” the dealer asked, a thick beard of black covering most of his experienced face as he continued shuffling the deck of cards, only slightly moving his thumbs as the cards crisply fell into place.
“Let's get something straight right here and now. You don't ever count Captain Adam Michaels out.” he said as he raised his glass for a long drink of the roughest ale he'd ever fallen victim to.
“The pay in for this round is seventy credits.” The dealer said as he surveyed the table, giving his best effort in an attempt to block out the dozens of scoundrels in the background drinking ale and most likely telling lies.
“I'm out.” Captain Michaels said quietly as he stood up and walked away from the table, doing his best to ignore the taunts and insults directed his way as if to keep some of his dignity.
A seemingly perfect life, until love arrives unexpected.
Nobody like Sarah however, not even close. She was stunningly beautiful, very well spoken and above all, political. Political? His idea of politics involved small arms fire or even a good old fashioned bare-knuckle brawl. They had nothing in common aside from being here at the same moment, the same spot together; something he knew deep down would be long forgotten by Sarah the moment she arrived safely back home. Still, the heart wants what the heart wants, and his was becoming increasingly dependent on seeing her as much as humanly possible.
With best friends like this, the word sanity becomes fuzzy.
“Any person that eats another person has some damn issues,” Dalton said with heartfelt emotion. “Unless she's hot and it ain't for keeps.”
Introduce Vampires, Mech and Orc, and life gets tricky.
“Hey, bitches,” Roman yelled across the room, successfully gaining their undivided attention. “Get some.” he added, daring the walking beasts to a fight.
Anwick quickly made his way into the direction of the marked man, Lexion following suit and releasing the grip he had on the front of Michaels' shirt allowing him to fall back to the ground. Roman pulled his combat pistol long enough to throw it across the room, sliding roughly on the aged floor as he confidently drew his tactical blade and squeezed his hands for a moment; several of his knuckles busting back to life.
Introduce a second unexpected love, and life becomes unbearable.
Sure, his heart belonged to Sarah, it had since the very first moment he had laid eyes on her. Still, he thought a lot about Sasha as he lay there during the night. Not just because she had a pure beauty about her, but because he envied the life that she had chosen to live. Missing it very much. Living for the moment was the only real definition of happiness in his opinion, and Sasha lay there doing just that, sleeping like an angel and taking life one day at a time.
Civil War, airships, large-scale battles by sword and Zombies. Life just got serious.
But as the door opened to allow the man and his child a safe place to hide, Dalton's arm dropped down to his side; still holding the revolver in hand.
“Oh my God.” he managed to push from his lungs as Whiskey stood at his feet, both of them witness to hundreds of Drifters killing citizens in the streets. Mutilating their bodies, climbing the exterior walls of buildings in order to reach windows and many of them pulled to the light that now shined outside through the open Trading Post door.
The Gunship series is a place where anything can happen. Elements of science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and western all draped across the lives of characters that matter. The best part? The entire Gunship series is now available with a single download!
Kindle
Nook
Kobo
Smashwords
Table of Contents
Copyright
Part 1: New Beginnings
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Part 2: The Colony
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Part 3: Parasites
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Part 4: Screamer
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Part 5: Squatter’s Rights
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Part 6: Evolution
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Part 7: Matriarch
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Afterword by the Author
About the Author
Other books by Jason Halstead
Vitalis Omnibus Page 45