by Cheree Alsop
GALDONI
Book 1
By Cheree L. Alsop
Galdoni
By Cheree Alsop
Copyright 2013 by Cheree Alsop
Smashwords Edition
Cover Design by Andy Hair
www.chereealsop.com
PRAISE FOR CHEREE ALSOP
Galdoni
“I was pleasantly surprised by this book! The characters were so well written as if the words themselves became life. The sweet romance between hero and heroine made me root for the underdog more than I usually do! I definitely recommend this book!”
—Sara Phillipp
“Can't wait for the next book!! Original idea and great characters. Could not put the book down; read it in one sitting.”
—StanlyDoo- Amazon Reviewer
“5 stars! Amazing read. The story was great- the plot flowed and kept throwing the unexpected at you. Wonderfully established setting in place; great character development, shown very well thru well placed dialogue- which in turn kept the story moving right along! No bog downs or boring parts in this book! Loved the originality that stemmed from ancient mysticism- bringing age old fiction into modern day reality. Recommend for teenage and older- action violence a little intense for preteen years, but overall this is a great action thriller slash mini romance novel.”
—That Lisa Girl, Amazon Reviewer
The Silver Series
“Cheree Alsop has written Silver for the YA reader who enjoys both werewolves and coming-of-age tales. Although I don’t fall into this demographic, I still found it an entertaining read on a long plane trip! The author has put a great deal of thought into balancing a tale that could apply to any teen (death of a parent, new school, trying to find one’s place in the world) with the added spice of a youngster dealing with being exceptionally different from those around him, and knowing that puts him in danger.”
—Robin Hobb, author of the Farseer Trilogy
“I honestly am amazed this isn’t absolutely EVERYWHERE! Amazing book. Could NOT put it down! After reading this book, I purchased the entire series!”
—Josephine, Amazon Reviewer
“Great book, Cheree Alsop! The best of this kind I have read in a long time. I just hope there is more like this one.”
—Tony Olsen
“I couldn’t put the book down. I fell in love with the characters and how wonderfully they were written. Can’t wait to read the 2nd!”
—Mary A. F. Hamilton
“A page-turner that kept me wide awake and wanting more. Great characters, well written, tenderly developed, and thrilling. I loved this book, and you will too.”
—Valerie McGilvrey
Keeper of the Wolves
“This is without a doubt the VERY BEST paranormal romance/adventure I have ever read and I’ve been reading these types of books for over 45 years. Excellent plot, wonderful protagonists—even the evil villains were great. I read this in one sitting on a Saturday morning when there were so many other things I should have been doing. I COULD NOT put it down! I also appreciated the author’s research and insights into the behavior of wolf packs. I will CERTAINLY read more by this author and put her on my ‘favorites’ list.”
—N. Darisse
“This is a novel that will emotionally cripple you. Be sure to keep a box of tissues by your side. You will laugh, you will cry, and you will fall in love with Keeper. If you loved Black Beauty as a child, then you will truly love Keeper of the Wolves as an adult. Put this on your ‘must read’ list.”
—Fortune Ringquist
“Cheree Alsop mastered the mind of a wolf and wrote the most amazing story I’ve read this year. Once I started, I couldn’t stop reading. Personal needs no longer existed. I turned the last page with tears streaming down my face.”
—Rachel Andersen, Amazon Reviewer
Thief Prince
“This book was a roller coaster of emotions: tears, laughter, anger, and happiness. I absolutely fell in love with all of the characters placed throughout this story. This author knows how to paint a picture with words.”
—Kathleen Vales
“Awesome book! It was so action packed, I could not put it down, and it left me wanting more! It was very well written, leaving me feeling like I had a connection with the characters.”
—M. A., Amazon Reviewer
“I am a Cheree Alsop junkie and I have to admit, hands down, this is my FAVORITE of anything she has published. In a world separated by race, fear and power are forced to collide in order to save them all. Who better to free them of the prejudice than the loyal heart of a Duskie? Adventure, incredible amounts of imagination, and description go into this world! It is a ‘buy now and don’t leave the couch until the last chapter has reached an end’ kind of read!”
—Malcay, Amazon Reviewer
Small Town Superhero
“Anyone who grew up in a small town or around motorcycles will love this! It has great characters and flows well with martial arts fighting and conflicts involved.”
—Karen, Amazon Reviewer
“Cheree Alsop has written a great book for youth and adults alike. . . Small Town Superhero had me from the first sentence through the end. I felt every sorrow, every pain, and the delight of rushing through the dark on a motorcycle. Descriptions in Small Town Superhero are so well written the reader is immersed in the town and lives of its inhabitants.”
—Rachel Andersen, Amazon Reviewer
Stolen
“This book will take your heart, make it a little bit bigger, and then fill it with love. I would recommend this book to anyone from 10-100. To put this book in words is like trying to describe love. I had just gotten it and I finished it the next day because I couldn’t put it down. If you like action, thrilling fights, and/or romance, then this is the perfect book for you.”
—Steven L. Jagerhorn
Heart of the Wolf
“This book is a roller coaster of emotions that will leave you exhausted!!! A beautiful fantasy filled with action and love. I recommend this book to all fantasy lovers and those who enjoy a heartbreaking love story that rivals that of Romeo and Juliet. I couldn't put this book down!”
—Amy May
ALSO BY CHEREE ALSOP
The Silver Series
Silver
Black
Crimson
Violet
Azure
Hunter
Silver Moon
The Small Town Superheroes Series
(Being published through Stonehouse Ink)
Small Town Superhero
The Small Town Superheroes
The Last Small Town Superhero
Galdoni
Heart of the Wolf
Keeper of the Wolves
Stolen
The Million Dollar Gift
Thief Prince
Shadows
Mist
To my husband, Michael Alsop.
Thank you for believing in me,
And for giving Kale his wings.
To my family for their support,
And for reading each copy.
I love you!
Chapter One
Free. The word burned in my mind. Above, Galdoni flew in pairs and trios past the sky-rise buildings. I fought back the urge to fly with them; it was better to have the stable ground under my feet after the world had just turned on end.
I flexed my wings, then tucked them tight against my back so they would be less obvious to the casual observer. A mob of humans bearing signs ringed the main gate through which most of the Galdoni left; luckily, it was publicity they sought and none of the protesters bothered with the few smaller gates like the one I used.
I looked back at the gray stone building in which I had lived my entire life. I felt a
dull taint of fear and pushed it away, surprised that the emotion had survived my training. I gritted my teeth and stepped into the alley.
The fading sunlight didn’t reach the shadows that clung to the walls and refuse. I stepped around an overflowing garbage bin. The scurry of tiny claws sounded against the cement; bigger footsteps echoed it, and a tiny shriek choked off to leave the air a bit colder.
As I made my way through the debris-littered darkness, I began to second-guess my decision to walk, but there wasn’t enough room to spread my wings between the claustrophobic walls. A rusted fire escape hung crookedly down the side of one condemned building. I set a foot on the bottom rung with the thought of climbing to the top of the building so I could fly. I had just put my weight on the rung when a yell came from further down the alley. A dull thud followed.
“No, please!” A cry close to a sob preceded another thud.
I took a step closer to the end of the alley; it turned to the left out of sight. There was another shriek, this one full of pain. I ran toward the sound. Adrenaline pounded through my veins as I rounded the corner. I stopped short in shock.
Three men stood around a cowering boy; a fourth man leaned against the wall with a gleam of amusement in his eyes. He toyed with something dark in his hands and nodded at one of the others. The man lifted what looked like a table leg. The boy shrank away from him, his hands raised to protect his already bruised and bloody face. When he turned, my heart slowed. Brown and white feathered wings, battered and dirty, hung from his beaten shoulders. Clumps of feathers littered the alleyway.
My gut clenched. “Stop!” My feet moved before I knew what I was going to do.
All four men turned and the boy shrank back against the grimy bricks of the dead-end. “Mind your own business,” the furthest man spat. He pushed off from the wall, his gaze narrowing. Anticipation coursed through my veins at the promise of an opponent. Instinct took over and I sized him up without breaking stride.
He stood at five-nine, an inch shorter than me; his frame was sparse and he walked with a swagger that told more of boast than fighting experience. The other three glanced from me back to him, awaiting orders. I wondered why they followed him because two of the three towered over six feet and the third looked like he could bench-press a bull; but still they waited for his word to take action.
“Leave him alone.” My hands shook with rage as I closed the distance between us.
The men laughed.
“Why should we listen to you?” the leader asked, his voice as cruel as the gleam in his eyes. He glanced at his men; they started toward me.
Instinct screamed in the back of my mind, but I ignored it and raised my wings. Their eyes widened and the three men slowed; they looked back at their leader. I expected relief when I met the boy’s eyes, but his expression now showed fear where only defiance and pain had been. He shook his head and tipped his chin, indicating that I should leave. Confused, I shook my head and looked back at the others. “You can’t do this.”
The leader turned so that he faced me directly; his three men backed to the walls on either side. “I’ve lost a fortune on you Galdoni.” He lifted the object in his hand. I stared down the barrel of a gun and my blood ran cold. Before I could so much as flinch, he pulled the trigger twice. The first bullet skimmed the top of my left shoulder and passed through my wing feathers, but the second hit the bone just below my left wing joint.
A yell tore from my lips. I stumbled backwards with the force of the blow. My wing collapsed against my back; pain stole my breath and fogged my thoughts. I leaned against the wall for support.
The man gave a twisted grin and motioned with the firearm. “Not so tough now, eh?”
His men surrounded me. I pushed the pain to the back of my mind as I had been trained and stepped sideways to keep them all in sight. The beefy one hefted the table leg to his shoulder.
My muscles tensed. There would only be one chance. I threw a glance at the boy. “Run!”
“What?” he asked in surprise.
“Run, now!” I yelled. I turned and charged past the three men, diving at the leader with the gun. His eyes widened; he stumbled back and pulled the trigger as he fell against the wall. The bullet whizzed past my head and echoed down the alley as my fist connected with his jaw. I heard the boy run by and dodge the other men. I punched the leader twice in the stomach, then turned in time to duck the table leg aimed for my head.
I kicked one of the men. He gasped and doubled over. The man with the table leg swung it again. I let it pass inches from my chest, then put my weight behind a hard right to the man's jaw. He spun with the force of his momentum and my punch and fell to the ground.
I dodged a haymaker from the third man and turned back in time to see the leader groping for his gun. I couldn't see it in the darkening alley; I turned back just as one of the men threw a jab at my face. I ducked, punched him in the stomach, then threw my weight into a hook to his jaw. I moved to finish him with a quick chop to the back of the neck. A shot rang out; fire tore through my right leg just above the knee. It buckled under my weight and I stumbled with a gasp.
The beefy man hefted the table leg. I ducked, but was a hair too slow. The leg smashed into the side of my head and I spun and hit the ground. I pushed up slowly. Blood ran down my face. I shook my head to clear it from my eyes. A boot kicked me in the ribs at the same time that the table leg smashed into my back. I collapsed on the asphalt.
A foot stepped into view. I gathered what was left of my strength, then gritted my teeth and lunged. The man cried out as his knee buckled backwards. The satisfaction I felt was short lived when the table leg connected with my injured wing. I fought back a sob at the pain that clouded every thought. I dug my fingers into the pavement in an effort to keep from passing out.
Someone stepped on my back, flattening me to my stomach on the ground. A loud snap sounded and a knife-like pain flowed from my right wing to my chest; a yell tore from my throat. Another foot connected with my ribs and I felt them give.
“Not so tough now, eh Galdoni?” The table leg slammed into the back of my head.
Someone stood on my broken wing. Black feathers drifted past my cheek. Gravel bit into the side of my face and I barely felt another kick.
“Is he still alive?” the leader asked.
Fingers fumbled at my neck. “Barely,” came the response.
The first man snorted. “Well, he won’t be for long. Take ‘em out of the Arena and they die just as fast as a human.” His voice darkened. “Let’s see if we can find the other one.”
“Freakin’ Galdoni messed up my leg,” one of the men whined.
Their footsteps faded away. I couldn’t clear my thoughts enough to take pleasure in the fact that the man had to be helped by his comrades in order to walk.
Ringing filled my ears along with a whooshing sound like how books described the ocean, only it was steady and growing. I knew that my life blood spilled around me, but I couldn’t find the strength to care.
***
Pain intensified when I awoke. Each breath brought a sharp throb through my ribs. I gasped and doubled over in an attempt to make it stop, but the movement awakened deeper, searing pain in both of my wings. I opened my eyes but saw only a blur of darkness. I tried to sit up, then stifled a cry at the pain that jolted through my body.
“Hold still,” a soft voice said. Surprise registered through the fog in my mind that the voice was female. A hand put a gentle pressure on my shoulder and eased me back down. “You’re safe here.”
“I can’t see.” I fought to keep my voice steady.
“The doctor said that might happen; your head was hit pretty hard.”
Her words brought back the fight. It flashed through my mind as though I watched from a higher point of view. Shame filled me at the mistakes I had made, mistakes I knew better than to make. I should have done away with the gun in the first place and finished them without mercy. We hadn't been trained with firearms, but it was a
stupid mistake; a deadly one. The crack of my broken wing and the sound of the shots echoed along with their laughter. Blood pooled around me and the memory went dark.
I reached up a hand to rub my forehead and found it wrapped in cloth.
“Are you thirsty?”
The answer was yes, more so than I had ever been in my life, but the taste of fear dominated the thirst. I looked toward the sound of her voice, but couldn’t see anything past the black blur. “Where am I?”
“My friend Nikko’s house. My brother Jayce, Nikko, and I found you in the alley. There was so much blood I thought you'd die, but Nikko’s dad’s a doctor. He came to help when we got you back here.” I heard the scrape of a chair across a wooden floor. “Nikko told me to call him as soon as you woke up. Dr. Ray had to teach a class, but he'll be back.”
I grabbed where I guessed her hand would be and found her fingers. She let out a small squeak of surprise but I didn’t let go. I fought back nausea at the pain rolling in waves to the point that I almost blacked out again. “Wait,” I managed to get out.
She held very still until the pain cleared enough that I could think again. I realized that my hold on her fingers was a lot harder than I intended and loosened my grip. “Sorry. It’s just. . . .” I couldn’t find the words to describe the way my heart pounded at the thought of strangers I couldn’t see filling the room.