by Nesa Miller
Contents
Acknowledgments
1. Etain
2. New Life
3. Kindred
4. Mortal Coil
5. Sólskin
6. Emissary
7. An Understanding
8. Castle Laugharne
9. Midir’s Taint
10. Mists of Protection
11. The Demon you know
12. Distraction
13. Crossfire
14. A Couple of Jarvlen
15. In Search of a Demon
16. Mon Petit
17. Sucker Punch
18. Velnoxtica
19. Fallen
Next…
About the Author
Copyright © 2017 Nesa Miller
All rights reserved. This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the author.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, businesses, companies, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Visit the author’s website at www.ladyofkaos.com.
Cover Design: Amy Queau – Q Designs
Formatting by Serendipity Formatting: https://www.facebook.com/SerendipityFormatting/
First Edition
ISBN-13: 978-1548140595
ISBN-10: 1548140597
To Jamie, without you this story would never have come to life. Thank you for your friendship and contribution.
Acknowledgments
Daniel, my incredible husband – I adore you! Thank you for your patience, support, and inexhaustible willingness to confirm the authenticity of certain intimate scenarios.
Meredith, my irreplaceable critique partner – POV! The most valuable lesson you have taught me! Thank you for your friendship and cracking the whip to “show, not tell”.
Kim Young, my indomitable editor – thank you for sticking with me and saying it straight. Your hard work makes mine look like I know what I’m doing. Check her out!
https://www.facebook.com/KimsFictionEditingServices
Amy Queau of Q Design, one helluva cover illustrator – thank you for your beautiful work and wonderful talent. See her work at http://qcoverdesign.com/
Thank you to my beta readers and friends who have advised and provided their invaluable assistance. Special thanks to Anna Johnstone, Ingrid Hall and Derek Barton for your invaluable help along the way!
Many years ago, a small group came together in the spirit of community. They called themselves superheroes. Super they were and super they remain — thank you for your super ways, support, and continued friendships.
Long live all you Superdudes!
1
Etain
When your big brother yells at you to run, you run.
Scared out of my mind, I dashed across the road and into the park, searching for a place to hide. A copse of trees looked like the perfect spot. Darting into a tangled mass of shrubs, I tried not to cry out at the branches slapping me in the face and tearing at my hair. It was so dark, I could hardly see.
Hearing footsteps, I panicked. They didn’t belong to my brother. Too heavy. His one word blazed through my mind. Run! I tried, but getting traction wasn’t easy. The ground, slick from the rain, made me slip, and my stupid shoes weren’t helping. Man, how I wished I’d worn my boots. On hands and knees, spitting mud, I scrambled out of the shrubs, losing a shoe.
Whatever pursued me was close. I heard the rasp of its breath, glimpsed its red eyes searching and veered to the right, hoping it would be the quickest way out. As though growing claws of its own, the brutal darkness grabbed at my favorite dress, ripping it into shreds.
I’d worn it because it made me feel older than I was, even though my brother said I looked more like twelve than fourteen. It didn’t matter what he said. The smile on Dad’s face made it all worthwhile. Not that I would’ve admitted it to anyone…especially my mom, who constantly nagged about my usual outfit of jeans and t-shirt. Jeans would’ve been the better choice tonight. The scratches on my legs were stinging, the lines of blood tickling. Whatever lay ahead scared the hell out of me, but it had to be better than what came after me.
I finally burst out of the trees into the city lights. It was no less alien, but at least I could see. The empty streets, wet and shiny, reflected the monotonous green-yellow-red flickering of the traffic lights.
Where did everyone go?
The city had been busy as hell when we’d driven through on our way to supper.
Behind me, I heard the transition from a muffled step on wet earth to a firm stride on solid asphalt.
Holy shit! Oh. Damn. Sorry, Mom.
Suddenly, reality sank in.
Mom. Gone forever… Stop it! Get a grip, Etain.
I needed to hide, give myself time to think, come up with a plan. A black alley seemed perfect...until I got close. The disgusting smell of trash hit me in the face. Ugh. Breathing through my mouth, I pulled the neckline of my dress over my face. The fabric filtered the air a bit, but didn’t help much with looking over my shoulder. And I had to look. I had to make sure the red-eyed devil hadn’t followed me. However, the dork in me walked straight into a brick wall.
“Oof…”
Flat on my back, stunned, cold, and wet, I wanted to cry, but the footsteps stopped those tears. Then, I heard a man’s voice in my head. It wasn’t my father or brother, but I knew I should listen. He had a funny way of talking, like he was from a different time and place. His presence calmed me down. He urged me to breathe deeply, calm my heart.
You must move, little one. The shadows will keep you safe.
I knew he was right, but I couldn’t move. Fear had me in its grip. That’s when my brother’s voice spoke to me.
Don’t worry about it, little bit. I guess wimping out’s your right, being the baby of the family.
Then he laughed.
I’ll show you what a baby can do.
Shaking, I rolled onto my side, pushed up on my hands and knees, and crawled into a dark doorway. Seconds later, steps rushed past. The dark figure, reeking worse than the trash, growled a curse. The words were strange, but the tone of voice left no doubt as to their intent. My heart beat so hard, I was certain he could hear it. Hugging my knees to my chest, I squeezed my eyes shut, waiting for his stinking hand to grab me.
I held my breath for what felt like an eternity, listening for a noise, any indication he was near. It was quiet. Good thing, too, because I was ready to pass out. Gulping in a lungful of air, there was a lingering stench, but lighter than before. Thankfully, the night was still.
Relieved, I let go of the tension I’d held onto since this nightmare had started. Then reality hit me again…hard. Hot tears flowed down my cheeks. Tremors shook me to the core, mourning the loss of my family – my mom, my dad, and my brother.
Why? Why me? Why my family? What purpose did their deaths serve? I prayed the soothing voice would return and tell me what to do.
As if in answer, a soft glow reached out from the alley. With a sniffle, I wiped my tears and peered around the corner of the doorway. Suspended just above the ground, a bright orb glowed. Its silver light sparkled and danced, inviting me to come closer. There was no sense of danger. Instead, images of home, safe and warm, drifted through my mind. I felt the love of my family around me. Without a word spoken, I knew what I needed to do. Standing before the orb, I crouched down, its warm blaze enveloping me. Bit by bit, my f
ear faded, replaced by a sense of purpose and the knowledge my life was just beginning.
The mud and muck lifted from me, leaving my skin clean. Power pulsed through my awkward limbs as my girlish form began to transform into womanly curves and stretched to new heights. My ruined dress fell away, replaced by black leathers that fit like a second skin. I stood up, trying to comprehend what had happened.
From the corner of my eye, I saw something move, and ducked down, afraid the monster had returned. I held my breath, listening, hoping to remain unnoticed, ready to run. Slowly, I stood again then realized what I’d seen was my reflection in a window. A quick look over my shoulder assured me I was still alone.
“Holy crap.” Floating above my head, the orb cast just enough light to see my image in the glass. My fingers traced the outline of the woman I had become. “Is that me?” I marveled at the silver hair lying in stark contrast against the black leather. Leather that accented an audacious body. Little did I know at the time that the transformation aged me by five years, taking me from fourteen to nineteen in a matter of moments.
My body... I have boobs. Delighted by the prospect, a new thought hit me. Could Dad’s stories be true? The ones he spoke of only when Mom wasn’t around? Stories of the Alamir, warriors who lived in the dimension between humans and demons…and worse. I wondered if what had pursued me was the “worse”.
The orb quietly burst into sparkling stars, showering me with their light. It made me smile, something I thought I would never do again. But it didn’t last long.
Would this nightmare evaporate by morning? If it turned out to be real, could I do what was required of an Alamir? I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t prepared. However, revenge burned in my heart, making me look hard at myself. With or without my angel, I would learn how to fight. My family would be avenged.
2
New Life
Above all things, Etain loved the thrill of the ride. Her little red convertible, weaving through traffic, hummed like a well-oiled machine. Her appreciation for cars came from her father. She would listen to him banter with her brother and his friends, enthralled by their conversations about muscle cars of the past. She’d lost count of the discussions over stroking out a 350.
The car of her dreams was a ’68 SS Camaro. She didn’t care if it was stroked out or not. Power counted, but wasn’t at the top of her list. Nowadays, cars like that were rare, and were usually not in the best shape. Even if she could find one, time would be another factor. Maybe if she’d been able to stay with her first clan, Darth, things would’ve been different. They had become close to family, teaching her what it meant to be Alamir, helping her move past the tragedy that had brought her into their world. But after a couple years, the chieftain, Master G, had said the time had come for her to move on. She’d never understood the reason for his decision, and he hadn’t left room for discussion.
Her newest clan, LOKI, lived by a different structure. Getting approval to transport any sort of machinery into the Alamir realm was hard. Her experience with the LOKI High Council told her it was more than likely the request would be denied. Despite her worries, she smiled, her silver hair whipping in the wind.
Then again, here I am in Texas in the human realm, close to home and on my own. My first real Alamir assignment.
Sudden pangs in her heart made her frown, almost bringing her to tears. No, Dad. I haven’t forgotten. It’s only a minor detour. Okay, another minor detour, but I’ve learned a lot in the past five years. Dar will help me find him.
Instead of the elusive red Camaro, she’d settled for a slick, two-door Benz that handled like a dream and floated over the road. This little beauty was always ready, no matter how long between visits. Biting her bottom lip, she engaged the clutch and downshifted to pass a truck.
Before she could make her move, a sleek motorcycle pulled up even with her. The boy flipped up the visor and winked as he revved the engine. Flipping the visor down, he popped a wheelie and sped on.
Etain eased off the gas, glancing ahead of the motorcycle, checking to see if the coast was clear to follow. She saw an even bigger truck, traveling much faster, headed straight for the bike. The boy tried to swerve, but the monolith to his right refused to budge. He had nowhere to go.
Etain laid on the horn as she pressed the gas and straddled the center line, hoping the truck driver would see her in his large side mirror. Whether the man was an idiot or just an asshole, he ignored her attempts to catch his attention. The boy held onto the handle bars and jumped to his feet, landing on the seat. Finding the right balance, he stood up then leaped, making a grab for a handle on the side of the trailer van. Just missing his target, his shoulder slammed into the trailer. The driver jerked the wheel enough to throw the boy across the gap into the other truck as it passed. With the oncoming truck having a soft-sided trailer, Etain thought the motorcycle guy just might have a chance of holding on. She suddenly had to veer to the right, barely avoiding the abandoned motorcycle. She saw the boy bounce from one trailer to the other, slamming hard against the metal. Downshifting, she veered to the left, ready for a face-off with the oncoming truck. At the last moment, the driver jerked the steering wheel to the right, colliding with the lone cycle and running it over.
As the trailer of the second truck jack-knifed toward the first, Etain noticed a gap open. Shifting into fourth, she lined up with the biker, then shifted to third, praying she had timed it right. He landed face down over the back of the sports car. With a quick shift to fourth, she grabbed him by the collar and dragged him into the passenger seat. She looked up just as the tail of the trailer hit the first truck, which drifted to the right. Seeing her chance, she floored it.
The churning in his stomach was his first clue. Clinical smells had that effect on him. He opened his eyes and blinked several times. Everything was white. Maybe he was dead and this was hell. He closed his eyes, took in a slow, deep breath, and willed the turmoil in his belly to a mild flutter.
Must be a hospital.
Daring another peek, he noticed bandages over most of his body, including a fresh cast on his right arm, confirming his recent adventure.
It is hell, but not permanent.
Struggling to sit up, he felt an IV stuck in one hand, and a call button at the fingertips of the other. In moments, a nurse appeared, accompanied by a man he thought to be a doctor. He certainly had the look – tall, well-groomed, spotless white coat, black-rimmed glasses, and a fancy watch. He ended another conversation as he stepped into the room.
“-as soon as I found out.” The doctor smiled at him. “Nice to see you found the call button. I’m Dr. Green.” Approaching the bed, he extracted a small pen-like object from his coat pocket. “Can you tell me your name?” He flicked a switch on the pen and flashed a light into the patient’s right eye, then his left.
“Joe.” His voice was barely above a croak.
“Joe. Good.” He nodded, tucked the pen away, and checked Joe’s other vitals. “How about a last name?”
Joe was thankful for whatever this doctor had done to save his life, but not enough to get that personal. “Water?”
The doctor raised a brow and looked at the nurse. She eyed the patient, stepped toward the head of the bed, and rolled a table over, a small plastic pitcher and matching cup sitting on top. She filled the cup, but despite her giving Joe instructions to take small sips, he drained it then grabbed the pitcher, emptying it, as well.
“I told you to take small sips,” she huffed, narrowing her eyes at him.
“Can’t talk with a dry mouth.” Joe wiped his lips with the back of a hand and held out the pitcher. “How about a refill?”
Her eyes bulged.
“Nurse Jordan, get our patient more water,” said Dr. Green, smiling.
“But, doctor-”
“Just do it, please.”
With pursed lips, she stoically walked out of the room. The doctor looked at his patient. “Joe, we’ll forego the last name for now. Do you remember what happene
d?”
“Minor disagreement.”
The doctor grunted. “Hmph, you're lucky. Your helmet and bike took the brunt of it. Fortunately, the young lady who brought you in had a compatible blood type.”
Joe nodded, as though he knew all this. “How long will I be here?”
“A few days. It depends on how well your injuries are healing.”
“My bike?”
“Let’s just say I hope it was insured.”
Joe frowned. It wasn't. “So, what do I do in the meantime?”
“Rest.” The doctor pointed to a television in the corner, then the remote at the side of his bed. “Watch TV. Keep in mind, we only get the basics.” Dr. Green jotted a few notes on the chart. “I’ll look in before I leave for the night. Maybe you’ll have a last name by then.”
“Like you’ll ever get it,” Joe muttered as the doctor left the room.
He reached for the remote and surfed through the channels. From the corner of his eye, he noticed someone come into the room. Must be the panties-in-a-wad nurse.
“Thanks for the water,” he mumbled, his gaze on the TV screen.
Unimpressed with his limited viewing pleasure, he tossed the remote on the bed and tugged at his hospital gown. “Don’t you people have air conditioning in this place?” No response. He was damn sure she hadn’t left the room. “Hey, nurse.” A strong energy pulsed around him. “What was your name? Oh, yeah…” The temperature continued to rise. “Jordan.” Brow cocked, he leaned to his right, grimacing, and moved the white curtain aside. “Nurse Jordan?” A low laugh from his left made him turn. He jumped, seeing a girl clad in black leathers. “You’re definitely not Jordan.”