M.A. Church's Blog, page 162

Wednesay Briefs - Nighttime Promises #16

[image error] Welcome to the Wednesday Briefers flash group. The short stories have a maximum of a 1000 word count plus links at the bottom to the other flashers. The prompts for this week are: "You look like a vampire on a day pass..."
or "Hold your water!"
or use a rare bottle of wine
or "Don't you wiggle your .... at me, mister!"
or use: a ball, a dog, and a scarf
or "Hand me that, will you?"
or use smeared mascara
or make a Mr. Ed reference
or use a beautiful sunset
or use oatmeal in some way.  ~ ~ ~  ~Nighttime Promises is the 3rd book in the Nighttime series, which is published by Romance First. I'm using the prompts to help me get going on this book. Yes, this is a tentacle story lol. Fair warning! I'm going to pull this about 3/4th of the way through, expand it, and send it off. Most of the story will be shown on here though. I'm giving this warning so no one will be caught off guard when I pull the story.   
Nighttime Promises #16 
They returned to Daroshi’s home before nightfall. Bryan helped Daroshi secure the weapons, then he fixed them something to drink. The hike had certainly been educational. Bryan had memorized the names of a few plants that were safe to eat… and which ones weren’t. They’d spotted a few animals out and about, but they were small ones—no bigger than rabbits they had at home. Earth. I mean Earth. Shit.
According to Daroshi, they were fairly easy to hunt and were good cooked over an open flame. Bryan soaked up all the information Daroshi gave him. If Daroshi seriously wanted to hunt him, then Bryan needed all the information he could get… because he wasn’t going to make it easy for him.
No, Daroshi would have to work for it. At least, that’s what Bryan hoped. While he had no doubt Daroshi would track him down, he didn’t want the damn alien to take him in an hour or so. Where was the fun in that?
They spent the rest of the evening doing chores around Daroshi’s home. Bryan knew Daroshi wanted him to think of this place as his too, and he was working on it. They spent several hours experimenting with color and patterns. They’d managed to make up some pillows in blues and greens. Okay, so they didn’t look like the pillows you got at those fancy stores—this was their first time. Daroshi just shook his head, saying he didn’t see the need for such things.
After Bryan popped him in the face a few times, then took off running, Daroshi got the idea. That was one use for a pillow he enjoyed. They had a light meal, then Daroshi settled at his comp station to update his ship’s log on a holographic image.
Bored, Bryan stood behind him. “What’s all that?”
“Just charts that needed to be updated, notes that needed to be proofed, time and date stamps on reports… just the usual stuff. Hey, since you’re right here, would you order me a Kamorph from the reduplicate?”
“Sure.” Bryan stepped over to the machine and order Daroshi’s drink. “What is this, anyway?”
“I guess the best description would be an energy drink.”
Bryan smirked as he brought the drink to Daroshi. “Needing a boost, are you?”
Daroshi laughed at the look Bryan gave him. “Just hand me that, will you? And, ah, maybe you should have one too.”
Bryan rested his hip against the desk. “Oh, got plans, do you?”
“Yes,” Daroshi sighed. “Or I will have, just as soon as I finish this mound of data.”
Bryan grunted as he watched. “It’s funny, in a way. Here I am, millions of miles away from my native planet watching an alien sitting at a desk doing paperwork for his job—just like I used to do.” Bryan rested his hand on Daroshi’s shoulder. “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”
Daroshi covered Bryan’s hand. “You see? Common ground, effort, and feelings are all we need to make this work. And we will make this work.”
“Hope so. How much time do you need?”
“Probably an Earth hour, at least.”
“Oh.”
Daroshi turned to face Bryan. “What’s wrong?”
“Well, nothing is actually wrong, Daroshi. It’s just… See, I’m bored. If I was at home, I’d be messing around in the kitchen, or watching TV, or doing some yard work, maybe doing laundry… something. There was always something that needed to be done. Here? I don’t know what to do, what needs to be done, or even what I can do.”
“Oh, trust me, there’s plenty of things that need to be done here, Bryan. And I’ll show you what needs to be taken care of and how. Just give me time, okay? This is our first day here.”
Bryan ran a hand through his hair. “Man, I sound like a whiny brat and I’m not meaning to. But I can’t read your language, and all those symbols are meaningless to me… And there I go again. I-I… guess I’m out of sorts a bit.”
Daroshi pointed at another chair close by. “Grab that and join me. I’ll read off some of the more interesting things that I’m uploading. I can explain the department functions while I work.” Daroshi winked as Bryan sat next to him. “And I might even be able to add a bit of interesting rumors too.”
Bryan leaned closer. “What’s that you’re doing?”
“It’s a report. Seems like two junior officers were caught having sex while on duty. From what the report says, one of them got a little… active… and set off the hazmat foam-guard in one of the Cargo Bays. What a mess all that foam must have been.”
Bryan snorted. “Yeah, kinda hard to cover that up.”
“The thing is, one of them had to be sitting on a computer console to activate the foam-guard. They’re lucky they didn’t open the Bay doors and drop the force field. They would have been sucked out into space. What a totally irresponsible thing to do.”
Bryan looked at Daroshi. “Uh-huh. So are you telling me you never did something stupid?”
Daroshi shook his head. “Nothing that would jeopardize my career. Have you?”
“Not after I became Sherriff. But before that? Yeah, I did some things that would’ve gotten me written up.”
One of Daroshi’s tentacles reached out and touched Bryan’s shoulder.  “Troublemaker, huh?”
Bryan grabbed the tentacle and kissed the end of it. “Let’s just say, I like taking risks.”
Daroshi hummed, the sound a low growl. “Uploading data can wait. Burying my mating tentacle up your hot ass can’t.” Daroshi stood and grasped Bryan’s hand. “Come on, mate.”
“Whoa, big guy, I wasn’t trying to—”
“For future reference, kissing the end of a tentacle will get my attention every time. It’s like me kissing your cock.”
“Good to know.” Bryan grinned as tentacles reached for him.  TBC. Make sure to visit the other briefers!
Chris T. KatShelly Schulz  Nephylim  Cia Nordwell Renee StevensElyzabeth VaLey   Victoria Adams Andrew GordonTali SpencerJon KeysJC Wallace Julie Lynn Hayes Lily Sawyer 

Some numbers on Harvest and a udate on me.

Buy links:
Storm Moon Press: http://www.stormmoonpress.com/books/The-Harvest-Taken.aspx
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/prhttp://www.amazon.com/The-Harvest-Taken-M-A-Church-ebook/dp/B00GCS4FCS/ref=zg_bs_301889_39oduct-theharvesttaken-1334840-145.htmlAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Harvest-Taken-M-A-Church-ebook/dp/B00GCS4FCS/ref=zg_bs_301889_39


Ranking on Amazon. *laugh* Who knows what it is now lol. Probably dropping.  
#15 in Books > Romance > Science Fiction 
#20 in Books > Gay & Lesbian > Literature & Fiction > Fiction > Romance 
#21 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Romance > Science Fiction


Ranking at ARe.
#1 in the Scifi category
#38 on ARe bestseller list

* * * *

Big thanks to all y'all. It's took a long time to get Harvest to this point, and we're only halfway there lol. I'm working on Book 2. What I mean, there are some terms and names I have to change now in Book 2. It's 96K long so it isn't happening fast lol.

On the health front...  it's been a month since the stroke. Wow, that was a quick month, lol. Wish I could say time flew because I was having fun lol. I have another dr appt with another dr who will hopefully adjust my med's.

It's also been a month since I stopped smoking. Yay! I'm off the patch and not having any problems. :) Well, no problems with smoking. The med's are giving me fits though. *fingers crossed* that gets clears up.
 
Take care guys!
~M

Welcome Tali Spencer and The Seventh Sacrifice

Seven Clues Your Love Might Be an Amaru 


 I had a blast writing “The Seventh Sacrifice.” The story is set in modern day Bolivia and in it I use some of the stories and myths I learned through my many visits there. One of those myths that fascinated me was that of the amaru, a giant serpent deity that native women told me still dwell underground. They told me the river in the city was once sacred to the amaru, though the Spanish built a church over the huaca, or sacred place. I combined this with a story my mother-in-law told me about that church and… shifters! Because shifters are fun and I wanted my native sorcerer/amaru to be hot.
Sooo… how would a man recognize that he’s treading near danger? How does one recognize an amaru?   Here are some clues from the story:
7. The gorgeous shaman you meet in the market performs black magic, guaranteed to work.
6. You see a lot of people you don’t know giving you pitying looks.
5. Your prospective lover lures you at night to the roof top of a church.
4. The church is built on the foundations of an ancient Inca temple.
3. The man you meet for hot anonymous sex encircles your package with a pure gold cock ring.
2. He thinks having sex on the altar is the way to go.
1. The man you are with turns into a creature with a llama’s head, wings, and the scaled body of a serpent-fish. The picture gives you a good idea.
 
 
[Amaru, by Genzoman]
 
Blurb:
Beltran is a peaceful man, but when his Bolivian cousin is brutalized, he seeks out a native sorcerer in a quest for vengeance. He doesn’t know the attractive shaman, Katari, is an amarudemon, a serpent shifter determined to break an ancient spell. Beltran’s about to discover the price of black magic.
 
And a sexy little excerpt:
Katari turned back to the box and began to sort through its contents.  Beltran could not help but watch.  He had never seen such beautiful hands; they seemed fashioned not from sinew and skin, but of dark, polished wood, just like the carvings sold in booths along the Calle Sagarnara.  Katari placed chosen objects on the table.  A charred feather, possibly condor.  A small amber bead like a snake’s eye.  What appeared to be some kind of tooth.  When asked for something belonging to the man, Beltran handed over the small envelope Marisol had given him.
Katari opened it and removed a fouled square of cotton.  Arching an eyebrow, he took a sniff, then grunted and added it to the items on the table. 
“Can you make it work?”  Beltran’s stomach clenched at knowing what was on the bit of cloth.
“Yes.  Semen is very powerful and the woman’s essence is polluted because he hurt her.  I could do even more with it.”
What he was doing was enough.  Beltran felt himself believing in this spell, despite the fact it could never really do what Katari promised.  Or maybe he was just in thrall to the beautiful tones of the sorcerer’s dark voice.
“This is black magic.  Illegal to sell… and the church could come after me.  I will make this charm for you to take to your cousin on one condition—”  Katari lifted his hand from his work, taking the opportunity to skim the backs of his fingers across the shape of Beltran’s erection, bulging toward him through a layer of denim.  “Meet me tonight.”
“Tonight?”  The word had him dreaming of moonlight and skin.
“I will show you the roof of the church.” 
“The church?”  Neither angry nor alarmed, Beltran simply shivered with restrained pleasure.  He understood the message perfectly.  The sorcerer’s touch was making his cock leak with excitement.
“We will be all alone with no one to see us.  I know the night watchman.  I make charms for his family’s health.” 
He wanted to refuse.  Every warning he had ever heard about not going off alone with strange men clamored in his head.  It was just… he had never felt such a powerful physical attraction before, to any man, not even his last lover.  Katari’s smell, strong and sharp, might as well have been incense, it so permeated the room.  Just to look upon those masculine features and full, proud lips stole away his will.  He wanted to experience all this man had to offer, and his body refused to utter words of denial.
“We can meet outside, in front of the church,” he said.  Even at late hours there was ample vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the Plaza San Francisco.  “We can talk, and maybe go to the roof,” he added, already knowing that he would.
“Bueno,” said Katari, giving him a smile filled with lust and promises. 
~~~~~~~~
“The Seventh Sacrifice” is available at Amazon, All Romance Ebooks, and Storm Moon Press
 
Author Bio
Tali Spencer fell in love with writing at an early age and never stopped. Thanks to a restless father, she grew up as a bit of a nomad and still loves to travel whenever she can. Her longest stint in one place was Milwaukee where she went to college and enjoyed a series of interesting careers whileVisit Tali’s blog at http://talismania-brilliantdisguise.blogspot.com
E-mail: tali.spencer1@gmail.com
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/tali.spencer
Twitter: @tali_spencer

The Derkelyng - chapter 5 & 6

Chapter Five
“Nice place.” But then again, anything beats dirt floors and cave walls. And Heaven help me, he has lights and running water. Oh man, there has to be hot water too. I bet the one thing I don’t find around here is something to eat.
I walked into the main room, which was decorated in black and white. Fuck, I’m afraid to touch anything. All that white is just asking to get messed up. There were metal lamps on glass tables and a fireplace at one end of the room. I saw an eating area off to the side. Huh, bet he can cook in there. Well, that is if he actually ate.
Through a partially open door, I saw what appeared to be a working bathroom. Which would be great, except the Derkelyng didn’t need bathrooms. They didn’t eat, didn’t sweat, didn’t… didn’t do anything that a living person did. I glanced in an oval mirror over a sink. It had been a long time since I’d seen my reflection. The wetness from the earlier rain had darkened my light blond hair. Tired brown eyes with dark circles under them stared back at me. For someone so young, I looked old and used-up.
I jumped when Lander hugged me from behind. There was that damn scent again, swirling inside my head, making me want.
“Let me show you the bedroom, sweet.”
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my pounding heart. Lander grabbed my hand and I stumbled along. My knees were shaking, and the bulge at the front of my pants was more than a little noticeable. Lander stopped in front of a door, glanced down at me and licked his lips. Well Jesus, I just thought I was hard. Fuck, I want to bite those lips.
With a grand display, Lander threw open a door and gestured to a large room dominated by a bed covered in white fur. All the furniture was black, even the floor looked black, but it gleamed. That was kind of cool. I knew there was stone that had that kind of shine, but I didn’t know the name of it. Wasn’t like there was much of it from where I came from. There were abstract pictures on the walls, done in black and white, and… I raised an eyebrow. One whole wall was glass. I stepped over to it and looked down. The night lights were spread out below.
I waved at the glass. “Um, that’s kinda dangerous, isn’t it?”
Lander glanced at the windows and shrugged. “The glass is nearly impossible to break and coated in a pitch-black tint. You just can’t tell that at night. Plus, as a backup, there are metal shutters that close before daybreak.”
“Still, I’d think you wouldn’t want glass within an inch of you.”
Lander smoothed my damp hair off my neck. “I like to live dangerously.”
A full body shiver racked me as cool lips touched the side of my neck. “You must.”
Lander’s hands reached around to undo the buttons that ran up my shirt. “I get the feeling I’m not alone in that, though.”
I didn’t answer. I was too busy watching my shirt being opened a button at a time. Lander’s slim, nimble fingers spread my shirt open, exposing my chest as his lips skimmed up my neck. Those pale hands eased my shirt off, letting it drop to the floor. I held my breath as those hands returned to touch, to stroke.
Lander’s fingers traced a scar on a rib, then continued the journey up my chest, heading closer and closer to… My breath rushed out as he ran a nail over my nipple. Both nubs beaded, standing up, wanting more attention. Lander rubbed his finger over the peak, teasing it until I thought I’d scream. I wanted… I wanted…
“How do you think it would feel if I played with both?”
“I-I-I…” That was a far as I got.
Lander grasped both nipples, pulling and tugging… and my brain short-circuited. Never had I felt anything like it. The sensations went straight from my nipples to my cock. I couldn’t think, all I wanted was more. The harder he tugged, the more I ached for more.
Shit, I’d had sex before, but it had been nothing more than getting off. We certainly didn’t touch each other, not for pleasure. It had been all about getting a cock up an ass, and that was all. There was no kissing, no playing with nipples. I certainly never had been into pain. But the harder he twisted, the more precome my cock wept. If he kept that up, I might just come. Shit, what had I been missing all this time?
“Fuck,” I whispered, both of my hands covering Lander’s.
“Are you trying to stop me, or trying to help?” Lander ground his dick against my ass. I wanted to feel that as soon as I could with no clothes between us.
“I…” A slightly hysterical giggle popped out of me. “I’m not sure.”
Lander trapped both nipples between his fingers, the tips aching and stiff above his fingers. “Rub your fingers across them. Feel what I feel when I touch you.”
“Jesus.” Okay, that was fucking hot. Then I ran the pads of my fingers across those trapped nubs and my knees damn near buckled from the shock. “Holy shit.”
“You are so responsive. I can’t wait to make love to you, show you all the things… You’ll lose your mind, trust me, at what I want to do.”
I licked my lips. “Like... like what?”
Lander pinched my nipples harder. “Mmm, I think I’d like to clamp these pretty nipples with clothespins, first off. Something nice and easy that won’t freak you out too much.”
I arched against Lander. “Clothespin? There? And that won’t freak me out?”
Lander’s hand drifted down to the bulge in my pants, the heel of his hand rubbing hard against my cock. Then that naughty hand pinched the inside of my thigh near my dick. “Not as much as having the pins down here.” A desperate moan echoed through the apartment. Was that me moaning like that? 
“Holy… fuck.” I rubbed my ass harder against his dick. Shit, that sounded like it hurt, and I fucking couldn’t wait. I was hard enough to pound nails. “Do… do that again.”
“Do what?”
“Pinch me.”
“Huh, seems like we might have the making of a pain slut here.” Lander’s fingers caressed the top of my stomach, making the muscles jump under his fingers. I grunted when he pinched the skin right above the waistband of my pants. 
“Lander… please?”
“Oh sweet, yes. Whatever you want, I’ll give you.”
Lander undid the button on my pants. I never knew pants being unzipped could sound so sexy. Suddenly, I couldn’t wait. I jerked away from the shelter of his arms and sat on the bed. Off came my boots.
“I want… I want… Fuck, Lander. I want to feel you busting my ass open.” I undid all the buckles and snaps on my pants and wiggled out of them.
Lander launched himself at me and we fell across the bed. Between his hands and mine, we managed to strip him too. We rolled around on that huge bed, the fur bedspread tickling my legs, clothes thrown everywhere. My hands were all over him, touching and teasing. His body was like mine, long and lean, with very little hair… only cooler, much cooler.
Lander flipped us and I ended up on top of him, my knees by his hips, his body pressed to mine. “You are so beautiful, Blade. I can’t wait to make you mine.”
“Jesus, I’ve never… never… fuck, you’re a Derkelyng. What the fuck am I doing?”
Lander buried his hands in my hair and pulled me down closer to him. “I’m more than that, Blade. I’m also your mate. Yes, we are different, but… I’ve scented you. There’s no way I can let you go now. I need you, Blade.”
Shit, I wasn’t sure I could let him go now, either. And didn’t that just fuck the whole deal up? “I-I… fuck.”
Lander grinned at me. “Fuck sounds like a grand idea. Then maybe the rest will seem less threatening.”
“Yeah, screw it.”
Lander smoothed my hair out of the way. “Favorite position?”
“For me or you?”
Lander  snorted. “How do youlike to be fucked?”
I nipped the tip of his nose. “Hands and knees. But you should know I’m not always going to be catching.”
“Huh.” Lander flipped us again.
Good thing I didn’t get motion sickness. I found myself on my hands and knees, just like I said, with my ass in the air.
“I have never bottomed, but I could with you, Blade.”
“You, you never have?” It has hard to think when there were slim, cool fingers exploring my ass. “Ah, you got something to—” Lube squirted in me and I nearly climbed off the bed.
“Ah, sorry.”
“Christ, Lander, that’s cold, dammit.” I glanced back at him, hoping he’d see the promise in my eyes. “I’ll remember that.”
Lander patted one ass check. “I am sorry, sweet. You’re so warm and we’re so not. I didn’t think to warm it up. I will next time.”
Next time. Oh God, next time. As in doing this again, living together, being a couple, him changing me. Me being like him. That’s bad enough, but being mate to a House Lord? Someone as powerful as he is?
Lander’s fingers entered me, lubed up, and searching. This was going to be quick, I could see that. He stretched me open, and I enjoyed the burn. He also took the time to find my hot spot and, once he did, God, he ruthlessly played with that bundle of nerves until I was nearly begging for release. Again, I never knew what I was missing. Sex had never been like this for me. How was I going to give this up?
All thoughts fled my mind as he entered me. Yes, he was cooler than I was used to, but he took his time, listening to my body signals and giving me time to adjust. Jesus, he was big. That’s what I got for not checking out what was going up my ass. I’d been too desperate. And now… well. Now it didn’t matter.
“Fuck me, dammit.” I growled.
Lander grasped my hips and did what I asked. Holy shit, he knew how to use what he had. Every third thrust pegged my hot spot. He was using me so hard, we were moving across the bed.  I was close to coming.
“Fuck, I’m close. You promised no biting, remember?”
Lander gripped me harder. “Right, now come!”
“Fuck.” I yelled as he filled me up with his come. It went on forever, his seed flooding me.
“God, Blade.”
Lander slumped against me and I hit the bed, unable to support us both. My pants were right by my head, thrown there purposely by me. I reached out, gently opening one of the cargo pockets. There, in a pouch, was my trusty knife.
Gripping the hand, I groaned loudly. “Man, you’re suffocating me. Got to breathe, you know.”
Lander snorted but rolled over to his back. Quick as a snake, I straddled him, the knife in my hand. He had to truly die. I knew that. He was one of the most powerful Derkelyng around and a child of Rider’s.If Lander was destroyed, this whole coven would be thrown into chaos. Maybe humans could get a toehold in this area. Maybe Rider would move on.
I raked the knife over Lander’s throat.
This was what I did. I was indeed a killer. Lander needed to cease to exist. And I certainly knew how to kill. The funny thing was I had ended up in the city by accident. But having Lander appear and claim I was his mate was a bonus I hadn’t expected. Neither was my reaction to him.
I looked into those glowing red eyes then down to the pitifully small scratch on Lander’s throat and knew I had purposely not cut him hard enough. Hell, he was barely bleeding. The damn wound was healing before my eyes. This knife was sharp enough to take his head and I… I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill him. A low growl drifted up and Lander knocked the knife out of my hand.
Shit, I’m dead.
 
Chapter Six
“I knew you were a killer. Actually, the name Blade is becoming known among our kind. I’m impressed.” Lander snarled as he flipped them once again. Blade was on his back, his eyes peeled wide open. There was fear there… and acceptance.
Lander grabbed those slim legs and jerked them to his shoulders. “To try to kill me, while having sex… You are damn brave, Blade.”
Tears rose in Blade’s eyes. “I-I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t kill you. God help me, I couldn’t take your head.”
Lander slammed back into Blade, grateful Blade was still loose and wet. He thrust hard, but he made sure he was nailing that special bundle of nerves. Lander raised Blade’s legs higher, nearly bending Blade in half and thrust harder.
“I… do not—” Lander snarled as he reamed Blade’s ass “—have… that… problem. Come, damn you!”
Lander bellowed as Blade tightened around his cock, pulling his orgasm from him. Then, he struck, his fangs sinking into Blade’s neck.
“Ahhh, fuck!” Blade screamed.
Lander injected his venom, then jerked back to stare at Blade. “You are going to be a worthy mate.”
Blade’s mouth fell open. “Wh-h-at? Mate? But... but... you said no biting. I-I… Why would you do that? I thought you’d kill me after what I…”
“I have.” Lander tapped Blade’s lips. “Killed you, that is. I’ve fucked you, came in you twice, bit you. There’s no getting away now. You aredying.”
Blade shivered. “But… I assumed the bite was how humans are converted.”
Lander thrust against Blade, their cocks moving together through the precome Blade was leaking again. Lander ran his finger tips over Blade’s lips. He grinned when he noticed Blade tried to reach up and couldn’t. The venom was working.
“Such lovely skin, sweet.” Landers voice then changed. “I’m surprised at you, Blade. You should never assume anything. I would have thought a killer like you would be well aware of that lesson.”
Blade froze. “Are you telling me the rumors about sex changing a human are true?”
“Yes. You have my seed in you now and it’s changing you. All that is left is for me to give you my blood. It’s all about blood and come.” Lander bit into his wrist.
Blade tried to turn his head and couldn’t. “But, but… I don’t knowthat I want to be…”
Lander held his dripping wrist over Blade’s mouth. “Open, Blade.”
Blade narrowed his eyes but did what he was told.
Lander sighed in pleasure from the frantic sucking at his wrist. “Ah sweet, before you took the knife to me, I would’ve given you time. Now, we do it how I want, and I want you as my mate as soon as possible. You’re going to be one of the most deadly Derkelyng ever, my very own knife. I’m so proud.”
 
SIX months later Lander arrived at Lafayette Square. He waited by the bronze statue of Henry Clay as he’d been asked by his mate. The night was nice, the moon shining brightly. There was a slight fluttering in the air, then Blade stood in front of Lander.
“One day we will soar over the city because you have asked.” Blade grinned. “Is that what you told me back then?”
Lander reached for his mate. “Indeed, I did say that.”
Suddenly, Blade wrapped his arms around Lander and lifted them off their feet. He kept going until they were soaring above the buildings… just as Lander had said.
“Um, surprise,” Blade said as they floated.
“Surprise? Oh my sweet, for one as young as you to have this kind of power is unbelievable. I am so proud of you.”
Blade blushed. “I wanted to show you on our six month anniversary. I just hope I can get us back home.”
Lander hugged Blade tighter. “Don’t worry if you can’t, I’ll take the flying over.  I’ll… ah… catch… If you know what I mean.”
Blade red eyes blazed. “Damn, wait until I get you home. I want you on your hands and knees… after I’ve cut your clothes off.”
Lander chuckled as they drew closer to home. “You and that damn knife.”
Blade winked. “Right, wasn’t it you who suggested blood play, my mate? So don’t tell me you’re afraid of my little knife.”
Lander growled as his feet hit the ground. Blade had gotten them back to the apartment building.  “Never, sweet. You couldn’t hurt me then, and you can’t now. You are a fierce Derkelyng, and you are mine.”
“Got that fucking right.” Blade pulled his knife and sliced open Lander’s shirt. “Now get to stepping before I strip you out here. Bedroom, now.”
Lander’s laugh echoed on the night air. ~Hope y'all enjoyed this short story. *laugh* I don't normally write on the fly like I did this, but damn if the story didn't get hot. ~M

The Derkelyng - Chapter 3 and 4

Chapter Three
By what name may I address you by? Well now, isn’t he just so sophisticated, educated, and everything I’m not.
“Blade. My name is Blade.”
Sweat dripped down my face, the tickling sensation making me itch. Damn, that was annoying, as was my soaked shirt, stuck tight to my skin. That mind-numbing run down dark alleyways, knowing those things were hot on my heels, had led me here—to the inner most bowels of the city.
At first, I’d had the impression they were truly hunting me. Snarls and growls still lingered in my ears; they’d played with me like a cat does a mouse. As I ran, I searched for some place suitable for making a stand. If they were going to take me, I wasn’t going to make it easy on them.
“Ah. Okay. Do you happen to have a last name, Blade?”
Then, abruptly, things changed. Instead of taunting me, they stopped talking. Instead of stalking me, they seemed to be herding me. Only these two followed me too. I’d assumed, like most large predators, the Derkelyng hunted in groups.
I stared at the one who appeared to be in charge. “Just Blade.”
It seemed I was wrong. Next thing I knew, I was in this park-type place, my gun had been taken, and suddenly there was this tall guy telling me I was protected and asking my name. And that smell! It was sweet, clean, and… Well hell, it just smelled good. I didn’t get a chance to smell things that smelled good often. The scent made me ache.
“May I ask how you came by such a unique name?”
I shrugged at the one who called himself Lander. “I like knives.”
Those pale lips twitched. “I see. Something to keep in mind, I believe.” A hand was held out, the fingers long and slim. “Please come with me.”
“Your name is Lander, right?” I fingered the knife I still held, surprised it hadn’t been taken from me. “Tell me, why would I want to do that?
“Because I asked you to. You have my word no one will harm you. Please, will you come?”
I snorted. This had to be the weirdest conversation I’d ever had. Not only were they not ripping me limb from limb, fighting over my blood… They were acting like they had manners, and brains that could think rational thoughts, and… shit, feelings. That tall one, Lander, seemed the most concerned about me.
And holy God, what was that smell? A tingle raced through my body as I breathed deeply. My cock twitched. Now, if that wasn’t an inappropriate reaction, I didn’t know what was. I blew my bangs out of my eyes and notice Lander grinning at me. Huh. He’s really not bad looking. Tall, dark hair, lean build… and shit, two sets of fangs and blood red eyes. Okay, I’ve lost my fucking mind.
“Where are we going? And how?” I asked.
Lander stepped closer, his hand still out. “Back to my private unit, and we will walk. No one will bother you, I promise.”
“I’m not dinner?”
Lander threw his head back and laughter roared out of him. When it died down, he wiped his eyes with the hand he’d held out to me. “You, my lovely human, are not dinner. Blade, you are far too important to me to be slaughtered.”
I noticed the teardrop of blood on his finger and crossed my arms over my chest. “Before I go anywhere with you, tell me why I’m important.”
Lander held out his hand again. “Take my hand and you will see.”
“This isn’t a trick?”
“No trick.”
Why I trusted him, I had no idea. But my gut said I could and my gut was never wrong. I uncrossed my arms, holstered my knife, and gingerly laid my hand in his… and felt like a bull elephant just rammed me in the chest. My lungs froze, my head spun, and my cock stood up.
I had to close my eyes. Everything was suddenly too… just too much, too huge. Desire flashed through my body, spiraling out of control, and a firestorm of need burned through my head. I needed, oh God, I needed… had to have… My fingers clutched, tightening against his… Oh fuck, I wanted him to throw me down, rip my clothes off and—
“What the fuck is that smell?”
“Blade.” Lander took a deep breath. “I can smell your arousal. And while I’m enjoying that very much, you should know any Derkelyng within fifty feet of you can smell your desire too. You are unmarked as of yet, and… Hell, I’d really hate to kill someone this soon in our relationship.”
My head whirled, and I took a deep breath, then another, then another yet again. The scent filled me. All there was around me was that smell. It was the only thing that mattered to me, the only thing that… I wanted to roll around in that—
My eyes snapped open. “Wait, what the fuck do you mean ‘relationship’?”
Lander kissed my knuckles. “You are my mate. Surely you must know that? That scent you smell is me, just as I can scent you. It’s how we know we’ve found our mate. You, my knife-wielding human, are the one who will belong to me, as I will belong to you. Already the ties that bind us have started.”
For a whole minute, I stared at Lander. That seemed to be the name of the game tonight… staring. Nothing moved, not even a breeze. Even the small animals around us had gone silent. Nothing registered in my brain—no sound, no meaning, just nothing. When higher functioning kicked in, I pivoted on my heel and… ran. I had no idea where I was or where I was going. I was deep in their—his—territory. There was no place for me to run, nowhere to hide.
They were all around me as I ran pell-mell down the street, those red eyes tracking me, fangs gleaming in the moonlight. Not one of them stalked me, though. Whispers followed me as I ran, but not one of them tried to stop me.
Suddenly I was picked up off my feet, my body floating off the ground, my back to his chest. My balance was thrown off and my stomach lurched. Right before he lifted me, I felt him brush against my mind. Just a second or two. I had to wonder if that was the tie he’d spoken of earlier.
I also knew why none of the others had interfered. Lander had me well in hand, apparently. I fingered the knife on my hip, wondering how much he thoughthe had me under control. Maybe if I stabbed him, I could… Dammit. I couldn’t. My fingers refused to grab the knife, my arm refused to lift… I could nothurt him. What the hell? What exactly was this bond between us?
“Easy there.” Lander held me close as we hovered above the ground. “I take it my news comes as a shock. I am sorry for that, but how can you not know this? I thought—”
I shivered in his arms. “Humans don’t know that much about your kind. We hate you, you kill us.”
Lander sighed heavily, his breath ruffling my hair. “Maybe your tribe of humans’ feels that way. Not all do. Have you not noticed the humans here in the city?”
“Right, humans as pets. You know, I’d think more clearly if my feet were on the ground.”
Lander’s soft laugh wrapped around me as he lowered us to the ground. “One day we will soar over the city because you have asked. Now, those you see are not all pets. Actually, most are mates.”
Once my feet were back on Earth, I pulled out of his arms and faced Lander. “Thanks, that’s better. Okay, we just assumed you mated with your own kind and used us as… entertainment.”
Lander ran his hand over my hair. “Some do, some don’t. Can’t the same be said of humans? Blade, we are more similar than you think. Like your species, my kind has good and bad in their midst. I do have to admit I have as much to learn about you as you do about me.”
I gaped at Lander.
“I’m not worried about others, Blade. It’s you that matters to me.”
“But, I don’t want to be a killer.” Even as the words left my mouth, I cringed. I had killed, though. Maybe it wasn’t in cold blood, but I’d taken several lives through the years. I’d had to—it was either them or me, and I had no problem with that.
 
 Chapter four
Lander nudged Blade’s chin up. “Killing because you have to and killing because you like to are two totally different things. I think you know that. You have killed because you’ve had to, yes?”
“Yes.”
“Then I don’t think you’ll suddenly turn into a monster that thirsts for blood. You do know we can feed without killing?”
“No, that wasn’t in the pamphlet sent out by the local chapter.”
Lander shook his head, a smile once more playing around his mouth. He reached out and touched his human’s lips. So soft and warm. “I think I’m going to enjoy your sense of humor. Few rarely dare speak their mind to me.”
“Why?”
Lander moved closer. “Because I hold a position of power. I tend to intimidate others.” Lander ran his thumb over Blade’s bottom lip. “But, I don’t think I intimidate you.”
Blade’s mouth parted. “I-I-I… You could break me in half.”
Lander stepped closer, their lower bodies touching. “Why would I want to do that when bending you over the nearest surface is much more satisfying?”
“Mother of God.”
Lander heard the whispered words right before he sealed his lips over Blade’s. The warmth hit him first, followed by the softness. Lander buried one hand in Blade’s hair. His other hand grasped Blade’s hip, pulling them tightly together. Blade moaned, and the sound cut through Lander. So sweet, so… needy. That need would be his and only his.
“Open,” Lander breathed against Blade’s lips.
A brief hesitation, then Lander felt the tremble that raced through Blade. Slowly those lips opened and Lander swept inside, trembling himself at the first taste of Blade. Oh yes, the male tasted as good as he thought he would. Their tongues dueled, caressing and rubbing against each other. Lander tightened his hand in Blade’s hair, tilting his head back a bit more.
“So sweet.” Lander nibbled at Blade’s lips, then moved to his jaw.
“What… what…?” Blade shivered again.
“Shhh. All I’m doing is kissing you. Nothing more.”
“No biting.”
“No, sweet, no biting.”
Lander did nip Blade’s throat, a small little sting that didn’t even break the skin. Of course he wasn’t going to bite Blade out there in the middle of the street with other Derkelyng not far away. He’d be buried deep in Blade’s ass first. Blade wasn’t ready, either. They still had many things to talk through.
And, frankly, Lander didn’t relish the idea of Blade taking a knife to him. Although, he might not mind a little blood play, as long as Blade knew it was play. He wouldn’t convert Blade until Blade asked for it. When Blade thrust against him, Lander came back to exactly where they were.
He brought the kiss to an end, his thumb tracing over Blade’s wet lips. “Will you come with me to my apartment?”
“Why?”
“I want to finish what was started here. I need to make love to you—claim you.”
“No biting?” Lander bit his lip, frowning.
“No biting.”
“Okay, then. How far is it?”
Lander pulled Blade against his chest. “Just walking? It’s a little bit of a hike. Lean your head on my shoulder and close your eyes. You’ll feel the breeze as I move through the streets. I’m going to be moving at a high rate of speed, but I won’t allow you to get hurt. We’ll be a few inches off the ground, not actually flying. Will you allow this?”
“As long as we’re close to the ground.”
Lander grinned. “One day we will fly.”
Blade grunted, but didn’t say a word as he leaned his head against Lander. Once he had Blade comfortable, Lander lifted off the ground, just a few inches, and moved quickly down the street. Not a word came from his human, but Lander did feel Blade clutching his shirt. So brave. What a mate he will be.
He glanced down. Blade’s eyes were squeezed tightly closed. Lander hummed in pleasure as Blade buried his face deeper in his shirt to avoid the wind. He held Blade closer when he felt that slightly cool nose sniff his skin. Every instinct said to hell with it, bite Blade. All he’d need was a few seconds to sink his fangs in and inject the venom… and that would be it.
Blade wouldn’t be able to move, and Lander could drain him nearly dry, then give Blade his blood. By nightfall of the next night, Blade would be one of them. He’d have all the strengths the Derkelyng had.
And Blade would probably take his head for that too.
“We’re almost there,” Lander whispered and felt Blade nod.
Moments later, Lander set Blade on his feet in front of a huge steel and glass building. “This is mine. My business is here, as is my home. The whole building is mine.”
Blade staggered, his hand reaching for Lander as his knees tried to buckle. “Wow, I didn’t know you guys lived in such nice… I mean, I thought… Shit, never mind.”
“You thought we lived like animals?”
“Well…”
“You thought we live like animals because we are animals, yes?”
Blade defiantly raised his eyes. “If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck…”
Lander’s shoulders shook with laughter. “I haven’t heard that in a long time. And that well may be the case, at times. But not always. I also know what else you’re going to say.”
Blade crossed his arms. “What’s that?”
“That you’ve never seen one of my kind act as anything other than a monster.”
“If the shoe fits, buddy.”
Lander’s soft chuckle echoed around them. “I swear, I haven’t laughed this much in ages. Thank you, Blade. Now, will you come with me?”
“I-I… sure.”
Lander held the door open, watching as Blade walked past and into his building. His soon-to-be mate had a fine ass. He couldn’t wait to wrap his hands around it. The other Derkelyng that worked in his building respectively lowered their eyes as he escorted Blade to the elevators that would take them to the top floor—his home. He understood humans thought they were nothing more than animals. There was a time that was correct, in the beginning.
The war had destroyed so much, but it had hit the humans especially hard. But now, pure Derkelyngs—like Rider and others—were trying to change that. They were attempting to rebuild, and then, maybe, they could help the humans. But it was going to take time. The humans thought the Derkelyngwere animals? Well, way too many Derkelyng thought of humans as… cattle.
Blade’s head was constantly moving as he looked around. “Wow, nice place you’ve got here. I thought most of the building had been destroyed during the war.”
“That’s true. The big cities up north were hit especially hard. The capital of this country was located there. That was where the first wave of attacks was located. By the time the war had gotten down here to the south, the fighting wasn’t as bad and the destruction wasn’t as significant.”
Lander eyed a fish tank in the middle of the walkway. “Shit, you have electricity and running water full time?”
Lander motioned to the elevators. “Indeed. One hundred ten floors is a lot to walk up and I like a hot bath as well as the next guy.”
Blade frowned at the elevator doors. “Are you sure this is safe?”
“As safe as most anything else in this life.” Lander held the elevator door open. “If it helps, I’ve never been trapped in one. And if something did happen, I could get us out.”
Blade blew out a breath and stepped in the elevator. “Right, that whole ‘stronger than a human’ thing.”
Lander followed Blade inside. “It’s going to take time, Blade, but I do think our two peoples can live together in peace.”
“With your species as the dominate ones.”
“Well, humans aren’t at the top of the food chain anymore, I’m afraid to say. So yes, the Derkelyng will probably be the dominant class.”
“And humans will be second-class citizens.”
Lander didn’t say anything as the elevator stopped and then opened. “I don’t know what to say except that both races have a long way to go before we can even think about such things. For right now, let’s just concentrate on us. That, at least, we can do something about.” Lander stepped off the elevator into a spacious apartment. “Won’t you join me, Blade? Welcome to my home.” TBC. One, maybe two, chapters left. :) I know how I want to end it too. And I'm done with PT until next Tuesday lol. That really knocks me out.~M

The Derkelyng (Happy Halloween, gang!) ch 1 & 2

The Derkelyng

    rest of Chapter One  
Jesus Christ, I was fucked. I was back inside the city limits, night was coming, and I had a cut which was still seeping.
Blood would draw the Derkelyng to me like a moth to a flame.
I could maybe barricade myself in the tunnel—if I could even find anything I could use—and hope the Derkelyng didn’t find me. That didn’t look very promising, but I’d be belowground. Then again, if they found the tunnel and came at me from both ends, I’d be trapped. But if I ran to the country, there would be no concealment. I looked at the crumbling pile of stone, brick, and glass around me. I could move easier here and use the shadows for concealment. Not that it mattered since I was cut, but out here the damn things would have to run me to ground.
I ran toward what was left of the city.
How had it gotten to be dark so quickly? And when did it start to rain? A never-ending rain, falling softly upon my face—drip… drip… drip. The sound echoed in my head, matching my thumping heart. I lifted my face. Rivers of wetness twisted and snaked, working their way down until they finally caressed my vulnerable throat, a ghostly touch. 
Shivering slightly, I tried to bring my erratic breathing under control. In… out… in… out. A strangled, desperate laugh threatened to escape as my mind reminded me why I was breathing so hard. There was no calming down. Death would soon stalk the night, closing in on me, its harsh breath cold on my neck.
I stopped near a wall. A warm breeze wrapped around my exhausted body as I shook the rain from my hair. “God, help me.”
The laugh that threatened earlier finally escaped as the words floated around me, dead and limp in the misty air. Even if God did exist, He couldn’t help me. No one and nothing could. No, prayers wouldn’t rescue me from what stalked the night now. This being was much more corporeal, with flashing fangs, red eyes, inhuman speed, and a thirst for blood. Worse, the creatures that owned the night were immortal.
I ducked in and out of the shadows, moving as silently as possible as I searched for a hiding place. The deeper in the city I moved, the more I noticed the buildings had been renovated. Were these creatures trying to bring the cities back? Why? They were animals; all they cared about was blood and fucking. At least, that’s what we’d always thought… had been taught.
Finally, darkness covered the land. Slowly the evening’s silence awoke with movement. As I searched for a hiding place, I noticed bodies taking to the streets as red eyes searched and voices drifted.
“Mmm, do you smell that?”
“Ah yes, fresh blood. I do believe we have a human among us tonight. Odd, they’re usually out of the city limits by nightfall.”
“Guess this one didn’t make it out in time, huh?”
“Indeed. What fun!”
The hunt was on.
 
Chapter Two
Lander lived in the area that had been rebuilt. His home was the top floor of the largest building in the center of the city. The rest of the building housed his business, all 110 floors. He was the House Lord for the La Nouvelle-Orléans Coven in the Southern District and he’d fought bloody well to claim that title. Before the war had changed everything, he’d been a wealthy businessman with power in this part of the country.
In a finger snap, he’d been changed into what could only be called a vampire. Or, as they were now called, theDerkelyng. The creature who’d changed him was one of the oldest. Through Lander, and others as powerful as Lander, he’d taken control of the southern part of the United States. Of course, after the war the country was no longer called the U.S. of A. The land was divided into sectors ruled by the strongest Derkelyng.
Rider was the Derkelyng who’d changed his life and the only ‘man’ Lander was answerable to. Rider was the Elder Lord, the undisputed Leader of the coven. Rider was one of the eldest and most powerful among his kind. Thank God Lander didn’t have to see Rider but once a year. Frankly, Rider scared the hell out of Lander. Even as vicious as he could be, Rider was that much more. Lander still had human emotions buried under the need for blood… Rider did not.
Rider had never been human.
Lander strolled across the lobby; a doorman was ready and waiting. Outside, a car sat at the curb to take him wherever he wanted. He just didn’t know where he wanted to go. From the moment he’d opened his eyes, he was restless. The urge to prowl wouldn’t leave him. It was driving him nuts. He nodded at the doorman as he walked outside. The night was alive with sounds and scents. Lander rolled his shoulders, the spot between his shoulder blades itching suddenly.
“What the hell…?” Lander growled as the pressure increased. 
On the evening breeze was something… a scent. The smell wrapped around him, teasing his senses. Fluttery sensations invaded his belly and his knees threatened to buckle. Taking a deep breath, he drew the smell in, and smelled blood. Human blood.  The smell tangled in his head and shot to his groin, making him harder than he’d ever been. Male. Young… and strong. 
Rider had told him he’d find one human who would call his blood—the human who would tame the beast within him, who would help anchor his raging soul. Lander didn’t believe Rider. He didn’t believe it was possible for Derkelyng to see humans as anything other than prey. They were weaker species, were they not? Some were strong, he knew that, but still...
He certainly never dreamed he’d have such strong feelings… and so swiftly.
Growling more loudly, he jerked his head in the direction that wonderful scent came from. Blood always smelled good, tangy and sharp, but this—this was something different, something more. His entire body vibrated with want. While he hungered for the source of that blood, he also yearned for the human it came from.
Mine.
He wanted to… Heaven help him, he wanted to hold that human close, protect him from the dangers around him, and give him anything his heart desired. Mate. That was his mate out there, alone in the city… and unprotected.
Vulnerable.
Defenseless. 
Unguarded.
The sweetness of that scent suddenly spiked with the taint of fear. Lander’s body reacted while rational thought flew out the window. Only one thing could make a human stink of fear like that, and that was being hunted. Lander sniffed again, picking through the scents, following his human’s smell… and the roar that left him had several immortals around him shaking in terror. Not only was his mate out there, but two Derkelyng were hunting him.
“No!”
Moving faster than a human eye could track, Lander followed that scent. If they touch what’s mine, I’ll yank out their heart with my bare hands and feed it to them. Weaving around piles of rubble and old, broken down cars in the street, Lander rushed on, moving even quicker. The other Derkelyngwouldn’t know this human was his, of course. They had no way of knowing. Lander hadn’t marked the human as his yet, much less converted him.
Desperate, Lander sent out his thoughts, warning any Derkelyng around the Central Business District that the human there was his. He even offered a blood reward—just hold the human, unharmed, until he arrived. Of course, doing this also left him open to others who wanted his position under Rider. They could take the human prisoner and force Lander to—
Derkelyng, be it known that my child, Lander, has found his mate. The human near Lafayette Square has my protection. Harm that human and death won’t come fast enough. In fact, death won’t come at all under my mercy.
Lander cringed as the inhuman voice of Rider cut across his, and every other Derkelyng, mind. Jesus, he tended to forget just how strong Rider was, until he was reminded with presents like this. Thank you, Sire.
You are very welcome, Lander. I’m pleased you’ve found the one, child. I can feel your excitement. I… envy you that.
Maybe one day—
Maybe. Worry not about me, child. Instead, hurry to that special human who will complete you. He waits for you and… huh. Well, I’ll be damned. Impressive. The little shit just shot a Derkelyng who was holding him for you right between the eyes. Won’t kill the male, of course, but he’ll sure feel that for a few days. Your human is a fighter, Lander. I do believe I’m going to like him.
Lander poured on the speed. They had his human. The Derkelyng had been warned not to hurt him, but his kind wasn’t used to humans who fought back, either. How very odd… and exciting. The last thing he wanted was another ‘yes man’ to follow him around. He had that in his old life, and even now.
Most converted Derkelyng feared him to some degree since he was a child of Rider’s. They also walked carefully around him because he was powerful in his own right. This human… Maybe this being would stand up to him unlike the others. Lander raced up St. Charles Avenue, one of the streets that bordered Lafayette Square.
Images sped past until finally, there, by the bronze statue of Henry Clay, a Derkelyng held a struggling human. Another Derkelyngsat close by, a bullet slowly working its way out of his forehead.
And the struggling human? He was cussing a blue streak. His gun had been taken, but apparently this human wore weapons on his body like the female Derkelyng wore jewelry. His mate had a long, wicked knife now… and was doing his best to gut anything that got close enough. Rider was right, this human was impressive.
“Stop!” Lander bellowed.
All three froze on the spot… until the bullet finally worked its way out from the Derkelyng skin and dropped on the ground. Ping, ping, ping it went, bouncing across the ground. All eyes shot to it and just… stared. No one said a word; they all just stared at it. Another time he might have laughed at the situation.
The Derkelyng still on his feet motioned to the human near him. “This is the one we were warned about?”
Lander nodded. “He’s mine, yes. Move away from him.”
“Gladly,” said the other Derkelyng as he stood and shuffled to a bench.
Lander smothered a laugh. Yes, maybe years from now this would be funny. But for now… Lander turned to his human. “Human. I am Lander Garçon, the House Lord for the La Nouvelle-Orléans Coven in the Southern District. Rider is theElder Lord of this Coven. You are under his protection. None of the Derkelyng will harm you. By what name may I address you by?”  I tried to get the whole thing done, y'all, I just couldn't, but the good news is I don't like much though! :) Bare with me, okay. I have good days and not so good days. :(~M   

The Derkelyng (Happy Halloween, gang!)

The Derkelyng

    rest of Chapter One  
Jesus Christ, I was fucked. I was back inside the city limits, night was coming, and I had a cut which was still seeping.
Blood would draw the Derkelyng to me like a moth to a flame.
I could maybe barricade myself in the tunnel—if I could even find anything I could use—and hope the Derkelyng didn’t find me. That didn’t look very promising, but I’d be belowground. Then again, if they found the tunnel and came at me from both ends, I’d be trapped. But if I ran to the country, there would be no concealment. I looked at the crumbling pile of stone, brick, and glass around me. I could move easier here and use the shadows for concealment. Not that it mattered since I was cut, but out here the damn things would have to run me to ground.
I ran toward what was left of the city.
How had it gotten to be dark so quickly? And when did it start to rain? A never-ending rain, falling softly upon my face—drip… drip… drip. The sound echoed in my head, matching my thumping heart. I lifted my face. Rivers of wetness twisted and snaked, working their way down until they finally caressed my vulnerable throat, a ghostly touch. 
Shivering slightly, I tried to bring my erratic breathing under control. In… out… in… out. A strangled, desperate laugh threatened to escape as my mind reminded me why I was breathing so hard. There was no calming down. Death would soon stalk the night, closing in on me, its harsh breath cold on my neck.
I stopped near a wall. A warm breeze wrapped around my exhausted body as I shook the rain from my hair. “God, help me.”
The laugh that threatened earlier finally escaped as the words floated around me, dead and limp in the misty air. Even if God did exist, He couldn’t help me. No one and nothing could. No, prayers wouldn’t rescue me from what stalked the night now. This being was much more corporeal, with flashing fangs, red eyes, inhuman speed, and a thirst for blood. Worse, the creatures that owned the night were immortal.
I ducked in and out of the shadows, moving as silently as possible as I searched for a hiding place. The deeper in the city I moved, the more I noticed the buildings had been renovated. Were these creatures trying to bring the cities back? Why? They were animals; all they cared about was blood and fucking. At least, that’s what we’d always thought… had been taught.
Finally, darkness covered the land. Slowly the evening’s silence awoke with movement. As I searched for a hiding place, I noticed bodies taking to the streets as red eyes searched and voices drifted.
“Mmm, do you smell that?”
“Ah yes, fresh blood. I do believe we have a human among us tonight. Odd, they’re usually out of the city limits by nightfall.”
“Guess this one didn’t make it out in time, huh?”
“Indeed. What fun!”
The hunt was on.
 
Chapter Two
Lander lived in the area that had been rebuilt. His home was the top floor of the largest building in the center of the city. The rest of the building housed his business, all 110 floors. He was the House Lord for the La Nouvelle-Orléans Coven in the Southern District and he’d fought bloody well to claim that title. Before the war had changed everything, he’d been a wealthy businessman with power in this part of the country.
In a finger snap, he’d been changed into what could only be called a vampire. Or, as they were now called, theDerkelyng. The creature who’d changed him was one of the oldest. Through Lander, and others as powerful as Lander, he’d taken control of the southern part of the United States. Of course, after the war the country was no longer called the U.S. of A. The land was divided into sectors ruled by the strongest Derkelyng.
Rider was the Derkelyng who’d changed his life and the only ‘man’ Lander was answerable to. Rider was the Elder Lord, the undisputed Leader of the coven. Rider was one of the eldest and most powerful among his kind. Thank God Lander didn’t have to see Rider but once a year. Frankly, Rider scared the hell out of Lander. Even as vicious as he could be, Rider was that much more. Lander still had human emotions buried under the need for blood… Rider did not.
Rider had never been human.
Lander strolled across the lobby; a doorman was ready and waiting. Outside, a car sat at the curb to take him wherever he wanted. He just didn’t know where he wanted to go. From the moment he’d opened his eyes, he was restless. The urge to prowl wouldn’t leave him. It was driving him nuts. He nodded at the doorman as he walked outside. The night was alive with sounds and scents. Lander rolled his shoulders, the spot between his shoulder blades itching suddenly.
“What the hell…?” Lander growled as the pressure increased. 
On the evening breeze was something… a scent. The smell wrapped around him, teasing his senses. Fluttery sensations invaded his belly and his knees threatened to buckle. Taking a deep breath, he drew the smell in, and smelled blood. Human blood.  The smell tangled in his head and shot to his groin, making him harder than he’d ever been. Male. Young… and strong. 
Rider had told him he’d find one human who would call his blood—the human who would tame the beast within him, who would help anchor his raging soul. Lander didn’t believe Rider. He didn’t believe it was possible for Derkelyng to see humans as anything other than prey. They were weaker species, were they not? Some were strong, he knew that, but still...
He certainly never dreamed he’d have such strong feelings… and so swiftly.
Growling more loudly, he jerked his head in the direction that wonderful scent came from. Blood always smelled good, tangy and sharp, but this—this was something different, something more. His entire body vibrated with want. While he hungered for the source of that blood, he also yearned for the human it came from.
Mine.
He wanted to… Heaven help him, he wanted to hold that human close, protect him from the dangers around him, and give him anything his heart desired. Mate. That was his mate out there, alone in the city… and unprotected.
Vulnerable.
Defenseless. 
Unguarded.
The sweetness of that scent suddenly spiked with the taint of fear. Lander’s body reacted while rational thought flew out the window. Only one thing could make a human stink of fear like that, and that was being hunted. Lander sniffed again, picking through the scents, following his human’s smell… and the roar that left him had several immortals around him shaking in terror. Not only was his mate out there, but two Derkelyng were hunting him.
“No!”
Moving faster than a human eye could track, Lander followed that scent. If they touch what’s mine, I’ll yank out their heart with my bare hands and feed it to them. Weaving around piles of rubble and old, broken down cars in the street, Lander rushed on, moving even quicker. The other Derkelyngwouldn’t know this human was his, of course. They had no way of knowing. Lander hadn’t marked the human as his yet, much less converted him.
Desperate, Lander sent out his thoughts, warning any Derkelyng around the Central Business District that the human there was his. He even offered a blood reward—just hold the human, unharmed, until he arrived. Of course, doing this also left him open to others who wanted his position under Rider. They could take the human prisoner and force Lander to—
Derkelyng, be it known that my child, Lander, has found his mate. The human near Lafayette Square has my protection. Harm that human and death won’t come fast enough. In fact, death won’t come at all under my mercy.
Lander cringed as the inhuman voice of Rider cut across his, and every other Derkelyng, mind. Jesus, he tended to forget just how strong Rider was, until he was reminded with presents like this. Thank you, Sire.
You are very welcome, Lander. I’m pleased you’ve found the one, child. I can feel your excitement. I… envy you that.
Maybe one day—
Maybe. Worry not about me, child. Instead, hurry to that special human who will complete you. He waits for you and… huh. Well, I’ll be damned. Impressive. The little shit just shot a Derkelyng who was holding him for you right between the eyes. Won’t kill the male, of course, but he’ll sure feel that for a few days. Your human is a fighter, Lander. I do believe I’m going to like him.
Lander poured on the speed. They had his human. The Derkelyng had been warned not to hurt him, but his kind wasn’t used to humans who fought back, either. How very odd… and exciting. The last thing he wanted was another ‘yes man’ to follow him around. He had that in his old life, and even now.
Most converted Derkelyng feared him to some degree since he was a child of Rider’s. They also walked carefully around him because he was powerful in his own right. This human… Maybe this being would stand up to him unlike the others. Lander raced up St. Charles Avenue, one of the streets that bordered Lafayette Square.
Images sped past until finally, there, by the bronze statue of Henry Clay, a Derkelyng held a struggling human. Another Derkelyngsat close by, a bullet slowly working its way out of his forehead.
And the struggling human? He was cussing a blue streak. His gun had been taken, but apparently this human wore weapons on his body like the female Derkelyng wore jewelry. His mate had a long, wicked knife now… and was doing his best to gut anything that got close enough. Rider was right, this human was impressive.
“Stop!” Lander bellowed.
All three froze on the spot… until the bullet finally worked its way out from the Derkelyng skin and dropped on the ground. Ping, ping, ping it went, bouncing across the ground. All eyes shot to it and just… stared. No one said a word; they all just stared at it. Another time he might have laughed at the situation.
The Derkelyng still on his feet motioned to the human near him. “This is the one we were warned about?”
Lander nodded. “He’s mine, yes. Move away from him.”
“Gladly,” said the other Derkelyng as he stood and shuffled to a bench.
Lander smothered a laugh. Yes, maybe years from now this would be funny. But for now… Lander turned to his human. “Human. I am Lander Garçon, the House Lord for the La Nouvelle-Orléans Coven in the Southern District. Rider is theElder Lord of this Coven. You are under his protection. None of the Derkelyng will harm you. By what name may I address you by?”  I tried to get the whole thing done, y'all, I just couldn't, but the good news is I don't like much though! :) Bare with me, okay. I have good days and not so good days. :(~M   

Halloween Wednesday Briefs - The Derkelyng

Welcome to the Wednesday Briefers flash group. The short stories have a maximum of a 1000 word count plus links at the bottom to the other flashers. The prompts for this week are:

"Did you really think that would scare me?"
or "Yo mama's so scary..."
or "Suck on that, big boy!"
or "This place made the Bates Motel look like Disneyland..."
or "I want my mummy!"
or "You got candy? I only got rocks!"
or feature a haunted house or a vampire or any Halloween creature
or have your character in costume
or use the Great Pumpkin
or "When did you get to be so smart?"
or have a character playing a video game
or have a potato sack race
or have a character watch NASCAR 
*I’m using a picture prompt
 
~Okay, it’s Halloween and it’s my favorite season. I haven’t had a change to do much cause of the stroke, but by George, I can do this lol. So, I’m putting Nighttime Promises on hold for this week to do the Halloween prompts. Who knows, it may turn into something for later. *evil laugh*  
The Derkelyng

Chapter OneThere were myths handed down over the years, stories of another time when there were no Derkelyng. Only humans ruled the land, and legend said these humans didn’t hide from the night. They lived and loved without fear. They had organized schools, governments, banks, a written word, and they owned businesses. They even kept time differently, it was said. Those from the past were not afraid to go out at night; they were not hunted as food… or pleasure.
They had no idea how lucky they were, if that was true. Things were not like that now. The world as known by those humans ended in 2010. That’s when the Derkelyngfirst showed themselves.  And soon after that, there was war.
The year now was 5PW, or Post War. There were two groups that existed on Earth now. The Derkelyng—the creatures that walked the night and lived off blood, and  the humans. The Derkelyng lived in the crumbling cities of the past. Humans lived away from the cities in whatever places they could find that offered safety. Very little could destroy those walking nightmares. Sunlight could. So could a stake to the heart, or cutting off their heads.
I was a human of the present world. In the times we now lived in, it was survival of the fittest. And I fully intended to survive. I was twenty years old and had been fighting for my life for as long as I could remember. The scars on my body and my face proved that. By the age of ten, I was proficient with a knife and could shoot a gun. By fifteen, my father had been killed, and I was on my own. I knew how to defend myself, thanks to my father. I only had to kill two of the older men in my clan before they left me alone. Over the next five years, I’d proved my usefulness to the clan and rose in its ranks.I would survive.
But the truth was, if one of the creatures took an interest in you, you were dead; either really dead, or dead as undead… one of those things that haunted the night. None of us knew for sure how the Derkelyng converted a human. There were rumors the creatures infected humans with their bite. Other rumors said it was from having sex with them. The Derkelyng certainly weren’t telling.
Humans were prey, plain and simple.
Being prey was one thing, but being stupid was another. And I had been incredibly stupid. Twilight was coming, and here I was still inside the city limits. Stupid didn’t even begin to explain what I was. No, actually, dead was probably what I was going to be.
“Shit, shit, shit.”
I found a burned-out shell of a house outside city limits that hadn’t been ransacked yet. Maybe being nothing but a hull had fooled others, but I still had to check it out. What I’d found had been amazing. There was a basement under all that trash and burnt wood. Once I cleared away the junk, broken furniture, and camouflage, I found a door in the floor. I broke the lock and made my way down a sturdy staircase.
Things were looking up.
But even I wasn’t prepared for what I found. There were guns, at least fifteen, and boxes and boxes of ammo to go with those weapons. There had been walls packed three feet deep with canned goods and paper products too. Excited by the bounty, I hadn’t really checked out the surroundings aboveground.
As I took inventory, a young man came out of the shadows, snarling obscenities and waving a knife. I tried to reason with him, talk him down—I mean, he had to see the rifle slung over my shoulder, right?—but when he threw the knife at me… well, that persuaded me otherwise. 
I shot him between the eyes.
Maybe later I’d feel bad, feel something for the life I’d taken. Maybe. First, I had to deal with a wailing young girl on a pallet in the back. She was sick, deadly sick, and covered in open, seeping sores. The smell was horrible. Or maybe that smell was the dead baby next to her. God.
Every-fucking-where I looked death stared at me. Knowing I was making a mistake, I stayed and did what I could for her. I tried to leave water near her, even tried to get her to drink, but I could tell she wasn’t long for this world. She sounded like she was breathing through water, and her eyes were glazed. Two hours later, she died.
I… I couldn’t help it; I had to bury all them. If only the guy would’ve let me talk to him, instead of attacking me. Once he threw that knife, he sealed his fate. And he had nicked me. Nothing bad, but bleeding and being out of doors…yeah, not a good combination. I found some bottled water and washed the cut. Then I cut a strip off my shirt and wrapped the wound.
With a sigh, I gathered the bodies and buried them. Once finished, I went back to the basement to take stock. I found a tunnel they used to get out of the basement, and I explored that. It was when I found the other end of the tunnel that I realized how much time had passed, and where the damn thing came out. Jesus Christ, I was fucked. I was back inside the city limits, night was coming, and I had a cut which was still seeping.
Blood would draw the Derkelyng to me like a moth to a flame.  
TBC. Make sure to visit the other Briefers! Oh, the rest of this will post on Halloween. J It’s a short story I hope y’all enjoy.  ~M




Jon KeysJC Wallace Nephylim A.R. VonLily Sawyer Rob ColtonChris T. KatCia Nordwell Shelly Schulz Victoria Adams Andrew GordonTali SpencerJulie Lynn Hayes

Ready for Halloween?

I am lol. Maybe this will help ya get in the mood. ;)

Welcome Julie Lynn Hayes

I hear voices in my head.
No, I’m not daft or certifiable—at least no more than any other writer, I think. The voices that I hear are not the kind that tell me to do strange things or incite me to desperate acts, rather they belong to my characters, both those I know and those I’ve yet to meet. And I’ve learned something in over forty years of writing—when they speak, I listen!
Carrying paper and pencil or pen is wonderful advice for those moments when your characters begin to speak and you want to capture them for posterity. It’s all well and good to say oh, I’ll remember that, no problem, until  you’re sitting in front of your computer screen and your fingers are in place upon the keyboard and suddenly you’ve forgotten every single word you were sure you’d remember forever. As they talk, you should write, that much is just a given.
But sometimes you aren’t in a position to write—for example, while you’re driving, or when you’re showering (bathing isn’t quite so bad, at least you can take the paper and pen into the bathroom and write while you soak), or even when you’re having sex. So what do you do? If it’s just one line, you can keep repeating it to yourself until you’re in a position to write it down, and that can work. But what if it’s more than that?
I have a little trick for those moments. At least it works for me. I get a mental picture of the emotions involved, and capture them visually, imprinting them with the words, almost like a hot key. So that when I’m ready, I “press” the key, and then it comes out where I can capture it. If I let the character ramble before I’m ready, I find that I lose the words. But if I imprint them in this way, then they stay there, waiting for me to access them.
For example, a couple of years ago my daughter and I went to see Inception at the theatre, the Leonardo di Caprio film. I wasn’t even sure at first that I wanted to see it, but she did so I agreed to go. Before we went, I got to thinking about Leo and other films that I’ve seen him in over the years, including Total Eclipse (Leo and David Thewlis – totally hot! Kissing and nakedness, very delicious!), and I heard a voice speak to me.
“Did you know that Leonardo di Caprio is a vampire?”
Sounds like an odd beginning or introduction even for a character. But I thought what the heck, let’s listen. I realized that this was a new character, so I kept the line in my head, all through Inception. Afterwards, I worked on the story, as I drove home. First, I needed character names. In Inception, Cillian Murphy plays a guy named Robert Fisher. He’s an important character, and his name stuck in my head, but I reversed it and changed it slightly. So Robert Fisher became Fisher Roberts. One character down, now for number two (I already knew this would be m/m, so I needed another male name). As I was driving, I scanned everything around me—billboards, businesses, vehicles, whatever—for the mate to Fisher Roberts. I saw an ad for hunting, and suddenly I had it—Hunter, who became Hunter Long.  It wasn’t til long after I began to write that I saw what I had inadvertently done – Fisher and Hunter. It might seem contrived to some, but I swear to you it was totally accidental.
I knew nothing about these two guys, but I began to write, using that first line, and I kept writing until some 35k later, I was done.  Or at least I thought it was. After a brief stint with a publisher who shall remain nameless, I received Leo back into my own hands and then I took the original story and added 5k to it, in the form of Hunter’s POV, and then I sold it to Torquere. And now we have a happy ending, as well as a new cover and more depth to the story of Hunter and Fisher.
This isn’t the only time this has happened to me, far from it. There once was a time when I was researching a non-fiction book, a children’s book about composer Percy Granger, when a voice began to speak, and he told me he was a gay werewolf. I could feel that he was a nice man, so I politely told him to please wait til I was done with the other book.  But he kept talking, so to appease him I thought I would just write down a few notes and hold onto them until I was ready. Those few notes became the first chapter of To The Max. Which became an entire book. And which now has a sequel. All because a voice wanted to be heard. Oh, that other book never got written yet. Guess Percy needs to speak louder, eh?
Another time, it was Judas Iscariot that spoke, and that book became Revelations (for which I’m still seeking a publisher). Sometimes I only get to the first chapter, and then it sits as a WIP until I get back to it. But at least it’s a start.
I hate to think about all of the characters that I have lost or forgotten because I wasn’t able to keep their words in my head. Perhaps they’ll come back again someday, but I’m not holding my breath. That goes for the books I’ve written in my dreams, but forget the moment I wake up. Since I started using my little mnemonic trick, I haven’t lost a thing, and that’s a good feeling. I just hope my readers agree that it was worth it!
Do your characters talk to you? Do you have any tricks you use for getting your characters down onto paper?  I’d love to hear about it!  Thanks for having me, M.A., have a great day, everyone!


 
Blurb:

Halloween is the night when the veil between the worlds grows thin... Not that Fisher Roberts believes in Halloween or any other holiday. Unlike his roommate and longtime best friend, Hunter Long. The trouble is that Fisher’s feelings for Hunter are more than that of a friend, and it’s getting harder and harder to hide those feelings from Hunter.


Fisher has promised Hunter to attend a Halloween party with him on All Hallow’s eve, even though he’d really rather not. Things start out badly and then take a decided turn for the strange. Hunter confesses to being a vampire. Not that Fisher believes that, of course—that’s just Hunter’s strange sense of humor. But the kiss in the park... what’s that about? And at the Halloween party from Hell, nothing and no one are what they seem to be... Halloween madness or something more?

Excerpt:  Fisher trembled, an expectant trembling, as if he were waiting for something to happen. He didn't have to wait long. Suddenly those beautiful lips were touching his, and then they were kissing, truly kissing. No, it wasn't Fisher's first kiss, but it was his first with a man. His only kiss with a man. And he was amazed at what a difference there was between this kiss and the others. Not because of gender, but because it was with Hunter. Because Hunter was someone special. 
He felt himself giving in to those lips, melting into that touch, with a heat that penetrated his entire body, vibrating in its intensity. Now Hunter was nibbling at his lips, soft tender kisses that shook him to his very foundation. His head was reeling, and he was on the verge of losing all sense of self when he felt the first raindrops splash upon his upturned face. 
What the hell. He pulled back at this sudden insertion of reality into a very unreal scene, his mouth forming a large "O" of amazement, his eyes going into saucer-plate mode. But even as he did, Hunter moved forward, sliding his hips until their knees were touching. From this position, luckily, they couldn't get much closer, or Hunter would realize what else he had raised beside's Fisher's blood pressure. 
He was going to do it again. Fisher just knew it, he could feel it, and oh God how badly he wanted it, as he felt a whimper rise in his throat, indicating a neediness he wasn't aware he even possessed. But the drops were turning thicker now, more of them, and they were brutally cold. A definite shock to the system. His brain was screaming to him to get out, get out now. 
Even though this was what he wanted, exactly what he wanted. So what was the problem? What did he think would happen if he gave in to his feelings? He didn’t know. He was afraid of things that he couldn't even explain to himself. 
He practically threw himself backward from the picnic table in his haste to get away, landing on the hard ground that would soon be turning to mud if this downpour kept up. A steady rain it was now, and lightning crackled angrily above their heads. 
"Fisher?" Hunter rose hastily, reaching for him. So Fisher did the only logical thing he could do -- he gained his feet and ran, as hard and as fast as he could. He hated himself with every step that he took -- and he knew he had never loved Hunter Long more.
 
Julie Lynn Hayes was reading at the age of two and writing by the age of nine and always wanted to be a writer when she grew up. Two marriages, five children, and more than forty years later, that is still her dream. She blames her younger daughters for introducing her to yaoi and the world of M/M love, a world which has captured her imagination and her heart and fueled her writing in ways she'd never dreamed of before. She especially loves stories of two men finding true love and happiness in one another's arms and is a great believer in the happily ever after. She lives in St. Louis with her daughter Sarah and two cats, loves books and movies, and hopes to be a world traveler some day. She enjoys crafts, such as crocheting and cross stitch, knitting and needlepoint and loves to cook. While working a temporary day job, she continues to write her books and stories and reviews, which she posts in various places on the internet. Her family thinks she is a bit off, but she doesn't mind. Marching to the beat of one's own drummer is a good thing, after all.  Her published works can be found at Dreamspinner Press, MuseitUp Publishing, Torquere Press, and eXtasy Books. She has also begun to self-publish and is an editor at MuseitUp.  
 
You can find her on her blog at http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com , and you can contact her at tothemax.wolf@gmail.com .
 
Link: Torquere 
http://www.torquerebooks.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=97&products_id=4047
 My blog:  http://julielynnhayes.blogspot.com
My website: www.julielynnhayes.com
My facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=527332074
My Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3442231.Julie_Lynn_Hayes
 
My Publishers:
Dreamspinner Press: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/index.php?cPath=55_222
Museit Up Publishing: http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php
eXtasy Books:  http://www.extasybooks.com/index.php?route=product%2Fauthor&author_id=979