An Excerpt from my Forthcoming Novel – Part 1: It Takes Two to Tango with a Tengu
So…Here is are sample chapters from my work in progress…Chapter C is a little hot and heavy, so I have password protected it. Serious, Adult readers may request the password for access.
Chapter A -
Kate landed hard on her back, her butt leaving a furrow in the sand. She shook her head, jaw numb from the blow. What was this thing? If it weren’t for the spirit of the Bear, her head would probably be in another state by now. Considering the bruise that would be there tomorrow, that might not be such a bad thing. Arching her back, she kicked herself up. It had been a long time since she practiced Te Kwon Do, and it felt good that she could still pull off the maneuver.
“You are going to have to do better than that,” she said to the bird-headed creature. The demon stared back at her with cold black eyes. It cocked its head and chirped. Kate got the distinct impression that it was a derisive remark. The Bear did not take it well. Blinded with rage, she charged at the monstrosity with a roar. She tucked in her chin and leveled her shoulder at the beast’s midsection. The bird-headed demon let out a trilling laugh and spread its arms wide, welcoming her. Had Kate been thinking clearly, or had chose a different fetish to evoke, she might have slowed her charge. The Bear was not concerned.
She ducked lower, planning to hit it below the waist, and then flip him over his back. It was a nice plan. Then she hit a solid wall of muscle, leather and feathers. The bird creature slid back a step in the sand spreading its wings in counter-balance. There was no flipping going on here. A little voice reminded Kate that no plan survives contact with the enemy.
The demon slammed both of its fists down on Kate’s back. Pain sparked down her spine. Even with the power of the Bear, numbness spread and her knees began to buckle. Black spots and little stars flashed clouded her vision. Her left knee hit the sand. One hand grabbed on to the leather strap securing the demon’s breastplate trying to keep her off the ground. Her other hand reached insider her jacket, fumbling for something in her pocket. Without thinking, she found her knife but struggled to get it out of the leather sheath with one hand. Her thumb slipped off the snap. She had to hurry. Another blow would put her down. Then who would help Raquel?
Healling and Hanging with Kokopelli – Part 2 of sample
Kate took the steps up to her apartment two at a time, despite the pain.
Her back, jaw and everything in between felt like they had been stitched together with barbwire and then pulled taunt. But it was her dog’s pain that was important now. One way, she was the most important companion Kate had in her life and she had to do everything she could to save her. Raquel was only a dog and did not ask to get involved in this mess. She was hurt because of Kate. It briefly crossed Kate’s mind that she hadn’t asked to be involved in this either, but it was too late for nitpicking. She bashed in the door and rushed to the table. Without a thought, she cleared the table with a great sweep of her arms, pushing everything onto the kitchen floor. Jewelry, mail, hats and pens landed with a cacophony of fluttering and chings. A coffee mug broke into several pieces splashing the remains of this morning’s vanilla-hazelnut coffee across the refrigerator door.
The masked man in black came in behind her, moving quickly as he could while trying not to jar Rachel more than necessary. He got into the apartment just in time to see Kate rush out of the room through a narrow door. He waited, and after a brief clamor of cabinets being opened and slammed, Kate returned with a stack of towels and a first-aid kit. She tossed the kit on a chair and began laying towels out over the table. When she had covered enough of the table, the man in black laid Raquel down on the terry cloth bedding.
Kate unzipped the red first aid kit looked down on her puppy dog. There was so much blood. In the light, Kate could see the white of bone and the flex of muscles and tendons as short shallow breaths and whimpers of pain worked their way through the her canine companion. It was so much. Too much. How could she do anything with this stupid little first aid kit? It was a good kit-gauze, bandages of different sizes, a tube of antibacterial cream, scissors, etc. It even had a surgical needle and thread and a small booklet on how to handle various emergencies. Kate doubted that patching up your dog after being attacked by a Japanese bird demon on the beach wasn’t in the table of contents. A hot tear ran down her cheek.
“Now is not the time,” the man in black said suddenly, handing Kate a glass of water.
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About
“Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and start slitting throats.”
– H.L. Mencken
Direct Email: Christopher@PirateJournalism.com
Christopher Huff | Create Your Badge
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