Knight Awakening

Valkyrie: Alex book 1
1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-1-6678-1000-3
Verlag: BookBaby
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, Band 1, 202 Seiten

Reihe: Awakening

In the highly anticipated first book of the heart-pounding Valkyrie book series, readers meet a trio of friends who have been bounty hunting for more than half of their lives. But now, they are not only the hunters, but also the hunted.. Alex, Tori, and Chloe have always kept a low profile but after meeting a new client who demands control, they confront danger like they've never experienced before! Once Alex meets Lucas, nothing will ever be the same.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Knight, Bree

Leseproben

Chapter 1

I look to the sky; as my face starts to get hit by big raindrops and slapped by the wind. To think this was supposed to be a good day for a run, and a day off from work. The forecast said partly cloudy and a small chance of rain.

Well hell no... think again hotshot, instead, I get to be caught in a thunderstorm trying to avoid a demon chasing me.

I am beginning to think it feeds off of thunder and lightning.

He is enjoying himself.

The demon is getting closer, with every strike of lightning I can see his strength building. If he keeps this up, I won’t be off from work for long. It seems to follow me wherever I go. When the rumbling of the thunder starts, his eyes shift upward slightly to the sky and then back at me. I will not be on this run alone soon.

The demon’s soulless eyes are black pits with a grey glow. He reaches up for the lightning, absorbing it into himself. I can see it in the veins that now light up from the lightning running through them. His body looks to be a black leathery texture, with veins bulging and running up and down his body. He is pulsating with the rhythm of the storm and his power is building just as fast as the storm. All of a sudden, the veins running down his arms light up and shoot the energy at me. I just swerve to the side of the trail.

Man, that was close!

The aftershock of the electric blast makes me stumble onto the ground, momentarily falling to my knees. I jump back into the motion of my run, trying to put distance between us. I feel the gravel from the trail dig into my leggings and the mud splashing my body with every step. My mind begins to wonder, well crap, that is not only going to leave a bruise but may have torn my favorite purple leggings. At least my gin and tonic tank is safe under my black pullover. A girl has to have a weakness. That’s some great-looking running gear.

I quickly shake off these thoughts before another rumble could start, but he was gaining again. No idea why this guy was out here. Well, I guess that’s not true. It is a great place to catch someone who is running like me. With her headphones on, rock music blaring, and the mind thinking of other things. But, come on, this is supposed to be relaxing. Well…. more relaxing than doing burpees. Ha-ha, yeah burpees were invented by the devil himself if you ask me.

I had to make another dive to the side to avoid the claws. Shit, yep definitely tore the pants this time. He turns back to me for another go but I quickly kick up hitting him in the stomach. As he bends over to protect his stomach, I punch him in the face sending us both to the ground. Mud splashes up into my face mixing with the rain that is already pouring into my eyes. The demon disappears from my sight in-between the lightning booms. At least I did some damage and he might be retreating. Swiping the rain and mud from my face while getting back up.

Mental note; let’s not forget trying not to slip in the mud to meet the ground again.

I raced back the way I came, to my parked car by the trailhead. Thinking I have stolen some time, but I get the feeling that it’s not enough. I focus on my breathing, trying to calm my racing heart from the adrenaline rush. I know I need to store some energy.

My wings unfold from my back as my fear and control begin to unfurrow, as my fight or flight response is humming. The rain is soaking the usually soft light grey feathers. Feeling like I’m running twice my body weight. The feathers are a beautiful contrast to my wavey raven black hair and green eyes. My face is petite, with a stubborn chin and a small nose. My eyes are a bit too large making me look slightly animated and dorky. There are freckles across my nose which soften the sharper features of my cheekbones. Who said you had to be blond to have fun!

Wings, please stop! This is not the time to fly away or fight from the sky. Which I should maybe get better at someday. Might save my life or at least make me harder to kill.

Damn, he is back up and coming for me again? Why isn’t the Patrol out today? Taking a break just like I am trying with a quick run. Just because it’s raining doesn’t mean these demon bastards aren’t out today.

Well, I guess I start early today…...and, of course, don’t get paid for this one.

I feel the hair on the back of my neck stand on end. Turning around pulling my dagger from the sheath attached to my thigh and the dagger slips from my wet grip. I quickly called the blade back to me. “Veni!” I yelled out of exasperation and need. The blade quickly came back up from the ground. I quickly caught it by the hilt; turning the blade inward along the arm for close-up fighting.

His fist came across aiming for my face. His cruel mouth peeled back over jagged teeth into a roar. I flung my arm up to block while dropping the blade into my left hand to go for the gut. As my blade swiped across his gut, spilling his blood and intestines to the ground.

I forgot to move out of the way of the spray. “Crap!”

The feeling of warm blood on my face made me gag a little but I was able to swallow it down and then go for the kill shot of slashing his throat. Gross but it was always effective in making sure they go back to hell where they belong.

I pull my wings back into myself as the adrenaline slows down. Breathing in and out I try to assess the damage. Well, I guess not dying is a good outcome. Shrugging I step away from the demon.

The demon fell to the side thankfully. No worries about cleaning up with demons though. They slowly just turn to ash and then wake back up in hell. Whoever let him out was going to be mad. It was expensive to get the spell and ingredients to summon a demon…. Not to mention illegal.

Those who practiced the dark arts weren’t always bad people, but sometimes they go too far and that’s when they get into trouble. The Patrol were the ones who usually took them to Scuro Hall for judgment and then to Morte Jail.

To end up there is certain death.

People don’t get out of there easily and if they do they are never the same. I have seen a few of those who went away for a short sentence that came out with their gifts not being intact anymore. They just wander around until they die. I don’t know how this is possible. To do this to a person is like removing the person’s soul. For our gifts, makeup is part of our soul.

And... there is a shiver up my spine…. ahhh nope, not going there.

I slowly get up, reach for my phone. Thank the Gods it didn’t fall out of the side pocket of my leggings. It may be a little wet and getting wetter by the second due to the wonderful downpour. I pulled up the camera to snap a few pictures and waited for the demon to turn to ash.

This could take a few minutes, so I walked over to lean against a tree by some bushes. Using the leaves from the bush I scraped some of the mud/blood from my face and hands. After looking at my clothes I knew they were going to be fun to clean later. Groaning, I strip off my pullover and ball it up. I realize there is a puddle near me that I can kind of rinse some of the mud and blood out.

Bending over I could feel my knees protest from the cuts.

Ouch, yep that will take a couple of hours to heal.

Supernatural healing was pretty quick. Our cells could regenerate and repair the damage that is done to our bodies. Well, most damage, you lose enough blood or get decapitated by someone, then there is no coming back.

Thankfully the puddle was deep enough to get some of the mud and blood out. After splashing some of the puddle water on my knees to get a better look at them.

“Crap that hurts! Ahhhh!” I jump around a little to shake off the pain.

Turning my head to get a better look at the cuts; I get a glimpse of something around the demon’s neck. I quickly spring up and run over to him to see what it was. The shiny pendant was on a leather strap around his neck.

His body was now quickly turning to ash so it was now or never to get it. I grabbed the necklace, taking my blade out and slicing through the leather to free it. Then sticking it in my pocket to look at later.

I jogged over to my car for a cylinder to collect some of the ash for proof. Sometimes the pictures were good enough but other times it’s good to have some of the demons to hand over to see if they can get a read on who summoned him.

I collected some of the ash before it started to disappear and of course, the rain was not helping with this task. What I was able to collect was so mushy and disintegrated I don’t think it would do much good. Getting up again, I jogged back over to my car to call the Patrol. My friends will just have to wait.

Shrugging, I think that at least the excuse will be valid.

My car was a welcoming cocoon from the rain. The only downfall was I didn’t have something to cover my leather seats. Shaking my head, I rolled my eyes at this.

I almost get my ass fried but I am more worried about my leather seats. In a car that my friends would call an everyday driver or grandma’s car, not like Tori’s mustang that is her baby.

I turned on the car for some warmth even though it barely could reach through my naturally cold skin and calm my nerves before calling The Patrol. I leaned back to just breathe. I began dialing 777 for The Patrol. God, just hearing the ring waiting for them to pick up was hard on the nerves.

Finally, they picked up; a man with a gravelly, deep voice answered “Hello this is Lucas what is the problem.” Wow-what a...