Cover Blurb
A battle raged within her, a battle between those warnings and her heart.
She gripped the keys tighter, all the while cursing herself for doing so. When they reached the
door she turned, and when she did, their eyes locked. His dark eyes again drew her to him and she saw no threat. In spite of the closeness of the foyer and the shadows that now surrounded them, she loosened her grip on the keys. First, allowing them to dangle with her pinky through the key ring, and finally she slipped them back into her pocket. For this moment, the battle was over.
“It’s been a wonderful evening, Lee. I hope we can do it again.” He paused and she saw his eyes grow vacant again—like when he looked out the window at the sea, but this time he was staring into the depths of her eyes—her soul.
I wonder what he’s thinking. Is he afraid to make the first move? Oh, to hell with it.
She leaned into him and her hand rose to his cheek. He didn’t retreat—didn’t protest. Instead, he turned and gently kissed her fingertips. Lee let her hand slide to the back of his neck and pulled him closer. He smiled as she gently played with his long hair…
Dead or A Lie
Chapter 1
The autumn evening still maintained the day's heat as Lee Teadora knelt quietly beside her father’s headstone. The last rays of the sun flooded the sky with a wondrous pallet of colors, promising a beautiful tomorrow. Brilliant orange, deep pink, and purple paid homage to the day and its life’s blood—sunlight, creating a scene that could never be explained by words, caught on film, or even painted by the hand of a grandmaster. And then it was gone, just like so many other things… and people in Lee’s life.
A granite sculpture of the Angel Gabriel stood sentry, with outstretched wings, at the gate of Woodlawn Cemetery as darkness began to reclaim its world. The shadows of the few crooked trees and countless headstones now cast an ominous scene. Just seconds earlier, Gabriel had welcomed all to the solitude of this bastion of final rest but now his shadow, driven by the setting sun, began to race across the ground like a vulture’s silhouette as it swooped down to claim the dead flesh of its prey.
Lee was not frightened by the darkness or the growing shadows. It was her life now. The sun was now her enemy, and she had learned to accept it—even enjoy the darkness. It’s the medium in which she lived and she bade it welcome, even though her mother had told her to beware of the creatures of the night.
Creatures of the night, Lee thought. Mother, you were always too dramatic. What would you say now, knowing that I am one of those creatures of the night?
A rustle in the crisp autumn leaves behind her brought her back to the present. In an instant, her training in martial arts took control. Her muscles tensed, and her hands took on the posture of lethal weapons.
Lee stood quickly and spun toward the sound. Nothing. “Oh, God, Mother, now you’ve got me listening for creatures of the night.” She started down the path to her car.
“In a hurry, my dear?” The voice behind her seemed cold and the question malevolent.
She spun to see a pale excuse of a man, his eyes dark and lifeless, his skin stretched over the boney structure of his face.
“Get lost freak. You don’t want to be messing with me.” The first rule of self-defense flashed through her mind, avoid confrontations in isolated areas. She began to back away and when he didn’t follow, she turned towards the safety of her car. She came face to face with another pale creature just inches from her.
Instantly the blade of her forearm was at his larynx, intent on crushing his windpipe. Then her knee rocketed to his crotch, and without a second between motions, she turned to address the first would be attacker but he was already on her. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her towards him. The startling strength of his grip hurt and then the reality of the situation assaulted her mind and soul.
“Oh, shit,” she was in a fight for her life. Lee pulled out all stops using everything she had learned and even a few moves she made up on the spot. She drove the heel of her hand into his chin trying to break his hold and when that failed, she took aim at his larynx. Before she could launch the fatal blow her arm was restrained.
She looked over her shoulder to find the one she thought she had dropped. He flashed her a fiendish smile, his canine teeth long and sharp. “I think we’ve had just about enough of this, don’t you, my dear?”
Lee recoiled in disbelief. Vampires? — Impossible. A chill shot up her spine.
“It’s a shame we have to waste this beauty’s blood but Master wants only her heart.”
“Just a sip? What difference would it make?” the one from behind coaxed.
“Fool! The Master will know we took her sweetness and will not be pleased. You’ve seen what he does to those who fail him.”
“I have,” the one from behind responded after a short pause. “Then just take her heart and be done with it. We’ve wasted too much time chasing this one.” He grabbed her around the waist.
The attacker in front released her wrist and took a dagger from the sheath at his side. “It’s a shame not to have your blood, but the Master will reward us with many others as young and beautiful as you, my—”
“Not if I can help it, you bastard.” She twisted sideward and sent a lateral kick towards his groin, but he stepped out of reach with astonishing speed.
He drew his dagger back. “Nice try, Deary, but let’s stop this playing around. What do you—?” A swooshing sound from behind him cut the last word from his foul mouth. He paused as if listening and then continued. “Like I was saying, my dear, the Master will reward us well. Now this may hurt a lot but as we say in the business, ‘That’s death’.” His evil smile exposed his razor sharp fangs. They seemed to glow in the rising pale yellow moonlight.
The dagger began its downward plunge, but in a blur of incredible speed it was caught by the hand of yet another stranger. Lee saw his form for only a second before she was blinded by a blast of dirt thrown in her face. Then she heard an almost inaudible pronouncement, “Free.”
“Not a drop of her blood will fall to this mortal path, but you will blend with this hallowed earth for Gabriel to watch over for an eternity.”
She heard the whispered warning cut through the cold night air and suddenly the painful grip around her waist was released. Again, she heard the faintest, “Free.”.
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