#1 - Red

Roxie's Protectors-Roan's Fall

Marisa Chenery
www.marisachenery.com

 Liquid Silver Books

Roan pulled open the glass front entrance door and stood on the threshold. He scanned the large open-concept space. He so did not want to be here. However long he had to be here would be pure torture. If given a choice, he would rather face down a hundred armed men in battle than go inside this place.

   

“Well? Are you going to stand there all day or what? You’re going to make me late for my hair appointment.” Roxie gave him a hard shove from behind.

 

   Reluctantly, Roan stepped into the hair salon and moved aside so Roxie could enter after him. He tried not to take many deep breaths. The smell of perm solution, hair dyes and other such chemicals assaulted his sensitive werewolf nose. Considering Roxie was a

werewolf too, Roan had no idea how she could stand the harsh smells. If they bothered her, she showed no signs of it. She walked up to the front desk and gave her name to the girl who sat behind it.

   

Roxie crossed back over to him and led him to one of the unoccupied pansy-assed looking straight backed chairs that lined the wall. Roan sat down slowly expecting the chair to break once he settled his full weight on it. The spindly wood legs didn’t look as if

they were made to support a man of his size. Being six foot nine and weighing over two hundred and sixty pounds, he was by no means a lightweight. As he planted his ass on the seat and leaned back against the backrest, the chair groaned ominously, but it held

together.

   

Roan looked over at Roxie who had taken the empty chair next to his. She shook her head and sighed. “If you’re this uncomfortable you should have let me come alone like I wanted to in the first place.”

   

He scowled at her. “It’s my duty to protect you.”

   

And Roan took his duty seriously. Roxie was special. She was the foretold one, the one who now ruled over all the werewolf packs. For hundreds of years, Roan, along with his brothers and sister-in-arms, had trained to be the foretold one’s protectors. Even

though Roxie thought she could take care of herself, Roan and the rest of Roxie’s protectors weren’t prepared to leave her unguarded. Even if it meant that he had to sit inside a mortal hair salon while the fumes from perm solution slowly burned the inside of his nose.

  

Roxie scowled back at him. “Since I’m stuck with you, would you at least loosen up a bit? People are staring. You look as if you’re ready to kill the next person who looks at you the wrong way.”

  

Roan did a quick scan of the room. Roxie was right. All eyes, all female, were turned their way. Some of the mortal females looked as if they were ready to run away if he so much as said boo, while a few gave him looks that said they liked what they saw.

   

The chair creaked as he shifted his weight and turned back to Roxie. “What’s the holdup?”

  

“Ansley is finishing up with another client then it’ll be my turn.”

   

“I thought you had an appointment.”

  

“I do. Sometimes Ansley gets a little bit behind. I don’t mind waiting.”

   

“Well, I do. The faster I can get the hell out of here the better.”

   

Roxie eyed him. “I’m guessing you’ve never been to a hair salon before.”

   

Roan snorted. “This will be my first and only time.”

   

“Then where do you get your hair cut?” Roxie looked pointedly at his shoulderlength hair.

   

“Saskia cuts it for me.” Saskia who was his sister-in-arms and his leader tended to take care of things like haircuts and such.

  

Before Roxie could say anything more, the girl from the front desk came around it and called her name. “Roxie? Ansley is ready for you now. If you want to follow me back we’ll get your hair washed.”

   

Roan would have followed Roxie, but she shoved him back down on his chair and shook her head. “Park it, buddy. I’ll be perfectly fine. You’ll be able to keep an eye on me from here.”

  

He watched Roxie follow the girl to one of the sinks at the very back of the room where another woman stood waiting for her. Roan figured the other woman had to be Ansley, Roxie’s hairdresser. He let his gaze run over her. From what he could see of her from this distance, Roan thought her pretty enough. Her looks didn’t compare to a female werewolf’s, their race was known for their extreme good looks, but her looks appealed to him nonetheless. She wore her straight, brown hair down past her shoulders. He couldn’t see the color of her eyes since she stood in profile as she motioned Roxie to sit down on the chair in front of the sink.

   

Roan spent the next half hour bored out of his mind while he watched Ansley cut Roxie’s hair. The two women chatted away, sometimes laughing over something one of them had said. At one point, both women turned their heads to look directly at him. Roan

crossed his arms over his chest and stared back. He gave Ansley a cursory glance before he focused on Roxie. There was something about her smile that said she had to be up to something.

   He soon found out he hadn’t been too far off on his thinking. Once Ansley finished with Roxie’s hair, Roxie signaled for Roan to come over to where she sat. Feeling as if he’d made a mistake by volunteering to be the one to take Roxie here today, he stood up

and walked to the back of the salon. Prepared for just about anything when it came to Roxie, Roan wasn’t at all prepared when he caught the first faint whiff of Ansley’s scent.

#2 - Blue

Dark of kNight

T.L. Mitchell

Publisher Wild Horse Press  

My ears flicked a couple of times as I could hear Jason and Heather on the opposite side of us across the meadow.  A couple of short barks letting us know they were in place and ready.

Daniel’s body stiffened.  I heard his breathing stop as his ears perked forward intently listening to the vampires.  He snorted.  The vampires had made a confrontation with the werewolves.  I listened carefully.  Daniel’s hearing was far better than mine.  I raised my head and sniffed the air.  I could not smell the werewolves.  The only scent I could pick up was the one of the vampires.  He snorted again.  A low growl rumbled in his throat as he dropped his head.  A warning someone was coming and fast.  I raised my head again and sniffed the air.  Vampire.

Standing to my feet, I peered through the woods.  I could see a flash of something glowing as it moved quickly into the meadow.  It was Nathaniel and he was headed toward the house with Casey in his arms.  Daniel’s head lowered as he let out another low growl.  Turning my head, I saw Jason and Heather move out blocking the path behind Nathaniel as he flew past them.  Daniel jerked his head up and nudged me with his shoulder.  I could smell it.  The werewolves were on their way.  Three of them fast approaching.

Daniel and I moved cautiously.  They would aim for Jason and Heather.  The sickening stench grew heavier as the three werewolves came fast through the woods to the open meadow.  The horrible creature was exactly as I remembered in my dream.  My hair bristled on my neck as they began to slow down.  Apparently, they caught our scent.  One of them began walking to where Daniel and I were.  The other one was fast approaching Jason and Heather. The third creature lingered in the center as if expecting an attack.

Daniel and I bolted out of the woods with lightening speed.  I heard his thoughts clearly as I began to fix my eyes on the ankle of my prey.  Daniel made a pass by the huge horrid creature snapping its right hand off.  Before the creature had time to react, I had already taken its left foot off.  The taste in my mouth was utterly the worse taste I had ever experienced.  They taste as bad as they smell.  Quickly turning we flanked the single creature.  

This one was not as surprised by us.  Cautiously, Daniel and I moved around, circling it.  I kept a close eye on the damaged one.  It managed to balance itself on the remaining limbs.  A loud roar came from the damaged one, it was not exactly happy we dismembered it.  Watching the one in front of us, I lowered my head, giving Daniel the signal of my attempt to attack.  My prey’s attention was on me as I bolted a charge.  I flew into the air.  Before I had a chance to make contact with my prey, I felt a hard thump in my ribs as I fell to the ground.  The air had been knocked out of my lungs.  I yelped in pain as I felt the sharp claws of the damaged one rip into my side. Turning my head to the side, I began snapping my teeth ferociously at this creature.  He was on top of me, his mouth snapping its huge teeth backed by the powerful jaws toward my neck.  I knew I had to get to Daniel; he had already made another pass at the one creature, distracting its attention away from me.  He was not thinking clearly, as his concern was on me.  My hind feet pushed the damaged creature off me.  I got up quickly.  My sides were stinging and burning from the torn flesh.  The smell of my own blood filled my nostrils as it poured freely from the open wound.  

In the distance, I heard the other werewolf roar as either Jason or Heather yelped in pain.  I knew the battle had to be going better for them than it was for us right now.

Keeping my eyes fixed on the damaged creature we both limped in a circle facing off one another.  Both damaged.  At least I still had all of my members.  I planned to take another part of him off before he had the chance to kill me.  I heard Daniel yelp in pain from behind me.  He growled angrily as I heard his teeth snapping.  I could not help from turning my head.  Daniel was on his back and blood was running down from his shoulder.  My heart raced in my chest.  He needed my help.  My mistake was taking my eyes off my prey.  I moved too slowly, I felt the pain of teeth in my shoulder.  I yelped out in pain.

A flash of white flew by my face as I felt the tearing of flesh on my shoulder.  The weight of the creature was now gone.  I was determined to move.  I needed to get to Daniel.  I turned quickly to see Richard locked into a battle with my attacker.  My attention was back to Daniel.  Ignoring the pain in my sides, I launched forward with all the strength I had left.  I landed onto the back of the wiry haired werewolf that had Daniel pinned down.  Locking my teeth into the fleshly part of its neck, I closed my teeth down.  The soft flesh felt much like I was biting into a too ripe peach.  I wished it tasted the same.  I jerked my head back as I felt its head rising up. 

The ripping noise was evident as I pulled part of the creature’s neck from its body.  Daniel reached under the neck and clasped his teeth around the tendons. The bones crunched loudly between Daniel’s strong jaws.  The stinky creature fell sideways.  I sniffed the creature to make sure it was dead.  It was definitely dead.

#3 - Green -WINNER!!!

The Omegas 

by Annie Nicholas 

from Lyrical Press

Here

Sugar padded down the carpeted hall barefoot, to where the boys were trying to wedge the coffin through their doorway.

The thin Weres battled with the box, and she smiled at the sight. “I think you need to turn it sideways and slide it at an angle.” The coffin shone like glass. Temptation got the best of her, and she ran a finger along the surface. It felt cool. “Is he in there?”

“No, he’s not.” A rich, masculine voice drifted over her shoulder.

Sugar spun around, sucked in a hard breath, and stepped back against the coffin. Magazines ran pictures of mainstream vampires. TV even showed a few interviews with them, but nothing prepared her for this particular one.

The deep blue color of his eyes reminded her of the sea. Well-defined cheekbones led to a strong jaw and a slight teasing smile on his full, sensual lips.

A stirring began deep inside her. He wasn’t beautiful, more sexy and hot.

Breathless, Sugar experienced an impulsive urge to ask him to rub the smooth, pale skin of his bald head all over her body. A hunger awoke, one she thought lay dormant. It unfurled inside of her and wanted to be fed.

“You’re not wolf.” He loomed over her. A black tattoo on his well-developed chest peeked out from underneath his partially unbuttoned white dress shirt.

Eric tapped her chin with his finger, silently instructing her to close her mouth. “Sugar is our neighbor.” He gestured to the rakish vampire. “This is Mr. Pal Robi.”

Heat crept up her cheeks. She stuck out her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

His hand engulfed hers while he shook it tenderly. “Is that your real name?” He didn’t release his hold.

She dropped her chin. A thrill ran through her. “My parents have a poor sense of humor. I have a twin named Spice.”

Amusement creased the skin around his eyes. “Sugar and spice, and everything nice.”

The poem annoyed her more every time someone quoted it. “Yes, I’ve heard the rest. I’m not a little girl anymore.” She withdrew her hand from his. Maybe the phenomenal packaging was only skin deep.

A carnal light sparked in his eyes. “Definitely not a little girl. You may call me Daedalus.” His gaze traced her face and slipped lower, caressing the curves of her breasts, then down along her hips.

Sugar gasped as this alarming man studied her. She could almost hear the Omegas leering at her response to Daedalus. “I’ll get out of your way.”

He didn’t move as she pressed herself against the wall to squeeze by him. The tips of her breasts brushed his well-muscled arm. They pebbled, pushing through her blouse. Naughty images of him running those large palms over her nipples played in her mind.

Her panties got damp as a flash of desire burned through her. She realized he’d wanted her to brush against him. He was such a cad, and it made her want him even more.

* * * *

Daedalus watched her heart-shaped ass wiggle back down the hall. She was ravishing. He would never mix business with pleasure, but she didn’t belong to the pack. Just a neighbor and a bonus.

She reminded him of the 1950’s pin-up poster girls, pretty and full of luscious curves. He still kept those posters in storage.

Sugar. His thoughts sprang to the hard caramelized shell on crème brulee. He would like to ignite her sweetness into a passionate inferno.

Daedalus had felt her response to him as she brushed his arm. The flush of color in her face pleased him. He wanted her to turn and look his way one more time before she entered her home.

The Omegas began wrestling with his coffin again. “Can we call you Daedalus?” one of them piped up.

Sugar glanced back at him.

“No.” He gave her a shameless wink.

#4 - Black

Ella the Vampire

Barton Paul Levenson

Lyrical Press

Find out More Here 

  "What the hell would you know about being sweet, Derek?" asked Ella.

      "Don't you mouth off to me, bitch. You've made me plenty of trouble the past couple of days." He advanced to the bed and backhanded Ella hard, making Cindy cry out. Ella laughed.

      "You think this is funny? I'll show you what's funny, you goddam bitch." He swung again, but this time Ella caught his wrist. She got up off the bed, still holding tight.

      "You let go of my arm, bitch, or I'm really gonna hurt you."

      Ella shook her head. "No. You're not ever going to hurt me, or Cindy, or Roz, or Stephanie again." Roz and Stephanie were the other two prostitutes Derek ran.

     Derek slugged her in the stomach. Ella didn't fold over, but just said oof quietly. Then she slugged Derek in the stomach, and he flew back to crash against the wall.

     "Don't fuck with me, Derek," Ella said calmly.

     The pimp was wheezing, trying to get his breath back. He got up on all fours, struggling to breathe. When he could manage it again, he slowly stood up. "Whoa. Quite a punch you got there. You realize I'm gonna have to fuck up your face now."

     "Give it your best shot, stud."

     Derek whipped out his straight razor and ran at her. Ella took him by the wrists and effortlessly flipped him over her head. He crashed upside down against the opposite wall. She turned to see him lying on the floor, stunned.

     "If that was your best shot, you're pretty fucking pathetic, Derek, my man."

     Derek was slower to get up this time. He sat up, making no move to stand, and leaned back against the wall. "What are you on? Angel dust? PCP?"

     "No."

     "What, then?"

     "Natural hormones."

     "Natural hormones," he echoed. Then he reached into his coat and brought out his nine millimeter Ruger.

     "Derek, no," shouted Cindy.

     Derek fired five times. Each shot hit Ella. "Ouch," she said slowly. Sarcastically.

     Derek fired three more times.

     "Ouch, ouch, ouch."

     "What are you?" he asked in wonder. "What the ---- are you?"

     "She a vampire, Baby," Cindy said.

     "No shit?"

     "I'm a vampire," Ella said.

     Derek slowly stood up, supporting himself with one hand against the wall. "A real vampire, no shit?"

     "No," Ella said.

     For a minute he just stared. Then his eyes took on a look Ella knew well by now—a look that said you have something I want. "Would you, uh... Would you like to make me one?"

    "You'd like that, wouldn't you, Derek?"

    He flashed his million-dollar smile. "Yeah."

    "Well, take off that coat, and I'll see what I can do."

    Derek took off the coat. Ella went to him and bit into his neck. She knew just where to do it. The blood tasted like warm, rich soup, the best-tasting soup she had ever eaten. She was hungry and the blood tasted wonderful. It gave her strength. It gave her power. She went on sucking. She sucked until Derek trembled on his feet, weak and unsteady.

    She raised her head. "You know how it works?"

    "Huh? What?"

    "How it works. How you become a vampire."

    "No..."

    "I drain you. You die. Then you come back as a vampire." Ella didn't know how she knew this, but she knew. She knew a lot of things she hadn't known before.

   "Uh?"

   "You'd like that, wouldn't you, Derek? You'd like to be a vampire?"

   "Uh?" He smiled, then nodded feebly.

   "I know you would. Then you'd be stronger than me again, and bullets wouldn't hurt you. I don't think I'd like that, Derek. In fact, I don't think I like the idea of you living at all. You see, here's the thing, Derek. If you die some other way—other than me draining you—you don't become a vampire. You're just dead."

   "Uh?" Derek's body sagged against her.

   "I'll show you." And with that Ella took his head in her hands and wrenched it to the side, snapping his neck. He voided as he died.

   Cindy screamed.

   Ella took a moment to wipe her mouth before she turned to Cindy, knowing the sight of blood on her lips and chin would freak her friend. "Calm down, Cindy."

   "You killed him!"

   "I know."

   "You killed him!"

   "Cindy." She waited until the other woman calmed down a bit. "Are you okay?"

  Cindy nodded quickly.

  "First he hit me, then he said he was gonna carve up my face, then he shot me a bunch of times. You saw him shoot me."

  Another nod.

  "As a vampire he'd have controlled us till the end of time. I didn't want that. I want to be free. You know, free? Do you remember what being free was like?"

  Cindy nodded, closing her eyes on tears.

  Ella sat next to her and put her arm around her. "If somebody called the cops about the shots and you screaming, then they're gonna be here soon. We have to be out of here by then. Are you with me?"

 Cindy hesitated, then nodded again.

 "Do you love me?"

 "I guess I do, but Ella, you so damn cold about stuff. Derek..." Then she sat up straight. "Okay, Derek wasn't much, he beat on us a lot, but he was nice too, sometimes. Don't you remember? That night he took us all to Gullifty's?"

              "He was nice when he was in a good mood and mean when he was in a bad mood. He took teenage kids and turned them into whores. He was a complete scumbag, and you know it, Cindy. You know it."

  "Yeah, I guess, but—"

  "Get dressed and come with me. Take your purse and anything you really need. Don't bother with extra clothes. We don't want to look like we're packed to go somewhere."

  "Okay," Cindy said meekly.