Amazon
Asylett Press
amazon
Category:
Science Fiction
Publisher: Asylett Press
ISBN-10: 1934337897
Type: Fiction
Pages: 174
ISBN-13: 9781934337899
In the year 2049, the world is trying to come to terms with the fact that their worst nightmares not only exist, but they also want their civil rights. The public is both afraid and fascinated that vampires, werewolves, and zombies walk among them. The politicians don't know what to do with them. Religions have begun to condemn them. At the center is Eden Blackwell, a young vampire, hired by the Pope as a preternatural bounty hunter to help keep the monsters under control. It hasn't won her any popularity, especially among her own people. It doesn't help that she acts as a consultant for the local police department on preternatural-related crimes. She's their "monster" expert. But hey, a girl's got to pay her rent, right?
Excerpt
A vampire is defined as a being who rises at night to feed on blood. A slayer is described as someone who causes the death of a person or animal. My name is Eden, and I am both.
It is the end of the twenty-first century. Things have changed. The worlds of the natural and the supernatural have bled into one another. Vampires, and other various beings, now roam the streets of our cities openly.
Everything changed after the leader of the vampires, Emperor Florian, spilled the beans on our existence to the humans. His revelation sparked an incredible chain of events.
While the world is still coming to terms with our existence, governments worldwide are being pressured to issue preternaturals equal rights and benefits. Not everyone approves, and things are now in a state of global unrest. Religions have begun to condemn us, the politicians hate us, and the mortals fear us. The religions took the first step against us, with the Catholics leading the way.
I was appointed by the pope as a last stand for human-kind against the supernatural evil that plagues the world, a type of bounty hunter to balance out the scales while the world makes a decision as to what to do with us.
In return for my duties, my life is to be spared...whatever the outcome. The funny thing is that I’m not Catholic, but I have them—my enemies—to thank for the job.
If a job is what you would call it...
ONE
According to the red glowing numbers on the alarm clock, it was one fifty-nine a.m. The cordless phone, hanging on the wall in the kitchen, was ringing. No one called me that early unless it was important. I had made it a rule with everyone I knew—I don’t accept any calls before the crack of noon.
Groaning, I closed my eyes and turned back over, pulling the warm velvety comforter over my shoulder. I let the phone continue to ring, echoing throughout the apartment. Whoever it was, was very determined that I was going to answer. I dragged the feather pillow over my head, trying to drown out the shrill rings. It didn’t help, and now I was counting them...twelve, thirteen, fourteen…
I flung the comforter back and sat up. Leaning forward, I peered through the bedroom doorway and into the kitchen. I watched as the caller ID box on the phone blinked with each ring.
I threw my legs over the side of the bed. My bare feet touched the cold, hardwood floor. Sleepily, I padded my way through the dark living room and into the kitchen, stumbling over piles of dirty clothes scattered across the floor like a carpet. I ripped the phone off its charger, punched in the talk button, and put the receiver to my ear.
“Hello?” I said, my voice sounding gruff.
I tried clearing my throat without much success.
“Eden?” a familiar voice said a little too loud, a little too happy. “You sound tired.”
It was Detective Richard O’Brien from the Shrier County Police Department. I already didn’t like this conversation, and it hadn’t really started, yet.
There was a searing pain in the front of my head reminding me of just how early it was. Contrary to popular belief, not all vampires sleep the day away. I looked up at the round, black clock hanging on the wall above the stove. It was now five minutes after two. I rubbed my head and picked my way back across the living room, returning to my bedroom to hide myself under the warm covers once again.
“Were you asleep? Hello...? HELLO?” he raised his voice.
It sounded more like shouting to me.
“Yes,” I snapped. “I’m here.”
“Oh. Captain wants you to come down to the precinct. He’s got something for you,” Richard said in his taunting ‘I know something you don’t’ voice.
I could almost see his smile through the phone. I rolled my eyes and pulled the lavender comforter up over my head.
“What is it?” I asked, dreading the answer.
“Well, we’ve got a juicy body and a couple of suspects,” he replied, sounding almost gleeful.
I think Richard enjoyed his job a little too much, sometimes.
“Then why do you need me?”
There was silence on the other end of the phone. It made the pit of my stomach clench.
“O’ Brien?” I checked to make sure he hadn’t hung up.
“It’s the body, Eden.” His voice sunk to an uneasy whisper. “It’s like someone or something ripped it to shreds.”
“I see.” I sighed, throwing back the warm blanket. “You’re calling me because your boys can’t figure out which bogeyman did it.”
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