[Saint Barbara, patron saint of artillerymen and the US Marines]
Barbara groaned after hearing the extra details Rachel gave her; apparently, it was vampire season. She waved off Jeanne as the blonde cheerily took the civilians to Molly’s house with a two-vehicle escort. This had been such a shitshow, and now there was another attack coming to Miami; the city couldn’t catch a break.
Fiona, Maria, and Selvaria were discussing the ride to Miami in the helicopter she’d called while Rachel’s spooky orange blob bounced between their heads. She had to chuckle at the large stream of water that the leviathan was letting go down the hill to lighten the load she was on the vehicle, shrinking in size and age.
One of the Green Berets jogged over to her, snagging her attention as his boots sprayed mud everywhere in the downpour. “Captain, transport ETA in five!”
“Good. Where’s Anthony, and do you have any more info on that blonde girl who showed up? Ugh. I’m starting to think people are leaving me out of the loop on purpose; this was supposed to be a secret operation with a selective list… Damn civilians, making my job difficult. She’s probably some Miami friend or something.”
The large man chortled before handing her a tablet with her information. “Definitely not a girlfriend with how tied down he is to Amelia.”
“For real! The woman’s got her claws in him,” she snickered, recalling all the video calls she’d seen them do over the past few weeks. “She’ll box for her man, too! I’m telling you.”
“No doubt; she’s got a mouth on her when she’s mad—I’ve heard. You know, it’s ironic that we get all these vampires in the Sunshine State.”
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
“No joke… Wait, citizen records from the UK… Ireland?” She glanced around, not spotting the two. “Ciara Lynch, 18-years-old, single, and…without a US passport. Huh. Where are they?”
He pointed at her own Humvee, making her frown. “Alright, help everyone pack up; we’re off to earn our fang hunting license. Don’t forget the garlic bombs!”
“Haha! Lt. Cameron’s requesting more stun grenades.”
“Classic! Heightened senses, harder the hit; I like it!”
Leaving the man to do his duty and holding her umbrella close, Barbara slowed to a walk while rounding her vehicle; she caught sight of the blonde with the muscular, fire-haired Legend. She expected he’d want to be by his fiancée’s side if there was going to be an attack. It was on brand. Still, she had to ask a few questions about Ciara; for one, how she got into the US without a passport.
However, her somewhat confrontational mood and the joke on the tip of her tongue were washed away as she caught the pair under the man’s two-person umbrella, and Ciara pulled Anthony down to lock lips in a long kiss.
Stunned, Barbara’s mind blanked as the young woman broke contact, showing teary red cheeks and hatred in her green irises. She could only just barely hear the girl’s words past the falling rain against the steel vehicle between them.
“There’s nothing you can do, Anthony. You have to make the choice; you cannot run from this problem. Bury your love and take responsibility.”
Anthony pulled her in a little to rest his forehead against her damp hair. “I know… I’m sorry, Ciara. I’m so sorry…”
“I don’t need your apology,” she snapped with venom that put Barbara on her heels, feeling whiplashed. “I’ll be waiting… Don’t abandon me.”
In the next instant, Ciara Lynch hazed into a mist, leaving Anthony to wipe away the tears falling down his cheeks.
“What…the hell, man!”
Anthony turned around with a long, shuddering sigh, rubbing the back of his hand, where a tattoo of a black dove was imprinted, and he acted as if nothing had happened. Her gaze instantly flicked to where his dangerous beauty mark was, where the military paint covering it was partially smeared.
“Hey, Barb… We moving out?”
- Growing Community =D
View and help
Support me on and get up to: Note that instead of 'first of the month' billing, I have opted into 'pay on the same day you sign up'!
+ Weekly Poll On Next Week's Priority Series
+ 6 Chapters (6 Weeks) ahead in A Tail's Misfortune
+ 6 Chapters (6 Weeks) Ahead in The Oscillation Rewrite
+ 6 Chapters (6 Weeks) Ahead in UE Rewrite
+ 6 Chapters (6 Weeks) Ahead in Veil of Chaos
Patreon Exclusive Novella Books
+ Ask a Character any question you want and they'll respond in-character!
+ All my commissioned artwork is up for free on my Patreon!
Current Books on Amazon and Audible:
Series Books
The Oscillation
Book 1 - Chaos
A Tail's Misfortune
Book 1 - Transformation
Book 1 Audible - Transformation
Undying Empire
Book 1 - Foundation
Novellas (Stand Alone; Same Universe)
