Blood Ties

By Kevin Barker

This is the third and last book in The Immortal Chronicles series. Moving past the recent events in BloodMoon, our hero has enhanced his abilities. Although he still does not know the whole truth of his origin or his past, he is moving towards a head on collision with forces he never met before.

The plot is brought to a head as he faces family issues, the truth of his origins and saving humanity. He will be pushed to his limits as he is forced to decide if he wants to follow the path that was foretold, or make his own destiny.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kevin Barker
• Release date: Jul 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476448435

Kevin Barker

I was born and raised in Michigan, but have since moved to North Carolina. I currently work as a Project Manager and Designer for a general contractor. I also participate in the several local non-profit organizations. In the few spare moments I have, I am writing or thinking about writing.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

I look over my shoulder back at the bodies lying on the ground. My heart feels heavy looking at Malous. The corner of the book in my pocket jabs at my rib reminding me that I need to keep moving. I don’t need to be a sitting target.

I walk slowly and silently down the tunnel towards where Gregorian rests. The closer I get the worried I get. I know there will be more monsters in this darkness. I keep my right hand clinched to give a deadly blow if anything jumps at me. As I walk through this mire of filth, I scoot rats out of my way with my feet. I listen to them squeak and the patter of feet on the wet walls and floor. They are everywhere down here. I try to not let them break my concentration.

I am getting close, and just as I am getting comfortable with the hardness I hear voices. It is a female speaking to someone. I slide myself behind a pipe, and try to conceal myself the best I can in this narrow space.

I am telling you, there is someone down here. She stops in the middle of the straightaway. She starts whispering, They are close, and they know we are looking for them.

She is a telepath and I have to be mindful of what I do now. I concentrate on clearing my thoughts. She turns her head left then right. She looks around puzzled as she whispers to her companion who is still in the shadows, I swear to you, someone was here.

The figure slides around her and looks down the tunnel. Honey, they are there I promise you. He draws his sword as he yells out to me, Alright, we know you are there. Why don’t you just come out and surrender right now. I will let you live, well long enough to see us bring him back.

He smiles as he looks into the darkness. She slides up next to him and tries to sense me again. He taps her on the shoulder, He is a telepath, and he can block your ability to sense him. He shakes his head as he turns his attention back to me. I swear some days you are a pain in my ass.

She gives him a look of ice and daggers. If looks could kill, he would be dead already. That doesn’t bother me because in a second they both will be dead.

I put my right foot flat against the wall. I prepare myself for my attack. I wait for the right moment and it comes shortly. He turns towards her and starts to speak. It is too late for words. I push off the wall as hard as I can, and race towards the two. They don’t have a prayer. I send them both to be the devils guest forever. I sink my dagger in her throat and then my fist into his chest.

Blood gushes from her neck as she collapses to the ground. She grabs at her neck, but the wound is too deep. I can see the color draining from her as she bleeds out. The blade sliced her clean and she can’t scream. She lays there helpless watching me.

Her friend is not as lucky. His eyes and mine are dead lock as stand toe to toe with him. My hand is stuck in his chest with his spine clutched in my fingers. He wants to scream but he is powerless. He only has enough in him to squirm. I take pity on him and with a twitch of my hand, he goes limp.

I drop him to the ground and turn my attention to her. She is still clinging to her neck. Her eyes widen as I approach her. She pushes herself away from me, but all she accomplishes is cornering herself. Her back hits the wall and she starts kicking at the air trying to keep me away.

I jump on her between kicks. She doesn’t have a chance of fending me off. I clutch her throat and she grabs my wrists. She tries with all her might to get me to let go of her, but she can’t. I am too powerful for her. I look deep into her eyes as I speak slowly and calmly, I will kill you quickly if you tell me what I need to know. If you don’t, well let’s just agree you won’t be as lucky as him.

Her eyes widen and she slowly relaxes her grip on my wrists. I relax my grip on her. The only thing I want to know is how many more I’m facing. She moves her lips but nothing comes out. Oh for God’s sake, blink the number.

She starts blinking and I count. The number is not good, but I don’t feel scared at all. Actually, I smile at her. I kiss her on the cheek and whisper to her, I am sorry lovely, but this is the end. With that I snap her neck. I hold true to my word, as her death was quick and painless. I take my dagger out and make sure both of them are dead by removing their heads. It is just a precaution.

I have this feeling that everything will be alright. I am no longer believing every single lie that I have been told. I am walking my own path even against these odds. The cute vampire gave me a number, but not the whole breakdown.

CHAPTER 2

I wipe my dagger off on the shirt of the male vampire. I start to stand up and notice something in his jacket pocket. As I pick it up I accidently touch the screen, and the device lights up. I wipe the blood off the face and see a diagram.

He put a map of the sewers on his tablet so he wouldn’t get lost. Smart move, but he wasn’t expecting to give it to his enemy. I study the map and the notes he made on it. There are weak spots in their defense, but I am not interested in getting around their defense.

I am going to kill off their defense now. By killing them all off one by one, I will decrease the chance that I will have to fight them later. I look around for the next small group of defenders. A thought comes to my mind that makes me smile to myself.

I take my jacket off and hang it on a pipe. I undress the man and put on his necklace, coat, and a hat. I put my book and his tablet in the pockets of his jacket. I flip the collar up on his jacket. I like his jacket better than mine.

I turn around and start walking towards the next defenders. I start walking faster and faster, and soon I am blazing a path down these tunnels towards the next group. In a matter of seconds I am standing in front of them.

I catch them off guard. All six of the werewolves are in their wolf form and curled up with each other. There are no other immortals here as far as I can tell. I walk around the chamber looking up each tunnel as they jump up and start growling.

The gnashing of teeth and the drooling gets boring really quickly. I complete my inspection and I turn toward the wolves. They are still unsure of what to do. I caught them off guard with my speed and they can’t believe I snuck up on them.

I turn to them and spread my arms wide open revealing I have no weapons, Shall we dance or do you want to continue your puppy orgy?

The rage inside them is now out of control. It is like poking a beehive with a stick. Then they finally can’t contain themselves and they rush me. All six run at me not thinking about their next move or why I am not scared of them.

I leap into the air and easily clear them. The all slam into each other as they try to stop and turn around. I stand in the middle of the room walking around looking at the ground waiting. They turn around and the leader starts mashing his teeth together. Their rage is building and I can feel it.

He nips at the necks of the others. They finally spread out and circle me. They have me surrounded and start inching towards me slowly. I bend my knees, and move both of my hands to above my right shoulder. They are not fazed by my weird posture. They just keep creeping up on me.

The wolves keep looking at the Alpha wolf, waiting for his lead. He sniffs the air and starts to drool even more. He is trying to taste me, and he has kept inching ever closer. He wants to make sure when he attacks that I can’t jump out of the way.

Most wolves will make the mistake of stopping and then powering up their attack before they attack. This gives their prey a chance to sense the attack and dodge if timed right. This Alpha is smart, he keeps creeping, never stopping or pausing. He is always in motion, but it is not going to help him.

The closer they get, the more my hands start to sweat. I hope this works like I think it is going to. I scan the room and look at all the wolves. I keep my movements slow and smooth. I do not want to trigger a lone wolf attack. I want them all to attack at the same time.

Then it happens, the Alpha lunges at me. As I suspected he didn’t pause, he just suddenly leapt at me. Following his lead all of the others have