Lady Jessica, Monster Hunter: Episode 6: Heart Of Darkness

By Keith Dumble

England, 1889.

Lady Jessica McAlpin is the commander of The Black Diamonds, the Great British Empire's covert monster-hunting division.

With her crew of criminals, misfits and desperadoes, Lady Jessica soars above the land in the airship HMS Zephyr, tracking down the diabolical foes of the Empire.

After the devastating events of Episode 5: The Bloody Tower, Jessica returns to the Zephyr. On arrival at the aerodrome, she finds everything has changed and that her life — and those of The Black Diamonds — will never be the same again.

Heart of Darkness is the thrilling conclusion of the first season of Lady Jessica, Monster Hunter. The Black Diamonds shall return in Season Two: Angels Amongst Us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Keith Dumble
• Release date: Feb 2, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311065186

Keith Dumble

I am a writer from Edinburgh, Scotland.I write history, mystery and speculative fiction, focusing on the sci-fi and fantasy genres. As an indie author, I regularly publish short stories, serials, novellas and longer works of fiction on the main e-book platforms.

Book preview

Lady Jessica: Monster Hunter

Episode 6: Heart Of Darkness

by Keith Dumble

Copyright © 2014 by Keith Dumble. All rights reserved.

Cover copyright © 2014 by Keith Dumble.

www.keithdumble.com

This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is purely coincidental.

Reproduction in whole or in part of this publication without express written consent is strictly prohibited.

Thank you for purchasing and supporting my work. If you have enjoyed it, please consider leaving a review wherever you bought this book.

Keep up to date with the ongoing adventures of The Black Diamonds at

www.ladyjessicamonsterhunter.com

CHAPTER ONE

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER SIX

CHAPTER SEVEN

CHAPTER EIGHT

CHAPTER NINE

CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER ELEVEN

CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

LADY JESSICA: MONSTER HUNTER

CHAPTER ONE

Ring Of Fire

IT WOULD BE so easy to let go.

To unwrap her arm from around Flint's waist, to slide from the gryphon's flank. Let herself fall, tumbling and spinning, rushing to the ground below. It would be quick.

It would be a waste.

A waste of the chance for vengeance, for the opportunity to track down those responsible for her father's imprisonment. To look them in the eye, to make them realise what they had done, and to whom. To make them pay.

So Jessica held on, almost as tightly as the grief which gripped at her chest.

It felt as though she was still in the midst of a nightmare. Her interrogation in the Tower, the feeling of violation as Baroness Fortuna probed into her mind, as easily as dipping her fingers into a pool of water. The beating which followed, at the rough hands of the boorish guards. Stripping her of her finery, laughing as they tossed her the sackcloth tunic, already torn and filthy.

Flint appearing, as if summoned from her most secret desires as she lay despondent on the cell floor, imagining him taking her in his arms and rescuing her from the fortress. Then, most terrible of all, her father. The joy of recognition; the exhilaration, her heart feeling as though it wanted to burst from her chest. Then the bottomless pit in her stomach as she watched Fortuna snatch him away from her again, opening his throat as casually as if she were slicing into a piece of fruit.

She refused to let the truth take hold of her, denying the crushing pain she knew was waiting to envelop her. She held Flint tight, watching London slip past beneath them, borne aloft by the gryphon as it made its way to Clapham and the Zephyr. To their chance of escape.

A chance which was on fire.

The flames engulfed the aerodrome. They were still some distance away, but it was clear the place had been attacked. An airship — larger in bulk than the Zephyr — rose from the conflagration, attempting to escape the inferno. It caught fire, flames licking across its taut structure. Then, with a terrible booming sound, the ship exploded, falling to the earth in blazing fragments.

Flint urged the gryphon on, faster. The creature was wounded, scarred by at least two successful hits from the guards at the Tower. As was Flint, a bullet buried deep in his gut. She felt him shudder against her as the gryphon swooped down towards the aerodrome. She peered ahead, trying to locate the Zephyr. They needed Atsu's healing powers now more than ever.

'Perhaps we should keep flying, away from this place.' Flint's voice broke with pain. 'You need to stay alive.'

The thought was inconceivable. Though she clung to her father's final words — that she would live to be reunited with her mother — Jessica could not abandon The Black Diamonds. 'Instruct the beast to land,' she said, circling her arms around Flint's shoulders. 'We shall not leave our friends to this fate.'

Flint grunted, his thoughts indecipherable. The gryphon continued its descent; Jessica could feel the heat from the flames below. Closer now, she could see individual ships. Bodies, running in panic. On fire.

The Zephyr's hangar was at the far end of the aerodrome. If anything, things looked worse there. The conning tower was a burning candle lighting the darkening sky. As they flew closer, it gave up its struggle to stay aloft, collapsing in flames.

'All is not lost, it would appear.' Flint pointed ahead.

There, not far from the remains of the tower. A ring of flame. And in the centre of the circle, untouched by the fire, the unmistakable shape of the Zephyr.

Jessica felt relief for the first time in days. 'Atsu.'

The girl had revealed she was of dragon blood; her abilities to summon and control fire were untested, but smouldered with a strength which was undeniable. The gryphon dropped lower, heading for the airship.

Things were clearer now. Jessica placed her hand over her mouth as they cut through the thick black smoke rising from the wreckage below. Explosions rocked the aerodrome, tanks of gas igniting and ripping apart, the inferno raging through the hangars and fuelling stations. Amidst the inferno, the Zephyr sat untouched, the circle of fire keeping the hungry tongues of flame at bay. Atsu stood in front of the prow, her arms outspread. The rest of the Diamonds were nowhere to be seen.

The gryphon shrieked in protest as