Deception of the Asuune

By Steven Sterup, Jr

The conclusion to Curse of the Asuune.
Kathrine Albet longs to have a peaceful life with the mysterious and ancient Asuune, Paul even though she can never have the thing she secretly wants the most, a child. Despite this desire she finds herself at the center of a devious scheme to destroy humanity. Left with no choice, Kathrine accepts the help of her family in preparing for the fight of her life. It seems that every evil being wants Kathrine’s loyalty or death. What makes her so important?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steven Sterup, Jr
• Release date: Aug 5, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370495832

Steven Sterup, Jr

I enjoy reading and writing fantasy themed books, including romance novels. Most of my work is about fantastical worlds with magic and monsters.Since I was young I've had a strange desire to create 'something' and as soon as I started writing my first book I knew I had finally found what I was looking for.I hope you enjoy the worlds I have created and I appreciate your feedback. Feel free to contact me on my website at www.StevenSterupJr.com or email me at [e-mail].

Book preview

Chapter 1

Kathrine Albet walked begrudgingly down the empty alley. She wore a leather jacket with its hood up. It was pouring, but Kathrine was less concerned with the rain than she was her failure to catch the man she was after.

At least it isn’t snowing again, Kathrine said to herself as she looked down the street.

Kathrine had come to a moderately sized town in Nebraska to track the man she was after. However, she was not prepared for the weather. On Tuesday it had been forty degrees and sunny, two days later it snowed four inches, the day after that it was twenty below zero and today, as if the weather had a sick sense of humor, it was again forty, but this time it was pouring. Kathrine knew that if she had been human, she would have a cold or possibly the flu by now. These sudden temperature changes, coupled with the spontaneous precipitation, would have caused any other non-resident to stay home, sick and in bed. Luckily for Kathrine, she didn’t have to worry about getting sick. Despite her nearly three-week stay in this town, with its horrible weather, it was impossible for her to get human illnesses. She couldn’t remember the name of this town, she had seen so many since joining Charles on their quest to find recruits, but she did remember it had meant something in a Native American language.

Despite the frustrating weather, she grew fond of this state and its, mostly kind, inhabitants. Rarely did you get a ‘hello’ or ‘excuse me’ in the large city she grew up in. Even during her time in Oregon, with her foster parents, she had seen little kindness from complete strangers. This place, however, was so kind that she thought someone would give her bus fare or money for a meal if she asked politely. Luckily for Kathrine, she didn’t need money. Her step-mom, Sarah, was ridiculously rich. Her father and mother had also left her all their money when her mother died, and her father went on the run from the police. No, if Kathrine wanted to, she could buy this whole town and everything in it.

She thought back on her life as she slowly turned down the soaking wet alley while the rain came down harder. She missed her mother, but Sarah kept her life bearable. She had two moms while she grew up, Sarah, her aunt, and Jennifer, her birth mother. It was only fitting that her father, Mark, should marry Sarah. Sarah had never tried to take her mother’s place, in fact, Kathrine had to insist that Sarah marry her father or the two of them would probably not be on their honeymoon right now. Kathrine had always had four people in her family. Her dad, her, and her dad’s two wives. Sarah hadn’t actually been Mark’s wife, not until recently, but Kathrine’s mom often joked that Mark had an office wife and a house wife. This lead to Kathrine being able to accept Sarah as her second mom without hesitation. Her family had always been strange, but in her mind, it was perfect just the way it was.

Kathrine was in between recruiting missions with Charles, and she kept herself busy by looking for human criminals. She thought that maybe it was due to her time in the FBI, she just couldn’t let these bad people go around unchecked. Being Asuune now, she was in a much better position to help people by stopping the criminals, than she ever was as an analyst. The three weeks she had spent in this town, however pleasant, had produced no results. She was after a serial rapist who had struck five times in the months preceding Kathrine’s arrival, but since then he had been hiding. Perhaps he had given up or moved to another town?

Kathrine pulled her eyes from the flooded street to see the sign of the bar she was heading to. She had been here four times before. It was a normal bar for this part of the country. It had its regulars, and most of them sat at their normal tables talking to their usual friends. She had been to every other bar in the town at least twice. This one, however, the rapist had taken three of the five girls from, he had to live near it or maybe even be one of the regulars.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kathrine saw the hooded man standing down at the end of the alley. One second he was there, and the next he vanished. Kathrine had gotten used to seeing the hooded man now. He never threatened her, only watched, and wherever the hooded man was, Paul was usually nearby. She wasn’t sure if Paul had hired the hooded man or if he was following the hooded man. Either way, Kathrine knew she would soon feel Paul’s presence.

When Kathrine opened the door to the bar, she inhaled the scents of the room. Well, at least there are, no vampires, she said to herself quietly as she walked toward the counter.

Suddenly Kathrine was aware of Paul. He was getting closer, maybe he was down the street, but he was definitely there. Kathrine took a seat at the counter and ordered whatever beer was on tap. She wasn’t fond of beer, but her cover required her to blend in. She needed to look and act like she was a farmer’s daughter, which meant drinking beer. The rapist had a particular fondness for farmer’s daughters who were rebellious. Maybe they were easy prey for the man, or maybe it was something psychological that made him want to hurt them. Either way, Kathrine needed to be one, at least for tonight.

Somehow these underage girls had gotten themselves into a bar, possibly with a fake ID, and been allowed to drink. Kathrine had first tried searching for some connection with whoever made the fake IDs, but that had been a dead end. Two of the five girls had made their own, and the other three had stolen the ID of an older relative that looked like them. No, that wasn’t how he found them. It had something to do with the bars, he must have noticed them there.

After about an hour and forcing herself to down two beers, she decided to head for the bathroom before heading back to her hotel. The rapist wouldn’t approach her while she was in the bar anyway, he would simply watch and then make his move while she was on her way back to her hotel. His method only deviated once, and Kathrine was sure it was because the girl had been staying at a friend’s house instead of at a hotel room. As she walked to the bathroom, Kathrine smiled to herself, Paul’s presence was comforting. She felt safe with him watching, not that the rapist would be an issue, but vampires might be. Paul was very close now.

A firm hand gripped Kathrine’s arm, and her smile grew. She knew it was Paul. Kathrine spun then threw her arms around his neck. She leaned in and kissed him deeply before he could react. He was absolutely gorgeous, and the smell of him was indescribably alluring.

Damn, I think I need to sneak up on you more often, Paul said with a stunned look on his face. How far away can you sense me now?

I knew you were near when I first arrived, Kathrine smiled, not willing to release Paul’s neck. She wanted him to stay. She wanted much more from him but knew it wasn’t possible right now.

You get more powerful by the day. I didn’t get here until five minutes ago. I was… Paul paused, and Kathrine could sense his anxiety. Whatever Paul was up to, he felt it was better not to talk about it, and that was ok with her. She trusted Paul now, she wasn’t completely sure that he really wanted her as much as she wanted him, but she did trust him.

Doing more work? Kathrine interjected in an attempt to save Paul from himself.

Yes, Paul replied and looked away guiltily.

Well, it’s your turn. I’m ready now, Kathrine said, expecting the anxiety that was sure to follow.

Umm...umm…I…I’m very sorry, Kathrine, Paul said nervously. Please, just give me a month. What I’m doing…I’m not even sure what I’m doing…but if I’m not finished in one month, then I’m all yours. I promise. This is very important. Please, please try to understand, Paul apologized.

Kathrine’s smile faded, and she felt unsure again. Were they ever going to be together? Whenever she was ready, he was not. If he was ready, she was not. It was a vicious cycle they couldn’t break. She didn’t blame Paul, it was as much her fault as it was his. It was just depressing.

One more month, Kathrine thought to herself. She could survive one more month. Truthfully, Kathrine wasn’t sure she was ready either. She still had so many doubts about this man. Did he really love her? Why did he love her? How did he come to pick her over all the other beautiful women that he could have? Paul was gorgeous, absolutely perfect in every way, why would he want her?

By the way, nice disguise, Paul smirked. Not sure I care for the blonde hair though. But the outfit is amazing!

Kathrine wore skin-tight jeans and a black tank top that was a size too small.

Kathrine pushed her hips in closer to Paul without releasing his neck. He wasn’t kidding about liking the outfit. His body was certainly ready to be with her.

I figured you’d find the blond hair sexy, Kathrine teased, but her face betrayed her. His words had hurt her feelings. She hoped that her hair color might impress Paul. She had always thought blondes were prettier. Any hair color was better than her dull brunette.

I’m sorry, I wasn’t trying to be mean. It’s just that you are so beautiful with your natural hair color. I mean, you were perfect before. I mean…How the hell do you always do this to me? I didn’t mean… Paul stammered then looked completely perplexed as to what he should say next.

Kathrine couldn’t believe it. How did her Paul always manage to say things like that? He wasn’t even trying to compliment her, yet he could not have done better. Kathrine felt the butterflies in her stomach well up with new intensity, and her legs felt weak. Paul liked her the way she was. When she was done with this job, she was never dyeing her hair again.

You have a month, buddy, Kathrine scolded. I don’t think I can take it a day longer. Kathrine kissed him more intensely this time, and Paul pressed himself against her. She could feel his desire pressing against her, his body was definitely ready, and so was hers.

Damn, I need to go, or I won’t be able to stop, Paul said as he removed Kathrine’s iron grip from around his neck.

Kathrine smirked as she watched the beautiful man walk away from her. "He actually likes me," Kathrine said quietly to herself.

Kathrine left the bar in a much better mood. One month, only one more month. Her failure at luring the rapist out once again couldn’t put a dent in her mood. The pouring rain and hail, that had started, didn’t even merit a response. She was mesmerized by the possibility of actually getting to be with Paul. He really thought she was beautiful, he had said so. She had known that he was her true love for a year, but now it felt like she might burst if she wasn’t with him soon.

Kathrine became aware that someone was following her. She didn’t look back, she had a feeling she knew who it was. It wasn’t Paul, Paul was far enough away that she could barely sense him. It wasn’t the hooded man because the hooded man never made a sound. It was almost like the hooded man wanted her to see him because there was no other way she would even have known he was there. He was just that good. The man following her, she could tell it was a man from his scent, was either the rapist or some other unfortunate man thinking she was going to be an easy target.

Kathrine intentionally fumbled in her purse for the key to the outside door. She needed the man to catch up. She had picked a decently pricey hotel, and it had key card security for an outer door as well as one for her room. She didn’t have to look back, she could hear the man breathing as she opened the door. He was still there. When she was inside, she listened intently as the door slowly closed. She walked deliberately down the hall to her room, and just before the door closed she heard its hinges stop. Someone had stopped the door from closing. A few seconds more and she heard the door open again. If it wasn’t the rapist she was looking for, this man deserved it just as much. He was a predator.

She slid the keycard into the door to her room and heard the man pick up speed. She opened the door slowly, giving the man time to catch up, then let the automatic hinges close the door. She had spent three weeks tracking this man, she wasn’t about to miss her chance