SHADEBORN: Path of Vengence

By Essie Owen

Rika's friend is dead...killed by a Wolven ordered by an Ogre who loved her...and she is out for blood.
The Queen of Nightguard, desires to possess the one she loves while craving absolute power, and will do whatever it takes to achieve both, even if it means throwing all of the realms into chaos.
Here, as the realms stand on the precipice of war, Kings and Queens converge on ancient battlefields, Wolven and Ogre, Vampires and Men, Friends and Foes, Old Rivals and Deadly Warriors will clash...stand victorious...die, and unite against common enemies as they ready themselves for a better day, or a bitter end.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stronghold Publishing
• Release date: Aug 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781370503575

Essie Owen

I enjoy the outdoors, swimming, the gym, reading, writing and discovering new things that interest me. I like dogs...and cats, to a degree. Love salads and fruits while also enjoying pork and beef but fish, to me, the best of the lot. Video games are awesome when I have the time and I definitely enjoy hanging out with my wife and child.

Book preview

PATH OF VENGEANCE

By Essie Owen

Published by Essie Owen at Smashwords

Copyright 2020 Essie Owen

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Rika cursed to herself. Traffic was unusually bad for the hour. Dead-stopped for the past ten minutes, she peered through a watery windscreen at the endless lines of vehicles in every direction. The rain was now heavier than before and with clouds low and almost black across the evening sky, it wasn’t about to end anytime soon.

The radio blared with words drenched in static…breaking news…the brutal murder of a prominent city official. It was on every station so she resisted scanning the channels again. The bumper ahead of her, close enough to see faint scratch marks beneath a poor recoat of paint, moved and she inched forward with it. The time on the digital clock was 5:36. She had fifty-four minutes to get to work or Kelly would raise hell about time and money. She thought about Kelly Kynston for a moment…enormous, old, hairy, sleazy, always smoking Kelly…piece of shit Kelly, but dangerous Kelly. Rika smiled. As much as the big bad wolf in him often reared its head, she was yet to be afraid of the bastard.

The pace increased a little…not fast enough…but better than a minute ago. Within half-hour, she had managed to exit the congested highway, hustle through a few changing yellow lights and with a little under eleven minutes to spare, parked the car in the back lot, grabbed her handbag and ran past a nearby store. A red and gold sign greeted her above its entrance. Lan’s Variety, a dusty, in-need-of-repair, used-to-be-white building where all and sundry found themselves at some point during the day. The newspapers and magazines at the front did not interest her so Rika continued on.

"How many times do I have to tell you, don’t leave the bin uncovered. Who do you think gets to clean up that mess after the cats have gotten to it? Me!"

"Maybe if you weren’t such a lazy ass, I would care!"

The voices belonged to the husband and wife that owned the place and a loud clap echoed through the air, followed by a clanging blow and out of control tumbling. He had slapped her and she had hit him with something heavy in return. Rika smiled as the loving couple knocked over cigarettes and lotto tickets in a desperate scramble of wills and might; just another night in the Warrens.

Rika unwillingly pulled herself away from the entertainment, crossed a littered side-street, and then down a matching alley she entered her workplace through the rear entrance. Sounds of conversations and shuffling feet met her as the door closed in her wake. With just a few minutes to spare, she hurried to her room and found her boss waiting.

You’re late… His slimy voice dragged the words from his grinning face.

You wish… She replied, slipping past him and closing the door, not in time to miss his response.

In the nick of time then…?

No loss on your part.

We’ll see…Aria…you’re late! Kelly blurted out, forgetting about Rika and quickly turning his attention to a younger employee who had just walked through the door.

Poor girl…she was new, young and inexperienced. Why did she choose this place? There were so many other ways to put one’s self through school. This question went both ways, but Rika had her reasons, legitimate ones, and though her time here was unexpectedly enjoyable she was not planning to stick around much longer. Aria on the other hand, was late and the slime-bag that was Kelly would make her pay in ways that did not fit into bank accounts. But Rika moved on, pushing the girl and her dilemma aside; she had bigger game on her mind.

****

Nolan Dougherty waited patiently while the world around him droned on. His wife was angry because of Valri. Somewhere deep within the pits of his conscience he understood her distress, but that voice of reason had been stifled so many times that it was now a mere whisper in a background of chaos. She was angry, he reminded himself of it again. Valri was nobody, just a secretary who scratched a temporary itch. How many times did he have to explain it? But the wife just would not let it go.

There was no emotion, no sense of regret, nothing after he had hit her and yet, that distant whisper reminded him again that there was something fundamentally wrong with that. He shook the thought from his mind. Hitting her was the only way she would listen, or at least shut up, he silently argued. His wife needed to know her position. He had a stressful job, dealt with too many unsavory characters on a daily basis; a man in his position had needs. She was angry. He remembered it again. He no longer cared. Even Valri no longer satisfied him and though she often tried, Nolan had found himself in this seat for the past four weeks for one thing and one thing only.

****

She stepped through the curtains with bold strides and a wicked grin. Moving seductively to the vulgar music, Rika inhaled the misty, smoky atmosphere of the dingy little bar…and it drove her wild.

Instantly locking eyes with the strapping man nearby, she slid a lusty hand along her thighs, enjoying the feel of silky stockings as her fingers vanished beneath her loose skirt. He had been here every night to see her and for that, the performances had been extra special. She approached him, stooped low and pushed both knees apart. The view drew his gaze…his hypnotized eyes remained focused…then she stood and walked away, savoring the whistles and cheers from the rowdy crowd.

A roll of dollars fell beside her, hurled from an unseen hand. Rika, with her back still turned to the audience, bent forward pretending to pick it up, slowly, deliberately. Her fingers found the lacy crotch between her legs and pulled it aside, feigning adjustment before letting it slap back into place. The audience howled. Pulling her top up, over and off she swung it on mischievous fingers, walked toward him again, and then let it loose.

Over his head and into the crowd, four men tussled to get it and she continued. Squeezing the bulging bra together, her movements mesmerized all who saw them as she unclipped it with a turning of toes and heels; one second covered and the other, full breasts shook freely with every step. The bar went wild. Single bills along with rolled up piles of money flew onto the stage.

Eyes locked with her newest victim, Rika danced her way toward him, methodic, inviting, wanting, she stooped, a mere foot from the edge, slid to the floor and spread both legs. In times past, most of her customers had become nothing more than a blur in history, but this man…this man left an impression; there was something about him that unhinged her, something primitive…dangerous…intriguing.

On hands and knees, she rotated her waist with precision, bouncing, ticking and turning it to suit every drumbeat vibrating the stuffy air. Between her legs, she felt his fingers as they slid a bill into the crotch of her thong and then traced a smooth line along her soft flesh. She closed her eyes, rotated against the tips of the rough hands, then crawled away.

The dancing girl stepped out of her skirt and flung it into the faceless mob. Topless and covered by a single piece of underwear, Rika gave a show worthy of double the pay, if only Kelly was not an asshole. To the tune of the rhythm, her panties slid down her chocolate legs. Men and women whooped and hollered, blowing kisses and shouting at the top of their lungs. Bouncing breasts glistening and savory body slithering along an intended path; she moved like silk, clearing the platform of her money, then followed the cues of the DJ and walked seductively off stage.

One of your best shows yet… The greasy words came to her as Kelly stepped into view.

Glad you liked it.

He put a repulsive hand on her waist How about once-and-for-all giving me a private show…your room? You know you want to.

And what do I get in return? Rika eyed him with feigned interest.

You get my favor. His hand slipped up her stomach and stopped just beneath her breast.

Hm…okay… She said, enjoying the hungry look across his face I’ll pass.

It took him a moment to grasp what had just happened, and his gentle lust became seething anger. Kelly pushed her against the wall with one powerful arm and slammed the other near her face.

You might think that having your fun with me is entertaining, but make no mistake, you’re walking a thin line. He pressed himself against her A thin line that I can cross anytime I see fit.

Rika gasped. A rough hand moved between her legs, massaging the space with cruel