The Gods Among Us

By Rico Liven

Book I of the Gothic Rose trilogy.

Dale Aster is a beautiful woman with a body to kill for who likes to live fast and enjoy sex. She’s been that way since she lost her virginity to a young man from Texas named Bobby Henson, but that’s not the only thing that excites her. When the streets of the city go dark, she prowls the night, the rush arousing, sensual, making her body respond in ways that she’d rather not say. Dale brushes cold gun steel against her deep cleavage and her juices start to flow, she's hunting. Hunting things that can’t be explained not knowing that there are those who are watching. Some with interest in her power, others wanting to posses her body, soul.

Dale takes a journey down a dark path leading to demons, gods, bondage and submission, pain and ecstasy, love and sacrifice. Will she resist the forces that desire her or will she succumb to their sexual deviance?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Mar 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781312992702

Book preview

The Gods Among Us

THE GODS AMONG US

By Rico Liven

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

THE GODS AMONG US

Copyright © 2015 by Rico Liven

Digital Fatales

www.digitalfatales.com

Chosen by Destiny. Summoned by Fate.

Prologue

She watches silently from the shadows, the night air rank with sweat, passion and pain, and her breath calm and steady having done this many times before. An alley in New York at 2 am was never a safe place especially for a young attractive woman. Dale Aster was no ordinary woman. She wore her black hair in a single braid with a short leather jacket wrapped close to her slim athletic body keeping the autumn chill at bay. Her pants followed her every contour from the low-rise waist to her tactical boots. On one hip her favorite M&P Compact .357 Sig pistol, knock down power in a small package. The other hip held three ten round clips, strapped to her right thigh was a simple knife its handle worn with use, she was hunting

Her piercing blue eyes scanned the dark alley and it always made her a little excited. Dale’s nipples hardened and dampness formed between her legs, she wanted to touch herself but quickly dismissed the thought. They were out there, things that you saw in movies, things that were the source of folklore and legend. They were real, demons, vampires, werewolves and other unspeakable creatures. They weren't love struck souls looking to be understood, they were killers. Some blended with man, some lurked beneath the streets of the city, they were nocturnal scavengers, all dangerous.

There were a series of brutal murders in the neighborhood, 3 men and 2 women butchered.  The police thought they were gang killings but Dale knew better. She looked for the usual signs of creep activity, her nickname for the things she hunted and killed. They liked stragglers and stayed away from the homeless and junkies, tainted meat. The smell was there in an instant, death decay sweat and feces, she gagged slightly. Dale moved into the shadows her pistol held close one round in the chamber safety off. The hair on her neck stood up, she knew it was close. Spotting a man in back of a club smoking a cigarette, he looked to be in his mid to late 20's probably a bartender on break. Catching movement in the corner of her eye the smell grew stronger and she stayed to the shadows looking at every possible avenue of attack. On the fire escape it crouched in the darkness its form was lean and muscular with oversized hands and a small head, its eyes catching the light. It hadn't seen her, focused on its prey.

It leapt to the ground in a single silent move, a 15-foot drop. She matches its stealth and shadows it moves bringing her pistol up ready to take the shot. It stops, raises its head and sniffs the air then from the shadows comes another. How did she miss it? It slowly circles the other as the bartender finishes his cigarette and pulls out his phone oblivious to the terror that is about to consume him. They both move into position to strike. Dale's 357 barks and screams of unearthly fury echo through the alley, the bartender now aware of danger flees into the building. One creature lay unmoving on the ground, the other limping. She quickly scanned the shadows to see if there were any others and in that instant it lunged at her.  Dale rolled to the left with the speed and grace of a panther, but not before its clawed hand catches her shoulder, drawing blood its short snout snarled revealing ragged sharp teeth. Its muscles flexed underneath its leathery skin and she fired again three shots hitting its mark, sending the creature reeling.

It snorted hard struggling to get to its feet and she reloaded swiftly from years of training, fires again, and then approaches slowly. Its lifeless eyes stare at her and Dale puts 2 bullets in the head of each making sure the job is done. Having seen these things before, she knew they were young, at five foot tall they were half the size of an adult.  Mommy and daddy could be near and not as easy to kill. Police sirens wailed in the distance. What would they think when they found the bodies? She wondered, but it wasn't her concern, one life saved at the cost of a leather jacket. At least her wound had already healed. Taking one last look, she turned and walked back into the shadows.

Dumplings. she thought. Where can I get some good dumplings?

Five stories up another figure watched Dale with interest, their camera documenting her every move. The soft sound of its shutter the only evidence they were there, and like her, when they were done, they walk back into the shadows.

Chapter 1

8 am. The alarm clock breaks Dale’s restless sleep and she vaguely remembers her dreams, maybe that’s a good thing. Rising from bed and pulling the curtains she let the morning sun wash over her bare firm breasts and shapely body. From her loft ten stories up, she watched the city spark to life loving this view forgetting about monsters and death, if only for a few minutes while grabbing the last of her steamed pork dumpling from Yum Chin Wok. It was a hole in the wall not far from her place in the West Village, but they had the best dumplings in the city. At least she thought so.

Sighing she prepared for her day shift at Scranton's Club. There were lots of good tippers around lunchtime and having a following always made out well for her. Walking to the shower she passed the cloths discarded the night before, picking up the leather jacket examining the slash on its shoulder seeing was worse than first thought. Rubbing her shoulder gently, feeling no scar, she smiled. This life has its perks.  Dale put her weapons in her wall safe, which was more of a mini closet, holding an assortment of pistols, rifles, shotguns, knives and even a few swords. She put the 357 and hunting knife in their proper place and her gaze slowly moved across her pistol collection and stopped on the M&P Bodyguard. Taking it from the rack she performed her usual checks, tested its weight, satisfied it wouldn't be too cumbersome then grabbed two clips, considering a knife, but decided against it.

Now what shoes? she said out loud to her own amusement. This was her life. But it hadn't always been that way.

2 years earlier she was a decorated Texas Ranger her acceptance to the Quantico FBI training academy was a given. At first glance, many underestimated her and they learned to regret it. Dale had no real family raised by the state, to her the Rangers were everything. Her mentor Jake Harrison was the closest thing to a father, he treated her like the daughter he never had and she like the father she never knew. He unknowingly prepared her for the life she would eventually lead.

It was a hot Saturday evening in June when they received the call declaring an Amber alert. 2 children ages 5 and 7 had been abducted. Dale and Jake were in Patti's diner just off Route 66 in Vega Texas as dispatch described the vehicle as a brown 2-door sedan plate number B16-LRM. The abductor was described as a white male in his mid 30's 240 pounds, 6 foot 2 with long brown hair and a beard wearing black jeans and a red t-shirt walking with a pronounced limp. He killed both parents and was considered armed and dangerous. At the gas station, across the street Jake spotted a vehicle that met the description and without a word, they both rose from the table and headed to the station.  Jake confirmed the plates were a match and Dale called it in requesting backup.  Seconds later the man with a pronounced limp came out of the station restroom.

FREEZE! Texas Rangers, put your hands in the air Jake ordered, revolver drawn. Dale, check the vehicle. 

The suspect complied raising his hands and Jake approached cautiously. Dale slowly circled the car looking down the sight of her pistol, scanning the inside for any movement. Clear. She replied then Wait.

Dale methodically worked her way toward the trunk, listening she could her what sounded like the sobs of children. Jake, I think the kids are in the trunk.

Jake glanced her way for a fraction of a second and that’s all it took. The man, his limp suddenly gone was on top of him and with reflexes faster than anything Dale had seen, he pulled a knife and drove it into Jake’s shoulder. Dale watched in horror and aimed to shoot but couldn’t get a clear shot. The limp-less man didn't have the same problem and without hesitation, he drew Jake’s revolver and put two rounds in Dale’s chest, the force of the impact sent her crashing to the ground, gasping for air. Two shotgun rounds thundered in the night air and through her blurred vision she could see Sam, the station owner reloading his double barrel as the sedans engine roared to life and the car peeled away. Dale struggled to her knees and removed her shirt revealing a bulletproof vest with two slugs in it then made her way to Jake who still had the knife in his shoulder.

Don't pull it out. he winced Son a bitch was quick. You ok?

Dale nodded. Sam and others where there in an instant, Sarah a doctor who knew Dale from childhood, instructed Jake to lay back.  Dale gave Jake a look. He knew it all too well.

Backups almost here. Wait for it. You listen to me Dale Budreau you wait for backup. You hear me?

With tears in her eyes she replied Those kids can't wait for backup. 

Dammit Dale wait for backup!

She dashed to their car as Jake called after her determined to save the 2 children. The limp-less man had a head start but Dale knew the area. Minutes into her drive, a helicopter zoomed overhead and reported a visual on the sedan heading toward the old Jackson saw mill.

Dale arrived at Scranton’s Club 45 minutes before her shift and used the back entrance to avoid the usual slew of hellos from customers. She was dressed as if she were going to the gym, blue leggings, and a form-fitting shirt with light jacket, running shoes and a gear bag. Entering the employee locker area Jesse greeted her.

Hey sexy. Want a hit?

Jesse was an anything goes blonde from Florida with a ridiculously large boob job. She offered Dale what was left of her joint, declining she sat at the makeup table getting ready and her mind drifted to thoughts of the creatures and what the police thought when they found the bodies. She had killed many things before, but never in such a public area. There was no mention on the news, or talk on the streets. The city and the world seemed oblivious to the evil around them.

Five minutes Ronald the manger informed the staff. Ronald was as sleazy as they got, give him a few shots and you'd multiply that by 10. A short guy, 5 foot 4 at best, he always smelled of overdone body spray and wore cloths that were a size to small. Jesse thought they were his sisters. Dale rose from the table and slipped her thigh high leather boots over her fishnet stockings and her corset made of matching leather with gray frills and laces. She secured her garter straps to her stockings and turned to admire herself in the mirror.

Nice ass! Jesse squealed, reaching around and palming one firm cheek. 

Your hand print on my ass can be seen for miles. Dale smirked.

Cover it with your leather thong sweetie Jesse teased tugging on the tong strap.

Dale slid on a knee length black jacket, fastening the snaps to Ronald’s evident displeasure as the music started, knowing the song, it was her song. She stepped out onto the stage to a roaring crowd recognizing many of the faces, men women white and blue collar straight and gay. But all with money they were aching to give her. As the beat of the music quickened, so did her heartbeat. The lights, the music the crowd, It excited her. Here she was not Dale, monster hunter.

The music hit a fevered pace and the