Wrathstone: Maternal Instincts

By Steven Sterup, Jr

Andrew Solfurn has never had a normal life. His mother vanished without a trace when he was two weeks old. At fifteen, his father was killed right in front of him by a demon, though Andrew can’t recall how it happened. And shortly after, Andrew started to realize that women were strangely and unnaturally attracted to him.

Monsters such as werewolves and vampires are a part of everyday life for Andrew, but he has been tested with everything imaginable and registers as human. When the demon who murdered his father returns to try and help Andrew, he thinks he might have finally found the answer to why his life has always been so chaotic.

This is a stand-alone prequel to the Wrathstone series. No cliffhangers, I promise. It's just a story about Scott Solfurn's father. One that provides background for Scott's life and motivations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Steven Sterup, Jr
• Release date: Jun 19, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005151911

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].

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Wrathstone

Maternal Instincts

Written By: Steven Sterup Jr.

Copyright 2020 Steven Sterup Jr.

Legal Disclaimer - This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

I’d like to thank my wife, Tammy. Although she doesn’t have anything to do with creating the books anymore, her personality, actions, and words often find their way into my female characters.

Thank you for making my life so interesting. These books wouldn’t be the same without you.

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Prologue

Andrew Solfurn skittered backward along the cold, damp concrete. The sticky metallic liquid, which had once coursed through his father’s veins, was now slowing his retreat from the terrifying demoness before him. While the blood inched its way down the pavement in his family’s driveway, Andrew cowered against the side of his father’s SUV.

There was nowhere to go. Even if he could have squeezed his fifteen-year-old body underneath the SUV, he doubted the demon in front of him would allow his escape.

The illumination from the single lamp above the garage dimmed the woman’s features, making her look even more terrifying. All the street lights had gone dark, and without the lamp from his garage, it would be impossible to see anything on this moonless night.

He had seen demons on TV, read about them in books, but never expected them to look so…attractive. Terrifying and vicious, but strangely attractive.

The woman’s horns curled backward, like the horns of a ram, from her temples, keeping her long black hair from falling over her ears. Her deep red lips accentuated the sharp teeth that lined her mouth. Then there were her fangs.

Along with the razor-sharp teeth were two large fangs that reminded Andrew of vampire fangs, but vampire fangs had never looked so daunting. Whereas vampire fangs were long, thin, and meant to pierce the skin to extract blood, this woman’s fangs were designed for a different purpose. They were thicker, a little shorter, and much sturdier than vampire fangs. If Andrew had to hazard a guess, he would assume that these fangs were for fighting…or eating.

Then a strange thing occurred to Andrew. The dim light gave her the appearance of wearing makeup. The angle of the light across the accentuated bones in her face made her look very beautiful. Even her fiery red eyes were a sight to behold.

Why was she waiting? Was he next? Was she just savoring the moment of her victory?

While the seconds stretched into what seemed like hours, Andrew looked over the demon woman who had just murdered his father.

She wore no clothes but had a strange leathery covering over her body. It was black and looked like some type of veiny armor. Though Andrew was not about to touch it, something inside him wanted to. It hugged her body and left little to the imagination. Was this her skin, some type of demonic clothing, or something else entirely?

Ever since ‘The Great Reveal’ monsters had taken their place in society alongside humans. Vampires, werewolves, wraiths, ghouls, and many others were commonplace now, but a demon? That was almost as absurd as an angel. Which until this very moment, Andrew also considered a fairy tale.

When the demon woman reached out her hand to him, Andrew pulled away. He pushed himself against the SUV more forcefully, but he still had nowhere to go. This caused her to stop and rethink her actions. She looked down at her long black claws and seemed sympathetic to Andrew’s fear.

While he waited for the demon woman to finish him off, Andrew’s mind drifted to another thought that was just as off-putting. He couldn’t even recall how he had gotten to the driveway of his house at nearly two in the morning. Had this demoness forced them to come out here? Why not kill them inside the house?

Then something caught Andrew’s eye. Behind the demon, Andrew saw a foot. A very small, naked foot which didn’t belong to his father. It looked like it belonged to a young girl. Perhaps one about his age or younger, judging by the size. Had the demon woman killed someone else in his driveway? And why was she blocking his view of this other body? She had made no attempts to hide his dead father.

Andrew moved his head to the side in an effort to see who the small foot belonged too and if she was dead as well, but the demon woman moved with him. He caught a glimpse of more bare skin, the girl’s leg, up to her thigh. Why didn’t the girl have any clothes on? The girl was facing away from him, but most definitely naked.

He knew he should at least try to run, but he couldn’t. What if this girl wasn’t dead? What if he could help her?

He could dash under the SUV, or he could possibly make it to the front door of his house. It was only twenty feet away. He might even be able to make it down the street and get a neighbor to help him. The problem was, most of his thoughts were about the girl, and if she was still alive. He couldn’t convince his body to run. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn’t leave the girl.

Then Andrew realized that he wasn’t afraid anymore. Now he was angry. He was no longer trembling. He felt ready. His muscles were tensed, his body crouched. He hadn’t even realized it, but the position he was now in was not like that of a frightened boy. He was preparing to fight.

Was he really entertaining the idea of fighting off this demonic woman? Her claws could rip through him like tissue paper. Her fangs would have no trouble relieving him of his own lifeblood. But the girl…

He didn’t know the girl behind the demon. He couldn’t even be sure that she was still alive. Andrew was fast, and he was strong, but was he really considering fighting a demon woman while he was barefoot and wearing only a pair of shorts? It certainly seemed like something inside of him was ready.

Seeing his change in demeanor, the demoness started to smile, crossed her arms, and spoke.

You’re almost ready, Andrew, the woman hissed in a voice that echoed through the empty neighborhood. He heard a dog bark in the distance, then sirens, which must have been no more than a few blocks away.

Ready for what? his teenage voice cracked.

He watched as the woman looked down the street, and the lights from the squad cars flashed in her eyes.

A few more years. Then you will be old enough.

Old enough for what?

The smile his question produced on the woman’s face was even larger than before. It accentuated her sharp teeth even further. Despite how terrified he thought he should have been, he no longer felt fear. The girl needed his help.

The sirens grew louder, and, in a flash, the demoness was gone. Why did his soul ache the moment she vanished with the girl? And why did the body of a girl he didn’t know, mean so much to him?

Despite knowing absolutely nothing about the girl, this memory haunted his dreams for years to come. It even overshadowed the death of his father, something else his teenage mind had hidden from him.

He couldn’t recall how the demoness had killed his father. He only remembered the bloody corpse at her feet. His teenage mind had blocked out the trauma of that night. At least that was what the court-appointed psychiatrist had decided. The events leading up to his father’s death had been suppressed to save Andrew’s mind from the horrible reality of what had happened.

The doctors even warned him that it was doubtful the demoness had spoken to him. Although his mind remembered the words clearly, trauma tended to confuse things. It might have mixed things around. Or it might have all been a reflection of his feelings at that moment. Possibly about things he wished he’d done. Memories of traumatic events were often filled with half-truths, conjured visions, and things that were merely a reflection of what the person had wanted to happen.

The doctor easily believed the story about the demon. Although it wasn’t public knowledge, the government had recorded sightings of several demons since ‘The Great Reveal.’ But he didn’t believe the story about the girl. To the doctor, the mysterious girl that the demoness had whisked away was also some part of Andrew’s mind helping him cope with the ordeal. She was a figment conjured up to give Andrew strength, a reason to fight, just like the words the demon hadn’t actually said.

What little the government did know about demons led them to believe that they were uncaring soulless creatures who killed indiscriminately. Humans, monsters, it didn’t matter. But they never took prisoners, and they didn’t bother talking with fifteen-year-old boys. So, to the doctor, this meant that the girl Andrew had seen, and the words the demon had said, were not real.

Despite what the doctor had told him, Andrew was certain that the demon had spoken to him and that the girl was very real. He didn’t understand the meaning of the words, but the loss of that little girl became the driving force behind all of his decisions thereafter. And, five years later, Andrew finally found something that could help ease the nightmares of letting the demoness take that poor girl.

The day he turned twenty, Andrew signed up to become a Wrathstone Hunter. Because, although ninety-nine percent of the monsters of the world were law-abiding citizens, there were always a few that wanted to keep killing humans.

The Wrathstone Hunters were created only a few months after ‘The Great Reveal’. Realizing that they couldn’t keep a vampire or werewolf in jail for very long, the humans formed a special unit to track down and punish these monsters. Wrathstone Hunters were judge, jury, and executioner. And over the next two years, Andrew became one of their best.

Because even though he couldn’t change the past, he would never let another young girl be taken. Or, at the very least, he would be the one to punish them if they did.

Chapter 1

Andrew propped up his boots on the circular table and leaned back in his seat. Then he grabbed his half-full beer and took another drink, reveling in the peaceful night.

The bar he was in wasn’t the nicest he’d ever been in, nor was it the worst. However, there was one thing about this bar that provided him with comfort. The only patrons here tonight were human.

While leaning back, Andrew noticed the bright yellow smudge on his faded blue jeans. Mustard. It produced a small laugh in Andrew as he licked his finger and tried to rub off the leftovers of his supper.

At least it wasn’t blood. Mustard was a minor inconvenience compared to cleaning blood out of his pants. He didn’t even want to count the times he’d had to throw out a perfectly good pair of pants because he couldn’t get the bloodstains out.

Then, as Andrew was inspecting his blue and beige, flannel shirt for more evidence that he’d eaten three hotdogs for supper, a petite brunette sat across from him.

Not tonight, honey, Andrew sighed as he returned his attention to the beer.

When the woman didn’t respond, Andrew pulled his feet off the table and looked her over.

She was quite attractive. Perhaps he shouldn’t have been so quick to turn her down. However, she did look a little young.

Her long brownish, blonde hair was parted on the right side, leaving a waft of hair nearly covering her left eye. And what gorgeous eyes they were. The brightest blue he had seen in a long time. In the hazy lighting of the bar, he was fairly certain that they were nearly silver.

Even her figure was quite appealing. The white blouse she wore was a little translucent so Andrew could see the outline of her bra. She had left the top two buttons undone, and he had a decent view of her abundant cleavage. Then follow the curves down…

Wait. How did you even get in here? What are you? Sixteen? Andrew asked, trying to calm himself. The woman was very small. He doubted she was old enough for the things he had almost imagined.

I’m older than you are, Andrew Solfurn, she replied with a condescending stare.

Ahh, Crap! You’re here about a job, Andrew stated, then plopped his elbows down on the table. One peaceful…monster free night. Is that too much to ask?

You signed up for this, the woman stated, then pulled out an envelope and slid it across the table.

Oh, geez! You even have paperwork. Then Andrew smirked and propped his head on his hands. You sure you’re not interested in something else first?

The woman didn’t reply. She just stared at him more intently. Taking the cue, Andrew picked up the envelope and started to read the contract while he continued to babble on.

I gotta tell ya. This is a first. Unless you’re… Andrew stopped reading and waited for the woman’s response.

Yeah. You’re not my type, the woman stated, growing more impatient. Now tell me how much it will cost.

Andrew looked down at the papers once more as he unfolded each and read through them. Yet, he still couldn’t stop talking.

"So by not your type, you mean…?"

Yes, I’m gay, the woman replied loudly.

Phew, Andrew said, making a show of wiping his brow. Thought I was losing my touch.

Do straight women honestly find this whole dimwit cowboy thing attractive? The woman motioned over Andrew with frustration.

It’s not a cowboy thing. I just wear what’s comfortable… Andrew replied, still trying to appear as if he was reading the contract. and cheap. I replace my clothes a lot.

The two-day stubble, faded jeans, cowboy boots. The disheveled, almost long, but not quite, brown hair. The piercing hazel eyes. Hell. All you’re missing is the hat.

I’ll have you know that this is one-day stubble, Andrew said with a coy grin.

Still gay, the woman stated angrily then crossed her arms.

Fine. Had to try, Andrew said with a grin, then started paying attention to the words on the page before him. Oh, come on!

It’s part of the deal, the woman stated.

So, I’d guess that you are this… Andrew skimmed through the page one more time. Denice Hanson mentioned in here.

Yes, I’m Denice, she stated, and her frustration faded. The satisfied grin that replaced it annoyed Andrew.

What about Conroy O’Niel. He’s the best Wrathstone Hunter in the business, and he…

I don’t want a man who has three kills to his name. He’s only famous because he killed the London vamp. Denice’s satisfied grin was starting to fade. It seemed like Andrew wouldn’t be agreeing to her terms, but she wasn’t about to give up so easily. You have ten times that, and you know what they say about monster hunters…

Success is measured in how many times you haven’t died. Andrew started to smile at this statement.

It was true that he had more kills to his name than any other hunter. He may not have been the most famous. In fact, he wasn’t famous at all, but he was good at his job.

Andrew tended to go for the lower profile jobs. He wasn’t interested in hunting monsters that had killed prominent people. He went for the jobs where the monsters had hurt or were about to hurt people who had no way of defending themselves.

The job spelled out in Denice’s contract did fit with his parameters in that way. The part he wasn’t too fond of was having Denice tag along with him.

He always worked alone. Though many of the Wrathstone Hunters had partners, some more than one, he did not. He didn’t want to be responsible for the life of anyone but himself. The types of kills he went for were usually some of the most violent. The last job he had taken was for a ghoul who had inexplicably decided to eat living humans. Ghouls normally ate the corpses of the dead and were considered one of the least problematic of all the monsters. But not this one.

Ghouls were strong, fast, and their claws contained bacteria that could kill a man in only a few hours if they didn’t get medical treatment. A rogue ghoul would have been front-page news, except that Andrew took care of it in just under two days. A rabid ghoul wasn’t the most intelligent of creatures. It didn’t even try to hide. Instead, it hunted Andrew. All he had to do was be the bait and set the trap.

Which was probably why it never made it into the papers. The story was boring, very quick, and people didn’t care to read about the easy kills. They wanted sensational kills such as the London vampire who had killed the prime minister, his wife, and kids. They were enthralled as the hunt for the elusive vamp went on for weeks before Conroy O’Niel finally caught up to him. And they could not put the papers down when day after day the reporters sat outside the cave where the vamp had been cornered.

The common reader didn’t care that the fight inside of Andrew’s hotel room lasted for nearly ten minutes. They weren’t interested in the fact that Andrew had gotten scratched. Nor did they care that Andrew had to spend more time in the hospital than he had spent luring in the ravenous ghoul.

The ghoul hadn’t killed anyone famous, and the hunt for him had been far too quick to grab the average reader’s attention. So, Andrew’s story sat on page six, right beside the thrilling tale of the farmer who raised chickens which laid multi-colored eggs.

Realizing that he didn’t have much choice, Andrew sighed then addressed Denice, his new partner.

Fine, but when I say you stay in the car…you stay in the car, Andrew said with a glare.

You have a car? That’s a load off my mind. I wasn’t really looking forward to riding a horse, Denice said with a chuckle as she stood.

Five…and I’m not a cowboy, Andrew grumbled as he grabbed what was left of his beer.

Five thousand? That’s it? I would have done forty, Denice said with a giggle as she spun and left the bar.

Andrew choked on the remnants of his warm beer then cleared his throat.

Did I say five? I meant fifty-five. You can talk me down of course! Andrew shouted, but Denice was already gone.

With an angry grumble, Andrew slammed the empty glass onto the table then held up his hand to order another.

Chapter 2

Outside the bar, Denice looked around nervously then headed around the side. When she was in the alley, a dark figure approached her. Denice noticed the shadowy figure and started to fiddle with her blouse as the woman came into the sparse light of the alley. When the woman was close, her nerves settled, and a scowl formed.

The woman was short, only an inch or two taller than Denice and fairly thin. Denice would have guessed mid-thirties, but something about the woman made Denice think that she was older than she appeared.

It could have been her clothing. They looked like an attempt to make the woman appear younger. The crisp suit pants, coupled