Blood of Legends and The Union of Damned: Book Two in the Blood of Legends Vampire Science Fiction Series

By Ryan Stabile

What do you get when a genetic engineering facility containing clones of obscure historical figures is hit by a terrorist bio-weapon? The icons from history books are made into vampires and turned loose in a post-apocalyptic, dystopian future in Blood of Legends!

Picking up exactly where the story left off in Book One, Blood of Legends and the Virus Called Humanity, we follow the stories of Lucky Luciano, Hattori Hanzo and his unlikely human girlfriend, Iris, Bloodbeard the Pirate, Valerie and her twin brother Sol and Zeflan as they all struggle with their own personal demons as well as actual demons in the form of roving bands of murderous vampires lead by shocking history icons.

• Who will get turned into a vampire by the end of the book?
• Who will fall in love and who just wants a quick fling?
• And which two of our heroes will have a fight to the death?

All of this and more in Book Two of Blood of Legends: The Union of the Damned!
 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Words Are Swords Publishing
• Release date: Feb 23, 2022
• ISBN: 9791221303162

Book preview

Blood of Legends

And the Union of the Damned

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By Ryan Stable

Words Are Swords Publishing

Copyright © 2020 by Ryan Stable. All rights reserved.

This book is a work of fiction. The names of people and places performed are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any actual persons and actual activities, including those whom may share the same name, are entirely coincidental.

Published in the United States of America by Words Are Swords Publishing, a subsidiary of ULTRA VULGAR MEDIA, LLC, California.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, scanned, photocopied, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the author or publisher, with the exception of brief passages used for review.

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Blood of Legends and the Union of the Damned

First Edition.

Also by Ryan Stable

Blood of Legends Vampire Apocalypse Series

Blood of Legends and the Union of the Damned

Blood of Legends Vampire Science Fiction Series

Blood of Legends and the Shadows of the Past

Blood of Legends and the Virus Called Humanity

Standalone

LA Downbeat – A Sex, Drugs & Rock 'n' Roll Murder Mystery

Watch for more at Ryan Stable’s site.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Also By Ryan Stabile

Dedication

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

About the Author

Sign up for Ryan Stabile's Mailing List

Also By Ryan Stabile

Dedication

This book is dedicated to all aspiring authors everywhere.

No matter what, keep writing.

1

The fishing line pulled taught, sending the reel whirling outward until a pair of mighty hands locked the line in and began the fight. Pulling back on the rod as he slowly reeled the line in with enthusiasm, Jesse was surprised to land a fish so quickly after initially casting out his line.

Don’t that beat all. Duke remarked while he was still engaged in attaching a lure to his fishing rod.

Reaching over the side of the boat, Jesse grabbed his fishing line and hauled in his catch onto the deck. He stepped on the head of the fish and withdrew the hook, minding the fish’s teeth. Jesse picked up the fish from its gills and threw it in a nearby cooler.

I didn’t think you could get Calicos way out here. Said Duke.

Tell that to my friend in the cooler. Jesse replied.

Duke chuckled as he impaled a sardine into the hook of his fishing rod and cast it far into the ocean.

What’s all that racket? Said Bruce as he walked up the steps on the deck from the cabin.

Funny bones here already caught himself a fish. Duke said, his eyes fixed on his own line.

Is that so? Bruce said with his hands doubtfully at his hips. What do you bet the no good cheat already had one on his line when he cast?

That’s right. Said Jesse. I was using a Calico for bait. He laughed to himself.

Sitting atop the roof of the cabin, Bloodbeard watch the argument unfold. He considered the mocking humor of humans something esoteric and the comedy found in their exaggerated lies simply revolting. Still, he managed to find some identity in the distrustful nature he so often witnessed in the company of human beings.

Hey, David, why don’t you come down here and catch yourself some supper? Duke asked from the deck.

Lost in his own thoughts, the question caught Bloodbeard off guard.

I’m fine. He replied.

That land loving lily couldn’t catch a cold. Bruce laughed to himself.

Come on and show them how a real man does it. Duke instigated.

You can use my rod. Jesse said as he threw his fishing pole up to Bloodbeard. You’ll need to catch yourself some supper at some point or another.

Bloodbeard was forced to jump from his perch in order to catch the pole or otherwise get struck with it.

Yar. Alright then. He said. Let me show ye how it’s done.

Grabbing a sardine from the small bait bucket on deck, in one liquid action Bloodbeard attached it to his lure and cast it far into the ocean.

During many of his former crew’s long voyages Bloodbeard was often left depleted of their gory rations. Although he didn’t particularly enjoy the taste, catching and eating fish proved a decent alternative to starvation. In fact, Bloodbeard had found himself in this situation with such frequency that he actually began to grow an affinity for the amphibian appetite and as such he found his ability to bait and catch them increase gradually over the many years he had been at it.

He considered carefully the idea of simply killing and eating all four of his traveling companions once they had set sail, however he was unsure of three things. That he could operate the vessel alone. Every ship requires a crew to operate it. That he could accurately navigate alone. He wasn’t sure where his missing ship had gone and what leads the humans had been operating by. And that he could successfully murder all four of them alone. Especially the one who wore silver spurs, Duke, whom looked especially experienced. Still, Bloodbeard was sickened by the company he was forced to keep.

It wasn’t longer before Bloodbeard felt a heavy tug on his line. He reeled it in with driving tenacity.

Well I’ll be a mermaid’s cliterous. Jesse laughed to himself.

Impossible. Bruce muttered.

Bloodbeard pulled the fish from the ocean and flung in onto the deck. The fish flopped around for a few moments before Bloodbeard stomped on its head with his boot, withdrawing the hook. He removed his boot and the fish no longer wriggled with vigor.

That’s a fine sea baas you got yourself. Duke remarked.

Yar. Tis what I do. Bloodbeard said, daring to let out a little chuckle.

If and when you ever catch anything, Duke, I’ll start cooking these up for us. Bruce said with his arms folded and leaning against the mast.

What’s the matter, Bruce? Afraid to get your pole wet? Jesse asked with a smirk.

You remember the deal, joker. Tonight, you guys catch and I cook. Otherwise I’d out fish the lot of you. Bruce answered.

Yeah, I hear housewives make the best fishers. Jesse said, laughing as he walked into the cabin.

I’ll catch something soon, I will. Duke said to himself. But I wonder how old Clint is making out.

At that moment Clint walked from the bow of the boat, beaming and holding up a line with three fishes on attached.

2

L et me get this straight , Buck. Zeflan yelled over the vociferous helicopter engines. You’re telling me that Lord Galton now controls the entire west coast of North America?

Just about. Another soldier inside the helicopter replied. They started with the boonies, drop-shipping a small number of soldiers here and there. By the time the military got wind of what they were up to the Galton soldiers had moved on.

And the cities? Zeflan asked.

Do you need to ask? You should know better than anyone. Buck said. Following a moment of silence he explained. When the Galton armies left, nomad vampires occupied and scavenged what remained.

Armies? I know Lord Galton is a rich and powerful man with rich and powerful men behind him, but you’re telling me he commands armies!?

It caught us off guard, too. They practically swept the entire coast with foot soldiers. Galton took a big hit from this gambit, I reckon.

I wouldn’t call seizing nearly half of the U.S. a big hit. Zeflan found himself saying.

Buck laughed loudly and anxiously. Maybe you’re right. But there’s something else. Those Galton soldiers... they’re something else. He said, looking down at his helmet by his feet.

I can imagine. Zeflan said, picturing in his head a gruesome battle between United Human Allies and Galton Emirates.

No, I mean they ain’t human. But they ain’t no bloodsuckers either. And when you kill them they decompose like that. Buck snapped his fingers. There’s nothing to autopsy.

Oh! With the preceding hectic series of events Zeflan had momentarily forgotten about his brother. What about Los Angeles, do they occupy the city?

You better believe it, partner. Buck said. I reckon that was one of their targets from the get go.

A sinking feeling pulled at Zeflan’s stomach for a moment and then moved to a lump in his throat. He knew the chance of his brother being okay was slim at best, but he couldn’t bear to face this thought head on. Not yet.

And Seattle, too? Zeflan asked, his voice slightly cracking.

’Fraid so.

Where are we going now? Zeflan asked as he peered out the helicopter window at the barren desert bellow.

There is a fort that’s being used to house all the evacuated refugees in the southeast U.H. of A. A fort outside of what used to be the capital of the Texas territories. Buck Said. My hometown. He added.

The helicopter now flew lower than ever before, nearing its destination. Peering out of the small window inside the chopper revealed a series of small encampments consisting of tent and shack constructs enclosed within thick walls and fences. People crowded around small fires that burned from trash cans while others ran in same direction as they flew.

When the chopper finally touched down they were greeted by military personal dressed similar to Buck, some of which were medics who ushered Zeflan to a nearby tent. Following a series of vain medical examinations and questions, he was given an identification card which simply read: Zeflan Bordeaux; Refugee, with a barcode beneath.

With no destination or quarters for him to lay his weary head, Zeflan was released into the fort city to join the hundreds of other refugees who also had to fend for themselves. Although safe from the clutches of vampires, he could not help but feel that his endurance was being tested yet again.

3

It was all icy tundra and barren evergreens, and even though the girl was running too fast for her bright green eyes to take in any of it, the usually lively trees were particularly vacant. Her short dark locks that nearly reflected a blue hue in contrast to the winter wonderland bobbed as she sprinted through the soft snow. She completely disregarded the peculiarly uprooted trees, icy branches in her path she instinctively hopped over, and even the attention she drew from on looking wolves. None of this mattered because she was concentrating on one thing: staying alive.

In this case her survival was dependent on her escape from her pursuers, who were much faster, had much more endurance, and were very much hungry. They had been tracking the girl for several miles now after she was separated from the rest of her group.

She was unfamiliar with her surroundings and kept running with no direction in mind other then away from the ones who chased after her. Past the snow that covered an entirely different habitat like a long kept secret and to the mountain cliffs, which shot up from the earth abruptly where the thick forestry ends. In her haste she nearly ran headlong into the towering cliffs. The girl made a brief futile attempt to scale the vertical rocks before giving up, exhausted, and assuming the fetal position. Tears flooded her bright green eyes.

A pale man with a muscular physique under his layers of warming fur coats came to a skidding halt, just as the girl did, nearly running into the rock wall. He, however, made no attempt at escape.

Nowhere else to run. The man managed to say as he hunched over and caught his breath. He smiled faintly as he did, revealing two pointed incisors.

The girl didn’t look up the entire time, but kept sobbing into her hands.

Moments later a second man joined the others. He was slightly less muscular but slightly pastier then his companion and also wore many layers of fur. He broke into a slow jog as he took his place next to other man, hunched over and catching his breath. Shortly later a third, even smaller, even paler man came sprinting out of the thick, icy woodlands and straight into the rocks. This startled the girl, who jumped up with a gasp and embraced the wall, now facing her three pursuers.

Oh! said one. She does have a pair of legs on her, doesn’t she?

Pity she probably ran most of the good meat off. Said another.

You know I like the tough, stringy flesh best, brother.

The biggest of the three approached the girl, standing toe to toe. He towered over her, and although the girl was the most terrified she had ever been in her life she was still able to look him in the eye. Her now swollen and puffy green eyes locked on his vapid yellow eyes in a moment she would never forget.

He brought a dirt caked index finger to the girls chin.

You’re rather cunning for such a tiny human girl. Before I rip you apart and enjoy every ounce of your flesh and blood I just wanted to thank you giving my brothers and I such an exhilarating hunt. It’s not often we have to work so hard for our food and it’s always that much more satisfying when we do. You nearly had us when you tried to cover up your tracks with that tree branch, you know! But I digress; it’s the end of the line for you, my dear.

As the vampire raised his claw high in the air ready to strike down his prey, the girl let out a loud high pitched shriek born of pure terror, which was overlapped by the simultaneous fatal howl of the smaller vampires. The large vampire spun around to find the peculiar sight of his two brothers laying flat on the snow and soaked in each other’s blood. Their throats had been slit from ear to ear.

What the fuck!? My brothers! The vampire ran to his fallen brethren’s side. "Who