Dragon Moon: Lia Stone: Demon Hunter - Episode One (Dragon-born Guardians Series Book 1) Read online

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  About the Author

  Newcastle, UK

  http://clockworkpress.co.uk

  Dragon Moon (Lia Stone: Demon Hunter, Episode One) first published in the UK by Clockwork Press 2016

  Copyright ©Austin Hackney 2016

  Austin Hackney asserts the moral and legal right to

  be identified as the author of this work.

  eBook (Kindle only) ISBN: 978-0-9935367-6-2

  Cover design and formatting: Streetlight Graphics

  http://streetlightgraphics.com

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

  This novella is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

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  Lia Stone: Demon Hunter Fan List

  CHAPTER ONE

  I COULDN’T REMEMBER BEING so happy in a long while. Hot from dancing, I blew hair from my face and leaned against the wall as I looked round the East London squat; a deconsecrated church and now the best freaking party-house anywhere on the planet.

  Dan had gone to get more drinks. You know, I’d almost forgotten what it was like to have fun. The DJ, installed in the old pulpit, was tearing it up; the high priestess of rave. Bodies crowded the dance floor. Badass beats throbbed under my feet.

  This was definitely not the university “in crowd.” That is, the kind of nice, middle-class boys and girls my grandma was always trying to get me to hang out with. These midnight devotees of dance were all freaks and misfits. And I loved them; every messed-up, post-gothic, spaced-out, freaking one of them.

  I was feeling totally at home for the first time since I’d had to swap New York for London - and a penthouse in the Big Apple for my grandma’s draughty Victorian mansion.

  My parents were on the missing persons register. The attack had been over three years ago at that point; not long enough to make it easy, but long enough for me to start pulling my life back together. The police said they’d keep the case open, but I reckoned the trail had pretty much gone cold.

  No big surprise to me. I knew what had happened to them. I’d been there and seen it.

  But you try explaining to a police officer your parents just got abducted by demons. Believe me, it doesn’t wash.

  The ex-church was dark and hot. Music throbbed; the revellers crushed together, sweating, dancing, and exultant. The heady aroma of skunk sweetened the air. I knew the scent, but I don’t do drugs. As Dragon-born and a future Guardian, my blossoming psychic abilities made life difficult enough without messing my head with psychoactive substances.

  And that night, my last fling before the Initiation of the Dragon Moon, when I’d finally come into my full power - and have to accept the responsibilities that would be heaped on my shoulders afterward - I seriously didn’t need drugs to make things get any weirder.

  But I was trying not to think about that. The truth is it scared the living crap out of me, but I’d had it drummed into me since the day I was born: it was my legacy, my destiny, my duty. There’s no opt-out-and-be-normal clause.

  “Hey, Lia, what’s up?” Dan squeezed through the crush, trying not to spill the beers. “You look all… frowny. If you’re not enjoying the party…”

  I took the beer he held out, shaking my head.

  “Hey, I’m fine,” I said. “In fact, I’m totally having the best time ever.”

  “So if you’re totally having the best time,” Dan said, cocking his head to one side and raising an eyebrow. “Why are you still frowning?” He lifted a finger and gently brushed my cheek. “Hey?”

  I took another sip of my beer and put the bottle to one side. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking. I guess I still need to relax. I thought I was over it, you know. Guess I’m not.”

  “It must be tough. Not knowing what happened…”

  “Let’s not talk about it, Dan. Not now.” Dan didn’t know the truth. No-one did but me, Grandma Stone, my parents wherever they were, and whatever hellish monsters had abducted them.

  The DJ had mixed into a chilled out groove. I took Dan’s beer and put it next to mine, intertwining my fingers with his. Pushing up on tiptoes, I kissed him.

  Dan’s hands rested on my hips as I slung my arms around his neck and pulled him close. We danced slowly. I closed my eyes; the heat of Dan’s body next to mine, our rhythm like a single heartbeat. Dan brushed his lips against my ear and whispered, “Lia, you know there’s something I want to tell you.”

  I pulled away, looking into his eyes. He smiled back at me.

  “Nothing bad,” he said. “At least I hope not…”

  My heart skipped a beat. I’m no virgin-in-white, and I can kick a zombie’s ass, but I’m romantic. I still believe in love. And I knew what he wanted to say. But I didn’t know if I could bear to hear it. It was so what I wanted, but… I’m not even human, I thought. And after tomorrow, everything will be different.

  “Dan,” I breathed. “I don’t know if…”

  “Okay,” he said, playing his forefinger gently over my lips, “I won’t say anything.”

  I hugged him close, leaning my cheek against his shoulder. The moon-crystal I wore around my neck pressed against my skin.

  It was warm.

  It’s nothing, I told myself. It’s the warmth of our bodies, that’s all.

  But it was getting warmer.

  It’s nothing; just body heat. Chrissakes, you can be so paranoid, Lia.

  Dan stroked the back of my neck, sending shivers of pleasure rippling down my spine. I reached up, smiling, and unclasped the silver chain, pulled the crystal pendant free, and slipped it into my jacket pocket. I sighed, settling back into his embrace.

  For a few beautiful, transcendent minutes which seemed like an eternity, I swayed in his arms, eyes heavy, almost closing, letting my fears slide away.

  Then someone screamed: an inhuman wail of pure terror.

  I pushed Dan away. I guess my eyes were wild, looking around for the victim, jumping back into a fighting stance, all my years of training and preparation kicking in like an instinct; ready to take on whatever evil was being thrown at me — even if my clenched fists were shaking.

  But everything seemed fine.

  “Lia, what the hell…?”

  “Who screamed?”

  “No-one screamed. What’re you talking about?”

  My heart pumped. “Someone screamed,” I said. “You must’ve heard it…” But my voice trailed away in doubt.

  A few people looked across at us and Dan pulled me gently back into his arms. But the weirdness wasn’t over yet.

  “What’s happening to the music?” I panted. The beats had gone; in their place a maddening dissonance of discordant noise that left me feeling sick.

/>   Dan spoke, but I couldn’t hear what he said. His mouth moved in slow motion, silently.

  Everyone turned to look at us now. They’d stopped dancing. What the freak is happening to their eyes? Their pupils were like slits, their irises green and glowing; their mouths hung open, showing sharpened teeth.

  I was cold, sweat breaking out over my skin, my flesh crawling.

  “Dan,” I said, beginning to freak out. I’m not ready for this. I’m not ready.

  Something snapped at the back of my skull: a sharp pain, come and gone; and as suddenly as everything had gone weird, it was all back to normal. No green-eyed monsters anywhere. Everything as it should be… until flames burst from my pocket.

  Dan jumped back. “Lia! You’re on fire!”

  Panicking, I ripped my arms free, and tossed my black leather jacket onto the ground, stamping the flames beneath my boots.

  The crystal had fallen out. It glowed.

  I snatched it up and clipped it back around my neck, my hands shaking as I struggled with the spring clip.

  Dan’s hands gripped my shoulders, his face serious now. “What the hell’s going on, Lia?” he said. “Someone spiked your drink? You okay? You look like death.”

  Maybe someone did spike my drink. Maybe I’m going crazy.

  But the crystal was almost burning my flesh now. Something is so wrong, I thought.

  Then I heard a voice: desperate, afraid, and clear as if she were speaking into my ear. “Amelia. Amelia!”

  There was only one person who called me by my full name. And there was only one person who could communicate with me psychically.

  “Grandma.”

  “What?”

  “My grandma’s in trouble.”

  “Your grandma? Lia… how do you…”

  “Dan,” I said. “I have to go.”

  I snatched my jacket back off the floor. I must be totally freaking him out, I thought. He was staring at my jacket, at the pocket which only moments before had been on fire. Then he was looking at me and I swear he looked frightened.

  “I guess someone flicked cigarette ash in there or something…”

  Lame excuse, Lia.

  “And spiked your drink,” Dan said.

  “No,” I said. “No-one spiked my drink. It’s just me, I’m…”

  I’m freaking psychic. I’m not human. I’m a dragon. And my grandma is being attacked – probably by demons – and I have to go.

  “…I’m sorry. I’m going.”

  “Right now?”

  I felt dizzy, panicked. I kissed him quickly, ignoring that he flinched, and turned, pushing my way through the crowd toward the door.

  “Hey, Lia,” Dan called after me. “Wait up!”

  There was just no way I could explain the truth to him, so I put my head down and walked faster, shouldering between the bodies, careless of people swearing at me to watch where I was going.

  But when I got to the door, he caught up with me, his hand on my shoulder.

  “Did she send you a text?” Understandably, his mind was refusing the weirdness and filling in the gaps with rational possibilities. “I mean, if she’s in trouble… Shouldn’t we call the police, or an ambulance?”

  “It’s nothing like that. But I have to go. I’m sorry. Really, I am.” I shrugged off his hand and pushed at the door. “I’ll explain later.”

  He was still at my back. But I had to get to Grandma. I had to get there five minutes ago, for freak’s sakes. I should never have ignored the crystal, never have taken it off. What was I thinking? I was thinking that maybe it would be nice to have a normal evening with my boyfriend. Seems that was a big ask.

  At once I felt guilty. My grandma’s in mortal danger and I’m whining like a kid who’s been told she can’t have candy.

  “Bloody hell, Lia, can’t you see I’m trying to help?” Dan said. “At least let me give you a ride if it’s urgent. My car’s just round the corner, remember? I’ve drunk hardly anything. I’m well within the limit.”

  Getting a taxi all the way home on Friday night – more like Saturday morning - might be tough, I realized. The last train would have gone and even if it hadn’t, it was a hell of a walk from the station to Grandma’s house. There might be a night bus, but in any case, that would take forever.

  I stamped in frustration and ran my hands through my hair. Hell. I turned to Dan, his face a mix of confusion, anger and concern. I couldn’t blame him. It was me acting like - what did they say in Britain? Oh yeah, a nut job.

  I drew a deep breath. “If you don’t mind,” I said, sighing. “I guess that would be great.”

  Dan slung his arm around my shoulders and we headed out together into the cold night. It felt good to be in his arms, even if I knew there was nothing he could do to protect me from the forces I would likely soon be up against.

  The sidewalk was frosted with ice and our breath clouded around our heads. The moon was nearly full. Almost the Dragon Moon. The sounds of the party receded until all we could hear were the distant, repetitive bass beats.

  We switched down a side street and Dan’s car flashed orange warning lights as he unlocked it. I pulled the passenger door open and jumped in, yanking at the seatbelt and clicking it into place.

  Dan slipped into the driving seat and twisted the key in the ignition. The engine fired up, and he swung the car out onto the road.

  I shivered. “Careful on the ice.”

  “Sure.”

  Dan twisted a dial on the dashboard and warm air blasted out. I stretched my fingers in front of the ventilator and then tried to rub the life back into them.

  The atmosphere between us was fraught, but I figured Dan had decided not to ask any more questions, at least. After a few minutes of uneasy silence he flicked on the stereo. Music filled the car’s warm interior.

  I was torn-up about acting so weird with Dan, but I was more worried about Grandma Stone. If Grandma was all right, she’d have used a cell phone to call me, not a psychic message. And what was all the freaky visionary stuff going on back at the squat all about? Something is so wrong tonight.

  I looked sideways at Dan. His eyes were on the road and his face was a knot of concern.

  Why couldn’t I just have a normal night for once? I pushed aside the self-pity. I was scared. Whatever kind of trouble Grandma’s in it won’t be anything the police or an ambulance can help with. I just hope I can handle it.

  But even as the car sped through the night, swinging out of the London suburbs, into the countryside, that flame of hope was as fragile as candlelight swallowed in the greater darkness of fear.

  I’m not ready, was all I could think. I’m not initiated yet. My Dragon blood isn’t fully awakened. My powers are practically non-existent.

  At last Dan swung the car off the road, crunching onto the gravel driveway that led to the spooky old Victorian mansion I still struggled to think of as home.

  He pulled up out front. The house loomed out of the night, the windows dark, the moonlight cresting the rooftop, shimmering on the ice crystals forming over the tiles. A single, ornate lamp pooled yellow light over the stone steps leading to the door. Dan cut the engine and his hand reached to open the driver-side.

  “No,” I said, putting my hand on his arm to hold him back. “Thanks for the ride, but I have to do this alone.”

  Dan was obviously unhappy. “Look, if your grandma’s in trouble, Lia, I want to help.”

  “It’s nothing I can’t handle,” I said, even though I had no idea if that was true. “Trust me. Please.”

  “I’ll wait here. If she’s hurt, I could drive you to the hospital.”

  “No,” I said, trying not to scream at him. “You have to go, Dan.” Just freaking get off my back. I opened the passenger door, stepped down from the car, and slammed it behind me.

  To my relief, Dan didn’t get out. The window wound down. He leaned across, one hand resting on the seat where I’d been sitting. His expression was full of hurt and frustration. But there was noth
ing I could do. I’d wasted enough time already. I just needed him gone.

  “I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

  He hesitated a moment, but then said, “Okay Lia. You’re freaking me out, you know that? But I’ll trust you. Call me any time, right? And don’t forget I’m picking you up Sunday night for the fancy dress Ball.”

  Without waiting for me to reply, he fired the engine, reversed the car round in the gravel, and roared away into the dark, taking out his frustration on the accelerator.

  I had to let him go for his own safety, but I suddenly wished he’d stayed. I felt very alone. The moon glimmered through scudding clouds. Ice crystals frosted the lawns. A tawny owl screeched in the dark.

  I waited a few seconds until the sound of the engine had faded away. Reaching into my jacket for my key, I lifted it to the lock. But the door was already open, swinging ajar.

  I stepped into the darkened hallway and snapped on the lights.

  “Grandma?” I said. “Grandma, are you…?”

  And the words died on my lips.

  CHAPTER TWO

  I PUSHED INTO THE HOUSE, kicking shards of a broken Chinese vase out the way, before closing the door behind me and flicking the Yale lock.

  I stood in the hallway, calming my breathing, all senses alert, buzzing.

  Whoever, or whatever, had been there had gone. Only a slight fracturing of the light like the aftermath of a migraine, and a residual stink of sulfur, suggested anything out the ordinary.

  Well, that and the chaos of destruction I found as I stepped along the hallway into Grandma’s study.

  Ornaments had been broken, paintings torn from the walls, mirrors smashed. Anyone else looking at the scene might have taken it for a house robbery, I guess. But when I saw the sash window open, the shattered salt jar, the unfinished magic circle, and the book lying upturned on the floor, I knew something had been taken, sure: but it wasn’t money, the TV, or the household silver.