Chapter 17 “Shattered” Amni shifted and opened his eyes in confusion. He frowned when he realized that he was now lying alone in the coffin and his senses warned him it was not yet night. He’d only woken a couple times during daylight hours in the past, but the memories had only groggy undertones. He was wide awake now as if sleep no longer had any hold on him and he wondered if this was yet another power of a master… a true demon. Lifting the lid, he sat up and stepped down to the floor. Lifting the panel, Amni hissed realizing the ribbed blinds of normal windows were the only protection on his window. Seeing the small streaks of light cast across his floor, he wondered at their dullness. Had he only imagined the brightness of the sun from so long ago? Reaching his hand out very slowly, he placed it within the strands of light in morbid curiosity, his lips parted when the pain did not immediately come. As he held it there, he could see the color of his skin start to chan
Chapter 18 “The Guardians” Kyoko felt reality clawing its way toward her but she turned her back on it wanting to stay where it was safe. She was safe, warm and protected from the violent soap opera her life had become. “But it’s not safe here… it’s only an illusion.” Kyoko kept her eyes closed as she heard Toya’s voice coming from somewhere on the inside of her. “You need to wake up and face reality.” “But if I stay here… you’ll protect me… right?” Kyoko whispered then sighed as she felt his arms come around her, lifting her against him. She snuggled into him, feeling for the first time in so long like she was finally home. “It’s not that easy love.” Toya whispered close to her ear then dipped forward to caress her cheek with his. “The only way I can keep you is for you to die… and I don’t want you to die.” “Toya?” She whimpered as she felt him slide from her. As she turned to reach for him, someone new took her hand and she was pulled against a firm chest that was
Chapter 19 “Awakening” Deep beneath the rubble of the Grand Hotel, a pair of blood red eyes opened then closed again. A myriad of images invaded his conscious mind threatening to overpower him. As he lay in their blood, Tadamichi’s and Hyakuhei’s memories and emotions slammed into him and his body pulsed with fluorescent blue light. Had he been mortal, his mind would have shattered. He sat up on the flat surface he was laying on and looked around. He could still see the glow where Tadamichi and Hyakuhei’s bodies had been on either side of him but as he watched, the glow faded leaving behind nothing but the cold floor. His eyes adjusted to the pitch black and focused on the five statues perfectly safe from the destruction around him. Their counterparts continued to watch through the orb resting in the maiden’s hands on the other side of the time portal. “Damn… he lived through it,” Toya muttered grudgingly. “Toya, Kyoko made her choice,” Kamui reminded him. “That’s o
Vampire Gemini The Guardian Heart Crystal Series Book 6 Amy Blankenship, RK Melton Copyright © 2010 Amy Blankenship English Edition Published by Amy BlankenshipSecond Edition Published by TekTime All rights reserved. Chapter 1 “Dangerous Things” Tasuki watched as Kyoko rose up and leaned across the table to reach for the medieval-looking book he had opened in front of him. His amethyst eyes nearly glowed as her already low-cut shirt loosened and sagged on her shoulders before she righted her body. He was sure he would forever have the tantalizing vision of Kyoko’s cleavage with the barest hint of black lace peeking out at him. He blinked then pointed at the passage on the page he’d been telling her about. He smiled softly as their eyes met briefly but he had already forgotten what he’d been saying, so he just let her read. Tasuki squirmed a bit in his chair trying to make his discomfort disappear but just that one innocent peek had made his v
Chapter 2 “City Heat” Kyoko woke with a start knowing the sun was setting. It was like a biological alarm clock to her and had been since… as far back as she could remember. She pushed herself up knowing it was time to go to work. She just wished she were getting paid for it. Hearing a siren in the distance drew her attention to the window just in time to catch the last rays of light leaving the city sky. She could hear the faint sound of thumping music from the nightclubs on the strip where she lived. She had picked an apartment right in the heart of the city for a reason. She could feel the vibration through her bed… The Underground was the name of the club she lived above. Rent was cheap because there was no way someone could live here and expect to get any kind of sleep unless it was during the day. That’s where Kyoko believed in luck. Where else could she have found a place that had the same hours she did? There were no rude people running up and down the halls… u
Chapter 3 “Hunger” Hyakuhei stood in front of The Underground. Normally he stayed away from this area of the city because it was heavily infested with half-breeds. It was also closer to his brother’s underground lair, making him wonder just who had named the small, overcrowded nightclub. It was not a good place for the girl to be. He vanished and reappeared within its walls, taking a seat in the darkest corner. Amni was still smiling when he opened the door and entered the club only to stop dead in his tracks. Something wasn’t right. His head snapped to the side and his eyes widened. Tadamichi? Jerking his gaze away, he took off behind the bar, completely disturbed. Why was the Master here… in his bar? ***** Kyoko stood looking in the mirror wondering just how drunk she would have to get before she could go through with it. She fluffed her hair and started to change but didn’t… deciding what she was wearing would hopefully do the trick. She would just have to stop h
Chapter 4 “Heat of Possession” “This girl has already been claimed,” Hyakuhei growled trying to shake the site of her response to this human turned cannibal. The half-breed suddenly rose out of the water as if lifted by invisible strings and hovered over the water’s surface. Hyakuhei arched an eyebrow at the tenacity of this one. Granted, he was still only a half-breed but not a complete child to their ways… he summarized that this one had been turned decades ago. “Get lost, she’s mine,” The vampire hissed. “I found her.” Hyakuhei glared at him, his anger reaching new heights making the pool water start to bubble much like a Jacuzzi. “You wish to fight me for one single meal?” Hyakuhei asked in a low voice that had sent more than one creature running for their lives. “So be it.” The pool water was boiling now, splashing up onto the pool deck and hot enough to cause severe burns. Hyakuhei moved faster than the half-breed had ever seen and never would again. He did
Chapter 5 “Deadly Savior” Kyoko decided that cell phones were a product of Satan as it rang just as she was really getting into her dream. She wanted to stay within the room of angels she had found. She reached out to touch the cheek of one of the statues wondering why he looked so sad. At first, the ringing was just an annoying sound within the dream but very slowly it was waking her up. She fought tooth and nail to keep the dream but the cell phone wouldn’t let her and the vision vanished completely. With a sigh of frustration, Kyoko reached out from under her blanket and squinted her eyes at the caller ID. Her vision wouldn’t focus quickly enough so she answered it just to make it stop. Only her family had her cell phone number and they knew she didn’t do days. “What?” She demanded groggily once she fumbled to get it open. “Don’t talk to me that way young lady,” Grandpa Hogo exclaimed. “You young people really don’t know how to treat your elders.” “Grandpa…” K