The Fury: Time Walker Series, #1

Revised Cover and internal design © 2024 by Sloan McBride

Copyright © October 2008 by Sloan McBride

Cover illustration © 2024 by The Author Buddy

Print ISBN: 978-0-9884033-6-9

Digital ISBN: 979-8-2277260-1-8

Publisher: World of Dreams Publishing, LLC

All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise—except in the case of brief quotations embodied in articles or reviews—without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner/publisher.

This is a work of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, places, or situations is unintentional and coincidental.

Dedication

To my daughter, Rachel: Always believe in happily ever after and never give up on your dreams.

Glossary

Aém Drow - Dream Powder

Anuna - A fallen group of sky gods banished to the Underworld

Blethred - Lifemate (soulmate)

Démarr - Ancient Naruki ritual (marriage ritual)

Doghume - Humans with special powers

Enki - Water God/God of Wisdom

Eridu - The sea house where Enki lives

Galla - Kur’s minions; part of Demonkind

Go’ras - Mindwipe

Kelfik - Money used in the Underworld

Lahamas - Two dragon-like stone statues that guard the doorways of Eridu

Lakselph - A type of sleeping herb found on Bylari

Melari - Melari darts are coated with a sleeping drug

Moritá - An Ancient Naruki ritual

Mredi - Naruki animal (like an elephant)

Nephilli - 1/2 Human 1/2 God

Percilious - One of the oldest Naruki; a powerful wizard

Reskar - Loved one

Shakaah - Swear word (i.e. Shit)

Tregorians - Second level of galla, also part of Demonkind

Time Walker Creed~

We will risk all to protect the human race until the creature is destroyed and there is peace between the realms.

CHAPTER ONE

Large snowflakes tumbled from the sky. A blanket of snow covered the streets and the ground when Reese Whittaker left the little bistro after meeting with her archeology team. She hiked the purse higher on her shoulder and closed the coat around her neck to ward off the cold. She could have sworn she’d seen two large shadows by the building up ahead, but when she blinked, they were gone. Weird.

The back street had a couple of food places crowded with patrons and an occasional car drove by looking for a good parking spot. Music drifted from the pub on the corner every time someone opened the door, and two winos on the stoop were having a heated debate about fish.

She stopped at the corner before crossing the street. Friday night brought out its share of partygoers and drunks, those who would not be paying attention to a lone woman stepping into the street.

Something buzzed past her ear and the speed limit sign next to her pinged, as if hit with a rock. Before she could react, a large male body tackled her to the ground.

Reese couldn’t breathe. Every rock-hard inch of him pressed against her. She struggled, but her arms were held tight by his well-muscled chest. Was she being mugged? Would he waste time lying on top of her if he were a purse snatcher? Oh,God! Maybe he’d drag her behind the nearest dumpster and rape her, then leave her lying in the garbage ravaged or dead.

With a rush of adrenaline, she vowed she wouldn’t go down without a fight. Get off me! She tried to scream but couldn’t suck enough air into her lungs with him lying on top of her.

Are you hurt? he whispered softly in her ear with a deep voice.

Was he kidding? A total stranger jumped on me and is crushing me into the cold pavement, she managed in staccato breaths.

She felt the roughness of his stubble against her cheek as he looked around the area. Wicked thoughts of a different kind of tumble rolled through her head. Had she lost her mind?

She struggled again. Get the hell off me!

His jaw clenched. For a moment, she thought he wasn’t going to move. Slowly, he stood and held out a hand to help her up. She grabbed it and he jerked her flush against his body. Reese immediately stepped back, but he still held onto her wrist. The stranger bent down and picked up something from the street to examine it.

Excuse me, she said, jerking the wrist still in his grasp.

He ignored her.

Mr. Personality was tall, at least six-four, dressed in black jeans, a black turtleneck and a leather duster that barely reached his calves. In the dark, she couldn’t tell what color his eyes were, but his body was lithe, solid muscle. He had a wild, dangerous look like Mel Gibson in the first Lethal Weapon movie.

What’s that? She leaned closer to get a better look.

The stranger held some kind of dart between his fingers. "This is a melari."

"A melari?"

Her attacker gritted his teeth and shoved the object in his pocket. Come on, he mumbled and started across the street, dragging her with him.

Let me go, she yelled and tried to disengage her wrist from his grip.

Stop fighting me, woman, unless you want to die.

That statement hit her like arctic water. Her fear escalated. Don’t hurt me, she pleaded.

He stopped to glare at her. I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to protect you.

He had a funny way of showing it. Protect me from what?

Exasperation laced his sigh. From the death squad that’s after you. He pulled the dart from his pocket and waved it in front of her face. What do you think this is for?

She narrowed her gaze at him. A hormonal surge of courage pumped through her veins. I don’t know what that is, but the only thing I’ve seen threatening around here is you. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought she heard him growl.

An aura of danger surrounded him. He moved like a graceful predator and oozed raw sexuality. Her mouth suddenly went dry. She needed to find a way to get away from this he-man. Her attacker palmed the object and hid it away.

The sound of a car backfiring jolted her. The stranger circled his arms around her and pulled her close. Shit, he said. Which one is your vehicle?

Reese smelled blood and saw it seeping through his coat. No dart caused that wound; someone was shooting bullets at them.

Another gunshot pierced the night and shattered the window of a nearby car.

She screamed.

The stranger turned to her. Which one, dammit?

That blue one there. She pointed to her Chevy Malibu.

Courage and strength poured from him along with his blood. They ran for her car, with him right on her heels. He grabbed the keys out of her hand. Get in.

Hey! she protested, until a dart whizzed very close, banging into the car door.

Without another word, Reese scrambled into the passenger side as he revved the engine to life. He slammed his foot down on the gas and sped away.

Dagan skidded off the main road onto a darkened side street. He needed to check for an exit wound on his shoulder, and hoped the bullet hadn’t lodged in the bone. It would be painful to remove it. They should be okay here for a few minutes.

He threw open the driver’s door and got out of the car. The snow fell in heavy flakes joining the previous snow accumulated on the wintry landscape. He eased off his coat. The cold air added a sting to his skin. With his left hand, Dagan tested the tender flesh of his shoulder.

Reese opened her door and stood to glare at him. Okay, while the whole tackle-me-to-the-ground thing was interesting, and being shot at definitely got my attention, do you mind telling me what the hell is going on?

He glanced over the top of the car and held her gaze for a moment. He’d already broken the rules by coming into contact with Reese, but he’d had no choice. All in good time.

Wha—

Come over here. I need you to see if there’s an exit wound on my back.

At first, it appeared she would refuse, but then she stomped around the car sliding once. She tentatively touched his shirt. He hoped the dome light provided enough light for her to see clearly.

There’s a big hole in the back of your shoulder. You’re bleeding, she said dryly.

Thanks, but I already knew that.

The next couple of seconds happened quickly. She pushed him against the back quarter panel of the car, jumped in the driver’s seat, and threw the car in gear. He only had an instant to move before she ran over his foot.

He growled his frustration. With a flick of his wrist, a sudden gale-force wind exploded, swirling the snow into a blinding tornado. Dagan held his hand out and said, Hold. The car screeched to a halt. He could hear Reese gunning the motor as she pressed on the gas, still attempting to get away. Wincing, he bent over to retrieve his coat and silently cursed the blue-eyed vixen. Calmly, he strolled to the car, opened the passenger door and got in. The wind disappeared as quickly as it had come, and the snow went back to falling lazily to the ground.

Get out of my car! she yelled.

His dark brow lifted. He’d never understood humans. Her life was in mortal danger. Kur would be drawn to Reese because of her ancestry, an ancient bloodline from Kur’s most hated enemy, Enki.

Dagan’s oath and duty required that he protect her whether she wanted it or not, and by the gods, he planned to keep her alive. Whispering the obedience spell in the old language, Dagan smiled when her eyes glazed over. The sprinkle of freckles on her nose and cheeks gave her an impish look. Her brows were thin and perfectly arched over enigmatic blue eyes clouded with confusion. She put the car in gear and started driving.

Where are we going? Reese turned the knob so the air coming out of the vents got warmer.

Drive out of the city. We’ll find a cheap motel to stay for the night.

I’ll go out of the city, but only so far as my house, she countered.

Dagan gave her a penetrating stare. You’ll do as I say.

She growled. I could go to the police station so they can arrest your ass for kidnapping.

He couldn’t help but laugh. She had a feisty streak. And, for some reason, she subverted the spell. This warranted serious investigation.

You think this is funny? She frowned. You fly out of nowhere, knocking me down and bruising my… He glanced over at her. Never mind. She sighed. I only have your word that those people were actually after me.

Dagan took a minute to study her before saying, "They shot the melari dart at you before I appeared."

I’m an archeologist. I don’t know anything important or top secret. My job actually bores most people, unless they love digging around in dirt to find pieces of ancient civilizations. Why would I be in danger?

It’s not what you know but who you are that puts you in jeopardy.

You make no sense.

He gently trailed his fingertips down the sleeve of her coat. He used his mental powers of persuasion to calm her nerves and minimize her fear.

I can’t be sure those demons are not following us. They may already know where you live and could be waiting. Her fear escalated again, and a glimpse of her disappointment had him saying, I’ll give you ten minutes at your place to grab some things. Maybe having some of her personal belongings would make this ordeal a little easier, if that were possible. Then we’ll find a motel. Once I’m sure you’re safe, I will answer your questions.

Reese frowned. Uncertainty rolled off her in waves.

Did you say demons just then? Demons, like in horror movies?

Not exactly like the movies, but demons they are.

Have you visited a psychiatrist lately? I know a good one. I can give you her card, she offered dryly.

I’m not crazy.

She gave him a yeah right look but said nothing more.

It grew darker as the Denver city lights disappeared behind them. They drove in silence the rest of the way but still her confusion tangled with his resolve.

Reese pulled to a stop in her driveway.

Wait. He scanned the darkened area. The snowfall had stopped. He detected no sign of the galla. Your nearest neighbor is about one point seven miles away?

How could you know that?

He released her arm and got out of the car. Moving immediately to her side, he used his body as a shield to protect her. Once inside the house, he ordered her to stay put.

But…

He glared at her. Stay!

She mumbled unkind words under her breath.

He returned after checking the rest of the house and gave her leave to move. You never told me your name, she said while peeling off her wet coat.

Dagan. He locked the door, moved to the large picture window, and lifted the curtain back a few inches to stare outside. Everything seemed quiet but he felt a strange vibration. Reese stood with her arms hugged around her body, staring into space. Pack enough clothes for one night, maybe two, he urged, in hopes of getting her moving. They didn’t have much time.

She frowned in his direction then went down the hall.

Dagan upped the voltage on his senses, projecting invisible sensors which would register all movement, sound, and activity. These would alert him should the Underworld soldiers be close by. Unfortunately, it also meant he could smell and feel Reese that much more. The little spitfire was very distracting.

He scanned the comfortable living area surrounding him. The tan walls were plain but rich in texture, and the dark wood floor gave them a warm glow. Simple furniture adorned the space, also with dark wood. Massive, framed oil paintings covered the walls, reverently preserved and cared after. Wooden shelves were sparse throughout the room and upon each were artifacts, ancient relics from Sumerian and Babylonian design. He recognized the markings.

One piece, a chalice, contained in a lighted glass case beckoned him with a singing in his blood. He knew this piece all too well. How did she acquire such a cherished and guarded secret of the deities? Did she realize the significance of the cup?

Beside the fireplace on either side were shelves built into the wall. Dagan walked toward them. On one side were pictures, he assumed of her family, because isn’t that what humans usually did, put up pictures of family?

An antique gold frame, recently been cleaned and polished, held the photograph of a young blond man. He had aristocratic features and a genuine smile. Dagan felt a familiarity even though he’d never seen this man before. Leaning into the man on the right sat a strikingly beautiful woman, her eyes the color of a Highland sky and her raven hair curling around her shoulder. The man’s fingers were lost in the locks. Down in front, sitting on the floor, were two girls. Although they looked very much alike, he could tell there was a difference in their ages. Reese and a sister. Reese had the coloring of her father. The sister looked more like her mother. He would need to find out where her family members were. If the galla found Reese, they might find the others as well.

Family, something he held no hope of having. Dagan took his life as a time walker very seriously. Again, the two young girls drew his attention. He stared in wonder at the feisty, strong-willed Reese smiling back at him. His nerve endings crackled.

His advanced senses experienced every movement Reese made. A jolt lanced him when she reached into the cabinet and brushed her breast against the counter. His nostrils flared, and it took the greatest willpower not to storm into the kitchen, lift her up onto the counter and feast upon her sweet flesh. What in blazing hell was she doing in the kitchen?

Damn.

Reese poked her head around the corner. I’m grabbing some tea bags. Did you need something?

The hair falling about her beautiful face begged him to push it back so he could trail hot kisses along her cheek and jaw. A fierce longing speared his gut. You, naked on the floor, the couch or up against the wall. Nothing, he growled. Get a move on.

She scowled at him before disappearing behind the wall. A small explosion rocked the house.

Reese ran into the living room. What was that?

Why hadn’t he felt the death squad’s presence? He’d been too absorbed with foolish longings, his rising libido and the intense attraction to this human female. Stay inside, he ordered as he crossed to the door, pulling his guns out.

But…

He pointed a finger at her, his expression stern. Do as I say.

She darted to the door as Dagan hurtled himself off the porch and whirled around with guns in both hands. He shot two rounds, hitting what looked like shadows to Reese, but when they fell, she realized they were alive.

Heart pounding, she dashed to the railing to watch the macabre scene when three more came at Dagan from the other side and he easily dispatched them with deadly aim. Transfixed by terror, she didn’t notice the shadow moving toward her. A shuffling sound drew her attention. She could barely make out the shadowed figure because it blended with the darkness which now settled as a backdrop for this nightmare. She needed a weapon.

Running into the house, she grabbed a lamp from the end table near the door and held it like a tennis racket.

Don’t come near me or I’ll brain you, sucker. She lifted the lamp higher. Her nose wrinkled when she caught a weird smell which came from the intruder.

The shadow creature laughed, if that’s what you could call the cackling sound it made. It advanced like fog, creeping closer. When it got to the doorway and reached for her, Reese crowned it with the base of the lamp. Its head fell to one side, and it dropped. She kicked it to make sure it wasn’t moving.

Another figure grabbed her from behind, wrenching her arms and making her drop the lamp. She stomped on its toes and kicked at what she thought were its legs, but it did no good. The thing gripped her arms and jacked them higher behind her back.

She cried out.

More shadows of varied sizes dropped down from the porch roof. She screamed and frantically looked for Dagan. A mass of creatures huddled in the yard with Dagan right in the middle. He fought like a seasoned warrior. Using his elbow, he knocked one in the face and shot it in the head. It withered and disintegrated. He holstered the gun, unsheathed a wicked-looking knife, and with an upward swing, sliced through the shadow’s throat, decapitating it. The figure disappeared with a fiery flash.

Reese struggled against the thing that held her, trying to loosen its grip so she could break free.

Dagan!

Dagan leapt onto the porch. He reached around one body with his left hand and swiped the knife across its neck, killing it. The creature that held Reese turned her to face him. His eyes glowed bright red and in his hand, he held one of the darts. In a downward stroke, he stabbed toward her neck.

Don’t even think about it, Dagan hollered, as he kicked one in the stomach and punched the face of the soldier that held her.

The creature let go of her and stumbled back. Dagan withdrew two six-point metallic stars and threw them at his target. With a pop, it disintegrated.

Look out, Reese screamed.

The creature that Dagan kicked jumped up and ran toward him. Dagan easily drew another gun and fired three times. The demon was gone. A loud moan floated from the one at Reese’s feet. The creature she’d bonked with the lamp woke up and didn’t look happy.

Dagan stabbed the creature through the middle and when it swung around to face him, he sliced off its head.

Wide-eyed, she stared at the black mess pooling on the porch and splattered across the walls. The substance smoked like a dying fire with an acrid smell. Her body shivered. She hadn’t noticed the cold when she’d run out to engage the intruders. The temperature dropped considerably. Her breath created puffs of swirling smoke.

Come on. Dagan grabbed her arm and ran to the car.

But my clothes, my coat, she yelped.

We can’t stay here. They’ll be back. He opened the driver’s side door. Keys.

They’re in my purse in the house.

Shit. He raced over, grabbed her hand, and pulled her toward the porch. Let’s go, quickly. His gaze roamed the area. He held a gun in his hand.

Dagan rushed them inside and locked the door. Get your purse, he said as he snatched her coat from the back of the chair.

Reese rushed into the kitchen to grab her purse. She stopped to take a deep breath. What the hell was happening? She hurried back to where Dagan waited. He held her coat for her slip on, took the keys, and clasped her hand.

When we get out there, don’t stop. He gave her a stern look. If I say run, you run to the car and lock yourself in. Understand?

Reese gazed into intense eyes she now realized were green. She squeezed his hand and nodded. This gorgeous stranger was her lifeline in this bizarre turn of events.

CHAPTER TWO

Dagan drove like the fires of Hell were chasing them, leaving Reese’s house and the galla far behind. Reese was quiet. She stared out the window with arms wrapped around her stomach. They drove for a while on this deserted stretch of road. He saw a flashing sign up ahead. The Moonlight Motel was a run-down, 12-room, piece of shit. Perfect.

He pulled up to the lobby door. Wait here. I’ll check us in, he said.

Reese didn’t respond.

Dagan stepped into the office. It had drab walls, torn carpet and a chipped wooden desk in need of repair. Not like the outside hadn’t already spoken of what type of establishment he had found. The greasy-haired man behind the counter nodded when Dagan entered. Yellow teeth and hideous breath greeted him from thin lips. Beady black eyes gave him the once over before he asked Dagan his pleasure.

Dagan smiled at the pock-marked face. Not many cars out there. Slow night?

Seems so. What can I do fer ya?

Dagan glanced at the sideboard that held all the room keys and counted twelve. I’d like the room on the end if you don’t mind.

Not a problem. It’s twenty-five dollars a night. Again, his eyes raked over Dagan’s form, apparently trying to decide why Dagan stopped there.

Okay. Dagan reached toward his pocket.

The old man turned and pulled the key to twelve off the board. When he whirled back around, Dagan held out his hand and touched the old man’s forehead. With the mind sweep, the night clerk would not remember him ever being there. Using a little power of suggestion, the clerk would still see the key to unit twelve hanging on