Exiled - 01
Authors: M. R. Merrick
The Protector - Book 1 - Exiled
By M.R.Merrick
© 2011 M.R. Merrick
Kindle Edition
All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2011 – M.R. Merrick
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, by any means, without the express written permission of the author. For further information please visit
http://www.matthew-merrick.blogspot.com
or contact the author at
mailto:[email protected]
Cover design by M.R. Merrick
Cover artwork by Julija Lichman © 2011
This is a work of fiction. The characters, locations, and events herein are used fictitiously as an article of the author’s imagination. Any names or references to locations, events or persons, either living or deceased, are purely coincidental.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank everyone who played a part in making this happen. First to my wife,
Cherry
, this book would not be what it is today without you. You read the story in its roughest form, and a dozen times after that. I drove you crazy with my constant revisions and late night talks of how to improve the story. You were there to help me break down the road blocks as the story progressed, and Exiled has become something so much more because of your love and support. My daughter
Peyton
, telling you bedtime stories started this entire process and I have you to thank for all of this. Without you, I never could have realized my passion for storytelling. Thanks to
Jason
Pitt
at
http://www.critical-film.com
for his support and for writing the back cover copy for this book.
Thomas Amo
, you’re a fabulous writer and you’ve been so incredible this entire process. You read my book, you supported me, and you referred me to a wonderful artist. Thank you for all your kindness. Julija Lichman, you were the one who gave my book a face. Your wonderful artwork inspired me to write better, and deliver a story worthy of such art, and for that, I am grateful.
To all of you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.
- Matthew. R. Merrick – June 2
nd
, 2011
DEDICATION
For my wife,
You and me, always.
I dodged the razor sharp claws coming towards me and turned to face the demon. I’d hurt him enough to force him to shift, but now I had to fight a bear, literally.
He stood on his hind legs with his back to me and I took the opportunity presented, unsure if I’d get another. I leapt onto his back and stuck one silver dagger into each shoulder. He roared in pain and anger as the blades pierced his furry flesh, and reacted with a flurry of quick movements that threw me from his back. I fought to keep hold of one dagger as I hit the pavement, while the other remained stuck in his shoulder.
The pitted asphalt burned and tore at my skin as I slid across it. The ground rumbled as the black bear stormed towards me. I jumped to my feet, but not in time to get out of the way. Its head collided with my stomach at full speed and smashed me into the crumbling brick building behind me.
Black dots filled my vision as the wall broke at my impact, showering me with loose bricks and pieces of mortar. I shook my head to clear my vision and wrapped my scarred fingers around the blade jutting from his shoulder. As I twisted my wrist, there came a bone-chilling screech from his toothy snout. Roaring in agony, the demon stood and hauled my body from the ground, leaving me flailing over his head as I struggled to hold on to the dagger.
I wrapped my legs around its neck while it shook from side to side with an unnatural speed, trying to dislodge me. The world blurred around me, but from behind his head, I forced the blade to his throat and pulled. The demon grunted as the blade split skin. Hot blood pumped over my hand but I didn’t hesitate. The violent movements slowed and a deep gurgling sound escaped from the bear’s throat. The smell of burning meat started to fill the air, and I pulled until I hit the spine. I’d sliced through the flesh; next came the hard part.
I planted both feet against the bear’s back and pushed hard to help pull the blade through its spine. The bone gave under the pressure and I tumbled to the pavement as the dagger went all the way through. The creature stumbled forward, the grotesque head rolling off the shoulders. Its body started falling, and soon both it and the head were engulfed in flames and burned to ash.
I stayed on the ground as the air my lungs craved rushed into them in waves. This had been the third attempt on my life in two weeks, and I couldn’t count how many there had been in the last three years. No matter how many times I survived, there was always another danger around the corner, and I still wasn’t used to being the victim. I was Chase Williams, a demon hunter. I wasn’t supposed to be the one looking over my shoulder; I was supposed to be stalking the prey.
I winced in pain as I lifted myself from the pavement, and brushed ash off my clothes and skin. I had to find a new way home; the demons had gotten all too familiar with this one.
The usual disappointment filled me as I approached my apartment. Broken windows and trash-littered patios were a sad sight to come home to. The broken hand rail shook and the stairs squeaked with each step. Fresh graffiti decorated the landing and I had to use my finger to open the door, which lacked a knob. All that aside, I was relieved to have made it home in one piece. Even if it required standing in the discolored, low pressure water from my shower for an hour, this blood would wash off, and I’d live to see another day.
I stood in the shower until the water turned cold before I gave in to my body’s demand for rest and went to my bedroom. I took in the mattress on the floor, the scratched and faded dresser, and the wobbly lamp with a sigh. It wasn’t much, but it was mine.
I fell onto the bed and relief washed over me. My body was consumed by pain that for anyone else would be even worse the next day, but not for me. I knew the scratches would fade, the scabs would heal, and the throbbing ache of having been thrown into a brick wall would be gone. By tomorrow I’d be good as new: one of the few perks to being a hunter.
I stared up at the cracked ceiling as muffled angry voices leaked through the wall. The sound of breaking glass and swearing followed as the neighbors started their nightly routine, which had become my lullaby. Their screaming pushed my body towards sleep, and as sleep approached the screaming faded. Darkness tugged at my eyes and I couldn’t fight it. I gave into my body’s urge for rest and fell into the dreamscape.
~~~~~~
“Happy birthday Chase! Ready for your big day?” my mom said.
“Of course I’m ready,” I replied, the excited smile fixed on my face. This was the day I’d been awaiting for so many years. All the training, books and lectures were done. Today I was going to become one of them: a hunter.
“I’m so proud of you. No matter what happens today, I want you to know that.” My mom’s eyes were welling up with tears; she was always emotional with me.
“I know.”
“Chase, the ceremony starts in a few hours. Why aren’t you training?” my dad said. I hadn’t heard him walk into the room. “Dammit, Tessa stop babying him! He needs to concentrate. It’s an important day.”
My mom held back the tears that wanted to fall. “Of course, Riley. You’re right,” she said and slipped out of the room.
My stomach clenched as my father came closer. “You should be training Chase. Just because it’s your birthday doesn’t mean you can be slacking off. I don’t want you embarrassing me out there.”
“Yeah, Dad, I know.”
“Excuse me?” He glared at me with the severe expression that dominated his face so often.
I cleared my throat and stood up straight. “I mean, yes sir,” I said. His pale blue eyes regarded me and he nodded. He left the room and I released the breath I was holding.
Everything around me faded, and I was standing at the entryway of the ceremony hall. The room looked bigger than I remembered. I entered slowly and my steps echoed around me. Six whitewashed stone pillars held up the ceiling and matched the walls, making them seem to fade in and out of view.
I moved past the faces I’d trained with for years, getting closer to the altar. The muscles in my abdomen tightened with nervousness and the sweat on my palms threatened to drip. At first I feared I’d trip on the first step and embarrass myself, but as I conquered it, the fear changed its focus to the ceremony.
What if I don’t get a good power? If I don’t get the fire element like my father, will he be disappointed?
I swallowed these thoughts and ascended the last steps.