Blood's Nexus

Graduating high school should have been the last step to getting out from under her step-father's thumb, but somehow Taylor gets saddled with house-sitting for the entire summer. It was going fine until the nightmares started, then that weird arch in the storage garage caught her attention. Curiosity should come with a big flashing warning label.Now trapped in another world, something is hunting her and her only allies are an inexperienced guardian and a perverted old monk.

From the Inside Flap

Outside thebedroom door that led to Taylor's chambers stood a beastly male Sabre withbeady brown eyes, and long yellowed teeth.He snortedand then gave a big yawn. He didn't know why he had to stay here night afternight; the door was locked, and the human wasn't strong enough to break out. Infact, he doubted the human would even try. She had been there for several days,and he hadn't seen her do anything he would consider defiant.It was late,and no one was around. He glanced down the corridors and double checked thedoor. It wouldn't hurt anything if he closed his eyes for a moment. He neededsleep too. He leaned back on the wall and gave a throaty growl as he relaxed.A few momentsslipped by, his head bobbed once as he started to doze, then twice. It didn'tbob a third time. A stone dagger drove up through his throat into his skull,killing him in an instant.The dark format the end of the blade gave it an extra twist before easing the twitching bodydown onto the floor. A quick pat down revealed the copper key for the doorhidden in a belt pouch.With asatisfied grin, the key was inserted in the lock.The teenheard the lock, and knew anyone coming into her room this late at night did nothave good intentions.She stayedstill, crouched by the fireplace and waited.A lithefigure slipped into the room. Its head and shoulders were covered in a tatteredlooking black cowl with flashes of leather clothing underneath. In its lefthand, a dull grey blade stood poised for quick use by its ear.It moved tothe bedside swiftly, barely moving the fabric of its own apparel.Taylorcouldn't hold back a small gasp as she watched the blade tear through the blanketsseveral times in the matter of a couple seconds. Someone wanted her dead.The hoodedface turned her direction, and the teen was sure she heard a hiss, close tothat of a house cat."It wouldhave been better had you been asleep," the high pitched yet male voice said."W-why? Whoare you?" Taylor demanded, as she stood up still clutching the fire rod in herright hand.The figurecame closer and she could make out the pointed features of a Weasel. He flashedher a grin filled with sharp teeth."The rebellioncan't have you stay in Ransidius' hands." he laughed as if it were obvious,"And it's not like we could sneak you out past all the Sabres'; You'd just giveus away."Taylorscoffed a little despite the fear. She was getting real sick of being underestimated.The Weasel glidedeven closer, the dagger still poised."Just closeyour eyes, and I promise this will be quick."There was amoment Taylor hesitated, a moment the thought of a quick end was tempting. Thenthe Assassin moved, and it was gone.Shesidestepped his attack. However, as she threw herself to the right, the bladestill sliced clean through shirt and flesh. She barely had time to register thepain before the assassin was on her again.As he lungedforward with the dagger, she swung the cast iron rod, deflecting it away. Thestone scraped across the poker sending a spray of embers, still clinging to itfrom the fire, into the Weasels face.He squeakedin pain, but still pushed forward desperate to finish the job before he wasfound by the Cats.A blind thrustput both off balance. Taylor lost her grip on the poker and, instead of tryingto recover, it she grabbed the dagger with both hands. The two fell back andhit the store floor with a resounding crash from the iron rod.It was loud,and the cool-headed Weasel all of a sudden looked hassled. His time was up, andhe had to finish the job quickly. With only a few options, he went withoverpowering her. He put his weight behind the dagger and forced it downtowards her chest."Just die." hesneered pushing down.Had he been aSabre his body mass would have been enough to end it. As it was, the Weaselcouldn't have weighed much more than her. She wasn't the fragile thing they allseemed to think she was; her Rugby career was a testament to that.Her arms quiveredas she kept the knife suspended between them. With a loud growl that would havedone any animal proud, she planted her foot on his hip and kicked him away.He recoveredand attacked again, but just as he made his approach an ear-splitting roarfilled the halls. He faltered and missed a beat with his step. The fire rodrolled his ankle, and he fell forward.Taylorgrunted as he landed on her hard.There wereseveral moments of confusion before Taylor pulled herself away. She pressed herback against the wall and waited. Another moment passed; there were footstepsrunning down the hall.A wet coughand wheeze came from the prone form at her feet. With a stuttered breath of herown she reached down and rolled the Weasel onto his back.Embedded inhis chest was the stone blade. He coughed again and, to her horror, blood bubbledout of this mouth.Just then, atrio of Sabres burst through the door. The Lioness leading them stopped shortand surveyed the scene. There was a Weasel on the floor with a blade protrudingfrom his chest, and the human was kneeling over him.Confused, butunfazed, she started yelling out orders."You check tomake sure that thing is dead. You, go get Ransidius; he'll want to know theypenetrated our defenses."She turned toTaylor."Are youinjured?"Taylor shookher head before she even registered the question. She scooted herself along thewall, so she was well away from the scene."He is stillalive," the male Sabre sneered, "want me to finish it?""No. Leavehim for Ransidius."Taylor felt apang of empathy for the Weasel. He had only been doing what he thought wasright for the people of this land. Still, her life was hers; she wasn't goinglet anyone take it without a fight.The room feltvery crowded when Ransidius entered"What happened?"he demanded.Taylor waslistening from her spot on the floor when she all of a sudden felt very weak.Her side was on fire."Found Cruxdead in the hall, saw the door open. We ran in here and found the Weasel likethat with the girl over him," explained the Lioness.Taylorclutched her side and felt a warmth spread through her fingers.Ransidiuswalked over to the Weasel and with minimal effort picked him up with one arm.He was nothing but a gruesome rag-doll in the Sabre's hand."Rebellionscum," Ransidius declared, not needing any confirmation.With whateverbreath and strength he had left, the Weasel spit in Ransidius' face. The SabreLord wiped it away with the back of his hand, then reached out and snapped theAssassins neck before passing him off."Hang it onthe gate for all to see," said Ransidius. He turned and looked at Taylor,whatever he would have say was lost when he saw her pale face and her handsgripping her side.She flinchedas he squatted in front of her. With a gentle touch, he moved her hands.Blood seeped steadilyout of the large gash, soaking through her shirt and the top of her pants.

From the Back Cover

Graduating high school should have been the last step to getting out from under her step-father's thumb, but somehow Taylor gets saddled with house-sitting for the entire summer. It was going fine until the nightmares started, then that weird arch in the storage garage caught her attention. Curiosity should come with a big flashing warning label.Now trapped in another world, something is hunting her and her only allies are an inexperienced guardian and a perverted old monk.

About the Author

Being from a small rural town in Nova Scotia Canada I was always on the lookout for new, exciting adventures. When I realized that there wasn't a lot around I wrote my own.Over the years I have written so many short stories that no one has ever read I took that next step and am sending a few into the world.Simple reads, that are boiling over with action and a little fluff are my goals in every piece while drawing from my martial art and Corrections background to put realism in fight scenes, and my antagonists.  I hope you find the adventure you are searching for in my works.

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