Category: Fiction
Infrared – Mortal Kombat 11 FF -One-
As the realms recover from Kronika’s defeat, Kung Lao and Liu Kang are called back to Outworld to assist in stopping an overlooked threat. Their Revenants are gathering strength from the unlikeliest of places, and with a backup plan set in motion by the Architect of Time herself, the complete collapse of the universe has once again fallen on the shoulders of our capable heroes. But when the events of an alternate timeline pits brother against brother, and mother against daughter, the world as we know it will be forever changed, and forever damaged by the wiles of fate.
Loosely follows a combination of Liu Kang and Kung Lao’s MK11 endings.
Kung Lao x OC
-ONE-
“I don’t think I have to remind you to be on your best behavior Kung Lao but, just in case you’ve forgotten…” Liu Kang cautioned with a whisper. It was their first trip back to Outworld since Kronika’s defeat and, there was no doubt his cousin was excited to get back to doing what he did best; following Empress Kitana around like a lost puppy. It was no secret that, in the time that Earthrealm and Outworld took to rebuild after being decimated by that harpy and her underlings, the newly mantled God of Thunder and Fireand his Kahn had kept in touch. Kung Lao found it hard to imagine that two of the most powerful beings in existence had to sneak around like lovesick teenagers, but it was far beyond him to do anything about it. Outworld wouldn’t except their relationship, but when you had the combined powers of a Deity and the literal sands of time at your disposal, who would dare deny you? But perhaps it was that way of thinking that had led them into Kronika’s grasp to begin with. Liu Kang dropped a heavy hand on his shoulder. “I know what you’re thinking, and that isn’t at all our reason for coming here—”
“You would think that Raiden wouldn’t be so quick to rush to the aid of Outworld. Especially with his newfound humanity,” he cut him off, ignoring the Monk and shrugging off his hand as their carriage approached a colorful fortress on the outskirts of Lei Chen, not the Imperial Palace as he’d expected. They’d traveled for miles, stopping only once to charter new transportation when the previous horseman refused to take them further than the Drylands.
“Lord Raiden, Kung Lao. Despite our circumstances, he is still our mentor and should be shown the respect he deserves,” Liu Kang corrected and was once again ignored. Built from yellowing limestone and bricks of pure turquoise, the structure above them seemed to almost resonate with an explosive energy that rivaled the sun. Pillars of solid gold stretched towards the sky, sporting flagrant foreign symbols that were hand-chiseled into the metal. Images of war cats at play were carved into the stone, bejeweled with the finest crystals and glass beads he’d ever laid eyes on. Every inch of the palace screamed culture and excess, a strange combination if he’d ever seen one. The landscape changed drastically around them as they drew near, trading evergreen redwoods for gently waving palms and fragrant orchid trees. Surrounded by lush greenery and strange, alien animals that sang, chirped and croaked as they advanced deeper into a living rain forest, it was obvious they were entering a part of Outworld that was man made. Someone had picked up an oasis, a tropical paradise from wherever it existed in the universe and transplanted it behind a mountain range known for its snowy peaks. And there was only one person he knew of who’d thrive in such quiet opulence.
“Why are we meeting Kotal Kahn? Raiden sent us here to aid Kitana in some gravely vague manner he didn’t think it important enough to fill us in on. Shouldn’t we be in the Imperial city, wading through legions of Tarkatan’s who want to eat us?” Liu Kang gave him a wry smile.
“Lord Raiden said simply that our allies needed us. You supplied the Kitana part all on your own. If I didn’t know you any better, I’d say you were the one with the crush,” he said, nudging him in the ribcage as they passed under a stone archway. The horseman led the carriage to an abrupt stop, signaling them that he wouldn’t be going any further. And he couldn’t say that he blamed him. The moment they passed a pair of gargantuan stone arches, a dozen soldiers dressed in traditional Osh-Tekk armor and tribal painting filled the courtyard brandishing blades and shields. Behind them, in the gilded, turquoise doorway stood Raiden and Kotal himself, draped in golden, silk robes and a luxurious animal pelt that cascaded from his broad shoulders to swirl the floor at his bare feet. With a simple wave of his hand, the men fell back, flanking the former Kahn in a gross show of power and absolute control. Kung Lao followed Liu Kang as he exited the back of the carriage, sparing the vehicle a passing glance as their driver promptly took his leave. Raiden descended the small flight of stairs to meet them. The now mortal man looked haggard and weary, as if he hadn’t slept in days.
“Thank you for promptly answering my call. We have a situation that I know you two will prove quite useful for,” he said, exchanging pleasantries with Liu Kang before turning his prudent gaze to him. Kung Lao couldn’t say what power the ex-Demi god retained, but he knew Raiden was aware of his suspicion. Like a child approaching a strange dog, his caution was written all over his face. He knew that he’d yet to regain his trust, despite his sacrifices to stop Kronika and right his wrongs, and that it would likely be decades before he gave him another chance. Part of him wished things were different between them, but it was hard to afford a man the benefit of the doubt when his hubris ultimately led to your death. The silence between them was so strained that Liu Kang felt the need to clear his throat and interject, smiling good-naturedly as he always did.
“I’m happy you summoned us, Lord Raiden. I was starting to grow restless with my newfound free time. What bothers you?” he asked, and Raiden tore his eyes from Kung Lao long enough to motion them inside the palace.
“I hope you’ve both had time to recuperate from fighting Kronika’s army. I’m afraid another threat to Earthrealm is rising,” he said as they fell instep beside him, following a solemn Kotal who was still yet to utter a single word.
“Isn’t it always?” he asked under his breath, vigilantly surveying the foreign space. Everything about this odd situation smelled like a setup, from the unfamiliar locale to the soldiers filing ominously into the building behind them, but he knew voicing his concerns to his overly trusting companion would only fall on deaf ears.
“A strange circumstance has occurred, leading us to believe that the NetherRealm is once again plotting an attack. In our current state, we’re unprepared to deal with anything unexpected and this…is certainly not something we could account for,” he explained. A short stone tunnel led them into an enormous great room that was dominated by a chiseled fireplace and a domed, turquoise and glass beaded skylight that cast dancing blue rays of sunlight on the tiled floor. Expensive furniture covered with the finest silks and furs dotted the area where several more tunnels shot off in every direction to other parts of the palace. Near the fireplace, at an oversized redwood table, stood Jade and Kitana, both dressed like they’d just risen for the day instead of preparing for war. Soft robes draped their bodies, belted at the waist with ropes woven from the finest thread. Were they interrupting a dinner party? There wasn’t a Bo staff or Fan blade in sight. In fact, other than the strained look Jade shared with Kotal, they didn’t seem to have a care in the world.
“Kitana,” Liu Kang whispered, almost grinning as he finally laid eyes on her. There was no ignoring the shy, flirtatious smile the Empress returned as they approached. Had he not been the greatest supporter of their relationship it probably would have made him sick to his stomach.
“Liu Kang,” she greeted, cheeks reddening as their gazes locked. His bashful cousin lit up like a campfire, whatever grand, debonair reintroduction he’d been planning dying on his lips. “Thank you both for coming. I didn’t want to believe we would be meeting like this again anytime soon but, I’m happy you’re both well, nonetheless.”
“I share those sentiments, Princess…or, should I say Empress?” Liu Kang asked, finally giving Kotal and Jade a courteous bow before setting his sights back on his woman. So much for being the defender of Earthrealm. How was it that one man could fall so hopelessly for a woman who by right shouldn’t even spare him a passing glance? It made his lovesick teenagercomparison all the more appropriate. “I hope life as Kahn of Outworld is treating you well.”
“Were you worried?”
“If I didn’t think you could handle it, I wouldn’t have left your side,” he said, replying playfully to her blatant flirting. Kung Lao heaved an exaggerated sigh.
“Enough from the two of you. It’s like watching a bad American television drama,” he said, drawing a dark blush from his cousin and a glare from Kitana. “Why are we gathering in Outworld when the Netherrealm threatens Earthrealm? Shouldn’t we be consulting the Cages and Briggs, not standing around like we’re about to have brunch?”
“For your information, Kung Lao, the Netherrealm’s undead armies are still very much a threat to Outworld as well,” Jade interjected. Like Raiden, she looked tired, as if she’d spent the last several days fighting with no rest. Kotal was quickly beside her, caressing her elbow as if to remind her of his presence. It still struck him as odd that the former Kahn hadn’t uttered so much as a word. He understood that there was a threat but, there wasalwaysa threat, why was everyone suddenly so on edge? “Besides, because of Liu Kang and Kitana Kahn, Outworld and Earthrrealm are allies. If something threatens one, it threatens us all.”
“It’s not allegiances that has me worried, Jade, it’s the fact that everyone has a sour, borderline hysterical look on their face, and I seem to be the only new arrival who’s concerned about what’s going on,” he said, turning his gaze from Jade to Raiden and Kotal. “Everything about this sudden trip to Outworld is out of the ordinary. Other than the lovebirds, everyone is acting as if someone died.”
“Perhaps no one has died, but it is certainly the undeadthat worries us, Kung Lao,” Raiden said. The way he looked at him just then told him everything he needed to know.
“What has my Revenant done now?” If it were all possible, the pregnant intensity of his companions doubled. Jade turned to Kotal as Raiden spoke, averting her gaze from him entirely. Kitana rested a comforting hand on her friends’ shoulder, her face twisted with worry.
“It appears that the effects of Kronika’s time anomalies are still widespread. Defeating her didn’t repair or reverse the tears in the fabric of time. And, until Liu Kang can be properly trained to use the hourglass, we could be looking at a threat even greater than the Elder God ever posed; the complete collapse of the universe,” he explained. Kung Lao exchanged knowing glances with his cousin.
“Which means our undead counterparts are still looking for a way to rule the realms. And are using the remnants of Kronika’s lunacy to do it,” he said, looking back at Kotal who now glared at him. “That doesn’t explain why Jade is almost in tears and why Kotal Kahn is mute.”
“I hold my tongue to keep from starting a war with the Fire God and his favorite pet. If I said everything that was on my mind, I would have to destroy both you and Liu Kang,” he growled. Kung Lao arched a brow.
“Alright, paint me thoroughly confused.”
“Perhaps we should show you?” Kotal asked bluntly, stepping away from Jade and motioning for the nearest corridor. “Take a trip with me, Monk. Maybe then you’ll realize just how serious this situation is.”
“I don’t believe that is necessary, Kotal,” Raiden warned but was ignored by the rampaging War God as he glared furiously down at them.
“No, I believe this will be beneficial for all of us. Especially you, Kung Lao. Visual aid might prove useful in really driving home the atrocities your Revenant is capable of.”
“Kotal, no,” Jade cautioned but the Kahn wasn’t listening, turning away from them with a sweep of his cloak, leaving the Shaolin to exchange confused glances. As with everything he did, Liu Kang looked to Raiden for guidance who gave them a simple nod, motioning for them to follow the disgruntled Osh-Tekk.
The corridor was noticeably colder than the rest of the palace, the wide hall leading them several yards deeper into the massive structure until they reached a set of gilded doors. The rounded top allowed sunlight to spill through gaps in the wall and the door itself, creating a halo that was somehow as somber and calming as it was chilling. Solid amethysts served as twin doorknobs, a beautiful contrast to the ebony and onyx war cats that prostrated themselves proudly against the gold. Pausing as if to gather himself, Kotal pushed the doors open, leading them into an expansive bedroom. Another skylight dominated the room, bathing an enormous, four-poster bed in direct sunlight. In the center of said bed, bandaged and bloody, lay a beautiful dark-haired woman unmoving beneath the silk duvet. An amber stone lay nestled between her breasts, secured to her neck by a thick cord and knot. It radiated with magic, pulsating weakly like a thudding heartbeat. Curls darker than obsidian spread over the red and blue embroidered pillows at her back, her deep, brown skin glowing with warmth and vitality. Long lashes fanned her cheeks, giving her a playful, endearing visage, even in her sleep. She was covered from head to toe in blood-stained bandages but there was no mistaking the distinct cuts on her arms and hands. Even her beautiful face showed signs that she’d been viciously attacked with a bladed weapon. Hisbladed weapon. The group approached her slowly and Kung Lao couldn’t help but notice the tears that sprang in Jade’s eyes as she stared down at her.
“What’s going on here?” he asked softly, garnering himself an infuriated look from Kotal. Illuminated by the light that bathed her, the unmoving woman pulsated gently, her visible cuts and bruises healing before their eyes. It was almost as if the sun itself were caressing them, carefully knitting her wounds until not even a scar remained. “An Osh-Tekk?” he asked, unable to mask his surprise. From what he’d learned from Raiden, after a brutal merger with Outworld, Kotal was supposedly the very last of his kind.
“With Edenian blood,” Kitana corrected from Liu Kang’s side. It took longer to sink in than it would the average person, but when it finally dawned on him it hit him square in the gut.
“She’s your daughter,” he said, swallowing hard before looking back to Kotal and Jade. It was no wonder they wanted to wring his neck. Just what had his Revenant done to that poor girl?
“And you almost killed her,” Kotal growled, taking a menacing step in his direction, only to be blocked by Raiden and Liu Kang.
“It wasn’t Kung Lao who did this, Kotal. He cannot be blamed for the evils of his Revenant,” Raiden said, turning a wise, pleading look on Jade, “none of us can. We will stop them from hurting anyone else. For now, all we can do is be as prepared as we possibly can so that this never happens again.”
“But, I don’t understand. When did this happen? How did this all happen?” Kung Lao asked, thoroughly confused by this revelation. He knew Jade and Kotal had a relationship but, how had they hidden an adult daughter from everyone for so long?
“She’s from an alternate timeline. She was attacked and almost captured by your Revenant and somehow had the power to summon Kotal to her aid,” Raiden explained.
“Imagine being ripped through time and space to rescue the screaming child you never knew you had,” Kotal said through clenched teeth. “This is after six days of her healing. She was so mangled by the time I arrived that she was barely recognizable. The child wears my portal stone around her neck, it’s the only way I even knew she was ours.” Kung Lao felt his chest tighten with regret, glancing once again from Kotal to the woman lying unmoving on the bed. It was hard to imagine that he would be capable of something so heinous in any capacity. Regardless of his Revenant’s vendetta against Raiden and Earthrealm, to attack a defenseless woman so viciously was unthinkable. Was his alternate self really past saving? Had he forgotten all the teachings of the White Lotus? Or did he have such evil inside of him all along?
“I understand your frustration but, we all know the differences between our allies and our Revenants. OurKung Lao would never, and you have to trust that, Kotal,” Liu Kang said. “We will all fight to stop the monsters that did this to your daughter, and to stop any plans they have for in invasion. That is my promise to you both.”
“Thank you, Liu Kang, that is all we can ask,” Jade said, answering before Kotal could bite his head off. “You can imagine that discovering we have a child together in any timeline was shocking enough but, to find her in such a dire situation, caused by someone we considered an ally no less…you have to consider just how bizarre this all is.”
“I can’t blame either of you for your reactions. I would have done the exact same thing if I found myself in your position” he said, trying his hardest not to look at Kitana who smiled knowingly up at him.
“Good, then we are in agreement. Keep the lesser Shaolin on a tight leash and I will keep from crushing his skull between my palms,” Kotal growled, once again levelling his deadly gaze on Kung Lao. The Monk stood stock still, having already checked out of the conversation, equally lost in thought and mesmerized by the blood that evaporated on her skin, leaving her once stained bandages clean. For the first time in years, he was ashamed. He felt dirty and despicable, even if he hadn’t committed the acts himself. Kung Lao didn’t know how, but he would atone for this on his Revenant’s behalf. It was the only way he could redeem himself, not only in the hearts of his allies, but to his ancestor. Just as he turned away, her eyelids fluttered open, revealing the most beautiful, glittering amber he’d ever seen. She took a sudden breath, lungs filling and expanding rapidly as magic burst from the stone on her chest, skittering over her bare flesh like flames. Her gasp was loud enough to startle everyone in the room, her body trembling as she sat straight up in bed. Jade and Kotal were at her side in an instant, but she stared right past them, fear and panic gripping her as her eyes frantically searched the room.
“No. Not again,” she croaked as they locked gazes, voice hoarse from days without speaking. Kotal gripped her hand while Jade moved to block her line of sight.
“He won’t hurt you. You’re safe, now. I swear I won’t let him near you,” he vowed, hovering over her like a Jaguar protecting his cub.
“You don’t have to worry about anything, no one here will harm you,” Raiden stepped forward to say, his normally stoic face twisted in concern. Only then did she tear her eyes from Kung Lao. “My name is—!”
“I know who you are, Lord Raiden. I know all of you,” she said, visibly calming as Jade slid onto the bed beside her, the famed assassin falling easily into the role of a mother.
“I am honored. I was with Kotal when he rescued you from your attackers. Several days have passed, how do you feel?” he asked and she looked down at her outstretched hands, as if her body was completely foreign to her.
“Like I was hit by a rampaging bull elephant,” she said, frowning as she once again surveyed the room. “Where am I? How did I get here?”
“This is the K’atun báalam, the Jaguar War Fortress. It’s a vacation home I recently had built for your mother outside of Lei Chen. It is unknown to our enemies, which is why Raiden and I brought you here instead of to Z’Unkahrah,” Kotal said.
“You’ve been unconscious for quite some time. What can you remember about your attack or, more importantly, about how you found yourself in such a situation to begin with?” Raiden asked and her face twisted in confusion as she tried to recollect their meeting.
“I honestly don’t remember much of what happened after I ran into…” The woman looked up at him again, holding Kung Lao’s gaze for several seconds before casting her eyes to the floor. “How many days have passed?”
“Six. Your wounds were grievous and for the longest of time we feared you wouldn’t make it. But, luckily you have enough Osh-Tekk blood in you that the sun was able to sustain you. We had only but to bandage you and wait,” Kotal supplied. She gave him a timid smile.
“Then, I suppose that means I owe you all an explanation. My name is Suzeran. I was born in Edenia and lived there until I was somehow transported here two months ago.”
“We found you in Earthrealm, not too far from Beijing. You don’t remember how you arrived in our world?” Raiden asked. She shook her head, hands going instinctively to the yellow stone between her breasts. The portal stone, as Kotal had mentioned, was once used by the Osh-Tekk to open portals between the realms and, at least to Kung Lao’s knowledge had been stolen by Kano and the Black Dragon. The fact that it was even in her possession only added to the validity of her story. Like Liu Kang and himself, she’d been ripped from the past, in her case an alternate time period all together, and found herself wrapped up in the mess Kronika made.
“Everything was fine, then I found myself alone on the outskirts of a city I didn’t recognize. I thought the stone had somehow malfunctioned but I can sense that it hasn’t been activated recently. Other than me trying to use it to get home but…I quickly realized that there is no Edenia here. I could only guess that I’ve somehow been transported through time. That, or I’ve found myself trapped in a horrible dream,” she said, the sadness in her voice echoed back from the other displaced Edenian’s in the room. “I was attacked by a woman, very close to where you found me, but I managed to get away and hide. Until they found me again.”
“Which means my Revenant has an accomplice,” Kung Lao said and she nodded, still avoiding looking at him. “So, which one of them was it? Kitana? Jade?”
“She was a redhead. I would have recognized my mother or the Empress.” Suzeran looked up at the women in question before smiling at Kotal. “I owe you my thanks for your hospitality and for saving me. It must be odd having a daughter suddenly show up in your lives. When I called out for my father I expected an entirely different Kotal. You’re a lot younger in this timeline than my dad is,” she said. Kotal smiled down at her like he’d just been paid the greatest compliment of his lifetime.
“I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one told I had to wait,” he quipped, earning himself a warning look from Jade. “But, you don’t owe us anything. You are our child, regardless of where you came from. What kind of man would I be if I didn’t come to the aid of my own blood?”
“He’s right, you know. Whether you’re from this timeline or a thousand others, at some point I will give birth to you,” Jade smiled, “I may as well get my practice in now.”
“This is possibly the sweetest thing I’ve ever witnessed,” Kitana chimed in. “And born from such a strange, avoidable disaster as well. One which I desperately hope to rectify.” She turned to Liu Kang and Kung Lao. “If our Revenants are committing such evils in our name, in anycapacity, it is up to all of us to put an end to it.”
“It would help if we had some clue as to why they singled her out,” Kung Lao supplied. “Perhaps the portal stone? It’s obviously a commodity. If they can just summon up portals to any part of Earthrealm or Outworld, their invasion would be a snap.”
“Which only leads me to question how they knew about it in the first place and how they managed to target Miss Suzeran during the time merger,” Liu Kang said. Raiden frowned, folding his hands behind his back, his wise stare hardening.
“It’s a possibility that this was Kronika’s backup plan,” he said, exchanging glances with Liu Kang. “She was a titan and, although we exhausted countless scenarios in the many times she’s restarted our timeline, there’s a possibility she knew that I would eventually merge myself with Liu Kang and developed a way to carry out her plan, even if she didn’t live to see it.”
“And that involves the portal stone?” Kung Lao asked, watching the woman in question cradle the pulsating stone in the palm of her hand. “Doesn’t seem like much of a plan to me.”
“Not the stone, but, perhaps its owner,” Raiden said, stroking his chin. “Just how were you able to summon Kotal, Suzeran? I’ve never witnessed such powers of teleportation, not even from a magic adept Edenian.” There was confusion on her face as she looked from Raiden to the others who stared expectantly down at her. Her fingers closed around the stone, dispelling its light, even as her skin began to glow.
“I just called out to him and he came. It wasn’t something I did on my own. I just…really wanted my dad,” she said, her tone changing as sadness returned to her voice. Raiden exchanged a knowing look with Liu Kang and Kotal. She was lying. But, why? What could she possibly be hiding that she thought she had to lie to them?
“If that is the truth then, perhaps I was too rash in thinking that your attack was more sophisticated than it was. It seems that, the portal stone notwithstanding, you were simply caught up in the time merger. I would like some time to truly investigate what happened to you, Suzeran. Maybe it will aid us in eventually getting you home,” Raiden explained and she nodded without looking up at him.
“For now, it is clear that whatever happened with the Revenants caused you to be targeted. Even mistakenly. I believe it will be a good idea to keep an eye on you until we figure everything out,” Kotal said, lifting her chin and giving her the most fatherly look he could muster. It was odd seeing the giant Kahn being gentle with anyone other than Jade. But, it made perfect sense that he would be the doting type.
“I agree. You are safe here, Suzeran. That being said, you just survived a grave ordeal and are in need of rest. We will leave you to recuperate a bit longer,” Raiden said, nodding to the others who dispersed one after the other. Unable to help himself, Kung Lao was one of the last to leave, watching Kotal and Jade bid their daughter goodnight. It was such a sweet, endearing moment that it was hard to remember that they’d only just met. He caught her gaze for the last time as Kotal shut the doors behind himself, the mysterious, ocean deep amber leaving him with chills running up his spine and endless questions dancing on his tongue. Something was off with that girl. And he fully intended to find out what.
*I apologize for the lack of indentation, WordPress is a formatting nazi.
**Fuck Nazis
New Release! #Winterborn is available for preorder!
Powerful and Enchanting, Voodoo Priestess Edna Ersland has spent the majority of her life trapped under the watchful eye of her overprotective Grandfather, and Grand Vampire in his own right, Seth Ersland. But when her childhood friend and first love returns to their quiet coastal town a newly transformed Werewolf, it’s up to Edna to keep him safe from Seth and the brigade of Holy Warriors responsible for hunting his kind to extinction just a decade prior. And, if it wasn’t already hard enough keeping them both alive, an ancient, generational curse emerges, threatening to obliterate her from existence at every turn.
Self-Sacrificing and gentle, Byron Lee-Wallace returns to his hometown of Warwick after his overtly religious and abusive father is murdered by loan sharks, excited to reunite with his long lost love. When he happens upon a woman being mauled to death by a trio of ravenous Werewolves, he is left bloody and clinging to the remnants of his sanity, and his humanity. With mutilated bodies turning up in the streets all over town and his own mania brought about by the full moon, he can only blame himself for the recent carnage. But, when Hunters called in by Seth himself turn their sights on Edna, the monster he fights to suppress has no choice but to come out to play in defense of his Mate.
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Super-Genius Cyberneticist Damien Ahn is in trouble with the CIA. Again. After landing a plane that was hijacked by a team of highly skilled hackers, one would think they’d give him a break for once. But, as he heads to trial for accidentally arming a serial killer with a death machine he designed, things just get progressively worse. With his expert attorney and ex-Russian Mafia bodyguard by his side, he expects things to go off without a hitch, but with an ambitious CIA Agent waiting to double cross him and the FBI shootout of his life, it doesn’t seem like his string of bad luck is ever going to end.
Enigmatic as she is Elusive, Mai Nguyen is a Demi-Goddess who spends her free time casually robbing casinos and dismantling child trafficking rings. The ruthless deity is searching the globe for her sisters who were kidnapped as children in an attempt to right the wrongs of their parents. But when she finds out the man she loves has unwittingly managed to get himself into a life or death situation, again, she is forced to drop everything and return to America to set things straight; you do not fuck with her toys.
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Silent Release! Yakuza: Nine-Tails An Erotic Paranormal Short
World-Renowned Tattoo Artist Tabitha Hawke is retired. An artist trained in the beautiful Irezumi style, she’s spent the better half of her career catering to Gangsters and corrupt Politicians alike. But after a vengeful ex-lover bombs a convention center and almost kills her and hundreds of others, she’s more focused on keeping herself alive than canoodling with the seedy underworld of Japanese organized crime. Hurt and still recovering from her emotional injuries more than anything, she’s hidden herself away in New York’s upper East Side. But with the Yakuza still on her heels for one reason or another, peace is about to get really hard to find.
Alluring and Resolute, Kaito Yamaguchi is the current head of the Yamaguchi-Gumi Crime Syndicate. A dastardly bastard who’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants, he knows just who was responsible for Tabitha’s assassination attempt and is hellbent on making him pay. Unrivaled in power, there are few who will cross the Mob Boss, and fewer still who know his dark secret. A one-thousand year old Fox Demon, he’s a God amongst men, and all he wants in this life is a spiritually-awakened artist who thinks she can outrun him.
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Brokenhearted and easily defeated, Nancy Weyr is fresh out of prison after a ten year stint for the murder of her abusive father. Her life has been hell and, as she leaves detention and enters the Criminal Justice System as a parolee, it’s about to get a helluva lot worse. With a vengeful Parole Officer on her heels and the threat of life in prison looming over her head, running from her problems is all she can do to stay alive. But, just when things can’t possibly go any further downhill, she’s abducted by a Demon and taken deep into the bowls of downtown Seattle.
Angelic and ruthless, Vikar the Decayer rules his Kingdom with an iron fist. A Necromancer serving a Dark God, it is his sole mission in life to cleanse the human world of sinners by sacrificing them back to the void. But when one of his Demonic sentinels returns with a tiny, terrified woman with hair like wildflowers, it’s clear that something in his system is terribly broken. He keeps her. And he heals her. But their newfound love comes at a cost.
With the Elder Wizards plotting mutiny and his empire crumbling before him, it’s up to Nancy to save Vikar from those who want his throne. And his life. Submissive and crestfallen, strength isn’t something she has in abundance. But when it comes to saving the one she loves, there’s nothing she won’t do to keep him safe. Even if it means unleashing a brutal side of herself she hoped to never see again.
Dead Like Me is a standalone AMBW novelette. This is not a novel.
Available Friday the 13th. Preorder your copy today!
Taken by the Dragon God: A Fresh Look into the World of Interracial Romance and Erotica
With everything going on in the world right now, from school shootings to the blatant rejection of social and scientific progress by a particular political party, as a Romance author I believe now more than ever love is something we desperately need to cling to.
I wrote Taken by the Dragon God for a plethora of reasons, the most important being to celebrate cultural differences and explore characters of color in ways we don’t typically get to see them. American media paints both Black women and Asian men in not so positive ways. From negative stereotypes, body-shaming and flat out racism; we need diversity in character types just as much as the characters themselves. Taken challenges racial stereotypes in the most thrilling way, making the characters human first and POC second.
Taken by the Dragon God is the first in the Dragon God series and follows a Nigerian Historian and archaeologist Risa Vance as she and her team travel rural China in search of the remains of an ancient Tang Dynasty princess. When she survives a car crash that is fatal for her colleagues, Risa is left to fend for herself. But, little does she know, a sip from an midnight Well will be her saving grace.
Xiao is capable and strong, but the laws that govern his kind are precise in what they expect from him. He is expected to claim a Mate, a human woman who survives the fire from the Black well, or he will lose his kingdom to his power-hungry sister forever. He may not have all the time in the world to woo his potential Mate, but he is a fearsome lover and protector of anyone he calls his own.
These characters are meant to be more than just fillers to meet some racial quota. They are real. They are whole. They are people who live, learn, love, make mistakes and most importantly remain true to themselves in the face of any adversity. This project is one that is dear to my heart and to my cause as an author of color dedicated to bringing you authenticity, diversity, and most of all love.
I look forward to your feedback!
If you want to check out the first book in the Dragon God series, check it out exclusively on Amazon.
5 SECRET Facts About the Villisca Axe Murders! A Look into the Historical Murders that Inspired Genesis: The Awakening!
On a quiet residential street in this small town sits an old white frame house. On a dark evening, the absence of lights and sounds are the first indication to visitors that this house is different from the other homes that surround it. Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice her doors and windows are tightly closed and covered. An outhouse in the backyard suggests that this house does not occupy a place in the 21st century but somehow belongs in another era or another story. A weather-beaten sign warns rather than welcomes. This is the “Murder House”.
The Villisca axe murders occurred between the evening of June 9, 1912, and early morning of June 10, 1912, in the town of Villisca in southwestern Iowa. The six members of the Moore family and two house guests were found bludgeoned in the Moore residence. All eight victims, including six children, had severe head wounds from an axe. A lengthy investigation yielded several suspects, one of whom was tried twice. The first trial ended in a hung jury and the second in an acquittal. The crime remains unsolved.
If you haven’t gotten your hands on Genesis: The Awakening yet I highly recommend you stop what you’re doing (yes, that includes reading this blog post) and snatch that thing up!
For those of you who have read Genesis, you’ll know that the Villisca Axe Murder house in Villisca Iowa is central to the plot of the story. A murderer is on the loose in the small collegiate town where our heroes Victoria Bouchard and Grim Reaper Kaizer Dresden reside, and if Kaizer doesn’t move quickly to eliminate the threat, the powerful immortals who cursed him to live on earth will be beating down his door looking for answers.
Despite all the interference from Archdemons and nosy siblings, Kaizer and Victoria are eventually led back to the Axe Murder house where a demon has set up camp, using the souls of the damned victims as bait. As they leap through a portal into the nightmarish realm the demon calls home, our genius heroine speculates that perhaps the original axe weilder was really a servant of the devil all along.
If you don’t know much about the axe murders, here are FIVE secret facts that they won’t tell you in history books.
5: Villisca (Wallisca) is a Native American word which means “evil spirit.”
According to “The Dictionary of Iowa Place Names” Villisca got its name from the Sac and Fox Indian word “waliska,” meaning evil spirit. White settlers of the region mistook the name for meaning “Beautiful View” or “Pretty Place”. When they discovered their mistake, they were quick to cover it up. But there’s no doubt the name left a dark stain on the town, mostly due to the brutal murders that followed.
4: The main suspect was a Reverend.
The Rev. Lyn George Jacklin Kelly, the only man tried for the eight Villisca axe murders of 1912 and a preacher with a well-documented reputation for deviant sexual behavior, served as minister at the Carroll Presbyterian Church for nearly a year following the internationally notorious slayings, as southern Iowa officials
focused on other suspects.
To be sure, the nearly century-old still-unsolved southern Iowa murder spree is one of the creepiest, compelling episodes in the history of the state, and the fact that more Iowans, particularly in the western part of the state, don’t know about this case is evidence of a breakdown in the teaching of Iowa history.
3: The murder weapon is on display.
You can view the head of the actual axe used in the murders if you visit the Axe Murder house in Iowa today. You can also book investigations and overnight stays at the house, for a fee…if you’re brave enough.
2: There were neighbors sleeping next door when the Moores and Stillengers were killed.
Mary Peckham, the Moores’ neighbor, became concerned after she noticed that the Moore family had not come out to do their morning chores. Peckham knocked on the Moores’ door. When nobody answered, she tried to open the door and discovered that it was locked. Peckham let the Moores’ chickens out and called Ross Moore, Josiah Moore’s brother. Like Peckham, Moore received no response when he knocked on the door and shouted. He unlocked the front door with his copy of the house key. While Peckham stood on the porch, Moore went into the parlor and opened the guest bedroom door, where he found Ina and Lena Stillinger’s bodies on the bed. Moore immediately told Peckham to call Hank Horton, Villisca’s primary peace officer who arrived shortly thereafter. Horton’s search of the house revealed that the entire Moore family and the two Stillinger girls had been bludgeoned to death. The murder weapon, an axe belonging to Josiah, was found in the guest room where the Stillinger sisters were found.
Mary slept peacefully in her bed the night before. Most historian’s find this often overlooked fact extremely strange. In the quiet early 1900’s, it’d be almost impossible to not hear a single sound when eight people are being brutally murdered.
1: Reverend Kelly confessed to the crimes but was not indicted.
One major reason students of the case today and prosecutors in 1917, including then Attorney General Horace Havner, believed Kelly to be the killer is an obvious one: He confessed to the crimes in a signed statement, saying God called him from the Villisca preacher’s house to commit the murders.
“I was lying in bed at the home of Reverend Ewing on the night of the murders and heard a voice say, `Rise, Peter, slay and eat,’” Kelly told investigators, according to Marshall’s book.
In his confession Kelly also would say: “I thought I was the grandson of God. I am ready to do it again.”
At one point Kelly told his interrogators, according to court documents, that “I killed the children upstairs first and the children downstairs last. I knew God wanted me to do it this way. `Slay utterly’ came to my mind, and I picked up the axe, went into the house and killed them.”
What do YOU think happened all those years ago? Let me know your theories! And don’t forget, you can read my take on the Villisca Axe Murder’s in Genesis: The Awakening!
Sources:
#Winterborn Character Introductions and Fan Casting!
I have a secret to confess. I’ve been working on a project for about six months now, steadily hacking away at it in secrecy. But, no more! I’m ready to share Winterborn with you in all its greatness and imperfection!
Winterborn was a project I started as a way to get back to my Paranormal Romance roots, so to speak. Growing up, I was enamored with Vampires, Werewolves, and Witches, the quintessential staple of Paranormal and fantasy literature. It’s been years since I’ve written about any of them and I thought it was high time that I featured them in my work. Thus, a dinky little five-thousand-word short story was birthed and promptly forgotten about. That is, until I realized the little nagging feeling I felt at the back of my brain wasn’t going to go away until I stared my characters in the face and said: “Okay, the hell do you want from me?”
Enter Winterborn’s main characters, Edna, Byron, and Seth. Old school names for an old school story and a plot rife with elements I haven’t touched for years. This blog post will serve as an introduction to the characters and plotline of a story that is not yet completed but is quickly cementing itself as one of my favorite books not yet written.
Main Characters:
Edna Deveaux Ersland:
The great granddaughter of Evelyn Deveaux, a Haitian Mambo (Voodoo
priestess) who brought black magic to the French Creole after migrating from Haiti in the midst of the Haitian-French Revolution and slave uprising started by Toussaint Louverture. She is the subject of a “Final Destination” style generational curse that’s actively trying to kill her. Head over heels for Byron Lee since they were kids, she’s dedicated to keeping the newly transformed wolf out of trouble, even when he’s more of a danger to himself than anyone else. Edna, although an adult at twenty-three, is a classic teenager dying to escape from a controlling parent. Having no real concept of time and being an Ancient, Seth quite literally treats her like a child, which is almost entirely to blame for her rebellion and her constant need to test the boundaries of their parent-child relationship. Part of her wants to see how far she can push the Vampire, the rest of her enjoys the danger it brings because she knows without a doubt that he would A, never hurt her, and B, he’ll always be there to have her back.
In a Nutshell: Edna is an extraordinarily powerful young woman in love with a man both her controlling father-figure and the world want dead. Having the power to keep him alive isn’t the issue, it’s fighting off her own demons that will determine their survival.
Byron Lee Wallace:
Byron is the literal boy next door. He grew up in Warwick Rhode Island beside the Ersland Manor and moved back recently after his alcoholic father was murdered by Ioan Sharks. This move comes years after the drunken brute beat
his sickly mother to death. Because of his hard, strictly religious, upbringing, Byron has always longed for a normal life (white picket fence, the whole nine yards), a prospect that was stolen from him permanently when he was attacked, bitten, and subsequently transformed into a Lycan. He was found one night by his childhood friend and crush Edna, clinging to the shreds of his humanity after accidentally mauling a young woman to death, and she’s been taking care of him ever since. He openly returns the witch’s feelings but, after several mishaps where he’s accidentally scratched and even bitten her, he tries to keep his distance. Much to her dismay. Byron lives in a perpetual whirlwind of guilt, self-pity, and self-deprecation because he blames himself not only for the woman he killed the night of his transformation but for the murders and missing persons cropping up all over town. He still has a very human mindset and has not yet completely transitioned into the realm of the supernatural. Where death, missing persons, and magic are an everyday occurrence for everyone else, he still sees things through the eyes (and morals) of a mortal. He’s a welpling, a literal puppy who’s still in the midst of learning to control his transformations and will be forced to grow up very, very soon.
In a Nutshell: Byron takes being a good person to an entirely new level, but he’s soon to realize that being a good guy and staying alive doesn’t always fall in line. Watch him grow into a formidable force as he realizes that protecting his mate means more to him than his father’s religon ever could.
Seth Ersland:
Seth is a very old Vampire. So old that his personal history is lost to antiquity. (Okay, let’s cut the crap, Seth is Dracula. Literally, the OG Vampire himself. But that’s just between you and me.) Rumor has it, he met Evelyn during the French Revolution and aided her escape to the American South. No one really knows the relationship they shared, but Seth took it upon himself to watch her cursed
family after her unfortunate passing. Some suspect that the two were lovers and her dealings in black magic allowed her to give birth to Seth’s children, thus creating the curse that has now all but wiped them out. The master Vampire has lovingly admitted to having been reduced to a “Housewife with fangs” and it is noted by Lenora Bulwer (a Huntress and agent of the Vatican) that bringing him out of “retirement” would be extremely bad for anyone who crossed his path. Lenora hints at his power and at the fact that he was born Vlad Dracul, the former ruler of Wallachia in what is now modern day Romania. Why he abandoned his life after his suspected death in 1476 is up for debate and is purely speculation. After Edna returns home covered in unexplained cuts and bruises he discovers her illicit relationship with Byron and contracts Lenora into hunting and killing the wolf. He is extremely protective over the last of Evelyn’s brood (and possibly the last of his living bloodline) and will stop at nothing to keep Edna alive. He also could or could not be responsible for all the disappearances in Rhode Island and has a fondness for burning beautiful houses to the ground.
In a Nutshell: Seth is daddy, by all meanings of the word, and someone you’ll want to keep your eye on. He loves his child, takes care of all who are indentured to him, and rains merciless hell on anyone who even thinks to abuse those he loves.
Stay tuned for more about Winterborn, including more character introductions, the Antagonists, Supporting Cast, and MUCH much more!
Until then, check out the official Pinterest Board for Winterborn! https://www.pinterest.com/KyunnieHuang/winterborn/
Winterborn Fan Casting List:
Seth Ersland: Valery Kovtun
Edna Deveaux: Amandla Stenberg
Byron Lee Wallace: Joo Hyuk Nam
Lenora Bulwer: Bryce Dallas Howard
Finn Larsen: Linus Wordemann
Nick Brawler: Froy Gutierrez
Horace Watt: Buster Keaton
George Cunningham: Adam Beach
Evelyn Deveaux: Theresa Theresa
Genesis: The Awakening An Epic Paranormal Fantasy Adventure Romance – PRE-ORDER 10/31/16
Cursed with enhanced mental abilities and consistently degrading eyesight, VICTORIA BOUCHARD is a walking medical phenomenon most talented neuroscientists could never hope to unravel. As she struggles to cope with the news of her impending blindness, she learns of a deranged serial killer deemed by the FBI as the ‘Ghoul Butcher’ who’s rapidly making his way towards her humble University in the heart of Rural Iowa.
With police on a manhunt and the locals in a frenzy, her visual health is suddenly the least of her worries. On the other hand, her lover and best friend KAIZER DRESDEN is determined to keep his distance from the case as it unfolds.
As a Grim Reaper, stripped of his powers and exiled from his home world to serve out a three hundred year sentence on Earth; he knows he would be the prime suspect in the eyes of the immortals who banished him. But with the seemingly unstoppable Ghoul cutting a swath right for them, he and Victoria have no choice but to take matters into their own hands and investigate the murders in order to protect his new found home.
Genesis: The Awakening is a fantasy epic, over four hundred pages of action, romance, and a kickass heroine who flourishes in the face of adversity. Diverse and multicultural, Genesis breaks stereotypes and casts a unique light on the fantasy genre.
What advanced readers are saying:
“…one of the best I’ve ever read. Couldn’t put it down.”–Lindsay S.
“…a story that will stay with you a long time. The characters have purpose and by the time you get into the thick of it, you have a purpose too. You have to see the battle to the end.”–Jerrica A.
“…a terrifyingly immersive experience. I have never screamed at a book like characters in a movie before.”–Brook J.
“…there’s finally a heroine that looks like me and the entire story isn’t just a written kung-fu flick.”–Soo Young K.
Coming this Christmas season to all major platforms AND print!
Fiction for the Masses 