Excerpt from Chapter 1 of Hunter's Mark, a book by Melissa Snark
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Young Adult (18-35)Accents
North American (General) North American (US General American - GenAM)Transcript
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Welcome. You are listening to hunter's Mark. Written by Melissa snark. A star crossed book. Part of the star crossed series. Set in the lucchese wolves universe. As narrated by Leyla Harding. The book is published by Nordic Lights Press. Copyright 2016 by Melissa Snark. All rights reserved. This is a work of fiction. Names, persons, places and incidents are all used fictitious lee and are the product of the imagination of the author. Any resemblance to persons living or dead events or locales is coincidental and unintentional unless otherwise specifically noted. Chapter one A scream tore across the hall before victoria's storm turned around the pounding of footsteps and the crash of a medical gurney joined the cacophony behind her. Clear the way coming through a male medic, one of her coworkers shouted the warning victoria turned sideways and pressed her back to the wall to make way for the gurney rushing toward her. A medical team from the er clutched the railed sides, propelling and directing its motion. It conveyed a middle aged man in a white t shirt spattered with red and orange blood and pumpkin fresh gauze swab! His left hand and one of the nurses mentioned re plantation. She shook her head. A shame that counted as the 15th severe pumpkin carving accident since her 12 hour shift had started in a couple of hours. Once it started to get dark trick or treaters who'd been mowed down by inattentive motorists would pour in alongside various gravity and costume related mishaps. Oh and she must not forget the odd allergic reaction while she didn't know the statistics right off hand, she would have bet good money that Halloween qualified as America's most dangerous holiday instinct urged her to attach herself to the team, but she quelled it despite conscious choice. Her fingers twitched, rationality versus reflex. However, her natural inclination is both a registered nurse and a healer ran counter to practical concerns, technically her shift was over even though she still needed to punch out. Plus she had personal obligations that evening. Ultimately practicality won out. The gurney team swept past and their voices were lost to the overall din of the busy hospital victoria turned and tracked their progress. The scent of fresh blood and fear lingered and her stomach emitted a mild complaint, reminding her that she had skipped lunch. The sense and sites of the emergency room didn't bother her. She couldn't, wouldn't let it get to her. As a wolf shifter, she developed an iron stomach and strict self control hunger in reaction to a patient's injuries meant she'd made the right call the second, her wolf started regarding people as a potential meal. It was time to log out and head home, Hurrying her steps, she reached the staff room and punched out at 4:06 PM. She recovered her belongings from her locker, grabbed a quick shower and changed into a short sleeve top and low rise jeans, then slipped her feet into a pair of flip flops, pulling out a handful of hair pins, she freed a single fat braid that bound her platinum blond hair. It hung to her waist. She stuffed her belongings into her bag and ducked out of the staff room. Just as a couple of her coworkers were entering. They exchanged pleasantries in passing, but victoria deliberately avoided engaging in a conversation that would further delay her departure in just a few hours, the whole area would be inundated with restless spirits and things darker still. The sunset heralded the onset of the night of the year, when the veil was at its thinnest and the world of the dead intersected with that of the living. When it happened. Sites of frequent violence, injury, and death, such as old battlefields, hospitals and cemeteries were the worst places for a spiritualist to be. Victoria had gotten stuck in the er once on All Hallows Eve and she had sworn, never again, tilting back her head. Victoria offered a quick prayer of gratitude. Thank you Goddess! I don't have to work tonight, phrase, lilting laughter filled her mind. I can hardly take credit for your work schedule. My priestess heads up behind you, Victoria executed a neat 1 80 turning on the ball of her foot and came face to face with a blonde woman. She wore a skirt suit, but her body blurred into a ghostly Worrell at the knees. Her face bore evidence of a severe trauma, massive bruises and broken bones. Excuse me! The spirit reached for victoria with a shaking hand. Can you help me please? I can't find my Children. I'm sorry. Who are your Children? Victoria stepped back, evading the spirits icy grasp, her gaze straight to the glowing white light that followed in the woman's wake. The portal meandered swaying like a bobbing ship to victoria's experienced assessment. The gateway looked frustrated, which definitely matched her current mood. The dead woman couldn't, or wouldn't cross over until she attended to her unsettled business. Their names are Evan and gail Sanders. Tears flooded the ghost eyes, and her mouth quivered. Are they lost? Victoria asked in a gentle voice, struggling not to worry about the unplanned delay. She'd only had another 500 ft to go before she made it out the door naturally the distraught dead woman had latched onto the only medium in the entire er I don't know. Maybe. I don't know where they are, and no one will help me. Don't cry. I'll help you, convenient or not. She would commit to the endeavor, even though she had no obligations to do so, Victoria cast a quick glance about to make sure she wasn't being watched. The last thing she needed was a coworker, observing while she interacted with someone who wasn't there. She already had the unfortunate reputation for being eccentric. She hated adding to it. Once victoria determined the coast was clear. She addressed the spirit. Miss Sanders. Burke. I'm divorced? Burke, victoria grimaced. Come with me and I'll check the intake records. Were you with your Children when you got? She hesitated, policing her words. In all likelihood, Miss Burke was unaware she died. An unexpected revelation could startle the Spirit into destabilizing. If that happened, she'd vanish for a while anyway. But eventually inevitably the spirit would reappear repeating the same behaviors until her presence in the E. R. Became a matter of habit. The last thing victoria needed at work was yet another recurrent haunting. We were in a car crash I think. MS Burke frowned, static, disrupted her form, a sign of distress. I'm so sorry. Can you please tell me more about your Children? Victoria asked, in an attempt to distract the spirit. She located an unused computer terminal and logged in using her employee identification and password. You have a boy and a girl? Yes, Evan is eight. Gail is six. We were on our way over to a friend's house to trick or treat. The Children were arguing in the backseat. I only turned my head away from the road for a second. The woman crackled and turned transparent. Stay with me, Victoria's fingers flew across the keyboard. She entered the boy's name and hit enter and then waited while the sluggish database processed the request the maddening blinking cursor. She clenched her hands against the urge to seize the monitor and throw it if the terminal crapped out and returned a fault code. She swore. The screen blipped and the computer returned results for the search, Victoria released a held breath in a sigh of relief. Here it is. Your son has been admitted to the phoenix Children's hospital with minor injuries. Oh, thank God. And my daughter, Miss Burke clasped her hands together. In thinks her appearance became solid again. Gail is at phoenix Children's with him. Thank you. God, tear streaked the mother's face. Was anyone else in the vehicle with you, victoria asked, stealing an anxious glance at the clock on the wall. 4 33 PM. Already. The sun would set at 5 37 PM and it would take her at least 20 minutes in phoenix's rush hour traffic to reach her parents. House time was running out. Miss Burke shook her head. No, we were alone. My husband Bill is still at work. He was going to join us Later, victoria logged off the computer. Good. He'll be contacted by the authorities now, let's get you where you need to go to my Children. Eventually, victoria fibbed probably sooner or later. Now turn around, see that white light behind you? Yes, but I dont clenching her teeth, victoria reached out and pressed both hands flat against the middle of the ghosts Back. I shot through her palms and fingers, but she ignored the sensation and shoved with all her strength. A dubious bonus of being a spirit seer speaker included being able to touch them as well, though it was never pleasant. A startled yelp. Tour from the ghost. She tumbled, falling straight into the neglected gateway that had been trailing her this whole time. The glowing globe and the ghost collided. Brightness strobe. Both vanished. Victoria haft in her mind, Frey giggled. That wasn't nice. Maybe not, but it got the job done. Victoria resumed her journey toward the entrance. Wariness rode her shoulders, so she walked with her head bowed, although she had prayed her natural stamina. The 60 hour weeks she'd just put in had taken its toll. She couldn't wait to get home. The winter night ceremony would be exacting, but after they killed the goats there would be feasting mead and wine, song and dance quite probably once everyone was sufficiently in their cups. A howl. Oh and most importantly she had the next three days off. She planned to do absolutely nothing but relax. As she approached the nurse's station adjacent to the er lobby. The voices of her female coworkers caught victoria's attention. She looked up and orderly crystals. Something or other stood while an RN misty greer sat. That belt buckle is just too perfect. Oh my God, he looks like a porn star with that thing on. Crystal misty hissed, shooting victoria's a decided look how big do you think his package is. Crystal cracked, bubblegum at a frenetic pace with her mouth wide open Victoria's slaughter steps but didn't stop, vague disgust circled her. What was this high school. They were all in their 20s. Panic on her face misty waved a frantic hand to stop undeterred. Crystal continued to gossip and shoe dressed like that. He's either huge or compensating in a big, big way for a teeny tiny misty grinned and all but shouted, Oh hey victoria, are you just getting off crystal gold and then choked on her gum? Yes, Victoria paused at last her gaze shifted between the two women. She didn't know. I didn't want to know I have the next three days off. Lucky you. Thanks. Victoria smiled. She wasn't lucky. The time off came as a result of careful planning and budgeting her paid vacation days. Her request for these dates had been on her boss's desk in writing since last december when the schedule for the coming year open for requests without turning her head misty whacked her friend on the back. The piece of gum popped out of crystals mouth and she doubled forward, gasping for air boy, am I jealous? I'm scheduled to work for the next four days. Don't work too hard. I won't you have fun with your boyfriend. I don't have a boyfriend. Not at the moment. Anyway, then you've got the hottest stalker I've ever laid eyes on misty grinned and named her finger towards the lobby currently hidden behind the partition. She mouthed, he's waiting for you brow raised victoria turned and moved in the direction indicated. As soon as she passed the partition, she got a clear view of the er lobby. A dozen or so patients waited to be seen, including a couple superheroes and a man wearing a banana costume. Her gaze flew straight past them. A dangerous man occupied an entire row of three vinyl seats. He sat in the center chair and man spread his arms draped across seat backs to either side, legs splayed wide. He had dark brown hair cut short and a clean shaven jaw and warm eyes the color of fresh baked brownies. His smile was as inviting as a sandy white beach victoria huffed. She wasn't fooled not for one beat of her racing heart. The man was a predator, a hunter from a family with a reputation for short lived enemies, wolf shifters and hunters. Natural enemies except for an unlikely alliance forged by two exceptional men, one of whom was victoria's father, a dare Storm the other jake Barrett, the hunter king for almost three decades. The Storm packet coexisted peacefully with the hunters. They had shared the phoenix metropolitan area. They often coordinated their activities and pooled resources for the sake of defending their overlapping territories. The rest of the time they left each other alone. Daniel Barrett pushed to his feet, planting his short black work boots evenly on the chip to white subway tile. He had the tattoo of a black dagger on his upper arm among the hunters. The simple functioned as a mark of belonging and brotherhood aviator sunglasses were hooked on the throat of his shirt. He wore gloves tight levi's that jealously hugged his long legs and a revolver strapped to his thigh right beside the shiny Maricopa County Sheriff shield on his belt, which was dwarfed crystal, had an exaggerated its size by a big brass Winchester repeating arms belt buckle. The hunters intense gaze settled on her and he flashed a bad boy smile that curled her toes. The temperature in the lobby spiked at least 20°, a sure sign. The AC had gone out. Oh man! If she could follow his charm and brew a potion, she'd never have to work again. Victoria crushed her answering smile, sinking her teeth into her lower lip. She refused to encourage him. Their one and only date had gone well, but it had been over a week in that time. She hadn't heard from him again. The silence confirmed her misgivings, and she assumed he had arrived at the same conclusion. She had wolves and hunters didn't mix squaring her shoulders. Victoria marched straight up to him. Trouble was her diminutive stature undermined the effect balanced on her tippy toes. She barely reached five ft. The top of her head only came to the middle of the hunters torso, and he looked down on her as a matter of course, throughout her life she had endured enough teasing about her height that she developed a teensy tiny attitude. Problem, I need your help, daniel announced without preamble. He had a deep resonant baritone, pleasing to the ear. It's urgent, urgent? How? She cocked her head and tilted toward him out of sharpened concern. The movement brought her braid over her shoulder. She tensed, mentally, preparing to receive a request for off the record medical assistance. Monster hunting was a dangerous occupation, unusual injuries, a commonplace hazard. It's Mackin, Mac and Goffin. Is that old coot hurt again? Old Mac guff in. Might be a scoundrel, but damn it, she liked the kg Scotsman. The hunter landed in the er at least once a month, always due to drinking related accidents, compelled by concern. She turned away, saying, let me grab a first aid kit. Daniel caught her arm and stopped her. He's missing. Oh, she faced him again. No less concerned, but for different reasons. Now, the context told her something supernatural must be involved or he would have just gone through official channels as a county sheriff. Daniel had statewide law enforcement resources at his disposal. After a moment of consideration, she pulled him into an alcove where they could speak privately intent. Daniel explained in a love voice. Mackin has been over in Granite Creek for a couple of days. Now, the last time I spoke with him was yesterday. He was supposed to check in at noon, but I didn't hear from him. Uh she cleared her throat not to be rude, but have you called the local bars? I mean, four hours isn't that long. Daniel flashed a sheepish smile. Yes, I did. Didn't find him, which didn't mean Mackin wasn't there. The man did have one **** of a reputation. He's not in a bar victoria. I'll admit Mackin likes to drink. But the man is also a competent hunter. He promised me he'd be in touch. No later than two. I tried calling his hotel to. They said he had left around 10 this morning and never returned. Hunter gone missing in Granite Creek. Isn't an isolated incident either. I have a bad feeling about this. You should trust your instincts. And so should she? The smart choice dictated. She put her faith in Daniel's judgment, although they were only acquaintances who dated once. They had hunted together on several occasions. She knew enough about his character to elevate a matter of concern to him to her highest priority. His reputation, much like his father's preceded him. Daniel stared at her, his face twisted as though he wanted to frown, but then he pulled a bashful smile. Thanks warmth. Suffused her. You're welcome. So, do you want to tell me about the other incidents? I presume that means other hunters have gone. M. I. A Mackin is the third hunter in the last 100 years to Vanish in Granite Creek, Daniel said, deadly serious, The unexpected information through her for a loop. Strange. If hunters were going missing anywhere in Arizona, she would have expected to have heard about it before now. But then he decided a century. three hunters is a lot, but a century is a long time. It's a dangerous profession. They all went missing on Halloween.