TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE HEART

The mystery of the great Stonehenge has always fascinated me. I couldn’t resist writing a story tied to that obscure collection of monoliths. Who could have built it? What could have been its purpose? And what if the descendants of those magical beings were still here? Be looking for the story of Kieran MacAlpin and Essie Ipswich in the near future from TEASE. Here’s how it all begins…

Kieran stumbled as he ran, barely keeping to his feet. He could no longer hear hoof beats over the pounding of his heart. But he knew they were still out there, searching for him. And when they found him…well, he was certain he’d never again see his beloved highlands. Clasping a hand to his side he tried in vain to ease the pain. Long known for his abilities on the field of athletics, even he could only run so long. Glancing skyward he judged the time to be nearly noon. He’d been afoot since well before sunrise, the English devils hot on his heels the entire time. Bursting suddenly from the trees, Kieran stopped in awe. Just ahead, standing proudly in the middle of a field, was a massive stone henge. Having played among the giant stones near his home in Scotland, he had never seen one so large or carefully placed. If he had to die in bloody England at least he could die among something familiar. Jogging ahead, Kieran reached into his rucksack and drew out the length of tartan plaid within. By God, Kieran MacAlpin would go down as a Scotsman.

Upon reaching the huge alter in the midst of the massive stones, Kieran drew off his pipes and sack, and wrapped the cloth about his middle and over one shoulder. Pulling in a couple of deep breaths he filled the bladder on his bagpipes and snuggled it under his arm. Lifting the mouthpiece to his lips he squeezed the bladder and as the drone reverberated across the field, he began to play the war march of the MacAlpins. Like most accomplished pipers, one tune wasn’t enough and he segued into another.

As the first notes of the piobaireachd sounded a large black speck moved in front of the sun. Marching up and down as he played, Kieran was at first unmindful of the anomaly, but as the darkness slid further over the sun, he chanced to look up expecting to see a gathering storm. Instead he watched in awe as the blackness began to swallow the sun. Stars appeared in the early afternoon sky, twinkling as though it was midnight. Unable to determine if the event was a portent of God’s favor or his wrath, Kieran kept playing, for surely even God must love the beauty of the pipes in the hands of a master piper.

Wrapped up in his music, Kieran was oblivious to the armed men who galloped up from the south. Galloped up and were halted by the amazing sight before them. Cloaked in darkness they watched, fighting to keep their horses in check, as a brilliant blue light exploded from the alter stone, encompassing the lunatic who paced back and forth producing the god-awful screech that had their mounts spooked. As quickly as the light flashed it was gone, taking the noise and its perpetrator. Squinting against the abuse to their eyes the men fell from their mounts, prostrating themselves and praying. The Scott was gone and with him the darkness, for the cover that had draped the sun’s light was slowly retreating. Many stories would be told about the day they witnessed the heathen Scott’s disappearance and how Lucifer himself had come to welcome home one of his own.

Vampires are real…but they aren’t the creatures of Stoker’s imagination. They’re a race of alien parasites known as the Fala who are out to take over the Earth, feeding on humans until there are no more. Thank God for the Interceptors, bred to seek out and eliminate Fala infestations. But hey, would you believe that crap if you were confronted with it? Sami Alexander doesn’t either, but she wouldn’t mind a little Close Encounter with Croghan, the Interceptor who stumbles into her campsite.

Sami awoke with a start. Her heart was pounding so hard she couldn’t decide whether it was a dream or real footsteps that had awakened her. Gunshots pretty much answered that one for her. Scrunching up in the sleeping bag she pulled the end up over her head and closed her eyes. Why she bothered she had no idea. She couldn’t see so much as a speck in the pitch-black interior of the tent. God had a really weird sense of humor. When she’d prayed for someone to find her, she hadn’t meant a gun toting someone. She’d sort of had in mind a hunky forest ranger. Her eyes snapped open. Maybe it was her hunky forest ranger. Maybe he was arresting someone hunting out of season, or an escaped convict. Damn. She wished she hadn’t thought of that. She pulled her knees closer to her chest.

A long time after the last gunshot Samantha eased her cramped body into a more comfortable position. She wondered if she should peek out of the tent. No. That’s what all the stupid people who died in horror movies did. She’d just stay where she was till morning, thank you very much. Everyone knew you were safe if you made it till morning.

Rustling leaves had the hair rising up on her arms. Sami strained to hear. Had the wind picked up enough to blow the leaves around? She didn’t hear the tapping of the branches, so it was probably an animal, maybe a raccoon, or opossum, or even a fox. Did they have fox in Pennsylvania? She sat up, clutching the edge of the sleeping bag to her chin trying to mute the loud pounding of her heart. How freaking long had she been trapped in the tent anyway? Why oh why hadn’t she bought the cheap watch with the luminous dial instead of the fancy one? What good was a watch you couldn’t see?

Concentrating to regulate her breathing, Sami finally brought her adrenalin level down to semi normal. The campsite seemed quiet again. She allowed her muscles to relax. Then the rustling started again. This time she could detect a pattern. The noise swept parallel to the front of the tent from right to left then back again. Barely discernable was the measured tread of a heavy animal. She wished she’d paid more attention to the TV show that interviewed people who’d survived maulings. Did you roll up and play dead or run like hell? Moot point. She couldn’t get out of the zipped up tent to run anyway. “Lord Jesus, get me out of this place,” she whispered.

A sudden flare of light was the straw that broke the camel’s back. Samantha started screaming. The more she screamed the more hysteria gripped her. Flailing her arms and legs she fought for freedom, kicking at the cloth that gripped her. Her hiking boots had thick soles that attached themselves to the plaid flannel lining. The more she kicked the more embroiled she became. With a mighty effort she lurched against the restraining cloth, propelling herself into the side of the tent bringing the whole thing down on top of her. Terrified she screamed some more.

When strong hands reached in to untangle her, pulling her free from the ghastly entrapment, Samantha propelled herself against a rock hard chest and sobbed uncontrollably. “Thank God you finally got here. I was so terrified. That creep James just left me here and I don’t know anything about Pennsylvania woods. And I don’t know where I am, and I couldn’t find any firewood, and I peed on my flashlight, so then it was pitch dark. Then those gunshots creeped me out. I was afraid you’d been the one killed, and then what would I do? I mean here I am in the middle of nowhere with no cell reception and no car and I don’t even have any matches, even if I could find any firewood…”

As she was urged away from the shirt she had a death grip on, a calloused hand clamped over her mouth. “Woman, who do you think I am?”

Sami’s eyes went round with shock. Holding her at arms length was the most beautiful hunk of mankind she’d ever seen. Tall and broad shouldered, his face was chiseled to perfect masculine perfection. High cheekbones, strong jaw and full lips were enticing, but the crystalline green eyes were the feature that mesmerized. She’d never seen such beautiful eyes, framed by long dark lashes and slashing brows. Her tingling breasts could testify to the sculptured abs. Dressed in some kind of hokey costume, he looked like a lost reveler from a Halloween party. “You aren’t a Forest Ranger, are you?”

“What is a Forest Ranger?” Wouldn’t you know it? The deep voice completed the hatchet job he was doing on her hormones.

“Guess that’s a no.” Looking around, Sami realized she could see plain as day, yet the fire wasn’t lit. “How’d you do that?” Glancing up she answered her own question. Hovering about ten feet off the ground was a light. Not attached to anything, just a light. Her jaw dropped.

“You will explain your presence here.”

Frowning, Sami replied, “Weren’t you listening? James the jerk left me here.” What kind of accent did he have? Australian? Scottish? She loved accents.

“This is a very dangerous place to be,” he continued.

“No shit.” Stepping closer she fingered the material of his short cape. “Are you in a play or something?”

“I am not playing. This is a very real situation.”

“You know, I could understand if you wore something from the new Battlestar Galactica, but that dumb looking costume is like something from the old version. My mom used to watch those reruns all the time.” Winking she asked, “You aren’t Apollo, are you?”

“I am Croghan, in command of the third squadron.” He snapped his heels together.

MAGE OF THE MIST

Life was different back in the Nineteen Sixties. Things were simpler…or were they? This is the story of Cora Burlington, her friends, and her lover, all of whom just happen to be members of an almost extinct race. Coming of age means coming into their powers. Will Cora be able to control her powers in time to stop an evil that threatens the course of history? Look for MAGE OF THE MIST soon from Tease Publishing LLC, part of the Tarot series.

“Really, Cora, I can’t believe you would actually go out on a date with him.” Mildred fanned her face with her hand.

“Don’t you feel intimidated?” Helen asked.

“No. Richard”—mentally she complimented herself on her use of his given name—“is very easy to talk to.”

Hands jammed into his front pockets, Joe hunched his shoulders. “I tell you, something’s off with that guy. He gives me the creeps.”

Helen frowned. Joe had a talent for detecting a person’s true nature. “Maybe you should listen to Joe.”

Waving away the warning, Cora continued. “He was nothing but a gentleman. And didn’t you just love how cute he was with Pixie? She has him totally wrapped.”

“Didn’t look that way to me,” Joe groused.

Linking her arm through his, Helen leaned close. “Don’t pout. Just because he’s a successful college professor and drop-dead gorgeous to boot, you don’t have to be intimidated. I still think you’re cuter. Besides, Cora can handle him. She has powers he doesn’t even know exist.”

Snapping his fingers, Joe straightened. “That’s it. That’s what was wrong with him.”

Stopping on the sidewalk ahead of him, Cora turned to face the entwined couple. Arms akimbo she blurted, “Joe will you stop it already? My mind’s made up. I am going to dinner with him this weekend and nothing you can say will stop me.”

“Not even if I told you he was suppressing Mage powers?”

“Impossible. I’d know if he was.” She looked to her girl friends for confirmation.

Mildred shrugged. “Usually.”

“She always has before,” Helen looked over at Joe.

Pulling himself free from Helen’s grip, Joe squared his shoulders and drew himself up to his full five feet eleven inches of height. “You do what you want,” he said, “but I’m telling you that guy is hiding something. Something more than an unhealthy interest in a girl young enough to be his daughter.”

“Bullshit.” Cora laughed. “He’s not that old.”

“How old do you thing he is,” Mildred asked.

“Maybe thirty-eight?”

“See?” Joe pounced on that. “He could be your father.”

“Come on, Joe. He would only have been eighteen when I was born if he’s thirty-eight now.”

Joe just raised his brows and looked from girl to girl.

“Ooh.” Helen’s fingers pressed against her lips. “He’s right. Remember Susan Adams and that Futrell boy? They were only seventeen when Susie got preggo and her mom whisked her away to her aunt’s in Florida.”

“True. But Richard’s not that kind. If he were, he wouldn’t be a college professor now. I’m sure they screen for that sort of thing before they hire faculty.”

Joe harrumphed.

“What?”

“If he had such a sterling character, he wouldn’t be lusting after you now, would he?” With that zinger, Joe turned and lumbered up to his front door without a backward glance.

“Well, he was certainly a wet blanket today.” At Mildred’s comment, the other two giggled. “Let’s go to my house and console ourselves with some ice cream.”

“Done.”

Forgetting all about their feigned maturity, they hiked up their skirts and bolted for the three-story brick house next door. Sliding around the corner of the hallway into the kitchen, they were brought up short by the voice drifting down from upstairs, “Don’t fill up on ice cream. Dinner is almost ready.”

“We’re not kids, mom,” Mildred yelled back.

“Could have fooled me.”

Shrugging, she turned to her friends. “I have a new album.”

“What’d you get?” They headed for the back stairs.

“Meet the Beatles.”

Cora squealed. “You’re kidding. I’ve been dying to hear that.”

“Me, too.” Helen’s longer legs carried her past the others as she raced up the steps two at a time and careened into the purple and white bedroom, heading for the hi-fi. Grasping the cardboard cover she pressed it against her breast. “Isn’t Paul just the dreamiest thing you’ve ever seen?”

The other two laughed. “Funny,” Cora observed, “He doesn’t look a thing like Joe.”

Helen raised her nose into the air. “Joe is for reality. Paul is for fantasy.”

“That is exactly why I plan to keep my date with Richard. I plan on having both.” Cora draped herself dramatically across Mildred’s paisley comforter.

Mildred stuck her finger into her open mouth.

“No kidding.” Helen rolled her eyes. “She’s about to make me puke, too.”

“Play the record, already, and stop harassing me.” Elbows on the bed, Cora propped her chin on her fists.

A few minutes later the three of them were dancing barefoot across the hardwood floor, shaking their heads and chiming in with, “Ooooh, when I saw her standing there.”