Bounty

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Standalone Titles

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This is always the easy part; the acknowledgements are one of my favorites to write. Why, you may ask? Well, because I get to give props to everyone who helped me get to this point. So much goes into putting a book together. Not just the writing of it, but the behind the scenes—all the moving parts that are never seen. Well, here is where I get to tell you about those moving parts while I thank them.

So, I’d like to thank my beta readers. As always you have done an amazing job and I appreciate all the effort and care you take when going over my words.

To my gloriously patient and talented cover artists at Streetlight Graphics, I will forever be in your debt for the incredible work you do.

Last, but absolutely not least, to my editor, Mia Kleve, without you my words wouldn’t truly soar. My homonyms would be out of control, and my commas would be forever lost.

PART ONE

CHAPTER ONE

Rion glanced over his shoulder at his home one last time before crossing-over, through the portal and into the Hereafter. The hair on his arms and the back of his neck stood on end from the static caused by the two dimensions merging.

He pushed his way through Olympia’s portal. He could feel the warmth of the solid ground on the other side through the thin soles of his shoes. The Hereafter was a void absent of all life and sound; the space between worlds. He took a ragged breath. The air was so thin there may as well be none.

He spied the glow of Earth’s portal in the distance. He’d never used that particular portal before. Over the centuries Rion had traveled to Earth at least a hundred times, usually chasing the undesirables from his world, but sometimes from other worlds. The criminals would use the Hereafter to cross-over, attempt to escape to other places. It was Rion’s job to bring them home to face justice.

Only this time, Rion was the one on the run.

His circumstance was different. He was no criminal. But his only hope for survival was to seek refuge on another planet. Many of his kind in similar situations fled to Earth, it was the closest thing to a safe haven as they could find.

The Earth portal was approximately twenty minutes away. Rion would need to move quickly to reach it. The Hereafter’s air supply was minimal, and his changing physiology made it difficult to breathe. Gods could survive days in the Hereafter, humans mere minutes. Even though he was more god than human, his survival would still be difficult. He tried to pick up his pace and jog, but the dim light and the uneven surface made it challenging. Rion coughed several times. It felt as if his lungs were collapsing in on themselves from the lack of oxygen. He had to get out, and quickly.

The black surface was like volcanic rock and was cracked as if all water had dried up many millennia ago. But he often wondered if the Hereafter had once been a luscious and beautiful place, full of life. Tiny particles floated in the air around him, only visible if caught at the right angle against the warm glow of the many thousands of portals.

The Hereafter made him uncomfortable. The darkness seemed to enclose on him, and the lack of sound seemed to scream in his ears, like air rushing through a tight tunnel.

As he approached the portal the hair on his arms and the back of his neck again stood on end. The sound of rushing water filled his ears; all of Earth’s portals were submerged. It was going to be a difficult transfer. Kilometers of ocean separated Rion from freedom.

Before crossing-over from the Hereafter to Earth he struggled to take a final breath. His chest tightened and the thin air rattled through his lungs as he heaved in a breath. It had been months of planning, careful meticulous planning. He was directed to take this portal; it was the closest of all Earth’s portals. With his physical changes he would never survive the trek to any of the others.

Rion pushed through the portal. Immediately, the cold of the water began to seep through his bodysuit. It was made of organic material meant specifically for travelling to Earth. They had a series of sensors to help regulate the user’s body temperature in the frigid waters. The organic component also helped to make the suit more buoyant which would help him reach the surface faster. Rion suspected since his physiology is changing the suit wasn’t able to protect him properly.

The water was heavy and dark, he was certain he knew where he needed to go. He struggled, kicking his legs frantically to reach the surface before his lungs finally reached a point where they force him to take a gulp of air. Only it would be a mouth full of Earth’s salty ocean water.

His mind raced and drifted to when he had still been fully a god; when this short distance would have been a mere inconvenience. Now his ability to remain underwater had deteriorated. He knew the changes would only make this journey more treacherous the longer he stayed on Olympia. He feared he waited too long before leaving his world. The illness that plagued him was mutating his genes, changing him into a human.

He gasped for breath as he broke the surface. Rion leaned his head back and treaded water the best he could while trying to catch his breath. The sky was dark, and he looked at all the tiny specks of light.

How many of those have portals? he wondered.

As he was about to start the long swim to shore, he heard a motor. It was getting closer and louder. As he spun about he spotted a watercraft gliding toward him.

I didn’t think you were going to make it, came a female voice. You tripped the sensors fifteen minutes ago; I thought maybe you drowned. A slight girl sat atop her ride like a knight on a horse. She held out a hand.

Effie? he narrowed his eyes so he could see the girl’s face. He didn’t recognize her voice. He had spoken with Effie over the phone on his last few visits to Earth while hunting his bounties, and using that as a cover to devise a plan for his own escape.

Na, she couldn’t make it. But I can take you to the safe house. She wiggled her fingers to get him to take her hand.

Rion pushed away from the girl and her ride, these were dangerous times and he had to be careful who he trusted.

The girl looked about. Look you can’t stay here, the ripples caused by you crossing-over attracts sharks. They’ll be here soon. I’m not kidding. Effie told you, I’m sure.

Rion quickly glanced around. He had been warned, strongly warned, that this portal created a type of sonar when someone crossed-over. It summoned sharks to the area. This was another reason it was rarely used by hunters. He reluctantly took the stranger’s hand, and she helped hoist him onto the back of the watercraft.

Surprised by her strength, he eyed her for a moment. There wasn’t anything extraordinary about the girl, but was cut short his examination of her when he caught a glimpse of two fins breaking the water’s surface and then submerge.

Where did you say Effie was? he shouted over the engine.

I didn’t. She was pulled away to take care of a few things. She’ll meet you later to discuss the remainder of your plan.

They traveled for another fifteen minutes. She handled the craft well and was skilled at navigating the waves. They had to be several kilometers away from the portal when she pulled up to a dock and tied off the craft. Get off, she said over her shoulder.

Rion stood and grabbed the edge of the dock and pulled himself up the three feet. He turned to help the girl, but she was already hoisting herself up with ease.

She started down the partially lit dock without pausing and gestured with her hand, This way.

Rion jogged to catch up, her pace was quick and difficult to follow despite her size. Now that she was standing he saw she was only five feet tall, slim, bordering on the boney side, but her muscles were well defined. Her blond hair was pulled back into a messy bun with fly-away hairs framing her face and accentuating her green eyes. He could see now she wasn’t a girl, but a woman.

At the end of the pier was a lone motorcycle. The streets were empty, and the lights were on. She stopped at the bike and tossed him a towel then a helmet as she swung her leg over the bike seat and put her own helmet on.

Rion hated motorcycles. He preferred the enclosed vehicles of this world. Many Olympians leaned towards motorbikes, though when they couldn’t they went for convertibles. Vehicles weren’t used in Olympia, so being enclosed in one was unnerving for most.

Rion sighed, put the helmet on the ground as he quickly dried himself off. His bodysuit caused the water to bead up and wick away so a quick rub down was all he needed. She shoved the towel into a side bag when he handed it back and gave an impatient wave for him to get on.

Rion gritted his teeth, shoved the helmet on, and took up position behind the young woman once again. She started the bike with ease, even though her feet barely touched the ground. They took off fast, causing Rion to grip the young woman so tight she had to peel his fingers loose. He couldn’t hear her, but he could see her shake her head. He imagined she was laughing at him. He had never thought of himself as meek or helpless, but today he was feeling that way.

They approached a street where there were no streetlights. The houses were also dark. The young woman turned off her headlamp and slowed the bike to a crawl. The lack of sound was surprising given the type of bike they were riding. He squinted into the darkness at the houses that lined the street. They all seemed abandoned, run down; the only residents the rats.

An uneasy feeling washed over him. He felt like he was being watched, as though something horrible was about to take place. He feared he had made a terrible mistake, that this woman wasn’t who he needed her to be. Was she leading him into a trap? Was she about to turn him in? Had she killed Effie? He couldn’t afford to be caught. His people considered him dangerous in his state. He and the rest of the Olympians were taught that his mutation was an illness that could be cured. But Rion discovered that those like him were disappearing.

Suddenly, they turned into a driveway made of overgrown grass and dirt and stopped just short of a tilted garage. She turned off the bike and looked over her shoulder. He took this as his cue to get off. She dismounted after him. As he was about to yank the helmet off she grabbed his hand to prevent him. She tapped his head and shook hers. He understood he was to keep it on, but didn’t understand why.

He followed the small woman to the garage. She stopped at the door and knocked an odd pattern. He was expecting it to echo through the dead neighborhood, but the sound seemed to just stop.

After a minute of silence there was a click and a hum. The door to the slanted garage began to lift. It was smooth and soundless, and Rion furrowed his brow in confusion.

His eyes scanned the exterior of the house. The paint was peeling from the rotting wood and there were large chunks of siding missing. Grass and weeds grew up between cracks in the sidewalk. The railing to the front door leaned dangerously to one side, ready to collapse at any moment. Several of the front windows were smashed out and boarded up and newspapers lined what was left of the remaining glass. The front door was completely sealed off by plywood and had been graffitied more than once. Where there was grass, it was overgrown, and the rest of the lawn was patches of bare dirt. This house, like many on the street, probably should have been condemned, but somehow it was clearly more high tech than the phones humans carried around in their pockets.

The young woman began to push her bike into the building when the door was half way open. Rion followed but remained cautious since he still couldn’t see what was in the room; no lights had come on, it was pitch black. Once he crossed over the threshold, the door reversed course and began to close behind him.

He wished he had a weapon on him. The feeling he was walking into a trap was becoming overwhelming. As the last sliver of moonlight was cut off by the door, a sudden burst of light blinded him.

I guess I could have warned you to shield your eyes. The young woman shrugged as she pulled off her helmet and reached for his.

He yanked it off and handed it to her. Yeah that would have been nice. Can I assume this is the safe house?

Yup. She started for a door to the right. She punched in a code on a hidden keypad, then placed her palm flat against it.

Rion noticed a light blue beam run up and down her hand and the door slid open. He rushed to keep up with her.

The inside of the house was not what he expected. It was clean and well lit, except for the window coverings blocking out the view of the street… or so he thought. When he stood directly in front of a window he could see out without any trouble. He couldn’t help but be awestruck by the contrast between the exterior and interior.

Can they see us from outside? Rion asked pointing at the window.

No. Kitchen is over there; it’s stocked. Living room, there’s a TV—she gave a half-hearted wave toward the TV—and the bedrooms are down that hall, along with the bathroom. She grabbed a beer from the fridge and dropped down on the couch, throwing her feet onto the coffee table and clicking on the TV.

Get your dirty shoes off the table and leave them at the door, said a deep voice from behind Rion.

He jumped slightly at the sudden appearance of a woman, not at all what he expected after hearing her voice. She was the exact opposite of the woman who had brought him. She was at least six foot and a little rounder around the midsection. She wore a top with no sleeves, and he could see every muscle in her arms. She too had brilliant green eyes, but her hair was thick short brown curls.

You’ve obviously met my sister, the new woman said as she held out her hand. I’m Effie. It’s nice to finally meet you.

Your sister?

Yes. Didn’t Minta tell you we were related? Typical. I bet you’re hungry. Effie washed her hands in the sink and pulled some food out of the fridge. I’m sorry I couldn’t meet you like we planned, but I had a job I needed to attend to. Gotta keep up the pretenses, right? She smiled, showing off her perfectly straight white teeth.

Pretenses?

Yeah, you know, holding down a job; the daily grind; that sort of thing. I can’t spend all my time hiding people. Who’d pay the bills?

Rion considered her comment then said, I thought I was supposed to go further inland.

You are, but we need to wait a day or two to see if anyone followed you through the portal. We can’t risk getting caught out in the open when the cheiristi is contacted in this region. They’ll spot you on the CCTV in no time.

He nodded, understanding. The cheiristi’s job was to help hunters as they come through the portals. Earth is the only planet to have cheiristis. It was believed to do with the fact that Earth’s portals were under water. Cheiristis are supposed to ensure hunters don’t drown when they cross-over.

Rion had worried that the cheiristi in this area would beat his escort to him. No one knew the man well, but he had a reputation of being difficult to deal with. Rion had no doubt he would have been turned over to the first hunter that came looking for him.

There was a loud belch from the living room, followed by cursing. Effie shook her head, You’ll have to excuse my sister, she was raised by our father and has picked up some very bad habits. She hollered into the other room, Turn down that TV before you alert the neighbours we’re here.

There was a loud laugh and snort that floated into the kitchen, but the TV volume was lowered.

Effie pushed a sandwich across the counter to Rion. He stared at it. Are you afraid we’re going to poison you?

No, of course not.

Effie let out a deep laugh, one not suited for a woman. I can understand your nervousness; an ex-hunter turned human—

Rion considered her words. He had not thought of himself as human, he still felt he was a god. A minor one, sure, but still a god.

I get that you’re nervous, but me and my sister have been doing this for several decades now; almost from the beginning. You have to trust we’ll get you to safety. We haven’t lost an anomalia yet.

Rion balked at the word, ashamed. It made him feel dirty somehow.

You know becoming human isn’t a bad thing. My sister and I are human.

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by it. It’s just taking some time to get used to the idea, is all. Rion picked up the plate with the sandwich. If you don’t mind, I’d like to be on my own right now.

Last door on the right. Effie pointed down the hall and Rion made his way to his room, closing the door behind him.

Effie grabbed two beers from the fridge and joined her sister on the couch. She handed one to Minta, who took it without looking. You couldn’t have brought him a change of clothes? Those bodysuits leave little for privacy.

Minta smiled without taking her eyes off the TV. He’s got a nice body. I wanted to check it out a bit longer. Besides, he didn’t seem to mind.

Effie shook her head and dropped down next to her sister. I sure hope he adapts to his new life.

It’s not our problem if he doesn’t. Our job is to find him a safe place to live out the rest of his life without getting caught. And it’s going to be a hell of a lot easier with him being an ex-hunter.

How do you figure?

He already knows where the portals are and how far inland he needs to stay to avoid them. Simple.

Unless he wants to go to a different world.

Still not our problem. But it’s his death if he wants to try. Now shut up, it’s the fourth quarter and we’re only behind by three points.

Effie knew her sister was right it was entirely up to Rion once they got him out of the city. But nothing was ever that easy.

CHAPTER TWO

Temis broke the surface. The water here was thicker than she was used to, and it tasted strange compared to her last trip to this world. The air was heavier, too, making breathing difficult. It must be from the portal; its instability causing changes in the water and air around it. She was at least twenty kilometers off the shore the only thing she could see was a buoy several kilometers to her left.

She treaded water while her eyes adjusted to the dim light. After a few minutes she felt something nudge her under the water. She turned to find several sharks circling her; their fins the only thing sticking out of the water. Temis narrowed her eyes. She had no weapons so she hoped she could swim fast enough to escape them.

A challenge, she thought. I love a good challenge.

She dipped her head under water and made fast work of getting to the shore. Her speed was unmatched, even for a shark. When she could touch ground she stood and walked the rest of the way.

The beach was deserted but for one figure under the pier. It stood unmoving and Temis wondered if it was the cheiristi or just a statue.

How did he even know to come, she thought, then questioned if they were there for her or not. As she approached she thought she saw his shoulders slump slightly.

Well, hurry it up already, he shouted at her. I’m missing the game.

Temis shook the remaining droplets of water off her pale blue, skin-tight bodysuit and made her way to the man. He stood just over six feet and sported a round belly. His long, wavy hair blew gently in the breeze and his chest length beard mingled with his chest hair that peeked over the top of his shirt.

You could have warned me there would be sharks.

How the hell did you expect me to do that? You all know this portal is unstable, dangerous. You chose to come through, it’s your issue if you get eaten by a shark. His voice was a deep baritone that boomed with every word.

Temis decided it wasn’t worth further discussion. I’m—

I don’t care. Here, cover yourself with these. He tossed several articles of clothes at her.

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