Obfuscate Read online

  Obfuscate

  Book Two: World of Blood

  Killion Slade

  Contents

  Introduction

  Editorial Review

  Obfuscate is Interactive

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Author’s Note

  Cast of Characters

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Glossary

  References

  Thank You

  About the Author

  Also by Killion Slade

  What’s Next?

  Copyright

  Introduction

  When forever becomes real, it’s seriously intimidating.

  Cheyenne O’Cuinn has three tasks to scratch off her to-do list: rescue her sister from cannibalistic vampires, eliminate the man who threatens her family’s survival, and hunt down the villain who attacked and left her for dead. Not the usual to-do list for a redheaded Irish software programmer with a deadly fear of haunted houses, but all in a day’s work for a vampire.

  Or maybe not. With her chosen mate by her side, Cheyenne wonders what vampire couples do for an eternity. How long does the secret sauce last? And what if she doesn’t embrace the vampiric lifestyle her mate craves?

  But Cheyenne can’t press Ctrl-Z and get a do-over. Especially when terrorists launch a bombing campaign and the vampire queen plans to enslave mankind for entertainment. With Cheyenne’s family and friends at risk, this chicken-shit vampire needs to suck it up and use both her vampire and mad programming skills to track down the bad guys.

  Or it’s game over!

  Editorial Review

  Killion Slade wows us all one more time with this sequel to the fantastic novel, Exsanguinate. Full of vampires, werewolves, dragons, and so much more, this book is bound to keep you reading into the wee hours of the morning. Our heroine, Cheyenne O’Cuinn is full of fire; a fierce lead character, who gives you no option but to care about her and her story.

  Killion Slade writes with a determination and pathos that bring the story leaping from the pages, straight into the real world. This book reads as a great standalone work, but I would definitely urge you to read anything else by this author, including Exsanguinate. You won’t be disappointed!

  Christine Sutton – Author of The Burkheart Witch Saga

  Obfuscate is Interactive

  Obfuscate is a standalone reading experience, containing interactive content. This work currently contains links to YouTube videos. We may be adding additional links in the future. Please visit WorldofBlood.com to explore cut scenes, character dossiers, and extended versions. We encourage you to access and discover our complimentary “second screen” addition.

  For My Family.

  To both my virtual family and friends and real world family.

  For without you, my dreams could not have come true.

  For with you, I have found true inspiration, love, compassion, and kindness.

  Namaste.

  Acknowledgments

  I would sincerely like to thank my editors. You simply—rock my bobby socks! I’m a huge advocate of surrounding myself with people who are smarter than myself and I never consider my editors a necessary evil. They are necessary angels!

  In taking what they have provided and applying that knowledge, it has grown my craft and taken decades of time off the books. You have made me a stronger writer through blood, sweat, tears, and gallons of whiskey. Thank you Lisa Lane, Jami Gold, Mary Ann Pedon-Coviella, and Virginia Smith.

  AND … where would any book be without its beta readers? I have a trusted crew to totally tell me how the cow ate the cabbage and I wouldn’t expect any less from them. I sincerely thank you for being bloody honest and helping me work out the kinks. This novel reflects your feedback and love. ☺ Thank you Ahnah, Alicia, Billie, Tara, Cindy, Ginny, Vix, and Becca!

  Author’s Note

  Thank you for being awesome! If you have come this far, then I sincerely thank you for purchasing and reading Obfuscate. I hope you have already read Exsanguinate [Book One] and are as anxious to reunite with the characters as I was to get them back here in your hot little hands.

  A couple of changes since you’ve last read. I’ve expanded on the foreign language dialects since there are so many International characters. This book includes a glossary of words and references featured in other languages to help you understand their context. There are no made up words in this book. All words have references to how they are spoken in cultures all over the world. I hope you’ll join me in celebrating the beauty of so many languages.

  Lastly, I share this book with you from real, heartbreaking experiences I’ve had in my own life. Several chapters were gut-wrenchingly difficult to write, but were intensely therapeutic in my own grief recovery. My heart goes out to everyone [especially parents] who have challenges with grief and depression in their lives. This book is dedicated to you. <3

  I hope you will enjoy this book series, the quirky characters, and share them with your family and friends. Thank you for joining me on my journey. Let’s continue the ride!

  ~Killion

  Cast of Characters

  In Order of Appearance

  Cheyenne O’Cuinn - Heroine of the story. Lead programmer developer for the mass-multi online role playing game (MMORPG) ExsanguiNation. Is afraid of haunted houses and has yet to embrace the vampiric lifestyle.

  Khaldon Seters - Senior engineer for ExsanguiNation and online boyfriend to Cheyenne for over two years. Former lover to Amicula Darkrose and in ancient feud with Draconis La Rivière.

  Tony Briggs - Dragon mafia hit man from New Orleans and senior programmer for ExsanguiNation who is in love with Dakota O’Cuinn. Family name Blaize La Rivière.

  Ludovic Zyryanov - Vampire henchman who works for Amicula Darkrose and runs Breeding Den Facility #42. He is in love with Dakota O’Cuinn and regrets the things that have happened to her.

  Torchy Gravenor - Welsh Dragon who is best mates to Khaldon Seters and is in love with Sheridan O’Cuinn. Torchy owns The Super Market locations all over the world.

  Harris Archer - Game tester and network programmer for ExsanguiNation. A werewolf who was Cheyenne’s college roommate for three years. Has become like a brother to the O’Cuinn sisters.

  Dakota O’Cuinn - Sound gaming engineer for ExsanguiNation. Cheyenne’s youngest sister who loves makeup & high heels. She goes through men like Kleenex.

  Kalina La Rivière - Halfling dragon demi-god and sister to Briggs. Daughter of Draconis and the Goddess Kali.

  Draconis La Rivière - Father to Briggs and Kalina. Hates Khaldon Seters and holds confidential real estate properties for the vampire Queen Civetateo.

  Kiernan O’Cuinn - Cheyenne’s father who has been enthralled for years and is not aware of his wife’s existence.

  Vhalencia De La Fuente - Female progeny to Khaldon Seters. Is a master thief and locksmith. Proficient with the rapier sword and fashion.

  Ichi Murasaki - Master healer of Eastern medicine and Kung Fu fighting bo staff.

  Devdan Sarat - Photographer and a clerical mage with a deadly prayer. Metalsmith extraordinaire. Master of the Eastern Indian Kalarippayattu form.

  Chlodochar Lothar (Chuc
k) - German alchemist of the group, but very handy with a chainsaw. Heavy blacksmithing and sword maker.

  Ruthie Anne - Grandmotherly type hospital nurse who takes care of Cheyenne and Sheridan in the Orlando Hospital.

  Sheridan O’Cuinn - CEO of the MMORPG ExsanguiNation and Cheyenne’s oldest sister who is falling in love with Torchy Gravenor.

  Aisling O’Cuinn - Cheyenne’s mother who was murdered nine years prior who is imprisoned to the vampiric queen in service to the throne. Her existence must be keep secret from her family.

  Amicula Darkrose - Former lover to Khaldon Seters and is the niece of the vampire Queen Civetateo. Tasked to find breeders for her dhampir army and donors for the blood orchards.

  Charlie MacCarthy - Uncle to Cheyenne who lives in Montana on the Flying F Ranch. Manages thousands of acres, cattle, and three nuclear missile silos for the US Air Force.

  Maisie MacCarthy - Aunt to Cheyenne and runs the Flying F Ranch. A serious cook and generous heart but is a crack shot with any weapon.

  Mason Jones - Flying F Ranch Foreman. Excels in hunting and tracking but always has to have the best story in the crowd.

  Abbey MacCarthy - Charlie and Maisie’s daughter who attends pre-veterinary college.

  Queen Civetateo - Vampire Queen of the Vampyric race. Obsessed with eliminating rogue vampires and eliminating humans [especially politicians] trying to destroy the planet.

  Prologue

  I failed. I should be dead.

  The schism of words replayed again and again as though they were a needle stuck between a track and a scratch on an old vinyl record.

  I tried to open my eyes and sit up in the bed but found my head was wrapped and I’d been tied down.

  What the hell? Where am I? Have I been captured?

  I leaned my head closer to my hands and pulled on the strips of cloth covering my face. Rewarded with searing pain, I jerked my head away, sucking in a breath. Immediate and intense, the sensation behind my eyes was the same torment from a jammed toe against the bed frame in the middle of the night. Agonizingly slow to dissipate.

  My eyes! Did they take my eyes?

  I wrestled against my bonds and kicked my feet hoping to find some sort of escape. Something fell, clanging to the floor. It sounded as though a hundred steel marbles scattered, bouncing in every direction. My runaway imagination insisted the calamity had to be a bloodied tray full of shiny, sharp implements.

  I can’t see … how can I get out of here? Breathe, Cheyenne, think.

  I leaned over again and bit the thick, padded belts holding my wrists. Blood pooled in my mouth as my lower lip snagged on a buckle. I spat out the blood and felt along the length of my mouth with my fingertips. Hard, plastic stitches lined my lip as if I were a forgotten rag doll in a creepy carnie show. Were they trying to sew my mouth shut?

  Unholy hell, what are they doing to me?

  I knew it—it was a trap. I should’ve listened to my guts. Cannibal vampires. We weren’t prepared. What if I’m an ingredient in their recipe? Are they preparing to stuff me with crab and then roast me over a fiery spit?

  Shouldn’t a vampire be able to escape? Am I trapped in silver?

  Questions seared my mind as I made headway pulling the strap with my teeth through the loops.

  Everything will go as planned, they said. Nothing will hurt us, they said. Drunk with fermented drinks, they said.

  Why did I listen to them?

  Khaldon and Harris—they were burning under the water. Did they make it out alive?

  What about Briggs? He was unconscious. Did he drown?

  The sharks were everywhere.

  Where’s Torchy? Did he send for help?

  Ludovic? Did he—

  Footsteps closed in with the acrid stench of disinfectant. A female, disembodied voice threatened. “Kuthri, look at this mess. You’re making this much too difficult. Hold still.”

  “Hold Still? Are you kidding me?” I jerked my arms inside their confinement. “Wait—who are you? Where am I? What are you doing to me?”

  “You’re in isolation.” Her words snapped with disdain.

  “Don’t touch me! Why are you tying me down? Stop it!” I pulled harder on the bonds, and the metal bars of the bed groaned and began to give way.

  The female voice ignored my question. “Quick, hold her. This won’t take but a second.”

  “Did you dispense the stronger dosage this time?” an agitated male voice hurriedly asked. “She burned through the last one in record time.”

  Another male voice came from the direction of my feet. “Make sure this one keeps her down for good. We still have fleshy, meaty spots to dig out closer to the bone. I’m not getting another black eye tonight.”

  For good? Meaty spots? Closer to the bone?

  “Get away! Help!” I kicked while rough, wide fingers and hands wrenched my face sideways, exposing my neck. “Khaldon!”

  I thrashed my head around and bit the hand holding my face.

  “Kamina!” the male voice exclaimed and wrenched his hand out from between my teeth, practically yanking my fangs out with it.

  Another set of hands held down my legs while an elbow jabbed me in the head. A sharp stab to my neck flashed fire behind my eyes in a kaleidoscope of intense luminescence.

  I cried out in pain, arching my back in defiance.

  My limbs grew heavy as Aunt Maisie’s cast iron skillets.

  “No … stop … please don’t … eat … me…”

  Far away, the female voice flatly stated, “She’s done. Let’s get her prepped for Rattanakosin.”

  There’s something … it’s right at the tip of my…

  I failed. I should be dead.

  The words replayed again and again in the fissure of my memory.

  Dakota, my sister?

  Oh, no!

  Oh, yes … I should, most definitely, be dead.

  Chapter One

  Seven Hours Earlier

  The Andaman Islands ~ Indian Ocean

  Cheyenne O’Cuinn

  “Look right here, Khaldon.” I tapped the computer monitor screen and clicked to an article about the Rakshasa. “The Paranormal Wikipedia entry for the Andaman Islands states that North Sentinel is inhabited by cannibalistic, blood-thirsty warriors.” I turned in my chair to study his face for a reaction.

  He didn’t respond, but continued to read over my shoulder.

  Khaldon finished the parawiki page aloud in his formal English accent. “With fierce black fangs, they drain the blood of their prey and then roast them over a fiery spit. The Rakshasa celebrate their kill by wearing the bones and teeth of those they eat.”

  He paused for a moment and made an appreciative noise in the back of his throat. “Right, then.”

  “So, wait—are you telling me there are different types of vampyre?” Only managing to smear my chocolate-covered fingerprint, I tried to wipe the sugary goo from the screen. “C’mon, is this a load of bunk?” I licked my fingers clean and pursued the sticky smudge again. My blue eyes mirrored back at us in the monitor’s reflection as I gazed up at him. “Next, you’re gonna tell me there are creatures such as demon fairies, hounds of hell, and black-eyed kids, right?”

  He pulled a glass cleaning wipe from the container and scrubbed the computer surface clean. Intently staring at me, his eyes flashed wide and then narrowed again to inquisitive slits. “And if I did, Cheyenne, what then?” His tone was caring, but it had an under-lilt of sarcasm in that I-told-you-so kind of voice. “You still haven’t read the Vampyric Canons, have you? Have you started your training?”

  Hoping to find solace deep within the candy bag, I pulled my mouth over to one corner, hid my face, and dug in for another cluster of peanutty goodness. The feelers of a headache were beginning to stab at the back of my eyes. I closed them in favor of a brief rest from the computer screen and the invasive oceanic winds.

  Why do I have to embrace anything new? What’s so wrong with being human?

  He let out an
exasperated sigh and kissed me on top of my head. “You’re never going to learn how to be a vampire unless you take the time to work through the courses.”

  Khaldon smiled a genuine smile. The kind of grin where the curve of his lips playfully danced in tune with his green eyes. I had daydreamed about that smile a thousand times, and it never failed to stop me dead in my tracks, turn me around, and make me want him more than I already did.

  “Consider your training like a twelve-step program—minus five or six steps. You’ve got to learn to trust yourself and let go. No matter how much I wish I could, I can’t complete this transition for you. Only you can discover what your vampyric dynamics will evolve into.” After removing my sweet smudges, Khaldon tossed the chocolate-covered rag into the bin. “Just like you’re able to perceive people’s emotions through their scents. Not every vamp can do that. We’re all different.” He evaded my jab to his ribs while I licked my fingers once again. I stared as he walked past the bulkhead and leaned on the ship’s railing.

  Khaldon’s body stood out like a silhouette against the light shining through the yacht’s starboard balcony. I studied him for a minute, his chin firm and confident. His five o’clock shadow bristled, entirely framing his mouth, and he had his long, black hair tied back in a jewel-encrusted family heirloom. He seemed very at home within his skin even though at a moment’s notice, he could shape-shift into any person he desired.