Read The Eclipse of Power Online
Authors: J.L. Hendricks
The Eclipse of Power
The Eclipse of Power
The Interdimensional Saga, Book 3
J.L.
Hendricks
This book is a work of fiction. All of the characters,
organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the
author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Copyright (c) 2016 J.L. Hendricks
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, recording or otherwise, without the prior
written permission of the author. Please purchase only authorized electronic
editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of
copyrighted materials.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It
may not be sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this
book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each
recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not
purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy.
Cover Illustration by Dawnya Goode
Eclipse Design by Michael Anderle
First Edition April, 2016
All rights reserved. Copyright © 2016 J.L. Hendricks
This book is
dedicated to
My Grandma, Doris
Holcombe.
She died before I
started this journey,
But I know she is
looking down from heaven and cheering me on!
Thank you Grandma! I
love and miss you!
I can’t wait to see
you again one day.
This book is part of a series and best read in the following
order:
Book 1 – Eclipse of the Warrior
Book 2 – Eclipse of the Soul
Book 3 – The Eclipse of Power
Book 4 – Eclipse of the Heart – scheduled for release early/mid
May, 2016
Lancer – Sendryl High Court
Home. On the one hand I am excited to be here. But on
the other, not so much. I miss Earth and… her. I shouldn’t miss either. Earth
isn’t my home. Her people aren’t my people. And she is off limits. I imagine by
now she is sharing Ash’s bed and has forgotten about me. But I miss her
craziness. I miss how she cares for everyone and I really miss how she makes me
want to be a better male and a better leader.
When I left Earth two months ago I thought it would be
only two weeks. But I should have known I wouldn’t be going back. I am stuck
here in my own prison awaiting trial for the deaths of so many warriors. I
shouldn’t have gone down that sewer. But I heard her crying out for those women
and I couldn’t help myself. I wonder what happened to them? They are probably
hybrid rippers by now. All of that pain and loss for nothing! I should be mad
at her, but I can’t be. I miss her…
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
“What? What was that noise? Guards! What is going on out
there?” All I could hear was the scraping of boots as the guards ran outside.
“Please tell me that was some military drills and not a real
bomb going off?” I yelled over my shoulder as I jumped up to the window trying
to see outside, but I couldn’t see anything but smoke. I heard screams of rage
and pain but couldn’t tell where they came from.
◊◊◊
B’Lana - Los Angeles, CA
“Ash, how far away are you now?” I asked as I rubbed my
temples. “I think it is time for a break, there are too many minds around you.
It’s giving me a migraine.”
“I’m about two miles out. Looks like everyone is getting off
work about now. All of the office buildings are starting to empty out.” Ash
replied over the phone. We used cell phones when not on a mission.
Today we tested my “psychic abilities” to gauge distance.
Sadly, I also picked up on everyone around him. Even though I tried to just
focus on his mind.
“Ash, are you indoors? I swear I can hear rippers near you!
Get outside right away if you are.”
Am I going crazy? Why am I hearing
rippers when the sun is still out?
“B’Lana, I’m outside. You can’t be hearing rippers, not with
all of this sunlight.”
“Are you standing over a sewer tunnel? Maybe they’re right
below you waiting for the sunset?” I knew I sounded worried, but who could
blame me? Since Lancer left for the home planet over two months ago we have
lost a number of fae warriors to the rippers. They certainly upped their attacks
on humans.
“Hang on a sec, I’m going to pull up the sewer maps on my
phone and see if I’m over one now. Don’t call this in yet, unless you are ready
for the Commander to know about your extra ‘gifts’.”
I chewed on my nails while impatiently waiting for Ash to
tell me I was crazy. I hoped that I was just picking up on some sick people who
only wanted to be vampires. LA had its share of wannabe vamps that we came
across a few times already. But this nagging sensation in the back of my mind
wouldn’t let me calm down.
“B’Lana, your mental abilities might really be improving. I’m
above a sewer tunnel that leads to a large junction less than half a mile from
here. I’m on my way back to you right now and we’re going to get two squads to
recon this area right at sunset.” I could tell Ash was hurrying back as he was
breathing heavy over the phone.
“Maybe we should bring everyone? Ash, it felt like I was
‘hearing’ a lot of rippers. Something like twenty to thirty voices thinking
about blood and destruction.” Chills were going up my spine as I thought about
what I heard. I sure hoped I was wrong about the number. It felt like they were
just waiting to attack.
Once we were safely back at headquarters I was able to
breathe a sigh of relief. What I heard had me on edge and I didn’t know what to
do about it. I just hoped that the commander would be alright with us taking
all of the squads out to the same place and not ask too many questions.
If he wouldn’t allow it, then I would have to come clean. If
that happened, then the General would know about at least one of my special
abilities. Ash told me not to let on about the mind reading as that would just
lead to the rest coming out. I did not want to become the poster child for
human pincushions.
Before Lancer left he told me that if the General knew about
my special abilities I would be taken back to Sendryl for testing and might
never come home. I almost started crying thinking about that. It was hard
enough not being able to talk to DeeDee, who was just like a sister to me. Now
I only had Ash to confide in.
Thank God Lancer only knew about the mind reading!
“Ash, have you heard anything from Lancer? I miss him and
his grumpiness.” Since Lancer left Ash had taken over leadership of Squad 1 and
was doing all of my training.
“B, don’t worry about Lancer. He can take care of himself.
He has been a warrior for a long time. There are a lot of fae who will back
him. His trial is just a political move. He won’t be in any trouble. There is a
group of fae who are supporting some of the more radical members of society so
this is just to show that we are taking all complaints seriously.” Several of
the parents got together when Lancer arrived back home to complain about how he
got their children killed here on Earth. So an investigation was ordered.
Lancer was stuck on Sendryl. I didn’t know or even if he would ever come back.
“I’m gonna go change into my uniform, I’ll meet you in the
briefing room.” I said to Ash over my shoulder as I walked toward my room.
“Wait up! I’ll come help you.” Ash winked as he teased me.
He knew he was hot, but since I became a hybrid fae I wasn’t as susceptible to
his fae charm as the rest of humanity. He still flirted with me and tried to
kiss me on occasion. But I knew he was a player so I didn’t fall for it.
“In your dreams playboy!” I shot back.
◊◊◊
Everyone was in the briefing room, it looked like Ash was
able to get all of the squads together for a briefing at least.
“Ok, listen up. This may be a training drill tonight, but
you still have to be on your guard. We never know when the enemy will make an
appearance so don’t slack off just because we don’t have any new intel on their
location.” Ash addressed the entire room by looking them all in the eyes.
I started to lose some of my nervousness as I realized how
he was able to pull everyone together.
Training drill, genius!
I rolled
my shoulders and could feel the tension release as a small smile spread across
my face.
Looks like I get to keep my secret for another day…
While Ash was giving orders to the other squad leaders, I
walked around the office complex we had been at earlier. I kept within eyesight
of at least three warriors the entire time. I opened up my mind to see if I
could pick up the rippers.
As I was ‘listening’ out farther, I picked up on what
sounded like ripper minds.
“After so much blood, I am full of energy now my
veins are zinging with power! I can’t wait to see what happens when we go back
home! We are going to destroy those imposters! We are the rightful owners of
Sendryl, not those stupid Sennafae!”
Oh stink! Sounds like I found them, ASH!
“Yes B’Lana? Did you yell for me?” Ash was jogging over to
my position as he spoke.
“Did I say your name out loud? Sorry, I was thinking about
what I heard and got a bit stressed out.”
I could have sworn that was all in
my head?
As I looked at Ash his eyes bulged out and frightened me.
Whispering, Ash asked, “B, you didn’t say that out loud but
I heard you. That is the third time this has happened. Are you developing
another gift?”
I spoke in my mind again to see if he really could ‘hear’
me. “
Ash can you hear me?”
As he nodded I continued,
“Oh stink! Not
another secret to keep.”
Ash leaned in closely to me and his lips barely caressed my
ear, “B this is good. You can now communicate anything with me and no one else
will know. It’s perfect. And it only makes sense this would happen since you
can hear everyone else’s thoughts when you try.”
I thought about that and realized he was right. I also felt
chills down my spine as his lips softly brushed against my cheek. He was always
trying to get a rise out of me. I really hated him. Well, maybe hate is the
wrong word…
“Ash, it sounds like they might be headed to the portal.
They sounded like they were planning an attack on Sendryl.”
I
telepathically told him.
“Alright, listen up everyone. Since we have so many warriors
together here, why don’t we see how well we can enact the Alpha One protocols?
For those of you who are new, this is the plan to see how well we can defend
the portal from an attack on this side.
“The parameters are that we get a call from HQ that a large
number of rippers and hybrids are at the portal and it looks like they are
planning an attack back home. We need to get there as quickly as we can and set
up a perimeter of protection. We kill any and all enemies who come near, even
if they come from Sendryl to Earth. With this scenario, it is possible that the
guards on the Sendryl side have been compromised. If you have any questions
before we head out I suggest you ask your squad leader, they have all been
briefed on this scenario.”
Ash rounded up our squad and we headed out to our Hummer to
get to the portal as quickly as possible. While we were running to our Hummer I
noticed that two more squads were making their way to their vehicles just as
quickly, while two squads were still in the square by the office buildings.
Those two were newer teams and hadn’t done any drills with us yet.
“Command One, this is Squad 1. We have an Alpha One training
scenario live, I repeat Alpha One training.” Mike’s voice was heard over the
com letting the commander know what we were up to. He had a velvety smooth
voice that made me smile. I wondered what a human woman would think if she
heard him speak? I bet she would do whatever he told her to do.
After we pulled up to the area near the portal, I opened up
my mind again to see if I could locate any rippers. I almost wet my pants; I
heard so many voices in my head. And they were almost to our location!
“Ash, I can hear them coming. We have to hurry up and get
into position. Can we call in reinforcements from Sendryl yet?”
I looked to
Ash as I said it and I knew he heard my voice in his head. One more ability I
was going to have to practice once we finished off the approaching enemies.
“Toren, call up Central Command and let them know that we
are here training for an Alpha One scenario. And request they keep an open
line.” Ash looked right at me as he spoke to the new leader of Squad 2. I could
see the hard edge as it entered his eyes. He was already in the zone and
prepared to do battle.
The third squad walked up and started to spread out as we
heard the bushes rustling. Everyone quickly and quietly took up positions and
prepared for battle. I looked around at everyone and noticed that a couple of
them didn’t look like they were taking this seriously. Two guys from Squad 3
whispered, but their squad leader looked at them and mouthed to shut up.
I heard them, the rippers were about to come out of the
bushes and we only had three squads there at the moment. I told Ash I could
hear the rippers. And that was when he led Squad 1 forward to engage the enemy
as they appeared.
We had the element of surprise, thankfully. But they had the
numbers. The first six rippers that came through quickly lost their heads as
our warriors were waiting for them.
However, there were ten rippers who had come out at the same
time. One of them sounded the alarm before we could get to him, but we finished
him off along with the other three remaining rippers.
Squad 2 was instructed to keep a tight perimeter on the
portal and call Sendryl. “Sendryl Command, this is LA Squad 2, we are under
attack at the portal, I repeat we are under attack. This is NOT a drill. Send
reinforcements on both sides. There is a large contingent of rippers and
hybrids attempting to come through the portal.” I ignored the rest of the
conversation between Toren and Sendryl and listened to see how many more
rippers where out there.
“Ash, there is at least another twenty rippers out there,
and it looks like even more hybrids. I can’t get an accurate count.” As I said
this out loud, Squad 4 ran up and engaged the first group of hybrids. While the
rest of us spread out to engage with more than twenty rippers.
One of the rippers came towards me and I recognized him as
First
. “Ash, that ripper who kidnapped me is coming towards me, help!”
I
hoped I was focused enough for him to hear my mind speak.
“Look who we have here. The Sennafae brought me a snack, how
nice of them. Your blood really was sweet, I haven’t been able to stop thinking
about it since we met.” While he was talking to me I was looking for a way to
sink my knife into his chest.
“I see your master has let you off his leash for an evening
stroll, how nice of him.” Getting him upset was not my intention, but I
couldn’t keep a lid on my snarky mouth.
First swung his sword at my head but I ducked.
I am so
glad Ash insisted on training me every day in hand to hand as well as with
swords and knives.
I rolled to my left and was next to First, as I stood up
I was able to swipe his calf with my knife. I had pulled out a long sword but
my knife was much better suited for close combat.
Ash made his way over to where I was and engaged with First.
“Awww how sweet, you have your boyfriend fighting your battles for you. You
aren’t woman enough to fight yourself? What happened to the strong independent
woman you claimed to be last time we met?” First was just trying to get under
my skin, but it didn’t work.
As Ash and I both circled around First, Ash brought his
broad sword around and sliced it across First’s chest. And I went in for
another slice on his other leg. But he was too quick for me and I barely
snagged his pants leg.
Squad 5 showed up and were coming in from behind the hybrid
rippers. The enemy formation had all of the rippers in front with the hybrids
trailing behind. I couldn’t see why they did it that way and decided to ask Ash
about this later.
Squads 4 and 5 were slicing heads off the hybrids quicker
than the rest of the squads could deal with the rippers. The hybrids were
slower than the rest of the rippers and the fae warriors were taking advantage
of their speed. I still couldn’t ‘hear’ what the hybrids were thinking, another
item to think about later.
First got a good swing at Ash and it caused him to fall back
on his butt.
First was going after Ash while he was down on the ground.
So I tried to distract him. “Hey First, of course I am letting Ash fight for
me. I may be human, but I’m not dumb. I know you’re a better fighter than I
am.” My words distracted him enough that Ash got up and blocked the blow that
came towards him from First.
I took that moment to slide my long sword into the back of
First. I literally stabbed him in the back. It didn’t bother me one bit. Better
him than me.
While my sword was still in his chest, Ash came up and tried
to cut his head off. But First was able to block his sword. I pulled my sword
out of his back and he sent another blow towards Ash but it was a weak attempt.
Ash easily blocked it with his knife and then used his sword to slice across
the shoulders and take the head off of First.
There was so much fighting still going on; we did not take
the time to high five our kill. We jumped back into the fray and started
fighting the rest of the rippers.
Ash and I stayed together for the most part. Occasionally I
took a kill on my own, but mostly we tag teamed the rippers.
I looked over to Toren, he was covered in blood, not sure
whose. “Toren, are you alright?”
“Yes, I’m great! Who knew going on a training mission would
produce such great results! We should train more often.” He gave me a pointed look,
which I took to mean he knew, or at least suspected my involvement.
With all of the weird looks between Ash and I lately, it’s a
wonder no one else figured it out yet. I’m just grateful that my second power
to develop was done in secret and only Ash knew about it so far. He was smart
to have me practice away from the others.
As the fight went on we lost a few more troops, and a
handful of rippers made it through the portal, including the ripper master who
had held me hostage. I hoped he never came back here again!
Squad 5 was a well-oiled killing machine. “Ok Ash, we have
taken care of all of the hybrids, should we go through the portal to chase
after those that got away?” The Squad 5 leader was tough and on a mission.
“Negative, we need to finish exterminating these rippers
here. Get close to the portal and help Squad 3 keep any more from entering.”
Ash ran past me to engage with a ripper who was coming at me from behind.
I whipped around and reached out my sword to block the attack
coming at me from a ripper. But it wasn’t needed since Ash had just decapitated
him. Blood from the severed head splattered my face.
Thankfully, I bent over to wipe my face on the bottom of my
shirt as I felt a blade breeze past where my head just was. I dropped down to one
knee as I turned around and drove my blade into the ripper’s stomach. Ash
brought his around and removed the head as I pulled my blade back.
Ash and I both looked around and there were only a handful
of fights left.
“Should we help those who are still fighting? Or start
gathering up the bodies, and heads?” I was looking around at the carnage on the
ground. We needed a dumpster to handle all of the bodies.
As it all sank in, I made a beeline for a tree and barely
made it in time before my dinner came back up. Ash walked over to me and held
my hair back while watching our surroundings to make sure we weren’t ambushed.
“Thanks,” I said as Ash handed me a handkerchief and I wiped
my mouth.