The Day Hunters: Chronicles of the Sky Runners

The Day Hunters: Chronicles of the Sky Runners

by Scott Williams
The Day Hunters: Chronicles of the Sky Runners

The Day Hunters: Chronicles of the Sky Runners

by Scott Williams

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Overview

A man stood on the ledge overlooking a large valley. His black hooded cape flapped in the wind of the cold Russian night winter air. If it were any other man, the wind would have frozen him to the bone, but while in his fighting outfit, Gabriel felt as if he was standing in the sun on a spring day. He looked down the valley before him, carefully observing the battle below him. The sounds, the smells, and the sight of battle has all but become a standard in his life. Some might say that the whole experience has numbed Gabriel’s senses.

Standing there with his arms crossed and eyes piercing with little to no expression on his face, Gabriel watched as one werewolf after another attacked the castle, leaping as they reach the wall and then, with their sharp claws imbedded in the stone, beginning to climb its high walls. Others attacked the main gate as their entire freedom depended on everyone performing at their highest. The vampires occupying the castle tried with every bit of their strength to fend off the attacking werewolves. Some in the bat form swooped across the wall, trying to knock the werewolves off. Others used crossbows, firing silver-tipped bolts. Across the field in front of the castle, many werewolves fell, yet for every werewolf that fell, two or three would take its place. Soon all the vampire’s efforts would be in vain.

It wasn’t going to be very long. The sun was going to pike over the horizon, forcing the vampires to flee out of the light of the day. Behind Gabriel a man paced back and forth. He was dressed in sixteenth century captain’s uniform. He held his iron helmet at his side, pressed against the black and gold garment of the uniform of Gabriel’s men. Centuries before, Gabe had rejected the idea of having an army at his side to fight evil, but Pope Sylvester insisted that he have an army for just the cases such as the one he was facing on this day. The orders from the pope and czar of Russia, remove the werewolf and vampire problem in this land. Upon arriving though, it became clear that half of the work was going to be done for them.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781524620851
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Publication date: 07/28/2016
Pages: 128
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.30(d)

Read an Excerpt

The Day Hunters

The Chronicles of the Sky Runners


By Scott Williams

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2016 Scott Williams
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5246-2085-1


CHAPTER 1

Russia


December 12 1561

A man stood on the ledge overlooking a large valley. His black hooded cape flapped in the wind of the cold Russian night winter air, if it were any other man, the wind would have frozen him to the bone, but while in his fighting outfit Gabriel felt as if he were standing in the sun on a spring day. He looked down the valley before him, carefully observing the battle below him, the sounds, the smells and the sight of battle has all but become a standard in his life. Some might say that the whole experience has numbed Gabriel's senses. Standing there with his arms crossed and eyes piercing with little to no expression on his face, Gabriel watched as one werewolf after another attacked the castle. Leaping as they reach the wall and then with their sharp claws imbedded in the stone, began to climb its tall walls! While others attacked the main gate as their entire freedom depended on everyone performing at their highest! The vampires occupying the castle tried with every bit of their strength to fend off the attacking werewolves! Some in the bat form swooped across the wall trying to knock the werewolves off, others used cross bows firing silver tipped bolt! Across the field in front of the castle many werewolves fell, yet for every werewolf that fell two or three would take its place and soon all the vampire's efforts would be all in vain! It wasn't going to be very long and the sun was going to pike over the horizon, forcing the vampires to flee out of the light of the day. Behind Gabriel a man paced back and forth. He was dressed in the 16 century captain's uniform. He held his iron helmet at his side, pressed agented the back and gold garment of the uniform of Gabriel's men. Centuries before, Gabe had rejected the idea of having an army at his side to fight evil, but Pope Sylvester insisted that he have an army for just the cases such as the one he was facing on this day. The orders from the Pope and Czar of Russia, remove the werewolf and vampire problem in this land. Upon arriving though, it became clear that half of the work was going to be done for them.

Soon the Captain's pacing was starting to get on Gabriel's nerves,

"Captain, if you are that anxious, you can go and make sure that the siege weapons are ready to go."

"But sir, Shouldn't we attack?"

"No Captain. It appears that the werewolves are freeing themselves from their slave drivers the Night Hunters vampire group."

"That is why we should attack now. They are distracted sir!"

"Captain" "You will restrain your voice!"

The Captain snapped to attention "Yes Commandant."

Gabe turned to face the Captain, "Captain, if we attack now, we will not only be facing the werewolves but the vampires as well. It may also unite them in one cause, to beat us. But if we wait for a victor, then they will be split, tired and not able to face us. We can overwhelm them in short time."

"Yes sir."

"Now, go and get the siege weapons ready."

Bowing to Gabe! "Yes sir"

Gabriel turned his attention back to the battle below as the Captain walked away. After about an hour, the black sky started to turn to an array of blue, yellow and reds as the sun approached its dawn. Realizing that they had no choice but to flee before the sun peeked out the vampires began to retreat into a nearby forest. Gabriel took a deep breath and then turned towards his horse; he mounted his beast and rode down to where they had set up their staging area behind a group of trees to hide their position. The Captain had the siege weapons ready to go and the men lined up. As Gabriel reached the side of his Captain he smiled at him,

"Captain, the time is now."

"Yes sir." The Captain stood on his horse and announced, "Forward March!"

All at once, the army begun to advance forward to the castle.

At the castle the werewolves were celebrating their victory over the vampires. Some were in the wolf form while others were in human form. Their leader Christopher and second in command Lamary stood on top of the gate wall overlooking their success. Christopher was once the protector of Beth, the head of the Night Hunters, now he was the reason for their withdraw. In human form, Christopher looks as an average man of that time, but with one advantage, his ability to stir the souls of his men and all the werewolves under him. Lamary on the other hand was a dark skinned man from Africa; his stature would make any man fear him even in his human form. As the two men stood side by side the troops cheered them on, but as the watch caught site of the army stepping out from the trees he gave a howl to warn the rest. Christopher and Lamary quickly ran to the other side of the wall to see what the matter was. Lamary's eyes widened as he saw line after line of men walking out into the open field in front of the castle. Turning to Christopher he pointed out the obvious,

"Chris, Gabriel is here!"

"Yes Lamary, tell us something that we don't know now."

"He must have been waiting in hiding while we fought the vampires and now we are too tired and the sun is coming up so we will soon not be able to transform into the wolf form."

"Again, tell me something that I don't know."

"What are we going to do? This may end up being a hollow victory."


Chris looked down at the stone structure in front of him, sliding his hand over the rock and the claw marks that one of his men made during the battle he took a deep breath and let it out. He looked back up at the army and then back at Lamary, gave him a smile, patted him on his shoulder and walked toward the ladder.

"Sir? Where are you going?"

"I'm going to do the only thing that I can."

"What is that?"

"I'm going to offer myself in exchange for letting all of you and your families to leave here peacefully."

"I'm not going to let you. I'll go in your place."

"No Lamary, I must do this."

"Then I will go with you. At least to be at your side for your last moments."

All Chris could do is smile at the loyalty of his second in command and friend. "In that case, let us bring out banners and go with all honors of our victory."

The two climbed down the ladder, mounted their horse and two men with their banners rode up beside them. Giving them a nod, Chris ordered the doors to be opened and the four men rode out to meet their future with honor. Lamary looked on at his friend with the respect and pride of the chance to serve at his side.

Gabriel and the Captain saw the doors to the castle open and four men riding out to meet them. His Captain looked onward,

"Are they surrendering?"

"I don't know. Let us meet them in the middle and find out."

Gabriel signaled to his men carrying his banners to follow and they rode out to the middle of the field. As they approached the center of the field amidst bloody remains of the battle moment before and through the fog and smoke of the aftermath, the Captain, Gabriel, Christopher and Lamary dismounted their horses. The two stood approximately 10 yards from each other, in show of respect, Gabriel made the first gesture in slightly bowing before them. Chris returned the bow as Gabe spoke up.

"I wish to congratulate all of you in your victory over your slave drivers."

Chris looked at Lamary and then back at Gabriel, "Thank you sir."

"Now I would hate to damper your moment in attacking you here and now."

"That is appreciated, but are you trying to get to a point?"

"Yes, I have orders to remove you and your men out of Russia."

"You know we could fight you."

"That is true and many will fall on both sides, but I also know that you are tired and with the sun coming up you will lose your edge in the battle."

"At least we will die free."

"I do not wish to take that freedom, for I know freedom is the wish of God for all."

"Then I offer myself in exchange that you allow my men and their families to leave here with their pride intact."

Gabe looked down and then as if he heard something that the others didn't, he quickly looked to the sky. Rolling his eyes down with his head close behind Gabe smiled at Chris,

"I have a better plan."

"And that is sir?"

"How about we escort you and your families out of Russia."

"And where would you take us?"

Gabe paused for a moment then as the destination reached his thoughts he smiled again, "Sweden —"

"Sweden? The king of Sweden won't let us live in his country no more than the Czar of Russia would."

"The king of Sweden also owes me a favor. I saved his son and he offered to give me whatever I asked for. He won't turn me down. I will send a courier ahead to let him know and to find a suitable place for you. What do you think?

Chris turned to Lamary, "What do you think?"

"Sir, can we trust him?"

"Lamary, we can trust him more than the vampires. You know Gabriel's word is good."

"I don't know. I don't know if I trust him that much. I mean, he was sent here to kill us."

"No, He was sent here to remove us from Russia and I say we go with his plan." Seeing that Lamary wasn't as convinced as he was "Look Lamary, my friend, Gabriel will not go back on his word. Plus, we will have him and his men to help us. What more could we ask for."

"Are you sure his men will protect us from the vampires if they were to come back? Or worse yet, are you sure they won't attack us on the way?"

Turning back to Gabriel, "What assurance do we have that you won't attack us."

"You only have my word, I will order my men to not to attack."

"What if the Vampires come back looking for us, will you protect us from them?"

"You have my word that we will fight to protect you."

The Captain whispered into Gabriel's ear, "Sir, what are you doing?"

"I'm saving lives, or would you rather allow hundreds of our men to die?"

"No sir."

"Then let us do this, the best way we can."

"Yes sir."

Lamary and Chris also talk among each other while Gabe was talking to his Captain,

"Chris, are you sure?"

"Yes Lamary, I am sure. We need to do this. When will we have such an opportunity such as this, to have a home to call our home, to have the protection of Gabriel and his men? We can't pass this one up."

"Okay, I will trust you."

"Good, then go and get the families, bring them here and I will get our men ready. Gather up carts and wagons to take on our trip. As many as you can find."

"Yes sir."

At that Lamary mounted his horse and rode off as Chris turned back to Gabriel, "We accept your offer."

"Good, but I must make a note, you cannot change into your wolf form while on this trip. Not even once."

"But a full moon will be coming in two weeks."

"Then we must hurry."

"Agreed."

Gabe stepped forward to Chris, put a glove on and held out his hand to shake on the deal. Looking at Gabriel's hand, Chris hesitates, "I have come to know, to touch you is to willfully allow part of yourself to turn to ash."

"As long as my gloves are on, you will or any part of you will not turn to ash by touching my hands. The rest of me is a different story."

Chris slowly lifted his hand, as if expecting to feel pain, lightly touched Gabe's hand. When nothing happened, he smiled and gave Gabe's hand a good shake.

The sun once again getting close to touching the horizon, all the people were lined up, Gabe's men were scattered throughout the line, Gabe and Chris were in the lead and the Captain and Lamary brought up the rear. Chris looked at Gabe asking one more time,

"Now I have your word that your men won't attack us?"

"Look, if they do, I will have them executed. One, for disobeying a direct order and two, for destroying this new found friendship and respect that I hope you and I now share."

Chris smiled and gave him a nod.

"Let's move these people out Chris."

"Yes sir" Chris looked behind them and announced "Let's us move out!"

And at that the line of people began to leave that castle grounds. As they got close to the trees, Chris took one more look back at the castle that he had fought so hard for and was now leaving abandoned. He then looked at Gabe and asked,

"What will keep the vampires form taking the castle again and you having to come back here to kick them out?"

"Besides the fact that, after you and your men left, I had my priest bless the whole thing so they can't touch it? Nothing —"

"That would do it."

CHAPTER 2

Athens


Present Day

The Vatican 747 was approaching the runway, its landing gears down and Gabriel was gripping the arm rest of his seat. Rebecca, amused at the site, smiled,

"Gabe, you have fought evil of all kinds and yet you get afraid of flying in a plane?"

"If God wanted man to fly, he would have given us wings."

"And yet here you are on a plane."

"I have to do what I have to do. Would you rather that I arrive here a day after you?"

"Good point."

Outside, the plane slipped closer to the ground and as the wheels touch pavement it jolted the plane slightly. The plane's engines began to slow up to reverse the moment of the plane landed. Once they were slowed to the proper speed, the plane taxied to its resting place. Outside Gabe and Rebecca could see a limo and a woman standing by the limo.

"Gabe, I think that is the Greek Ambassador to the Vatican."

"Do you know her?"

"No, I have not had the chance to meet her, but I do know that she is the daughter of the current Prime Minster of Greece."

"Well, let's go and meet her."

The two unhooked their seat belts and stood up; they made their way past the conference room and command center and to the exit.

Outside, the Ambassador was waiting by the steps that they had rolled up to the door of the plane, her brown curly hair moved ever so slightly as the wind blow back and forth. When the doors of the plane opened, she glared with her dark brown eyes on to who was coming out of the plane. On seeing Gabe coming out, she was taken back. He wasn't as tall as she imagined, but the look in his eyes, the face of experience in both life and death. What knowledge could be stored in his mind, what mystery lies beneath those eyes, the Ambassador found herself being attracted to it all. Not even really looking at Rebecca as she stepped forward behind Gabe, the Ambassador stepped up to the stairs and held out her hand to Gabe.

"Welcome to Athens."

"Thank you Ambassador?"

"Oh, Just call me Cindy."

"Okay, Cindy. Thank you for your greeting. I'm Gabriel."

"Yes and I'm Rebecca." Speaking up from behind Gabe, she could see that Cindy was attracted to Gabe as she reached around to shake Cindy's hand.

Cindy tugged at the bottom of her pin striped suit jacket and the gestured for them to follow her to the limo. "We have everything ready for you to do what you need to do at the hotel."

"What hotel do you have for us?"

"Oh, it is the finest hotel in Athens. Kings and Presidents have stayed there."

"Now we are not looking for any special treatment, we are not going to be spending the Vatican's dollar on a high end hotel."

"Don't you worry about at thing; the government of Greece is putting forth the bill."

The limo driver grabbed Gabe and Rebecca's bags and put them into the trunk of the limo, then went around and opened the door for them. Cindy went in first and then Gabe allowed Rebecca to get in, getting in himself he sat next to Rebecca across from Cindy. The limo driver closed the door and got in the driver seat. As they started towards the hotel Cindy continued,

"We need the hotel anyway; it is the best place to set up a security center." She leaned forward and grabbed Gabriel's knee, "Now don't you worry about a thing, I have everything taken care of. You just do what you need to do and let us worry about the little details."

That is what I'm worried about. Rebecca thought to herself. The limo continued through Athens. Out the window, Gabe and Rebecca could see all the old buildings mix in with new ones along with ruins of buildings long since passed. Looking at Gabriel Cindy commented.

"Now, I understand that you once lived in Athens Gabriel."

"Oh, yeah" "But that was a long time ago. Before I moved down to Sparta and then to many places throughout the world."

"Well, I'm sure that Athens hasn't changed much since then."

"More then you can imagine." Gabe looked over at Rebecca and smiled.

"Maybe you can tell me about them then. Let's say over dinner tonight?"

"I have a lot of things to take care of, but can I get a rain check on that?"

"Of course, maybe after you are done and not doing anything, we can have that dinner."

"We will see."


(Continues...)

Excerpted from The Day Hunters by Scott Williams. Copyright © 2016 Scott Williams. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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