Crimson Hunter Read online

  A Red Riding Hood Reimagining

  N.D. JONES

  Copyright © 2019 by N.D. JONES

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

  Kuumba Publishing

  1325 Bedford Avenue

  #32374

  Pikesville, MD

  kuumbapublishing.com

  Publisher’s Note: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are a product of the author’s imagination. Locales and public names are sometimes used for atmospheric purposes. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, or to businesses, companies, events, institutions, or locales is completely coincidental.

  Editor: BFF Editing, Kathryn Schieber

  Cover Design: Giusy D’Anna Premade Book Covers Market

  Crimson Hunter/N.D. Jones. -- 1st ed.

  ASIN: B07W3RFWHZ

  Dedication

  Ida B. Wells-Barnett

  Books by Wells-Barnett

  July 16, 1862 – March 25, 1931

  Civil Rights Activist and Journalist

  “The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

  “There must always be a remedy for wrong and injustice if we only know how to find it.”

  #AmReadingCrimsonHunter

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  Map of Earth Rift

  Key Earth Rift Locations

  Moonvale Forest, Bronze Ward, Silentdrift Lake and Blackridge Mountains, Elio Desert, Steel Rise City, Irongarde City, and City of Wild Moor

  Table of Contents

  #AmReadingCrimsonHunter

  Map of Earth Rift

  Glossary of Key Terms

  Glossary of Key Locations

  Chapter 1: White Moon

  Chapter 2: Stormbringer

  Chapter 3: Brothers

  Chapter 4: Steel Dreams

  Chapter 5: Moonless Sky

  Chapter 6: Young Love

  Chapter 7: The Future

  Chapter 8: Ticking Time Bomb

  Chapter 9: Accountable

  Chapter 10: The Price of Leadership

  Chapter 11: Mother Dear

  Chapter 12: Blinders

  Chapter 13: Love Hurts

  Chapter 14: Death Becomes Her

  Chapter 15: Crossroads

  Chapter 16: Confrontation

  Chapter 17: Hunger of the Hopeful

  Bonus Images

  About N.D. Jones

  Other Books by N.D. Jones

  N.D. Jones’ Newsletter

  Glossary of Key Terms

  Aku of Irongarde: Title of the consort to the Matriarch of Irongarde; Aku is a male name that means moon god

  Bleddyn: One of three forms werewolves transform into; half-human, half-werewolf form; a muscular and strong body of a human male with a fine layer of black fur over thick human skin

  Blood of the Sun: Name of the ruling matriarchal family of witches

  Captain of the Hunter Division: Leads the Hunter Division of the Crimson Guards; responsible for the capture of muracos and threats to international security

  Channon: A werewolf cub or baby

  Clan of the Black Moon: The collective name of black werewolves

  Crimson Guard: Collective name for Earth Rift’s military and local law enforcement; responsible for protecting the citizens of Earth Rift from domestic and interplanetary threats; comprised of witches only

  Crimson Hunter: Leader of the Crimson Guard; appointed by the Matriarch of Irongarde; responsible for enforcing Earth Rift’s laws, particularly those that governs werewolf behavior; responsible for capturing muracos and, when ordered, executing threats to Earth Rift

  Cyrus of Steelcross: Title of the consort to the Matriarch of Steelcross; Cyrus is a male name that means sun

  Hunter Division: A military division of the Crimson Guard comprised of three units: Barrage, Extraction, and Guardian; responsible for the capture and/or execution of the most dangerous criminals on Earth Rift—mainly muracos

  Magerun System: An aerial transportation system that connects the different regions of Earth Rift and is fueled by the sun and witch magic

  Matriarch of Irongarde: Ruler of Irongarde Realm

  Matriarch of Steelcross: Ruler of Steelcross Realm

  Muraco: A black werewolf whose color fades to white when it becomes feral from either extreme magic lust that results in violent behavior and mental instability or when an infected muraco’s bodily fluids gets into their blood

  Rage Disrupter: A metal implant inserted into the brains of pubescent werewolves for the purpose of monitoring their rage level; it is used in conjunction with the silver snare to diminish the violent impulses of werewolves

  Ravagers of the Lost Cannons: Name of Oriana’s, the Crimson Hunter’s, weapons, into which her arms turn from elbow to fingers; used as a method of channeling the Crimson Hunter’s strong magic

  Rite of Endometal Fusion: A mandatory ritual where all witches, upon turning thirteen, must submit to an injection of liquid iron or steel into their arms, legs, or both; the mixing of liquid metal into witches’ blood enables them to create metal weapons through which they can channel and control their magic

  Silver Snare: A spell-based collar worn by werewolves; it releases soothing magical pulses when a werewolf’s anger reaches a dangerous level

  Glossary of Key Locations

  STEELCROSS REALM

  Aphelion Umbra: Region reserved for human settlement

  City of Bronze Ward: City created as a test site for werewolves and witches to live together with werewolves wearing their silver snare at night only

  City of Steelburgh: Walled-off city built for muracos who’ve served their prison sentence but cannot be reintegrated into society

  Steelcross City: Capital of Steelcross Realm; location of Steel Rise

  Steel Rise: The northern skyrise residence of the Matriarch of Earth Rift; used as the residence of the Matriarch of Steelcross when there are co-rulers of Earth Rift—Matriarch of Steelcross and Matriarch of Irongarde

  IRONGARDE REALM

  City of Wild Moor: One of the three cities that comprise the werewolf region of Janus Nether

  Irongade City: Capital of Irongarde Realm

  Iron Spire: The southern skyrise residence of the Matriarch of Earth Rift; used as the residence of the Matriarch of Irongarde when there are co-rulers of Earth Rift—Matriarch of Steelcross and Matriarch of Irongarde

  Janus Nether: Region reserved for the Clan of the Black Moon; comprised of three cities (Chrome Haven, Tin Falls, and Wild Moor); the only region in Earth Rift where werewolves are not mandated to wear their silver snares

  Perilune Rille: Region reserved for human settlement

  Chapter 1: White Moon

  April 27, 2243

  Irongarde Realm

  City of Wild Moor

  Howls slashed across the beleaguered city like deadly claws. The incessant sound shattered windows. Jagged glass shards fell like deadly rain, cutting and adding to the pools of blood that already soaked the ground.

  Oriana lifted her face to the starless night sky, sweat rolling from her brow into dark-brown, unblinking eyes. The orders of her mother, Matriarch Kalinda, reverberated in her mind. “Wild Moor will be our final stand. You cannot allow the beasts to claim that border city, Crimson Hunter.”

  More howls carved through the d
arkness, followed by the tk.tk.tk.tk.tk.tk of rampaging paw feet. Oriana lowered her head. This was it then: the final battle of a day-long war. Countless had already died—many by her own hand in defense of her sisters—all by order of Matriarch Kalinda.

  Oriana raised her arms, the liquid steel within mixed inorganic with organic—a potent witch’s brew of strength and control.

  “Come forth, Ravagers of the Lost.” Red sun magic burst from Oriana’s hands. Wild flames sparked and hissed. Channeling the flames into her arms, Oriana willed the magic to comply. From the sparks and hisses of magic, twin cannon guns formed, replacing her arms from elbows to fingers.

  “Shift,” Oriana ordered her Crimson Guard soldiers, trained witches under her direct command as Crimson Hunter.

  Sun magic surged, turning limbs into shields and weapons.

  Across the battlefield of cracked roads and burned buildings, the howling stopped. Silence descended—an emissary of violence, blood, and death.

  Oriana raised her head again to the night sky and cursed the white moon glowing above. A red moon would’ve favored the witches. Oriana would’ve even been grateful for a black moon. But no, in the city she couldn’t allow to fall, a white moon had risen, strengthening her enemies like nothing else in nature could, save the blood and magic of a witch.

  If Oriana and her Crimson Guards didn’t prevail, if she ended up food for the beasts—like the ravaged bodies of her sisters littering the landscape—her daughter would be left parentless. That, more than anything else, she could not allow to happen.

  She also could not let Kalinda do the unthinkable.

  Oriana focused on the enemy, their seething energy and low growls rancid in the tepid spring air. Rows of white werewolves filled the town square. As ghost white as the moon, their color differentiated them from the normal black of werewolves. Their white coats marked them as the vicious creatures they were … muraco.

  Eight feet of pure muscle, the feral werewolves exuded primal might. The length of their fangs, sharp and perfect for ripping, set them apart from other beasts of prey. Their claws were deadlier still.

  Magic sizzled. Perspiration drenched the red and black of Oriana’s Crimson Hunter body armor, which clung to her as fiercely as her resolve. She looked around at her Crimson Guards who extended from one side of the square to the other.

  The muraco horde charged.

  Good. She needed the feral beasts within range of her guards’ weapons.

  “Barragers?” Oriana yelled.

  “Ready!”

  “Guardians?”

  “Ready!”

  “Extractors?” Oriana called out to the last group of warrior witches.

  “Ready!”

  “Steady,” she said to her sisters. “They are almost within striking distance. Wait for my command.”

  The white werewolves were nearly upon them. Fangs bared, their clawed feet carved a path through the concrete. Saliva flew. Red eyes gleamed.

  Despite everything, Oriana agreed with her mother. White werewolves, the muraco, were irredeemable, untamable, and feral beyond reasoning.

  The werewolves lunged at them in a frenzy. Attacking claws forced the witches backward.

  “Extractors, go.”

  A third of the wall of the Crimson Guard vanished, only to reappear behind the werewolves, shoving steel blades into thick hides. The werewolves bellowed, swinging around with lightning speed—claws curved, vulnerable throats their targets.

  Slice. Slash.

  Blood spurted in an unrefined arc, splashing the werewolves in their favorite liquid, their stained fur a demented painter’s morbid canvas.

  Oriana filled her cannons with magic, shooting over and again. The battle raged, each side losing warriors in a battle that should’ve never been. She ran, darted, and jumped, blasting anything with fangs and fur. Oriana fought until her body burned raw with magic, nothing to draw on but her stubbornness and will.

  The werewolves fared better, the white moon strengthening them. From the way her magic tingled, the sun would rise in less than an hour. Oriana and her unit of Crimson Guard soldiers were bedraggled and outnumbered, having defended Janus Nether’s three cities all day.

  Wild Moor was their final stand. When the sun rose, the battle would be done, no matter how many witches were still capable of continuing the battle, no matter that the sun would recharge their magic, giving them a much-needed edge. It would be an advantage they would be unable to capitalize upon.

  “Barragers, do your worst.”

  Twenty-five witches converged on the werewolves, their metal blades, blasters, and phasers shoving their opponents backward. It was a magical rampage on par with the werewolves’ frenzied slashes. Neither side gave an inch, a destructive storm that leveled city blocks.

  Mindless, they fought. Mindless, they killed. Were her Crimson Guards any less feral than the white werewolves? No, they weren’t. With this battle, they couldn’t afford a sliver of mercy. So, Oriana commanded her guards to, “Push forward. Keep fighting. The sun will soon rise. Will we be here to greet it when it does?”

  “No survivors,” Kalinda had said. “We need to send a message to any witch or werewolf who thinks to defy the Matriarchy.”

  Bloodied and exhausted, Oriana led the charge, her cannons booming a welcome to the new day. When the sun crested the horizon, the werewolves didn’t falter. The strength of the white moon still blazed in their veins, un-dimmed by the slashes of red and gold in the morning sky.

  The battle was neither over nor won, but Oriana had failed. The rising sun had been her stubborn mother’s deadline.

  “Guardians, retrieve. Barragers, crumble. Extractors, entangle and retreat.”

  Crimson Guards obeyed her command. The Guardian Unit sent their magic outward. Photonic blasts of magic shriveled the bodies of their dead sisters, setting their ravaged souls free. The Barrage Unit slammed their war hammers and maces onto the ground. Shockwaves sent the white werewolves flying backward.

  By the time the muracos shook off the assault and charged the witches again, the Extraction Unit had the witches tethered by a multi-looped lariat.

  As if out of nowhere, a single werewolf appeared, likely from the small, dark alley to her left. He ran toward Oriana. His muzzle and claws were covered in blood. But that’s not what shocked Oriana into temporary immobility.

  What in the hell is a black werewolf doing here with the muracos? And without his silver snare?

  He slashed at her.

  She held up an arm, blocking the attack. Her belated response to his appearance was too slow. Claws sliced into her left cannon. Instinctively, she shot at him with her right. A blazing bullet of unfiltered sun magic scored his left side, knocking the black werewolf away and down.

  Oriana hadn’t returned the black werewolf’s attack with a kill shot the way she should have. After what had happened with … No, no, no, don’t think of him now.

  She stumbled backward, eyes on the face of an enemy who shouldn’t have been an enemy at all. “Get us out of here, extractors.”

  In a blink, they disappeared, extraction magic transporting them from Wild Moor to Irongarde City. They crashed to the ground. Oriana stayed where she was—on her back, eyes open, seeing nothing but her failure. Not the cityscape with glistening skyscrapers, the groaning witches around her, or even the sun—too new in the sky to heal her wounds.

  “Are you okay?” Solange, captain of the Hunter Division and Oriana’s best friend, leaned over her, dark eyes scanning her face. “Except for the arm you let that werewolf damn near take off, you look fine … Unless my tired eyes were deceiving me, that black werewolf was—”

  “Your eyes are fine, and I didn’t let him do anything. How bad is it?”

  “It’s bleeding, nasty-looking, and probably hurts like hell, but you won’t die from it.”

  An accurate assessment, especially the hurting like hell part.

  Solange helped Oriana to her feet. “It isn’t over. Go see Matriarch
Kalinda. We’ve lost too many sisters to the muracos. I don’t want to lose any more, if they are left to storm Irongarde City.”

  “Neither do I, but you know what she’ll do.”

  Solange nodded, blood and sweat matting braids to her scalp. “Our hand was forced. They left us no choice.”

  Two nights ago, Oriana had told herself the same when he’d come after her, snapping, threatening … and breaking her heart. He forced my hand. He left me with no choice but to respond with violence. The words echoed in her mind. But her heart wasn’t convinced.

  Oriana shook her head, adrenaline seeping from a body that wouldn’t keep her upright much longer. “Why are witch lives worth more than werewolf lives?”

  “Because they’re our lives to protect, and we choose not to be ravaged by werewolves who sometimes wear the face of a beloved.” Solange squeezed Oriana’s uninjured hand, looking over her shoulder to their sisters, who were in various degrees of pain and disarray, and then back to her. “We’ll get each other up and to the healers. Don’t worry about us. Go see the Matriarch so we can begin to put this day, and the ugly ones that preceded it, behind us. Are you planning on telling the Matriarch about him?”

  “I haven’t decided.”

  “I always knew he was a bastard. But this …” Solange nodded to Oriana’s left arm. Blood and red tendrils of magic leaked from the deep claw marks. “He’s not feral. But he fought with the muracos. His silver snare didn’t even activate. Is it possible he found someone to remove his rage disrupter?”