Monster Hunters: Blood Ties: Monster Hunters, #1

By S.J. Bryant

For this family, ghosts are the least of their problems.

 

Cass is a monster hunter. She always has been and always will be. So are her sisters, they just haven't accepted it yet. So when Cass gets the call that her parents have gone missing, she roars into town, guns loaded.

 

But there's something going on in this sleepy little town that she hasn't seen before. People are going missing. It's not a full moon, there are no hexes, and the EMF is dead.

 

With more people disappearing every night, Cassidy and her sisters must find the monster before it kills the whole town. But what can take people without a trace? What if it's not a monster at all? And most importantly, where are their parents?

 

This is a monster-hunting thrill ride filled with sharp teeth, bloody claws, and things that go bump in the night. Buy now to join the hunt!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Saffron Bryant
• Release date: Sep 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223109099

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

Cassidy slammed the iron bar through the shimmering air in front of her, enjoying the cold metal against her callused hands.

The bar slashed the cloud in half, forcing wispy tatters to float away. The woman made of mist drew back, snarling.

Cassidy swung again and this time the ghost retreated to the other side of the room, as if a sudden wind had knocked it back. It billowed and shifted. A low moan echoed around the room, growing louder and spreading to the rest of the creaking house.

The floorboards squeaked beneath Cassidy’s boots and the strong smell of dust mixed with sulfur filled the air. It was colder inside than out, Cassidy wore a long jacket but the chill in the house was deeper than temperature. It left goosebumps over her flesh and set her teeth on edge.

The ghost twisted, snatching something from the bench and hurling it at Cassidy’s head.

Cassidy ducked. A chipped plate flew past her ear and smashed into the wall behind her, shattering into a thousand pieces. Before she could straighten, the ghost hurled a sharpened stick.

Cassidy twisted out of the way. The spear slid past her chest with mere centimeters to spare before splintering against the wall.

Tess! Can you hurry up? Cassidy bellowed. She lunged forward and slashed at the ghost with the iron bar. It screeched and pulled back, withdrawing through the wooden wall and disappearing.

Cassidy allowed herself a few seconds to catch her breath. If Tess was on her phone again…

Something clattered in the next room.

Cassidy hefted her iron bar and ran in after it.

A sudden gust of air filled the room, spinning and whirling like a hurricane. It caught up a handful of scattered books, ripping the pages. The wind grew stronger, lifting the footstool that had been tucked into the corner and sending it circling around the room. The curtains tugged on their rails, releasing a cloud of dust that joined the rest of the maelstrom.

The ghost stood in the middle of it all. Its howl joined the wail of the wind, broken occasionally by the sharp rip of pages.

Cassidy’s hair tore free of its clip and whipped about her face, flicking over her eyes.

Rylee, I could really use your help! Cassidy tried to dart past the furniture to get to the creature but it hurled the now empty bookcase at her, forcing her to retreat to the doorway. If she had some salt she might be able to trap the thing in the one room, and get some control. But Rylee had the salt and— Rylee!

I heard you the first time, Rylee said, appearing in the doorway at the other side of the room.

Cassidy caught glimpses of her through the swirling furniture and torn pages. Then why did you take so long?

You know there were people… living here… before we stirred this thing up?

Cassidy didn’t see how that was relevant, considering she’d been battling the ghost, alone, for the last fifteen minutes. Salt.

Rylee pulled a huge bag of salt from her ragged backpack and laid down a thick line, cutting off the doorway.

Cassidy kept a tight grip on the iron bar; if the spirit realized what they were doing it would probably come straight for her. Hurry up.

I’m going. It’s not exactly easy with all this wind.

Rylee was right. The swirling current created by the ghost broke the line of salt, sending the small grains scattering in all directions.

It’s not going to work, Cassidy said. What the hell is Tess doing?

She’s trying to find it. But have you seen how much stuff is in this place?

There have been ghost stories here since the eighteen hundreds; she’s not looking for a bloody smart phone. Tess! Hurry up!

At Cassidy’s shout the ghost turned and shot across the room toward her, like a streaming cloud billowing from an exhaust.

The chill in Cassidy’s bones sunk deeper until her heart and lungs burned with it. She kept her face stony and when the creature got within range she swung the iron bar, cutting through the cloud. It wailed and twisted, shooting up toward the ceiling where it hovered near the dim light. The bulb flickered and went out.

A dim sliver of moonlight through the window was the only light left.

Great, Rylee said.

Cassidy grit her teeth and tried to think of a plan. They were lucky so far because this spirit didn’t seem too clever, just angry. But they had to keep it distracted because if it realized what Tess was doing, then it might start getting a little more vengeful and things would get ugly.

What now? Rylee said.

Just hold. If we can keep it in this room then we’re good.

The ghost must have been listening because as soon as Cassidy finished speaking it rose through the ceiling and out of sight, like a puddle in reverse.

Cassidy turned and sprinted for the staircase. The bang of footsteps told her Rylee was right behind.

Tell me Tess isn’t still up there.

No, basement, Rylee said.

They clattered out onto the landing of the second floor.

The ghost hovered by the far window. Cassidy had accidentally smashed it earlier with her iron bar and so shards of glass covered the red carpet beneath. Sounds of night; the wind, bird-calls, and distant animals, filtered in through the opening. Somewhere someone was crying.

Cassidy tore away from the stairs toward the ghost, brandishing her weapon. She caught the faint glimmer of something out of the corner of her eye.

Look out! Rylee roared from behind and then her shoulder slammed into Cassidy’s back and they both crashed to the ground, crunching pieces of glass beneath them.

Cassidy rolled free of Rylee. What the—

The glitter came again and a pointed shard of glass slashed through the air at Cassidy’s throat.

Cassidy! Rylee said, scrambling to get up.

Cassidy’s pulse thudded in her ears and her whole world shrunk to that flying dagger of glass. She tensed. She could try to dive out of the way but the ghost had already lifted a half-dozen other shards. She’d never dodge them all. She needed a shield, hell, she needed a wall, to hide behind.

Her shoulders tensed and she swung the bar in a wide arc. It smashed into the shard of glass and broke it into tiny crystals that hurtled across the room like sharp diamonds. Some of them kept coming at her and tore into her face and hands, leaving bright red cuts.

Cassidy adjusted her grip and hot rage simmered in her stomach. When she got her hands on this thing…

The other shards of glass shot through the air, only this time they were aimed at Rylee. Their hard edges glinted in the moonlight, deadly.

Cassidy’s stomach twisted as if all her insides had fallen out. Rylee!

Rylee turned and her mouth dropped. She started to twist but there was no way she’d be able to avoid them all.

Cassidy lunged across the room, turning so her back faced the shards. She wrapped her arms around Rylee, shielding her from the blades. She braced for the slashing impact. Maybe the shards would miss her vital organs?

The sound of shattering glass broke the air. Cassidy frowned and turned. The shards that should have impaled her in a half-dozen places lay broken on the ground.

The ghost’s wails grew louder as a violent purple flame erupted at its base. The flames licked higher, consuming the creature like dry kindling. The last of the mist formed a screaming face and then that too burned away.

Cassidy sagged and let Rylee go. She found it.

Rylee staggered away and leaned against the nearest wall, breathing hard. What was all that?

All what? Cassidy said. She swiped sweat off her forehead but the salt got into the cuts on her hands and made them sting.

Diving in front of certain death?

Saving your ass you mean?

I had it covered.

Are you kidding? You were standing there like a dying fish. If—

Wow. You made a mess, Tess said, slouching to the top of the stairs. She had her phone in one hand and a lighter in the other. What are you arguing about now?

We’re not arguing, Cassidy said. What took you so long?

Have you seen their basement? There’s three centuries worth of stuff down there.

But you got it?

The ghost disappeared didn’t it? Tess said, not looking up from her phone where her fingers raced in a blur over the digital keyboard.

What was it? Rylee said.

Old love letter. Pretty sweet actually.

You stood there and read it? Cassidy said. Did you not hear us up here?

Tess dragged her eyes away from her phone. You survived, didn’t you? Besides, what if it had said something important and I just burned it?

Cassidy stomped for the stairs. Next time, you stay in the car.

Fine with me.

Footsteps clattered behind Cassidy as Rylee caught up. Thanks.

For what?

For saving me. I might have been in trouble.

Cassidy shrugged, some of her annoyance fading. What is family for?

CHAPTER TWO

The sharp crack of the white ball colliding with the eight snapped through the bar. The black ball rolled across the ash-stained fabric and sunk into the corner pocket with a quiet click. Cassidy straightened and slid the cash off the side of the table, into her pocket.

Aww, c’mon! That was just a lucky shot. Double or nothing? said the man opposite her. The buzzing light that hung over the pool table cast deep shadows under his wrinkled eyes.

That was double or nothing.

That’s not fair. He gripped his cue tighter. Cassidy tensed; just let him try it.

Sorry, buddy. She promised me the next game, Rylee said, sliding in front of the man and blocking him from Cassidy’s view. Typical Rylee.

Cassidy let her attention slip away from the two-shot Johnny to survey the rest of the bar. It was just like all the others. Here they weren’t like the American and Australian ‘bars’ she’d grown up with. These were ‘pubs’ - bloody Europeans always had to make things a bit more classy. Sure, it still smelled like stale cigarettes, even though no one had been allowed to smoke inside for almost a decade, and the same classic rock blared from the speakers, but these pubs still had something that the joints down in the deep south were missing.

It probably helped that it was too bloody cold outside to wear singlets and your toes would drop off if you weren’t wearing shoes. It made the people look… better.

Cassidy took a long drink; bourbon, hold the rocks. She watched Rylee over the top of her glass. She’d managed to pry the cue away from the guy and had turned him toward the bar. Probably gave him some of his money back too. Stupid, because Cassidy had won it fair and square.

Guess it’s you and me, Rylee said, lining up the balls.

Unless you wanna play, Tess? Cassidy said.

Tess barely glanced up from her computer. Nah.

Looking for our next job? Cassidy said.

Nah. Tess sipped Coke from a tall glass. She’d had more refills than Cassidy could count. She drank the stuff like they were about to stop making it. Ha! That would be the day.

Cass, Rylee said as she took the first shot and scattered the balls. We need to talk.

Cassidy’s mood darkened. She bent over the table and sunk the two, seven, and four in quick succession but she missed an easy shot on the six. There’s nothing to talk about.

Of course there is. I told you before we took the ghost job that it was my last one. I’m not—

If you win, then we can talk, Cassidy said.

Rylee’s shot went wide, the white ball skidding across the table but not hitting anything. You know that’s not fair. I haven’t beaten you… ever.

Cassidy shrugged and sunk the six and one.

This isn’t some deal, Rylee said. This is my life. I’m done hunting.

Cassidy stiffened and her knuckles went white where they gripped the cue. What?

I’m done.

Cassidy’s nostrils flared but rage gave her focus and she sunk the three, five and eight; crack, crack, plunk. I win. She snatched her bourbon and stomped to a table in the far corner, away from the rest of the barflies.

Rylee dropped her cue on the table and hurried after. Tess followed, her laptop balanced in one hand and her Coke in the other.

Cassidy sprawled into the far booth, her back to the wall, and tried to keep her expression smooth. They couldn’t make a scene. There would already be too much talk after the damage they’d done at the old house.

Rylee slid into the seat opposite while Tess sat at the next table; she knew better than to have her laptop too close to Cassidy when she got angry.

Would you listen? Rylee said. It’s my life, and if I don’t want to spend it eating at dodgy bars and nearly getting killed every second night, then that’s my choice.

Choice? Cassidy said. There is no choice. This is your duty.

Oh, here we go, Rylee said, throwing up her hands.

You don’t get the same ‘choices’ as everyone else, Cassidy said. This is what we do. Other people can go and get normal jobs and live normal lives, but they only get to do that because of us. Cassidy glared into Rylee’s eyes but she didn’t seem to be getting the