Read TheSatellite for Free Online Page B

felt a bit restricted by her fiancé’s strong stand on the matter. Nevertheless, she didn’t fuss. This was a new lifestyle for her and she’d promised her hand in marriage. She didn’t want to cause a scene already.
    “You’ll have to come visit us over Christmas,” she told Raef.
    He nodded with a slight smile, then led the way into the main living area.
    Band members, their wives, and some of the road crew were sitting around in a casual manner when she, Hatch and Raef strolled into the room. Perry and Roger said hello, as did their wives but none responded over zealously. She began to sense a certain jaded air among the gathering.
    Ian approached and draped his arm casually over her shoulders. “Very nice to see you again, Flame. Have you killed anyone since we last saw you?”
    The others laughed. Flame let out a short but sardonic laugh. “Not yet…”
    “Still carrying your swords, I see.” Ian chuckled to lighten the mood.
    “Where’s Cassie?” Flame inquired about Ian’s girlfriend and ignored his comment.
    “She is in Asia. Cassie is expecting and went back to spend time with her mother and father in their homeland.”
    “You’re going to be a father?”
    “Looks that way,” he said. “Now who wants a drink?”
    “I had no idea she was pregnant. She wasn’t even showing when we met.”
    “She kept it from everyone, even me, until just recently.”
    He sounded rather ambivalent to impending fatherhood, which cast doubt on her decision to become a part of their circle. For now, she’d keep her reservations to herself.
    Once everyone had their drinks, Ian sat down across from Flame and Hatch, Raef took a seat on her other side on a huge white leather sofa. Flame got the impression they had something serious on their minds.
    “Raef tells me you fended off some creepers,” Ian said.
    “You’re not starting this shit again,” Hatch answered for her. “Flame caught a couple punks bothering a young woman and well, you know Flame, I couldn’t stop her from whipping out those bloody daggers. It was no big deal. So don’t go making something out of nothing again.”
    “They saw the Sais?” Ian arched his brows.
    Flame nodded. “I think that’s a given.”
    “Damn…this complicates things. I was hoping to catch them off guard.” Ian leaned back in a matching leather chair. His gray eyes took on a serious expression. He raked one hand through his brown curls. “We are night riders, love. So are the creepers.”
    Flame listened intently. “Who are these creepers , as you refer to them?”
    “Hatch didn’t tell you?”
    “No, he hasn’t said much of anything about his friends other than you belong to a motorcycle group that rides at night.”
    “I didn’t think Flame needed her head filled with this nonsense,” growled Hatch. “You’ve been obsessed with these things for years. If they are the fearless immortal creatures you claim to exist, then why did they run from Flame without a fight?”
    “I’m getting to that.” Ian shot him a thwarted look then took a swig of dark ale before explaining. “We have been patrolling the roads at night, protecting people from the creepers. They are disturbed souls who haven’t crossed over yet…and nasty as hell. They look human but have super human strength. We can spot them and help people get away, but we cannot overpower the monsters.”
    “Zombies?” Flame was stunned that Hatch neglected to fill her in on this.
    Ian smiled faintly. “No, not zombies, creepers originated from an isolated source. The creepers share one common trait. If you watch closely, they do not leave footprints. That is how we recognize them,” he told her. “They can be killed, but it’s complicated. In their anger and hate, they stalk to kill. They look like real people…eat, drink, talk like us, and live in remote woodlands. Their leader is an incubus known as the Satellite. We don’t know who he is, though.”
    Flame ignored Hatch rolling his eyes.