This is a free short story based on my new novel, Excalibur. Snacktime At the Seven Eleven John Pirillo Copyright 2018 Arthur faced the man with the shotgun aimed in her direction. She held her service revolver aimed at him. “I die; you die.” “Maybe.” He smiled, his eyes devoid of warmth. “I mean it!” “So do I!” “Looks like we’re going to hell together then,” Arthur chuckled, then fired and dropped at the same time and fired again. His shotgun went off. A second too late. Buckshot spattered her backside. Bastard! She rolled to the right and back onto her feet. He stood there, calmly reloading his shotgun. “I guess you’re not a vampire after all,” he said with a grin. “A what?” “Are you deaf, copper? A vampire!” She looked at the bullet hole in his chest and between his eyes. She hadn’t missed. She felt cold shivers run up and down her spine. Where was backup when you needed one? She’d been stupid to rush into the 7-11 when she saw the man with the gun. Superwoman she wasn’t; she faced something incomprehensible. “What are you?” He finished loading and put his shotgun in the crook of his arm. The store manager was crouched behind the counter, where the gunman could keep an eye on him He glanced at him, motioned with his gun. “Come here, snack!” The store manager, an Indian by birth from Benares, rose slowly with his hands up. “Please, don’t shoot me. I’ve got a wife and children.” The gunman grinned. “Hell, no intention of ruining my snack.” Then so fast that Arthur couldn’t move to stop him, the gunman’s right hand reached out, snatched the store manage by his neck and lifted him into the air. “Let him down!” Arthur shouted, aiming her weapon again. The gunman chuckled casually. “Look, why don’t we just call this even at this point. You shot me; I eat him and we’re all good.” Arthur’s eyes weren’t on the gunman, they were on something else. She flicked her eyes back to the gunman, noting all the hair on his arms that hadn’t been there before they exchanged fire. “Put him down!” She edged closer to her objective. The gunman sighed and shook his head. “We all get hungry sometimes.” “I wait until I’m home to snack.” She edged ever closer, her face to him, her back to what she wanted. The medicine section. A special bottle. “You’re really starting to piss me off; if you hadn’t had garlic with your tacos, you’d be dead now.” “Still got your shotgun.” “That I do.” “Then why not use it?” The Store Manager’s face was turning blue and his hands went limp to his sides. “Now!” Arthur screamed. The gunman tossed the Store Manager to the floor and stomped towards her. “I hate bossy women!” Arthur clasped the bottle she had seen, smashed it hurriedly and tossed it into the gunman’s face, which was slowly transforming into that of a wolf’s face. He froze, spitting out the substance that had sprayed all over his face. “What the…?” Then his furry face exploded into flames. He dropped his shotgun and gripped his throat, making choking sounds and then collapsed to the floor. Arthur glanced to his right where the Store Manager was still gasping for air. “You all right, sir?” The Store Manager nodded. Arthur stepped next to the gunman, whose whole body was beginning to smoke now. “Mercy!” The gunman begged. Arthur held his service revolver up. “Excalibur!” Excalibur in its golden glory appeared in his hand. He crossed his chest in the accepted Christian ritual, and then sliced downwards. The front door of the store slammed open and Dakota came running inside, her weapon drawn, followed by two other policemen. They glanced at the head that rolled towards them, still on fire. Dakota looked up. Arthur holstered his revolver. “How the hell did that happen, Detective Barnes?” “I’ll need a report.” “Got it.” She turned to the Store Manager who rose slowly, eyes on Arthur. “You okay?” “Thanks to the detective I am.” Arthur grinned. “Well, that’s mighty kind of you, partner.” Dakota laughed, and then grimaced. “Stop imitating John Wayne.” “Who?” “You know damn well who!” Arthur blew her a kiss and head out the door. “You know where to find me.” “Like hell I do.” “Then I guess you’ll have to try a little harder, sweet cheeks.” Dakota screamed angrily. “Will someone kill that man for me?” Sergeant Blake eyed her sternly. “Why do you keep letting that man get to you?” She eyed him fiercely. “None of your damned business now let’s clean this place up and skedaddles.” “Now you’re starting to sound like John Wayne.” She gave Sergeant Blake a shut up look and he nodded to his men, one who went outside for a body bag and the other to secure yellow tape and call in to Central. She eyed the burning head. “How can one man have so much hair on their face?” But she already knew the answer. She just didn’t want to admit. Damn Arthur! Why was he always right in the middle of this Halloween bullshit?” She took a deep breath, holstered her weapon and gave the Store Manager a hand up. “Emergency should be on its way as I speak.” “But I’m fine.” She eyed the tears in his throat. “Cut shaving?” He felt his neck and then gave her a horrified look. Outside, Arthur was watching from across Martin Luther Boulevard, his eyes on the Store Manager touching his throat. He sighed. “Guess we’ll be seeing each other again, my friend.” He turned around, shoved his hands into his pockets and walked away. He’d know if the Store Manager was going to turn or not in the next full moon. He hauled out the cell he was beginning to love these days. Thumbed on its recorder. “Note to self, my favorite 7-11, Store Manager. Possible werewolf turn. Check back in thirty days.” He thumbed it off, and then eyed the skies. Not a cloud in sight. The night was warm. But behind him a dead werewolf was warmer still. You can purchase the novel, Excalibur, now at Amazon for $2.99 by double clicking the following link or the image above:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07JQPBCT7 Young King Arthur
Now available at Amazon for $2.99 Young Arthur wasn't famous. Well, sort of, if you count the fact that he's the best threader in his village. But the giants who torment him don't like him. His father and mother abandoned him. He hates the world he lives in; there's so much cruelty and injustice. He'd like to change everything. But how? Journey with Arthur as he meets Merlin for the first time, learns to stand up for himself, finds real courage, discovers the true meaning of love, finds magic that lasts forever and evil that refuses to die. Young King Arthur Now available at Amazon for $2.99 Working on a new series of stories about Merlin and King Arthur. This one is special to me because it explores more deeply how Arthur came to be who he eventually becomes and digs deeper into Merlin's mystical roots, his path of fantasy and magic, starting as a child.
We always wonder how our champions become who they are...the Superman, the Spiderman, the Thor or Captain America, and now I'm going for it and exploring them to the depth I feel they deserve. This particular story digs into the earliest of roots of Merlin, showing how he became bound so closely to nature and the world of magic, and why it was so important for him to do for him ever to gain the humility and lovingness to foster an orphaned son...Arthur...and help guide a brutal world...the old Britains...into an era that promised peace and abundance for all...Camelot! You can help me go further with this epic journey by purchasing this story at Amazon. com. Purchase here! You won't regret the fantastic adventure this story takes you on. It's only 99 cents now and that's a deal for the adventure and magic you will experience. John www.johnpirillo.com Before Merlin rose from the darkness of a world where kindness was rare and man fought man for the simplest of things, he was a boy. A young Merlin.
Before he became the mentor of the Golden King, King Arthur of Camelot, he first had to become a man and it wasn't going to be easy. Young Merlin. Available at Amazon for 99 cents. A read worth traveling for the whole family. Take your children to a world where elves, dragons, magic and thunder gods exist, and where man has not yet invaded it with his anger and lust for power. Young Merlin. Now for sale at Amazon. Young Merlin is now available at Amazon! A fun and magical fantasy filled with adventure and humor.11/28/2015 Before Camelot, before King Arthur. Before it all became the golden age of mankind, he was a child, who played with thunder, and magical creatures of legend.
Available now at Amazon for 99 cents. The Merlin of Camelot is the iceberg we see, but the Young Merlin is the part of the iceberg never seen, a brave young man with a mission he was born to fulfill and a sense of magic and humor unequaled by anyone else. And you can purchase this magical story now at Amazon for only 99 cents! I am posting my works to Amazon as I post this. Should be ready to purchase by tomorrow some time in the morning.
I will post again when it is ready. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone! John https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/593911
Before Camelot that we all know from the many movies and fantasies written, before he became famous as the once and future king, there was a young teenager with hopes and dreams like our own to rise above his station someday and right the wrongs of the world. Arthur is known to t he people about him as an excellent threader, a King of Threads, who is able to take any design and turn it into something wonderful to wear. He is gifted in vision and touch with the garments of others. Little does he realize that one day his golden touch will be raised above the entire lands of the Britains and clutch the great Excalibur that will anoint him with the power of a god. Read it now! Buy at Smashwords for 99cents! Before he was the great King Arthur, he was just a teenager trying to make ends meet in a brutal land of the wealthy who plundered the poor to maintain their status. Tales of a young man destined to become the greatest king ever to rule upon the planet. Read it now! Buy it now at Smashwords for 99cents! The Lady and the Sword |
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