Title: Lord of Thundertown
Author: O.F. Cieri
Publisher: NineStar Press
Release Date: January 6, 2020
Heat Level: 1 – No Sex
Pairing: No Romance
Length: 64800
Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, LGBT, fantasy, monsters, magic, New York, contemporary, urban fantasy
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Synopsis
In the movies, Thundertown was depicted
like a real town, with boundaries, Folk-run businesses, and a government. In
real life, Thundertown was a block here or there, three businesses on the same
side of the street, an unconnected sewer main, or a single abandoned building.
like a real town, with boundaries, Folk-run businesses, and a government. In
real life, Thundertown was a block here or there, three businesses on the same
side of the street, an unconnected sewer main, or a single abandoned building.
When an epidemic of missing person cases
is on the rise, the police refuse to act. Instead, Alex Delatorre goes to
Thundertown for answers and finds clues leading to a new Lord trying to unite
the population.
is on the rise, the police refuse to act. Instead, Alex Delatorre goes to
Thundertown for answers and finds clues leading to a new Lord trying to unite
the population.
No one has seen the Lord, and the closer
Alex gets to him, the farther Alex gets from his path home.
Alex gets to him, the farther Alex gets from his path home.
Excerpt
Lord of Thundertown
O.F. Cieri © 2020
All Rights Reserved
Prologue
Sam was tired. All day long, she moved
furniture in a small, dirty room in a warehouse in Brooklyn. She got on the
train to go home. The conductor announced service delays, and Sam got as
comfortable as she could in the glossy plastic seat.
furniture in a small, dirty room in a warehouse in Brooklyn. She got on the
train to go home. The conductor announced service delays, and Sam got as
comfortable as she could in the glossy plastic seat.
There was no flash of lightning to
signal a change. The insidious thing about the Aether was that humans were
ill-equipped at handling it. Children had a better chance of being aware of it
during a power surge, although they usually experienced it in migraines and
blurred visions. The Folk handled the Aether best, and usually very
judiciously, because the Aether was a force of nature that couldn’t be reasoned
with to respect private property or the sanctity of life. It activated when
called and filled the parameters set out for it, and any gap in logic released
a flood of unintended consequences. The only sign of something going wrong came
from the lights in the subway shutting off abruptly.
signal a change. The insidious thing about the Aether was that humans were
ill-equipped at handling it. Children had a better chance of being aware of it
during a power surge, although they usually experienced it in migraines and
blurred visions. The Folk handled the Aether best, and usually very
judiciously, because the Aether was a force of nature that couldn’t be reasoned
with to respect private property or the sanctity of life. It activated when
called and filled the parameters set out for it, and any gap in logic released
a flood of unintended consequences. The only sign of something going wrong came
from the lights in the subway shutting off abruptly.
Even then, Sam didn’t panic. There were
electrical surges all the time, and the lights usually came on in seconds.
Instead, she remembered taking the subway with her elementary school class and
shrieking with the other girls whenever the lights flickered, thrilled by the
shock.
electrical surges all the time, and the lights usually came on in seconds.
Instead, she remembered taking the subway with her elementary school class and
shrieking with the other girls whenever the lights flickered, thrilled by the
shock.
The train hit a hard bump, but rather
than rocking back onto the track, the train lurched and tipped erratically. She
couldn’t see the other passengers, but she could hear the impact as they
thudded against the far wall. Sam managed to hold her grip as a long-empty soda
can flew past her head and empty sunflower seed shells rained past. Her heart
gripped in her chest as she came face to face with the fact that she’d cast her
shot and landed the one-in-a-billion chance to climb aboard a train as it
tipped into the river. She was only surprised by how dark the sky was.
than rocking back onto the track, the train lurched and tipped erratically. She
couldn’t see the other passengers, but she could hear the impact as they
thudded against the far wall. Sam managed to hold her grip as a long-empty soda
can flew past her head and empty sunflower seed shells rained past. Her heart
gripped in her chest as she came face to face with the fact that she’d cast her
shot and landed the one-in-a-billion chance to climb aboard a train as it
tipped into the river. She was only surprised by how dark the sky was.
The Aether, according to scientific
inquiry, does not exist. It can not be touched, seen, smelled, tasted or heard,
nor can it be weighed or measured in any other way with tools. The Aether is
completely undetectable by any means except the brain; and not clearly.
inquiry, does not exist. It can not be touched, seen, smelled, tasted or heard,
nor can it be weighed or measured in any other way with tools. The Aether is
completely undetectable by any means except the brain; and not clearly.
The train twisted, and so did Sam’s
grip. Her wrist popped as gravity wrenched it in an unnatural direction, and
she fell, landing feet first on the seat she’d flown out of. Pain shot up her
ankles, but the sharp jolt barely distracted her from the rattling of the
carriage shaking across a hard surface. The high-pitched scream of sharp edges
scraping across metal echoed throughout the train, and then suddenly ceased.
grip. Her wrist popped as gravity wrenched it in an unnatural direction, and
she fell, landing feet first on the seat she’d flown out of. Pain shot up her
ankles, but the sharp jolt barely distracted her from the rattling of the
carriage shaking across a hard surface. The high-pitched scream of sharp edges
scraping across metal echoed throughout the train, and then suddenly ceased.
Humans have always shared the earth with
Folk. There are records as early as the Kingdom of Ur, which mentions Other
Lands that exist parallel to the common one. There are records as early as the
written word of Great Beasts and supernaturally gifted nobility.
Folk. There are records as early as the Kingdom of Ur, which mentions Other
Lands that exist parallel to the common one. There are records as early as the
written word of Great Beasts and supernaturally gifted nobility.
Sam turned on the flashlight of her
phone. The windows were broken, and the foot of the train punctured through the
floor near the door to the back. Someone was on the floor, trying to pull
themselves up by climbing the train seat but not finding the friction, somehow.
Another body sat upright, one shoe off. Slowly it raised its head and looked
down at a hand that dangled lifelessly off their wrist. There was a guttural
sob of pain.
phone. The windows were broken, and the foot of the train punctured through the
floor near the door to the back. Someone was on the floor, trying to pull
themselves up by climbing the train seat but not finding the friction, somehow.
Another body sat upright, one shoe off. Slowly it raised its head and looked
down at a hand that dangled lifelessly off their wrist. There was a guttural
sob of pain.
When ancient kingdoms annexed new
territory, they would often discover hostile members of the Folk. The ruler of
the invading army would have to choose whether to destroy them, or bribe them.
Soldiers throughout history have been immortalized for slaying Great Beasts in
the service of their King, and similarly, simple farmers and fishermen were
elevated to nobility by accepting the ruler’s authority, and recognized as the
Lord of the Forest, or Lady of the Lake.
territory, they would often discover hostile members of the Folk. The ruler of
the invading army would have to choose whether to destroy them, or bribe them.
Soldiers throughout history have been immortalized for slaying Great Beasts in
the service of their King, and similarly, simple farmers and fishermen were
elevated to nobility by accepting the ruler’s authority, and recognized as the
Lord of the Forest, or Lady of the Lake.
“Are you ok?” Sam asked. The words
slurred in her mouth. She couldn’t be sure she was understood. She tried to stand,
but her weight pitched in a direction she didn’t expect and she stumbled. She
pocketed her phone and dug out a small keychain light instead. More durable,
she thought. Better use of battery power. “Are you ok?”
slurred in her mouth. She couldn’t be sure she was understood. She tried to stand,
but her weight pitched in a direction she didn’t expect and she stumbled. She
pocketed her phone and dug out a small keychain light instead. More durable,
she thought. Better use of battery power. “Are you ok?”
The Lords were meant to be the arm of the
state regarding the Folk, any Aetheric or ‘magical’ phenomenon. However,
reports of erratic or unpredictable behavior lead Government officials to tap
more amiable outsiders for traditional Lordship roles.
state regarding the Folk, any Aetheric or ‘magical’ phenomenon. However,
reports of erratic or unpredictable behavior lead Government officials to tap
more amiable outsiders for traditional Lordship roles.
It still sounded like she was drunk.
There was a click behind her, and the rattle of the door between the train cars
sliding open. The carriage was bathed in a dim orange glow. When Sam looked
behind her, she saw the train conductor holding a construction lantern. She was
an older black woman, gold braids disheveled.
There was a click behind her, and the rattle of the door between the train cars
sliding open. The carriage was bathed in a dim orange glow. When Sam looked
behind her, she saw the train conductor holding a construction lantern. She was
an older black woman, gold braids disheveled.
“Is anybody hurt?”
None of this affects the quality of life
for everyday Folk. Many preferred to live in the country where private property
and building laws allowed them to maintain their own standards. While cities
serve as hubs of commerce, the practical effect leaves many at the mercy of a
standard of living, including enforced daytime activity, above-ground
dwellings, little access to fresh or saltwater, and little tolerance for
symbiotic parasite bonding. As a result, many of the Folk engage in creative
means to maintain their health and well-being.
for everyday Folk. Many preferred to live in the country where private property
and building laws allowed them to maintain their own standards. While cities
serve as hubs of commerce, the practical effect leaves many at the mercy of a
standard of living, including enforced daytime activity, above-ground
dwellings, little access to fresh or saltwater, and little tolerance for
symbiotic parasite bonding. As a result, many of the Folk engage in creative
means to maintain their health and well-being.
“Yeah–” Sam began.
A voice cut her off, shrill and
panicked. “What’s going on? What’s happening? Why aren’t we moving?”
panicked. “What’s going on? What’s happening? Why aren’t we moving?”
The conductor raised her hand and tried
to quiet the shouting passenger. “Calm down, please. I don’t know, but before
we find out, I want to get everybody off the train. Is anybody hurt too bad to
walk?”
to quiet the shouting passenger. “Calm down, please. I don’t know, but before
we find out, I want to get everybody off the train. Is anybody hurt too bad to
walk?”
“No,” said the person with the broken
wrist. They sounded like they were in tears, muttering through chattering teeth;
“No, no, no, no, no–”
wrist. They sounded like they were in tears, muttering through chattering teeth;
“No, no, no, no, no–”
“Good,” the conductor spoke slowly and
calmly. “Everyone, please follow behind me in an orderly line.”
calmly. “Everyone, please follow behind me in an orderly line.”
Thundertown is a well-known example,
arising from an illegal settlement dug into an outcropping of Manhattan Gneiss
in New York City. According to records, the Thundertown population was
predominantly immigrant, with few English speakers in its first few decades.
arising from an illegal settlement dug into an outcropping of Manhattan Gneiss
in New York City. According to records, the Thundertown population was
predominantly immigrant, with few English speakers in its first few decades.
The conductor walked down the aisle of
the train, balancing against the wall for support. She led a trail of dirty and
terrified people behind her, inching along as if huddling for warmth from the
glow of the lantern. As she passed, Sam saw her holding a twelve-year-old girl
to her waist, clutching her hand tightly. The small girl looked calm and
supported the older woman’s elbow as if carrying her gently above the crowd.
the train, balancing against the wall for support. She led a trail of dirty and
terrified people behind her, inching along as if huddling for warmth from the
glow of the lantern. As she passed, Sam saw her holding a twelve-year-old girl
to her waist, clutching her hand tightly. The small girl looked calm and
supported the older woman’s elbow as if carrying her gently above the crowd.
The City of New York has repeatedly
dissolved the Thundertown settlement.
dissolved the Thundertown settlement.
A pair of doors hung open a few
carriages in. The conductor dipped her light outside and pressed her toe down,
testing to see if it was safe to leave. She clutched the side of the train door
as she lowered down, her foot swinging out blindly for something to anchor
itself to. Slowly, she touched down on something, and slowly she shifted her
weight off the train and onto the ground beneath. The ground was flat, uniform,
and unremarkable.
carriages in. The conductor dipped her light outside and pressed her toe down,
testing to see if it was safe to leave. She clutched the side of the train door
as she lowered down, her foot swinging out blindly for something to anchor
itself to. Slowly, she touched down on something, and slowly she shifted her
weight off the train and onto the ground beneath. The ground was flat, uniform,
and unremarkable.
Unfortunately, the area is too
well-known to remain closed for long.
well-known to remain closed for long.
There were no train tracks.
Purchase
NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Meet the Author
O F Cieri lives in New York, where she spends most of her time thinking about anything but what she’s doing at the moment. Her favorite parts of history are the fight scenes. Lord of Thundertown is her first published work.
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