Elise VanCise

Elise Van Cise story HALF, an exciting tale of Romance is quirky, thrilling and action packed. I liken it to the peeling of a sweet Vadalia, layers and layers of character so grab a bag of popcorn and saddle up for the ride! Oh...and leave the light's on."

Penny

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What a ride. Nice, quick action spiced with a few wonderful elements that make the reader feel the intensity.  

Uma

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Just finished chapter five. I have always loved vampire stories since I was a child and saw Bela Lagosi. As your story progresses I eagerly await the next chapter. Just the right touch of eroticism and not too graphic on the gore.

DD

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Oh how I love this story. Each chapter gets better and better. The hint of suspence that is contained in each chapter just makes you want to read the next chapter sooner than later.

MN

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I love it love it love it!

AA

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Great read I was fully engulfed!

Vicky

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Each chapter gets more and more exciting. thank goodness my nails are not too long as they would be bitten to the quick.......

Mary Alice

Thunder rolled and echoed through the sky as Valeska dressed for the evening. She had on her favorite black pants suit, with a sliver antique cameo broach on the collar. Once the finishing touches were done on her makeup she headed down stairs.

“Va-va-va-vooom!” was her greeting as she reached the office floor. Travis was her Tech man, and thought he was the original Texas stud.

“Where’s Marc?” she asked as she headed for the weapons closet. It was more a room at eight by ten foot. Valeska picked out a 9mm semi-automatic tucked into a shoulder holster under the suit jacket, and throwing knives that slipped into her waist band. 

Travis was leaning against a desk opposite the doorway. “Not expecting any trouble tonight are we, V?”

Valeska exited the room as she gathered her keys. “That’s what we’re hired for, to expect trouble. Where’s Marc?”

Travis saw that she was going to be all business tonight. “He’s already there making sure all the ‘precautions’ are in place.”  Valeska nodded; she could rely on Marcus Zane come hell or high water to see that a job was done right. “Good, let’s go to work.”

Valeska Gorstef was the owner and head security agent of Black Knight Securities; personal protection, bail bonds, bounty hunting, etc. Tonight they were hired to protect the CEO of Blaze Enterprises, Alex Blazen.  There had been several death threats against him specifically at tonight’s charity event. Marc had handled the preparations for the event, so all she had to do was show up and follow Blazen around while he schmoozed. 

That was the part she liked. Valeska didn’t like to fuss with all the details of preparation. Just let her get there and do her job; basically she wasn’t a people person.

The Blaze Enterprises building was a modern wonder of steel and glass. They had arrived a little early; the event started at seven giving them time for things to go wrong as the Texan would say. Marc met them at the door. Travis looked up as he unloaded his equipment bag from the SUV. “He looks pissed.” 

Valeska sighed as she followed Travis’s line of sight. Marc was the opposite of easy-going Travis. Marcus Zane looked like the typical body guard; big muscles, square face, short brown hair, eyes to match and at six foot four, very intimidating. “Problem, Marc?” Marc was a pure professional, always kept his cool but hated anything that would screw up his schedule.

“Nothing major,” he said shaking his head. “There are only two people on their security team with any real experience. Most are green; when Trav gets patched in we need to rerun checks on them all.”  Real experience for Marc was ex-cop or military.

Valeska frowned, “Someone tweak your radar?”

Marc shook his head.  “Naw, just don’t like rent a cop kids.”

She patted him on the shoulder and headed for the elevator. As the doors opened the lights flickered; the storm outside began to build. “Great.” She headed for the secretary’s desk and was pleased to see the guard by the door and that he was awake.  “I’m here to see Mr. Blazen, Valeska Gorstef.”

The secretary looked to be in her sixty’s very neat in her dress and work space. She smiled that ‘customer service’ smile. “He’s been expecting you Ms. Gorstef. Go right on in.” The guard opened the door as she approached. 

The office was huge and luxurious, with ancient tapestries and sculptures, fine rugs and antique furnishings.  At a large meeting table sat two men, one of which rose to greet her. He was tall with dark shoulder length hair and she could tell he worked out but not overly. But what gave him that handsome brilliance were his eyes, they were an emerald window to his soul. “Ah, Ms. Gorstef.  I’m glad to finally meet you!” He shook her hand gently. 

The other man now stood, Valeska nodded to him coolly. “Mr. Marsh, I see you are well.” 

Blazen looked puzzled. “You know each other?”

Gavin Marsh was the typical rich guy, all flash and fashion, his blond hair was combed back, his blue eyes sparkling in the lamplight. Marsh bowed to her as in days of old. “Yes, it seems like a hundred years since our last meeting, Ms. Gorstef.”

Valeska tried to remain detached but there is nothing like rubbing salt in a wound. “At least that long ago, Mr. Marsh.”

With a snide expression Marsh turned toward his host. “Alex, I will leave you to her capable hands.  Please consider my offer.”  Blazen shook his hand as they walked toward the office door.

 “I will look through your proposal but I don’t think it’s going to change my mind.”

Marsh smiled and it looked forced. “Please let me know your final decision as soon as possible.”

When the door shut behind him Alex Blazen sighed heavily with relief and Valeska eyed him curiously. He smiled shyly. “Sorry, I know it’s not very professional but that guy just gives me the creeps.”  He walked over to the cabinet where bottles of fine liquors were lined. “Would you like a drink? I need one.”

Valeska noticed with interest that he poured him self not the brandy she expected, but a cup of coffee and added a spoonful of cream and half a packet of sweetener. He folded the packet over and set it aside for next time.

 “No thank you. My crew is doing the final set up and checks.” He finally settled on a sofa in a sitting area of the office. Valeska walked over to one of the tapestries there, though it was very old the colors were still vivid and most of the fine stitches were still tight. She remembered this pattern; it depicted Mt. Olympus and she wondered if Mr. Blazen fancied himself a god.

She felt him shift behind her. “That is one of my favorite pieces of the collection.”

Valeska turned to him.

“It’s still very beautiful.” He watched her as she admired the piece like she had seen it before.  “Still, that is an interesting choice of words. Especially considering the age of the piece.” 

“It was woven about the mid 1300’s.”

“Yes”, he couldn’t keep the surprise out of his voice. Damn, she had to stay focused Marsh had rattled her.

“Mr. Blazen has there been any changes to the guest list since we received it this morning?” 

He recovered his stature as well. “No, no additions. Everyone should be here setting up as instructed by Mr. Zane.  He is very … efficient.”  Valeska couldn’t help the small smile that played at the corner of her mouth; Marcus Zane was efficient bordering on anal.

“Yes, he is very reliable. I should let you finish getting ready for the event. I’ll be waiting outside.”

Alex Blazen smiled all the way to his eyes. “Sure, I won’t be long, I just need to change and fax this proposal to my board.” Valeska nodded and stepped into the foyer.

When the door shut, Alex kicked himself. “A beautiful woman walks in and you turn into a babbling fool!”  As he dressed he couldn’t get the image of her face as she looked at the tapestry out of his mind. She couldn’t have seen it before tonight. The only other home it had was a castle in Europe; it had hung there since the mid 1300’s.

Valeska called Marcus as soon as she left Balzen’s office. “Marc what’s your location?”

“I’m back in the lobby. So far all the employee checks are clear.”

“Good. Make sure Gavin Marsh has left the building. He left Balzen’s office about five minutes ago.”

“Yeah, he’s here in the lobby making some calls. I’ll make sure he is tossed before the guests start to arrive.”

Valeska had that heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach that usually meant it was going to be a long night.  “Thanks Marc, just don’t let him out of your sight until his limo speeds away.”

Balzen’s office was on the tenth floor the waiting area was floor to ceiling glass. The view was breathtaking, as the sky darkened with the dying light and the storm clouds gathered. “Maybe it will pass, just rumble and go away.” Like an answer from heaven lighting flashed and thunder clapped, then rain began pelting the glass. Valeska closed her eyes and felt the rhythm of the drops through the cooling glass.

She felt movement behind her and smelled Balzen’s cologne, heard him take in breath to speak. “I’ve always loved the rain,” he said. “Though I’m sure it can make your job more difficult, Ms. Gorstef.”

She turned to him, his suit was charcoal black and he wore a deep green colored shirt that darkened his eyes, no tie.  Before she drifted over her personally drawn line Valeska responded. “It can. We should get down stairs your guest will be arriving soon.”

He nodded and they got on the elevator. The event was being held in the atrium on the first floor. Too much glass for comfort but there was also a lot of security to cover the area. Travis greeted them as the doors slid open. “Party favor for ya, V.”

He handed her an ear piece and clipped the tiny mike under her lapel. “Mr. Blazen this is my Tech wizard, Travis Criton.” They shook hands.

“Pleased to meet you sir.  V, I’m waiting on two reports to come back yet but all the others have checked out.”

“Let me know as soon as they come back.”  Travis left to run his final tests as Alex gestured for Valeska to go in before him. “Mr. Blazen, I appreciate your being a gentleman but please just pretend I’m not here. I’m your shadow tonight, you don’t need to introduce me to anyone or worry about my comfort. I’m your protector, not your date.”

He seemed a little ruffled but smiled, nodded and went into the reception area.  She kicked herself, ease off girl, don’t be such a witch. 

The guests flowed through the reception lines. Valeska noted each one. An hour and a half later Blazen was moving through the crowd thanking them for coming and for their generous donation for the Children’s Adoption Fund.  Valeska was impressed as he greeted each patron by name, remembering the smallest detail to ask about.

He tried to resist the urge to look back at her.  When he would wonder where she was, his shadow, he would catch glimpses of her as he turned his head or her reflection in the glass. Otherwise she was a ghost, a spirit passing in and out of the mass. None of the guest even noticed her following him around.

It was about eleven o’clock when the party started to break up.  Valeska was off to the side of Blazen as he bid goodnight to Mr. and Mrs. Pulaski.  As they walked away he turned to her. “I know it’s a no-no, but you’ve been following me all night, would you like something to eat or drink?” 

Valeska tried to see through his intentions. “No thank you, Mr. Blazen. I’m fine.”

He handed her a glass of punch. “Call me Alex, please. I would feel better if you at least had something to drink.”

She accepted the glass feeling like she needed to make nice after copping her famous attitude. “Thank you. Tell me about the Children’s Adoption Fund.”

Alex Blazen smiled all the way to his eyes; it was obviously near and dear to him. “We give money to people who want to adopt.  Most potential parents don’t have the cash for the lawyers or to bring a child from another country. We try to encourage them to adopt locally and to give the older kids a chance, not just demand a baby.”

Valeska raised her glass to him. “A wonderful cause, too many are left without a home.”

Alex noted a touch of sadness in her silver eyes. Travis’ voice came over her earpiece, “V, I got a hit.”

Valeska frowned as she put the glass down and moved closer to Blazen. “Go ahead, Trav.” She began scanning the area.

“One of the rent-a-cops, Bradley Plain, was hired three months ago for the night shift.”

“Rap sheet? Please tell me he rotates to days.”

“Rape, assault with a deadly and my personal favorite, drunk and disorderly.  And nights only per his request.”

“Peachy. Do we have his location?” She started to move toward the elevators.

Blazen worried. “Ms. Gorstef, is there a problem?”

“Possibly,” she spoke curtly trying to move calmly but quickly to get her client out of harms way.

“Valeska, Plain’s not at his post and I can’t pin him.” Marc’s voice called in her ear.

Travis replied, “I’ll start a search by camera.”

Valeska reached out. “Trav, I’m going to take Mr. Blazen back to his office until we make contact.”

“Understood,” Travis responded the tapping of the keyboard in her ear.           

Valeska took Balzen’s arm and led him through the lobby as the lights went out. “Damn, don’t stop moving.” 

Alex let her lead him through the darkness. As lightning flashed he saw she had pulled her gun. They turned the hall and were almost to the stairs when something slammed into him. Valeska pulled the attacker off and stood in front of Blazen. She fired two rounds point blank when they lunged again. “Get up Mr. Blazen, we’ve got to go.”

Alex looked at the man lying on the floor. “But you shot him in the chest.”  As he finished the sentence the man on the floor began to rise.  “What the hell?”

“My thoughts exactly. Trav, ID?”

“Marc’s on the way, we’ve got your position, it’s got to be Plain.”

She tried to stay between Plain and his target. He made a grab for her, pulling her down and she threw him off. Plain came at Blazen again, jumping over Valeska. She grabbed his leg and pulled him down before he could reach Blazen. “Mr. Blazen, head for the stairs!”

Plain regained his footing and pulled his own gun. He fired twice one bullet went to far left. Valeska moved in front of Alex and the second bullet hit her in the left shoulder. She fired again, one bullet in the head, two more in the heart.

Marc came up behind Plain. “I got him, get up stairs!”

As she started to open the door she felt a presence and pushed Alex aside, “Get back!” She fired the rest of the clip into the door and pulled the knives from her waist as the door slammed open and another unknown burst out. 

The new assailant grabbed for her and she danced out of reach. He struck her and she slid back into the wall dazed. The assailant pulled Alex down and pinned him against the wall. Blazen tried to fight back but the assailant seemed to have superhuman strength.

Then the light flashed again and Alex could see his face. His skin was paled; his eyes were solid black, but his teeth. He had fangs. The assassin pulled Alex’s head back to expose the line of his neck.

Valeska had recovered and pulled the creature off Alex and threw him across the room. The thing rose and ran for her; she lunged to the side and plunged one blade home.  He screamed in anger.

“He belongs to me girl!”

Valeska positioned herself between them. “As the saying goes, over my dead body!”