HELLCAT Read online

  Hellcat

  A Mystical Slayer Novella

  - By Michael W. Huard

  Legend says that in mankind’s fallen hour, a hero will rise.

  In our story it shall be a sisterhood of kick butt women.

  Copyright © Michael W. Huard 2017

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

  The novel is entirely a work of fiction Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. For requests, information, and more contact Michael W. Huard at [email protected].

  Available in ebook and print.

  First edition: 2017

  Also By

  Michael W. Huard

  Land of the Free

  A Mystical Slayer’s novel

  Hellcat

  A Mystical Slayer's novella

  Rising

  A Mystical Slayer's Prequel, coming in 2018

  Hope Bringers

  Book two in the Mystical Slayer's Trilogy, coming in 2018

  Sisters of the Dawns Early Light

  A Mystical Slayer Novella, coming in 2018

  Subscribe to my newsletter for all the latest in updates at: https://michaelwhuard.wordpress.com/

  Table of Contents

  Also ByMichael W. Huard

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Personal note from Michael:

  About the Author:

  Prologue

  The sisterhood was growing. It was becoming apparent that one day, a serious uprising was on the horizon, and the greedy egomaniacs running old America were in for a rude awakening. However, these freedom fighting women needed funding, and each of them were doing their part to earn as much money as possible.

  The natural born hellcat, Mahira, went from town to town and from city to city to earn her pay. And Mahira knew of no better way to make her money than by kicking some serious ass.

  Raegan, the sisterhood’s wise leader, had her little news reporting job, while Jansa, a prized healer, spread her medical and healing work far and wide. Sinaye, the team’s coveted scientist, was always showcasing her robotics expertise, while Zaey, the sister from the land down under, practiced new age law. Then there was Chaya, traveling all over the busted nation to give her wonderful and inspirational speeches.

  That left Paka and Kanya, working hard on Planet Mars as guards, and who could forget Envy and her endless spy missions? The remaining highest operatives in the sisterhood were Wynne who taught shooting, and the crazy and alternative Blu who was a seasoned pilot and often found herself flying all over the country in her wicked hummer spaceship.

  Last but not least, we have Tyne Gem, another of the more experienced sisterhood members, a special cyborg that helped any of the others as and when called for.

  These amazing women had managed to form several home base locations to enable them to continue with their mission. More and more people were joining them, and their name was spreading far and wide.

  One day, they would put together what the legendary founder and Mystical Slayers' mother had always hoped for; a mission to take down the tyranny of the rich and wealthy Y-Wood Corporation and thus topple anyone who attempted to take freedom from the good people of the now fallen United States of America.

  The Corporation in the current year, 3016, rule most of the bigger regions of the country. They are fueled by advanced technology, and a huge regime of robotic military soldiers. The Corporation had known very little of the growing sisterhood, or of their plans for all-out destruction, but all that was about to change.

  Chapter 1

  The large, two-story Delaware barn doors swung open, and out walked a little firecracker with a bushel of dirty-blond hair and a nasty sword to boot. She wasn’t very tall; maybe five-foot three, but she carried a lean and muscular fighting machine of a body. Unlike other female contestants, she had the looks needed to get the crowd's attention.

  In behind Mahira strode her sidekick, another attractive woman with lighter blond hair, much paler skin, and the brightest of blue sparkling eyes. Two blonds in a gladiator event, especially with their looks, yup, they definitely had everyone's attention today.

  The fortified battle arena was not much of a grand structure. The wooden walls were spiked along the top to fend off the unpaid visitors, and they added a little toughness to the look of the place. The organizers of these bloodthirsty matches had arranged long, thick logs all around the edges of the central dirt pit, which made great seats for those brave enough to get even closer to the action.

  For spectators wanting to keep a safe distance, makeshift stands had been done up for extra seating. These stood further back from the arena and rose high above the fighting pit. It was here that crowds of people had gathered for such an exciting spectacle this afternoon. The shouts, screams, taunts, and cat calls had begun. The people of a fallen nation had little to relieve their anxiety and boredom these days, so a motley crew had gathered here for this event, and they were already letting loose.

  A rather large, bald, and quite hairy fellow awaited the new contestant as she entered the playing surface. The sight of such an opponent made him clam up and fire a big yellow splat of spit to the ground. He was easily six-foot two with a long brown and gray beard tied up at his chin. He was covered with tattoos and piercings from head to toe. He had rings on each side of his nose, on his lips, in his ears, and everywhere else in between. He looked over to where the local hoard of fist raising people had their attention, and his eyes fell on the two women gladiators.

  His giant hands brandished a large, two-headed axe, and he knew that the little blondie would soon be feeling its cleave.

  Mahira and Tyne Gem moved ahead to the center of the pit. He glared at them while tossing his axe from hand to hand. A smirk of craziness grew across his face, and his eyes were on the lookout for blood.

  Tyne surveyed the crowd, and she estimated there to be roughly a thousand people in the audience today. She couldn't see any Corporation thugs or robots about. She knew that today was going to be an easy one. Tyne then nodded to her fellow sister. “He’s a brute, but that’s about it. Use your skill, speed, and timing,” she said, then winked at her friend and stepped back, moving to behind the perimeter walls of the pit.

  Tyne Gem was the corner person today, but she felt it was a silly title. The fights were to the death, so a job like hers was more about collecting the money or the dead person you represented after the fight had ended. There wasn't much of anything else to do. Cyborgs like Tyne Gem also had to be very careful. The Y-Wood Corporation had strict laws against cyborgs, and if not directly under their governing hand, someone like Tyne would be apprehended if her true nature was revealed. However, she did have extended vision and extremely high intelligence, and she would enjoy using these characteristics to help her sister with these fights as they were presented before their opponents.

  Mahira was wearing a leather skirt today, and her usual halter-like top in the colors of red, white, and blue. It was her signature look, and it had grown on all that witnessed the wildcat in action. She dropped to a knee, barely looking at her barbarian opponent, leaned on her long sword hilt and did a traditional act of prayer, followed by looking up with raised arms and pointing to the sky.

  Hecklers in the crowd cheered out for brutality, and
money takers walked about collecting bets for the fight. The simple rules were known throughout most of fallen America; win or die!

  The big beast of a man spat again before the little woman and bellowed a taunting battle rage as he ran directly at her. He screamed, “You will break! I shall split you in two! Roooarrrrrrrr!”

  The crowd went bonkers and the fight began. Mahira ducked and spun about, making the barbarian miss his opening sweeping axe cut. He ran by her and turned back to face her. “Grahhhhhhhhhhh,” he yelled as he came at her again. She waited and waited, and just at the last second, she cut left, slicing her blade across the giant’s midsection. She then turned to watch his pained reaction while smoothly reversing the grip of her sword.

  He was cut, but he did not seem to care. “Fucking bitchhhhhhhhhhhhh,” he cried out, looking down at his open wound. He paused for a moment, and then waved his big axe in the air all about. Mahira expected him to fake this time as he cautiously began to move towards her. He tried to fool her with an overhead cut and then acted as if he was about to swing his axe at her small legs, but she did not flinch. He roared in anger, swung the axe from his left shoulder and down across her right side. He wanted to take her arm off with such a swing.

  This time, with her reverse sword grip in waiting, she dropped to one knee under the beast's swing and sliced deep into his inner thigh.

  The fanatic audience cheered louder; they were having the time of their lives.

  The rugged giant was distracted by the uproar and had now lost his train of thought. How in the world could this little chick be getting the better of him? He decided he did not need his axe and tossed it to the dirt.

  “Who are you?” he cried out like a madman.

  Mahira growled an answer under her breath, “I am someone you don’t want to screw with!”

  He charged at her. He would grab her into a bear-hug and squeeze the living shit out of this pipsqueak. Mahira dove under his reach, her sword biting again into his stomach. She rolled to her feet and quickly swung twice, cutting the giant across his left arm, and then across his right shoulder from behind. He whirled about in anger with blood spewing out from his large frame.

  He came forward again and reached out, but she timed her thrust perfectly. Just as he thought he could grasp her, the little gladiator’s sword went into his neck and straight out the other side of his barbarian throat. He slouched to the sand and died instantly. This little lady was no ordinary woman. She was a Mystical Slayer.

  Back in the large barn, Tyne helped her friend to rest and replenish. It was a very hot day, and Mahira was soaked with sweat, dirt, and the blood of her foe. However, she had little time before her next match. Tyne wiped Mahira down, gave her spring water, and helped her sister to calm down from the highs of life or death combat. They discussed her next fight for several minutes before taking a moment to sit in silence.

  This helper, Tyne Gem being her full name, was not sweating at all. Mostly because she was not entirely human, not that the crowd today knew anything of her being any different.

  “Breathe, that’s it, just breathe,” Tyne instructed her friend. “As to my observations, you did not take any wounds in the fight, so you should be fine to go on.”

  Mahira looked to her sister, “I’m fine. I'm just looking forward to my next opponent.” Tyne marveled at her energy as Mahira smiled. “I feel great, let’s kick some more butt, get that big bag of money and then get the hell out of here.” Her trainer could not agree more.

  Mahira motioned to her sister that it was time for another syringe. “We might not get out of this place alive without fighting a whole lot of spectators. They will probably be mighty pissed off when I win this thing.” Tyne removed a purple syringe and gave her sister a dose of Starigen 6280, a formula cherished by the sisterhood, which was founded and utilized for enhancements by all its most notable members. Mahira took the needle and sighed loudly, “Ahhhhhh, now I’m ready to go!”

  These little outposts were known for breaking out into riots when certain fighters lost, more so because of angry owners and the loss of bets. The Y-Wood Corporation controlled all the money these days, and their central banking system electronically held pretty much all the country's currency. However, especially in these off-beat locales, people still liked to have their own small purses of coins and old dollar bills.

  Chapter 2

  Mahira’s next opponent was now seen to be entering the pit. He too had won his first fight and was playing up to the anxious crowd. This guy was more of a nimble type, and he had a long staff in his hands, which he spun about to get the audience all pumped up. He was surely damn good with that stick. His movements were smooth and appeared precise. His name did not matter to most, but he was announced as Toothless Thomas. He beamed with pride at his own introduction, and his gummy smile explained the reason for such a nickname. Having only a single front tooth did not stop him grinning from ear to ear as the young blond came to join him in the fighting pit.

  Thomas wore his long brown hair in a ponytail and fiddled with his thick mustache as his opponent appeared. He called to her before she had time to greet him or even do her little meditation thing.

  “It is a good day, my dear,” he so boldly announced. “Are you feeling lucky?”

  Mahira had no interest in his little psyche-out games. She briefly looked to the sky and took a stance, sword tip pointing at Thomas, her blade now resting on her front forearm. She crouched slightly and gave him a sly grin. Tyne had already prepped her for this match, and her words lingered in the back of Mahira's head. “He is all finesse, no power. He will try to trick you and knock you out with his staff.”

  From high up in the stands, the hairy host announced the start of the second round of competition, and everyone jumped from their seats to witness round two.

  Thomas twirled his staff from side to side to put a barrier in front of him as he went at Mahira. He then swung low at her leg, just enough to get her attention as he quickly switched and went high on the same side. The low fake was only enough to make her lift her front leg slightly, nothing more, and his second, higher attack, she swiftly knocked aside with her sword.

  “Very good,” he remarked. “You’re pretty slick for a girl,” he added with a small bow, trying to take her off her game.

  This time he jabbed the end of his staff at her before flipping it at her head, but she jumped to the side and made him miss. He came with a flurry of staff swings, first left, then right, and then left again. She blocked each one and swung back with a cut that barely missed as Thomas leaned away, puckering his lips at Mahira as she came in quite close.

  A few people in the audience got the crowd riled up, and many were now yelling for blood. They screamed for murder and mayhem as both combatants circled one another. Someone must have pulled out of a bet because a skirmish then broke out in the middle of the crowd, but fists and foul language were considered quite the norm at smaller venues like this.

  Thomas proceeded with a double leg attack. He smashed his stick to her right leg, flipped it over and went in again for the same leg. The small woman defended both blows as he flipped his stick again and this time went for her left leg. He almost hit her, but much to his growing frustration, he still missed. Mahira’s counter cut sliced home. Thomas hardly felt it, but blood had started to run steadily down his neck. He reached for it, looked at the blood on his hand and nodded to the pint-sized warrior in respect of her combative smoothness.

  Before he could attack again, Mahira launched herself at him, flying high above him and driving her sword directly into his heart. Thomas dropped back hard to the turf. He had even more respect for the woman now, she was pretty good for a girl, and then he was no more.

  Once back in the resting area, Tyne warned Mahira that the people outside the fighting pit were getting antsy. They, as usual, wanted her to bleed. Tyne Gem was certainly prepared for any possible outside interferences. She had two thin laser rifles installed in her
own arms. These could extract and be fully operational within a matter of seconds.

  Mahira rested in the barn. She tried to remain focused, taking deep breaths and drinking some more water. “Who is my final opponent?” she asked her comrade. The blue-eyed android started to go over all the details.

  Soon enough, the final match was at hand. This time, the local big shot was to be introduced last. Tyne had watched his earlier fights and had her sister ready to rumble.

  He was a boxer, so to speak, and preferred open hand combat. He was tall and also had a long reach. The crowd of people chanted his name, “Batto, Batto, Batto!” But first, the young woman dressed in stars and stripes entered the combat stage. She went to the center and knelt before the crowd. Again, now leaning on her sword hilt, she recited a small prayer and pointed to the sky. After a moment, she was back up and ready to rumble.

  Batto now emerged from a side cabin. He was a mixture of African and Armenian with dark tanned skin and a tough frame. He only carried two jagged long knives for weapons. His jet-black hair was partially shaved, with only a thin strip left down the center of his wide head. Tribal tattoos covered his arms and shoulders, and his silver teeth gleamed to the roaring crowd as he made his entrance and pounded his chest to the spectators.

  He wanted the fight to be in close. Mahira and Tyne’s plan was not to let that happen very easily, if at all. Mahira raised her sword directly in front or her body with the hilt rested on her abdomen, and the blade pointed slightly upwards to the sky. She then waited.

  Drums sounded from around the arena, this was the final match!

  Batto circled his blades about his face and moved around the woman before him. She followed his movements so as not to give him a dominant attacking angle. As he sized her up, she switched to another posture. This time, she rested her blade on the palm of her hand. The focus and seriousness in her eyes was obvious.