Dark Rider a serial by Martin Slusser

Project Janissary: Book 2. We get to know the dream state of Benny Grey in greater detail after the first book, as well as getting a second look at some of the underpinnings of the corrupt society that has spawned the manse and the Janissary Project.

Brr!

The Hunt - Ryan glared up at a tall, too handsome man. At the look in Ryan’s eyes, the man caught moist lips between sparkling white teeth. 

The Project - Amber lights burst through the fog behind him. A warning shot was fired in blind rage. The bullet smacked into an outcropping of rock to his to his left and whined off into the dawn. 

Life is bitch enough - With a harsh snort, Leda Melancowski eased her body over on the couch. That dammed Carl. Run out on her and back to his old lady. Damn him. 

House of Death - The tsi:ge:O watched the limousine bounce back up the road. A smoky thread of mist followed. It crept close, waiting for the chance to attack. A strand flowed around Benny’s ankle, testing the pull on the limp body. 

Somehow, some way, you will survive - On a faint breath of air that drifted on the warming October morning the Guardian could smell the stench of the unborn child Leda Melancowski had sacrificed. 

Mirrors never lie, do they? - She smiled to hide her distaste for Ryan and the town of Orange. He had to be one of the most ugly men she had ever seen. Briefly, she compared Ryan to her ex-husband. She smiled. Even Tom was more of a man than Ryan was now. But what the old devil had been in his youth . . . attracted her. 

Def-finitely frosty - He awoke slowly, more tired from hours of nightmares than when he had lain down. The small round window set high in the peak of his loft room was dark. Benny curled up in the bedding, unwilling to move from the comfortable nest he had made. 

Leda - Leda Melancowski yawned and stretched. She rolled over on the couch and plummeted to the floor. A sharp pain flared in her right buttock. She screeched, reached under the buttock and dragged out her cat. 

Breakfast - Desperate enough for something to eat, she rinsed the grease and moldy food out of a small frying pan. She took a bloody package from her refrigerator and dumped the contents in the pan. When it began to sizzle, she added a half cup of lard and a dozen eggs. 

Then it curled up and died - Todd, he’d have it done before he left school today. Benny, she did not doubt, would tool around with his motorcycle and forget. Then he would owe her a two thousand word report. 

He threw a flawless grin - Johnny Karick’s tiny eyes popped, looking at the sensuous form from Cindy’s open toe sandals up the shapely calves to the silk covered thighs and onto the high, pointed breasts. 

But he just wouldn’t hush - Coming into the house, Benny groaned with relief at having escaped the twin horrors his crazed aunt and uncle had taken in. 

One at a time - Donald slammed into the sinks instead of Grey. The cigarette smashed between his upper right cheek and the mirror. He yelped, slapping at the fire scorching into his Bermuda tanned skin.

Two Swords too big - Stupid old crow, anyway. He let his feet dangle over the trio sitting a good sixty feet below. 

Dirty Tricks - Carl’s eyes closed. Funny, but if only Leda knew how many times the thought of Anna saved her ass. Leda would probably kill herself out of spite. Carl was strongly tempted to tell her and see if he got lucky. 

He-wa, Listen to the Wolf - A black, softly chilling rain was falling, topping pot holes and dampening all sound. The night was still and quiet, even for the nearly abandoned Valley. 

And so does Jesus - Christ. I'd give anything to strangle the woman at the other end. Carl gripped the phone until his knuckles looked ready to burst through the scarred and gnarled skin.

His hand was caught - School dragged by. Todd enjoyed it, though. He slapped Benny on the head and smirked. In retaliation Benny sneered and tried a little harder, which is what his teachers had hoped for when they kept the pair together. 

It’s all bull - And then Benny was there, slapping out the fire. Todd watched the owl, Leda, uncaring about what was happening to his hands. His lips moved in a silent prayer to the Tsi:ge:Yu:i, the Sacred People of the Sun. 

Chill - Benny squatted down and wrapped his arms around his knees. Staring down at the roiling waters below the Red Rock, Benny felt himself shrinking, being drawn into the waters. The temperature had dropped with the dying of the sun. Ice formed along the edges of twigs and stones that touched the water. 

He ain’t You know. You know? - Finely handcrafted silk wall hangings and delicate works of art held no interest at this time for her. Ryan was in his heavily sound-proofed room in the bowels of the mansion. Cindy shuddered. Though she couldn’t hear, she knew enough about Ryan that death would come hard to that boy. Most of her agents stayed only long enough to satisfy their curiosity, then left the room, disgusted by the crudity of Ryan’s Old-World methods, but not by the results. That much they were passed students at.

Better enjoy it now, kid - Sheila grimaced at the battered jeep. Somehow, someway, Carl had swiped the thing and brought it all the home from America del Sud. 

Do it - Behind him, Benny sat stiff and terrified. The tiny chip planted on his cerebral cortex demanded he remain docile. He took a puff on the shag. The effort brought sweat to his face before he was able to command his muscles to do even that.