The crisp night breeze stabbed at the
womanÕs covered ears. It was cold
enough for Carlia to feel the icy air through the thin fabric of her mask. The protection of hats and scarves was
not an option at this point, as it would be a potential threat to her identity
and her speed. She would have to
suffer the cold.
With the hearing sense of a cat, she
listened for any sign of trouble.
The scuffle of a mouse or a rat in the alley caught her attention. Other sounds echoed against the roaring
highway coming into San Francisco from the city of Oakland.
The alleys were dark in the Highway 80
corridor. A few Mom and Pop Shops
were open to sell liquor and cigarettes to passersby, but no families or
partiers were present. None needed
to be. No one in his right mind
would spend time in this deserted placeÐno one but criminals and vigilantes.
She heard a door in the red brick building
behind her creak open. Slowly, she
turned around and backed into the shadows. Her black costume and thin black mask would protect her from
the light or any prying eyes. No
one saw her; she was La Pantera.
With the muscular and powerful body of a
panther, and the speed of a cheetah, Pantera was the criminal masterminds
nightmare and the everyday thugs worst enemy. She was dangerousÐa lethal weapon to all who dare oppose her
or dare to confront her. Pantera
protected those who could not protect themselves.
Knowing the mist of her breath would give
away her location, she breathed into her palms. The warmth of her own breath helped keep her hands warm in
the dense fog. She gave one last
shudder before wiping the cold out of her mind completely.
I must concentrate!
A man wearing a long, black jacket and
blue jeans strolled out of the underground nightclub. He held a pink purse in his right hand and a small gun in
the other. He laughed as he opened
the purse and began taking out various pieces of makeup.
ÒSomebody stop him!Ó A woman screamed from within the
building.
La Pantera ran over to him with great
agility and grace, and then jumped out in front of the thief.
ÒHot damn!Ó He coughed, looking the vigilante woman up and down.
ÒGoing somewhere?Ó
With one swipe of her flat padded heel,
she kicked the gun out of his hand.
Her black full-bodied leotard allowed her the freedom to strike at will.
ÒBitch! ThatÕs mine!Ó
He headed for the gun.
She leapt to his left side while palm
striking him with her right hand.
He landed on his ass with a loud grunt. He grabbed the gun that lay near his hand, raised it, and
pointed it at her.
ÒDonÕt make me do it.Ó He rubbed his jaw with his free
hand. ÒIÕll kill you, bitch.Ó
ÒWhatÕs wrong, did I hurt you?Ó She whimpered, then laughed.
The gun clicked as he set the
trigger. He followed her every
move with the nozzle until she stopped right above him. Pantera put her padded foot over the
tip of the nozzle, then bent down and stared right in his face.
ÒGo ahead. Do it.Ó She
dared him with full red lips.
BAM!
As he pulled the trigger, Pantera found
herself knocked to the ground.
Dazed, she looked up at a man wearing what looked like a hooded, black
ninja suit. He whacked the gun out
of the manÕs hand so hard it flew backwards; the handle hit the man on the head
as it went off, knocking him unconscious.
ÒThat could have been you.Ó
He offered a hand to Pantera.
ÒI can help myself up.Ó
She shook off the daze and stood in a fighting stance.
ÒWho are you?Ó
He stepped to the left of her, never removing his eyes
from hers.
ÒI should be asking you the same
thing,Ó she hissed, moving
counter-clockwise with him.
The couple followed one another in a
circleÐas if reciting an ancient dance of deathÐside-stepping with each move.
ÒYouÕre pretty skilled.Ó He said, as he laughed.
She stepped away when he stepped toward her.
ÒI could kill you, you know.Ó
She offered a small growl and stepped away.
ÒI donÕt think so.Ó
He shifted right and when she shifted away, he jerked in the other
direction.
Pantera felt something hit the back of her
knee and her leg buckled. She
kicked up with her right leg as the Ninja came down on her; she then kicked her
leg around to the left of his rib cage and brought him down to the ground with
her. With a grunt, she landed on
her back. He landed on top of her,
straddling her with his legs.
ÒLet me go!Ó
She tried to twist from his grip. His smell of lust was over powering her
cat-like senses.
ÒNot until you tell me who you are.Ó
He pinned her wrists at the top of her head.
She studied his hazel eyes, nestled behind
the mask of the hooded uniform.
They were so deep and hauntingÐyet so incredibly sinful. She felt herself go damp, something she
had not done in a very long time.
She kicked her leg up, hitting her rigid toes against the back of his
head. He rolled up and over her
head, landing on his back. It was her turn to straddle him.
A quiet ÒoomphÓ escaped from him as she
landed squarely on his groin. She
pinned his arms to his sides and brought her face close to his. Her red lips almost touched his as she
spoke.
ÒNo one knows who I am.Ó
ÒI do,Ó he said as the corners of his
mouth turned up in a smile.
She felt his heat rise from under her
loins. His bulge was right up
against her thin costume, rubbing against forbidden places. She could feel everythingÐeven the warm
need coming from her own body. She
watched his lips as he spoke,
watched his tongue lick his lips, and his eyes follow her heaving
breasts.
He brought his stare to her lips and then
back to her eyes.
Without a thought, she bent over and
kissed him. The soft pads of their
lips touched, inviting in more than either of them were willing to admit. She kissed him harder, wanting
more.
His tongue found hers, and while they
tangled together, she let go of his hands. If he were not wearing the black cloth, his erection would
have penetrated her costume.
Panting in a way only a panther would, she
backed away. The cold enveloped
her body, including those parts warmed by the stranger. She covered her taut nipples and
aching breasts with her arms, not knowing what to say or do.
ÒThis is, complicated.Ó She finally managed, watching his every
move.
ÒYou are incredible, Carlia. Your skills are almost complete.Ó
ÒHow do you know my name?Ó She quizzed.
ÒI know a lot about you.Ó
He stood and covered his obvious excitement with his
hands.
ÒWho are you?Ó
She backed against the red brick wall.
ÒYou should never back against a wall when
you donÕt know who you are dealing with.Ó
He stepped closer to her, close enough for her to feel
his breath against her skin. He
smelled good.
ÒI donÕt think youÕll hurt me. Screw meÉmaybe. Not hurt me.Ó
ÒI can break your heart.Ó
He pushed into her and kissed her lips again.
ÒMy heart has been broken too many times
before. Nothing can hurt me
again.Ó
ÒI know. I know of your parents, their death, and your life.Ó
She kissed him back, her lips searching
for answers he would not tell.
He pressed his palms on both sides of her
face and held her there. His body
melded into hers for a moment.
ÒLet me teach you, Carlia. Let me show you the skills I have and
teach you the style of my martial arts.Ó
ÒWho are you?Ó She quizzed again.
ÒIÕm just someone who caresÐsomeone who
wants the same justice as you.Ó He
slid his hands down her body, briefly stopping at her heaving breasts. He brought them back up her sides and
onto her face again.
ÒI want to touch your hairÐso beautiful
and black.Ó
He started to remove the sides of her cowl.
ÒNot a chance.Ó
She pushed him away and began to run in the other
direction. She stopped briefly to
hear his plea.
ÒTomorrow night, at your place, and I will
help you.Ó He yelled. ÒBe there at 8:00!Ó
Warmth gushed around her thighs as her
heart pounded like the wild beat of a drum. She thought about it for a momentÐthe possibilities, the
want, the need. She smiled,
thinking about the weapon he was packingÐthe smile was not for his gun.
ÒMaybe. Be there and if IÕm thereÉIÕm there,Ó she yelled back, and ran into the
darkness.
Stay
Tuned for Future Novellas of
La
Pantera,
Coming
Spring 2005.
This is
just the beginning!
www.chippewapublishing.com
About the author
Ella lives in
beautiful Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin with her 3 boys and loving husband. She
enjoys writing all types of fiction including action, paranormal, romance and
horror.
