by Julie Hall
“I know I’ve already said this, but you must prepare yourselves for the horrors you are going to see. This place was not built for human souls. It was intended as a prison for the evil ones, but the fall of mankind brought with it a steep price. There is nothing you will be able to do for the souls who chose darkness instead of light. Our objective is to locate Logan as quickly as possible. I will then be able to bring all of us home. Stay together as a unit.” He took a moment to make sure we all paid attention. “This mission will challenge you physically and mentally like nothing has before, but I will be there with you.”
Joe then looked straight into my eyes. “No matter what happens, remember the Father works all things to good. Never forget that.” His words were for all of us, but with his eyes on me, I claimed them for myself.
“We’re ready for you, sir.”
“Thank you.” Joe nodded his acknowledgment.
We all shuffled onto the glowing pads. I took a deep, fortifying breath. How were you truly supposed to prepare yourself for a trip to Hell?
Romona nodded at me encouragingly. “Let’s go get your man.”
“He’s not . . .” I started to say Logan wasn’t mine, but I stopped. It was time to stop pretending things weren’t exactly what they were. Logan was as much mine as anyone would ever be. Perhaps losing him was what had finally firmed that up in my mind. Just this morning he’d staked his claim on me.
It was time I returned the favor.
“Yeah, let’s do this thing.”
Epilogue
Logan
I pulled in vain at the shackles on my wrists, ignoring the pain caused by the raw skin beneath them. I spit out another mouthful of blood. A good portion of it dribbled down my chin before hitting the rough floor. The heat in this realm was like nothing I’d ever experienced. It was so dry every inhalation burned my parched throat. I struggled not to sag against my restraints—not to show weakness.
There was only one good thing about my situation. She wasn’t here.
“Enjoying your stay with us, I presume?”
I ignored the evil being trying to provoke me. With his façade in place he resembled his noble brothers of the angelic realm, but he could never again completely replicate his former glory. The evidence of that was written on his face, as if to prove the saying “the eyes are the windows to the soul” to be true—for the soulless creature before me had none.
“Perhaps you’re a little lonely. I wouldn’t concern myself with that if I were you. I’m expecting company to join you anytime now.”
I wheezed out a humorless laugh that ended in a dry cough. She’d called me delusional, but the deranged beast in front of me truly earned that title.
“You doubt she’d come for you then?”
My eyes lifted in defiance. A low growl escaped my throat. It sounded more beastly than human. When it came to her, staying rational was a struggle.
I never should have bonded with her. It was a burden she didn’t need right now. I didn’t regret being honest with my feelings for her. She deserved that. In fact, she deserved to be told a lot sooner. But if our separation caused her to feel even a fraction of the pain I was enduring, then our bond was something I deeply regretted. Not to mention it was something Satan could easily exploit . . . if he knew about it. No matter the torture, I’d never reveal that truth.
“She resisted you when you tried to use her family as leverage. Why would this pathetic attempt be any different?” My voice was filled with gravel and grit.
“Perhaps you’re right. But you see, there’s one major difference here.” He took several steps toward me, invading my personal space. Not that I really had a right to it anymore. “The pain I inflicted on her family wasn’t quite as . . . literal as what I can do to you.”
As if to prove his point, the nails on his left hand elongated to sharpened points that he sunk into my chest and then slowly raked downwards, leaving a bloody and shredded trail of flesh in their wake. I shut my eyes and clenched my teeth to keep from shouting out in agony.
“And who could resist the pull of the bond?” he asked in a singsong taunt.
I tried not to react, I did, but my eyes betrayed me.
“Oh yes, I know about your bond. Very well-timed, in fact. I should be thanking you. I’m sure it’s going to add a layer of desperation she might not have felt before.”
“She’s stronger than you’re giving her credit for.”
He backhanded me. Hard.
My face slammed into the jagged stone wall, and my vision flickered black and white before clearing. I wasn’t given the luxury of passing out. The look on his face said he’d done it out of boredom more than anything else.
He turned his back and strode from the room, speaking to himself instead of me. “I know these vapid beings far better than they know themselves. They are all so utterly . . . stupid. So ridiculously predictable. I’ve been at this game for millennia. What lamb has ever outsmarted a hungry wolf?” The shake of his head indicated his disgust.
He turned back to me right before leaving the chamber. I was losing the battle to remain upright. Streams of blood trickled down my forearms from my wrists where they rubbed the restraints. The blood was almost cooling to my skin.
“I hope she is as you say, for an overabundance of weakness could prove to be irritating for the both of us. It pleases me to hear she may not be as feeble as I perceive her to be, for to be the key, she has to possess a measure of strength.”
“The key to what?” I croaked out.
“True freedom.”
As he exited, chains scrapped across stone. The grinding vibration lessened as the distance between us spread. The skin of my chapped lips cracked as I smiled. Satan was bound tighter than even I was at the moment—he just hid his discomfort better.
I was both fearful and hopeful she would come to my rescue. But either way, only one thing mattered.
My girl was sure to give him hell.
Thank you for reading Warfare!
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Up Next: Have you ever wondered what’s going through Logan’s head? You’re not alone! In Logan (A Life After Companion Story) you’ll get Logan’s perspective and dramatic backstory; a view into his trials, his demons, his powers, and his weakness, including his first introduction to Audrey.
… or skip ahead for the epic conclusion of Audrey and Logan’s story, in Dominion (Life After Book 3) →
JULIE HALL
To my devoted readers.
I heard you. Your love for the seemingly grumpy mentor with a mysterious past and a bruised heart is what made this book a reality.
This story gives you Logan’s perspective and backstory; a view into his trials, his demons, his powers, and his weakness.
Instructions
for the Author Commentary and Bonus Material
You’re in for a special treat! This book includes chapter-by-chapter “author commentary” videos, to help you read between the lines and go deeper into the story!
At the end of each chapter, you’ll see a web address (URL), and a square bar code, also known as a “QR” code. Simply go to the URLs, or scan the codes, and you’ll unlock the bonus commentary and material.
Thank you for reading in LOGAN, and investing in me!
STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
How to scan QR codes with an iPhone or iPad:
Open the camera app on your iPhone or iPad (requires iOS 11+)
Hold the device's camera up to the QR code.
Your device will automatically recognize the QR code and provide you with an on-screen notification.
Tap the notification to be taken to the video.
How to scan QR codes with an Android device:
Open the Google Chrome browser.
Click on the search/URL box.
Click the little square icon that resembles a QR code.
Hold the device's camera up to the QR cod
e.
Your device will automatically recognize the QR code and provide you with an URL to visit.
Press “Go” to be taken to the video.
Author Commentary
Introduction
I’m so excited to give you this extra commentary, to help you read between the lines and go deeper into the story! Get started by watching the first video:
JulieHallAuthor.com/logan-intro
Logan’s Soundtrack
Listen while you read
These handpicked songs perfectly describe Logan. I often listened to these songs while writing this book. I hope they inspire you while you read!
JulieHallAuthor.com/logan-playlist
Click “play” or scan the QR code below. You must have a Spotify account to listen (it’s free).
Chapter 1
I gritted my teeth as my opponent’s blade connected with mine. I was glad the sparring mask I wore hid the effort I had to make. My muscles bunched as I gathered strength to separate our blades, hoping to throw him off balance, but he remained steady on his feet. Still, I had managed to free my weapon and evade his next strike.
Sweat—from both exertion and the stifling nature of the mask—dripped down my face as I traded blows with the warrior in front of me.
Hinges squeaked somewhere behind me, and for a few seconds the sound of rancorous voices and loud jeers from the rec room drowned out the clashing of our blades. Then the room fell quiet again.
Someone had entered the gym.
Curious, I tried to check over my shoulder and lost my footing instead. I shoved the intrusion out of my mind and focused on the task at hand.
Winning this match.
I spotted the swing aimed at my shins from a mile away and swiftly jumped out of the way, landing a couple of body lengths from where I’d been standing. The sharp gasp that burst from the unwanted spectator almost threw me off my game. Again.
This time I gritted my teeth out of annoyance.
The warrior ran straight at me and we exchanged a series of quick blows. Despite being a friendly sharpening of skills, neither of us was willing to let up. After several years of training, deflecting an attack had become instinctive for me.
I was an experienced hunter, capable of defending Earth’s inhabitants against all sorts of evil—evil they neither saw nor accepted. When I fought, whatever weapon I wielded became another extremity, a simple extension of myself. So today my sword was part of my arm—arching, slashing and deflecting with barely a thought.
Where my opponent’s advantage lay in his massive size, mine was my speed. As the blade intended for my neck cut through the air, I ducked and rolled out of the way, watching it sail overhead.
I sprang to my feet in one liquid motion.
The challenging-warrior was frustrated so his attacks became sloppy.
I took full advantage of his irritation, so it wasn’t long before I had an opening to snap my leg out and hook his right ankle, bringing him to his knees.
If the giant could have seen my face at that moment, the grin I wore would have annoyed him to no end. I was just about to deliver the final blow—which wouldn’t actually injure him, but rather signal the end of the match—when someone cleared their throat loud enough that the sound echoed throughout the gym.
A sign that we were not only being watched, but that our playtime had come to an end.
We froze in our positions. No doubt my opponent was just as disappointed by the interruption as I was. He fisted a dagger in his left hand. I almost chuckled. Someone had just foiled his plan for a surprise attack.
Nice try, but I was already two steps ahead of you, my friend.
“Logan, may I have a word with you?”
Ah, Shannon—the kill-joy of the hunter community—and strict mother to all of us lost boys. But what would we do without her?
I took a step back and lowered my sword. “Sure, Shannon. Just give me a sec.” I reached down to offer Alrik a hand up, giving it a shake once he was standing, followed by a pat on the back for a job well done.
“Nice try with that dagger there, but I would never have let you get close to me.”
Alrik chuckled, the sound muffled beneath his face guard. “That trick would have definitely worked on you half a year ago.”
“Yeah, well, half a year ago I was a different person.” And wasn’t that the truth?
Recognizing he’d hit a sore spot, he changed the subject. “What do you think the Head Mistress over there wants?” He jerked his head in Shannon’s direction.
I shrugged. Alrik was always finding new ways of referring to Shannon, knowing full well she could hear him, but not caring in the least.
“Who knows? But if you don’t want to get roped into something along with me, you might want to start a speedy retreat.”
“Good point.”
Heading for the far door, Alrik didn’t even bother dematerializing his armor before fleeing. He just gave Shannon a curt nod and was gone.
I started my trek toward her, ridding myself of my armor along the way. It was then that I realized she wasn’t alone.
A small female stood with her, positioned almost behind the stoic angel as if using her for a shield. The girl’s eyes zig-zagging across my body in an almost frantic way.
Ah, I thought, newbie. Must not be used to seeing people materialize and dematerialize things from thin air.
“Hey, Shannon, what’s up?”
I snuck another glance at the girl next to her, keeping my features neutral. She didn’t glow, so she was definitely human. Maybe Shannon was taking on an apprentice or something? Getting help with clerical work?
This wisp of a girl couldn’t have looked more out of place or uncomfortable in the training gym—my home away from home—if she tried.
I mentally dismissed her as I focused back on the formidable angel in front of me. Girls were the last thing on my mind these days.
“Actually, I’ve brought you a new trainee.”
Hope filled me. A sliver of trepidation slithered through my chest as well, but if they were allowing me to be a mentor again after what happened with Morgan, I must be doing something right.
I’d waited six long months for this day.
I scanned the area behind Shannon but there was only a closed door to the rec room. Maybe she was just giving me a heads up on what was coming down the pipeline soon.
“Oh, yeah? That’s great! Where is he?” I asked.
Shannon gave the wisp a gentle shove forward, causing the girl to stumble a bit before righting herself.
“Here she is,” Shannon answered with a knowing smile.
My usually controlled expression broke. Oh. Heck. No.
The widening of my eyes was completely involuntary as I really took stock of this supposed new hunter. Starting at her feet and moving my eyes up her body, I took in every inch of non-hunter in front of me. I’m sure the appraisal had to be uncomfortable, but it couldn’t be helped.
She was clearly assigned the wrong job. The top of her head didn’t even reach my shoulders. And it wasn’t just that she was shorter than any hunter I’d ever met, or even that she was a girl, but she was also incredibly petite in stature as well. Her softly-curved figure also lacked the muscle definition needed for our job. From her tiny feet to her delicate heart shaped face this chick screamed ‘damsel in distress,’ not ‘big bad fighting machine.’
What in the world were they thinking?
I had the crazy urge to bundle her up and whisk her off somewhere safe. There was no way I was going to be able to train this girl.
Her long mane of brown hair matched her large doe eyes, which were glassy at the moment. Oh no, was she going to start crying?
I did not do tears.
I meant to look away, but her eyes wouldn’t let me go. I forced words from my mouth. “You have got to be kidding me.” I couldn’t help the icy bite to my words.
The young girl, who was probably around the age I had been when I’d died, fli
nched. I instantly regretted my words, but refused to take them back. They were calloused and insulting, but our job—protecting the living from the evil that stalked the Earth—was no joke.
Barely a second passed before Half Pint turned and headed back toward the rec room door, muttering something under her breath the whole way.
Shannon moved faster than either of our eyes could track and the wisp walked right into her, bouncing off the angel, before landing heavily on her butt.
I pressed my lips together tightly to keep the corners from lifting. Maybe there was a little bit of fight in this wee leprechaun after all?
I was focused solely on the girl until I felt Shannon’s gaze on me. When I lifted my eyes, the angel was glowing brightly—a clear sign she was agitated.
Well, if I could glow, I’d be a flippin’ Lite Brite right now, so she wasn’t intimidating in the least.
“You know we don’t make mistakes about these things. There’s a reason for this.”
I ran a hand through my hair and indicated the wanna-be huntress with the other. “She’ll be eaten alive out there. Just look at her, Shannon.”
A moment of doubt crossed Shannon’s face. I saw it and Half Pint probably noticed it as well.
Couldn’t they find some nice, safe, more appropriate job for her? Or at least a trainer with a little more patience than I had these days. Even I could admit I was a bit of a loose cannon after what went down with Morgan on Earth.
There had to be someone better suited than me.
