Demon Born (Hellfire Academy Book 1)

by C. L. Coffey

  Gabriel slowly tilted his head, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. “You didn’t say anything about a school being attacked.”

  “I …” No, I hadn’t. I’d been on the way to see him, and Pinnosa had dismissed it.

  “We came to tell you this morning,” Leigh-Ann explained for me. “The Dean said it was nothing, too. And then it was the dance.” She shrugged. “You can’t be mad at Kennedy for that either.”

  I gave her a grateful smile. This was what it felt like to have a friend fight in your corner?

  “What was the warning?” Gabriel asked, slowly.

  I still had the words engrained in my memory. “Cave custodes. Daemon petunt. Et ego daemonium perdere.”

  “You didn’t mention Watchers.” His lips pressed together.

  “Watches? Pinnosa said nothing about time—clocks or watches.”

  Gabriel shook his head. “Watchers. They’re …” He scratched at the back of his head. “They’re as much of a myth as demons.”

  “They’re in the bible,” Leigh-Ann said.

  Gabriel looked over at her and nodded. “They are,” he agreed, slowly. “But that’s not entirely accurate. The Watchers are … a myth. They’re the offspring of angels, not fallen angels. And that’s not possible.”

  “That an angel can fall in love?” I asked, trying not to react.

  “An angel can fall in love, Kennedy.” There was an intensity in his eyes as he looked at me. “They just can’t have a child without falling. According to the stories, Watchers descended from an angel who was granted permission by God. Just like demons, they don’t exist.” He turned back to Leigh-Ann and frowned. “But having a dream about the school being attacked? I’m not sure it qualifies you as a prophet, but I will certainly look into it.”

  “You think they were here for me?” Harrison asked Gabriel in surprise.

  “I honestly don’t know why they were here,” Gabriel told him. “But you are the one who Heaven has deemed needing a guardian angel.”

  Harrison’s mouth fell open. A dazed expression crossed his features as he raised his fingers to his parted mouth. “Me? Are you my guardian angel?”

  Very slowly, Gabriel turned to look at me. “Didn’t you tell him that?”

  “Why would I?” I pushed off the wall and used my hand to point at the archangel. “You told me I couldn’t tell anyone I was a potential.”

  “That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have told your charge you were his guardian angel,” he said, looking at me like I was an idiot.

  I folded my arms across my chest and shook my head. “Don’t turn this on me. You never told me I could tell him. You said I had to make sure no one knows I’m a potential. Which, considering I’m a nephilim, I don’t get how I’m supposed to have told Harrison that without spilling that information, too.”

  Gabriel considered my words then nodded. “You’re right.”

  “Hold up.” Harrison held his hands in the air. “Are you telling me I have a guardian angel, and it’s Kennedy?”

  I plastered a smile on my face and gave him jazz hands. “Surprise.”

  “That is so cool,” Leigh-Ann muttered, her eyes wide.

  “But why me?” Harrison asked. He looked at Gabriel. “Leigh-Ann’s the prophet—”

  “Leigh-Ann can’t be a prophet. Prophets do not exist,” Gabriel said, his tone flat.

  “Fine, my sister has coincidental visions. Leigh-Ann is the special one, not me.”

  Gabriel sucked in a long breath. A surge of sympathy shot through me. He looked exhausted.

  “Heaven decreed that the one who required a guardian angel is you, Harrison. I don’t know why, and I can’t ask. Guardian angels can’t be nephilim. If I ask why you, I alert them to Kennedy’s existence, and let me assure you, the Fallen turning up at this college was far less terrifying than if archangels do.”

  “Guardian angels can’t be nephilim? Is that the same kind of can’t that applies to my sister being a prophet?” Harrison stared up at Gabriel, his eyes unwavering.

  Gabriel opened his mouth, but a response didn’t come. Instead, as he thought about it, he slowly tilted his head. “Alright, perhaps it’s not impossible,” he admitted, eventually.

  I refrained from pointing out, that only a few hours ago, he had done just that.

  “But I need more evidence than what you’ve presented me. Demon’s and Watchers–”

  “Can’t exist?” I offered.

  Gabriel turned to look at me.

  “But what if they did?”

  Again, Gabriel took his time considering the question. Finally, he let out a deep exhalation. “If they do, we should be worried.”

  Leigh-Ann raised her hand like she was in class. “Um … I am worried.”

  Gabriel closed his eyes and lowered his head. “So am I.”

  I wasn’t worried ... if Gabriel was admitting he was worried, I was terrified.

  “What now?” I asked.

  “Nothing. I don’t think it’s fully set in with the three of you as to what’s happened here tonight. Get some rest. Harrison and Leigh-Ann, go home to your family. The security that your father has is much better than we can give you here, and we don’t have a legitimate reason for us to be there.”

  Leigh-Ann shrugged. “Kennedy can spend Easter with us. My mom won’t mind.”

  Gabriel looked at me. “I won’t stop you, but I have some news about that thing I promised I would look into. I have a lead in Boise.”

  Part of me wanted to go with Leigh-Ann and Harrison, but Gabriel was talking about my mom. Even before I told him, I knew that he knew I was going with him.

  For tonight, however, I was staying in my room.

  With the chaos in the infirmary, Gabriel had managed to sneak Harrison out, but instead of insisting he return, Gabriel allowed him to stay in our room, too.

  The archangel left soon after, promising he would be back in the morning to collect me. As the exhaustion finally hit, I collapsed onto the couch on the other side of Harrison.

  “You’re really Harrison’s guardian angel?” Leigh-Ann asked. She sounded as tired as I felt.

  “Yeah.” I yawned.

  “What about Leigh-Ann?” Harrison asked. He wrapped his arm around his sister.

  I had no idea. Something inside me told me I was right. That Leigh-Ann was a prophet, but I had no idea what that even meant if it were true.

  Most likely, it meant demons and Watchers were real.

  Most likely, the attack on Greenwood Prep was only the beginning.

  To hell with academics.

  When I got back after Easter break, I was going to find answers, and I was going to train as hard as I could to protect both Harrison and Leigh-Ann.

  Heaven and Hell needed to watch out.

  To be continued in Demon Hunter…

  If you have enjoyed the story so far, please consider leaving a review where you bought this book. Reviews really do help authors out, and I would be exceptionally grateful for your comments.

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  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Whether you are a new reader or someone who has read this book after reading the Louisiangel series, I want to start by thanking you, because you’re the reason I keep writing. Thank you for giving this author a chance and for sticking it out until the end of the book.

  Writing is a journey and I think it is fair to say that you never stop learning and evolving. A huge part of my learning came from the help and guidance from Rebecca Hamilton. Rebecca has an intensive writing program (which I recommend!) and while there were chunks I already knew (thank goodness), she showed me that there was so much more to learn about crafting stories. One of the reasons it took a while to release this book was because I wanted to improve so that I could continue to put out a book to the best of my ability. No matter how many times I go over this course, I’m still picking up new information and tips (it d
oesn’t help that she continuously updates the course), so hopefully, you will continue to see my writing improve.

  But even as my storytelling improves, this book wouldn’t half as good without the help of my editor. Caia is like a landscape gardener of the editing world. She helped weed out all the nonsense in my book, helping it grow, improve and evolve into what it is now. I’ve never had anything come back with as much red on it as this manuscript, but I am exceptionally grateful. Plus Caia kicks ass in general and I’m forever grateful to have her in my life! (Even if she does curb my exclamation point usage …)

  I’d had the idea for this series when I was in the middle of the Louisiangel series. When I happened across a cover auction by Rebecca Frank and saw this cover, I knew it was perfect for Kennedy’s story and I couldn’t believe my luck when I managed to snag it. Rebecca is a dream to work with and her covers are stunning. I mean, mine is the best, but her others are beautiful too! I can’t wait for you to see the rest of the covers in this series.

  Sticking with me are my team of beta readers who I adore and couldn’t be without. Libby, Josh, Naomi, Sarah and Paddy are the greatest. While I love hearing the story is great, they’re also prepared to be brutally honest with me and let me know where there are holes and weaknesses. Everyone needs a team like these guys!

  I always get to this point and panic that I’ve missed someone. If I have, it’s because I’m dippy and it’s not intentional. Please forgive me.

  So, with one last THANK YOU, I’m going to leave it here—because I have the next book to write for you.

  MICHAEL’S WARRIORS

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  ANGELS

  The Messengers

  Facebook has changed. It means that unless you've turned on your notifications you're probably not going to see anything I've posted. It also means that the option to chat with you has been disappearing. I want to do that—not just about the Louisiangel series, but about anything—books, angels, music recommendations—even recipes! This is a group for anyone to come and hang out!

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  CHERUBIM

  The ones who keep the House in order!

  Cupid may have a somewhat negative view of the cherubim, but I certainly don’t! To me, a Cherub is the last line of defense against … typos!

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  All of the books are run past multiple editors and proof-readers, but somehow, typos still slip through the net!

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  International bestselling author, C. L. Coffey currently lives in the middle of the boonies in East Yorkshire where she is the live-in servant of two cats and two Bengals (if you’ve ever known a Bengal, you will know why these are listed separately).

  In between managing the day job, being a nightclub DJ, and trying to work out what (and how) the Bengals have broken the next thing in the house, C. L. Coffey tries to transcribe as many stories of the angels and archangels as she can.

  Her “past lives” have included being a backup dancer for a pop idol, being in his music video, and training with the Manchester United Football Academy. Now, her free time, when not taken up with writing, is largely spent listening to KPop. C. L. Coffey is addicted to Cherry Pepsi Max, seaweed, and dark chocolate Reese’s Pieces.

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