Touched by Hell

by Emma Shade

  “Bullshit.” I laughed. “I’m not some chosen one. I’m simply a person without a soul.”

  “What if saving your soul means ridding the world of some of the evil?” Raven questioned.

  I ran a hand over my face. “Why does everything always have to be a pain in my ass?”

  “Because,” Coren said and shrugged, “that’s life.”

  He was right. Life was a son of a bitch, or at least mine started that way from the time I popped out of my mother’s womb. Things escalated from there. Abuse, reapers, demons, and the Devil. Oh my!

  I let out a frustrated breath and thought about Lor’s conversation. “Have you two ever wondered why the demons are slipping the veil and I was chosen to hunt them?”

  Raven pursed her lips. Coren’s eyebrows rose and he looked at his feet. The only sound in the room was my clock ticking from the wall. I observed Coren. His dark eyes narrowed and he cursed under his breath.

  “I never thought he could be so devious,” Coren muttered.

  “You had no idea Satan could be devious? I mean, the dude has wanted my soul for a long time. Almost killed us all for it.” I sat on the couch and crossed my legs. They remained standing.

  Coren took in a deep breath. “Yes, but why would he go to this much trouble? Surely your soul has to be worth so much more than we all know. But why?”

  “Because I’m freaking awesome?” They ignored me.

  Raven nodded in agreement. “I want to know the answer to that, too.”

  “The lamia said it was because I could speak to and control shadows.” I lifted a shoulder. “Lor made an appearance after he watched the entire thing with the snake thing.”

  “He watched us?” Coren raked a hand through his dark locks. “I felt a shadow near, but I hadn’t paid any mind to him. Now I feel like I should have.”

  After a second or two, I asked Raven to read the prophecy again. She did.

  “An angel? Like from Heaven?” I asked with a sour expression.

  Sure, I knew angels existed, but I’d yet to meet one. I mean, my soul was marked for the Devil, the supposed dark angel banished from Heaven. I wasn’t sure I was a fan of the man upstairs.

  Raven read it over one more time. “I’m not sure. Maybe this person’s name is Angel. I mean, Lor is here.”

  Coren looked down at the paper in Raven’s hands. “Do you know anyone named Angel?”

  “No, I don’t think so. I could ask Laura if anyone came in with the name Angel recently, I guess.”

  “But what if it means a real angel?” Raven shook the parchment. “That would give you a good chance at saving your soul. We deliver souls to one area of Heaven with only one angel on duty at a time. We can’t even talk to anyone there to sway their decision in your favor. My dad and I are doing everything we can. Even with the pull we have in Hell, Lucifer tends to say one thing, but changes his mind once we’re gone.”

  “He’s a master manipulator,” I said, matter-of-fact. “The guy rules Hell, after all. Can’t you stop bringing him souls as leverage?”

  She cringed. “We can’t.”

  “Why not?”

  “Let’s just say it’s a part of our DNA.”

  I opened my mouth to push her into answering me, but Coren spoke. “Raven and her father have a spiritual obligation. Their lives depend on it. Quitting their jobs isn’t an option.”

  She mouthed thank you to him and a flicker of annoyance drifted through me. I knew if Raven hadn’t wanted me to know something, I wouldn’t until she was ready. We’d been friends long enough, and if I pressed her, she’d only get angry and poof off to wherever she goes to sulk.

  The irritation still was there. I swallowed it back for now. “I can’t quit either, so I get it. My obligation is forced. Either way, the last word in that prophecy. You know, the death thing.”

  Raven’s head cocked to the side. “That either means my father or the afterlife. These types of things have a way of twisting words. My father believed it was about me until you mentioned Lor. Prophecy isn’t inevitable, Mara. We all create our own paths.”

  She was right. I refused to let prophecy or fate define me. My life was my own, and no one else could determine my destination. Well, except for where my soul was concerned. I wasn’t giving that part of me up without a fight. I straightened with a new resolve.

  After Raven gave me a tight hug, one I gladly returned, Coren walked her out the door and into the hallway. They shut the door behind them, and I had a sneaking suspicion they were going to try to come up with a plan. I took in a deep breath, enjoying the moment of total quiet. For once, I was alone inside my own apartment.

  With a chuckle, I slid the locks closed on my door with a resounding click. I headed to get sour cream and onion chips, ready to enjoy a bit of peace and quiet. I knew it wouldn’t last. Once Coren noticed I had locked him out, he’d lecture me about the dangers of being alone. I shook my head at his paranoia as I opened the bag for the crispy goodness.

  Hadn’t I thought my apartment was too quiet? Now I wanted silence. As I shoved a chip into my mouth, I headed into the living room.

  That was when the sound of a throaty snarl came from my balcony.

  CHAPTER 19

  Even the best of men cast shadows.

  My head slowly turned to the third-story balcony, and my eyes widened when I saw the demon perched on the railing.

  The beast’s knees were bent the opposite directions, like some sort of demented, strong-ass bird. With sharp obsidian teeth, it growled at me again. Drool dripped from its lower lip and I met the evil glare of bright yellow eyes. I took a few steps toward my sword. Black smoke swirled around its burgundy skin as it moved to watch me. Huge bat-like wings protruded from its back.

  My sword was on the other side of the couch, and I attempted to make slow, methodical steps in that direction. Once I finally reached my baby, I went to grab it. The sound of claws grating against the glass sent my heart to lurching into my throat.

  I slid my sword free and faced the monstrosity. Thin black fingers slid the door open, long claws screeching on the glass. The putrid smell of sulfur floated on the breeze and inside the living room. The beast made a clicking noise similar to the Predator movies. In fact, the face resembled the one in the movies as well.

  “Bring it on, you ugly son of a bitch,” I taunted.

  In one leap, the monster crashed against my couch, claws raking an inch from my face. I rolled out of the way, and the large wings scratched against my ceiling as it followed my movement. Then, as if the demon expected me to charge, we crashed together in the middle of my living room. My sword stabbed its shoulder, barely missing where a human heart would be. The creature didn’t even flinch when my blade sank into the dark skin. Shit.

  With a hard kick, I was able to free myself enough to roll away. The hideous creature stood and expanded its wings to their full, terrifying length. This time, I flung my blade and it sliced through red skin near the stomach area. The thing tugged it out and threw it to the side. The metal clattered against the floor and I slid for it, but I was too late. I was on my back and fighting to keep my face from being chewed on.

  Pounding sounded against my door, and I cried out, “I’m a little busy!”

  I knew it was Coren, but I didn’t have a second to worry about him. Right now, my main concern was keeping this demon’s teeth from sinking into my face. Claws dug into my arms. The agony of them biting through my skin was so intense I had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming. Hot drool dripped on my face, and I wanted nothing else than to wipe it away, but couldn’t.

  Teeth gnashed at my face again, this time about a half-inch away from my nose. My sword was too far away to grab, and the weight on top of me left me no option but to keep the demon from killing me. I was so fucked.

  Black smoke drifted down from the demon to swirl around me. The smoke flowed along my body in cold tendrils and the demon’s gaze moved from my face to look over my head. I struggled to breathe through
the thickness of evil coating me. Coldness seeped through my body and I shivered.

  When it clicked in what I assumed was a warning, the beast was ripped from my body in one tug. Since its claws were still digging into my arms, I let out a screech of pain as they shredded through my flesh.

  I reached for my sword, only to realize it was still several feet away. After two attempts, and slipping in my own blood, I removed myself from the floor barely in time to see Lor twist the demon’s head. It fell with a sickening thud. Coren retrieved my sword and sliced off the demon’s wings in one swift movement.

  Without the help of Raven, we all watched the demon’s soul, or essence or whatever, sailed back out my open balcony door. I assumed Raven or her father would take care of that mess. Still, there was a seven-foot-tall demon, wings and all, dead on my trashed living room floor.

  I let out a frustrated breath. “How the fuck am I supposed to get rid of a demon’s body from my apartment? It’s not like I can toss it in the dumpster.”

  “Mara,” Coren breathed as he rushed forward.

  Lor disappeared into my kitchen as Coren inspected my arms. Adrenaline did amazing things to the body. I hadn’t paid attention to my shredded skin and blood dripping in rivulets down my forearms and over my fingers. When the adrenaline finally faded, that was when shock kicked in. I stared down at my tattered arms in confusion, my heart pulsing in my ears.

  “She’s really pale,” Lor stated, returning with some towels.

  A quiver rippled over me, but I couldn’t stop staring at the blood. I frowned. What happened? Why was I bleeding?

  “Get her a blanket,” Coren snapped. He pressed the towels over my arms.

  Warmth enveloped me and I felt weightless. “This is nice,” I whispered. “I like floating.”

  “She’s in shock,” Lor stated from somewhere around me. “We have to get her to a hospital.”

  “And tell them what?” Coren questioned, his voice gruff with both concern and anger. “She’s lost a lot of damn blood!”

  A few seconds later, glass shattered. The sound echoed through my head like we were in a cave.

  “Problem solved. She fell through the balcony door. Get her to a hospital. I’ll take care of the body.”

  “What’s going on? Why is there blood everywhere and an âme damnée on the floor?” Raven sweet voice broke through my cloudiness. “Oh, my God! Mara!”

  “Hi, Raven! So glad you could...” Bright stars swarmed in my vision. I blinked a few times to clear them, but tunnel vision took over.

  “She’s going to need a blood transfusion, Coren. Get your ass moving before she dies from blood loss!” Lor’s biting tone was the last thing I remembered.

  *****

  The beeping sound grated on my nerves. My eyes felt heavy, and I struggled to open them. I instantly regretted it.

  Bright lights blinded me and I groaned.

  The sound of a chair creaking caught my attention. “She’s waking up.”

  “Mara?” Raven asked, her hand clasping mine.

  “Do you think it’ll work?” Coren asked.

  I squinted my eyes open and saw Raven, Death, Lor, and Coren standing around me. I was on a bed with white sheets. Clean, sterile walls surrounded me, and I looked around to see a monitor next to the bed and an IV under a clear bandage inserted into my hand.

  Lor nodded. “It should. We’ll know when we pull those bandages off.”

  “What...” I croaked. Raven handed me a cup. I gingerly drank a sip of water. “What will work?”

  “Lor applied a salve to your arms.” Raven squeezed my hand. “He says you should already be healed and there won’t be any poison left in your system.”

  “Somebody tried to poison me?” I shook my head in an attempt to remember what had happened to my arms. I lifted the one with the IV and saw white bandages from my wrists up to my shoulders. Then it clicked. A winged demon tried to kill me...

  “How long have I been out?” I let my arm drop.

  Coren raked a hand through his dark locks. “Three days. Three long days.”

  The breath caught in my throat. “Three days? I have to get back to work before my sixty days are up.”

  I tried to sit up and Death gently pushed me back down. “Relax. You still have some time.”

  I looked at Coren, but he looked away. I said, “But I lost three days and I can’t waste any time because—”

  “We think we may know how to protect you,” Lor interrupted.

  “I think it’s a stupid idea,” Coren muttered.

  With a sigh, I looked at each person in the room before landing back on Lor. “How?”

  “Angels, my dear. Shadows can’t do much until we know the specifics of your contract, which we are working on. Death and Raven have been working feverishly to find that as well. Coren has been trying his best to keep you out of trouble. I think this is going to get worse after you were nearly killed.”

  “I have been having that almost-being-killed problem lately.” I snorted.

  “Let’s see if the wounds are healed,” Coren stated, his jaw flexing a few times. “Then we’ll find out if you can be trusted, Lor.”

  Lor raised his chin. “I’m still deciding if you can be as well.”

  My eyes rolled so hard I was surprised I didn’t see the back of my skull. “Guys, get these bandages off and this IV out of my arm. I want to get out of here.”

  With his jaw set, Coren grabbed a pair of surgical scissors from the table next to a sink. He handed them to Death, who began cutting away the bandages from my right arm. When he began to peel back the gauze and bandages, he let out a shaky breath.

  “Flawless skin,” he muttered, closing his eyes in what must have been relief. With my other visitors peering over his shoulder, he looked up at me. “I’m sorry you have to deal with a corrupt man who isn’t afraid of killing you to get what he wants.”

  “He isn’t a man,” Coren growled. “No man would kill an innocent woman.”

  “Lucifer was never a man.” Lor shook his head. “But he would kill her without regret if he could control her. That’s what he’s wanted all along. To rule over her. She’d make an extraordinary demon.”

  “Yeah, well, he can kiss my ass.” I winced when the scissors caught some of my arm hair as Death cut the rest of the bandage away. “I won’t be one of his slaves.”

  Lor’s scarlet eyes gazed at me. “My sweet girl, aren’t you already?”

  “He’s got control over me. That’s different.”

  “Aren’t slaves controlled?”

  “Would you shut your mouth, Lor?” Coren barked. “Mara is not a slave.”

  Lor opened his mouth, but Death pointed at him with the surgical scissors. “If I hear another word about slavery and Mara today, I will drag your soul around with me for all eternity.”

  His mouth clicked shut, but I hadn’t missed how his nostrils flared once.

  Death continued to cut the rest of the bandage away. I stared at my arm in wonder. My skin was perfect. There was no hint of the damage the demon had done. No scars, no scratches, nothing. “Thank you, Lor. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I wasn’t able to use my sword again.”

  He gave me a wink and then faded into a shadow and left. Coren’s shoulders relaxed, Death let out a soft breath, and Raven closed her eyes for a minute. Their relief in Lor’s exit was palpable, but why? He’d done nothing but help me when I’d needed it the most.

  Raven’s father started cutting the wrap on the other arm, so I said, “Lor has been nothing but kind to me, he assisted Coren with my attacker yesterday, and made a salve for my arms that left me unscarred. So why are you all nervous around him? Hasn’t he proven himself?”

  The only sound was the metal scraping of the scissors in response. I looked at Coren, who stared back at me with a blank expression. Of course, Death focused on cutting my bandages. When my eyes narrowed on Raven for a minute, she caved.

  “Because we were under the impression they st
ole the souls of the living. I don’t know if that’s true, but if it is, Dad and I wonder if he wants yours for himself.”

  I tossed up my unbandaged arm up in frustration and let it drop back on the bed with a thump. “You all need to get along. At least until I can figure out how to get my soul back. Once that’s taken care of, then you can all strangle each other.”

  “She’s right,” Coren agreed, his eyes still pasted on me. “Mara is my number one priority. She’s all that matters. I will stop at nothing to free her, even if it kills me in the process.”

  Death stopped cutting halfway up my arm. His eyebrows rose as he looked at Coren. Raven sat back in the chair and drew in a sharp breath.

  I looked around clueless. “What?”

  “You realize how dangerous this is for both of you?” Death asked and then continued cutting my dressing.

  Coren gave a quick nod. “Yes. But you have my word that I’ll protect her with my own life if I have to.”

  With a frustrated sigh, I looked at both of them. “What’s dangerous? Why?”

  Letting out a slow breath, Death said, “When the time is right, you’ll know. It’s not my place, mi cielito.”

  Mi cielito. Raven had said it meant “my sky” or “my heaven” but I never asked her father the meaning. He hadn’t used the nickname in a long time, not since I had trained with Raven as a teen. That meant whatever they were hiding was going to bite me in the ass. Right in the butt cheeks with sharp, annoying teeth made out of regret and ruin.

  While I knew Death and Coren had hidden something from me, I understood the reason. Sometimes things spoken aloud could lead to fear of damnation, often if the words had unknown consequences. Whatever they held behind tight lips might cause more repercussions than endorsements.

  Raven bit her lip and grabbed my free hand. She tried to write something on my palm with her middle finger as the pen. I frowned because I couldn’t figure out her code, and I sucked at guessing words like that. Trying for the third time, she pursed her lips and “wrote” slower. L. O. Pause. V. Another pause. E. Then she looked at Coren quickly and back at me, twice.