by Bea Paige
Contents
Hell’s Calling
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
About the Authors
Also by Bea Paige
Also By Skye Mackinnon
Hell’s Calling © Copyright 2018 Bea Paige & Skye MacKinnon
All rights reserved under the International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
Warning: the unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
Cover: Vanesa Garkova
Format: Gina Wynn
Hell’s Calling
She never meant to sell her soul… least of all to Lucifer.
The devil has taken her sister. Now she's going to bring her back.
Luckily, she's not alone.
An angel with a dark past.
A wolf with anger issues.
A hellhound who's actually quite cuddly.
Yes, this is a journey into hell. Grab your tissues and snacks for this will be a rollercoaster into darkness.
A reverse harem based on Dante's Inferno, but with a kickass heroine instead of a lovesick old poet.
To Dante: You're a genius. Sorry for calling you a lovesick old poet in the blurb.
Prologue
The devil is supposed to have horns and a tail, not look like a hot guy in a tight-fitting suit. His eyes should have given it away, but I wasn’t looking at them. I was looking at the floor because I was ashamed to even be in that office. It’s a place where only a certain type of person comes. The ones who don’t have anything to lose.
But of course it didn’t work out. Life isn’t fair. How was I supposed to know that he wasn't human? That he was out for my soul?
In desperation, people do a lot of crazy things. Like me. I’m desperate, and I have been for a long time. Being poor does that to you. And if the choice is between feeding my baby sister and doing something stupid, I’ll always do the latter.
“You signed the contract,” the bulky man in front of me repeats, staring me down. I don’t budge. I’m all that stands between him and Tris, and he’s getting nowhere near her. Our home isn’t much, a simple room in a shelter containing nothing but a wobbly wardrobe and a bunk bed, but it’s our sanctuary. This man is threatening it and I’m not letting him get away with it, even though he’s three times as wide as me.
He sighs deeply and points his stubby finger on the paper, showing where I signed. My signature is wiggly; it’s obvious how much I didn’t actually want to sign the contract. But I did, and now he’s here to collect.
“I’m needed here. Please go,” I say in my most determined voice. There’s a slight shake to it, but I’m hoping the man won’t notice.
“You signed the contract,” he replies, for the fourth or fifth time.
“Yes, and I didn’t know you’d be coming so soon. He told me it would be decades. Long enough for my sister to grow up.”
He stabs his finger on the parchment again.
“It doesn’t say when on here. He calls, you come. That’s what the contract says.”
"But I can't!"
"You signed, you come." His face is as dispassionate as always. I wonder if Luke chooses his goons to be expressionless as well as brainless.
"I've done everything he's asked of me! Surely he needs me here? I can't leave, I just can't."
Of course, Tris chooses that moment to start crying. It must be one of her nightmares. I cringe as the man's eyes flick to the room behind me.
"You've got a kid?" he asks, this time almost showing a trace of interest in his dark eyes.
"Sister," I say through clenched teeth, my fingers gripping the doorframe hard enough to turn my knuckles white. I'm tempted to run inside and grab my knife, but I know he'd probably catch me before I could get it out of my bag. Usually, the knife stays under my pillow when I'm home, but I haven’t had time to unpack my things yet.
Wouldn't it be ironic if I killed Luke's goon with the knife the devil himself gave me? I've not killed before, he would be the first. But my sister is here with me, and I'm not going to endanger her in any way. She's the reason I'm doing all this. If she woke up and saw me, the real me... no, that cannot happen. To her, I'm still the old Ciera, the caring older sister who never did anything wrong. Someone to look up to. No, I'm definitely no role model anymore. I've done terrible things to survive, most of them in Luke's employ. I did them because I thought it would keep him from calling in his final favour.
"Say your goodbyes," the man tells me and I glare at him defiantly.
"I'm not going to say goodbye. She's three, how is she supposed to survive without me?!"
"Not my problem. You signed the contract."
"Tell him I'll do other things. I'll do twice as many missions as it says on there."
I know how pathetic I sound, but I have to try and get out of this. It's not as if I didn't read the small print, I just believed in what Luke told me more. I believed that I had time, because that's what he said. But he lied. Figures, he's the devil.
"He wants you now. No more arguing. Say goodbye or not, I don't care. We're leaving."
He grabs my arm and turns to leave, expecting me to follow him like a good little girl. As if.
I kick him from behind, my foot hitting the back of his knee. He grunts but doesn't let go of my arm, on the contrary, he begins to grip it painfully hard.
"Let go," I groan in pain and anger. If only I had my knife here, or one of my other weapons, but the knife’s in my bag and I keep the others locked up, out of Tris's reach. Sharp things aren't good for a three-year-old to play with.
"Stop struggling."
He drags me along the corridor, ignoring the kicks I'm giving his legs.
"HELP!" I shout, hoping that the shelter isn't abandoned like it usually is during the day. My sister and I are the only ones allowed to stay, the others have to queue each night in the hope to get a bed.
"Nobody here," he chuckles. "Nobody here to save you."
That makes me struggle even more. My sister is crying again, her voice getting ever more quiet as he drags me further away from her.
No, he's not going to take me. Tris needs me.
Without thinking, I rip the long wooden needle that's holding my curls in place out of my hair and slam it into his back. It splinters and pain floods my hand. It didn't work. Either his clothes are too thick or he's wearing some kind of protective vest underneath. The only thing I've achieved is pissing him off.
He roars and slams me against the wall behind me. It knocks the wind out of my lungs and I sink to the floor, wincing. He leans down to me, his almost black eyes wide with anger.
"You should have read the small print," he whispers before something hard knocks against my forehead and everything goes dark.
Chapter 1
A gentle touch presses against my forehead bringing me back into the present.
“Ciera, child, are you okay?”
My eyes flutter open at the sound of a familiar voice that echoes around my brain.
Peering down at me is Noella, another regular at the shelter. Her kind brown eyes are surrounded by wrinkles, deepened further by her fear that I might be hurt. I sit up abruptly, forcing Noella back. She wobbles slightly on arthritic ankles and I catch her elbow, supporting her so she doesn’t fall backwards, but she stumbles and falls to the ground.
“Where’s Tris?” I ask, clambering to my feet. I ignore the woozy feeling and the urge to throw up what little breakfast I had this morning. The usual dim lights in the hallway are too bright suddenly and black spots pinprick my vision as I steady myself against the wall. I take a deep breath, forcing away another looming blackout.
Noella doesn’t answer me straight away. Instead she holds her hand up, requesting my help back to her feet. I clutch at her hand, pulling her upwards. She is tiny, bent with age, poverty and a hard life lived on the streets. I see my future in her.
“He left this…” Noella says, her bent fingers unfurling painfully. In her hand is a piece of parchment. I see Luke’s insignia before anything else. The number 666, coiled around it is a snake that is eating its own tail.
“I’m sorry, Ciera. There was nothing I could do.”
I snatch the parchment from her hand, ignoring her look of sorrow, and read. With every word, my heart shatters. This time I cannot prevent the nausea from rising up my throat. My stomach empties on the floor.
“This can’t be real. I’m still dreaming. I have to be,” I say, wiping a shaking hand over my mouth.
Noella shakes her head. “I’m sorry. She’s gone.”
A scream of rage rips from my mouth. I twirl on my feet and run back into our room.
“Tris, TRIS! Where are you?” I run to our bed, pulling the sheet from the bottom bunk where she sleeps. All that’s left behind is her teddy; a small dog-eared brown bear I found in a dumpster when she was two. It’s the only toy she’s ever had and she doesn’t go anywhere without it. I pick it up and clutch it against my chest, burying my face into it to draw in her smell. Inside, my heart shatters that little bit more.
Noella rests her hand on my arm and squeezes gently. “You made a deal, didn’t you?”
I turn slowly to face her, my head bowed, ashamed. “I did it to keep her safe. I did it for Tris. He lied. It wasn’t supposed to be this way. It was supposed to me. Not her.”
Noella’s warm fingers lift my chin. I blink back the tears, they won’t help me or Tris now.
“I know, child. I know what this has cost you. What it will cost you…”
“I have to find her. Bring her home. I will take her place. She’s only three, Noella. She’ll be so frightened. What have I done?”
Noella considers me a moment, her dark eyes assessing mine. I feel uncomfortable under her gaze. After a beat she speaks.
“There is a way,” she says, her hand dropping from my chin. I snatch at it, squeezing it hard. She winces, but I don’t let go.
“Tell me.”
Noella remains quiet, her crinkled mouth pursed shut now.
“Tell me, Noella, or so help me…” I threaten, squeezing her hand harder. A few months ago I would never have dreamed of hurting anyone, especially someone old and frail like Noella, someone kind. I have changed. I have done things that would turn even the kindest, most forgiving person against me. I’m not a good person. Noella knows it. My eyes flick to the rucksack containing my knife, Luke’s knife actually, given it’s really his.
“There’s no need for violence, Ciera. I want to help you. I want to help your sister. I shall tell you what you need to know. But this won’t be easy. You will need help, and there is only one person I know of who can help you now.”
“Tell me,” I repeat, more gently this time. I let go of Noella’s hand and she draws it to her chest, rubbing it gently.
“You must find the light within the Dark Woods, only then will you be able to enter the place which only the damned can walk.”
My eyebrows pull together in confusion. Light within the Dark Woods? What is she talking about?
“Where are these woods you speak of? What light do you mean? Noella, I don’t have time for riddles. Just tell me how I can help my sister!” I can’t help but shout, fear making me scared, making me panic. Knowing how frightened Tris must be makes my own fear a thousand times worse. She doesn’t even have her teddy. I force away the debilitating thoughts. I must be strong. I must find her.
“You know the Dark Woods well enough, Ciera.”
“What are you talking about? I’ve never stepped out of this city, let alone visited the countryside. There are no woods around here…”
Noella cocks her head to one side, then widens her arms. “Is that so? You know this city better than anyone. Don’t tell me you’ve never come across the Dark Woods before?” She stares at me, waiting.
Realisation dawns, thwacking me over the head. “You can’t mean the old pub on Wood street? The one with the blackened windows, filled with reprobates and surrounded by dead trees and iron railings?”
“The one and only.”
“Shit.” I’ve heard the rumours about that place, about who lurks inside.
“I’ve never entered it personally. Not a place I ever wish to set foot in. I’m sorry you have to go there. But, my child, there is a light beyond the darkened windows. Seek it out. It’s the only way.”
Noella touches my arm briefly.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“It will be arduous. You will be tested, Ciera.”
“You sound like you know something more.”
“I know enough, but this is not my journey. This is yours. If I am to give you one piece of advice, it would be this. There is light in the darkest of hearts, as there is dark in the purest of souls. Not everything is as it seems. Be safe, Ciera.” With that, Noella turns and leaves the room before I am able to question her further.
It takes me almost two hours to reach the ramshackle pub on Wood Street. It’s nearing midnight by the time I approach the iron gates surrounding the building. The trunks of dead trees curl upwards from the ground, like rotten teeth protruding from blackened gums. There are no signs of life within the hollowed out and twisted trunks. The street itself is deathly quiet. Even the pub seems unusually tranquil. No, tranquil is not the right word.
This place is no more tranquil than the shelter I live in. This kind of silence should be feared.
My eyes take in the darkened windows, the red-brick turned black by pollution and years of grime from the car exhausts polluting the city air.
Perhaps it’s closed.
I hesitate, not certain whether to enter. My hand is holding onto the iron railing. Part of me wants to run away, the other is determined to find my sister. I close my eyes and draw in a long breath. Noella’s voice echoing in my head.
“You gonna stand there all night or are ya gonna come in?” A gravelly female voice says from the darkness. I snatch my hand away from the railing as a woman dressed in a long fur coat steps out from behind one of the trees. She has highlighted blonde hair piled up on top of her head in a loose bun. Her face is painted with thick makeup, red lipstick bleeds into the wrinkled skin about her mouth as she pulls on a cigarette. She’s probably only in her late thirties; time hasn’t treated her well.
“Is this the Dark Woods?” I ask, trying to bide some time.
The woman laughs. Actually, it’s more of a cackle than a laugh.
“Does this look like woods to you?”
“No, but…”
“This is a pub, love. Booze is consumed, drugs too if that’s what you’re after. There are also many other things you can find beyond thos
e doors. Perhaps you’d like a little company, hmm?” she asks me.
I watch as her hand reaches down to the front of her fur coat. She slides her fingers along the join, unbuttoning it. Beneath she is wearing a leather mini-skirt, stockings and a lace bra.
I raise my eyebrows. “No, thanks. I’m here for something else.”
“Then you’d better come in, hadn’t you? That something else ain’t gonna be found out there on the street now, is it?” She winks, then places the cigarette back in her mouth but not before she runs her tongue over her crimson lip.
Yanking open the gate, I step onto the path on the other side. The woman leans against a tree watching me.
“No, no it won’t,” I say. Tris’s face fills my thoughts and I grit my teeth. If she’s beyond those doors, then that’s where I need to be and nothing and no one is going to stop me from finding her.
“I’m Tala by the way.”
I nod my head as I walk past her. “Nice to meet you, Tala,” I say politely.
She laughs again. “Many people have said many things after meeting me, nice has never been one of them.” She reaches out her hand and grips hold of my arm tightly. “I am always on the hunt for my next… client. You’d be wise not to cross paths with me again, pretty one. I may not be so nice, next time.”
I yank my arm away, narrowing my eyes at her. “Me neither,” I growl. Luke’s knife burns a hole in my back pocket.
A slow smile pulls up her lips, respect lighting her golden eyes. She doesn’t respond, simply nods her head and steps back into the shadows.
