The Lost Daughter: Hells Hallow Book One

by Bo Reid

  “What?” I growl as I throw open my front door.

  “Certified letter, need a signature,” the guy standing on my porch says as he hands me a clipboard.

  I grumble, but take it and scrawl my name across the paper. I hand it back to him and he passes me a thick envelope. I thank him and close the door; turning around, I flip the envelope over and read the return address.

  Hell

  Great, this is going to be good.

  I peel open the envelope, pulling out the letter. It’s a summons, and not from who I was expecting it to be from. Normally the only letters I get from Hell are from my father, a chance for him to tell me how disappointed he is of me. This is from someone, well something, that I never thought I would ever be in contact with.

  The Master of Evil’s Origin

  Great, I’m either going to get a nice pat on the back for all my efforts or I’m going to die. Either way, I don’t see this going well at all. I read down further for the date on the summons and see the summons isn’t just for me.

  I’ve been instructed to bring the whole council, plus Tanda, and an undisclosed being. It says they will be arriving soon, and when they come, we will be sent for to attend the meeting in Hell. Like I said, none of this will be good. Not at all.

  The door clicks open and I turn around to see Kalayavan as he walks through my front door. “Do you knock?” I grumble.

  “No,” he says, shaking his head and walking past me towards the kitchen. “Come on, I’ve got a plan to discuss with you,” he yells, and I grumble but follow him into the kitchen regardless.

  “I have news first,” I say, waving the letter around. He turns and eyes it with suspicion.

  “Okay…” he says warily, and I pass him the letter.

  He silently reads it over, his eyes growing wide as he takes it all in. “An undisclosed being? What the Hell does that mean?” he asks, and I shrug my shoulders because how the fuck should I know? “This cannot be good,” he says, his tone taking on a wary note.

  “Tell me about it,” I grumble. “Okay, tell me whatever your plan is.”

  “Shouldn't we talk about this?” he asks, waving the letter around.

  “Nothing we can do about it, there's no date; we have to wait for whoever else is supposed to come. He’s going to send someone to get us so the only thing left to do is just wait and then take whatever he gives us.”

  “Or give whatever he wants to take from us,” he grumbles.

  “Okay, moving on, why are you here?” I ask.

  “We need to figure out if what Tanda was saying is the truth right, or if it’s part of a plan she has,” he starts to explain, and I nod. “So I’m going to glamor into Marigold and get her to tell me what's going on.”

  “Okay, explain that again,” I ask Kalayavan, as I stare at him completely confused.

  He groans. “I glamor into Marigold, go to Tanda’s house, and get her to tell me her plans.”

  “How is appearing as Marigold going to get her to tell you anything different from what she already told us?” I ask.

  “It might not, but it will get her to tell the truth, whatever that truth is. Which means if she lied to us before, we’ll learn the truth. And if she was telling the truth before then she’ll tell me the same thing again, and we’ll have confirmation of the truth,” he explains.

  I nod my head slowly, his plan sinking in. “What makes you so sure that she would tell Marigold the truth?” I ask.

  He shrugs. “Just seems like Marigold knows more than she likes to let on. Plus, I did a little digging into her past, seems the Morass Coven taught her a thing or two when she first came to Hells Hallow.”

  “Okay,” I concede. “If this is what you want to do, then go for it. Try not to get yourself killed; I don’t have the time to file that kind of paperwork right now,” I grumble.

  “Sure thing, boss,” he agrees, nodding his head and standing from his chair. I watch him walk out of the house, and I take my chances by pulling out the journal from Khalida. I take a deep breath before opening it up and hoping for there to be something new for me. Something more than a single sentence would be a good start.

  Javaraya,

  By now you may have realized, or been told, what we did to save our daughter. And in turn, the fate we forced onto your collective shoulders. I saw it when you were little, that spark as you watched me hold my new baby. That spark is what gave me the confidence and the trust to do what I did. I did not curse you, or the others; I locked you into the fate you were already destined for.

  Tanda was meant to be yours long before she was brought into this world, but she is also meant to be theirs.

  It will take a great deal of strength for each of you to accept the reality of the lives you must live. The sooner you accept what was always meant to be, the better off this world will be.

  Remember, Javaraya, accept what has always been yours.

  Your war is not meant to be fought between each other, doing so will only cost you… Everything.

  Khalida Morass

  P.s. Mothers know best

  Tanda

  I wake up in my bed without a single clue how the fuck I got here. I push my covers off and stand, stretching and feeling my aching muscles pulling in all the wrong directions. I conjure up some new clothes because apparently even though I somehow made it home last night, I didn’t manage to change my clothes, which means my bedding is covered in dirt as well. I remake my bed — magically — with new sheets and a new comforter before moving into the kitchen and making a cup of coffee.

  Hex joins me, twisting between my legs as I move around the kitchen and call everything to life to begin to make breakfast.

  “How did I get here last night?” I ask, to no one in particular but knowing someone will answer me.

  “You just... appeared,” Johnathan whispers.

  “What do you mean I just appeared?” I ask, turning around to face the large crow.

  “One moment the cabin was empty and we were wondering where you had been all day, and the next, there was a purple glow coming from your room. When I went to check things out, you were asleep in your bed. Are you saying you have no recollection of how it happened?” he asks, and I shake my head no. “What were you doing yesterday anyway?” he asks, his voice taking on a wary tone.

  “Just the usual,” I say and shrug, turning my back to him and pretending to focus on making myself breakfast. If I appeared here late last night, that means I was passed out in the cave all of yesterday. Or I did things that I can’t remember, which would be the worse option of the two.

  “The usual, doesn’t usually leave you with no recollection of how you got home,” he argues, and Hex hisses at me. Reaching her paws up to scratch down my leg.

  I jump back from her attack. “Ouch, what the Hell, Hex!” I demand, reaching down and lifting my pant leg. The deep claw marks quickly heal, but I swiftly reach down and finger a drop of blood. Standing, I rub the blood between my fingers and note the odd purple glow.

  My blood has always been strong, always been different, and after it’s used in an incantation, it becomes a tar-like substance — usually black — but it’s never been purple before. And it doesn't usually glow.

  “What the Hell indeed,” I murmur under my breath as I continue to eye the blood.

  “Tanda,” I hear the soft tone of Marigold call me, and when I suddenly turn around, she is standing in the doorway to my cabin. My eyebrows pinch together in confusion. I reach down, wiping the blood off my finger and onto a dish towel.

  “What are you doing here? I thought you were working at the shop today?” I ask, crossing my arms over my chest defensively.

  “I, uh, I am. I mean I was, I just wanted to come out here and check on you, make sure everything is going according to plan,” she says.

  “Right, the plan…” I trail off.

  “Yes, so is it?” she presses, stepping further into the cabin. Hex lets out a light hiss as Marigold crosses the cabin towards
me. I glance towards Hex, then back at Marigold, who has a cheerful smile on her face. Too cheerful.

  “Yeah, everything is right on schedule,” I confirm.

  “Shall we go over some things? Anything you need help with? What's your next step, since you told them everything,” she presses.

  I take a step closer to her so she is within arms reach. “How did you know I met with them, or that I told them anything?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.

  “I… I just assumed is all,” she says, and I narrow my eyes at her.

  “What do you really want?” I ask a moment before conjuring a dagger into my hand and driving it deep into her belly. I twist the blade before ripping it out and pushing away the form of Marigold. I feel a spark light up under my skin, and I can’t help the smile that forms on my lips. Power running through my blood as I watch her face falter at the sudden realization of pain.

  “What the?” her voice changes as his true form flickers back, unable to keep up the ruse while in such pain. He presses a hand to his bleeding abdomen before dropping to his knees. He places his palm against the floor of the cabin in an attempt to steady himself. I lean over, gripping his throat and digging my nails into his neck.

  “I’m not the witch you want to fuck with. Don’t ever try that again,” I seethe before dropping my hold on him and watching him clatter to the ground.

  “How?” he pants, and I smile.

  “The happy tears of a pure white witch,” I tell him as I hold my dagger up for him to see. His blood runs down it and onto my hand as he blinks, watching me. “It’s poison to you, isn’t it?” I ask, my voice dripping with innocence as I pretend like I don’t know that’s exactly what it is.

  “But why?” he barely manages to huff.

  I cock my head to the side and allow my mouth to pull into a sinister smile. “I’m running this game, and I don’t remember telling you to move your piece across the board,” I shrug.

  As he lies, bleeding onto my hardwood floors, I walk across the room and open up the dark cabinets. I begin pulling out little items here and there, throwing them into my small cauldron as Kalayavan’s breathing slows. When I glance over my shoulder, he has passed out, it wouldn’t be too much longer if I just left him like this. But unfortunately, I do still need him, and there is one thing that can still save him.

  I pull out the small vile, swishing the dark liquid around inside it, the tears of agony from a pure black witch.

  The last tears I will ever cry.

  Shame they’ll be wasted saving him all because he forgot to play by the rules.

  Take what you need.

  Don't mind if I do.

  The End…

  For now, to continue reading Tanda’s story pre-order book two Blood Bonding today!

  Acknowledgments

  Danielle, I don’t know what I would do if I didn’t have you in my life. Thank you for always being there for me, no matter what. And thank you for being willing to read through The Lost Daughter when it was just an idea and a few words on a page. You talked me through this story, the plot, and characters until I was confident enough to actually write this story. This book wouldn’t be here today if not for your encouragements.

  My editor Ashley for always being able to work me into her schedule, and for being excited and possibly also terrified about how I’m going to end things.

  Betas, you guys help me more than you realize, thank you.

  ARC readers, I can’t thank you guys enough for reading this story and sharing it with the world.

  Reapers, you guys are the best readers an author could ask for. I’ve been going through a pretty hard time the last few months and you guys have been there for me every step of the way. Thank you for your endless support.

  Cult Reid

  “You’re in a Cult, call your Dad.” — My Favorite Murder

  You know you’re a Reaper if this describes you:

  The definition of a Reaper:

  A Group of Loyal Readers/Reiders. A Cult like following of The Murder Queen.

  Every author thinks they have the best readers, but honestly you guys take the cake — can we make it a cheesecake, because I love cheesecake.

  I never imagined this could be my life, writing down these stories in my head — yeah this crazy is pretty much in my head all the time, scary place right? Having people read them. Having people like them? Psh as if.

  Having people love them enough to follow all this crazy? Yeah that wasn’t even a dream because I didn’t realize I could pull that off. Yet here you guys are.

  Reiders. Reapers. Cult Reid.

  Truly I have the best readers.

  Join The Graveyard, where the Reapers like to play and the shallow graves are free.

  Bo Reid is addicted to coffee, swearing, sarcasm, and true crime. She loves hiking, traveling, books, and pit bulls. A mom to one sarcastic little boy. She lives in the mountains of California and is always looking for her next adventure.

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  Also by Bo Reid

  Hells Hallow

  The Lost Daughter

  Blood Bonding

  Predictions (January 2021)

  Evils Origins (April 2021)

  Breaking Bonds (July 2021)

  Final Title To Be Announced (October 2021)

  The Reapers

  Betrayal

  Deception

  Bloodlines

  Redemption (Coming Soon)

  A Reaper Halloween

  A Reaper Christmas

  The Hart Duet

  Broken Hart

  Wild Hart

  The Hart Duet Set

  Jinx Family

  Jinx’ing Your Future

  A Jinx’d Christmas (Coming Soon)

  Anthologies

  NSFL — October 27th 2020

  Things That Go Bump At Night — October 31st 2020

  Make It Count — December 27th 2020