Reaper
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Reaper
A Demonica Novel
By Larissa Ione
1001 Dark Nights
Reaper
A Demonica Novel
By Larissa Ione
Copyright 2019 Larissa Ione
ISBN: 978-1-970077-43-8
Published by Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.
This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination and are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or establishments is solely coincidental.
Book Description
REAPER: A DEMONICA NOVEL
THE DEMONICA SERIES RETURNS...
He is the Keeper of Souls. Judge, jury, and executioner. He is death personified.
He is the Grim Reaper.
A fallen angel who commands the respect of both Heaven and Hell, Azagoth has presided over his own underworld realm for thousands of years. As the overlord of evil souls, he maintains balance crucial to the existence of life on Earth and beyond. But as all the realms gear up for the prophesied End of Days, the ties that bind him to Sheoul-gra have begun to chafe.
Now, with his beloved mate and unborn child the target of an ancient enemy, Azagoth will stop at nothing to save them, even if it means breaking blood oaths and shattering age-old alliances.
Even if it means destroying himself and setting the world on fire…
About Larissa Ione
Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and fictional worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. After a dozen moves all over the country with her now-retired U.S. Coast Guard spouse, she is now settled in Wisconsin with her husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhounds, a King Shepherd named Hexe, and a Belgian Malinois named Duvel.
For more information about Larissa, visit www.larissaione.com.
Also by Larissa Ione
Go to www.LarisaIone.com for more information.
~ DEMONICA/LORDS OF DELIVERANCE SERIES ~
Pleasure Unbound (Book 1)
Desire Unchained (Book 2)
Passion Unleashed (Book 3)
Ecstasy Unveiled (Book 4)
Eternity Embraced ebook (Book 4.5) (NOVELLA)
Sin Undone August (Book 5)
Eternal Rider (Book 6)
Supernatural Anthology (Book 6.5) (NOVELLA)
Immortal Rider (Book 7)
Lethal Rider (Book 8)
Rogue Rider (Book 9)
Reaver (Book 10)
Azagoth (Book 11)
Revenant (Book 12)
Hades (Book 13)
Base Instincts (Book 13.5)
Z (Book 14)
Razr (Book 15)
Hawkyn (Book 16)
Her Guardian Angel (Book 17)
Dining With Angels (Book 17.5)
Cipher (Book 18)
Reaper (Book 19)
~ MOONBOUND CLAN VAMPIRES SERIES ~
Bound By Night (book 1)
Chained By Night (book 2)
Blood Red Kiss Anthology (book 2.5)
Acknowledgments from the Author
Hey, everyone!
Okay, grab yourself a mug of coffee, or a glass of wine, or a bottle of beer (yay, beer!), because I want to have a chat.
See, I love writing. I love being an author. I love the characters who live in my head and demand to get out so readers can get to know them.
But sometimes life gets in the way, and creativity gets sidelined. Thanks to an incredibly busy few years, I had to slow down as we built a new house, sent our son off to college and then moved him back home, moved my mom from Oregon to Wisconsin, adopted a crazy dog, and…the list goes on.
All the while, the voices in my head still demanded stories. I couldn’t indulge them as much as I’d have liked, but thankfully I had incredible support from everyone around me. I owe so many people so much, starting with Liz Berry and M.J. Rose, who allowed me to keep my head in the Demonica world while maintaining a schedule I could handle.
Now we’re at the end of the series they let me write for Evil Eye, and we’re ending on a big note.
REAPER is a book I’ve wanted to write for years – a book of pure action, of dark twists, and of lasting consequences. What happens today will have repercussions decades from now…as you’ll soon find out.
But before we turn the page, I want to send some gratitude out into the world.
To my friends and family who have put up with my deadlines and crazy schedules, thank you for your support and patience. Bryan and Brennan, you have been especially supportive, and I love you more than I can say.
To Liz Berry and M.J. Rose, I truly can’t thank you enough – not just because of what you’ve done for me, but what you’ve done for so many women. Your respect for authors, readers, and the genre, is obvious in everything you do.
To Kim Guidroz…damn, girl, you have saved my ass a million times, and I’m so grateful to you! You’re a treasure and I adore you, and I’m so happy that you’re in my life. You are truly one of my favorite people ever.
Speaking of treasures, Chelle Olson, thank you for all your hard work making sure REAPER is polished to perfection. I’m going to smother in you in hugs when I see you next!
I also have to send out oodles of hugs and thanks and Jell-O shots to a group of ladies who have become the people I count on for my sanity. Once a year, you Babes set the tone for the rest of my year, and I always look forward to our time together. Lara Adrian, Shayla Black, Lexi Blake, Lorelei James, Suzanne Johnson, Julie Kenner, and Jillian Stein and, of course, the already mentioned Kim and Liz. And special thanks to Steve Berry for putting up with us! (OMG, Steve Berry washed my dishes!!!!)
And Judie Bouldry! I’m not even sure what to say to the woman who has had my back for years now. I love you and appreciate everything you do, and I wish we could spend more time together…in Europe would be ideal!
Kat Daugherty, thank you for the last-minute read and the fabulous advice. You’re just what I needed when I needed it. Let’s keep doing this, k?
And last but not least, to my readers who have followed my journey, thank you for being there and for trusting me to give you tales with happy endings…even if the journey to get there was rough as hell.
As we dive into REAPER, I’m going to ask that you trust me one more time.
But you really might want to refill that wine glass first…
Table of Contents
Book Description
About Larissa Ione
Also by Larissa Ione
Acknowledgments from the Author
Glossary
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
<
br /> Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Chapter Forty
Chapter Forty-One
Chapter Forty-Two
Chapter Forty-Three
Chapter Forty-Four
Chapter Forty-Five
Chapter Forty-Six
Also from Larissa Ione
Discover the World of 1001 Dark Nights
Special Thanks
Glossary
Fallen Angel—Believed to be evil by most humans, fallen angels can be grouped into two categories: True Fallen and Unfallen. Unfallen angels have been cast from Heaven and are earthbound, living a life in which they are neither truly good nor truly evil. In this state, they can, rarely, earn their way back into Heaven. Or they can choose to enter Sheoul, the demon realm, in order to complete their fall and become True Fallens, taking their places as demons at Satan's side.
Harrowgate—Vertical portals, invisible to humans, which demons use to travel between locations on Earth and Sheoul. Very few beings own, or can summon, their own personal Harrowgates.
Inner Sanctum—A realm within Sheoul-gra that consists of six Rings, each housing the souls of demons categorized by their level of evil as defined by the Ufelskala. The Inner Sanctum is run by the fallen angel Hades and his staff of wardens, all fallen angels. Access to the Inner Sanctum is strictly limited, as the demons imprisoned within can take advantage of any outside object or living person in order to escape.
Memitim—Earthbound angels assigned to protect important humans called Primori. Memitim remain earthbound until they complete their duties, at which time they Ascend, earning their wings and entry into Heaven. See: Primori
Primori—Humans and demons whose lives are fated to affect the world in some crucial way.
Radiant—The most powerful class of Heavenly angel in existence, save Metatron. Unlike other angels, Radiants can wield unlimited power in all realms and can travel freely through Sheoul, with very few exceptions. The designation is awarded to only one angel at a time. Two can never exist simultaneously, and they cannot be destroyed except by God, Satan, or the Heavenly Council of Orders. The fallen angel equivalent is called a Shadow Angel. See: Shadow Angel
Shadow Angel—The most powerful class of fallen angel in existence, save Satan. Unlike other fallen angels, Shadow Angels can wield unlimited power in all realms, and they possess the ability to gain entrance into Heaven. The designation is awarded to only one angel at a time, and they can never exist without their equivalent, a Radiant. Shadow Angels cannot be destroyed except by God, Satan, or the Heavenly Council of Orders. The Heavenly angel equivalent is called a Radiant. See: Radiant.
Sheoul—Demon realm. Located on its own plane deep in the bowels of the Earth, accessible to most only by Harrowgates and hellmouths.
Sheoul-gra—A holding tank for demon souls. A realm that exists independently of Sheoul, it is overseen by Azagoth, also known as the Grim Reaper. Within Sheoul-gra is the Inner Sanctum, where demon souls go to be kept in torturous limbo until they can be reborn.
Sheoulic—Universal demon language spoken by all, although many species also speak their own language.
Ter'taceo—Demons who can pass as human, either because their species is naturally human in appearance, or because they can shapeshift into human form.
Ufelskala—A scoring system for demons, based on their degree of evil. All supernatural creatures and evil humans can be categorized into the five Tiers, with the Fifth Tier comprised of the worst of the wicked.
Watchers—Individuals assigned to keep an eye on the Four Horsemen. As part of the agreement forged during the original negotiations between angels and demons that led to Ares, Reseph, Limos, and Thanatos being cursed to spearhead the Apocalypse, one Watcher is an angel, the other is a fallen angel. Neither Watcher may directly assist any Horseman's efforts to either start or stop Armageddon, but they can lend a hand behind the scenes. Doing so, however, may have them walking a fine line that, to cross, could prove worse than fatal.
Prologue
Somewhere in the Arabian Peninsula, thousands of years earlier…
Gabriel stared at the hut built of sticks, stones, and animal hides and wondered how a fellow angel could possibly live there. Willingly. It wasn’t as if Asrael had lost his wings and had to live in the human realm as a powerless, pathetic Unfallen, after all.
He’d just done something stupid.
And really, who hadn’t? Stupidity wasn’t a reason to isolate yourself for centuries from all living things and live in squalor.
The full desert sun scorched everything it touched as Gabriel approached the dwelling, but he barely noticed. Nothing else stirred, not even in the shade cast by the rocky outcroppings surrounding Asrael’s hut. Which was probably why he’d chosen to live here. No one but thieves and demons would venture into this desolate region, and he was well equipped to handle both.
“Asrael?” he called out. “I know you’re in there.”
There was a pause, and then a gruff, “Why can’t I sense you?”
“Because I’m controlling my emotions.” Gabriel turned his face into a hot breeze, letting it blow his blond hair out of his eyes. “Also, I drank some plum wine with a nip of flittablume. I’m so numb, you could punch me in the throat, and I wouldn’t care.”
The door creaked open on wobbly hinges, and Asrael filled the doorway. “I’m not passing up an opportunity to throat punch an archangel.”
Gabriel laughed. Asrael’s humor was still intact. And he looked the same as he had the last time Gabriel saw him, except his once short black hair was now down to his shoulders. And instead of plush, colorful robes, he now wore a pale-beige, coarsely woven tunic.
That thing had to itch.
“I knew that would bring you out of your hovel.”
“Hovel?” Asrael stepped out, his sandaled feet slapping on a mat woven of reeds. “I built this with my own two hands.”
Gabriel eyed the rickety hut and wondered how it was even standing. “I can see that.”
“Jackass.”
“See how well the flittablume is working? I’m not annoyed in the least by your insult.”
“Well, maybe you should share the flying flower juice with me, because I’m annoyed by your presence.” Asrael folded his arms across his chest. “Why are you here?”
“Why are you?”
“I live here.”
“You don’t have to.”
A shadow dulled the emerald glints in Asrael’s eyes. “I do, and you know it.”
“Asrael, you could just as easily isolate yourself in the vastness of Heaven. There are corners of our realm no one will ever step foot in. You need to punish yourself this way.”
“I’m responsible for Jaguriel losing his wings, which makes me responsible for his death. My arrogance got him killed. I should have lost my own wings for that, but for some reason, the Council of Angels chose not to punish me.”
“You accused Jaguriel of murder,” Gabriel said, “but you believed it to be true, and with reason. Everyone believed it before you even interrogated him.”
“He killed himself,” Asrael growled. “And all the Council passed down as punishment was to assign me a temporary job, processing humans who’d crossed over. It was boring, but it was not a punishment.”
Processing traumatized humans into Heaven was definitely a punishment. Tort
urously menial. But, personally, Gabriel hadn’t thought Asrael deserved even that. Jaguriel might have been innocent in the murder of a fellow angel, but he’d been under investigation by the Internal Corruption Investigation unit for other sins.
Still, Asrael had felt the need for penance, and he’d sworn to do better at his regular job as an interrogator, leading to the idiotic decision to increase his empathic ability through a sketchy spell. Gabriel could have told him it would go wrong.
And it had. His ability had increased a thousandfold, making him so sensitive to the emotions of others that it pained him, often leaving him overloaded and incapacitated.
“So, you did something foolish and can’t be around humans or angels anymore.” Gabriel shrugged. “So what? Like I said, you could have isolated yourself in Heaven, too. You’d have been in luxury. So why”—he made a gesture that encompassed all of the barren nothingness—“here?”
“Because the human realm has something Heaven doesn’t.” The light in Asrael’s eyes sparked again. “Demons. I get to kill them here.”
That was exactly what Gabriel had hoped Asrael would say.
Gabriel watched a dull gray lizard skitter across a boulder. In Heaven, reptiles sparkled. The earthly realm was so boring and bland. “What if I told you I know a place where your empathic abilities won’t work, you can have anything you want, and you can punish demons all day long?”
Asrael snorted. “And where is this magical place?”
“It hasn’t been built yet, but it’ll exist as its own realm in the space between the human and demon realms. We’re going to call it Sheoul-gra.”
“I see.” Asrael paused, and Gabriel felt a tingle spread across his skin. Asrael was reaching out with his empathic gift, probably trying to probe for sincerity…or deception. “What is Sheoul-gra’s intended purpose?”