Date Published: October 11,2024
When JohnStandcliff, Satan’s bounty hunter, is summoned to Earth to claimthe soul of a serial killer, he finds the worst of hell’s tortures can be noworse than the pain of falling in love with a mortal woman.
CorinneRogerio has come to Maine to research six murders that took placeback in 1656. She has no idea that the handsome stranger she meets in an oldcemetery is actually the murderer she’s been studying. Even worse, he’s been sent to track down a serial killer who is closer to her than she everimagined.
EXCERPT
Sparks shotfrom John’s ax each time it struck the trunk of the steel tree.Every blow jolted through his aching arms and rang in his ears, yet healmost welcomed the racket. He’d lost track of how long he’d dwelled in thesteel forest, chopping tree after tree without pause for food, water, orsleep. His demon’s body could survive for decades without rest orsustenance. If he ceased chopping long enough, the bleeding sores on hispalms would heal and his muscles would almost magically stop aching.Unfortunately he must continue the drudgery until given the order tohalt.
All aroundhim, the smooth gray trees stretched for miles. As punishmentfor his crimes, John labored alone, chopping steel trees in Satan’s forest,only ceasing when sent to collect yet another evil soul to toil inHell.
“Hello,John.”
The sneeringvoice echoed throughout the forest and made John’s skinprickle with disgust. Pausing, he listened to his own panting breath in thestillness. Sweat dripped into his eyes and trickled down his torso, soakinginto the wet waistband of his black trousers. He waited for the voice tocontinue. Usually when Bee called, it was to send him on one of his gruesomemissions.
“Oh, John,your services are required. Won’t it be nice to go homeagain?”
“Home, Bee?”John curled his lip. The little bastard lovedplaying with people. Three-hundred-forty-eight years ago, John had been farmore gullible. The first few times Bee had promised him a meeting with hissister or even a chance to escape from Hell, he had actually believedhim.
At first he hadlooked forward to visiting the mortal world, but eventuallythe illusion shattered. Without friends or family, the world was a lonelyplace. People feared him and kept their distance. It was as if they sensedthe evil inside him and instinctively stayed away. Never again would heexperience the comfort and total relaxation of sleep, to close his eyes incomplete surrender. Perhaps worst of all was his inability to fully enjoylovemaking. He could pleasure women and feel intense sexual stimulation, yetclimax eluded him.
“Can’t youthink of a better story than that?”
“It’s not astory. Your hometown reeks of evil. Our master has beensmelling it for quite some time now and he wants it. You go get it for him,John, and this time there might be something in it for you.”
“Beelzebub,leave us,” said a soft, musical voice. It sent atingle down John’s spine and filled him with such warmth that he nearlypanicked. After so many years in Hell, nothing touched him anymore. Whatsort of evil had Bee conjured that could stir his emotions again? The voicecontinued. “Once a soul is condemned to Hell, it is rarely allowed achance for redemption. There are sometimes cases of a good soul doing evil,and though it is not condoned, under special circumstances someone like youmay be given the opportunity to move on, providing certain specificationsare met.”
John closedhis eyes and drew a deep breath. “It’s not going to work,Bee. I no longer believe in fairy tales.”
“Bee is gone.His kind cannot abide me.”
“I supposeyou’re from up there?”
“I’m fromeverywhere. I know no bounds. Listen carefully to what Itell you, John Standcliff. Fulfill the task set for you and send the evil inyour hometown to Hell. Do it without harming an innocent soul, and you willbe freed from Satan’s realm and allowed your chance atredemption.”
John laughedhumorlessly. “You don’t give up, do you, Bee?”
“Believe whatyou will, but you have only this oneopportunity.”
“Oh, justone?” John’s voice dripped sarcasm.
“At least inthis millennium. You’re not the only demon in Hell whodeserves a second chance.”
“Then giveone of them my turn. I don’t want it.”
“I understandwhy you don’t believe me, but keep my offer in mindduring your return to the world of the living. If I’m lying, then you’ll beno worse off than you are now, but if I’m telling thetruth…”
The voicefaded. Moments later, Bee appeared beside John. He was nothingmore than a dark cloud, loosely resembling the shape of a man. Beeshuddered. “Glad she’s gone. Now. Are you ready to get towork?”
“Who am Iafter this time?”
“As usual, Ican’t give you too many details. After all, I’m notsupposed to be catching the soul. That’s your job.”
“Bee…”
“It’s a serialkiller. Here’s his scent.” Bee’s cloudy black handswept beneath John’s nose. The faint aroma was all a demon required to trackhis prey. “While you’re there, why don’t you break your own rules andhack apart some humans? The master loves it when his demons terrorize theliving.”
“Just send meout of here so I can get this over with.”
Blacknessenveloped John, and in those dark moments between Hell and Earth,he absorbed the details of his new identity and a crash course on life inthe twenty-first century.
About theAuthor
Always a fanof romance and the paranormal, I started writing over twentyyears ago. My first story was accepted for publication in 1996. Since thenI’ve written over one hundred short stories, novellas and novels. Ilove to blend genres. I also love horror and a happily ever after, so ifyou’re looking for romance with witches, aliens, vampires, angels,demons, shapeshifters and more, there’s a good chance you’llfind something to your taste here.
When I’m notwriting, I enjoy reading, watching horror and actionmovies, working out and spending time with my family and pets.
ContactLinks
