by Gail Koger
“No, but I can take you there.”
“That’ll do,” Uncle Saul said.
“Teleporting is out?” Quinn wanted to know.
I nodded. “Too many ghosts to risk it.”
Xenia handed me a weapons belt. “It is a lovely day for a walk.”
“Yep, it’s only going to be 112 degrees in the shade. And the really good news is; once we reach Painted Rock, I have some souls to free.”
Uncle Saul quickly hung a cross around his neck.
Xenia’s eyes widen in alarm. “Spirits like the Aztec warriors or Asmoday?”
“Nothing quite so dangerous. I can easily cross these over.” I put the belt on. Crap. It only held six grenades.
“Good. That’s good.” Xenia gestured. “Lead the way.”
Shimmering mirages danced across the rocks as we hiked up the cactus spiked hills. What little breeze there was felt like it came straight from hell, but my wonderful armor kept me cool.
I was surprised at how effortlessly Raj traversed the rocks. His orbs constantly scanned the area.
Adan transformed into an Eagle and circled overhead, searching for any sign of Ceti.
Painted Rock turned out to be a large horseshoe shaped sandstone ridge covered with petroglyphs. One upraised section was stained with ancient blood. The screams of the men and women the Aztecs had sacrificed on this altar echoed through my mind. A shudder shook me.
Ethan wrapped a comforting arm around me. “You ok?”
“I will be after I free all these souls.”
“Do your thing.” He stepped back.
“Ready Granny?”
“I am.”
“Miraculin sepulcrum ibidem solus novum. Domum rotundam vivtorie construxit,” Granny and I chanted.
A portal appeared above us. Hundreds of glowing blue orbs streamed from the rock and whizzed joyfully around us.
Xenia laughed in delight.
Adan ducked and dodged the orbs as they vanished into the portal.
Raj’s tentacles quivered. “Wonderous!”
Uncle Saul watched them carefully.
“Pretty awesome, huh?” I did a little happy dance.
Quinn asked, “Those orbs were their souls?”
“Yep.”
“The ghosts didn’t look like that before,” Ethan said.
Granny Annabel materialized next to me wearing her Indiana Jones outfit. “This is a place of magic and it allows you to see their true form.”
Unease crawled up my spine. “I’m sensing some bad juju.”
“The portal to hell is nearby,” Granny replied.
I opened my psychic senses and followed the voices whispering in my head to a stone wall. Huh? I ran a hand over the sandstone.
It’s an illusion,” Granny stated.
“So, a ta-ta spell should work?”
“It will.”
“Ostium fluminis sont ibidem solus novem construxit,” we chanted in unison.
The wall vanished.
“Holy Goddess,” Xenia gasped and pulled her laser pistol.
The breath froze in my lungs. The darkness inside the cavern was like a black thing crawling out to engulf us.
Adan landed on the General’s shoulder. “We are not alone.”
Uncle Saul pulled his modified six shooters with salt bullets.
Raj slithered up beside me. “Ceti is here.”
“Oh yay. Sugar, could you chuck one of those holy water grenades in there?”
“Yes ma’am.” Ethan hurled the grenade.
Bam! Something inside shrieked in agony.
Everyone looked at me.
“Nothing to worry about, probably a ghoul the Thunder God left to guard the place.”
Quinn had a grenade in each hand. “Is it dead?”
“I sure hope so.” Turning my flashlight on, I cautiously checked the narrow tunnel for booby traps.
Ethan growled in my head, “You hope so?”
“If it’s a ghoul, it’s dead but if it’s not, you might want to have another grenade ready.”
“Seriously?”
“Ghosts can be tricky buggers. It always pays to be prepared,” I replied.
Raj and Adan quickly snagged grenades off Uncle Saul’s weapons belt.
I stepped cautiously into the pitch-black cavern and everyone filed in behind me.
Granny Annabel chanted, “Carutius fornicem ripam.”
A torch flared in the darkness, then another and another and another until I could make out a vast cavern.
“Thanks Granny.” I looked around in awe.
A huge drawing of Montezuma battling a Conquistador glowed eerily on one massive wall. On the other side of the cavern was an immense sandstone cliff dwelling.
“Those pueblos resemble the early Nabateans’ habitats,” Xenia declared.
“Your parents are going to have a field day with this find.” Quinn gaze fell on the dozens of mummified warriors crumpled around an arched doorway. “What killed them, Kizzy?”
The echoes of a long-ago battle swirled through my mind and I caught a few fleeting images of the warriors’ desperate fight to save their families. “Demons. It was that idiot high priest aka the Thunder God who accidently opened the doorway to hell.” I cocked my head as another image flashed into my head. “The bad news is the demons are still here.”
“Fuck,” Quinn spat.
Ethan glanced around warily. “With any luck they’ll eat Ceti.”
“We can only hope.” I approached the warriors cautiously. You never knew when they’d jump up and take a swing at you.
Some of the fighters petrified features peeked out from Jaguar skulls and their mummified bodies were covered in rotted panther pelts. If they weren’t already dead, it kinda made you want to sic PETA on their asses.
The others wore feathered helmets with beaks opened in a defiant scream. Each warrior had a death grip on a round wooden shield with a few tattered feathers still attached and a carved sword.
“The armor is made from animal hide,” Xenia commented.
Ethan bent down to examine the bodies. “The Eagles and Jaguars were the elite warrior knights of the Aztec.
Quinn picked up a sword and fingered the still sharp obsidian blade embedded in the sides. “These weapons wouldn’t stop a Tai-Kok, let alone a demon.”
“No, but they were fierce warriors who never backed down in battle. No matter what the odds were,” Ethan added with touch of respect.
I aimed my flashlight through a doorway. The beam reflected off of thousands of bones. “They weren’t able to save their families.”
“If we can defeat the Tai-Kok, we can defeat a few demons too,” Uncle Saul stated firmly.
“You betcha.” I kicked a rotted basket out of the way and stepped inside the room. Piles of jewels, gold and silver were strewn everywhere. It was almost as if a child had thrown a fit. The crystalline death mask had been shattered into tiny pieces.
“Ceti has been here,” Raj announced as he picked up the shards.
Adan morphed into his true form. “Now we hunt.”
I watched them disappear into the darkness and called, “Be careful.”
Quinn snorted.
“Kizzy, I want you to watch for ghosts while we catalog the treasure,” Uncle Saul instructed.
“Yes, sir.”
Granny frowned. “I cannot sense any ghosts, ghouls or demons in the area.”
“You think Ceti scared them off?”
“It is a possibility.”
I opened my senses and scanned the area. She was right. There was no spectral activity at all. Something wrapped around my ankle and jerked me off my feet. “Hey! Let go!”
“Kizzy!” Ethan shouted.
I caught a quick glimpse of him running toward me before a vortex of blinding light engulfed me. Teleporting with a Gorum was like falling down the eye of a tornado at Mach One. Thirty heart-stopping chaotic seconds later, I appeared in a smaller cavern. Clumps of glowing yellow fungus provid
ed enough light for me to see Ceti’s looming bulk.
Ethan slid into my head. “Are you hurt? Do you know where you are, Angel?”
“I’m ok. I haven’t a clue and Raj is a piss poor hunter.”
Ceti’s tentacles waved angrily. “Where is Asmoday and the sphere.”
“Holy hell! Ceti’s a girl,” I whispered to Ethan.
“Where are they?” Ceti shook me.
“Ah, well, Asmoday was captured by Qa’a and the sphere is nearby. I’d be happy to take you to it.”
Her yellow orbs filled with fury. “Qa’a has my beloved?”
Guess they were the alien version of Bonnie and Clyde. There was no way in hell I was telling her Asmoday was dead. “He does. In a fortified prison. That’s escape proof.”
“Once I have the sphere, I will free him,” Ceti declared.
“You betcha.” Asmoday must have been the brains of the outfit.
Red eyes glowed in the darkness and I could hear rustling in the shadows, like rats skittering behind walls. “If you haven’t noticed, we’ve got company.”
A tentacle shot out and dragged a rat/demon hybrid into the dim light and stuffed it into Ceti’s gaping maw. “These creatures are almost as tasty as the Rodan.”
“They’re called demons and I know where there’s a lot more.”
“Do not try to trick me,” Ceti hissed.
I held up my hands. “I wouldn’t think of it. You’re too smart for me.”
“Take me to the sphere.” She yanked me to my feet. “Or I will eat you.”
“Sure. Whatever you want. It’s ah…”
“Follow the ball of light,” Granny murmured in my mind.
A glowing blue ball formed in the darkness. “That way.” As I trailed after the orb, I could sense my family growing closer and closer.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Contorted rocks reared up like giant monsters and faraway voices wailed in anguish.
“Holy Jesus! Is that…?”
“Si, it is the portal to hell,” Granny replied on our private link.
I patted my pocket and sighed in relief. The vial of Lucifer’s blood was unbroken. “How close do I have to get to perform the rite?”
“You must toss the vial directly into it.”
“That I can do. It’s getting Ceti to go through the portal that’s gonna be a bitch.”
“I can feel its power,” Ceti cried, her tentacles waving in excitement.
“Pretty awesome, huh?” The closer I got to the rocks, the more I could sense the presence of death. It beckoned to me. I shuddered at the sensation of skeletal fingers brushing against my face.
“You are not alone,” Granny whispered in my mind. “I will always be with you.”
“Good to know, but not on my honeymoon, ok?”
“As you wish Kizzy.”
An eerie orange glow bathed the area.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped cautiously through the rocks.
A pulsating orange vortex hovered in mid-air.
Ceti shoved me out of the way. “Where is it? Where is it?”
“Asmoday put the sphere on the other side of the portal for safekeeping. He said the only one powerful enough to claim it was you,” I lied.
“Once I have the sphere, we will rule the universe.”
I eased back. “And you’ll be strong enough to kill Qa’a.”
Ceti leaped into the vortex.
My jaw dropped. “Holy shit! She fell for it.” I pulled out the manuscript and vial of Lucifer’s blood. God, I hoped this worked. Hmmm. Let’s see. “Miraculum sepulcrum viri dyde ond tela mistral.”
“Throw the vial now,” Granny commanded.
I did. It missed the vortex by a good two feet, bounced off a rock and rolled back to me. “Well, damn.”
“Quickly, before Ceti realizes she was tricked,” Granny’s disembodied voice ordered.
“I think she’ll be too busy fighting off the demons.” Scooping up the vial, I marched up to the vortex, and tossed it inside. “Miraculum sepulcrum viri dyde ond tela mistral.”
The vortex winked out of existence and the eerie orange light began to fade.
I did a happy dance. “I did it. I did it.”
Glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows.
Well, hell. My shitty luck was holding.
Six demons suddenly rushed towards me.
Yanking the grenades off my weapons belt, I hurled them in every direction.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
Shrill shrieks sounded and the eyes vanished.
“Are they dead?”
“Si, but more demons come.”
Damn. My laser pistol was useless. If I was a good warrior, I would have gotten a pistol with salt bullets. But I wasn’t and now I was screwed. In utter desperation, I slid my hand into my left pocket and grabbed a handful of chocolate. It mellowed me out, maybe it’d work on the demons too.
Its large mouth opened in a hiss of fury a demon rushed towards me.
“Trust me. This will make you feel better.” I hurled the chocolate down its throat.
The demon swallowed it, coughed and convulsed violently. With an ear shattering screech it just shriveled away.
Huh? Not quite the reaction I was expecting.
Another demon landed in front of me.
I tossed a dark chocolate down its gullet.
It screamed bloody blue murder, convulsed wildly and withered into a pile of dust.
Death by chocolate. Go figure. I pulled out a milk chocolate and popped it into my mouth. It sucked to be a demon.
Ethan burst through the rocks and ran a concerned gaze over me. “Are you hurt?”
“No, but I could really use a kiss.”
Wrapping his arms round me, Ethan lowered his mouth to mine. “I love you, Angel.”
His long, gentle kiss touched my soul. “And I love you, sugar.”
Quinn shouted, “Ethan! Kizzy! Where are you?”
“Over here,” Ethan yelled back.
“Now that we’ve completed our quest, what’s next, sugar?”
“Our honeymoon in Maui.”
I grinned up at him. “Two weeks in paradise sounds like heaven.”
“A month in paradise is even better,” he amended, and his mouth closed over mine in a hot, intoxicating kiss.
Quinn, Xenia, Uncle Saul, Adan and Raj crowded around us and shot a rapid-fire succession of questions.
“Did you find the portal?”
“Did you close the portal?”
“Where is Ceti?”
“Are those demons remains?”
“Are you hurt?”
I held up my hand. “Whoa! One at a time.”
“Where is Ceti?” Raj demanded.
“In hell.”
His eyestalks stiffened. “Hell?”
“Yep, I told Ceti the Shebu Sphere was there and she dived into the vortex.”
Xenia gaped at me. “She believed you?”
“Ceti’s dumber than a box of rocks.”
Ethan chuckled.
“You already closed the portal?” Uncle Saul inquired.
“After Ceti jumped through, I did.”
Quinn arched his brows in disbelief. “And Ceti is now trapped in hell?”
“She is.”
Adan poked at the demon remains. “How did you kill these demons?”
“Chocolate.”
Everyone cried, “Chocolate?”
“It’s the demon’s version of poison.”
“Chocolate as a weapon. I’m sure Zarek will find that fascinating,” Uncle Saul said.
“I don’t know about y’all but Ethan and I are leaving for our much anticipated honeymoon.”
“Hawaii?” Xenia cried.
Ethan eyed her warily. “Yes, the Coletti villa in Maui.”
“I never had a real honeymoon,” Xenia grumbled.
Quinn scooped
her up and kissed her passionately. “We’re going to Maui too.”
“Oh, but Ethan promised me the honeymoon suite.”
“Not a problem, there’s two of them,” Quinn replied.
“Oh. Great.”
“I have never seen the ocean,” Raj announced out of the blue.
My eyes bugged in horror. “I’m sure General Jones will be happy to take you to one.”
“There’s plenty of room at the villa for Raj,” Uncle Saul responded.
I elbowed Ethan in the stomach and hissed, “Do something.”
“What can I do. They’re family.”
My gaze focused on Adan and Raj. “Family?”
“The Coletti family comes in all sizes, shapes and species,” Ethan said.
“The doors better have good locks on them.”
Ethan pressed a kiss to my forehead. “They do.”
“So, who’s left to guard the treasure?” I wanted to know.
Uncle Saul laughed. “I will deal with the treasure. You kids go have fun in the sun.”
“Thank, you sir, but first Xenia and I need to do some shopping. We’ve got nothing to wear.”
Ethan picked me up. “You can order something on the shuttle.”
“I have never been to Hawaii,” Adan whined.
We all yelled in unison, “No!”
The end has come!
I hope you enjoyed this book. A review is greatly appreciated. For news on the Coletti Warlords and Shenanigans series, upcoming events and contests go to my Facebook page:
facebook.com/Colettiwarlordbooks
Books in the Coletti Warlord series
Vexing Voss
Reality Bites
Just Desserts
Wulf and the Bounty Hunter
Game on Askole
Crossing Quinn
Hothar’s Folly
Sassing Saul
Defying the Relic Hunter
Paranormal romances:
Catching Dragos
Shenanigans
The Trouble with Tigers
Gail Koger links:
goodreads.com/author/show/1598719.Gail_Koger
Twitter: @Askole
facebook.com/Colettiwarlordbooks
amazon.com/Gail-Koger/e/B001K838BY
GailKoger.com
Table of Contents
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three