Dark Abigail

by Thawer, Tish

33

  “Stop!” Holli’s voice echoed through the room, carrying with it a power Raven had never heard before. “We will not engage in this lunacy! Loki, you will release Asmodeus, Abigail and the ambassador now.”

  Loki stared at Holli wide-eyed, then did exactly what she said, excited to see the chaos that would hopefully ensue. Asmodeus and Abigail woke slowly, while Heaven’s ambassador remained unconscious on the ground.

  “Hey, what are you doing! You promised to support our claim,” Mammon yelled.

  “Enough!” Holli flung out her hand, encasing the group of power-hungry demons in a ball of ice. “Garrett, wake the ambassador. Once the coronation is completed there will be nothing for them to dispute.”

  Garrett moved forward, keeping an eye on Loki and did as his wife requested.

  Raven walked over to Abigail and helped her to her feet. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes, are you?”

  Raven nodded then returned to Holli’s side.

  The ambassador woke, startled, but steadied himself to complete his task. “Asmodeus, Abigail, please join hands.” Holli, Garrett, and Raven watched as he completed the ritual.

  Burning crowns appeared above the couple’s heads, and the entire realm shook in acceptance of its new leaders. “Your positions are forged and your bond is true. Rule well,” the ambassador quickly concluded, then disappeared in burst of light.

  “Well, well. Seems like everyone got what they wanted.” Loki stood, clearly jilted, and unsure of what he should do next.

  Holli waved her hands and unfroze the princes, who all disappeared when they saw the flaming crowns upon their leader’s head. She was right, they could no longer lay claim to an assigned, covenant position.

  “Leave this realm, Father, and leave my friends and me alone.” Holli’s hands and arms began to turn blue, as icicles formed in her hair.

  “Ah! So your memories have returned, you do remember me.” Loki spread his arms wide. “How about a hug for dear old Dad, then?”

  Holli stepped forward, unafraid, and approached the cheeky God.

  “You were never my father except in the most basic sense of the word, but that means nothing since all you’ve done is try to ruin my life!”

  “Ruin your life? How can you say that? I tried to free you. It’s not my fault these buffoons keep interfering with my plans.” He waved a hand at Death and Raven who stood at the ready.

  “I don’t care what your plans were, or what you expect to happen in the future, but I’m warning you, stay away from us or you’ll regret it!”

  The tick at Loki’s jaw was the only warning they had before his staff slammed down, sending out a blast of green magic that knocked everyone on their asses, Holli included. “You’d do well to remember your place, child!”

  A portal opened up right behind Holli. Raven screamed and Death raced forward, struggling to pull her back through the icy globe that had already claimed her legs. Holli cried out as the left side of her face collapsed, leaving nothing but a crystallized skull, while the other side remained unchanged.

  “Oh my god! What’s happening to her?” Abigail threw a wave of flames at Loki while Asmodeus moved to help her friends.

  Raven pushed into the air, desperate to reach the bastard God, but stopped when Holli’s eyes snapped open. Time stood still as she stared at them all through her now mismatched eyes. One was still the beautiful bright blue, while the other was a black speck inside a frozen empty socket.

  “Holli, my love?” Death gasped.

  “My name is Hel, now please, let me go.” She yanked her hand from her husband’s and disappeared into the frost.

  “NO!!!!” Death’s grief-stricken scream pierced the air, as Loki laughed and disappeared.

  Asmodeus wrapped his arms around Abigail and pulled her back toward their throne, away from the grieving leader of Purgatory who’d just collapsed on their floor.

  Raven cautiously approached her best friend. “Garrett, let’s get you out of here. We can regroup at home.”

  “Home?” he billowed. “How can I return home when my wife is now transformed and missing.”

  “You know as well as I do that she’s not missing, she’s returned to her former realm. We’ll get her back.” Raven stood up and looked at Abigail and Asmodeus. “Can we count on you two for help?” Raven asked.

  “Of course. Whatever we can do,” Abigail looked at her partner, who simply nodded in agreement.

  “I’m not sure there’s anything you can do, but I’ll help if I can.” A low voice sounded from the main entrance.

  “Charon? What brings you inside the Castle? Has Loki disrupted the flow of the Styx?” Asmodeus asked, worried they’d somehow have to restructure the link between Hell and Richard Payman’s portals in Purgatory.

  “Forgive my deceit, but I am not Charon.” The image of the ferryman faded and was replaced by that of Odin, the All-Father. “I needed to remain unseen while I monitored the situation. Assuming the identity of your ferryman was the quickest way to do so while blocking my powers from my son.”

  Asmodeus remained silent as the ancient God entered his throne room and extended a hand to Death. “I’m sorry for the grief my son has caused you all, but I can’t deny, knowing Hel has reclaimed her true position pleases me greatly.”

  Death yanked his hand from Odin’s and shook his head. “How can you say that? You saw how happy we were, and you clearly saw what just happened. Loki has ruined her.”

  “If you’re speaking of her face, no, that’s not Loki’s doing. Her position as Goddess of the Underworld in my realm comes with a duality that only Hel can embrace. She is both alive and dead, and therefore the only one who could pass judgment on the guilty souls, as well as reincarnate the innocent. That’s what makes her so important.”

  Garrett looked at Raven who shrugged and wiped away a tear.

  “If what you’re saying is true, then how exactly do you plan to help us?” Garrett asked.

  “I’m going to kill my son and bring an end to this game. Perhaps then, you can convince your wife to return.” Odin disappeared with a wave of his cloak, leaving Garrett in Hell...quite literally––with no way to access Hel or her realm, his torment had just begun.

  The End

  About the Author

  Award Winning Author, Tish Thawer, writes paranormal romances for all ages. From her first paranormal cartoon, Isis, to the Twilight phenomenon, myth, magic, and superpowers have always held a special place in her heart.

  Tish is known for her detailed world-building and magic-laced stories. Her work has been compared to Nora Roberts, Sam Cheever, and Charlaine Harris. She has received nominations for a RONE Award (Reward of Novel Excellence), and Author of the Year (Fantasy, Dystopian, Mystery), as well as nominations and wins for Best Cover, and Reader’s Choice Award.

  Tish has worked as a computer consultant, photographer, and graphic designer, and is a columnist for Gliterary Girl media and has bylines in RT Magazine and Literary Lunes Magazine. She resides in Colorado with her husband and three wonderful children and is represented by Gandolfo, Helin, and Fountain Literary Management.

  You can find out more about Tish and her all titles by visiting: www.TishThawer.com and subscribing to her newsletter at www.tishthawer.com/subscribe

  Ready for another adventure?

  Turn the page for an excerpt from:

  The Witches of BlackBrook

  (Book 1 in The Witches of BlackBrook Trilogy)

  Excerpt

  the

  Witches

  of

  BlackBrook

  by

  Tish Thawer

  “We are the granddaughters of the witches you weren’t able to burn.”

  –– Unknown

  Prologue

  IPSWICH, MASSACHUSETTS

  1693

  Flames licked the hem of her dress as she worked to free her hands from the ropes. Somber faces, etched with malice or fear, looked on as she squirmed against the stake.
She refused to close her eyes or scream. She wouldn’t give them that. No. She would prove to be as defiant and wild as they deemed her while dragging her from her home.

  Kara and Kenna stood hidden at the back of the crowd, silently pleading for her to use magic to escape. She wanted to, oh how she wanted to, just to see these purists running for the hills. But, staring into her sister’s eyes as her legs started to burn, she knew she had to do whatever it took to keep them safe.

  She closed her eyes, the chant beginning simple as always, words from the Goddess flowing into her mind. “Come to me, death that be, flames surrounds, peace abounds; flesh to earth, spirit to soar, transport our souls, alive forever more.”

  Chapter One

  BLACKBROOK, NY

  Present Day

  She pulled the fur of her hood around her face as the wind whipped against her skin. New York was her home and had been for the entire twenty-five years of this particular lifetime, so you’d think she’d be used to the harsh winters by now. Freezing my face off? Not sure I’ll ever get used to that, Trin thought.

  With a hand-held shovel she approached her car, hidden from sight under a glittering blanket of white, and sighed. Four minutes in and she was wishing she could use her magic or that she could at least hail a cab. Unfortunately, until she found her other sister, her small pool of magic wasn’t going to be sending her anywhere fast. And as for the taxi, BlackBrook was a small northern town in upstate New York, one that practically shut down once a snowstorm hit. Trin kicked the drift firmly set against her tire, cussing at the fact she was probably one of only a handful of people who had to go to work on this frigid day.

  Five minutes later, with barely any progress made, Trin spotted a police car creeping down her icy street. Stepping around the hood of her Volvo, she waved her arms in the symbolic “Come help me” gesture.

  “Morning.” The handsome officer smiled. “Need a lift?”

  The idea of putting her life in someone else’s hands in these conditions was terrifying, but there was no denying she wouldn’t make it to work on time if she continued to dig out her own ride. “Yes, please. BlackBrook Wellness Center if you don’t mind.”

  “I don’t mind at all. Hop in.”

  Trin climbed into the front seat of the squad car, depositing her wet shovel onto the floor between her feet.

  “Thank you so much.”

  “It’s no problem, I’m here to serve.” He glanced in her direction, a small smile playing at the corner of his lips. “I’m Officer Hardy.”

  Officer Hardy, or Jason she’d found out from the girls at work, was the newest transplant to BlackBrook, accompanied only by his cousin, Caris, a kindergarten teacher at the local private school who Trin had yet to meet. Apparently, though, they shared bright hazel eyes, and from what Trin had been told, kind hearts, the pair of them.

  “It’s nice to meet you. How are you and your cousin enjoying BlackBrook?”

  “It’s great, thank you.”

  Trin rubbed her gloved hands in front of the heater vents. “Are you both used to working in this kind of weather?” Trin asked.

  “Yes, but Caris has a snow-day today and I suspect she’ll spend most of it asleep––Or not.”

  Trin looked up to see an unfamiliar Jeep parked outside the Wellness Center and quickly made the connection. Jason parked next to his cousin’s ride, exited the car, and followed Trin into the building.

  The interior of the local spa was calming and serene with smooth mahogany and sea-colored glass throughout. Soft instrumentals played non-stop, and fragrant oils permeated the air. Trin bid Officer Hardy a good day, then waved at Mia, the receptionist, on her way to the back room. Lifting the latch on her assigned locker, Trin deposited her belongings then returned to the front desk, anxious to retrieve the file for her first client of the day.

  Caris Hardy, New Member

  Occupation: Teacher

  Preferred Pressure: Medium to Deep

  Problem Areas: Upper back, lower back, shoulder blades, and neck.

  Trin laughed internally. Caris may not be sleeping on her day off yet, but after a relaxing massage, a little R&R was definitely in her near future.

  “Caris?” Trin whispered as she peeked into the waiting area.

  Caris Hardy looked more like a college student than a teacher. She was nestled into one of the comfy leather chairs next to the fireplace with her auburn hair piled high, wearing sweatpants, boots, and a flannel button-down under her long winter coat. Upon hearing her name, she opened her bright eyes and smiled kindly.

  “Good morning, Ms. Hardy. Are you ready for your massage?” Trin asked.

  “Oh, you have no idea.” Caris beamed.

  Trin led her new client down the hall, turning towards the furthest room at the end. “Here we are.” Trin gestured with a wave of her hand then followed Caris inside. “So, what are we doing today? Full-body, or are there specific problem areas you’d like me to focus on?”

  “If we could focus on the upper body, that would be great. As you’ll see, I hold a lot of tension in my neck and shoulder blades.”

  “Of course, no problem. Please undress to your comfort level and we’ll start face-down. I’ll give you a few minutes,” Trin explained.

  “Okay, thanks.”

  Trin shut the door, giving Ms. Hardy the allotted two minutes to get settled, then knocked quietly and reentered. “All set?”

  “Yes, come on in.”

  Trin dimmed the lights, checked the bed-warmer, set Caris’s file onto the cabinet counter, and turned to face the table. Her practiced ritual of lowering and refolding the sheets and blankets down her client’s back was interrupted with another internal giggle. The petite Ms. Hardy was covered in tattoos.

  Trin wasn’t one to judge, having tattoos herself, but the dichotomy of what this person did versus who she really was, had her amused. Trin found herself truly interested in getting to know more about this woman.

  “Your tattoos are beautiful,” Trin said as she adjusted the bolster.

  “Thank you,” came Caris’s quick reply.

  Trin dispensed her homemade lotion into her hands and reached for Caris’s shoulders.

  “Ouch!” Trin exclaimed, pulling back her hand.

  “Oh my god, what was that?” Caris lifted her head.

  “I’m not sure. There usually isn’t any static build-up in the rooms, but boy, that was one heck of a shock. I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s okay. Must be my electric personality,” Caris joked.

  Trin laughed nervously and rubbed her hands together once more. “I’d buy that.”

  Caris lowered her head back into the cradle and Trin began again, this time with no surprises.

  Much to Trin’s dismay, the hour flew by. She and Caris had talked more about her tattoos, her move and new job in BlackBrook, and of course, her cousin who turned out to be single.

  Trin handed Ms. Hardy a glass of water as she walked out of the room.

  “Thanks, again, Trin. This was heaven. I will definitely be back to see you soon.”

  “I’d love that. Also, remember to drink lots of water, and a warm bath with some Epson salt wouldn’t be a bad idea either.”

  “You got it,” Caris replied.

  Trin gave a final wave as Caris left the building, then went to clear and turn the room. After refreshing the sheets and resetting the table, she took an extra minute to glance at Ms. Hardy’s file. There wasn’t much information beyond the basics: address, occupation, emergency contact, etc. Trin returned the file to the cabinet behind the front desk and glanced at her watch.

  “Mia, I’m gonna take my break now. I’ll be back in a few.”

  The blonde receptionist nodded her head and continued talking into her headpiece.

  Trin entered the locker room and grabbed her cell phone from her purse, holding down the number two.

  “Kit, I think I’ve found her!”

  Other Books by Tish Thawer

  The Rose Trilogy:
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  Scent of a White Rose (Book #1)

  Roses & Thorns (Book #1.5)

  Blood of a Red Rose (Book #2)

  Death of a Black Rose (Book #3)

  The Women of Purgatory Trilogy:

  Raven’s Breath (Book #1)

  The Witches of BlackBrook Series:

  The Witches of BlackBrook (Book #1)

  The Ovialell Series:

  Aradia Awakens (Book #1)

  Prophecy’s Child (An Ovialell Short-Story)

  The Rise of Rae (An Ovialell Short-Story)

  Shay and the Box of Nye (An Ovialell Short-Story)

  Behind the Veil (An Ovialell Omnibus)

  Additional Works

  Fairy Tale Confessions

  Losing It: A Collection of V-Cards

  Christmas Lites II

  For more information on Tish and all her works,

  visit: www.tishthawer.com

  or subscribe to her newsletter at: www.tishthawer.com/subscribe

  Also look for

  Book #3 in

  The Women of Purgatory trilogy

  Coming soon!