Couldn’t have happened to a nicer vampire-demon hybrid, I thought, kicking a clod of dirt into the hole.
The earth trembled again, and I stumbled forward. A heartbeat later, I found myself tumbling down the supernatural sink hole. I inhaled dirt as I tried to yell for Cyon’s help, my hands scrambling, hoping to claw my way up through the crumbling dirt just as Marek had tried.
Cyon loomed above me at the edge of the hungry pit. The demon wordlessly regarded me, his gaze blank, devoid of human feeling. Goddamnit, I knew the demonic bastard was going to double-cross me. I was done for, about to be dragged into Hell. There were a lot of demons who’d be happy to see me.
And then Cyon’s hand snapped around my left wrist and pulled me back to the surface. Sweat dripped down my face as I crawled away from the gaping hole. I watched in stunned silence as the earth began to close again, the cavity sealing itself. Moments later, the clearing was back to normal. There were no signs that the ground had ever been dug up or disturbed, the grass pristine. I shook all over as my gaze landed on Cyon.
“You saved me.”
“We’re even now,” the demon said matter-of-factly. “The next time our paths cross…” Cyon’s voice trailed off, the threat not needing to be verbalized.
There was a pause between us before the demon vanished in the trees of the park.
Feeling like crap, I slowly stumbled erect. The red downpour had stopped, replaced by a normal shower of rain water. Soon, all traces of the blood ritual would be washed away— but I doubted that would heal all wounds. The memories would persist, especially among those who had been affected by this terrible storm.
Cyon and I had defeated Marek. We had saved the city. Yet all I could think about was Archer and Skulick back at the wrecking yard. I had to get to them and see if they were okay—or at least alive and unharmed. It was probably going to be a pretty long time before either of them was okay again.
I located my bike, its engine still sputtering away next to the bench it had slammed into. Every muscle in my body strained as I up righted the cycle. The front fender was dented from the crash, but overall the damage was minimal. I swung myself onto the bike, and then I was shooting down city roads, on my way back to the wrecking yard that had played such a pivotal part in this latest case.
I was elated to be reunited with Archer and Skulick, but I was worried too. How would Archer cope with the guilt of having taken lives while she was a vampire? How would Skulick react when he found out that I joined forces with a demon? Worse, what would he say when I told him that I’d let Cyon walk away?
The demon was still out there. Weakened and trapped in our world, but also representing an unknown variable. Would he continue to oppose his master, or would he become my newest enemy in the hopes of getting back in Morgal’s good graces? Only time would tell. One thing was for certain: Our paths were bound to cross again.
My heart beating faster, I pushed the throttle as far as it would go.
I would face the next threat, whatever it turned out to be, but I wouldn’t be facing it alone. I tore into the wrecking yard, ready to be reunited with the two people who mattered the most to me in the whole world.
THE END
Raven and Skulick will return in DEMON DAWN.
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About the Author
William Massa is a produced screenwriter and bestselling Amazon author. His film credits include Return to House on Haunted Hill and he has sold pitches and scripts to Warner, USA TV, Silver Pictures, Dark Castle, Maverick and Sony.
William has lived in New York, Florida, Europe and now resides in Venice Beach surrounded by skaters and surfers. He writes science fiction and dark fantasy/urban fantasy horror with an action-adventure flavor.
Writing can be a solitary pursuit but rewriting can be a group effort. I strive to make each book better than the last and feedback is incredibly helpful. If you have notes, thoughts or comments about this book or want to contact me, feel free to contact me at:
WilliamMassaBooks
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Also by WILLIAM MASSA
THE SHADOW DETECTIVE SERIES
Cursed City
Soul Catcher
Blood Rain
THE OCCULT ASSASSIN SERIES
Damnation Code
Apocalypse Soldier
Spirit Breaker
Soul Jacker
THE GARGOYLE KNIGHT SERIES
Gargoyle Knight
Gargoyle Quest
THE SILICON WORLD SERIES
Silicon Dawn
Silicon Man
STAND ALONES
Fear the Light
Match: A Supernatural Thriller
Crossing the Darkness
Blood Rain: A Shadow Detective Novel Page 12