Deliverance from Sin: A Demonic Paranormal Romance (Sinners & Saints Book 5)

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Deliverance from Sin: A Demonic Paranormal Romance (Sinners & Saints Book 5) Page 31

by Rosalie Stanton


  Once he had a captive audience, Lucifer pulled two manila folders from a drawer, then circled around his massive desk to join them. It was only when he was within a foot or so away that Gula noticed the dark circles under the devil’s eyes, and it took another few seconds for warning bells to go off.

  Undeniably, Lucifer had had one of the worst years on record. They all had. Lilith, the former Queen of Hell, had finally made good on her notorious hatred for all things human by trying to bring about Armageddon. It was a wonder none of them had died in the fallout. Hell, Gula’s brother Campbell nearly had, and though no one talked about it, it was obvious he was still messed up.

  Not that Gula could blame him.

  Or Lucifer. Except it was kind of Lucifer’s job not to terrify his underlings by looking so haggard. Granted, there wasn’t a statute of limitations on recovering from that time your ex tried to kill you and everything you love, but those bags under the devil’s eyes, his dark hair rumpled, his suit somewhat unkempt, brought it all rushing back.

  Gula’s good mood plummeted.

  Lucifer handed a folder to Ace, then turned to Gula. “Jesse Chamberlain,” he said. “Thirty-four years old, originally from Wyoming. He’s had a string of jobs, none of them above entry-level, and dreamed of moving to Hollywood since he was seven.”

  Gula opened his folder and looked down. A pair of soulful brown eyes stared back at him. The eyes were set in a pleasant if not forgettable pale face. Were it not for the fact that the forgettable face was framed with shoulder-length brown hair and a growth of beard, there would be nothing of interest about this guy at all.

  As it was…

  “Jesus,” Ace muttered.

  “So you see it.”

  “It’s kinda hard to miss,” Gula replied, twisting his folder around so it was on display. The guy was even wearing the white robe and red sash. All that was missing was a makeshift crown of thorns.

  “You’re sending us after Jesus,” Ace intoned.

  Lucifer inclined his head. “Jesse Chamberlain has assumed the role of Jesus for The Nazarene, a play depicting the life and times of our favorite lord and savior, performed in Felix, Arkansas. He has been in this role for the last three years.”

  Gula groaned. “It’s worse. You’re sending us to Arkansas.”

  Lucifer glared at them for a moment but didn’t pause to admonish them, which was, in itself, rather alarming. Though the devil had not once gotten through a conversation or a briefing without being interrupted or derailed, he had never missed an opportunity to remind everyone present just who was in charge.

  Ace met Gula’s eyes long enough for Gula to understand that he had noticed this behavioral aberration as well, and was similarly disconcerted.

  Ace cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “You really are sending us after Jesus?”

  “I have reason to believe Mr. Chamberlain has…shall we say…become overly attached to his role.”

  Gula relaxed a bit. “So he thinks he is Jesus?” That might be fun. They hadn’t dealt with one of those—a legitimate case, at any rate—in centuries.

  “If that were all, I hardly think it would warrant our attention, do you?” Lucifer gave him a meaningful look. “It seems Mr. Chamberlain has given such a commendable performance as our lord and savior that he has managed to convince others that he is, indeed, the Second Coming.”

  Gula snorted, his gaze falling back to the picture. “Americans really do think Jesus was a white guy, then?” Not only that, but a white guy who looked the part of the West’s version of Christ. To the letter.

  “It would appear so. It would also appear that Mr. Chamberlain is actively recruiting members to his congregation.”

  “He has a congregation?”

  “The Blood of the Lamb. A collection of devoted followers that started to gain momentum about eighteen months ago.” Lucifer’s jaw tightened. “The true influx in devotees occurred shortly after the events in Rome.”

  Gula’s stomach dropped and a sour taste invaded his mouth. Even now, months later, with Lilith’s failed apocalypse buried in a news cycle more concerned with celebrity divorces and orange politicians, they were still discovering new ways the devil’s ex had fucked up their lives.

  “Ah, Rome,” Gula drawled. “That old chestnut.”

  Lucifer inclined his head. “We gave the truthers a conspiracy that had some meat to it. Add in a little fire and brimstone and this is one public relations disaster that will continue to unravel.”

  Gula nodded and looked back at fake Jesus. In reality, he knew things could easily be much worse. The failed apocalypse could have occurred in a pre-modern society where the populace was not only hyper superstitious but actively searching for signs of the divine. If Lilith had to pick a century to try and end the world, this was the best one to date. An army of Hell Demons unleashed on one of the most spiritual cities on the globe and all the damage and reports had been explained away as manmade accidents, or batty fanatics desperate to see Christ on their toast. Or, as it happened, a demon in their closet. Not even the few video clips bystanders had snagged with their cell phones had been enough to shake the hardcore skeptics. With no actual measurable evidence to rely on, humans had glommed on to the word hoax and moved on with their lives. Even the pope had excused the event. No one believed in the mystical anymore, and that was damn good for business.

  Except when the people who did believe were nutbars.

  Which was, really, par for the course.

  “Mr. Chamberlain is reportedly a very charming man,” Lucifer continued. “He has convinced his followers that their families are to be abandoned, that the old teachings are wrong and he’s the only one who knows what the right path is. Those family members that prove not so easily shaken, miraculously end up demonically possessed, for one. Last week, one of the women in his circle, Debra Harken, was hospitalized after her neighbors discovered her trying to drown her infant daughter. According to her, its eyes were red and when it cried, its tears were made of blood. Another man, Randall Evans, left his wife shortly after celebrating their fifty-second wedding anniversary. He also refuses to see his children or grandchildren, claims they aren’t clean anymore.”

  “So it’s a cult,” Ace said.

  “Considering I have effectively halted all demonic possessions and grounded all accounted for Hell Demons until further notice, I think that is a safe assumption.” The devil paused. “However, that does not account for any of the hundreds of Hell Demons that escaped when the Seals opened. Avaritia and her vampire are hunting down as many leads as I can send them, but, of course, we will not know the full extent of the escapees until all are captured or destroyed.”

  “But I’m guessing none have been felt in the Arkansas area,” Ace said.

  “Of course not,” Gula said. “Even demons have some standards.”

  Ace gave him a look. “You’re going to be a lot of fun to work with on this, aren’t you?”

  “I just think it’s funny that we’ve had three jobs in the past year, and two of them have taken us to the Ozarks.” Gula paused. “Granted, Luxi’s job wasn’t so much a job as it was an exercise in misdirection.”

  Ace cleared his throat pointedly, and Gula looked up to find Lucifer glaring at him.

  “What?” he asked. “Am I wrong?”

  “A bit flippant perhaps,” the devil replied, “but not wrong.” He looked to Ace. “I have no reason to believe that any Hell Demons are involved with Mr. Chamberlain’s little group, but I am not ruling anything out. You two will go to Felix and become a part of the Blood of the Lamb movement. While I would ask that you determine whether any of our missing Hell Demons are involved in any capacity, your primary focus needs to be on Mr. Chamberlain himself.”

  Gula sat forward. “We offing this clown?”

  Something that might have been a smile in a former life ghosted over Lucifer’s mouth. “I have no desire to make a martyr out of Jesus,” he replied. “No, you and Acedia will use your
considerable talents to convince Mr. Chamberlain that he is not up to the task of being the messiah. You will also do what you can to undo whatever damage he has done to his followers, and help dissuade them from further exploring this particular spiritual path.”

  That was a fancy way of saying that their task was to make Jesus fat and lazy. Gula bit back a grin.

  Insofar as jobs went, it was fairly cut and dry. He hadn’t had a cut and dry job since before Ava had decided to call it quits, and especially since the Seals had opened.

  The last job that had taken more than a few minutes to complete hadn’t made a hell of a lot of sense, but he’d known better than to ask questions, despite the burning desire to do just that.

  And not that he could complain, except the pang that struck him in the chest every time he thought of Hannah Barnes.

  Gula fought a wince. Dammit. But he’d made it longer today than usual without thinking about her, which showed he was progressing. It wasn’t like he could burn her out of his mind.

  Or that he actually wanted to.

  Lucifer turned his back to them and started toward his desk. “I had Pixley purchase a charming Victorian home for you to share while you’re in town. It’s in the heart of downtown Felix, completely furnished, of course, and restored. Should anyone inquire, you are there to open a bed and breakfast.”

  Gula and Ace exchanged an uncomfortable glance. “Do we…do we have to hold hands in public?” Gula asked. “’Cause that’ll get weird.”

  “I think you’ll find most people in town will assume you are a couple without you having to say so.”

  “Good. I’ll do a lot of things for you, boss, but I am not frenching my brother.”

  Ace scowled. “Thank you for that image.”

  “It was in my head first. I just needed someone else to share my pain.” Gula shuddered. “And won’t us posing as a couple bring out the torches and pitchforks? This is Arkansas.”

  “Happy to say, Felix has a large gay and lesbian population,” Lucifer said. “It is a Bible Belt community, but likely one of the more liberal ones you’ll find. I rather think you’ll enjoy yourselves.” He paused. “Furthermore, I don’t expect you to tell anyone you are a couple. Your relationship will be however you define it.”

  “Yeah, two guys moving into a quaint Victorian fixer-upper to turn it into a B&B,” Gula said. “Everyone’ll buy we’re brothers.”

  “I’m not sure why you seem so bothered,” Ace said. “I think I’m quite a catch.”

  “I’m bothered because you are my brother and that thought is gross.”

  “It might be helpful to stop picturing us frenching, then.”

  Gula shuddered and closed his eyes, but not so quick he missed the shadow of a smile that crossed Ace’s face. Ace was, undoubtedly, the most serious of the Sins. He was also the one least likely to crack a joke or grin, and even less so if those around him made a big deal about it.

  If this version of Ace was the one that went on assignment with him, then Gula might actually end up having a good time.

  “Pixley will be by at the end of each week to collect updates,” Lucifer said. “I have taken the liberty of securing you both tickets to tomorrow night’s performance of The Nazarene, which you’ll find in your folders. The show begins at half-past six. Pixley will also be providing additional tickets depending on how you progress.”

  Gula found his ticket behind the photo of Chamberlain and held it up to Ace. “’Cause this isn’t something you can just see once,” he said.

  “I think you will be suitably entertained,” Lucifer said.

  Most likely. This job showed all the signs of being a hoot. A staged production in the heart of hillbilly country featuring everyone’s favorite god-figure, who just so happened to be hoodwinking followers—and possibly worse, the way cults went.

  Still, the part of him that had flared up in warning at seeing Lucifer’s haggard state had not yet quieted. Even for the most malicious cult leader, the devil wouldn’t look so exhausted. It was enough to make Gula’s inner cynic stir.

  Lucifer was not known for being particularly forthright. True, he was usually careful when trying to conceal his actual motives—at least going so far as to look like everything was normal, which meant ensuring he didn’t resemble a walking hangover.

  It could be nothing, but Gula’s instincts said otherwise. He’d learned to trust those instincts.

  He needed to go into this job with his eyes open.

  Coming November 2018

  An angel with a cause. A demon without a clue.

  Life in Heaven is a snooze and Sera is always on the lookout for reasons to ditch the Pearly Gates. When a job opens to get close to the orphaned son of a King of Hell, she doesn't hesitate in signing up. Sera’s role is simple: befriend and protect Colin until he is old enough to seize his powers and overthrow his tyrannical father.

  Piece of cake.

  Colin knows his best friend, Sera, is quirky. In fact, he loves her for it—more than she can know. So when she tells him he's the heir to a Kingdom of Hell, he tries to play along. Sure, the whole thing’s nuts, but there isn’t much he wouldn’t do for her.

  Still, Colin isn't prepared for what he learns. Or sees.

  The closer Sera gets to completing her mission, the more conflicted she becomes. In all eternity, she never thought she'd fall in love, especially not with someone who happens to be the best friend she’s ever had. But no matter how badly Sera and Colin want to stay together, duty, demons, and Heaven and Hell stand in the way.

  Now Available

 

 

 


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