by J. N. Colon
Wicked Revelations & Brimstone
Legacy of Sins Book Two
J.N. Colon
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
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An evil spirit is stalking me. A mysterious guy with a wicked Irish accent wants my heart. And there’s a cage in Hell waiting to trap my soul.
Welcome to my summer vacation in Mystic Hollow…
I’m Cass—not Cassie or Cassandra—and I knew spending two months in some crap town with no friends was going to be torture. And I was right. Literally. Being haunted by a vengeful ghost is serious torment.
Only, this chick is no ghost. She’s much worse.
And Seth McKenna is more trouble than I can handle.
I want nothing to do with the ridiculously hot half-angel. But when I’m nearly killed, Seth decides to become my bodyguard. And I’m finding it difficult to keep my hands to myself.
Now my soul isn’t the only thing on the line. Seth could very well shatter my heart while saving me from an eternity of torment in Hell.
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Wicked Revelations & Brimstone© copyright J.N. Colon 2019
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This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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For all the fans of urban fantasy and paranormal romance. Without you, there would be no one to write for.
Once heard, some revelations can’t be forgotten…
A demonic target is painted on my back. My soul is tied to the most arrogant angel I’d ever met. And I might be going crazy.
Life after death sucks.
The gateway to Hell in Mystic Hollow is wide open, and a dangerous fallen angel is after me. But so far, all Astaroth has done is save me from demons.
Weird, right?
My relationship with Jayson Casteel is even weirder. The half-angel is overbearing and domineering. And stupid hot. We’re either fighting or caught in a sizzling lip-lock. Things are getting pretty steamy…
When I start having dark visions of torment and pain, Jayson is the only person keeping me from slipping into insanity. But we both have secrets, ones the Fallen can use to tear us apart.
Hell has its claws in me, and I’m not sure anyone can save me from the evil coming my way.
Chapter 1
How many times could I experience déjà vu in a single day? With Jayson around, tons. In fact, it was happening. Again. This conversation, my thinned lips, the steely glint to the Nephilim’s eyes—I’d experienced it many times before.
“I’m going, and that’s final,” I said, crossing my arms. “And don’t even try your brute, Neanderthal crap. Tossing me over your shoulder and dragging me to your cave won’t keep me from doing this forever.” I spun around and grabbed my jacket off the papasan chair. “Eye of the Tiger” played through the speakers in my bedroom, giving me some extra pluck.
A growl rumbled in Jayson’s chest. “Why couldn’t you have picked a safer hobby?”
I rolled my eyes. “You’d prefer I do something like crochet or knit?”
He shot me a bland look. “You’d end up poking an eye out with one of those long metal tools.”
He wasn’t wrong.
I carefully lifted the needle from the record and turned off the player. “I know you worry, but you can’t keep me locked up in my room all the time. It’s been a week, and no big bad has attacked me.”
“But demonic activity has spiked in Mystic Hollow after Moloch—” His jaw snapped shut. Neither of us liked discussing the demon that nearly sucked my soul out. Jayson took a deep breath and crossed his arms against his broad chest, plumping up his biceps. “The gate is getting wider, easier to access. I don’t want you out there messing around with ghosts. It’s dangerous.”
Everything in my life was dangerous these days. I couldn’t walk ten feet without tripping or knocking into something, my soul was tied to a Nephilim, and a fallen angel wanted to use me in his evil, diabolical plot.
Whatever Astaroth wanted, it would rip this world apart.
The fallen angel had tempted me in Hell, promising me the knowledge of what my mother was really like first-hand.
Could he have taken me through a memory of hers? He was a Fallen. I had no idea how powerful he was.
Or could he have actually arranged a meeting with her from the other side?
The chance to meet my mother was enough to make me reconsider Astaroth’s offer.
And the icing on the cake? He promised I could find out Jayson’s true feelings.
The bond between us was confusing as hell. It forced us together. A little voice in the back of my mind would always doubt his motives. Maybe Jayson really cared for me. And maybe it was only the bond tying us together that urged him to be with me, protect me.
But I had to eat the nefa to get that knowledge.
I would have surrendered if not for the other fallen angel who shattered the haze clouding my judgment. He stopped me from chowing down on the succulent fruit.
Why did Astaroth want me to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge? The world already knew good and evil because of Eve. What kind of revelation would have occurred if I’d eaten it?
Large hands brushed my shoulders, turning me toward the towering half-angel. All thoughts of Hell and tempting fruit melted away. “I’ll just have to go with you tonight.”
I was bombarded by his warm presence. That salty ocean scent swam through my brain, making me dizzy. Dark blond hair framed a smoldering pair of hazel eyes. It took me several moments to focus on his words. The slight tilt to his lips made it clear he knew exactly what he was doing.
Stupid bond.
The night Astaroth saved me from his demon lackey was the only time I was able to feel Jayson’s emotions. The next morning, that thick cement wall had been erected again.
My hands pressed against his chest to push him away. He didn’t budge. “You’re supposed to guard the gate tonight with Brenna.”
His brows
knit. “Someone else can do it.”
A sudden laugh slipped out. “The almighty Jayson Casteel is going to give up his night of demon hunting? He’s going to let someone else defeat the evil creatures before they can carry the totems into Hell?”
“Your sarcasm isn’t cute,” he said.
“Neither is your bossiness.” The jerkwad still hadn’t elaborated on the totems. Tons of them existed, but what was in those leather pouches the demons were ferrying to Hell for their boss Astaroth?
Seth let it slip that some of them were human body parts. Ick. Did that mean an ear? A whole hand? And what was so darn special about that said body part?
Jayson’s fingers hooked in my belt loops, and he yanked me toward him. My sharp intake of air echoed through the room. “Come on, Angel Eyes. Can’t you just stay home tonight?” His voice dipped, turning into a rough whisper. “I’ll sneak in through your window.”
A flush swirled into my cheeks, and the moisture evaporated from my mouth. This half-angel was no angel at all. He tried to seduce me into compliance for crap sakes. I wanted to smack him, but my body had other ideas. I swayed forward, pressing into him.
The edges of Jayson’s lips twitched. “Is that a yes?” Warm breath blew across my face.
Unbeknownst to my dad, Jayson had stayed over the night Moloch tried to kill me. The Nephilim barely left my side for those first two days. Almost losing me had torn something inside of him.
Was it a side effect of the tie between us or because he cared?
My fingers lifted, running up his chest. Geez. If I hadn’t seen him shirtless, I would have thought his body was made of steel. Gold began to pop in his chameleon irises. I licked my lips. “What were we talking about?” My mind had gone fuzzy.
“I wanted to come over later.” His rumbling whisper vibrated against my skin. “But you have to be here.”
Why wouldn’t I? My lids lowered. “I’ll be here.”
“Promise?” His lips brushed over mine as he spoke, a feather-light touch that stroked those burning embers into existence.
A car horn blew, yanking me out of my lusty daze.
I shoved Jayson away—he didn’t budge—and stepped back, my face on fire. “You really think I’m that easily manipulated?”
“I was hoping.” He crossed his arms against his chest, a dark half-smirk curling that sinful mouth.
He was such an asshat. “Too bad. Jessica’s here, and I’m going.” I pivoted and headed out my door.
Jayson’s footsteps were silent, but I could feel him right behind me. “I swear, Lena, if something happens, I’m going to lock you up in a cage.”
I rolled my eyes and descended the stairs. “You’re so dramatic. Nothing is going to happen. I’ll be f—” My foot slipped, and my body careened forward.
Strong arms wrapped around my middle, yanking me into an iron body and keeping me from tumbling down. “You were saying?” Jayson’s low voice rumbled through my back.
I was breathless, and it wasn’t only from the near fall. His intoxicating presence surrounded me, soaking into my bloodstream. He was a drug. And I was getting seriously stoned right now. “I’ll be just fine.”
Jayson carried me the rest of the way down, my feet dangling in the air. “You can’t even make it to the door without almost injuring yourself.”
I shrugged. “That’s never stopped me before. Why should it now?”
He set me on my feet a little rougher than necessary, jostling me against him. “You’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met.”
I snorted. “Right back at you, buddy.”
He opened the door and followed me onto the porch, Jessica’s silver sedan idling in my driveway. Dusk painted the horizon with purples, pinks, and blues. A brisk wind cut through my jacket, and I shivered.
I would never get used to this weather. Autumn had barely started. If I were a bird, I’d have flown south weeks ago.
Jayson tugged on my belt loops, pulling me into his body to share his warmth. “You think it’s cold now, just wait until winter.”
I shot a glare over my shoulder. “How can I get cold when you’re constantly breathing down my neck, caveman?”
A mischievous smile curled his lips, the tiniest hint of a dimple winking. “Don’t pretend like you’re not overjoyed by my presence, Angel Eyes.” He leaned forward, brushing his lips against my cheek as he whispered into my ear. “You still say my name when you’re sleeping.”
A blush flooded my face despite the frigid air. I elbowed his side, wincing at the ridiculous hardness. “You’re such a jackass.” Thankfully, Jessica’s head was down so she missed the sort of kiss. I really didn’t want to explain my relationship with Jayson right now, especially when I had no idea how to define it.
“This jackass is usually the only thing standing between you and the ground.” He finally released my belt loops.
I stuck my tongue out at him. “That wouldn’t be a problem if this accelerated healing ever kicked in. There aren’t many perks to the Nephilim bond.”
He licked his lush lips. “You’d get a lot more perks if you were a good girl.”
A squeak left my mouth, and I spun around before I did something regrettable—like drag him back into my house for some of those perks.
I shook the wicked images from my mind and opened the passenger door to Jessica’s car. “Hey, Jess.”
“Hi, Lena.” Her gaze flicked toward the hulking figure still lingering in my yard. “You seem to be hanging out with Jayson Casteel a lot these days.”
I gave a noncommittal shrug and buckled my seatbelt. “He lives across the street. He’s kind of hard to avoid.”
She continued to grin as she backed out of my driveway. “Hard to avoid. Right.”
She didn’t believe me one bit. Hell, I didn’t believe me.
Jessica switched on her headlights as dusk began to dissolve into night. “Ready to catch some ghosties?”
“I’m always ready for some paranormal action.” As long as it didn’t involve demons or fallen angels.
She handed me her phone with an article from an old newspaper displayed on the screen. “Check this out.” The headline read Librarian Found Dead. Woman Wanted For Questioning.
“So this is the story behind the haunting?” I asked, reading over the tiny printed words of debauchery and murder.
“Yep.” She pushed her clear-framed glasses up her nose. “In 1947, the librarian, Evelyn Blanchard, caught the eye of a prominent man in town. A married man.” She wiggled her eyebrows.
I grinned. “I guess not all librarians are prudish, lackluster women.”
“Not Ms. Blanchard. Jackson Fulton fell hard for her, and the two carried on a steamy affair within the book stacks. When his wife found out, she went into a jealous rage and murdered Ms. Blanchard in those very stacks with a kitchen knife.” She pantomimed stabbing an invisible knife and humming that tune from Psycho.
I snorted. “You’ve been spending a lot of time with Sebastian, haven’t you?”
A blush dusted the apples of her cheeks. “He forced me to watch the original Psycho last night and the remake.” She shrugged. “Afterward, we had a fascinating debate on which was better.”
Sebastian didn’t have to force Jessica to do anything. And she wasn’t there for the intellectual discussion.
Jessica cleared her throat and flicked her long tawny ponytail over her shoulder. “Anyway, Jackson’s wife, Virginia Fulton, was found guilty. She committed suicide by poisoning in her house before she was arrested. Her spirit could be here as well. According to the lore, she’s here to keep Jackson and Evelyn in torment for their sins.”
Virginia sounded like a real piece of work. She was one of those dangerous spirits Sebastian always warned us about.
I could handle a mean, jilted ghost. Piece of cake. I just hoped that was the only kind of dark entity we encountered.
Darkness blanketed the Mystic Hollow Library, shooting tremors up my legs. I didn’t fear the ghosts. I f
eared my clumsiness disease would have a field day. Jayson would definitely give me that look if I returned with a couple fresh bruises.
I clutched the thermal camera, the only light source around us besides Jessica’s small flashlight. My nose wrinkled at the musty air. The carpet beneath my feet was paper-thin. Had it ever been replaced?
“Is there anyone who would like to speak with us?” Sebastian called out, the digital recorder clutched in his palm as he continued the EVP session. “Ms. Blanchard? Are you there?”
Juniper Ryland, the current librarian, met us earlier and handed over the keys to Sebastian. The middle-aged woman was a believer. She’d seen ghostly apparitions with her own eyes and heard a disembodied voice on several occasions.
I slowly spun, checking out the blobs of color on the camera screen. The faint light swept over the main desk in the center of the first floor. Two ancient computer monitors loomed like white beasts squatting on the counter.
Ice slithered down my back. They reminded me of the vicious gargoyles sitting atop the mausoleum housing the gate to Hell in the cemetery.
“Is there anything you would like to tell us?” Jessica asked, yanking me from the nightmarish memories. “Why are you here?”