Total pages in book: 106
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 98961 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 495(@200wpm)___ 396(@250wpm)___ 330(@300wpm)
“Fuck,” I huff. “A demon with that same sigil on his chest showed up today.”
Lucas, who was already able to hear our conversation steps over.
“Shit. What happened?”
“We killed it.” I go back to the pot of mac ’n cheese, stress eating a big spoonful. “Do you know the exact location of this church?”
“Yeah. I can send you the address. What do you think this means?”
“I think another demon is trying to open the Gates of Hell.”
Melinda falls silent for a few seconds. “Just when we thought we avoided one apocalypse…”
“Another comes along.” I get another spoonful of mac ’n cheese, stomach twisting as soon as I swallow it. The world is going to be in a constant state of peril as long as demons know there’s a loophole in overthrowing Lucifer, and that loophole is me. “Thanks for letting me know, and if you find out anything more, call me. If I’m right, then this might have happened in other locations.”
“Points of the Ley line again?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Great. You know we’re here if you need us. Well, I am. Give Easton another few days.”
“How is he?”
“Grumpy,” she grumbles. “But he’ll be fine. Do you remember what happened when you were stuck in the wish? He says he still can’t.”
“No,” I lie for Easton’s sake. “It’s all fuzzy to me.”
“Ah, darn. I’m just curious. Be careful, Callie.”
“You too.” I end the call and look at Lucas. “Why?” I throw my hands out. “Why does this have to happen today? We don’t have much time.” My breath hitches and the light above the stove starts to buzz with electricity. Lucas steps over, holding Juliet with one arm.
“It’s going to be okay,” he tries and reaches for me
“Stop saying that,” I shout and push his hand away. “It wasn’t okay when Julian died, and it wasn’t okay when Osiris took you! Stop saying it’s going to be okay when it fucking won’t be!”
The shrillness of my voice scares Juliet, and she starts crying.
“Callie,” Lucas says in a calm voice and I turn away, pressing the heels of my palms against my eyes.
Eliza speeds down the back stairs and comes into the kitchen. “What the hell is going on?”
“I-I’m not sure,” Abby answers. “Callie called someone and said something about the Gates of Hell opening.”
Lucas’s hand lands on my shoulder. Letting out a breath, I turn back around and take Juliet from him knowing she’ll settle down if she gets to nurse. She doesn’t, and trying to get her to nurse only makes her cry harder. Seeing my frustration, Lucas takes her back and goes over to the window, shushing her and pointing at different things in the yard.
“Cal?” Abby asks softly. “You okay?”
Inhaling deep, I spin around. “Do you think the Underworld has a beach?”
Abby gives Eliza a confused look. “The Underworld? Like with Hades? Um, I’d say no, but I’m totally basing my assumption off of what it looks like from the movie Hercules. It’s probably not historically accurate.”
“Damn. I want a vacation. And not the Underworld with Hades, but with Osiris. Ya know, the Egyptian God of the Dead. He actually seems like a nice guy.”
Abby opens her mouth only to close it again. “I have no idea what’s going on, but I think I missed something big and I saw you only like a week ago.”
“The night of the full moon.”
“Yeah. It was a full moon, and I’m sensing that it was significant?”
“It was. But, um, don’t worry. I’ll figure things out. Unless I don’t. Because I didn’t with Julian.”
Penny comes running into the room, Freya clutched in her chubby little arms.
“Penny!” Abby scolds. “That is not how we hold cats.”
“She’s not a cat,” I remind her. “And she doesn’t mind.”
“Oh, right. A friend has cats and I don’t want her thinking it’s okay to hold them all like they’re magical spirits.”
“Good point.” I mentally tell Freya to shadow out of Penny’s arms. She does, and she shadows around the two-year-old, making her laugh. Freya darts forward and Penny follows, reaching out of her and laughing hysterically when her fingers go right through the shimmering gray shadow. “Sorry things got weird.”
“This visit started with finding you standing over a dead body. Seeing my daughter play with a spirit is definitely not the weirdest part of the day.”
“Another good point.”
“I feel much better and you have a lot going on. Penny and I will get out of your hair. And I should head out if I want to beat traffic. Going into the city in the late afternoon is not fun when you don’t have a cranky toddler in the car.”
“I’ve never been a fan of traffic.”
“Let me know if I should start Doomsday prepping,” Abby jokes, but I struggle to find the humor in it. No amount of prepping will save you if hellfire burns in the sky.