Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 1 of 46

Doubly Dying

Diary of a Demon Hunter – Book 4

By Michele Bardsley

“The wretch, concentred all in self,

Living, shall forfeit fair renown,

And, doubly dying, shall go down

To the vile dust from whence he sprung,

Unwept, unhonored, and unsung.”

— from The Lay of the Last Minstrel by Sir Walter Scott

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 2 of 46

Chapter 1

From the diary of Maggie Mortis…

When Rafe and I first met, I told him that I would never break a promise and I would never lie.

I can’t tell you how desperately I wanted to keep those two tenets, but I had already broken one… and soon, I will break the other.

Only a week has passed since Eltar and I rescued Raphael from Hell. I found eleven vials in Abatu’s safe, but I only gave Rafe ten.

I had to keep one. How else could I kill Abatu? Everyone wants him dead because he’s trying to rule everything in creation. I want him dead because he has killed almost every person I’ve ever loved. Because of him, my father, my mother, my Guardian, my friend, and countless others are dead.

I’m not a woman who believes in peace, love, and understanding.

I believe in revenge.

At any cost.

* * *

“Marry me.”

Maggie stopped unloading her weapons and turned to stare at her half-demon lover. “What?”

“You heard me,” said Raphael as he crossed the distance between them. He closed the bedroom door, locking it against their ever-expanding family of humans and demons, and then turned to her. He wore only a towel and his long, dark hair was still wet from his shower. He looked as beautiful as ever, his blue eyes filled with love.

Oh, God. Her heart felt more and more burdened lately. She could barely look at him because she might give away her secrets, her lies… her betrayal. Instead, she pressed against him and kissed him until she lost her breath.

She whipped off the towel and stroked his thick cock until it was hard. He tended to the removal of her clothing and when she was naked, she hooked her leg around his and tumbled him to the floor.

He could take a hit. Still, landing on his backside with her on top left him breathless. He wheezed his laughter, his hands cupping her breasts as she lowered herself onto his cock.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 3 of 46

“Maggie,” he moaned as he met her thrusts. He twisted her nipples, and pleasure radiated straight to her pussy.

She rocked on him, her hands planted onto his chest, her vaginal muscles clenching tightly. She fucked him, wanting to give him pleasure, wanting him to come while she denied herself.

But he wouldn’t deny her.

He grabbed her, rolling her onto the floor until he was on top. He sucked one of her nipples into his mouth as she wrapped her legs around his waist and arched, taking his deep thrusts.

Desperation had her clinging to him, had her squeezing back tears. Then Rafe was groaning his release, his demon cock pulsing as his come filled her. She wasn’t surprised when he rose to his knees and revealed that his cock was as long and hard as ever.

That was the advantage of a demon lover. He was like the Energizer Bunny. He could keep going and going and going…

He bent her legs forward. “Grab your ankles.”

She did as he asked and raised her hips to give him access to her ass. He pushed a finger into her vagina, lubing it with his come and her juice, and then he worked it into her anus.

The finger wiggling inside her sensitive ass tissues made her shudder with pleasure. He inserted another lubed finger and used both to ring her over and over, stretching her. She cupped her breasts, tugging on the nipples to increase the erotic sensations zinging her.

Finally he fit his cock against her tight hole and pushed it inside inch by inch until he was fully seated. Her ass burned at the violation, but she loved having her ass stuffed. She loved anything Raphael did to her.

The hand he used to ready her anus clamped onto her hip. The other hand cupped her mound, flicking her clitoris until she moaned.

Drawing flush against her, he stroked in and out of her ass. She relished his every movement and her nails bit into the flesh of her ankles as she begged for more.

“I’ll give you anything you ask,” promised Rafe. But his gasping words trailed into a groan. He stopped pumping into her.

“Rafe! Goddamn it!”

“Sshh, baby.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 4 of 46

He moved his hand from her pussy, and forming a beak with his fingers he slowly pushed them into her vagina. She sucked in deep breaths. Having her anus stuffed along with the incredible fullness of his hand stretching her vaginal walls tipped her toward excruciating bliss.

When he’d filled her up to his wrist, he curled his fingers into a fist then rhythmically bumped her G-spot with his knuckles as he ass-fucked her into orgasmic oblivion.

Her entire body seemed to shatter into a thousand stars. One orgasm rolled onto the next one and her cunt and ass throbbed. She vaguely felt the hot spurt of Rafe’s seed fill her.

She had barely floated down to earth again when she felt his tongue whipping on her clitoris.

He sucked and flicked her into a third orgasm. Her hips came off the floor as her pussy convulsed and covered his face with her come.

Completely spent, she sprawled on the floor and tried to catch her breath. Rafe lay down next to her and wiped the sweat off her brow.

“What was the question again?” she asked, teasing him.

“Would you please marry me?”

“Okay.” Maggie kissed her own essence right off his face. Agreeing to marry Rafe was absolutely the wrong thing to do.

So why did it make her so fucking happy?

* * *

“Where are you going?” asked Rafe. He studied Maggie’s black demon-proof outfit, belt fitted with potions, knives, and moon scythes, and her three-inch spiked ankle boots.

“Uh…”

Damn it. Five minutes ago, he’d been in the lab working on translating the Book of Demons and creating über spells for the next round of prisms. She’d hurried into the bedroom, dressed, and was on her way to sneaking out. Raphael had popped into the hallway, literally, in a blast of blue flame.

“Maggie?” He frowned, his brows dipping ominously. “I thought you were taking tonight off.

Did we get an alert about demon trouble?”

Before she could tell yet another lie to her beloved, Mrs. Pottersworth barreled into the hallway with Auren and Sarah huffing and puffing behind her. “We’re ready, dearie!”

Maggie’s mouth dropped open. “Er… yeah? Good.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 5 of 46

Auren, who usually preferred the form of a scruffy black kitten, had taken her human form: a slight, pale woman with long black hair and ruby red lips. She wore a black leather bustier, black leather skirt, and matching calf boots. She was beautiful in a mesmerizing way, a demon goddess who would just as soon rip your heart out as look at you.

Sarah stuck Margie in the crook of Rafe’s arms and shoved a pink bag stuffed full of kiddy crap onto his shoulder. “Her bottle’s in there. You have to alternate regular formula with demonfire.

The blue kind, okay? Red makes her gassy. Don’t give her plastic keys, she melts them. Don’t forget to burp her, but watch out for your hair. She’ll burn it off.” She touched her own singed locks and scrunched her face. “Am I forgetting anything?”

“Rafe has your cell phone number,” said Mrs. Pottersworth. “He’s very good with children.”

Rafe looked stunned. “I am?”

“Of course, you are.” Mrs. P patted his arm and smiled beguilingly. Her Elf ears poked out of her silvery hair. “Okay, ladies, let’s go.”

“Go where?” asked Rafe.

“Why, shopping for the wedding, of course. We have to check out the dresses —”

Maggie bristled. “Dress? Oh hell no!”

“Dress,” repeated Mrs. P with a steely look in her eye. “Then we have to pick out the flowers, the bridesmaid gowns, the menu for the reception…”

“And you can do that at nine o’clock at night?” Rafe sounded suspicious.

“We’re having a girl’s night out to look through magazines and catalogs,” said Sarah. “Unless you want to —”

“No,” said Rafe, shuddering. “Really. That’s okay. I’d rather baby-sit.” He shot a look at Maggie that was half amusement, half relief.

Mrs. P rushed Maggie out the door, which triple-locked behind them. They entered the elevator. The doors snicked shut and the car started to rise. The compound was three hundred feet underground and had more security than the Trump Towers.

“What the hell is going on?” asked Maggie. “I wasn’t going wedding shopping. Yuck!”

“Well, you are now,” said Mrs. P. “It’s not like you to get caught sneaking out.”

Her reprimand stung, but she was right. Maggie wasn’t sloppy. Her game had been off lately and she worried every minute that she’d made the wrong choice. What was the point of killing Abatu if it meant losing Rafe?

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 6 of 46

“Unless you wanted to get caught,” said Auren. She sounded completely bored, but Maggie knew better than that. Her little sis wasn’t apathetic, no matter how she sounded. “Maybe you’re feeling guilty.”

That hit the nail on the head. Fuck, fuck, fuck . “Oh, shut up! What’s wrong with a little demon hunting?” she groused. “It’s what I do.”

“Lying to Rafe is bad enough,” said Sarah, her voice full of censure. “But don’t you dare lie to us.”

The doors opened and the women stepped into the hallway. Totally pissed off, mostly because her friends were right, Maggie led the way. She wished there was a demon to hunt because she’d love to stick her boot heel into his throat. Argh!

The compound was built underneath an empty mansion, surrounded by bespelled fencing.

Anyone who got through the fence would then have to get into the heavily magicked and alarmed house. If they made it that far, they had to know the codes to open the elevator and have the right blood to even make it work. Everyone with a code to the house also had to prick their finger on a specially made button. If your DNA wasn’t in the system, a gas emitted from the elevator and knocked out the occupant.

They entered the kitchen, walking across the black-and-white tile to the door that led to the garage. Inside the five-car garage was Maggie’s Harley, the silver-gray Jaguar XLS, an SUV, Sarah’s 1994 Honda, and Rafe’s BMW. They trooped toward the SUV, which was bullet-proof, demon-proof, and fancied up with the latest in gadgets and weaponry.

Sarah got to the driver’s side door before Maggie. She grinned widely then swung up into the seat.

“This is my fucking car,” said Maggie, her temper about to snap. “No way are you driving.”

Mrs. Pottersworth snaked the front passenger seat and Auren climbed into the back behind Sarah. “Would you rather tell Rafe where you were really going, dearie? We’ll wait.”

Muttering darkly, Maggie stalked around the car. “This blows!”

She got into the backseat with her sister and viciously strapped herself into the seat. This was what happened when a demon hunter had friends. They… they… bossed you around and got you into trouble. Fuckers .

“So, where are we going?” asked Sarah as she started the SUV and revved the engine.

“Like I’m telling you,” said Maggie between clenched teeth. “Besides, aren’t you forgetting someone?”

“Eltar is a non-subject.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 7 of 46

“You said it had to snow in Hell,” said Maggie, just petty enough to enjoy Sarah’s grimace. “Do I need to show you the pictures again?”

“Fine!”

The garage door opened and Sarah slammed the SUV into reverse, barreling down the long driveway. Just before they got to the entrance gate, Sarah wheeled the car into a 180 turn. Dust spewed as she braked hard, leaving the front bumper inches from the black iron bars.

“Jesus!” Maggie resisted the urge to slap her friend upside the head. “Could you chill out?”

Sarah giggled. Maggie realized then Sarah was suffering from a bout of nerves. As much as she badmouthed Eltar, nobody was fooled. She was in love with the father of her child.

But she sure as hell didn’t like him very much.

Just as he did every day, Eltar waited near the mailbox. Maggie had to admit he was persistent.

Only love could make a demon act like a beggar day after day.

Sarah pushed the button on the gate remote and the iron bars swung open. She drove through then rolled down her window. Eltar approached cautiously, peering at her with hopeful eyes.

He looked like a well-dressed salesman in the pin-striped suit. He also wore a hat and carried a briefcase.

“Get in,” she demanded.

Auren opened her door. Eltar tossed his briefcase and hat into the back, then scurried across Auren to sit in the middle of the backseat.

Maggie looked at him and smiled grimly. “Welcome to my own personal hell.”

He grinned back. “Delighted as always, Miss Mortis.”

* * *

“You didn’t tell me you planned to bring a posse.” The young woman stared at Maggie reproachfully.

“I didn’t bring them,” said Maggie. “They leeched onto me.”

They stood at the gates of the tiny cemetery. It was located on the grounds of the abandoned church Maggie attended as a child. Her parents were buried here. Her mother had a funeral and mourners and gravediggers. Her father had been buried by cover of night with only her digging his grave and later, speaking tear-filled prayers. By the time Abraham Mortis met his maker, the cemetery and its church had been abandoned. No one buried their dead here. No one sought solace or faith.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 8 of 46

No one but her.

Daddy made his coffin from the same bespelled material in which he’d buried Mom. Putting her father’s remains into a coffin he’d carved and magicked himself was the hardest thing she’d ever done.

Turning away from the graveyard and old memories, she considered the girl. She was beautiful with black, wavy hair and big, blue eyes. She wore a T-shirt and jeans; her purse was a big, shiny number that didn’t quite fit her hippy appearance. “What are you, twelve?”

“Eighteen,” she said. “And I’m really good at my job.”

“Who are you again, dearie?” asked Mrs. Pottersworth.

“Deb Johnson,” answered the girl. “I’m getting freaked out. I don’t like audiences. It’s not like raising the dead is easy.”

“Raising the dead!” Sarah looked horrified.

All eyes turned to Maggie. “You wanted to tag along.” Her tone was a shade too defensive.

“Isn’t this better than shopping for wedding dresses?”

“You’re getting married?” asked Deb. “That’s righteous!”

Maggie resisted the urge to throw up. What had possessed Raphael to ask her to marry him?

What had possessed her to accept? Argh!

“Deb, how did you get into this profession?” asked Mrs. Pottersworth.

“Oh, yeah… well.” Deb shrugged. “Mom is all into the arcane arts. She’s been teaching me stuff since I was, like, a year old. I’m good at necromancy, but I never really did anything on my own before — till about a year ago. My boyfriend died in a car crash. I took one of my necro spellbooks to his grave and sorta… woke him up.”

“You brought your dead boyfriend back to life?” squeaked Sarah.

“The spell worked great, but the thing about necromancing is that you gotta be specific. I brought his body back, but his personality is totally gone. A zombie only has a tiny piece of its original soul.” Deb’s big blue eyes assessed Eltar critically. “Hey, Phil might be dead, but at least he’s not a demon.”

Maggie stared Deb. “You can see Eltar’s true form?”

“I got this thing about auras.” Deb shrugged. “Dude, you’ve got a weird psychic ambience. It screams ‘demon’ but you got serious white light, too.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 9 of 46

“He’s kinda good,” explained Maggie. “He doesn’t possess humans or try to eat them and he’s in love with Sarah, but she’s being stubborn.”

“Yeah. I can see her resistance toward him.”

Sarah stared daggers at Maggie, who just smiled benignly.

A loud moan echoed. The creepy noise was followed by gurgling and shuffling.

Maggie released her moon scythes from her belt and took an attack position. “What the fuck is that?”

Chapter 2

From the diary of Maggie Mortis…

People suck.

Especially friends who say they’re trying to help, but all they’re really doing is hindering.

Don’t they understand how much shit is gonna go down? How can I protect them and Rafe if they’re… they’re following me around?

Too many have died because of me. It was bad enough letting Rafe into my life. Bad enough loving him. Bad enough betraying him. But now there’s Sarah, Margie, Mrs. P, and even that too polite Eltar. They keep multiplying, for fuck’s sake!

If they’d just leave me alone for a day, I could track Abatu, kill him, and save the world.

Sheesh!

* * *

“That’s Phil, my ex-boyfriend,” said Deb. “Poor guy. He wouldn’t go back into the grave and die again, so he mostly follows me around.” Deb turned toward the well-dressed corpse inching toward them. He had obviously been embalmed because his skin looked as fresh as a peach.

But his eyes were rolled back into his head and his mouth was contorted. His fingers were curled into claws and his legs were stiff as petrified logs.

“How can he see where he walks?” whispered Sarah. She ducked behind Eltar.

“Zombies don’t really use their physical senses to get around. It’s kinda hit and miss,” said Deb.

“Phil, I told you to wait in the car.”

“Uuuuuuuhhhh.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 10 of 46

“You don’t sleep with him or anything, do you?” Sarah’s hands crept around Eltar’s waist and she peeked at Zombie Phil. “Because that’s seriously sick.”

“First, his penis doesn’t work — and no, I didn’t check myself. It says so in the necro books.

Second, you’ve had demon penis so I hardly think you should judge anyone else’s tastes.”

Maggie sighed as she put away the moon scythes. “This night is getting shittier and shittier. Can you put away your pet so we can get this show on the road?”

“Yeah, yeah. Don’t get your panties in a twist.” Deb took Phil by one gnarled hand and dragged him toward a yellow VW bug. “You gotta stay in the car. We talked about this, honey, remember?”

“Uuuuuuuhhhh.”

When Deb disappeared, Maggie’s four friends surrounded her, their arms crossed and concern in their gazes.

“What the bloody hell are you doing?” asked Mrs. Pottersworth.

“Yeah,” chimed in Auren. “Why did you hire a necromancer?”

Maggie didn’t want to tell them. She didn’t want to drag them into the situation. It surprised her to realize that she liked having a family. She wasn’t a loner anymore. She wasn’t freed from the constraints of relationships. She wanted to be a friend, a sister, and yeah, even a wife.

And knowing that scared the living hell out of her.

“There’s no use lying to us,” said Sarah. “Or trying to hide what you’re doing. Just fess up.”

“Okay, okay,” grumbled Maggie. She couldn’t quite look anyone in the eyes. “I hired Deb to get in touch with someone. Someone who can help me destroy Abatu.”

“Who?” asked Auren sharply.

Maggie swallowed the knot in her throat. “My father. Abraham Mortis.”

The instant silence was weighted with shock.

“Are you insane?” asked Sarah, her voice strained. “You’re going to raise your dead father so you can figure out how to kill your immortal ancestor?”

“Not immortal,” corrected Maggie. “We’ve established that there is a way to kill demons.”

Mrs. Pottersworth narrowed her eyes. “You destroyed the vials.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 11 of 46

“Not the ones that Abatu kept.” Maggie looked over her shoulder, as if checking for the return of Deb. But what she was really doing was avoiding the gazes of her friends. She hated lying to them. But she couldn’t risk them or Rafe. Not again. Not ever.

“If only the High Council wasn’t in such disarray,” said Mrs. P. She sounded distressed.

“I don’t work for those motherfuckers anymore. Besides, they’ve got their own problems. If Meelena, who was probably the purest being among them, could fuck a demon and bear his children then they’re in a lot of trouble.” Maggie rubbed her bare arms against the chill in the wind. Odd. It shouldn’t be cold at this time of year. “And, oh yeah, I hope they all fucking die.”

“Sorry ’bout that,” said Deb as she rejoined them. If she heard Maggie’s forceful protest against the High Council, she refrained from offering an opinion. “So, are you guys ready or what?”

“I’m ready,” said Maggie. “These guys will wait in the car.”

The protests were immediate, loud, and vigorous, but Maggie shook her head. “I’m talking to my father alone.”

“I do better without an audience,” said Deb. “And sometimes, the dead are reluctant to show up for a bunch of people.”

“Fine,” said Auren as she sent Maggie a you-will-tell-us-everything-or-die look. “How long will this take?”

“It takes as long as it takes.” Deb hitched up her big-ass purse and turned to push through the gates.

“Maggie,” said Mrs. P, her voice way too sympathetic. “Are you sure this is the right thing to do?”

“Nope.” Maggie followed Deb, leaving her friends to stare after her.

When she caught up to Deb, the girl was putting candles around the grave of her parents. Only her mother’s name was on the headstone. Her father lay beside his wife, unmarked perhaps, but not unknown.

“How did you know where he was buried?”

“I got the vibe.” Deb completed the five points of what was probably a pentagram and lit each votive. The smell of vanilla wafted to Maggie.

“So, what will happen? Will Dad pop out of his grave or what?”

“He decides the form he takes.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 12 of 46

Maggie watched the rest of Deb’s preparations. She recognized some of the magic and herbs, but necromancy was a different craft than the one Maggie had learned. She wasn’t sure she could handle talking to him no matter how he revealed himself, but she hoped Dad wouldn’t choose to speak through his corpse. Even though she had Rafe and the others to support her efforts and to offer their encouragement, no one could ever replace her father. He had always been her compass. He knew how to give advice, how to nudge her in the right direction, how to help her. She needed guidance in the worst way.

She needed her father.

Deb sat down in front of a candle. She pointed to the opposite side. “You sit there. If I’m successful, you’ll be able to speak directly to your father. It’s very rare that entities choose me as the vessel. Most dead people are attached to their earthly forms and like to reappear in them — one way or another.

“Keep your questions simple. Ask the ones you most want to know first because timing is always iffy. You might have five minutes or less. I’ve never been able to hold a spirit here longer than an hour. Phil is the exception, of course. Then again, it’s really his re-animated body following me around.”

“I got it,” said Maggie, biting back her smile. She had a lot of problems, damn it, but at least being followed by a dead guy wasn’t one of ’em. “The second Dad appears, I start talking and I don’t stop until he’s gone.”

Deb nodded.

Maggie sat cross-legged where Deb indicated. She watched the girl put her palms together in a prayerful gesture then she said, “O God, O Goddess, I invoke thy powers on behalf of thy worthy children. Hear our prayers and grant us thy mercy.”

A sparkling gold light leapt from the candle in front of Deb to each votive. The lines crossed until a pentagram glowed. Feeling as if she’d been electrified, Maggie felt the hair rise on her arms and neck. Powerful magic vibrated in the air.

Even regular human beings could, with study and practice, create and use simple spells. But Deb was harnessing raw power; she not only knew magic, she had the talent to wield it.

Maggie’s heart crawled to her throat and beat wildly. She felt breathless and uncertain. If Abraham Mortis appeared even as a shadow of himself, he’d be pissed that she’d called him.

The wind kicked up, rustling dead leaves and dry grass. Once again, Maggie felt a chill in the air, which twisted around her and caused her flesh to prickle.

“With the blessings of our God and our Goddess, we call the beloved parent of Margaret Eleanor Mortis,” intoned Deb. “Please accept our offering.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 13 of 46

Deb threw silver powder into the middle of the pentagram. The purple petals of lavender followed and then drops of what Maggie assumed was holy water.

Within moments, a white wisp emitted from the grave. It wafted upward, hovering about three feet off the ground. Slowly, a face formed along with a neck and the barest hint of shoulders.

When the figure had completed its manifestation, Maggie swallowed the hard knot clogging her throat. Oh, holy hell!

“Hello, daughter,” said the ghost, smiling.

Tears slipped down Maggie’s cheeks. “Mom?”

“I assume you were trying to call your father,” said Mom. “He was lucky enough to spend more time with you.” Her mother’s ghostly gaze looked her over. “Your hair is so short. I used to love brushing your pretty, long hair.”

Maggie rubbed her spiked locks. “It’s better for the job.”

“I know. Darling, I’ve watched over you. What a life you’ve had… and that Rafe… isn’t he yum on a bun?”

“Mom!” Maggie’s chuckle reversed into a sob. “I miss you. And I miss Dad. H-how is he?”

Her mother’s ghostly gaze flickered. “Tell me what you want, Maggie.”

“I want to find Abatu. I have the means to kill him.”

“You want to save the world?” asked her mother. “Or you want revenge for all the evil he has wrought on you and yours?”

“Both,” said Maggie. She grimaced. “But mostly the second thing you said.”

“I thought as much.” Her mother sighed. “Abatu seeks conquest and power. He has no conscience and no morality. I will tell you what you need to know because he must be stopped.”

“Am I really related to him?”

“Yes. Your father can trace his bloodline directly to Abatu. You have demon blood. It’s why you’re so good at what you do.”

The freezing wind blew again. Maggie’s mother shimmered then steadied again into a floating, pale form. “Abatu is in hiding, protecting himself while his loyal generals assemble demon armies. If this assault is successful, he will take Hell, Earth, and the Otherworld in one fell swoop.”

“And Heaven?”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 14 of 46

“Where do you think he is hiding? And where do you think he wishes to rule from?”

Astonished didn’t begin to describe Maggie’s reaction. One of the most powerful demons in all the planes of existence was hiding in Heaven. And there, where good and love and light reigned supreme, he was going to rule all creatures. “I didn’t think our God and Goddess would allow him to hang out in the holy kingdom.”

“Life is about balance. Good and evil are two sides of the eternal coin. Sometimes the scales tip toward one or the other.”

“So no matter what we do or don’t do, the scales will eventually tip the other direction?”

“It is the actions of the Universe’s children that tip the scales.” Maggie’s mother smiled.

“Your actions will tip the scales.”

Maggie nodded. Her father had once told her that she wouldn’t win every battle. The important thing was to keep showing up with the intention of winning. Fight your hardest, fight your very best, Maggie. Never focus on the outcome. It’s standing for good and for right that makes the difference .

“Where’s Daddy?” she asked softly.

“Oh, baby,” said her mother. “I wish you hadn’t asked.” Her expression turned sorrowful.

“Abatu called Abe’s soul and trapped him… in one of the prisms you made.”

Horror clawed at Maggie. “No!”

“When you find Abatu, you will find your father.” Her mother started to fade.

“Mom! I love you!”

“I love you, too,” came a low whisper, “and congratulations on your engagement.”

* * *

“Did you pick out the dress?” asked Rafe. He was lying on the bed wearing only a pair of faded jeans. In his hands was a well-worn novel by Robert Ludlum. Her sexy demon wore no shirt, allowing Maggie to feast on his magnificent abs.

“Hell, no,” she said, tossing the magazines onto the bed. “We’re going to Vegas, that’s what we’re doing. Mrs. P started talking about china patterns, for God’s sake!”

Rafe chuckled as he nabbed a magazine and thumbed through it.

After the graveyard visit, Mrs. P insisted on stopping at a 24-hour Wal-Mart and picking up the magazines. Then they went to Denny’s and ate pancakes and actually discussed wedding stuff.

Maggie hated every fucking second of it. Not only did she not want a traditional wedding (yuck, Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 15 of 46

yuck, ptooey), but she also had other plans to make. She had to figure out how to get into Heaven, how to track down Abatu, and how to rescue her father. It killed her to know that his soul was suffering in a device designed for demons.

“This one is nice,” said Raphael. He held up the magazine. The dress looked like something Cinderella would wear to the ball, all big and fluffy and diamond-speckled.

“You like that gown?” she asked as she took off her weapons.

“Don’t you?”

Maggie took off her boots then wiggled out of her demon-hunting suit. Still in her black lace bra and panties, she crawled onto the bed and snuggled next to Rafe. As she stroked the hard muscles of his stomach, she looked at the picture again, then at her fiancé. “If you like that frou-frou shit I guess I could wear it.”

Rafe’s blue eyes twinkled. “You must love me, Maggie, if you would even think about showing up to our wedding dressed in frou-frou shit.”

She lightly punched his shoulder. Then, feeling vulnerable and guilty and in love, she sat up and cupped his face. “I would do anything for you.”

His eyes went dark and he leaned forward to capture her lips. Electric heat raced through her, and she slid onto his lap. Pressing her sex against the lengthening bulge in his jeans, Maggie broke their kiss long enough to unclip her bra and throw it to the floor.

Rafe cupped her breasts, bringing one succulent peak to his mouth. He tugged the nipple between his teeth, flicking the aching tip with his tongue. Maggie moaned, her hands drifting down to stroke at the juncture where her pussy met his jean-clad hard-on.

Rafe seemed to be in a lazy lovemaking mood, which suited Maggie just fine. She wanted to relish every moment in case… well, in case nothing. He would forgive her. He would understand her reasons. Maybe he’d be pissed off for a while, but he wouldn’t leave her. And even if he did

— her breath caught in her throat — then he would be alive . That was the important thing. If he was walking around and breathing, wasn’t that worth sacrificing his trust?

I would do anything for you, Raphael.

Her heart kicked up a frantic beat, caught between the unfurling lust heating her inside out and the adrenaline-spiked guilt threatening to cool her ardor. Goddamn it. As despair jabbed her, she pushed aside all her worries and focused on Rafe and on how he made her feel.

Right now, there would be only love.

She would think about all the rest tomorrow.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 16 of 46

Maggie unbuttoned his jeans and freed his cock. Her fingers stroked his thick shaft and brushed against something. “What the —?”

She looked down. Rafe wore a penis-and-ball strap. A large metal ring encircled the base of his cock; attached to it was a leather strap that stretched under his scrotum and up to a second ring. Both rings were bound at the top by another strap.

“What is this?” she asked.

“Maybe you need to take a closer look.”

Maggie grinned as she helped Rafe wiggle off his jeans. She knelt between his legs and bent down to suck the tip of his cock. She ran her tongue down the shaft, licking at the flesh bound by the metal ring.

“Lower,” he moaned. “Take my balls.”

She licked his scrotum, wiggling her tongue under the strap. As her tongue glided down, she felt something square and hard. What the hell kind of sex aid was this thing? Maggie lifted Rafe’s sac and stared at the object dangling from the larger metal circle.

Oh holy Goddess.

The platinum band with its rectangular blue stone was… her engagement ring.

Chapter 3

From the diary of Maggie Mortis…

I never thought I would marry. Hell, I never thought I would fall in love. Love strengthens me and humbles me. I’ve never felt this way about anyone, not even Damian, who held my heart for so very long. A heart he didn’t want. Because of him, I have Raphael. That was his final gift to me.

I wish I felt like I deserved him.

* * *

Maggie lifted Rafe’s scrotum higher and looked closely at the beautiful ring. The large rectangular gem was deep blue. Purple glinted within it. “Demon sapphire! You made me a demon sapphire?”

“Yes.”

Her gaze met his and she felt an insane need to weep. Demon sapphires were the rarest of all gems on all planes of existence. Only a demon could make one and since most of them were Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 17 of 46

selfish bastards and the process to create such a stone was arduous, not many of these gems existed.

“Take it off!” she demanded. She felt almost giddy. And heaven knew she was acting way too girly. But it was her ring and she wanted to wear it.

“Ah,” said Rafe. “I’m afraid you can’t have it until my cock is a little less… er, happy.”

Maggie laughed. “I can help you with that.”

She sucked him, tickling the underside of the mushroomed head with her tongue. She traced each bulging vein of his cock, her fingers slipping under his scrotum to tug on her engagement ring.

Rafe groaned, his hands fisting into the covers.

She was merciless in her efforts to make him come, alternating between sucking mouth and stroking fingers.

“Maggie!”

She took him down to the first ring as he pulsed hotly in her mouth; his come geysered down her throat. She drank the warm salty essence and licked him clean.

The blow job only softened him slightly.

“Damned demon dick!” she groused.

“Don’t worry, Maggie. It’s enough.” He chuckled as he disengaged the strap and retrieved her ring. “I love you,” he murmured as he slid the platinum band onto the third finger of her left hand.

“I love you, too.” She stared at the jewel in amazement. Holy fucking shit. She was engaged.

She was going to get married. The very prospect of getting hitched scared the crap outta her, but at the same time, she was excited about it, too.

Rafe tumbled her onto her backside and kissed her. She melted in his embrace, molding her lips to his, darting her tongue into his mouth. All the while, her restless hands danced along his back. She cupped his ass. He flexed his buttocks and made her laugh. Then he dropped kisses on her collarbone and devoured her with his hot mouth and talented tongue.

She writhed beneath him.

Rafe’s fingers danced on her bare skin, skimming the underside of her aching breasts, teasing her areolas. He suckled one of her nipples, letting go of the tender nub to blow softly on the crinkled flesh until the peak tightened even more.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 18 of 46

Hot desire liquefied Maggie. She stroked his ribcage, tickling his flesh until she found his nipples.

She rubbed them to hardness then twisted.

He sucked in a sharp breath, a shudder running through him.

“Maggie,” he moaned, kissing her breasts.

He wedged his hand between them, cupping her sex and caressing her outer lips. Then he pierced her with two fingers and crooked them to rub her G-spot. She moaned, her hips lifting in the same rhythm as his fingers.

He lifted her leg and shifted his body until he was at the correct angle. Her restless hands flittered to his shoulders, her nails digging into his skin as he plunged into her slick cunt.

Her legs trembled and her heart thudded as he thrust again and again and again. She wrapped her free leg around his buttocks and clawed at his flesh, her moans and movements just as frantic as his.

The orgasm roared through her. “Rafe! Oh, God! Yes!”

Rafe slammed into her, her name a mantra as he reached his own completion. He stiffened, groaning as his come spurted into her weeping cunt.

He collapsed against her, his tongue flicking the beads of moisture rolling down her neck. “So,”

he murmured. “Do you want to set the date?”

Maggie punched him.

* * *

“They found another pair of men’s legs,” said Sarah the next morning. She handed Maggie the front page of the newspaper.

Maggie sat at the kitchen table and poured herself coffee. Mrs. Pottersworth made yummy, strong java. She blew on the liquid before venturing a sip. “Mmm. Mocha caramel?”

“Hazelnut truffle,” said Sarah. “I don’t know how she does it. She would kill Starbucks if she opened her own coffee business.”

Maggie laughed. She sipped her coffee as she scanned the story. The mysterious killer who left only the legs — from the calves down — of male victims had left another pair on a downtown sidewalk. The serrated wounds had been compared to animal teeth, except no animal large enough to eat a grown man in one bite still existed.

The method of death was surely paranormal, but it didn’t fit a demon MO. It also seemed like the victims were chosen randomly — out of convenience rather than because they fit a certain Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 19 of 46

profile. Actually the only profile they fit was that they were men. The strange incidents made Maggie curious, but whether or not there was a paranormal or human explanation for the murders, it wasn’t her game.

She had bigger demons to hunt.

“You have a visitor,” said Rafe as he walked into the kitchen. Auren, in her black kitten form, sauntered beside him. When he sat down, she jumped into his lap and closed her eyes.

“I think it’s weird that my sister is curled on your lap.”

“Jealous about this little pussy?” asked Rafe, grinning.

“Yuck.” Maggie leaned over and kissed him. “You’ll pay for that, you know.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“Who’s the visitor?” asked Sarah. She resumed feeding the infant snuggled in her arms. The bottle glowed with blue demonfire. Margie sucked contently on the bottle, which had a specially made nipple since all the rubber ones tended to melt due to her higher body temps. It would take a while for the child to find a balance between her demon and human halves.

“Says her name is Deb.”

Maggie found her half-empty coffee cup very interesting. “Deb, huh?”

She flicked a glance at Sarah. Her friend smiled. “The coordinator, hon. Remember?”

“She doesn’t look old enough to be a wedding planner,” said Rafe, snaking the paper from Maggie’s hands. “Are we interviewing her for the job or did you dig her up last night?”

“Dig her up?”

Rafe looked up, obviously hearing the strain in Maggie’s voice. His eyebrows dipped into a frown. “Are you okay?”

“Fine.” Did he know that she’d tried to call her father’s ghost? Was he trying to get her to confess? Or was her own guilty conscience causing her to overreact to his words?

“Where is she? Did you talk to her?” asked Maggie as she rose from the table.

“She’s in the mansion. Mrs. P is with her in the living room we keep furnished for entertaining guests.” Rafe gulped his coffee and picked up Auren, who meowed sleepily.

“Where are you going?”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 20 of 46

“With you.” Rafe stroked the top of the kitten’s head. “I figured since it’s our wedding, I should have some input.”

Sarah laughed. Rafe and Maggie turned to look at her. She put down the bottle and lifted Margie to her shoulder. As she lightly patted the infant’s back, she said, “I’m sorry. It’s just…

weddings are for the women. Honeymoons are for the men.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” said Eltar as he wandered into the kitchen. He was in his human guise, wearing one of Sarah’s terry cloth robes and a very satisfied expression.

“Why would you keep it in mind?” asked Sarah. Her cheeks suffused with color and she suddenly found the tabletop vastly interesting.

“Because I wish to marry you, of course.”

“Who’s to say I want to marry you?”

“I love you, Sarah.” He dropped a kiss on her mouth, ignoring her astonished expression.

Eltar’s gaze fell to Maggie’s left hand. He whistled. “Demon sapphire. Must’ve taken you a while to craft that, old boy.”

“Something like that,” admitted Rafe. “So, you want to talk to the wedding planner alone?”

Goddamn it. He sounded hurt. If Deb were a real wedding planner, she wouldn’t have any problem with Rafe coming with her. In fact, she would happily let him make all the decisions about every nauseating detail. But Deb wasn’t here about a wedding.

So what was she here about?

“You never said how you found this Deb.”

Great. Now Rafe sounded suspicious.

“You really are thick-headed,” said Sarah. Margie punctuated her mother’s statement with a loud burp. Flames shot out from her pert mouth then she gurgled, ramming a tiny fist into her mouth.

“May I?” asked Eltar. Apparently, the two of them had worked out a number of issues during their night together. Sarah handed over the baby and Eltar held his daughter with great tenderness.

“Why am I thick-headed?” asked Rafe.

Maggie noticed the way her husband-to-be kept his gaze on Eltar and Margie. Oh, Goddess in Heaven! Was he thinking about children, too? Next, they’d be picking out a cottage with a white-picket fence. And demon-proof siding.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 21 of 46

“Obviously Maggie is trying to plan a surprise for you.”

Rafe’s eyebrows rose. He turned to look at Maggie. “So, Deb isn’t a wedding planner?”

“Yes,” said Maggie.

“No,” said Sarah.

Margie gurgled.

“Look, you stay here,” Maggie said to Rafe. “Sarah, come with me.” She leaned down and cupped Rafe’s face. “I swear that once we begin the actual planning of our wedding day, you will be there every step of the way.”

“That’s so kind of you,” he said with only a hint of sarcasm. “Allowing me to plan my own nuptials.”

“Hey, I’m a generous person.”

“You’re going to pay for that,” he said, chuckling.

“Yeah,” she answered. “I know.”

* * *

“You should tell him the truth,” said Sarah on the elevator ride up to the manse.

“No, I shouldn’t. I won’t risk his life.”

“But you’ll risk yours?” Sarah crossed her arms and glared at Maggie. “You haven’t exactly revealed what happened in the graveyard. You’re going to do something stupid and brave, aren’t you? The lone heroine taking on the world… seriously, that is so overdone.”

“Shut up.”

“You’re very cranky today.”

Maggie rolled her eyes. Cranky didn’t begin to cover her emotional state. The elevator dinged and opened, allowing them to enter the foyer. Across the large space were the double doors to the living room. She’d left the decoration to Sarah and Mrs. P. Decorating wasn’t her thing.

The doors were open. A fire crackled in the marble fireplace. On a very large Persian rug, two divans faced each other. Between them was an antique table. Centered on it was a very large red candle on a diamond-shaped mirror. Its flame was thin and wavering and the smell of cinnamon wafted in the room. Red hues in the pillows and stripes on the wallpaper made the room, filled with tans and creams and bronzes, feel more cozy.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 22 of 46

Two wingbacks were positioned so that they could be moved to face either the couches or the fireplace. They were big, dressed in brown leather, and studded with bronze. Bookshelves lined one wall and they were filled with books Maggie had never seen before.

“Hello, dearies,” said Mrs. P cheerfully from the divan. Deb sat next to her, looking pale and tired.

“I assume you have a good reason for showing up at my house, Deb.”

Maggie watched Sarah sit on the opposite couch and pour herself a cup of tea from the silver teapot. She fiddled with sugar cubes and creamer. When the hell had they gotten so civilized? Tea in the drawing room, Miss Mortis? Blech!

“Phillip is gone.”

“Your dead boyfriend?” Maggie flung herself onto the couch next to Sarah and sighed. “I don’t do missing persons. Dead or alive.”

“Maybe he went back to the grave,” suggested Sarah.

“I checked. He’s not there. He’s just… gone.”

“He’s basically a walking corpse, right? I mean, somebody will find him and… well, I’m not exactly sure what they’ll do.” Maggie smiled weakly, knowing she wasn’t exactly aces at making other people feel better.

“Duh. They would freak out,” offered Sarah.

Maggie bit back a chuckle, especially since the teacup Deb held quaked in her trembling hands.

“I think he was called by another necromancer.” Deb tried to sip her tea, but before she managed to bring it to her lips, she spilled it. She started to cry.

“There, there,” soothed Mrs. P. “It’ll be all right.” She took the cup from Deb and set it on the coffee table.

“I know he’s a zombie now,” said Deb, sniffling. Mrs. P produced a white handkerchief, which Deb gratefully accepted. “But I loved him once. I’m responsible for him.”

Foreboding tickled Maggie’s gut. She sat up and stared at Deb. “It’s bigger than that, isn’t it?

Phil was attached to you. It would take something really powerful to pull him away.”

Deb nodded. “I sense something evil. Really evil. Once I return to a steady emotional center, I can do some psychic delving.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 23 of 46

Steady emotional center? Maggie rarely had time to think about her emotions, much less how she might iron out the kinks in her own psyche. “Deb, is there anything you can tell us right now? We might not have time for psychic delving.”

“Well,” said Deb, her voice edged with sarcasm, “I bet it has something to do with the demon dude hiding in Heaven. Maybe you should ask him.”

“Demon dude…” said Sarah, her gaze turned to Maggie.

“In Heaven?” finished Mrs. Pottersworth, her stare also taking in Maggie. “Are we talking about Abatu, dear?”

“That was a secret,” Maggie hissed, avoiding everyone’s looks of censure. “Isn’t there some sort of confidentiality code for necromancers?”

Deb’s smile was edged with malicious pleasure. “Nope.”

“Abatu is hiding in Heaven,” murmured Mrs. P. “He has those hideous vials that can kill immortal creatures.”

“If Abatu had laid a hand on anyone in the golden realm, we would know.” At least Maggie hoped she would know. With Meelena dead and her secret revealed, Maggie wasn’t the only one after Abatu or the child still bound within the crystal. The child would remain hidden — at least until Abatu was dead.

“You weren’t going to tell us,” accused Sarah. “Just like I thought! Go off and save the day like you’re the only one who can.”

“I am the only one who can.”

“Now, dear, we all have our strengths.”

Deb peered at her strangely. “I haven’t been able to figure out your aura.”

“I’m an Elf, darling.”

“I’ve met Elves,” said Deb in an offended voice. “You’re more like a —”

“Time enough for that later,” said Mrs. P, rising from the couch. “We must go talk to Raphael and Eltar and make a plan.”

A group effort. Argh! Maggie’s insides started to churn. If only she went — if only her life was at risk — then she wouldn’t be worried about her friends. Sarah had found love again with Eltar and they had a baby. Mrs. P was like the grandmother she’d never known. And Rafe — he was her one, truest love. She would die for him.

“Abatu is my problem.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 24 of 46

“You are so stubborn!” yelled Sarah.

“She’s scared,” countered Deb. “She feels responsible for you all. What you call stubborn is really just… love.”

“Oh, gawd ,” moaned Maggie as she slapped her forehead. “Necromancers really don’t know how to keep their mouths shut.”

Chapter 4

From the diary of Maggie Mortis…

Trying to be sneaky around people who also know how to be sneaky really sucks. Being around friends who think they know what’s best for me doesn’t inspire the warm fuzzies. I’m not on solid ground anymore. Fear and love erupt together, warring with each other, and shake me to the core.

Deb talks about an emotional center. I don’t have one. I’m too scared to look inside and find it. I already know I’m fucked up.

But unlike most people’s, my demons are real.

* * *

Everyone, including Deb, hung out in the kitchen while Mrs. P made tea and served blueberry scones and chocolate-chip cookies. Eltar and Sarah left to put Margie to bed, so everyone retired to the library and tucked in for a planning session. Everyone… except Rafe.

Maggie sat down at the kitchen table in the chair next to his. “I have a confession.”

“You chose a red wedding gown?”

“No,” she said. “But that’s a great idea.”

She leaned forward and took his hands. “Deb isn’t a wedding planner. She’s a necromancer. I hired her to contact my father.”

“You asked him to help you destroy Abatu.”

“No. My mother showed up instead. She said Abatu sucked my father’s soul into a prism and is holding him prisoner. She said… she said Abatu is hiding in Heaven.”

Rafe looked thoughtful. At least he didn’t look pissed off. Relief cascaded through her. See , she told her guilty conscience, he’s handling this just fine .

“You don’t trust me.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 25 of 46

The accusation was low, soft, and deadly.

She flinched and pulled away her hands. “I love you.”

“I know.” Rafe didn’t try to hold her hand again, but his gaze never left hers. “We’re a team, Maggie. We should trust each other.”

“I don’t want you to get hurt. I’ve already lost you once. I’ve already lost everybody.” She couldn’t stop the tears. She brushed them away, furious with her lack of control.

“I understand, Maggie. You’re scared. You’ve lived with fear and loneliness and pain for so long, you don’t know what to do with emotions like love and joy. You don’t know how to let someone else in — how to rely on someone else.”

“It’s too fucking hard.”

“Is it?”

She nodded. She wanted him to understand. She wanted him to forgive her. He offered no penance. He simply stood up and, disappointment and hurt lurking in his gaze, delivered the final blow. “You’re selfish, Maggie. And you’re a coward.”

His words stabbed at her. The tears started again and she didn’t bother to wipe them away. Let him see her pain, her weakness. He didn’t give a shit about her feelings.

“How can you say that to me? After all I’ve done for you and for us?”

“I love you, Maggie. I loved you before you even knew my name. I know that you would die for me. I think that would be the easier thing for you to do, if you were given a choice between dying for me or trusting me.”

“Isn’t it all the same?” she asked. “What more can I give you?”

“If you can’t find the courage to give me yourself, heart and soul, mind and body… then what do we have but empty promises and dreams with no chance of coming true?”

“I’m not a dream, damn it! I’m real. All this talk about hearts and souls and minds… it’s all bullshit! God, Rafe, you’re hurting me.”

“I’m telling you the truth. All or nothing, Maggie.” He looked at her and she saw the determination in his eyes. He really meant it. Either she gave him everything — including her trust — or they were finished.

He kissed her on the forehead and walked out of the kitchen. Maggie took a few moments to get herself together. Holy fuck, he was a sanctimonious bastard. Anger and fear and pain twisted up her insides. She wanted to scream and to cry and to beat the hell outta something.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 26 of 46

After a few moments of deep breathing, she got her roiling emotions under control. She pushed every single recrimination and guilt-filled thought deeper and deeper until she didn’t feel their stings. She willed herself to feel numb. To feel nothing .

She had one thing to do: kill Abatu. The rest of the world, and everyone in it, could go straight to Hell after that.

* * *

Getting into Hell took either being a condemned soul or a demon. Humans and other immortal beings could hitch rides with demons, but most didn’t because really, who wants to go to Hell?

Transport to the Otherworld, the world between worlds, was a little easier. You got a god/goddess-blessed token and found a portal, you hitched a ride with a resident, or you asked for an assignment there. Neutral beings populated the Otherworld — creatures who took neither the side of good nor of evil. However, the balance between good and evil was supposedly guided by the Otherworld High Council.

Meelena, who’d been a revered High Priestess and long-time Council member, had slept with Abatu, then a minor king in Hell, and bore his twins. When her indiscretion had been revealed, it turned out to be the cherry topping a corruption sundae. The Council had been taking half-breeds of all kinds, in particular children of humans and demons, and indenturing them.

Raphael had been such a case.

The Council had been building its own power base. Rather than pay attention to keeping the balance between darkness and light, greed and gluttony had infiltrated their ranks. By the time they had figured out that Abatu had used their lack of vigilance to begin his own bid for power, not just for his plane of existence but for every plane, they were too late to stop him.

And Meelena, by bearing his children, had given him the keys to ruling over all. The blood of a child born of pure good and of pure evil could kill immortals.

As Maggie and Raphael relayed this history to the people sitting in the library, she had one thought: being right didn’t mean you were going to win. If life were about truth and justice, then right and good would always conquer wrong and evil.

The balance worked both ways — too much good could spoil people into laziness, into ungratefulness, into complacency. Too much evil could kill the spirit of hope, of working hard, of trying despite the odds.

But Maggie knew even as her friends plotted about how to get into Heaven and track down Abatu that they had no guarantee of winning. If she went alone, she would risk only herself. If she died, they still had a plan. They still had Auren, who was also a child of Abatu.

They don’t need me to succeed.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 27 of 46

And I don’t need them to fail.

Raphael was pleasant to her. He treated her like he treated everyone else, but Maggie still felt the wall between them. The wall that he had erected. He knew her, heart and soul. Knew what she was capable of and he still wanted more than she could give him. She had never asked him to be any different or to be any better. That he could create such terrible expectations and call them love wasn’t fair. He wanted all. But he would get nothing.

As the conversation drifted from saving the world to the more mundane topics, Maggie stood up. “Gotta go to the potty. Be right back.”

“I’ll go with you,” said Deb.

“Uh, one per customer, honey.”

“You only have one bathroom?”

Rafe laughed. “We have several.”

“Yeah,” said Maggie. “C’mon.”

Deb stepped out the door and Maggie shut it behind her. “Go down the hallway, third door on your left.”

“What are you doing?”

Maggie looked at Deb. “I told you. I’m taking a piss.”

“But your aura —”

Maggie punched Deb hard in the jaw. She caught the little darling and dragged her into the bathroom. She put her into the bathtub and grimaced at the swelling on Deb’s cheek. “I don’t have time for your fucking questions. Sweet dreams, princess.” She frowned. “And, y’know, sorry about popping you one.”

She shut the shower curtain and left the light on. Then she shut the door. Crouching to the floor, she took a silver piece of chalk made from fairy dust, demon scales, and ground angel feathers. She drew a binding symbol on the floor then pricked her finger and allow one drop of blood to lock the spell.

Then she hurried down the hall and made a larger binding symbol on the floor outside the door of the library. She whispered words to strengthen this spell, then again pricked her finger and allowed three drops to fall within the circle. Once again, the spell was locked.

The spells were timed. If her friends couldn’t figure out how to break her spellwork, it would release them in an hour’s time. As she stood up, she heard Sarah say, “The baby’s fussing.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 28 of 46

Shit. Sarah had that fancy baby monitor. The PDA-like device had audio and video. Any minute now, she would try to leave the room. Maggie hurried to the nursery. She took out a vial from her belt, unplugged the stopper, and waited precious seconds as a gray mist emitted. Soon, the entire room was filled with the harmless fog and she crept to the crib and scooped up Margie.

She grabbed a blanket, a toy, and a half-full bottle. Then she hurried to the bathroom. She unlocked the spell and stepped through the door.

Deb was sitting in the bathtub, cradling her jaw. “That hurt! Why did you hit me?”

“Take her.”

“What? Why?”

“Take the baby!” Maggie leaned down and handed Margie and her things to a very reluctant Deb.

“What are you doing, Maggie?”

“What I have to do to protect those I love.” She looked at Margie and smiled.

“If you don’t let us help you,” warned Deb, “you will die.”

“I know. But I’ll take Abatu with me. Then everyone will be safe.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”

Maggie let the insult slide. “You’re a good kid. I wish you all the best and I really hope you find a new boyfriend.”

She turned around and slammed the door, re-initiated the spell, and grimaced. The sounds filtering from the library were pure pissed-off. She was sorry to worry Sarah and Eltar, sorry that she was disappointing Mrs. P, and really damned sorry Raphael couldn’t love her just like she was — flaws and all.

He said all or nothing.

So, he was getting nothing.

Maggie pushed aside the regrets. She had one mission, one goal, one desire. Kill Abatu. She didn’t much care what happened after that.

At least, that’s what she told herself.

Maggie hurried into the bedroom and dressed herself in her battle gear. As time ticked away, she risked a trip to the lab, where she filled up a bag with everything that would fit, from holy water globes to dragonfire bullets. She didn’t know what it would take to slow down Abatu, but Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 29 of 46

she’d throw everything she could at him. She also took plenty of the new prisms, including the one Rafe had made especially for Abatu.

Maggie looked around the laboratory and sighed. She’d probably never see this place again.

Her guts clenched in foreboding. Was Deb right? Was she going to die? This was the last battle.

And goddamn it, she was going to win.

She tore out a page from an old spell book and grabbed a red marker. She scribbled, “I love you, Rafe. Forever and always.” Staring at the message, she kissed the tips of her fingers and pressed them against the page. “I’m sorry it wasn’t enough. I’m sorry I wasn’t enough.”

Maggie didn’t have it in her to write notes to the others. Rafe had called her a coward. It surprised her to realize that he’d been right. She’d been too scared to embrace her relationships, to figure out how to be happy. She was bitter. Too damned bitter.

Maggie heaved the bag over her shoulder and left the lab. When she got to the elevator, she created another locking symbol. This one was much stronger than the others. It could not be unlocked and it was not time-released. As clever and smart as her friends were, she was sure they’d figure a way out. But not before she’d found Abatu and destroyed him.

She removed the precious vial of blood that she’d stolen from Abatu’s safekeeping. Carefully she unstopped it and allowed three drops to fall. The symbol glowed red.

Maggie took the elevator to the mansion. She repeated the symbol in front of the elevator, and took a moment to create it on the porch before the front door. The three symbols locked with each other and soon, a red glow encompassed the whole house.

Everyone inside was now officially trapped.

They would be really pissed-off, but they would be safe. They couldn’t get out. And no one could get in.

Maggie took one last look at the house then turned away. Earlier in the day, she had stashed her motorcycle in the bushes near the gate. Before she got into Heaven, she needed a token and a portal location. There was only one way to get either of those objects.

* * *

“What has she done?” yelled Raphael. His fists were raw from banging on the library door.

There was no other way out. Maggie had trapped them inside so she could go after Abatu.

“What have you done?” asked Mrs. Pottersworth. She was pouring tea for what seemed like the thousandth time that evening.

“What are you talking about? I haven’t done anything.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 30 of 46

“I have Elf ears, dearie.” Mrs. P’s gaze ensnared his. “I heard your conversation.”

“That was private.”

Mrs. P shrugged, obviously unrepentant for eavesdropping.

Rafe threw himself into his chair, frustration and fury pulsing through him. He looked at Eltar, who held a sobbing Sarah in his lap. “She wouldn’t do anything to Margie,” he said. “Maggie would never hurt her.”

Sarah looked at him, her puffy eyes filled with worry and anger. “If even one horn on my baby’s head is nicked, I’m going to kill Maggie myself.”

She lay on Eltar’s chest, accepting his tight hug and his low words of comfort. Rafe looked away and caught the sharp-eyed gaze of Auren, who had assumed a human form to help with the planning session. He wasn’t sure if her eyes held condemnation or concern. Truthfully, he preferred her as a kitten.

“Rafe, I’m about to give you some unwanted advice,” said Mrs. P. “I know that you’re hurt Maggie didn’t confide in you about hiring Deb.”

“I’m a little more hurt that she never admitted she stole one of the vials from Abatu.”

Mrs. P nodded. “Yes, I thought as much, too.”

Rafe slammed his fist against the arm of the chair. “I’ve given her every opportunity to tell me the truth.”

“Maggie is operating the only way she knows how. You cannot expect her to be somebody different or better or more because you think she should be. Either you love her the way she is or you don’t.”

He heard his “all or nothing” ultimatum echo in Mrs. P’s words. He had been patient with Maggie, waiting for the day she realized she could trust him. Then he realized she wasn’t going to trust him — or anyone — unless forced to face the truth about herself and her decisions.

“I don’t expect her to be different,” he stubbornly insisted. “I expect her to trust me.”

“Why?”

“Because I love her. Because she’s going to be my wife. Because I goddamned deserve it!”

“Maggie trusts you,” said Mrs. P. “But she doesn’t trust herself. She’s afraid of losing you. Of losing everyone who is in her life. She doesn’t know how to lean on someone completely because every time she does, that person is taken from her.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 31 of 46

“I understand that,” said Rafe. At least, he believed he understood Maggie’s nature. He was beginning to see Mrs. P’s rather sharp point.

“Has she ever asked you for anything?”

Rafe didn’t answer. Guilt burned away his anger. Maggie had never asked him for a damned thing. She had given everything she knew how to give and he had asked for more. Was that the demon in him? Pushing and prodding until he broke her? He hated the idea that he might’ve hurt Maggie because he couldn’t control his demon side.

“What’s the advice?” he asked gruffly.

“Apologize,” said Mrs. P. “Beg her forgiveness and if you do love her, Rafe, don’t ever give her another ultimatum.”

He nodded, unable to articulate his swirling thoughts. Maggie had taken a step toward him tonight and he’d pushed her away. She had told him about Deb and had he given her more time, more love, she might’ve walked the rest of the way.

What had he done?

“It’s probably too late,” said Auren, her voice thin with censure. “She’d rather die alone than see anyone else she loves murdered by my father.”

“It’s not her decision,” said Eltar. “She has taken away our choices so that she might have her own way.”

“Love and fear make us act strangely,” said Mrs. P. “Ah. There we go.”

There was a distinct pop as the magic holding them there released. The library door swung open. Deb stood on the other side holding a sleeping Margie. The left side of her face left no doubt how Maggie had disabled her.

“Well?” she asked. “Are we going after Maggie or not?”

Chapter 5

From the diary of Maggie Mortis…

How do you say good-bye? Maybe it’s better not to say anything. Is it cruel to leave someone with no words? Given the opportunity, those left behind can create better and more tender parting scenarios. Like the orphaned child who dreams of rich and beautiful parents, a mourning soul can think up lovely things that could’ve been said or done.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 32 of 46

“If she’d had the time,” he’d say, “she would’ve kissed me tenderly and told me how much she loved me. Yes, that’s how it would go.”

Better that, I think, than a scribbled note and an abandoned ring. I’m pissed-off at myself for breaking my own rules. I lied to others and to myself. I made promises I didn’t keep. I fell in love without knowing my own boundaries. I hurt Rafe. And he hurt me.

We all have our faults, our weaknesses. Sometimes, they overshadow our good qualities. Maybe hatred drove me to abandon the ones I loved to go after the one I hate. Yes, I want revenge.

Saving the world is a very distant third on my list of reasons to pursue Abatu.

I am not sorry that I’m going after that demon bastard. I will not be sorry if I lose my life in the attempt. Don’t get me wrong, I have regrets… but killing Abatu will never be one of them.

* * *

The club’s name was Midnight, at least in this century. For as long as there’d been a city, Celeste Duvall had offered a neutral play place for any creature. So long as demon, angel, vampire, werewolf, human, or half-breed stepped foot on her property, all agreed to no battles or bloodshed.

Creatures were allowed to indulge in any sinful or saintly pleasure. Celeste had no truck with wrong or with right. Celeste was a neutral, a former resident of the Otherworld, who found Earth amusing and exciting.

Celeste loved two things: money and sex. Anything expensive and shiny drew her interest, whether it was jewelry or walked on two (or more) legs. In fact, as Maggie was allowed entrance into Celeste’s inner domain, she got to witness the stacked blonde getting fucked by two men. She was chained to the ceiling, one man entering her anally and the other thrusting his impressive member into her pussy. Sulfur twined with the smells of incense and raw sex.

Incubus times two. Oh, for the love of — Maggie sighed and crossed her arms, impatient. “I’ll wait outside.”

“I like it better with someone to watch,” gasped Celeste. The lover so joyously fucking her ass grabbed her breasts and plucked at her nipples. Celeste moaned loudly.

The incubus in front of Celeste kissed her with enthusiasm. From Maggie’s perspective, he appeared to be trying to choke the woman with his tongue. She broke away, her expression turning rapturous. “Yes!” she screamed. “Yes!”

As Celeste orgasmed, the two men allowed themselves the same indulgence. Maggie sat on the black divan and picked up one of Celeste’s magazines. It was the new edition of Cosmo . She flipped through the pages, not really interested in the information. But it was better than watching the threesome try to extract from each other and get cleaned up.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 33 of 46

Finally, Celeste, in a robe thank the Goddess , dropped beside Maggie and lit up a clove cigarette. “Well, well, well… to what do I owe the honor? You haven’t been to the club in a while.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“So I’ve heard. That Raphael is yummy.”

“He asked me to marry him.”

Celeste’s arched brows rose. “Did he? That’s fabulous. When’s the wedding?”

“I’ll let you know,” said Maggie. It’ll be on the twelfth of fucking never . “I need a token to Heaven and a portal location.”

“You don’t ask for much.” Celeste blew out a stream of spicy smoke. “What’s in it for me?”

“Money.”

“I have money. Lots of it. What else can you offer?”

“Five prisms and a gun that shoots dragonfire bullets.”

“I’m not interested in holding cells for demons. And I know several dragons who’d be more than happy to give me their fire.” Celeste’s blue eyes held amusement. Maggie had forgotten how much the woman liked to negotiate.

“I don’t have time for this shit,” said Maggie. She plucked off the ring with its glittering demon sapphire and handed it to Celeste. “Demonfire jewel. I know you don’t have one of these.”

“It’s gorgeous!” Celeste stubbed out her cigarette in a glass ashtray and took the ring. “Demons rarely make such gems. They have to put a lot of effort, not to mention something of themselves into the stone. What do you think he added to yours?”

His heart. She was sure he took a piece of his own heart to craft the ring. And now, she was trading it to this bitch for the chance at vengeance. Instead of answering Celeste’s question, she merely shrugged.

The blonde looked at Maggie, her perfect lips pulling into a frown. “This is your engagement ring.”

“Do we have a bargain?”

“You’re a fool to give up his ring, darling. Demons, half-breeds or not, do not lightly forgive disrespect of their gifts.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 34 of 46

Maggie resisted the urge to scream. Instead, she sucked in a steadying breath. “Do we have a deal?”

Celeste considered her for an ungodly amount of time. Then she nodded. “It’s your choice.” She rose from the divan and looked at Maggie. “Such choices can be a real bitch.”

“Tell me about it.”

* * *

“She used blood from the vial,” said Auren. “If it had been her blood, I could probably unlock it.”

“That’s a helluva spell,” agreed Mrs. P. “It might take a while, but it can be broken.”

“We don’t have time,” said Raphael as he stood up.

Sarah was tending to Margie, but the rest of them had convened at the elevator. Actually, they had chased Rafe to the elevator. The magic of the symbol threw up a wall every time someone tried to cross it.

“If I know Maggie, she’s put other symbols on the upper floors.” Rafe studied the symbol again.

“She’s too damned smart.”

“We can’t get through, no matter how we shape-shift,” said Auren. “She covered all forms.”

“No, she didn’t,” said Mrs. Pottersworth.

Everyone looked at Mrs. P.

“I’m not really an Elf,” she admitted with a smile. “I’m a dragon.”

* * *

Maggie made one more stop before heading toward the location given to her by Celeste.

The portal was in a graveyard on the other side of town. Maggie felt time ticking away second by second. Worried that her friends might already be searching for her, she knew she had to get into Heaven before they found her.

Unlike the cemetery where her parents were buried, this one was large, well-kept, and offered the impression of a lovingly tended park. She hurried toward the small chapel. Inside it were the crypts and in one was a walkway into the highest realm any creature could obtain. Well, most creatures. Some beings, by either their born natures or unrepentant natures, would never reach the domain of the God and the Goddess.

How Abatu had squirmed into the pearly gates was still a mystery to her.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 35 of 46

The chapel was low-lit and very quiet. Maggie’s boot heels rang on the marble floor as she walked quickly to the correct crypt.

In curling script was a quote from the book of Mark: There are some standing here who will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power .

“Yeah,” said Maggie as she fit the token into the circle beneath the words, “but I bet you didn’t count on a demon being the one in power.”

The token clicked into the slot. Maggie felt a hum of energy then a bright light encompassed her.

* * *

“Ah,” said the statuesque blonde. “The ex-fiancé.”

Behind the glossy black desk, she sat in a huge leather chair with her bare feet propped on the glass top. She was dressed in a silk robe, uncaring about the amount of cleavage showing or that the material threatened to reveal if she was a real blonde.

“Ex-fiancé?” Raphael felt his heart drop to his toes.

“Traded me your beautiful ring,” she said. She held up her right hand and he saw the purple glow of the demonfire gem. His guts clenched. Even though he had given Maggie an ultimatum, he had believed they would work out their relationship. Obviously she had no qualms about using the symbol of his love as a bargaining chip. Maggie had abandoned him.

“What did she get in return?” he asked.

“I’m Celeste,” said the woman, ignoring his question. “And you are the yummy Raphael.”

“I know who I am. And I don’t care who you are. Where the hell is Maggie?”

She laughed. “I’m a neutral being, Raphael. I do not give aid to either side. However, I am a woman who loves her comforts. I’m amicable to a trade.”

“You’ll give me information, if I give you something you want.”

“The demonfire led you here, didn’t it? What part of yourself did you add to it?”

Raphael grimaced.

“Maybe you attached strings to it — the same way you attached strings to your love. You made her feel like she didn’t deserve you.”

“How the hell could you know that?”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 36 of 46

“Perhaps she told me,” said Celeste as she slid her legs off the desk and gracefully rose from her chair. “Weeping and repentant, she sought out my comfort and advice. And I told her no man who would tell her what you did deserved another second of her consideration.”

“Liar.” Raphael watched Celeste slink around the desk. “Maggie doesn’t cry. She chose vengeance over love and killing Abatu over trusting me.”

“Really?” Celeste stood in front of him, her blue eyes raking his body. “Is that what she said?”

“It’s what she did.”

“You two have such communication problems.” Celeste tugged on the sash of her robe and the material parted to reveal her lush body. “Ask me what I want, demon.”

“I don’t need your help. I know where she went.”

“But you don’t have a token, do you? And you don’t know which portal she used. And you don’t have your beautiful ring, either.”

Raphael gritted his teeth. Finally, he said in a low voice, “What do you want?”

“You.”

“No.”

Celeste peered at him. “What else do you have to offer? Don’t bother with prisms or paranormal weapons. Maggie tried that route, too.”

Raphael was silent. He had nothing else to offer her and she knew it. As a demon and an indentured servant to the High Council he had done much worse than using his body to get what he wanted. The longer he tried to bargain, the longer it would take to get to Maggie.

“I want a Heaven token, a portal location and the ring.”

“Hmm. That’s a lot of wants. What do I get?”

“I’ll take any form and you get one sexual act.”

“Two sexual acts.” Celeste’s blue eyes went molten with lust. “First, you will eat my pussy.

Second, you will fuck me with your cock. And you will make me come both times.”

“And the form?”

“I want your demon form.”

“Fine,” said Raphael. “The bargain is made.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 37 of 46

Celeste let her robe drop off her slim shoulders. Rafe turned into his demon form, incinerating his clothes in the process. He dropped to his knees as Celeste leaned against the desk and spread her legs.

He parted her labia and ran his tongue on tender flesh, flicking her clit before sliding down to encircle her entrance. Celeste obviously loved sex; she immediately got wet and squirmy.

“Mmm,” she moaned. “That’s right, baby. Oooooh.”

Rafe pretended that he liked what he was doing. How many times had he engaged in a sexual act because it had been his job? He thought that when Maggie had broken his bond to the High Council, he would never again have to offer himself as a prize.

Yet, here he was… giving in to the salacious demands of another Otherworlder who sought only to assuage her own needs. She didn’t care about him or Maggie or the world.

“Slow down, big boy,” she murmured as Rafe sought out her clit. “You are good. Too good.”

He ignored the directive. As a demon, he was only required to meet the terms of their bargain.

Time had not been a consideration in her request.

“Oh! Oh!” Celeste grabbed his skull and tried to move his face away from her pussy. “Not yet, damn it!”

As her fingers uselessly pushed on his firm, gray skin, he re-doubled his efforts.

She shattered. Her scream could’ve been anger or joy… he didn’t much care. Rafe climbed to his feet and lifted her to the desk.

Celeste looked both dazed and furious. “I told you to take it slow!”

He positioned her ass close to the edge and fitted his cock inside her. Her arms wound around his neck as he began thrusting.

“I can last all night,” she purred. “I can make myself wait and wait.”

Rafe smiled. Celeste had no power over her own body. When she’d made her demands, she had given him control of her pleasure. While he fucked her, he morphed two thin extensions from his cock. One wound around her clit and the other flattened and curled just under her entrance to pound at her G-spot.

Within moments, Celeste went over the edge. Her pussy sucked at him as her fists flailed against his back. “Goddamn it!”

“You don’t sound pleased.” Rafe withdrew from her and stepped away. He morphed into his human form, clothes and all. “The bargain is met.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 38 of 46

“It could’ve been enjoyable for you,” she said as she took off the ring and threw it to him. “You could’ve made it last much longer than ten minutes. And you could’ve come!”

“You didn’t include my enjoyment in the terms of the deal,” said Rafe, his tone flat.

“I get it. I’m just a means to an end,” she said. She rounded the desk, opened a drawer, and withdrew the gold coin. “You sure do know how to make a girl feel special.”

“I would do anything for Maggie.”

“With the exception of loving her without stipulations.” She tossed him the coin, her lips curved into a mean smile. “Memorial Park Cemetery. It’s east of town. Go to the Rose Crypt and seek out the center tomb on the right wall.”

Rafe flamed out of the room and re-appeared in the alley next to the club. Eltar, Auren, Mrs. P, and Deb waited for him.

“What took so long?” asked Auren.

“She wanted to bargain with me,” said Rafe. “I have what we need. We need to go to Memorial Park Cemetery.”

“Better back up, dearies,” said Mrs. P. Having watched the woman transform into a dragon when she busted out of the mansion, everyone hastily backed up.

In one instant, Mrs. P was a sweet grandmotherly Elf and in the next, she was a dragon — a very, very large black, scaly, fearsome dragon.

Everyone climbed onto her back and held on as she rose into the night sky and flew toward the Memorial Park Cemetery.

“What’s going on?” asked Auren as the dragon landed on the wide road that cut through the cemetery.

Shuffling corpses were headed toward the main street. Next to them were at least forty bodies in various positions of getting out of their graves. More scrabbling, scratching, and creaking noises resounded throughout the grounds.

“Zombies,” said Deb. “Someone’s calling them.”

“Why?” asked Eltar. “They can’t really do all that much.”

“Distraction, maybe. Keep the humans busy until the demon hordes arrive,” said Raphael.

“Abatu is making his move.”

“I’ll stay here and try to minimize the zombie problem,” said Deb.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 39 of 46

“I will accompany you,” offered Eltar.

“Me, too,” said the gravelly voice of Mrs. P. “A dragon may come in handy.”

“I’m going with you,” said Auren to Rafe. “I can’t do shit about zombies, but I may be able to help Maggie.”

“Let’s go,” said Rafe.

They took off toward the Rose Crypt. Please , prayed Rafe to whatever deity might be listening, let us get there in time .

* * *

As Maggie walked the streets of Heaven, she realized what an irony it was to be alive in a place meant for the dead. It was beautiful here. The grass was green, the flowers beautiful and plentiful, and the trees offered picnic shade.

The buildings were low and flat and white. Everything was clean and perfect, even the blue, cloudless sky. The weather was perfect, too.

Yet everywhere she had gone felt wrong and empty. She hadn’t run into a single human soul or an angel or even a demi-god.

Where was everyone?

“Abatu!” she yelled. “Get your sorry ass out here!”

No answer.

Had he already conquered Heaven? Had he started his attack on Earth? Her heart beat in dread.

She dropped the bag with her weapons. From a small satchel attached to her belt, she removed an oval-shaped crystal.

“I have your daughter!” she yelled. “C’mon, Abatu!”

“You really must want to die,” said a silky voice.

Maggie whirled around. Abatu had chosen his demon form: He was seven feet tall, sported red skin and red eyes, two thick horns jutted from his bald head and his long, whip-like tail flicked behind him. Red fur coated him from his waist to his black, cloven hooves. He looked every inch like the Hollywood version of Satan.

Fear chilled her, but she’d come too far and sacrificed too much to chicken out. She held up the crystal and said, “You want her? Come and get her!”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 40 of 46

Chapter 6

From the diary of Maggie Mortis…

“Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned, forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.”

~ 1 John 4:18

“If sweet, sweet God loves you so, then I will make you worthy of His love. But it’s only in the face of horror that you truly find your noble self, and you can be so noble. So… I will bring you pain, I will bring you horror.”

~ Gabriel in Constantine (Warner Bros. 2005)

* * *

Abatu wasted no time in attacking Maggie. The red lightning emitted from his hand. She dove out of the way, but the bolt razed her left arm, singeing her demon-proof suit and burning her skin.

“Shit!” Holding on to the crystal for dear life, she darted away, looking for shelter. She ducked into a building, only to find the door locked. Doors locked in Heaven? What the fuck!

“Heaven’s on lockdown,” said Abatu as he trailed after, apparently in no hurry. “Ever since I revealed my presence, everyone shit their collective pants and ran away.”

“Aw. Did they hurt your feelings?”

Abatu laughed. “Of all my heirs, Maggie, you’re the one I hate the most. You don’t know how to show respect to your elders.”

“I don’t respect you,” she called over her shoulder. She was hauling ass up a gentle sloping hill. What are you doing, moron? Running away was stupid. Abatu would catch her eventually.

At the top of the hill, she stopped. Her body shook violently as she removed the precious vial of blood from her weapons belt. She managed to unstop it.

She held it at the ready as she turned around.

Abatu strolled up the hill. He grinned, his white jagged teeth a sharp relief against his red lips. In the blink of an eye, he appeared next to her.

“Give me the crystal.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 41 of 46

“No.” With the opened vial clenched in her fist, she threw the blood at Abatu. In her other hand, the crystal burned her palm. Pain radiated down her arm.

He disappeared.

As horror pulsed through her, Maggie watched the blood speckle the grass. The green blades died instantly. Damn it!

Abatu reappeared on the other side of her. “You’re not a threat to me, Maggie.” He raised his arms as if to encompass the whole of Heaven. “The God and the Goddess have abandoned their own domain in fear of me. You are nothing but a buzzing fly… one that I need only to swat.”

Maggie felt an immense pressure in her skull. Pain slammed into her mind and drove her to her knees.

“Give me the crystal.”

She shook her head, but of its own accord, her arm rose to offer up the sleeping child of Abatu.

The demon pried it out of her hand.

Maggie was forced to the ground, her face pressed against the earth. She could smell the essence of roses planted just a few feet away. She could feel the dirt grinding against her cheek.

She could hear the faraway call of her name.

“You have given me the world,” he said as he cupped his prize. “With the blood of my child, I shall —”

The invisible hand crushing the life out of her eased enough for her to lean on an elbow. She stared at Abatu, but she was in too much pain to enjoy his shock.

“What have you done?” he roared. His hands smoked then flamed. As the acrid smell of burning flesh scarred the air of Heaven, Abatu’s hands turned to ash. The crystal fell to the soft earth.

The magical fire raced up his arms.

“No!” he screamed. “No!”

Maggie couldn’t form words. Though her vision was no longer graying and she could breathe again, she wasn’t yet capable of speech. But she was capable of tears and those fell freely as she watched the fire engulf Abatu’s torso and legs.

A smile pulled on her lips as she watched her family’s enemy turn to dust. But Abatu had not left this realm yet. His eyes glowed red and Maggie realized she wasn’t going to live after all.

* * *

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 42 of 46

Rafe and Auren ran down the clean-swept street toward the two people on the hilltop. Maggie was on all fours, one hand outstretched toward the disintegrating Abatu.

“Maggie!” Rafe screamed. “Maggie!”

Twin red beams emitted from Abatu and struck Maggie.

“No!” cried Rafe as he watched Maggie collapse.

Ten seconds later, they reached the hilltop. Abatu’s corporeal form was nothing but ash, which was carelessly tossed away by the gentle breeze. As Rafe dragged Maggie into his arms, Auren sifted through the ash.

“She did it,” murmured Auren. “He’s gone.”

“Maggie? Baby?” Rafe tapped her cheek, but she was limp and unresponsive. He put an ear to her chest and heard no heartbeat. She wasn’t breathing. Her body smelled charred and her torso had taken most of the damage. The demon-proof suit had not withstood Abatu’s final, brutal attack.

“Ow!” Auren dropped the crystal she had found among the ashes. “It’s hot. It’s got… oh, crap.

She put the poisoned blood onto the crystal holding Abatu’s daughter.” She looked at Rafe.

“She knew he’d take the stone.”

Her gaze swept Maggie’s damaged palm. “It must’ve hurt like hell to hold it while she waited for him to take the bait.”

Rafe barely heard her. Grief slammed into him. “She’s gone, Auren.”

“No,” she said softly, her voice breaking, “she can’t be gone. She’s… she’s invincible.”

“Do not worry, my child,” said a lyrical female voice. “She is merely sleeping.”

He raised his eyes to two figures who were surrounded by light so bright, their forms were merely golden outlines. Auren’s mouth dropped open and she knelt before the God and the Goddess.

“Rise, daughter,” said the God. “You are welcome here.”

“I am but a demon,” said Auren.

“It is true you were born a demon,” said the Goddess, “but your choices reveal your true self.

You have entered Heaven to save your sister. You have chosen an act of love.”

Auren nodded.

The Goddess stretched out her hands. “Rise, Maggie.”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 43 of 46

To Rafe’s shock, Maggie’s eyes fluttered open. All her wounds healed instantly. She sat up, dazed, and turned to look at Rafe. She threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I’m so sorry. I love you. I don’t care about anything else, Maggie. We’ll work it out, I swear it.”

“I gave your ring away,” she sobbed. “I loved that ring and I gave it away!”

The God and the Goddess laughed. “Do not torture her, Raphael.”

He grinned, pulling the ring out of his pocket and putting it on Maggie’s finger once again. “I got it back.”

She cried harder, for once obviously not caring about showing weakness or acting like a bad-ass. Rafe wiped away her tears while ignoring his own.

“The balance is restored,” said the God.

“Where were you?” accused Maggie. “You think one human with a little demon blood can save the world?”

“One did,” He answered. “Abatu is no more. Your father has been released from his prison and he walks in Heaven again.”

Rafe heard Maggie’s gasp as a tall gentleman with black hair, kind eyes, and an easy smile ascended the hill. Maggie stood up and embraced her father.

“You did well, Maggie my girl,” he said. “I love you.”

Maggie released her father. “Daddy, this is Rafe. He’s… ah, my fiancé.”

Abraham Mortis shook Rafe’s hand. “Congratulations. I would tell you to take care of her, but…”

“I know, sir. She can take care of herself. How about if I agree to just love her for all time?”

Abraham nodded. “That’ll do.”

“And now, for one more task,” said the Goddess.

The crystal which held Abatu’s twin daughter floated from the ground to the Goddess’ hands.

“There is another choice. Destroy the one who might one day destroy the world or…”

“Or what?” asked Maggie.

The Goddess smiled.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 44 of 46

* * *

One month later…

In their bedroom, Maggie smoothed the sandalwood oil over Raphael’s chest. She palmed his nipples, leaning down to nip his chin. He tried to capture her lips, but she smiled and slid further down his body, rubbing the oil across his stomach and down his thighs.

“I love you,” he said, as his hands drifted down her arms.

“I love you, too,” she said. Their marriage had not been in Vegas, but in Heaven where the God and the Goddess had blessed their union. You couldn’t get anymore sanctified than that . And both her parents had been able to attend.

It had taken days to get all the zombies returned to their graves. Even Phil had returned to his resting place. The demon hordes had barely started rampaging when Abatu died.

Drak, the former high king in Hell, had resumed control of demonkind and reined in the rebellion. Demons were still assholes who needed ass-kicking, but at least they weren’t overrunning the Earth.

The Otherworld problems were not easily solved. The High Council had been disbanded. The so-called neutral beings in charge of keeping the balance were no longer considered neutral. Even Celeste had felt the pinch of the new rules. Her club had been shut down, lest it create a place where beings from different planes could plot against the balance.

Maggie didn’t much care for the Otherworld. Hell sucked, too. But Heaven, now there was a place she’d be happy to hang out for all eternity. The God and the Goddess told her and Rafe that there was more work for them to do. One day the world would need them again. And they had a very important task to take care of until that time came.

Smiling as happiness entwined with desire, she lubed Rafe’s cock and stroked the thick member until Rafe begged for mercy. She cupped his balls, massaging them lightly as her hand continued torturing her husband’s cock.

“Maggie,” he moaned. “That feels so good.”

“I know what will feel better.” She rotated so that her ass faced him, and then she placed her knees on either side of his hips. Rafe guided his cock into her slick entrance.

She rose slightly and lifted her hips. The delicious angle bumped her G-spot and sent pre-orgasmic tingles through her. She found a rhythm that tortured them both, panting and moaning as she worked his cock in and out of her.

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 45 of 46

“Oh, Maggie!” Rafe slapped her ass and the stinging pain shot straight to her pussy.

“Yes, Rafe,” she called out. “Yes! Oooooh!”

Her orgasm quickened as he slapped her ass again. Sweat dripped from her breasts and raced down her neck and back. She could barely get oxygen into her lungs as pleasure curled within her pussy.

“Rafe!” She gasped as the orgasm roared through her. The strength of it pushed Rafe’s cock out. She whipped around and sucked him greedily.

He came within seconds, his hot seed hitting the back of her throat as he thrust deeply. His cock pulsed within her mouth as she sucked him dry, licking him down to the balls.

When she was finished, Maggie rose to her knees, and grinned. “Wanna do it again?”

Rafe flipped her and held onto her wrists as he nuzzled her breasts. He sucked on her aching nipples. Maggie moaned as renewed pleasure coasted through her. She wrapped her legs around Rafe and drew him closer.

His cock was already hardening again as he played with her breasts. She arched against him and rubbed her cunt against his cock.

Rafe kept hold of her wrists as he demanded, “Put your legs together.”

She did as he asked.

His cock pierced her thighs and found her slick entrance. He pushed inside her and groaned.

He fucked her slowly, his lips plucking at her nipples until he built another fire, one which burned higher and hotter until she came.

As her orgasm sucked at his cock, he let go of her wrists. “Press your tits together.”

She pressed her breasts against each other, and Rafe extracted himself from her pussy and moved up until he could fit his cock into the cave formed by her breasts.

He held onto the headboard as he fucked her breasts, which were lubed by her own sweat and come. Maggie heard his sharp intake of breath, then his cock pulsed hotly against her flesh.

His come showered her collarbone and neck in thick, hot spurts.

After a moment, he managed to unclench his hands and roll onto the bed. He used a corner of the sheet to wipe Maggie’s neck clean.

Maggie smiled then whispered, “You wanna do it again ?”

Doubly Dying – Diary of a Demon Hunter 04

Page 46 of 46

He laughed, but his response was stalled by a distinct cry sounding through the monitor on the nightstand. Rafe reached over and grabbed it. “She’s awake.”

They put on robes and walked to the nursery next to their room. Now their underground facility housed a shape-shifting grandmother, a necromancer, a human, demon, and their baby, and this child.

Their adopted daughter.

“Sssshhh,” said Rafe as he scooped the fussing infant into his arms. She quieted, looking at him with big, green eyes.

“She’s so beautiful,” whispered Maggie. She tugged on a tiny fist. “Do you think we did the right thing?”

“Yes,” said Rafe. “She deserves a life. She deserves a chance to make her own choices.”

Maggie nodded. Love had bloomed suddenly and fully within her for this baby. This little girl was hers and Rafe’s and nothing else mattered.

“I’ll fix her some demonfire,” said Rafe as he handed her to Maggie.

“What are you fussing about? Hmm?” asked Maggie in that silly tone all parents used with their children.

The baby cooed as the distinct odor of poop wafted to Maggie’s nostrils. “Ew. That’s why your daddy handed you over.”

Maggie took her to the changing table and put her down. As she unsnapped the pink sleeper, she looked at her daughter and said, “Now is that any way for an angel to act?”

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6