Paranormal Romance, Halloween, Age Gap
Date Published: October 11, 2024
When John Standcliff, Satan's bounty hunter, is summoned to Earth to claim
the soul of a serial killer, he finds the worst of hell's tortures can be no
worse than the pain of falling in love with a mortal woman.
Corinne Rogerio has come to Maine to research six murders that took place
back in 1656. She has no idea that the handsome stranger she meets in an old
cemetery is actually the murderer she's been studying. Even worse, he's been
sent to track down a serial killer who is closer to her than she ever
imagined.
EXCERPT
Sparks shot from John's ax each time it struck the trunk of the steel tree.
Every blow jolted through his aching arms and rang in his ears, yet he
almost welcomed the racket. He'd lost track of how long he'd dwelled in the
steel forest, chopping tree after tree without pause for food, water, or
sleep. His demon's body could survive for decades without rest or
sustenance. If he ceased chopping long enough, the bleeding sores on his
palms would heal and his muscles would almost magically stop aching.
Unfortunately he must continue the drudgery until given the order to
halt.
All around him, the smooth gray trees stretched for miles. As punishment
for his crimes, John labored alone, chopping steel trees in Satan's forest,
only ceasing when sent to collect yet another evil soul to toil in
Hell.
"Hello, John."
The sneering voice echoed throughout the forest and made John's skin
prickle with disgust. Pausing, he listened to his own panting breath in the
stillness. Sweat dripped into his eyes and trickled down his torso, soaking
into the wet waistband of his black trousers. He waited for the voice to
continue. Usually when Bee called, it was to send him on one of his gruesome
missions.
"Oh, John, your services are required. Won't it be nice to go home
again?"
"Home, Bee?" John curled his lip. The little bastard loved
playing with people. Three-hundred-forty-eight years ago, John had been far
more gullible. The first few times Bee had promised him a meeting with his
sister or even a chance to escape from Hell, he had actually believed
him.
At first he had looked forward to visiting the mortal world, but eventually
the illusion shattered. Without friends or family, the world was a lonely
place. People feared him and kept their distance. It was as if they sensed
the evil inside him and instinctively stayed away. Never again would he
experience the comfort and total relaxation of sleep, to close his eyes in
complete surrender. Perhaps worst of all was his inability to fully enjoy
lovemaking. He could pleasure women and feel intense sexual stimulation, yet
climax eluded him.
"Can't you think of a better story than that?"
"It's not a story. Your hometown reeks of evil. Our master has been
smelling it for quite some time now and he wants it. You go get it for him,
John, and this time there might be something in it for you."
"Beelzebub, leave us," said a soft, musical voice. It sent a
tingle down John's spine and filled him with such warmth that he nearly
panicked. After so many years in Hell, nothing touched him anymore. What
sort of evil had Bee conjured that could stir his emotions again? The voice
continued. "Once a soul is condemned to Hell, it is rarely allowed a
chance for redemption. There are sometimes cases of a good soul doing evil,
and though it is not condoned, under special circumstances someone like you
may be given the opportunity to move on, providing certain specifications
are met."
John closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. "It's not going to work,
Bee. I no longer believe in fairy tales."
"Bee is gone. His kind cannot abide me."
"I suppose you're from up there?"
"I'm from everywhere. I know no bounds. Listen carefully to what I
tell you, John Standcliff. Fulfill the task set for you and send the evil in
your hometown to Hell. Do it without harming an innocent soul, and you will
be freed from Satan's realm and allowed your chance at
redemption."
John laughed humorlessly. "You don't give up, do you, Bee?"
"Believe what you will, but you have only this one
opportunity."
"Oh, just one?" John's voice dripped sarcasm.
"At least in this millennium. You're not the only demon in Hell who
deserves a second chance."
"Then give one of them my turn. I don't want it."
"I understand why you don't believe me, but keep my offer in mind
during your return to the world of the living. If I'm lying, then you'll be
no worse off than you are now, but if I'm telling the
truth…"
The voice faded. Moments later, Bee appeared beside John. He was nothing
more than a dark cloud, loosely resembling the shape of a man. Bee
shuddered. "Glad she's gone. Now. Are you ready to get to
work?"
"Who am I after this time?"
"As usual, I can't give you too many details. After all, I'm not
supposed to be catching the soul. That's your job."
"Bee…"
"It's a serial killer. Here's his scent." Bee's cloudy black hand
swept beneath John's nose. The faint aroma was all a demon required to track
his prey. "While you're there, why don't you break your own rules and
hack apart some humans? The master loves it when his demons terrorize the
living."
"Just send me out of here so I can get this over with."
Blackness enveloped John, and in those dark moments between Hell and Earth,
he absorbed the details of his new identity and a crash course on life in
the twenty-first century.
About the Author
Always a fan of romance and the paranormal, I started writing over twenty
years ago. My first story was accepted for publication in 1996. Since then
I’ve written over one hundred short stories, novellas and novels. I
love to blend genres. I also love horror and a happily ever after, so if
you’re looking for romance with witches, aliens, vampires, angels,
demons, shapeshifters and more, there’s a good chance you’ll
find something to your taste here.
When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, watching horror and action
movies, working out and spending time with my family and pets.
Contact Links
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