The Devil's Angel (Devil Series Book 2) (34 page)

Lucien didn’t open his eyes right away. He could feel something soft beneath him like a bed or a couch. Wherever he was, the air smelled like Clorox. The strong chemical smell tried to cover the musty odor that only an old building could produce.

He sensed someone near him, yet he could hear no one, not even a heartbeat.

“Eve’s alive,” the voice repeated.

Lucien opened his eyes. Other than a dim lamp in the corner, the room was dark. He was lying on what looked like a hospital bed with an IV taped to his left arm. A dark red liquid flowed steadily into his body. Standing over him was Henry.

“Eve’s alive?” Lucien croaked, surprised by the pain he felt.

Henry handed him a glass of water. “This will help your throat.”

Lucien pulled himself to a sitting position and eagerly swallowed the cool liquid.

“Is Eve alive?” he asked again.

“Maybe,” Henry said as he removed the IV from his arm.

Lucien frowned. “Maybe?”

“She could be. No one saw her actually die.”

“You told me she was alive!”

“I may have stretched the truth, but I did what was necessary. You have been asleep too long.”

“So Eve is dead.” It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

“I can’t say for sure, but after living as long as I have, you learn to trust your eyes. And if you didn’t see her die, then she may still be alive.”

Lucien moaned and shook his head. “She couldn’t have survived the fall. There was too much blood, and she was already considerably weak.”

“All I know is Eve’s a powerful witch. I wouldn’t count her out quite yet.”

“Why are you doing this?” Lucien asked.

“Doing what?”

“Giving me false hope!”

“We need you, Lucien.” Henry walked over to the window and opened the curtains to the night beyond.

Lucien swung his legs to the side of the bed. “How did you find me?”

Henry turned around. “It was Charlie. He saw Eve step off the cliff and you follow behind. After Boaz left, he searched the water for weeks but found only you.”

“How unfortunate.”

“That’s what he said,” Henry replied, smiling.

Lucien rubbed his head. “How long have I been out?”

“Almost five weeks.”

Lucien wished it had been longer.

“Where is Charlie?”

“He took some time off. This has been rough on him.”

Lucien understood. “What about Bodian Dynamics? Did the Deific destroy the plague?”

“Yes. They are no longer a threat,” Henry said, and then cleared his throat. “I apologize for saying Eve was alive, but I needed to do something drastic. Nothing else was working.”

Lucien stood and pulled on his jacket, which was lying on a nearby couch.

“The fight isn’t over, Lucien. Just because we stopped the plague from being released, doesn’t mean Boaz is finished. He will find another way to come to power and take over the human race. That’s what all of this has been about. And with Eve gone, he will need another plan, and something tells me it’s going to be even more ruthless."

“I am the one who will be ruthless."

“You can’t fight him like this.”

“Like what?”

“Not knowing who you are.”

“I know who I am,” Lucien answered as he walked to the window. A quick glance of the landscape told him he was back in Seattle.

“No, you don’t. If you want to kill Boaz, then you need to know your history—where you came from, who your mother was. You need to properly train.”

“Train? This isn’t the Olympics. I know all I need to know, and the more time I waste, the harder it’s going to be to find him.” He moved toward the door.

Henry stuck out his hand, creating an invisible barrier.

Lucien whirled around. “What is with everyone using magic? What happened to the good old days when we could just use our fists?”

“These are different times, Lucien. If you go after Boaz now, he will kill you. You have to prepare.”

“I care nothing for my life.”

“But Eve did. Don’t disgrace her memory by deliberately going to your death.”

Lucien’s shoulders slumped, and the weakness returned.

“Please don’t say her name,” he whispered. He was afraid if he heard it again, he would collapse and go back to the imaginary Eden where he could exist with Eve, which was a hell in and of its own.

“I know this must be difficult for you, but you must understand who you are. There is a reason why you and your brother were chosen to become vampires. We are all connected—you, Boaz, Eve, and myself. None of this has been random. And if we don’t stop Boaz once and for all, then he will become unstoppable!”

Lucien dropped to the couch. “Then teach me. Teach me how to kill Boaz so I can end the devil’s reign once and for all. Let it begin.”

Dear Reader,

Thank you for taking the time to read this novel. I hope you enjoyed it! Please consider leaving an honest review, as they not only impact other reader’s purchasing decisions, but also help determine the success of my novels. Plus your opinion matters to me as well. I want to give you the best reading experience possible!

To sign up for release notifications for The Devil’s Soldier (Fall, 2015), please visit my personal webpage at
www.RachelMcClellan.com
. You can also learn more about me and my many other novels including The Fractured Light series.

Rachel was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four children. Her love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was …