The Demon Hunter
Authors: Lori Brighton
| The Demon Hunter | |
| Hunter [1] | |
| Lori Brighton | |
| Lori Brighton (2012) | |
| Rating: | **** |
Ellie has always been different, from playing with fairies as a child to fighting demons as an adult. She grew up wondering why no one else seemed to notice the oddities of the world that she came into contact with on a daily basis. When she is the only witness of a demon attack and the police suspect her, Ellie skips the country heading to England where she plans to keep a low profile. Everything is going fine, until Devon appears, stumbling around her garden like a drunken fool, and completely naked no less.
Six months ago Devon sacrificed himself to bind the soul of a demon and save the world from certain destruction. Thanks to a spell gone awry, Devon is back. But Devon hasn’t come alone. The very demon he tried to destroy has returned and is wreaking havoc on earth. When Devon meets Ellie, he instantly recognizes another supernatural being. Ellie may just be the only person who is strong enough to destroy the demon, if the demon doesn’t destroy her first.
Previous books in the Hunter Series include:
The Ghost Hunter (Book 1)
The Demon Hunter (Book 2)
Copyright 2012 Lori Brighton
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced , stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademark status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Other Books by Lori Brighton
The Wild Series:
Wild Heart (Book 1)
Wild Desire (Book 2)
Wild Passion (Short Story, Book 3) Available Free!
The Night Series:
A Night of Secrets (Book 1)
A Night of Redemption (Book 2: Coming Summer 2012!)
The Seduction Series:
To Seduce an Earl (Book 1)
The Hunter Series:
The Ghost Hunter (Book 1)
The Demon Hunter (Book 2)
Young Adult Books:
The Mind Readers (Book 1)
The Mind Thieves (Book 2: Coming Spring, 2012!)
The Demon Hunter
By
Lori Brighton
Chapter 1
West Yorkshire, England
It had been six months.
Six long, horrible months since she’d been in the basement of the haunted hell she called a home.
No one blamed her for avoiding the dungeon. They couldn’t blame Ashley when, in fact, they avoided the place of darkness and gloom as well.
But tonight… the night of a full moon when that veil between other worlds was thinnest…things were about to change.
Why did she have the dreadful feeling they would most definitely not be changing for the better?
Perhaps past experiences made her leery. Or perhaps it was a warning from the afterlife. Who knew. But one thing was for sure, they had to try.
A flicker from the light bulb hanging from a thin wire above interrupted her musings. Was it normal electrical problems, or something more nefarious? The bulb hissed and sputtered as if in answer to her unspoken question. Just freaking lovely.
Ashley crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself as she focused on Camile. “You’re sure you’re ready?”
Best to uncover any last minute weak links in their chain mail now, before they went through that door. Lord knew they’d screwed up enough in the past.
The witch looked up from where she knelt on the stone floor, her backpack open as she shuffled through ingredients. Those large, green eyes popped against her dark skin and glowed with an uncertainty that didn’t exactly put Ashley at ease. “As ready as I can be.”
Wonderful. Not the words of reassurance she was after. With a sigh, Ashley pulled her dark hair back into a ponytail. Time to get down to business.
Camile cradled a drawstring bag of clear crystals in the palm of her hand. “With Aunt Rose and the other villagers binding the outside of the house and the moon in its full, there’s no better moment.”
Isn’t that what they’d thought the last time? And look how well that mission had ended… with her friends, Death and Destruction, making an unwelcome visit.
Ashley glanced toward the wooden door that settled quite leeringly in the corner of her basement. Large, Medieval-like iron hinges and handle, an icon of a cross and sword embedded in the wood. Intimidating, to say the least. Who would have ever guessed that behind that wooden panel lay a large room with a stone coffin holding the spirits of a demon and an angel? Two souls, locked together. A shiver of unease swept over her skin and although she wore a sweatshirt and jeans, she felt exposed, watched.
About eight months ago she’d arrived in England, inheriting the very house where her father had disappeared. She’d been hoping to uncover not only the reason for her father’s death, but also the reasoning behind her odd ability of being able to communicate with spirits. She hadn’t expected to inherit a house haunted by ghosts, demons and angels. Suddenly, she’d become Buffy the Freaking Ghost Slayer.
“Are ye ready?” The familiar Scottish burr whispered comfortingly up her spine. She hadn’t even heard Cristian come down the steps. He was a true warrior and nothing would ever change that. Ashley turned as he ducked under the overhang and stepped into the room. Although he’d lost most of his powers when he’d become mortal, he still looked every bit the fallen angel. The large, highland sword he had in hand, and another strapped to his back, only added to his powerful aura.
“I am,” Camile stated.
The black t-shirt Cristian wore stretched across broad shoulders and brought out that gray of his eyes. So strong, so reliable. Unable to help herself, she wrapped her arms around his waist and stepped up close to him, drawing comfort from his muscled body.
“Question is, are
you
ready?” Ashley rested the side of her face against his chest, listening to the sure beat of his heart.
“Of course,” he replied.
He wasn’t afraid, but she was. Terrified, really, but not for herself. No, only terrified for the man she loved. Cristian was so…so damn
human
. He could die now, just as easily as she or Camile.
“I’m worried about you,” she admitted.
He cupped the side of her face with his rough-worn hand. “Ashley, I don’t regret staying on earth at all. Never. No matter what happens. I’ve had almost a year with ye and it’s been more than heaven could ever offer.”
His words seeped into her chest and wrapped warmly around her heart. She knew he meant everything he said, but his life was more important than a few sweet words. Camile had the good sense to start rummaging through her bag, pretending not to hear their romantic exchange.
He pushed the sword he held forward. A gold and silver weapon with intricate swirls along the blade. Devon’s sword. She wrapped her fingers around the hilt, the heavy weight of the metal pulling on her arm. A lump of emotion suddenly clogged her throat. Devon should be here, fighting beside them.
“I say we leave the rotter to suffer for being a martyr,” Cristian muttered.
Ashley frowned. Brat. She knew he was merely trying to get a rise out of her, attempting to make her think about things other than their possible demise. It worked.
She stepped away from him, taking the bag of crystals from Camile. Devon’s spirit was locked in that coffin along with the demon. He’d sacrificed himself because someone had to bind the demon’s soul. Beautiful, blond, caring Devon. He’d been one of her best friends and he’d sacrificed himself so Cristian wouldn’t have to, so that Ashley and Cristian could have a life together. But until Devon’s spirit was free and in heaven where he belonged, she and Cristian would never be able to move on. At times the guilt was unbearable. She could wait no longer.
“I’m jesting with ye,” Cristian said, raking his hand through his thick, black hair. “As much as I hate that bloody do-gooding bastard, Devon deserves to go to Heaven. Besides, we can’t have a life until we destroy the demon. We all know he’s regaining power, which means…”
He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to.
It meant that Devon was losing power, his spirit slowly being destroyed by the demon’s. She’d noticed the unnatural storms brewing around their small village, the rumblings in the house as if they were experiencing aftershocks from an earthquake. It had all happened before… when she’d first arrived, precursors to a hellish nightmare.
After Devon had sacrificed himself, binding his spirit to the demon’s, life had improved. Birds visited her gardens once more. Rabbits snacked on clover growing in her front yard. Her home had started to resemble a
home.
But a month ago, the rumblings had started again. Devon’s spirit was losing its hold.
“No use in putting it off any longer. We need to destroy the demon once and for all,” Cristian said, lifting his sword and studying the blade as if looking for any weakness.
The demon.
She didn’t miss how Cristian refused to call the demon by his name, or by his relation.
Father.
He was Cristian’s father, yet Ashley couldn’t blame him for not wanting to admit to the relationship.
“Are we ready?” Camile asked, swiping her hands on her jeans.
“As well as we can be.”
There was only a moment’s pause before Camile threw her arms around Ashley’s neck. The English witch had become her best friend. Ashley closed her eyes, breathing in Camile’s familiar scent…rosemary, lavender and other comforting herbs the witch used in spells.
“Take care.” Camile pulled back, crystalline tears shimmering on her dark cheeks.
Ashley’s fingers curled as she resisted the urge to give into her own emotions. They both knew this might be the very last time they’d see each other. “You too.”
Camile nodded and handed her a glass bottle. “Holy water. Make a circle with the crystals. It will bind and protect the area. When the spirits are released, throw the water. It won’t harm Devon and the demon will be sent to hell.”
At least they hoped.
Ashley clutched the bottle and sword to her chest. Being the warrior that he was, Cristian had no need for sentimental goodbyes. The man was all business and for some reason, that made her feel better. He stepped toward the door and pressed his palm to the icon imbedded in the wooden panel. Almost immediately there was a creaking groan and the door popped open with a hiss of reluctance.
“I closed it,” he murmured, stating the same thing he had said those six months ago.
“Only you can open it,” Ashley finished.
The experience was becoming entirely too deja vu-like. Cristian wrapped his hand around the large iron handle and pulled the door wide. A yawning pit of darkness stretched before them; a corridor that led into a large stone chamber…or hell, as she liked to call it. She could feel the low vibration of energy coming from that darkness. Pure soul, pure energy, and something darker, stronger. Something that took her breath from her lungs, making it difficult to draw air.