Authors: Melissa J. Cunningham
The Undoer
THIS book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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The Undoer
Copyright ©2016 Melissa Cunningham
All rights reserved.
ISBN
:
978-1-63422-200-6
Cover Design by: Marya Heiman
Typography by: Courtney Knight
Editing by: Cynthia Shepp
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Prologue
Epilogue
Acknowledgements
About the Author
They call it
The Door to Hell
. A blackened crater that never stops spewing up poisonous gas. It burns, toxic and bubbling, from the bowels of the Earth in the middle of a barren wasteland. But gas isn’t the only thing coming from that crater…
They slither out, those malevolent souls—demonic filth that wreak havoc and destroy lives. They don’t even pretend to hide…
Brecken
I’m not a demon anymore. I defected. The demons hate me. I’m a traitor, and they’d love nothing more than to serve my head up on a platter.
But now I’ve been given the illustrious responsibility to close
The Door to Hell
and deal with the demonic “problem” that is infiltrating Earth. The higher-ups figure I’m perfect for the job since I was a demon… before.
I sit at a glass table in Raphael’s office, which is located in Elysium’s administrative building. As usual, wide windows let in a blinding amount of radiant light. Soft, white couches and chairs are arranged around the room, and beautiful artwork hangs on the walls. I feel out of place and uncomfortable. I don’t belong here. I know this at a gut level, but I don’t know how to fix it.
Closing my eyes, I soak in the light, knowing it could be the last time and hoping it might cleanse me. I’ll miss the friends I’ve made here, but I’ll fit in better on Earth, which looks darker and more dismal in comparison.
Raphael leans forward, a clever glint in his cool, green eyes. He seems relaxed, his hands clasped, a smile on his face, but his taut shoulders give away his true anxiety.
The
Door
is a huge problem. No, not a problem. A catastrophe. Raphael’s concern radiates around him like smog, infecting me with his same worries. All of Elysium is in a panic about it, and guardian angels have been pulled back from Earth as their charges are overtaken by demons.
Like mice, the demons are reproducing and are vomited into Earth’s realm to find a body. Whatever plan we decide on has to work. And I’m in charge. The stress is overwhelming. Crushing.
I wait to hear Raphael and Michael’s plan, because I can’t think of one. If it works, maybe it will also clear my reputation as someone who “undoes” everything. Hence, my demon title,
The Great Undoer
. It’s something I am stilled called, even today. I hate it.
“We have everything planned down to the very last detail. Down to every contingency.” Michael reclines, his golden hair pulled back and tied at the nape of his neck. It’s strange to see him in normal clothes—white robes and bare feet. I’m used to his gleaming armor and the power it radiates as he leads the armies of heaven into battle.
“Of course,” I answer. Has he ever done anything halfway? I doubt it.
I once pitted my strength against his when I was a commander in Perdition’s armies. I don’t think Michael has forgotten. His gaze is cold and unfriendly when he looks at me. He doesn’t think I belong here, but if not here, then where?
“You’ll need help with this,” Raphael adds, leaning forward and glancing over at Michael. “It can’t be done alone.”
I’d already figured that. I’ve thought of nothing else. Angels haven’t been able to get
The
Door
shut, and they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of demons coming through.
“Anyone in mind?” There’s no one qualified except those well-trained soldiers who obey every command given them by Michael.
The Avenging Angels
. Battle-hardened warriors who have fought evil throughout history. Who fought
me
throughout history. They aren’t peace-loving, celestial beings who stroke harps on pink, fluffy clouds. No, these guys take down the real enemies. I’ve had many close calls with them myself. And even they haven’t been able to close
The Door
on their own.
They won’t want to fight
with
me. I am more likely to receive a sword in my back than a sword of defense at my side. I want to trust them, but they still see me as a demon. As a liar. As
The Great Undoer
. I can’t imagine who Michael and Raphael will find to assist me.
“They’re called The Cazadors,” Michael says with a wry grin. He folds his arms over his massive chest and leans against the desk, crossing his ankles. He’s enjoying this, which makes me feel like the joke is on me. “They’re a group of kids who joined together to hunt demons. They can actually see them inside their human host. They train regularly, they have holy weapons, and you will be their new leader.”
I can only stare at him. “You think
humans
can help me? This is not a job for mortals. Even the Avenging Angels haven’t been able to fix this. We’re overwhelmed and outnumbered.”
Michael’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say anything.
“It’s perfect. They’ll never suspect a thing,” Raphael says.
“Who? The demons or the humans?” Still, I just sit there, trying to figure out how this could possibly work.
Raphael chuckles. He’s the only one with a sense of humor. “The demons, of course.”
“And these Cazadors are already trained? By who?”
“By one of their own. This is why they need you.” Raphael watches me, waiting for a reaction. He’s thoughtful, which makes me wonder if something else is going on here. “They are already killing demons and sending them back to Barathrum, but the group needs a true leader to bring them together. They have the potential to be a force to be reckoned with.”
“A force to be reckoned with.” I shake my head in disbelief and slouch in my chair. This is a suicide mission. Are they trying to kill me? Is that the plan? I know Michael and his army hate me, but would they go to these lengths?
And then I realize something. If they send me back to Earth, I’ll have to have a body. A physical body. I can’t be the Cazador leader without one. Maybe… maybe this is my chance at redemption. If I can close
The
Door
and stop the demon infiltration… I’ll be forgiven. I’ll be with Alisa again! Maybe this will be enough to redeem me. Suddenly, it sounds like a fantastic idea.
Michael shifts and releases a sigh. “You’ll need a different name.”
“Why?”
“Well, you can’t go by your demon name. You’ll be recognized,” Raphael says.
It will also make me more of a target.
“Or by your old mortal name, Brecken.” Michael smiles as if he knows something, but then he glances away and his grin disappears. I’ve never been able to read him. I never know what he’s thinking. His face becomes a blank page without much emotion, and I try to hide the fact that I like him about as much as he likes me.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
They give each other knowing looks. Raphael just shakes his head. “No one can know who you really are. You can’t tell anyone.”
“Okay.”
“We mean anyone. It could destroy the whole plan before you even have a chance to get started. Promise us you won’t reveal your true identity.”
Who would I even tell? The only people who know me are my family. I’ve already been told not to search them out. “Sure. Fine.”
Whatever
.