ROPHECIES ARE A GIRL’S WORST NIGHTMARE. I definitely angered a god in a past life. I was minding my business and enjoying my burning chemistry with Nox, my demon warden, and then bam! I’m getting dragged to literal Hell under the orders of Lilith, Queen of Hell… and Nox’s mother. It turns out there’s a lovely prophecy that says I am the Harbinger, the Catalyst for the Apocalypse that will burn down Hell and Earth. And Lilith wants to kill me to prevent it. Cornered, Nox and I bargain with Lilith, and she agrees to let me live… as long as I keep my dirty Nephilim fingers away from Nox. Naturally, Nox and I find as many loopholes as possible for our bargain, but our relief is short-lived. New enemies pop around like daisies, and old ones come back even from the dead. Light and darkness lay their claim on us, determined to render our connection to ash. Are we strong enough to subvert the prophecy before Heaven and Hell cleave us apart? I don’t know, but I sure as Hell will fight with everything I’ve got, even if I burn. I’ve always loved playing with fire, anyway.
The second installment of The Cursed and The Fallen series.
Selene Kallan is a fantasy author who daydreams about her imaginary worlds most of the time. Her obsession with vampires, and all things supernatural, has made her an avid reader. She loves writing, discovering new metal bands, and watching superhero movies. She is also feeling a little crazy while writing about herself in third person, but apparently, this is the way to go.
Selah’s biggest dilemma was trying to decide what to study in college. That is, until she stumbled across a clue to the grandparents she’d never met and hopped on a plane to Mexico where she would discover an entire hidden world of magic and monsters. Her best friend was a bruja, the Chupacabra was more than a myth, and she’d inadvertently caught the attention of the terrifying Blood King with beautiful golden eyes. What started as a two-week vacation quickly devolved into an adventure she might never return from.
Día de los Muertos had almost arrived and the monsters were on the hunt.
“G’night,” Noa yawned finally before claiming the remaining bedroom next door.
I moved to shut my own door when Rafael prowled past, likely heading towards his own room at the end of the hall. At least I guessed it was his as it was the only door kept firmly shut. Seeming to sense my gaze, he pivoted and met me at the doorway. Leaning against the frame with his arms crossed he stared deep into my eyes almost as if searching for answers in there though he must not find them because a frown quickly tugged at his mouth.
“How did you and your friend meet?” he asked curiously.
My fingers fiddled nervously with the doorknob as a fond smile lit up my face. “School. We’ve gone to the same school since I can remember and she was always in my classes, sitting with me at lunch, wanting to be my friend. Noa is pretty direct. When she decides something, she makes it happen.”
“I can see that,” he nodded tersely.
Wanting to smooth things over, I thanked him. “I’m really very sorry about the mix up, but thank you for letting us stay. We really don’t mind finding a hotel tomorrow,” I assured him. “This is your home and we don’t want to intrude.”
Something I said, though I couldn’t guess what, caused his lips to twitch. “You are free to stay. I do not mind.” I arched an eyebrow and he released an amused huff. “Much,” he amended.
“Well, thank you,” I offered again. “You are very kind and generous to offer.”
“Not many would use those words to describe me,” he shook his head, his voice low enough that I wasn’t sure I was meant to hear him.
“Then they don’t know you,” I answered anyway. It was an impulsive response because I didn’t know him beyond his name and yet it felt right. Or maybe I was just a people pleaser like Noa teased me of being.
Even if offered in ignorance, my words made him pause. “Call me Rafi,” he smiled. Then with a shove off the door frame, he resumed prowling towards his room.
Leaning out into the hall, I called softly so as not to disturb Noa, “Goodnight, Rafi.” He sent me a final glance. “Buenas noches, Selah.”
Talis Jones is a Mexican-English author of magic and mischief. Graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Theatre she has explored both stage and film, now finding herself drawn towards the literary world as a new venue for storytelling.
Dog mom, Broadway enthusiast, and life-long bibliophile, Talis currently resides in North Carolina.
Supernaturals around Portland are turning up dead. I’m next … if the vampire I just made a powerful bond with doesn’t kill me first.
Magic is in a short supply for a half-witch like me, which makes things very difficult when I’m bound by a blood promise to avenge my parents.
With no leads left to follow, I make a bargain with a demon for help. Bad decision. The quest the demon sends me on binds me to a vampire named Killian, a half-mad, half-naked monster who hates my guts almost as much as he longs to drink my blood.
Killian swore to kill all witches on sight, but we agree to work together to solve the murders ravaging the city. He despises me, and I can’t stand him… but there’s an unexpected connection between us, something I can’t help but be curious about.
No, I can’t let anything distract me. Not even a hot and enraging vampire who presses all of my freaking buttons. I’m determined to find my parents’ killers, and stop the chaos taking over the supernatural world.
“Why? What happened?” I glanced around. “Did you see something?”
“Just stop the car,” he practically snarled.
After a quick glance to the side mirrors, I pulled over. “What is it?” I asked, worried. Had he seen something?
“I can find my way.” Killian opened the car’s door.
“Wait, what?” I stared at him, confused. “How are you going to find your way?”
“I can feel the box’s pull from here. I’ll be able to find it.”
That didn’t make much sense. “What happened? Why aren’t you going with me?”
He turned to me, his green eyes shining dark in the gloominess of the car. “Because after seeing so much blood, my senses are high and demanding. Because I can see you want to ask more than I’m willing to talk about. And because being in this car with you and your scent is torture right now.”
His gaze fell to my throat.
I swallowed hard.
Without another word, Killian got out of the car, closed the door, and zipped away in the dark of night.
I stood there for a minute, holding on to the wheel, and trying to wrap my head around what had just happened. Hell, I kept forgetting Killian was a vampire. A predator. A practiced killer.
And just now he had craved my blood—again.
I should be glad he had left. But for some reason all I felt was as if I had been abandoned.
While Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting–but equally gratifying–life of a wife, mother, and author. She resides in North Carolina and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.
