The pearly gates need a damn good oil, that's for sure. They swing inward ahead of me, and the rending screech of grinding metal echoes across the sun-drenched cloud carpet beyond. Clanging to a halt at the extent of their swing, the disturbance rolls away to be replaced with, well, nothing. No harps or cherubs or singing choirs. Nothing. I’m alone. Utterly alone. Ripped leather jacket, skirt and a low-cut beaten top comp...

  It was a dark and stormy night. I was reminded of that fact by a beagle glaring down at me, hunched over like a vulture, perched on the porch of my destination. I pulled my raspberry beret down snugly for protection from the bitter New York wind. I glanced at the decaying house before me. The years had not been kind. Whereas it once stood majestically on a hill radiating beauty now it was an eyesore; the real estate equ...

While saying my house is in the middle of nowhere would be too harsh, my closest neighbor is a mile away; that’s why the sound of someone knocking on my door startled me, even on Halloween night. It was fifteen minutes to midnight; I was watching an old horror film I caught on TV midway through its running time. I could have found something more creative to do on Halloween, but seven days in being single after what would’...

De Sade stared out his window and brooded. Sasha, that mouthy wench, had had the nerve to accuse him of pouting. Ridiculous, of course. A man of his breeding never pouted. Brooding though, that was an appropriate response to his current situation because he was here, in his bed-chamber, and missing all the fun, rather than one floor up in the Master chamber. Even now he imagined he could almost hear the sting of the lash...

“Karen?” Logan gathered her gently into his arms. “Karen, can you hear me?” Her dark eyes fluttered open. “I don’t feel right,” she whispered. “Hurts.” “You’re going to be fine.” He pressed a wad of bandage against the bullet wound in her belly. There was, of course, no blood to soak up. Mist continued to seep out around the edges. Did first aid even work on damned souls? He had no clue. “You can’t die, my girl. You know...

Time passed slowly for Logan. As welcome and valued as Karen’s company was, he worried about Beauty nearly every waking moment. One day became two, and then nearly a week with no sign of the Succubus. More than once he considered going out to look for her, but among all the ravines and broken landscape, he knew the chances of running into her were slim to none. There was nothing to do except wait and hope all was well. On...

The Hellwind blew strong this night. Baroness Graveek could hear its angry scream rattling against her shuttered windows. She liked the sound. It well suited her current mood as she paced around her spacious bedroom. The whip in her gloved hand coiled and twisted across the floor with every restless flick of her wrist. Layers of skirt whispered across the floor around her restless, stocking-clad legs. Stiletto heeled, thi...

“Because my large friend,” Alan replied. “Everyone knows ships don’t sail on the rivers. They fly.” “Flying ships…” Logan looked at Karen, who nodded as if Alan’s claim about flying ships was the most normal idea imaginable. “I… did not see that one coming.” I definitely don’t remember reading about flying ships in Dante’s Inferno, he thought to himself. “How odd.” Alan rose to his feet. “Well then, if it is still your in...

Karen watched as Logan checked the straps and buckles hugging Beauty’s generous curves one last time. Newly acquired leather armor and twin knives from the defeated, flying Succubus would keep their demon safe. Heavy pouches of coin were snug and secure for the long journey. The shopping list had been discussed and agreed on. He nodded and stepped back with a sigh. “You’re all set and good to go.” “Again?” the demon asked...

Beauty was gone again by the time Logan woke. It was still early morning, judging by the weak rays of light spilling through the ceiling crack. She could not have been gone for long. He could still see the shape of her body where she had been lying on the moss. Hunting, he assumed. Or just avoiding me. On the other side of the now cold, dead fire, Karen still lay in an uneasy sleep. Seeing her lying there, naked and dirty...

  Logan stared in disbelief. Only moments ago, they had been engaged in hot, sweaty sex. The scent still hung in the air. “You can talk? How? When?” Beauty snapped her teeth in frustration and held a hand up. “Ok.” Logan took a breath and spoke slower. “Too much, too soon. Got it. Still, why haven’t you spoken before now?” She shook her head, then pointed at one ear. “Hear. Learn.” “You learned to speak.” Logan pointed at...

Logan and Beauty sat cross-legged around the fire, sharing the meat of the animal she had caught and presented to him. It was, in his humble opinion, a great improvement from rat meat. He took a sip of flat, bitter-tasting, beer, and offered the water skin to his new companion. Watching her throat work as she drank brought back memories of their morning together. That thought started to get him hard again. Beauty noticed....

Logan huddled in the shelter of a large rock and listened to the wind moaning around him. Bitter anger at Queen Maeve's treachery still burned in his gut, but that would have to wait. At the moment, he had more pressing concerns. Somewhere out there, in the scouring dust and burning wind, something was hunting him. If he was lucky, it was another human. The hunter was human-shaped. He knew that from the one glimpse he had...