Memories flash, crowding behind my closed eyelids. A dam breaks inside my head.

It’s all crystal clear.

I remember.

I’m Mavi StClair. Assassin extraordinaire. The Devil’s executioner.

Jerking a hand to my throat, I feel for scars. Smooth skin greets my fingertips.

Opening my eyes, I stare up at the shadowy ceiling. How the fuck am I still alive? Uncaring, sharp metal cleaved through my flesh on the battle field. I died. Someone had killed me, but I don’t remember who it’s all a blur. I recall my soul hovering over my broken body, but the seconds before my end are hazy. There had been a place of silence and blackness. A voice crooning my name. A prison he’d held me in. Somewhere my soul would never find peace.

Mattress cradling my body, my hand creeps down over the blankets to rest on my rounded stomach. The little one kicks in reply, sensing my distress.

I still have a blank spot for the last eight months. Questions persist without answers. Who’s the father of my baby? Where the fuck have I been all this time? I still need time to come to terms with the drastic changes in my body. Still a shock to go from normal to a giant belly. How could I have missed it all?

“Mavi?”

The quiet call drags me from my tumbling thoughts.

Tensing, ready for a fight, I hone in on the figure lurking in the corner. The Devil is nowhere in sight. He’s come and gone again, as always, like a thief in the night.

White blonde locks catch a slither of moonlight peeking through the curtains.

“Nathan?”

“They’re hunting me like an animal. They want to destroy me.” My brother whispers, shuffling closer to the bed.

Red eyes. Demonic, glowing. No longer the blue which has always matched my own. He’d been there when I had fallen. Angry, unstoppable.

My heart leaps with unease behind my ribcage. “You were on the battlefield when I defeated Lucifer’s last general. I saw you.”

“I was there to save you from all the lies and deceit. To set you free. Take you home but I was to late.”

“Who’s hunting you?” I ask agitation elevating.

“Gabriel and the Devil.”

Slowly, shifting onto my side, I keep the blanket covering my naked breasts. “Gabriel would never do that...” Even as I say it, I know it’s dubious.

“He’s the one who put me in the coma, Mavi.” He spits with venom.

“What?”

Mattress dipping, he takes a seat, an inky form on the end of the bed. “When we were children. That day in the basement. My demonic powers surfaced after I was raped. You blacked out or something. Just stood there staring while I ripped the janitor apart with my penknife. It was so overwhelming. This music in my head. I couldn’t…couldn’t stop myself.”

Nathan can hear the music too? The delicious opus of destruction? It was supposed to be us against the world. Family. Nate, my big brother, and I was going to be his hero. Now he’s a killer. A monster like me who I’m not certain can control himself.

“What does Gabriel have to do with this?” I ask, dreading his answer.

Hands laying in his lap, Nathan stares bleakly down at them. “He visited me a few days after it happened. The day I slipped into a coma. He made it happen. Did something to me. He’s the one who kept us apart. Stopped us from being together.”

Shock. It detonates so effectively the static returns, blotting out everything in my mind. I should be used to being betrayed by now. Should be numb to it. Yet, still, it’s like a bullet to the heart.

Window shaking, a roar of an explosion shatters the quiet. Beyond the thin barrier of the curtain a bright flash illuminates the interior of my darkened room.

Startled by the unexpected sounds, I sit up. Knifing up my calf, a cramp jars through the stiff muscles. Swearing loudly, I flex it to alleviate the pain.

“What the fuck was that?” I ask my brother only to discover he’s vanished like a ghost.

Another explosion rocks the building from outside. This time it’s accompanied with shouts and gunfire.

Wiggling off the bed, I dress as quickly as I can. Whatever is going down, being trapped in a bedroom is not my idea of fun. Several swift kicks from within my belly tells me my daughter has the same idea.

Careful to check the corridor, I find it empty. Descending the stairs with a comforting hand on my stomach, I go straight for Gabriel’s office. Scanning the messy sides, I find what I’m after.

My gun. Relief is strong. I’ve never flinched when it comes to putting a bullet between someone’s eyes. Even my first paid kill I didn’t hesitate. Uncle Dane praised me as a natural.

Ammo belt hanging over my shoulder, I head for the main door. Smoke billows from several of the buildings in the grey light of dawn. Fire belches upwards, its flames licking over what’s left.

I find myself amidst chaos. People screaming. Howling over battle cries. Glass and debris are dispersed along the road.

For a place whose first rule is no killing there sure are a lot of dead bodies.

With a shriek, a scaly faced demon leaps in my direction, fangs bared. Without a thought I put a bullet between his eyes. Spying some familiar forms pinned down by enemy forces, I move in their direction to help. Squeezing my trigger, I pick off the fuckers who have them trapped. I may be the size of a house, but I can still kick arse.

With a grateful look the group scurry to the safety of the buildings to my right.

“Mavi, get your arse back in the pub.” Gabriel hollers from where he’s slaying attackers across the way. “Standing in the middle of the street will get you shot.”

Flashing him the middle finger, I tap the barrel of my gun to my pursed lips. “No fucking way I’ll miss all the fun.”

I’ve finally woken up to who I am. The darkness inside me is hungry and I won’t deny it.

A neon pink shirt catches my eye just before Leo ducks out from behind a stationary car. “Holy shit, our Puddin’ is back! Hormonal and armed.” Blonde hair sticking up messily, he gives me a cheeky grin.

I’m more than back. Giving him a smirk, I reload from the ammo belt on my shoulder. “Buckle up baby, I’m just getting started. Leo back me up.”

“You got it, sugar.” He can’t hide the glee in his voice.

It makes me warm all over knowing he’s having fun like I am. It’s warped. Fucked up, but I don’t care what anyone else thinks.

Blasting a hole through another ugly scaled bastard who tries to get too close, I start picking them off one by one.

This breed of demon normally doesn’t work in a pack. They’re solitary hunters who pick off the weak and spook easily when outnumbered, teeth and claws their only weapon. Nothing long range like fire breathing or spitting acid. Even with the basics, though, they are shredding through our line of defence with an ease that shouldn’t be possible. Something has them whipped into a frenzy.

“Who are these cocky arseholes, anyway?” I ask Leo who’s a step behind.

“Markaz’s forces.”

The name is familiar. Then it hits me. A rogue general of Lucifer’s. “I thought he was dead?”

“Turns out that was a lie. The moment you defeated Trukun and her army the sneaky fucker started hitting the Devil’s fortress. He’s also been randomly sending troops our way. We’ve been under siege on and off for months.”

What else have I missed while I’ve been MIA?

Hands moving in a flurry of movement, Leo tosses demons left and right with his telekinesis.

Scanning the street, my eyes pin down the source of the enemy’s blind fury.

A hag.

Her evil cackle sends the hairs on the back of my neck rising as insidious waves of magic coil from her hunched form. Long bony fingers playing across the concrete, she’s in the process of writing runes in red. Blood. I recognize the way it smears. Blood magic, and whatever she’s channelling, it’s strong.

“I don’t think that bitch is finger painting.” I inform Leo, gesturing at her with the muzzle of my gun.

Casting his gaze in the direction, he sucks annoyingly on his teeth. “Then stop dicking around with these bastards.”

Rolling my eyes at him, we pick our way towards her. I can smell the stench yards away. The sick festering scent of decay. Lips splitting in a sneer, she bares yellowish teeth. Even from this distance I can tell she’s going to be a problem.

With a flick of his wrist, Leo attempts to send her flying. It’s a mistake. With a scream, her spell back lashes, throwing him to the ground.

Taking aim, I consider for one millisecond if it’s the best idea. Only one way to find out. The bullet ricochets. A cry sounds behind me and I know it’s found itself a home.

“Way to go. You just shot an angel in the butt.” Leo informs me, scrambling to his feet.

“Gabriel?”

Laughing, he shakes his head. “Not so lucky.”

Oh well. I don’t give a shit whose arse it’s ended up in as long as it wasn’t mine.

So, this bitch has some kind of invisible barrier. With a quick hunt around I find who I’m looking for. Strutting in their skimpy silk night gowns, three slim red heads are casting spells like there’s no tomorrow.

“Stop wasting your energies on them and get the fucking old woman. She’s the main problem.” I shout as one of them dispatch another demon.

The redheads turn at my call. Three identical faces give me a quick once over, perfectly plucked eyebrows rising.

“Why should we listen to you?” The one who seems to be the leader asks with a toss of her hair. They’re new. I know the look of green recruits.

Mouth spreading in a manic grin, I wave the barrel of the weapon towards each of them. “Eenie, Meanie, Miney…Let’s see which of you is going to need reconstructive surgery once I’ve shot her in the head.”

“Ok, ok. We’ll deal with her.” The leader of the three hastily agrees, throwing up her hands in surrender.

Looks like my reputation still stands even after the eight months absence. Halle-fucking-lujah.

Redirecting their focus, the three witches weave their spells.

Lips twisting in displeasure, the old woman hobbles to intercept.

Now I know things are going to get interesting. Stowing my 9mm pistol in its holster, fingers encircling the hilt of a knife, I draw it with relish from its sheath. If bullets aren’t the answer, then it’s time to get up close and personal.

“We need that shield to drop.” Leo tells me, reading my thoughts.

The three women look like they’re doing a good job. Although we can’t see the magic it tingles across my skin. All we need is for them to survive long enough to weaken their opponent.

Five fucking minutes of back and forth before we see a weakening. Shaking, breathing hard, a sheen of perspiration glistens over her leathery features and we see the second we need. Leo takes the window of opportunity. With a wiggle of his hand he has her.

Shrieking in triumph, the triplets high-five, all perky and giggly, which makes me want to shoot them all the more. Knowing if I do it will just drop me in the shit, I ignore them.

Stalking, or more like duck waddling, I make my way towards the hag where she’s held immovable.

Fear.

It gleams in her sly gaze. There’s no doubt in my mind if she could get free she’d be spewing curses at me until she made me explode.

Running my tongue over my teeth, I lean in close. She should be terrified, but she’s not. That fact irks me. Shoving the point of my knife into her eye socket, it squelches as I slice through the squishy flesh. Scooping the blade around, it easily twists back out. The eyeball on the end quivers violently.

Grinning, I drink in the hag’s screams. Flicking off the jelly like mass, I waste no time removing the other one. Warm wet blood pours from the open sockets as she claws with talon like fingers at the bloodied messy holes.

“That’s like totally gross.” One of the triplet’s mutters, pressing her hand to her pretty pouty mouth.

I note the lovely shade of green she’s turning. “I was generous and left her tongue.”

Leo snickers behind me as the redhead races off to our left. “These three are your replacements. God know why Gabriel thought they could ever match up to you.”

Hunching over, hands across her stomach, she heaves up her lunch on the side of the street.

Clucking my tongue, I grimace. Seriously no one has the stomach for what has to be done nowadays. These three won’t last five minutes if they can’t stand a little blood.

Raising my trainer, I shift my foot. Lowering it slowly, I savour the squishy crunch as I crush an eyeball under foot. More sounds of vomiting follow and I see one of her sisters has joined her. What will it take for the last one to chuck up her guts? Sliding Leo a knowing smirk, I know he’s thinking the same thing. If we had time it would’ve been fun to find out.

On her knees now, the hag rocks back and forth, palms covering her face.

My gaze is drawn to the patterns of chaotic symbols she’s left. Beautiful. Red still glistening, it’s a masterpiece of agony. I stifle the urge to lean down and trace the shapes.

Hand on my aching back, I take a second to catch my breath. Fuck, I can’t move like I used to. Never felt this exhausted so quickly either.

“You’re eight months pregnant. You should be sitting your arse down quietly, not going all gung ho out here with us killing shit!” Gabriel berates angrily, striding towards us. “Holy hell, did you need to remove her eyeballs?”

I barely catch sight of the blur to my left. My brother appears out of nowhere and attacks a demon before I can react. Clawing at its chest, he rips flesh apart as if it’s tissue paper.

“Nate?”

Barring his blood-stained teeth, the sound that emanates from his throat is anything but human. Raising his head, he stares at me with demonic eyes.

Snatch inhales sharply. “He’s the one who attacked me…I remember now. Right before the Devil turned up to kidnap us, he went mental.”

Dread coils through me. I thought Lucifer had been the one to blame for attacking Snatch, now I know it was my brother all along.

“Mavi, move away from Nathan.” Gabriel’s warning has cold fury taking hold of me.

“What did you do to him? He says you’re the one who put him in a coma.”

“It was for his own protection.”

“Trapping him in his own head for years? That was protecting him? You stole his life!” I round on him furiously, voice clear and sharp.

Sky blue eyes consider mine calmly. “His demonic genes are unstable. He can’t control himself like you can. You have no idea what he’s capable of.”

“You had no right to do what you did.”

“You’re both my responsibility. I’m bound by obligation. I have the right. It was that or killing him.”

A hiss issues from Nathan’s throat where he’s still crouched over his prey as the archangel takes a step closer.

“Look out!”

Snatch’s cry comes too late. Large hands grab my shoulders, pain jabs through my skin beneath my t-shirt as talons pierce my flesh.

“He wants you.” The words are grunted right in my ear.

My scream is lost as everything fades as he teleports us. Darkness swirls around us, so chilling it goes straight to the bone.

“Get off her, you gruesome son of a bitch!”

Leo. He’s somewhere to my left. He must have grabbed a hold.

Bringing the barrel of the gun up over my shoulder, I tilt my head to the right, pulling the trigger. As the bullet whizzes behind me I hear a satisfying yelp. I’m released so suddenly I stubble forward. Reaching out, my palm scrapes sharp rough rock.

Turning clumsily, I fire into the soul taker demon that attacked me. One neat hole through his head, the second in his heart as his corpse hits the floor.

“Puddin’, are you all right?” Leo asks, panicked.

He’s not alone. Snatch is right beside him looking pale, eyes wide with fear in his slender face.

“I’m good.” Leaning back against the cave wall, I take a second to let my heart rate settle.

My back is killing me and my ankles ache. With one look I can see they’re swollen. It’s then, I realise how much pregnancy symptoms suck. I’ve managed to miss the first eight months and now I’m paying for it.

Snatch shuffles forward. “You’re bleeding.” He tells me, rolling back the long sleeves of his sweatshirt to check my shoulders.

I can’t stop the groan of pain as he lightly touches them with delicate fingertips.

“Nothing too serious, but we should put some antiseptic on them and get them covered.”

“Do you see a first aid box around here?” I can’t help but ask sardonically. I’m relieved to see I still have plenty of ammo. With quick efficiently, I reload before slipping the gun into its holster.

“Well, as soon as we find somewhere that does.”

Knocking his hands away, I straighten up. They don’t need to see my discomfort. It will only make them worry. I need to suck it up until we’re somewhere safe.

“Where the fuck are we?”

Leo shrugs. “Beats me. I’m pretty certain Cease Fire doesn’t have an underground.”

Turning to the mouth of the cave, Snatch gestures to the light at the end. “Maybe getting outside will help.”

As one, we move in the direction of the exit.

The crisp chill in the air catches my attention first. Standing at the entrance, I groan inwardly while scanning the snow-covered barren mountains that lay around us.

“Christ, like today can’t possibly get any worse.”

Snatch frowns. “Where are we?”

“A Hell dimension. Fuck if I know which one though.”

“Why is it every time we get together we end up in Hell?” Leo grumbles. “And who wants you? That soul taker wanted you really bad.”

“Markaz at a guess.” I reply. “They were his minions. Maybe knowing I’m still breathing has made him a little uneasy.”

“You mean he’s shitting himself because the slayer of the Devil’s generals is going to hand him his own balls?”

“I take it Cade’s still dicking around, trying to stop the seals from being opened?” I ask, ignoring him.

“We haven’t heard from him in a few months.”

“And no one thought to go look for him?”

Snatch shrugs absently, playing with a hole in the arm of his sweatshirt. “Raziel’s been looking and Gabriel sent a few people. The wolf is working solo and isn’t easy to find.”

Rolling my eyes, I sigh. What the fuck have they been doing for eight months without me? Surely stopping all the damned souls trapped here in Hell from being released and ending the world is kind of high up on the shit to do list.

Knowing what I have to do, I’m loathed to do it, but I know we can’t leave without the fucker’s help.

“Gabriel?” I call with annoyance.

After a few minutes, with no reply, I try again. “Gabriel, don’t be a little bitch. Get your arse down here. Don’t think we’ve finished talking about Nathan. You’re going to pay for what you did.”

“I don’t think he can hear you.” Leo tells me. Tugging out a metal flask, he takes a quick swig of whatever alcohol he has stashed in it.

Well fuck. That’s all we need.

Eyeing the rugged terrain, I know it’s going to be murder on my feet and the extra weight I’m carrying.

“We better see if we can find a gate or something to get us home then.”

As I reach for his drink, he stuffs it back in his pocket. “You’re with child and not allowed whiskey.”

“And who the fuck says I can’t?”

“All the pregnancy websites the Boss was staring at last night until his eyes were bleeding. Do you know how freaked out we all were seeing you like this?” He asks, indicating the largeness of my belly.

He really has no fucking idea. Wrapping my arms around my chest, I protect myself against the freezing bite in the wind.

“Try waking up after eight months absence looking like this and then tell me who the fuck is more freaked out.”

“Can we please find a way out of here before we get hyperthermia.” A tone of self-pity creeps into Snatch’s whine. “You two can have a bitch-off when we’re somewhere warm.”

He’s right. With such a harsh environment we won’t last long.

Raking a hand through his hair, Leo steps forward, scanning the towering peaks above, his pink shirt bright against all the white snow. “All right, don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m sure there’s a portal or settlement around here somewhere.”

“The cave is some defence against the elements.” I reason out loud. “It’s suicide wandering off into the snow with no equipment or heavy clothing. I’m pretty sure I saw some wood in there. It looks like the place is used for storage by someone. We could get a fire going.”

Their attention flits to my bulge, barely concealed by the oversized t-shirt. We all know I’m in no condition to march in these conditions. It’s bitter as fuck. Once the sun goes down the temperature will drop below zero. Being caught in that would lead to certain death. A fierce need to protect the life still growing inside me swells up.

“But we both know we can’t stay here indefinitely.” Leo points out gently.

A sudden whinny of a horse snaps our attention to the right where a winding trail cuts a path through the towering cliffs.

Demons.

I’m not familiar with the breed. Leathery faced, their blue skin is hairy in places with course black fuzz. Yellow-eyed, which is unusual, there’s a bird-like tilt to their heads. Cantering towards us on hardy steeds, the dozen males fit right in with the surroundings, armed with spears. They must be locals.

Freeing my weapon, I keep it low, hidden behind my leg. I recognize when someone is sizing up weaknesses in prey. Done it plenty of times myself in the past. They expect easy pickings. Watching us intently, they chatter among themselves excitedly. When their gazes focus on me, every instinct jangles in warning. I’m sure as shit it’s not a good thing.

The three of us don’t move a muscle, but I sense the others preparing mentally for a fight. They know as well as I do none-demons don’t last long in Hell alone.

Pointing with one long, yellow, talon-claw, the nearest jabbers loudly in an unrecognizable demonic dialect. They halt within a few feet away.

“Snatch, do you know what this cocksucker is saying?” I ask, not taking my eyes off them for a second.

“They’ll let me and Leo go if we give them you.”

My response is a snort. “If they think I’m about to become the tribe’s fuck toy then they can think again.”

Snatch makes an odd sound in his throat. “Actually, they’re into necrophilia.”

“So, they want to fuck my corpse?” Giving him a sideways glance, I narrow my eyes on his strained expression. “What else aren’t you telling me?”

“Apparently pregnant females are a delicacy. Once they’re done fucking your dead body they plan to eat your flesh. They say unborn foetuses taste sweet ripped straight out of their mother’s womb.”

Cannibals. Fantastic.

Giving me a leer, they lick their thick rubbery lips with anticipation.

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Leo mutters. “Mavi is going to kill them first, aren’t you, Puddin’.”

I don’t bother replying. Raising my gun, I take out the nearest two. They tumble backwards, scaring their rides in the process. Rearing with a high pitch scream, the horses take off in a thunder of hooves, back the way they came.

Ducking back into the cover of the cave, a spear scarcely misses my head. Roars of displeasure echo around us. They dismount faster than I anticipate. The fuckers are quick on their feet. Taking down another one, I back up with Leo and Snatch into the protection of the tunnel.

One manages to breach the entrance. With his telekinesis, Leo has him pinned to the wall so quickly the male barely has a second to growl.

Pressing the barrel of my gun to his chest, I put a slug through his heart. Jerking, his dead body slides down as he’s released.

I can’t stop myself from touching the splatter of red plastered against the rocky surface. Rubbing the stickiness between my forefinger and thumb, I watch the blood coat my skin. A moan of pleasure escapes my lips.

“I really hate to interrupt you while you’re having a psycho moment, but we’re out numbered.” Leo warns, tossing three more clear of our only exit when they try to barrel inside.

“Shit.”

“What do we do now?”

The deep, long, sombre call of a horn echoes through the frigid air. Any confidence I had before drains away as I realise we’ll soon be outnumbered by even more. My ammo won’t last indefinitely. How many can we cut down before they swarm us? Leo can only hold them off until his energy is spent. Maybe fifteen minutes tops. The odds are not on our side.

Cautiously, Leo pokes his head out. “They’ve stopped attacking.”

“What do you mean they’ve stopped?” Shuffling forwards, I take a peek. Sure enough the demons that are left are scrambling back up on their mounts before galloping away as if the Devil himself were after them. Sweeping the mountain tops, I check to make sure the bastard isn’t descending on us, but see no sign of Lucifer.

Clutching a spear to his chest, Snatch leans past my shoulder. “Should we be worried by whatever just freaked them the fuck out? It’s got to be something higher up the food chain. That’s how it works here, right?”

In the pale bleak sunlight my eyes take in every detail as our assailants are encircled by other riders when they reach the end of the gorge. From the style of their clothes and appearance they aren’t the same breed.

Roars ring out as they engage in a bloody fight. Claws, spear, swords, hack and slash, turning the snow beneath them red in a river of blood. The blue skins are slaughtered without any signs of mercy.

Snatch swallows loudly, ducking back into the safety of our hideaway. “Maybe they won’t come down here.”

Like fuck they won’t. Sharing an uneasy look with Leo, we both know whoever they are will be too curious not to explore. Just as predicted, a handful of horses start trotting our way. We’ve already been spotted by their scouts.

Leo and Snatch position themselves in front of me, shielding my pregnant belly from view. Checking my ammo, I ready my gun. As they draw closer they come better into view. Pink skinned, their forms are more human than something from a nightmare. Crafted leather skins are their defence against the harsh conditions. Obscured from sight, metal helmets disguise their features only revealing the glint of curious eyes.

A stream of demonish issues from what must be the leader. His steed and armour are finer than the rest, yet just as worn and bloodstained.

“He wants us to come out in the open.” Snatch translates.

“Tell him to go fuck himself.”

With a sigh, he relays my message before listening closely to the reply.

“If we don’t come out he’ll have his men drag us out by our hair. At least he hasn’t said anything about eating you, Mavi.”

Leo sucks his teeth annoyingly. “They probably want to get a better look at us before they decide that.”

Releasing a long breath, I battle with indecision. I’m cold as fuck. Hungry. Really badly in need of a pee because the kid is playing football with my bladder and have no desire to stand around all day.

“Fuck it.” Shoving the guys aside, I step out further into the snow.

Maintaining cool detachment, I inspect each potential target. All of them are mounted. The metal covering their faces makes it harder for a head shot. My attention drops to the chest guards. Close enough and a bullet would have no problem ploughing through the barrier right into their demonic hearts. In a beat I have a game plan. Tightening my hold on the grip of my weapon which I keep loosely by my side, I tease the trigger.

A sudden movement distracts me. Removing his helmet, the leader’s face comes into view. Mossy green eyes sparkling with intelligence. A straight nose surrounded by a neatly trimmed chestnut beard. Grey mottled horns protrude from a shaggy mane of hair framing his attractive appearance.

“Caesar?” I can’t hide the tremor in my voice. It’s like seeing a fucking ghost. Features so similar, just younger, I’m shocked how quickly it manages to paralyze me at the reminder of our dead friend.

The male smiles sadly. “He was my brother. My name is Tiberius.”