Sorrow's Lie (The Marker Chronicles, Band 4) - Softcover

DeVor, Danielle

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1944728414 ISBN 13: 9781944728410

Verlag: City Owl Press, 2017

Inhaltsangabe

Only an Exorcist Can Confront His Demons

Jimmy Holiday, exorcist extraordinaire, is about to embark on his most unusual case yet—a baby that may be possessed by the demonic...or worse, a true demon spawn. The Order wants him to make sure it is a true case and not some hoax...or so they say.

Once Jimmy arrives, the situation changes into a living nightmare. The Order is not what he thought at all. And now, they demand he commit an unspeakable act. But Jimmy has enough scars of his own.

When the full truth of the corruption within the Order comes to light, Jimmy must act. With a voudou woman who lives down the lane as an ally, Jimmy must fight for the life of this supernatural child, but at what cost?

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

DANIELLE DEVOR, named one of Examiner’s 2014 Women in Horror Author, has been spinning the spider webs, or rather, the keyboard for more frights and oddities. She spent her early years fantasizing about vampires and watching “Salem’s Lot” far too many times. When not writing and reading about weird things, you will find her hanging out at the nearest coffee shop, enjoying a mocha frappuccino.

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Sorrow's Lie

Book Four of the Marker Chronicles

By Danielle DeVor

City Owl Press

Copyright © 2017 Danielle DeVor
All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-1-944728-41-0

CHAPTER 1

END OF THE BEGINNING

SOMETIMES, YOUR DAY just sucked. It all started before light, when someone or something startled Isaac, the amazing cat, and he pissed on my head. I couldn't figure out what had happened at first. Then, I discovered the sewer system had backed up.

"Tabby?" I still couldn't believe I was doing what I was doing, but every now and then you have to get in the thick of it.

"What?" she called from upstairs.

I'd saved her the horror.

"Are you bringing me the plunger or not?" I tried not to gag from the smell.

"If you'd hold your horses, maybe I could get down to you and not break my neck." Her feet clunked on the wooden basement steps.

I shut up. She was getting close to chopping my head off. Right now, she was still trying to help me.

When she got within reach, her face screwed up and she whipped her hand over her nose. "Here."

I took the plunger from her and attacked the drain again. It burped. Then, I felt something bump into my boot. I screamed.

"What is wrong with you?" Tabby asked.

My face reddened. And I was embarrassed as hell that I squealed all because of this. Guess it was a good thing she liked me. "Something touched my foot."

"Since I doubt there are unholy shit demons, I recommend you suck it up."

I laughed and swallowed my injured pride. "Call the utility board. I give up."

"Like I told you an hour ago?"

I sighed. "Love you."

She didn't say a word and headed back upstairs. I stared at the mess and wanted to cry.

* * *

After I discarded all the crappy water clothes, pulled myself together, and got a shower, I went downstairs to find Lucy watching yet another scary movie. Isaac sat beside her, ignoring me. They were watching some gore fest, but I was silently thankful it wasn't another exorcism flick.

"Do you ever get tired of these?" I asked her.

She glanced up at me. Her white dress flowed in stark contrast with my mustard yellow carpet. "Not really. They're more interesting than anything else."

I rocked back on my heels. "Don't you like other stuff?"

She shrugged. "SpongeBob is okay."

I laughed. Once again, worrying over nothing. I needed to get a grip. "Okay. Go back to your movie. Where's Doc, anyway?"

"Looking into something."

"Got it." I left the living room and went into the kitchen long enough to grab a soda out of my awesome green fridge. Then, I passed back through and headed outside. Tabby sat on the front stoop, waiting on the city services folks. Her red hair sparkled in the early morning sunlight. She looked like a goddess in jeans and a white shirt. I was too lucky.

"They say when they would be coming?" I asked.

She shook her head. "Soon. I don't know."

I plopped down next to her and put my arm around her shoulders. Spring had been slow to come to Virginia, but it was finally warm enough to be outside without a coat. I was thankful. I needed to feel more normal again, not closed in. "If they don't get here in time, go ahead to see the wedding planner. I'll deal with the shit brigade."

Tabby snorted. "As if you don't want to get out of it anyway."

"It's not like Doc can handle it. Never mind that he isn't here now." I scratched my arm and peered down the street. Nothing but birds.

"No, but Mom will be here in about a half-hour."

I took my arm back, put my elbows on my knees, and buried my head in my hands. "Just when I thought the day couldn't get any worse."

She swatted me on the arm.

* * *

Tabby's mother arrived about twenty minutes later. Her little blue Toyota pulled into my driveway next to the SUV. Her bleached blond hair was arranged in a bouffant cloud around her head. More than once, I wondered how Tabby came from this woman. She must take after her dad.

"At least the drive wasn't bad," Tabby's mom said.

"Hello, Betty." I waved at her.

She glared at me. "Hello."

Tabby hopped up. "Thanks for coming, Mama. We really appreciate it."

"And that cat of yours is secured?"

"I put him in the bedroom. He won't bother you."

I could hear Isaac meowing from upstairs. I didn't relish us letting him out later. He was pissed.

I watched Lucy creep upstairs. I knew she couldn't let Isaac out, so that wasn't even a thought. I was more concerned that Tabby's mom would notice that a TV was on upstairs. Lucy, undoubtedly, was going to her room.

Tabby led her into the house. I glanced down the street, begging for the utility company to arrive. But they didn't, and I was stuck going along. I sighed and went into the house to grab my wallet and keys. Luckily, I didn't encounter Tabby and her mom. Wandering outside again, I climbed into the driver's side of the SUV. Tabby came out a few minutes later and hugged her mom on the stoop, then headed toward the car. Things had gone so easily, I couldn't help but wonder if Tabby hadn't performed a little witch-a-roo to make things go so smoothly.

"Okay, are you ready?" Tabby asked as she hopped into the car.

"I feel more like I'm going to the gallows."

She swatted me again. "Stop."

"Yes, ma'am."

I sighed as I put the car in gear. She peered over at me and regarded me carefully. I think she was afraid I was going to go rogue and drive us to Mexico or something.

"Jimmy, seriously, it isn't going to be that bad. If we don't like her, we can interview someone else."

I sighed again. "Guess I don't understand why we even need a wedding planner."

She glanced at me out of the corner of her eye. "If you get a case, we aren't going to have time to deal with flowers, setting up the church, where the reception will be, and the cake. The idea is to let the wedding planner know our budget, what we like, and let her take care of the rest. That way, if all hell breaks loose, the wedding can still go on as planned.

"What happened to the 'simple wedding'?" I know my folks got married in a church. My mom's parents showed up. My dad's didn't. They had pieces of cake in the church basement. That was it. I didn't have any idea why in the world we needed something bigger than that, but I had a feeling if I said much more, I was going to get my ass kicked.

"These days, this is a simple wedding."

"God, help me." It slipped. But instead of getting my ass kicked, Tabby stared out the window. I had dodged a bullet.

* * *

The first thing I saw when we arrived at the wedding planner's office was the flowers. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't mind flowers as much as the next guy, but this — this was over the top. There were so many of them; they seemed to burst forth from the walls, the floors, and even the desk. They weren't any one color either. And they were artificial, otherwise that much pollen would have sent me into a bizarre allergy fit. Luckily, the chairs were open and free.

"I'm so sorry," the older woman said. Her hair was dyed black, and I could still see the crow's feet at the corners of her eyes underneath all the make-up. "I had to pick up flowers for a client."

Part of me was impressed by her dedication, but the other side was inwardly cringing as to why she dumped all the flowers in her office when she knew she had an appointment with new clients.

Tabby grinned. "Nice of you to go out of your way."

The woman smiled tiredly. "I try to do everything I can." She held out her hand toward...

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: City Owl Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 2017
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 1944728414
• ISBN 13: 9781944728410
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 192
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: GPSR Kontakt; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland