Heart of a Hunter Read online

  Table of Contents

  Excerpt

  Praise for Tamela Miles

  Heart of a Hunter

  Copyright

  Dedications

  Story

  Thank you for purchasing this publication of The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  “I don’t want you to leave.”

  Elle’s eyes teared up as she hugged Brandon to her fiercely.

  They sat in the front seats of his black Charger at the park in his expensive part of the city. Christmas lights were blinking with shades of white, red, and green on almost every house that lined the block. She leaned back to look at his face and could barely read his pained expression in the almost darkness.

  He stroked her cheek with his fingers. “Then come back east with me. You have a good GPA and could probably get into a less expensive but still good university. We’ll get our own place together—take classes during the day and work at night. We’ll have a good life, Elle.”

  She shook her head sadly, brushing away tears. It was hard to tell him no, but her life as a demon hunter prevented her from leaving Tagas and her training. She knew that when that was done, she would leave her parents behind—leave everyone behind—and hit the open road to fulfill the purpose she had been called for. “Just don’t forget me when you get there.” Her voice was a hushed whisper in the dark.

  Praise for Tamela Miles

  “LOVING it!! [This story] moves along at a brisk pace, engages the reader, sets the paranormal elements right away, and the heroine is someone the reader feels empathy for, young and disadvantaged in her home life.”

  ~Lelani Black, author of All Hands Below

  Heart of a Hunter

  by

  Tamela Miles

  Hell on Heels Series

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Heart of a Hunter

  COPYRIGHT © 2016 by Tamela Dawn Miles

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission of the author or The Wild Rose Press, Inc. except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

  Contact Information: [email protected]

  Cover Art by Debbie Taylor

  The Wild Rose Press, Inc.

  PO Box 708

  Adams Basin, NY 14410-0708

  Visit us at www.thewildrosepress.com

  Publishing History

  First Black Rose Edition, 2016

  Digital ISBN 978-1-5092-0684-1

  Hell on Heels Series

  Published in the United States of America

  Dedications

  For Mom and Dad,

  who told me that not even the sky is the limit,

  if you work hard enough.

  ~*~

  For my sisters, brothers,

  and countless other family members

  for paving the way to success and illuminating my path. ~*~

  For my friends and mentors,

  who have encouraged me

  to grow in ways I never imagined

  and for reading all of my 2 a.m. emails.

  ~*~

  I love you all.

  Thank you.

  The bar stool went flying from Elle’s hands, and she smiled in satisfaction as it smashed against the young, hefty biker’s left shoulder and he went down, desperately clutching at the table top to break his fall. She was at his side in a quick moment, looking down at him. She put one booted foot firmly on his chest.

  “You slapped me. No one slaps me without taking an ass kicking, no matter how big and tough. Dude, all I told you was a simple ‘no thanks’ to your offer to screw.” Elle kicked the fallen biker’s left side sharply. “And you kept spilling your beer on me, you sloppy-drunk dick.”

  Elle turned to leave the place, ignoring the cheers, whistles, and cat calls on her way out the front door. She had stayed beneath the radar in the place, and the last thing she wanted was to catch the attention of the management. Outside, the warm evening breeze kicked up, moving her hair and cooling her face. She looked up at the red neon sign that read, “Lucille’s Family Fun Bowling Center,” and grimaced. The name would suggest some level of courteous behavior from the patrons, but in her year of visiting the place on her own, she had met more than a few guys far from even remotely polite, in spite of the family environment. The place also served beer to the adult customers, which, unfortunately, also attracted some of the local bikers.

  She looked down at her scuffed boots for a moment, debating if she should go back to the war zone she called home. The neighborhood in the dark part of L.A she lived in was far from decent, but inside her home was even worse, sometimes. Her mom and dad, both heavy drinkers who were most of the time drunk and distant, usually didn’t even try to keep her in check or keep tabs on her comings and goings. She often wasn’t sure to be thankful for that or angry at their crap ass parenting. Elle Connor was seventeen years old and had mostly relied on herself for the past two years.

  Wiping her sweaty hands on her blue jeans, she began walking the short distance home, looking over her shoulder occasionally just in case the injured biker wanted to give her a little payback for wiping the floor with him. The late summer sun was setting low in the west, casting shadows as she walked, keeping to the main streets. Nothing good ever happened on the side streets and alleys in this part of Los Angeles, and she had wisely learned to avoid them. Best to call it a night early, she thought, striding quickly as the night approached. Summer break was almost over, and she would be going back to the local high school for her senior year in a few weeks. She didn’t want to hear the speech from her mom about how a high school diploma and a college education would free her, and maybe all of them, from the hellish place they lived. She didn’t want to hear her mom pretending to really care about her welfare.

  ****

  He stood in the shadows of the alley, intently focused on the petite teen girl dressed casually in blue jeans and a tiny, tight, black T-shirt quickly making her way down the street. Her halo of long, dark curls whipped around her face in the breeze of the evening as she looked over her shoulder every few moments. Beautiful, he coolly acknowledged, taking in the whole package of her with the vibrant light brown skin. Beautiful but deadly, and definitely a problem if I don’t stop her. Better to put an end to her tonight.

  He moved from his place in the alley and stealthily followed her down the block. There was no chance of him losing her because his tracking abilities were unrivaled by any other demon and certainly by any human who ever lived. Pyro was supremely confident that in slaughtering this problem and destroying Heaven’s plans for her, he would be surely securing a greater place in Hell’s hierarchy. That was all that mattered.

  Pyro caught up to her easily, making himself visible as he wrapped a strong arm around her throat from behind and lifting her up several inches from the ground. He wanted her to see him as she took her last breath, wanted her frightened out of her mind. He laughed harshly in her ear as she struggled, pulling at his large hand as it closed tighter and tighter around her throat. He suddenly let her go, grabbing her arm and swinging her around so he could savor the terror on her face.

  “Elle Connor, at last.” He let out a guttural laugh. “You’re strong but not nearly strong enough to take me down. You’re a little nothing. You’re welcome to fight for your life as I take it. In fact, I would enjoy that.”

  She kneed him in the gut as he reached for her and let out a surprised yelp when he made a counter move that put her fla
t on her back on the street pavement, looking up at him in visceral fear. He pinned her shoulders to the ground with both hands, restricting her movement. He was taken back when he saw the anger, as well as the fear, on her face. “Who the hell are you? What do you want from me?” Her tone was clipped, and she sounded far from intimidated.

  A flash of hot rage ripped through him. The bitch wasn’t even terrified. He was deeply insulted and also felt a pang of unease. Perhaps this wouldn’t be as easy as he had imagined it would be. He dismissed the unease, letting his handsome human face ripple a bit to flash the demon beneath. He raised one hand as it began to glow a deep crimson. Her eyes widened, and she screamed from deep in her belly, trying to buck him off. He smirked, now satisfied with her reaction. He put his hand close to her face, letting her feel the extreme heat.

  ****

  My God, I’m going to die! He’s going to melt my face, and I’m going to die. How is this really happening? That was Elle’s last coherent thought as the monster who only looked human lowered his glowing hand to cover her face. She snapped her eyes closed, bracing for the excruciating pain to come. She heard pained gurgling and cracked one eye open. A giant of a man, with graying hair and dressed all in black, tightly squeezed the monster’s throat from behind. The monster released his one-handed grip on her and grabbed at the strong hand closing his throat. His crimson fire hand burned her savior, smoke rising, but he didn’t flinch or loosen his hold.

  “Let me know when you have endured all you can, Pyro. If there’s more fight in you, I can easily continue to do this for quite a while longer.” Her savior’s voice was gravelly and very welcome to Elle at the moment. She didn’t know for sure if he was really her savior or if he planned to kill her along with the monster, but if this was something to settle between the two of them, maybe she could just get up and walk away from the incredibly surreal situation without third degree burns.

  The one named Pyro raised his hands in submission, struggling to stand as the other man slowly released his hold. Elle scrambled to stand and her savior easily caught hold of her arm, effortlessly lifting her to her feet. She met his eyes with tears in her own and was surprised to see the kindness in his eyes.

  “Young Elle, always a magnet for trouble and forever a pain in my side.” He nodded at her, a faint smile on his lips.

  Elle blinked in surprise. Her voice was hoarse. “How…how do you know me? Thank you for saving me, but I have no clue who in the hell you are.” She glanced quickly at Pyro who was doubled over, snarling and sucking in huge gulps of air. “Or who…or what the hell he is.” She focused her attention on her savior, taking in his heavy black clothing, head of graying dark hair, and smooth, expressionless face. He turned to Pyro with an angry glare.

  “You had to know this attempt to destroy her would be a failure, Pyro. I am everywhere, I see all where she is concerned.”

  Pyro straightened himself, still snarling. “Fuck you, Tagas. You won’t always be this vigilant protecting her, and I’ll be there when you slip to handle you and her. Hell wants her rotting in the ground, and that’s the way it will be. You should have never involved yourself on the day she was born.”

  Elle shivered in fear at hearing that, inching behind Tagas for protection. What in the hell is he talking about? He shrugged, seemingly unconcerned, but she was very concerned. She grabbed Tagas’ shoulder from behind. “What does he mean? Who—what is he and what does Hell have to do with me?”

  Tagas turned to her. “Pyro is a demon wretch from one of the hottest parts of Hell. His job is to thwart everything I do to protect you, young Elle.” His lips lifted in a small smile. “He’s here to kill you.” He turned his attention back to the demon.

  Elle blinked a few times, her mind swirling in confusion. “Why? What have I done?”

  Pyro’s face rippled beneath the human flesh covering it as he narrowed his eyes. “Because your very existence is a nuisance to me.” Tagas pulled a large dagger from his side sheath, and Pyro took a few steps back. Elle’s gaze darted back and forth between the two of them, her heart racing.

  Pyro’s eyes lit up with bright flames. “There will be another time and when it comes, I’ll make her very sorry for being what she is as I end her life. You can’t stop me. Remember this, Tagas.” In the next moment, Pyro was simply gone with only a light, hot breeze to show he had even been there.

  Elle’s eyes teared up again, hitching little sobs coming from her throat. Tagas suddenly pulled her into a fierce embrace. “I…don’t know what’s happening here, and I’m scared.” She let him hold her tightly as she cried, taking comfort. “What mistake could I have made for Hell to come after me?”

  Tagas stepped back, giving her a serious look. “You took your first breath. From the moment you were born, angels like me have been fighting agents of Hell to keep you alive. You’re here to serve an important purpose for Heaven. I’m here to ensure that you become exactly what you were made to be.”

  Elle took a deep breath as she stood on unsteady feet for a moment, taking in all that he said. “You’re…an angel, Tagas? I believe good people go to Heaven when they die and angels help them. I believe in guardian angels, but I never thought I would see one. Not only am I seeing you, but you saved my life. Um, thanks for looking out for me.”

  Tagas nodded. “I would be a lousy guardian angel if I didn’t. Come on—we have much to discuss, and the park isn’t far from here. We’ll talk there.” Tagas led the way, and Elle wordlessly followed, her mind still spinning with a thousand questions and a lot of wonder.

  ****

  “A demon hunter? I’m sorry, but are you serious, Tagas?”

  Elle and Tagas sat side by side on a park table. Night had come to Los Angeles, the stars sparkling in the black velvet sky overhead. She had listened intently as he relayed the circumstances of her birth and her calling as a demon hunter, snorting in obvious disbelief. He knew her well, having guarded her for all the years of her young life and knew that she would be resistant. Part of his job description included convincing those who were called to fulfill a higher purpose of their true worth to God Himself. He sighed, rubbing his bristled chin.

  “Yes, for the third time, you are, by creation, a demon hunter.” He gave her a thoughtful look. “You have always possessed far more strength than the average girl, but in a year’s time, with my help, you will be stronger and very skilled at tracking and destroying demons who wreak havoc on mankind every day of their miserable existence. You, Elle, will be virtually unstoppable.”

  “Show me,” Elle demanded, her brown eyes bright with unshed tears. “Show me your power because I’m still straddling the fence on believing that I’m special to anyone, especially God. Demon hunting sounds like a calling for those who matter in this life, the dimes. Tagas, I’m just a penny.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Not feeling sorry for myself, just stating the facts.”

  Tagas’s lips lifted in a small smile. This should be just the push she needed to see that the powers of Heaven were far more formidable and wondrous than humans could ever imagine. He held up one hand in front of Elle’s face. “Place your palm against mine.” She raised her hand, lightly touching his, and a vibrating hum began. A few seconds later, white light exploded from their joined hands.

  “What…what the hell is happening?” Elle choked out the words.

  “Our power comes from the same source. We vibrate with similar chords, though my strength as an angel is stronger than yours. What you feel is unleashed energy, both strong and peaceful. Don’t be afraid, it’s a vital part of you.” Tagas removed his hand and the light disappeared, the hum gradually diminishing. He looked in her eyes expectantly.

  Elle swiped a tear from her cheek. “Oh God, this is real. All of this…the whole story you gave me. I’m meant to hunt demons, but I have no idea how to do that. I’m actually scared now.”

  Tagas clapped her soundly on the back. “Cheer up. You’re one of the good guys. Once our training begins, it will all become secon
d nature to you rather quickly.” He looked up at the night sky. “It’s late. Let me escort you home. I’m sure your parents are at least a little worried. You’ll see me disappear at the driveway to avoid any unnecessary questions.”

  Elle hopped off the table and turned to him. “Tagas, does all this demon hunting mean I can drop out of school? A diploma seems so lame now.” A playful smile curved her full lips.

  “Nice try, kid, but no.”

  “Just thought I’d try.”

  Tagas led the way home with Elle following close behind him, taking long strides to keep up. As they walked, he felt a deep satisfaction that things had worked out perfectly. The big reveal of her origins and purpose hadn’t been met with obstinate denial. She even seemed a little excited. He smiled to himself. Her enthusiasm would, no doubt, dim considerably once she started on the long, exhausting road ahead. Great demon hunters weren’t simply born, they were shaped, and he had shaped many.

  ****

  Elle crept past her sleeping parents on the living room sofa, the tv blaring. A half-empty bottle of vodka sat on the coffee table, and she rolled her eyes. They both had to work in the morning, but somehow every week night was like a Friday for them. They didn’t stir as she quietly closed the door to her bedroom. She had her first training session with Tagas in the morning, and her stomach fluttered in excitement. I’ve been called, she mused. Something makes me special. And not just any kind of special…kick ass kind of special. Hunt some demons and kick some ass? Hell, yeah. She did her nightly bedtime ritual and slipped beneath the covers on her bed, a small smile on her face. Sleep didn’t come easy.

  ****

  “Focus your whole energy into each punch of the bag.” Tagas ignored Elle’s deep annoyed sigh and nodded when she did as he asked, each punch rattling the chains that attached the bag to the ceiling of the warehouse.

  She had met Tagas early that morning at the warehouse a few miles from her home. Hopping the bus lines was nothing new to her. She had been moving around Los Angeles in that way since her freshman year. She had left her mom the obligatory voicemail telling her that she would be with her friends all day and she would be home by dark.