The demon divided, p.1
The Demon Divided, page 1
The Demon Divided
Copyright © 2022 by Bernice Burgos
All rights reserved.
Published by Red Penguin Books
Bellerose Village, New York
Library of Congress Control Number: 2022912023
ISBN
Print 978-1-63777-283-6
Digital 978-1-63777-282-9
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locals, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
To Author Gini Lee,
meeting you has been an inspiration.
You are a wonderful writer, human, and friend.
Cheers to the future!
Contents
Prologue
1. Maggie or Magdalena
2. Angels and Demons
3. The Demon Inside
4. The Devil’s Pit
5. Reflecting
6. The Little Black Book
7. Date Night with a Demon
8. The Demon Inside
9. Sometimes Life is a Rom-Com
10. All I Want is Lucifer
11. It Should Have Been Me
12. There Are No Morals in Hell
13. Mendulous
14. Sweet Child of Mine
15. From Wind Storm to Hell
16. Pizza Anyone!
17. The Meet Up
18. The Famous O’Riley’s
19. The Demon Divided
20. My Mistake!
Epilogue
Character Guide
Acknowledgments
Synopsis
About the Author
Prologue
The relentless waves crashed against the shoreline only to recede into calm ripples and noisy, frothy bubbles. Maggie’s glossy eyes scanned the distance, admiring the beauty of the large mountainous stones that stood grounded in the ocean. In warmer weather, the water would have been rather inviting; instead, the brisk air lashed her cheeks to the color of blushing roses. She used the back of her wooly mittens to wipe the uncontrollable drip falling from her icy nose. Even in the frigid weather, she still found joy in playing a game of “You can’t catch me” with the ocean.
Maggie giggled as she dodged the water to her own particular childish tune, trying not to wet the soles of her purple, rubber galoshes. At one point, the wind blew the crocheted hat from her head, sending it willy-nilly into the blackened sand dunes behind her. Gaggles of giggles escaped her mouth as she frantically chased after it. Each stride on the sinking sand felt as if she was trying to escape the inevitable dangers of quicksand. Her thin legs couldn’t move faster than the wind. It was a race she was clearly losing.
Maggie, finally giving up all hope, stopped running and grimaced. She raised her mittens to her face in defeat.
“Aw, dang it!”
Her heart pounded and she breathed heavily while watching her hat become a lovely but soon-to-be memory within the dunes.
“I liked that hat.”
Before she could register a subtle shift in physics, her tiny frame slowly rose and glided across the bumps of sand, her feet barely touching the ground. Delight lit her face as she shot her arms out, giggling and focusing on her target.
“Imma gonna get you now, hat.”
She moved with such speed through the cool breeze that she hardly noticed the drip from her nose anymore, nor the brisk wind that had slapped her cheeks earlier. Her feet thumped firmly to the ground mere inches from where her hat rested. She tried to stomp it into submission, but the wind changed sides again. It whisked it away and almost out of her grasp.
“GOTCHA!” she happily and triumphantly yelled as she plucked it from the sand and shook it vigorously.
Maggie smiled and waved at the couple still walking along the shoreline before shouting, “Thank you, Ruby Jane.” She placed the crocheted hat back on her head and dashed toward the water to continue her game.
Ruby Jane’s rouge lips pressed together in a heartwarming smile as she returned the wave and replied in her most comforting southern accent, “Ya welcome, pumpkin.”
Jack shook his head wondering when magic would stop solving all of life’s problems.
“You know, you can’t use magic for everything.”
“Jack, quit ya worrying. It’s fun. Kids love a little friendly push.” she stated, trying to counter Jack’s negativity.
Jack placed his arm around Ruby Jane’s shoulder and nestled her close. He inhaled her familiar and enticing scent and dug his strong hands into her chinchilla for comfort.
He was ready to call their outing quits due to the frigid weather as it began to seep under his fur coat, but he couldn’t bring himself to do so. Having Ruby Jane and his daughter Maggie by his side is exactly where he wanted to be. The salty air stung his nostrils, causing his nose to cringe as he deeply inhaled. It was the first time he had been able to take a breather while being on the run.
Usually, around this time of year, the Icelandic beaches were generally crawling with selfie-taking, human souls. Jack wondered if Ruby Jane had anything to do with secluding the area. She was the almighty powerful Ultra; her witchcraft came in handy for even the smallest task.
“I just don’t want her to get too spoiled with the magic. I want her to be a normal kid and solve her little issues on her own,” he continued.
“Well, it’s too late for that! Maggie is far from normal. Besides, daddies are known to spoil their daughters, and you’re no exception. It’s only a little magic,” teased Ruby Jane, waving jazz hands trying to lighten the mood.
She observed Maggie as she continued to play innocently by the shore as Jack’s wandering eyes consistently remained vigilant, looking out for signs of danger. She gently placed her leather-encased hand on Jack’s cheek, drawing his attention away from his constant surveillance, reassuring him that they were safe and secure. He gazed into her emerald eyes, losing himself in the little flecks of light that danced in the depths of her pupils. It felt almost hypnotic and desensitizing. Jack could feel the tension seeping from his tight muscles. His mind suddenly cleared as contentment spread throughout his body. Having his daughter and his lover by his side was a moment he wanted to live in forever, but knew it would be impossible in this reality.
They were on the lam from Maggie’s mother, Angel, her band of Vs, and the Underworld. Jack had fucked up so badly that the bounty Master Anu placed on his head was high enough to buy a lucky fool two man-made islands in Dubai.
Knowing all of this information, and despite their past dumpster fire of a passionate relationship, Ruby Jane still agreed to help Jack disappear. He was a part of her history that she couldn’t erase. She tried so many times to forget him, even seducing and subjugating numerous sexual partners. Her undying love burned so deeply that in anger she sent him back to Hell and ratted him out to the Vs. Yet, that betrayal was an awakening. No matter what she did, she couldn’t fool herself any longer. She loved that idiot demon. It was a tug of war she fought internally for decades. So, when Jack showed up at her bookstore looking for refuge with Maggie in tow, she was compelled to help him.
Jack lowered his head and kissed Ruby Jane’s rose-petaled lips. The softness of her lips against his melted his heart and warmed him inside like oozing lava. He embraced Ruby Jane, drawing her closer, fanning the flames of his repressed desire. The passion between them ended abruptly as Ruby Jane pulled away to examine her surroundings. The expression on her face read that danger was nearby; it was pressing up against them. The magic was persistent, pervasive, and unrelenting. There was an eerie force surrounding them that they couldn’t shake.
Ruby Jane’s next words came out in a low whisper, brushing along with the wind.
“We have to get going, something is near.”
Jack furrowed his eyebrows and looked around, not seeing or hearing anything or anyone but feeling every sense of powerful magic. The beach was still except for the waves crashing and Maggie joyfully frolicking.
“Are they close?” Jack questioned on high alert.
“Yes, I can feel them.”
“Shit! MAGGIE!!!” Jack warned.
Maggie’s giggles halted as Jack’s voice echoed in the short distance. She ran toward them and wrapped her delicate arms around Jack and Ruby Jane’s waists, forming a tight circle. She gazed up at Jack with sad, puppy dog eyes.
“Is it time to go already, daddy?”
“I’m afraid so, baby girl. It’s not safe here. Remember what I told you about needing to be safe, right?”
“Yes, But I was having so much fun. It’s my first time at the beach,” Maggie whined.
Ruby Jane tightened her grip around Maggie. “Don’t worry darlin’, the next time we see the beach, I promise you, it’ll be nice and warm out. Enough for us to go rottin’ and tottin’ around in the ocean. How does that sound?”
“Daddy says never make promises you can’t keep.”
Ruby Jane smirked at Jack, then focused back on Maggie. “Trust me, pumpkin, I pinky promise,” she reassured her while holding up her pinky finger.
Maggie wrapped her mitten over Ruby Jane’s hand, indicating that her fingers weren’t free to share.
Ruby Jane huddled everyone closer in the circle, tightening the gap between them. “Make sure ya hold on tight to ya daddy and me and don’t let go. Let’s close this up.” She said to Maggie, drawing her in for a tight squeeze.
Jack tightened his arms around the only family he currently had, knowing that he was never going to let go. He gently kissed Ruby Jane on the forehead before they all bowed their heads in unison.
“Do-rentu, al-hira, Do-rentu, al-hira, whisk us away, farther away. Do-rentu, al-hira, Do-rentu, al-hira, whisk us away, farther away.”
Ruby Jane chanted these words repeatedly, faster and lower. She continued her whispered spell until the sand lifted and swirled around them. Within seconds, they disappeared among the whooshing, twirling mini-sandstorm.
“What the fuck! There’s nobody here. Why is there nobody here?!”
Angel paced along the shore furiously. She kicked at the water and punched her fist in the air in frustration.
Master Anu looked down at the sand, noticing small and large footprints. The only footprints on the beach.
“We must have just missed them,” resigned Anu.
“How??? How is Jack moving so fucking fast?”
“He must have help,” Anu surmised.
Angel thought for a split second, realizing Anu’s statement was probably true. She walked back to the water and began kicking it some more, wetting her wings and soaking her boots. Master Anu took a few steps back, allowing Angel to wallow in her tantrum.
“FUCK! FUCK! FUCK!” she shouted up to the deep blue sky.
“When I find out who’s helping Jack. I will KILL THEM WITH MY BARE HANDS!” Little did she know, she may never have the chance.
Chapter 1
Maggie or Magdalena
It’s quite impossible to put into words the exact way Maggie felt every time she woke up beside this particular lover. The closest would be the conscious feeling of being struck by cupid’s arrow. It felt as if her heart had stopped and then kicked up to beating triple-time, all in the same instant. Maggie gradually opened her eyes to the few rays of sunlight peeking through the cracks of his heavy, blackout drapes. She rubbed her sleepy lids and quickly surveyed the room, trying to remember the events of the previous night, but everything seemed a blur. Pulling herself together, she tried to ignore the thumping of her heart and the correlated response of desire when she accidentally planted her palm on the naked, chiseled chest of the sleeping man lying beside her. The detailed, black-inked, dragon tattoo that covered his entire right breast and snaked up to his neckline heaved up and down soundlessly and peacefully. The slight hint of a shadow beard emerged from his sideburns and trailed down to his chin.
Maggie resisted the urge to gently run her fingers through his silky, dark hair. Instead, she dipped her head lower to get a whiff of his manly scent and wondered if that was the reason behind their obvious attraction. Flashes of glimmering strobe lights, whisky body shots, jumping to loud techno music, and tongue locking in a dark corner immediately exploded images in her mind, reminding her that she was so good at being so bad.
Maggie smiled sardonically then reached for her cell phone that had somehow wedged itself between them on the bed. It was 7:00 a.m. and she already had fifteen missed calls and eleven text messages. Two of the texts were from her best friend, Charlie, asking if she had made it home alright, but the rest were from her mother. That would usually have caused consternation, but right now, she had a more important task to worry about.
She needed to haul ass before her lover could make eye contact or, worse, conversation. Sneaking away before her lovers awoke became her thing, her game, her way of saying, “You can’t catch me.” She didn’t know exactly when or how her version of this cat-and-mouse game started. What she did know was that with this lover her current record was seven to zero.
“Be home soon!” was the response she texted to her mother before flinging her long, sun-kissed legs over the bed and clandestinely tiptoeing toward the pile of clothes on the floor.
Maggie paused to send one more text message.
Maggie: Never made it home, it was my lucky night. Call you later.
She internally blushed while confessing her naughty behavior in so many words to her best friend.
Charlie: I want every little slutty detail!!!
She smirked at the message, thinking how Charlie didn’t even have to ask. She was willing to confess all of her sins in exchange for a good laugh with her bestie.
Maggie continued to dress quickly and quietly but toppled backward after getting one of her legs stuck inside of her denim jeans. The wooden dresser against the wall mercifully broke her fall as her hip bone collided with its sharp edge, sending a stabbing, burning sensation down her side.
She paused, sucking in a breath and yelping in silence while biting down anxiously on her bottom lip.
“Fuuuuck!” she exhaled in a whisper.
She moved faster, struggling to don the rest of her clothing.
Shit, where are my damn boots? She thought as she scanned the bedroom for the rest of her items, hoping she would be able to silently tiptoe out of the apartment before her lover woke up.
For a bachelor pad, the apartment was surprisingly clean and organized, except for last night's passionate display of hastily discarded and entangled clothing scattered around the shiny hardwood floors. Finding her boots shouldn’t have been this impossible.
Maggie snatched her footwear, found concealed underneath a pair of black boxer briefs, and swiftly made a beeline for the exit.
“Sneaking out already?” questioned a deep, soothing voice from behind her. He had spent a pleasant hour watching her sleep. As the sun began to rise, it appeared that it was getting too late for her to perform one of her many Houdini acts, so he dozed off. However, Maggie wasn’t the greatest at creeping about; each heavy step she took creaked and vibrated the floorboards as if a two-hundred-pound man was tiptoeing around. He was inconspicuously watching her entire fiasco with one eye open.
“This is a first for you. The sun is up this time.” A sexy smile played on his lips, mitigating any hint of resentment. He sat up on his elbow with one hand cradling his head, watching her lovingly as she discreetly tried to sneak away.
Maggie stopped short in her tracks and cringed. Busted! One thing she didn’t want to do was engage in conversation. At the same time, she didn’t want to seem rude. She slightly eye-rolled and cussed inside her head as she turned herself around and locked eyes with him. His high cheekbones, full smooth lips, and dark slanted eyes nearly turned her into putty. He reminded her of a K-pop singer, except he was taller and too physically toned to be prancing around on stage. He could have passed for a swimmer with his broad shoulders and toned muscles that tapered quite nicely to his gluteus maximus. Instead, he was just a DJ.
“Hey, you’re up.” she spoke while balancing on one foot, tugging her black ankle boot onto the other.
“Yes, I am, and so are you.” He marveled at the absolute, stunning beauty of her. The more she fought their connection, their vibe, the happier he appeared. Working his way around the DJ circuit had gotten him a fair amount of adoration and worship, but being with Maggie was like an addiction. There was something about her that his human willpower could not fight. She was tantalizing.
Maggie stared at her lover awkwardly as he seemed to be mentally searching for answers she didn’t have.
“I was just…”
“Leaving,” he interrupted as he stood up to face her in all his naked glory. He was playing dirty to win this battle of will.
Maggie licked her upper lip sensually while staring at the fine specimen in front of her, Damnnn, maybe just one more round, pondered the voice that echoed in the left side of her head. She felt herself getting moist with excitement.
Not now, Maggie, we have to go! Mother, remember? shot the voice on the right. Fuck!
