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demons have other matters to attend to. Besides, we just came for the, um, food.” He gestured at Brandon’s lifeless body.
    Elle screamed her anger and lunged at them as the portal began to close, the deep crimson lights gradually receding until the rip was gone, leaving the backyard dark and peaceful. Tagas held her as her knees sagged and tears flowed under the weight of her devastating grief.
    “Don’t worry about me cleaning up this mess, don’t even think right now. Just release it all, young Elle.”
    He held her tightly in comfort for long moments in the darkness, the moon and the stars in the clear night sky their only witnesses.
    ****
    The rain fell in sheets on the roof of the warehouse, leaving blurry streaks on the large windows. It was New Year’s Eve, and Elle sat in a comfy recliner, silently watching Tagas packing a large duffel bag, preparing for his departure. Brandon had been in the ground for two weeks, but the pain was as fresh as if he had died on this night. She could never have imagined that their love would end so tragically. I sent him to his death …
    Tagas cleared his throat and she stopped staring into space. “So, as I explained, this place is yours now. You own it, and I’m sure you will find over the years that it will be a needed sanctuary from your hunting.”
    She nodded. “I’ll be moving my things in tomorrow afternoon. My parents have no problem with me moving out, of course. I’m an adult now. Thank you, Tagas.” His steady gaze prompted her to return to their earlier conversation. “I understand that it was my time to be tested. Okay, I fully get that. But why…why couldn’t you have stepped in to save Brandon’s life?”
    Tagas took both of her hands in his large ones. “God gave me my instructions, and I followed them. It was simply Brandon’s time to go. Remember that before you hate and blame me and yourself. Don’t let the bitterness warp you, child. Don’t feed that particular wolf, Elle.” He kissed her forehead, reaching down to grab his bag. “Be well. I’ll be back after I tend to my responsibilities.”
    In the next instant, a bright light appeared, and Tagas was simply gone. Elle sighed and looked around. Her gaze lit on one tetherball pole. She walked to it and grabbed the yellow ball. With all of her strength, she swung the ball, watching in grim satisfaction as it wrapped tightly around the pole in a blur, the chain embedding in the metal pole. This power cost me everything, and I’m not even sure if it was worth it.
    She went to her sleeping area and grabbed the big shoe box. She set the lid aside, pulling out her new black stiletto boots. She stroked the leather for a moment, her anger with God and everything else re-igniting. He wanted her to spend year after lonely year hunting His cursed demons? Fine. She didn’t like it, but there it was. She would be the best damn demon hunter who had ever been called. She seethed even as her tears streamed down her cheeks. Pyro, Cascadia, and every other demon she tracked would suffer and pay the ultimate price for Brandon’s death. Hell would come to fear the name Elle Connor.
    A word about the author…
    Tamela Miles is a California State University San Bernardino graduate student with a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development, and a former flight attendant. She grew up in Altadena, California, in that tumultuous time known as the 1980s. She now resides with her family in the Inland Empire, CA. She’s a horror/paranormal romance writer mainly because it feels so good having her characters do bad things and, later, pondering what makes them so bad and why they can never seem to change their wicked ways.
    She enjoys emails from people who like her work. In fact, she loves emails. She can be contacted at [email protected] or her Facebook page, Tamela Miles Books. She also welcomes reader reviews and enjoys the feedback from people who love to read as much as she