Excerpts

Demon

He grasped his shirt front with both hands and ripped it open to reveal a hairless chest. Pulling and tearing, he tossed remnants to the ground. He shook himself, shimmered, and snapped into his full demon-angel presence. He had oversized teeth with a nose that sank in his face and threateningly large, greenish wings with the remains of his shirt hanging like tinsel on a Christmas tree.

His ridiculous appearance made me laugh briefly until his leathery appendages flexed, and he stepped forward to grapple me. I expected this. Demons grasp and hold tight with hands and arms, then use their wings to drain life away. Sometimes they rip out the victim’s throat. Demons fight with a high degree of confidence. Who wouldn’t, with incredible strength, and fang-like teeth? Formidable weapons.

Andromeda

I had killed Medusa with help from my sister, Athena. Now, I rode Pegasus on my way to save my mother from the odious king who held her captive. After several hours, our flight took us over a mountainous shoreline. We followed the coast until a rocky outcropping came into sight, with a naked young woman chained to the rocks.

She appeared exhausted, breathing heavily through clenched teeth, but she kicked and hit at the crab-like creatures attacking her. Pegasus flew silently, but the girl saw our shadow and looked up. Blisters from sun and salt exposure covered her face and body. We overflew her slightly, and she stretched for my hand, but I couldn’t grasp her. That image of her reaching for me seared into my mind, and I still see it today.

We landed among the crab creatures, who scattered at Pegasus’s stomping hooves. I kicked them aside as I drew near the girl. Almost as tall as I, she had black hair and eyes which showed a combination of desperation and appreciation. She practically leaped into my arms. I held her tightly for a moment to reassure her, and then bent to the task of releasing her. Retrieving my sword from the rucksack given to me by Athena, I pried the lock off her chains. They fell away, and she jumped back in my arms.

“By what name are you known?” I asked.

She struggled to speak. She needed water, but I heard a whisper. “Andromeda.”

I said, “You may thank Athena for sending me.”

She nodded but spoke nothing further. Guileless and trusting, she joined me on Pegasus as we returned to free my mother. Andromeda slipped in and out of consciousness. My arms pressed tight against her small breasts and ribs, holding her slim body as her head fell back onto my shoulder. I questioned whether she would survive.

Love Scene

A loud popping sound startled me, and I must have jumped a foot off the ground. I turned to see her in jeans and chambray shirt facing me with the torch casting a jagged yellow flame. She hid behind her welding helmet.

With a fake scowl, I crossed my arms. “What do you think you’re doing? Trying to scare me?”

She released the handle on the torch, which immediately extinguished. She dropped it and lifted the face shield. “Did I frighten you?” She tossed the helmet, her onyx hair cascading to her shoulders. Usually, she had it tied up when she worked with a flame. She shook off her gloves and put her hands on her hips.

My mind flashed to us standing at the creek, our faces inches apart. I stepped forward. “Boss, you better be careful, or someone might get hurt.” I kept moving toward her.

She backed up, then stood her ground. “That sounds like a threat.” She took a fighter’s stance and lifted her hands in a parody of John L. Sullivan.

I couldn’t help laughing at the sight of her with her tousled hair and fists raised.

“You laugh? Come and get it. We’ll see how tough—”

My self-control exploded. Springing forward, I grabbed her and kissed her with a thousand years of longing. Thanks be to the Gods, her lips answered mine with urgency.

Her arms wrapped around my neck, and I pulled her tightly into my embrace. The kiss continued to develop, as I tasted her lips, her tongue. I nuzzled her throat, nibbled her ear. Our lips found each other again, softly at first, then with a moaning urgency.

Demon Fight

Stillman, now shirtless and a full demon, thrust himself at Claire. His claws ripped at her blouse and tore at her skirt, pulling them from her body. She fought back in her undergarments. She pushed him away. He put his right hand behind her head, forcing her closer. In his lust, drool hung from his mouth, his tongue flicked out, trying to taste her.

Tugging my harpe sword from the rucksack, I hit the front door at full speed, splintering wood and breaking glass. Ouch! It hurt from the shoulder into my spine. It would heal but, still, if I ever saw Zeus again, I’d ask for the no-pain version of immortality.

Stumbling, falling, and rolling into the center hall, I popped to my feet…momentarily disoriented as the apparition faded and reality took over. They were in the living room. As I lifted my sword, I saw them in front of me. The demon held her as she struggled and shouted.

“Stop,” I said.

Her mouth snapped shut mid-scream when I made my dashing appearance. Eyes impossibly big, staring, she recovered and returned her attention to the demon confronting her, not recognizing me. Maybe she thought I, a stranger, had come to join the fun.

Stillman, the beast, rotated his head, and turned to face me, releasing Claire. He smiled, his misshapen fangs glistening with drool, hideous to see. He slobbered something like, “O, gud.”

Oh, good? He sounded happy to see me. Made no sense.

I said, “Stay back, Claire. I’ll handle this.” As I uttered the words, a worm of doubt ate into my brain. I hadn’t lost a fight with a demon, but I never had the woman I loved in mortal danger either.