To Kill a Demon (Liz Baker, Book 6)

By Christie Silvers

Liz Baker has been through a lot of craziness in the last year of her life. Monsters are constantly climbing out of the woodworks and it seems that she's always the only one who can stop them. Now her closest friends are missing and all she wants to do is find them. That is, until her own demon takes over and causes nothing but trouble in every aspect of Liz's life.

Demon Dolly does everything under the sun to create chaos for Liz. Lots of one night stands with all the wrong men lead into a few illegal activities, as well as the deterioration of Liz's beloved bar, Athena's Ambrosia. Thank goodness Liz has friends in her corner who know the difference between the real Liz and her demonic imposter.

Or do they?

Will Liz be able to rid herself of the monster inside? Or will she finally give it up and fade into nothingness?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christie Silvers
• Release date: Nov 19, 2014
• ISBN: 9780463053447

Christie Silvers

Award-winning internationally published indie author of urban fantasy with a touch of naughtiness. Vampires, werewolves, and witches...oh my!

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Christie Silvers

To Kill a Demon, Liz Baker bk 6

First published by Christie Silvers 2014

Copyright © 2014 by Christie Silvers

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.

This novel is entirely a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or localities is entirely coincidental.

Christie Silvers asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

Christie Silvers has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.

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First edition

Cover art by Kelly Shorten

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Contents

Acknowledgement

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One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Twelve

Thirteen

Fourteen

Fifteen

Sixteen

Seventeen

Epilogue

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About the Author

Also by Christie Silvers

Acknowledgement

A big thanks to all the fans out there of the Liz Baker series. Each book has something new to share in Liz’s world, and I love that you’re all just as excited as I am when a new one comes out. I hope to see you around for several more books in the future.

Child sleep, sleep and not awake

Somnum puer, somnus et non evigilabit

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Now that you’ve finished To Kill a Demon, check out this free short story where Liz meets Penny from my Penny Montague series. If you love Liz, you’ll enjoy meeting Penny.

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Sorrow Meets Death

Liz Bk #6.5

Penny Bk #1.5

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One

It’s been six weeks since I lost control of my body. Thanksgiving has come and gone, and Christmas is right about the corner, with my birthday not far behind. Six weeks of standing on the sidelines watching someone else do things in my name. Six weeks of her washing my hair, wearing my clothes, neglecting my manicures and pedicures, and slathering far too much make-up across my face. Six weeks of Demon Dolly pretending to be me while screwing my friend. And worst of all, six weeks of not knowing if my other friends and the love of my life are still alive.

I’d stopped begging and pleading for her to find my friends weeks ago. Every time I cried and yelled about not knowing where or how they were, she’d go out and do something unspeakable with my body. There was now fresh ink on my ass in the shape of red lips, probably a few warrants out for my arrest, and several men wondering where I’d gotten off to after a night of alcohol, disappearing wallets, and a missing pint of blood.

Not to mention all my fantasies about Monty and his perfectly chiseled abs were now shredded to bits by Demon Dolly’s ravaging of him. I could only watch as she bit deeply into his flesh and took several deep gulps. The blood felt amazing as it flowed through my body, delving into every cell of my being. It was so good, I feared I’d never be able to take control away from her.

I can see everything she does while in possession of my body, but I can’t stop any of it. I’m a ghost of a bystander, watching and waiting, yet never able to interact or voice my displeasure to anyone.

Well, I guess that’s not really true. I voice my displeasure quite loudly, with profanity laden rampages, but Demon Dolly is the only one who hears me. And she is quite adept at ignoring me completely, or making things worse.

Payback’s a bitch, or though she keeps reminding me when we’re alone. This is what you get for shoving me aside all these years, she complained not two days ago.

Fuck you, you damn demon whore!

She stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. A smirk slithered across my now unrecognizable features. Montgomery Carson doesn’t mind my demon whoreness. Actually, I’m quite sure he’s enjoying it on a whole other level from what he could have possibly imagined when he looked at the old you.

Ever since I met Monty I couldn’t help but imagine the things we could do to each other. Sure, I love Chad, but a girl can daydream in private all she wants. But now, I couldn’t get the images of him on top of her… me, out of my head. The grotesque manner in which Demon Dolly was using him for her own personal pleasure. He was a friend, and I cared greatly for him, but I knew she’d end up hurting him something terrible in the end. That’s what she does. And now that she had a body, the men in my world were screwed. Both literally and figuratively.

She licked my lips before popping them loudly. Leaning in close to the mirror, she tugged at the skin around my eyes, pulling it taut. I may have to do something about these crow’s feet you seem to be developing rather suddenly, though.

I’d also noticed that my body was aging faster since she’d taken possession of it.

She rubbed the Wheel of Being brand on my wrist. I might look into having this removed while I’m at it. It itches like crazy! How can you stand it?

Don’t you dare touch anything on my body, I screamed.

She flinched at the noise in my head, before straightening up and smoothing down the slinky blue wrap dress on my curvy frame. I did look good in that dress, but it disgusted me that she was wearing it for something devious before I ever got a chance to take the tags off.

Don’t worry, Lizbeth May, I took the tags off for you. She smiled brightly, my eyes glowing a sickening blood red. I have a date with this cute little thing from the bar. He’s barely legal, but adorable as all get out.

No! You can’t do that! It was bad enough that she was living my life and having sex with one of my best friends while in possession of my body, but to go out with a complete strangers? Again!

She chuckled. Oh yes, I most certainly can.

The sobbing inside my head was in stark contrast to the bubbly, happy face reflected in the mirror. I wished for death. I hoped the monstrous man of my nightmares would return and destroy me with one slice of his massive blade. At least if I were dead I’d know for sure where Chad was; I’d know if he were dead or alive. Happiness would most certainly be within my grasp if only I were dead.

But here I was, stuck in my own head, with a monster at the wheel. My vampire father, Gregory, had my friends—dead or alive, I didn’t know—and Demon Dolly had Monty under her thumb. The worst part: no one seemed to notice she was me!

The staff at Athena’s Ambrosia didn’t notice anything different about their boss. Apparently I’m always loud, bossy, and hitting on every guy in the place. And no one asked where Chad had gotten off to? It seemed so out of the ordinary that my best waitress and old friend, Susan, wouldn’t wonder where the bar’s bouncer, and my lover, had gotten off to.

Had Demon Dolly been able to do something to them without me knowing? Maybe she vamp whammied them. Did I even have the power to whammy someone? If so, I’d never used it before. How would she know about it?

None of that mattered now, though. She was about to take my body and go out on a date with some random stranger from the bar.

Don’t worry, he’s quite the handsome fellow, she smiled. Blond, blue eyes, twenty-something, and ready to do anything I tell him to. She quirked my head to one side, a thoughtful look on my face. Actually, he reminds me of a little yapping puppy. Ready and eager to take any and all attention I decide to shower upon him. She nodded. He’ll make a perfect little minion when I get around to taking up with Gregory.

Please don’t, I begged. Just don’t. Tears rolled down my imagined face (they sure as hell wouldn’t on my real face), but she didn’t care.

I watched as she walked through my house, grabbed the matching hand bag I’d purchased especially for that dress, locked the front door, and climbed into my old Honda Accord. She gave a neighborly wave as we passed MaryAnne Patterson checking her mailbox for the days collection of pizza coupons, furniture store going-out-of-business ads, and deals from the local car dealerships. Get this year’s model for the amazingly unbelievable low price of $5,999!

I spared a moment to consider buying myself a new car when this was all over. I certainly had the money to buy anything I wanted these days. It had been a terribly stressful year, but I was coming out of it more financially wealthy than I could ever imagine. Hell, I actually had several cars at the Atlanta estate to choose from.

I hate this damn car, Demon Dolly screamed. She fiddled with the heating controls on the console panel, but only cold air blew out the vents. Served her right.

I hope you freeze to death, I hissed at her.

She ignored me and kept right on driving. It didn’t take long to reach the hotel in the next town over. Pulling my car into a spot next to a red F350, she squealed in delight. He’s already here!

I tried once more to appeal to her softer side, if one existed. Please, don’t do this. You don’t understand what you’re doing. Are you trying to destroy my life? I love Chad. You can’t keep screwing everything that walks by!

She chuckled, pulling on the handle of the hotel’s front door. I can do whatever I want with your life, and I plan to do a lot more.

And that was two days ago.

* * *

Please don’t leave. You can stay as long as you like, the blond twenty-something begged. I have food in the fridge and hot water in the shower.

Demon Dolly leaned down and kissed him gently on the lips. She nuzzled his neck and traced a line across his collar bone, over the matching set of puncture wounds, and then whispered in his ear, Thanks for everything, before taking a step back.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me back toward the bed. Don’t leave. He batted his long lashes over those mocha-colored eyes; they twinkled with mischief and desire.

No, no, no, Demon Dolly chastised. She pulled my hand away and wagged the index finger side to side. Tsk, tsk, little man. I have places to be, and lives to ruin. He looked confused, but then smiled and reached for my hand, again. Demon Dolly stepped away just in time, slipping my shoes back on quickly. It’s not happening, Bob—

It’s Blake.

Right… Blake. She swiped away his correction with the flick of a hand and stepped briskly toward the hotel room door. It was fun, Blake, but I have a business to run. It has been two days, after all. She blew him a kiss before dashing out the door.

I heard him shout, I’ll see you soon, just before the door slammed closed.

Did that seem a little creepy to you? She flounced boldly past the hotel’s front desk, ignoring the look coming from the older woman as she peered over the top of her glasses at the hot mess talking to herself.

Now you want my opinion on how you use my body, I scoffed. I shuddered at the imagines burned into my brain from the last two days. I told you not to go.

Opening the car door, Demon Dolly threw my handbag across the seats, hitting the passenger side door; I winced as it hit the dirty floor.

There goes a hundred and fifty dollars I’ll never get back.

Oh, stop bellyaching about a damn handbag. It’s not like you aren’t a millionaire these days, she quipped, slamming the gear shifter into drive and stomping on the gas.

It took about twenty minutes of listening to her rambling complaints and put downs before she pulled the car into the driveway in front of my house. She climbed out of the car—complaining about how low to the ground my car was—and started for the house. I imagined punching her in the heart, and she stilled quickly.

You’re a damn bitch, Liz Baker, she shouted. But it did the trick and she reached back into the car to retrieve my abused handbag. I hate you.

Then get out of my body, you demon whore.

Not happening. She unlocked the door and walked inside, kicking my shoes across the room with two steps, before slamming the door behind us.

* * *

Half an hour later Demon Dolly was freshly showered, lotioned up, and wrapped in my fluffy, pink robe—which was now covered in food and drink stains because she refused to do my laundry—even with my constant complaining and name calling in our head. I never missed a chance to pester her, in hopes of finally breaking her down and forcing her to evacuate my body. I had a nagging feeling her presence was slowly killing me, and the longer she stayed the higher the chance I wouldn’t live another year.

For the last time would you stop the incessant noise! She covered her ears—like that could stop me in my own head—and ran from the bathroom.

Talking to yourself again? Monty was sprawled most seductively across my bed, only a strip of sheet covering his well-endowed manhood.

Yes, I now knew exactly how well-endowed he was. No more daydreaming and fantasizing. Nope, I knew every inch, freckle, wrinkle, and outline of firm muscle on his body.

And none of it made me happy.

If I was going to sleep with a man I’d been fantasizing about for a while, then I wanted to be the one in control of my body. This was like telling a hungry person they can have some food, but instead of giving it to them you make them watch someone else eat it. The food doesn’t know the difference in who’s enjoying it, but the person missing out