Snake's Alive (Yo-Yo Files #2)

By M.A. Kropp

Things have been quiet. Maybe a little too quiet to suit Cerise. No demonic possessions, no otherworldly intrusions, nothing. It doesn’t bother Johnny. He can use the time to perfect some new yo-yo tricks. But, as these things go, neither the trick nor the quiet seem to work out well.
Because Lucifer shows up in Johnny’s living room, asking for help. Something is not right in the heavenly- and other- realms. Over a nice cup of tea, Lucifer reveals that two archangels have gone missing, and he is under suspicion. Claiming he had nothing to do with the disappearances, he asks Johnny and Cerise to help him find out what’s really going on. Because whatever it is, it can’t be good. Something is trying to tip the balance in favor of chaos, and wants to drag Lucifer into the middle. Johnny checks with a demonic informant he has used in the past, who is reluctant to tell him much, although he does leave them with a cryptic riddle. One that scares Lucifer even more. When Johnny takes Lucifer to do some research on the short list of clues they do have, Lucifer is devilnapped by a larger-than-life serpent. He manages to leave Johnny a clue before he vanishes. Johnny and Cerise are left to puzzle out the disappearances, and find the missing archangels. The clues lead them to a cave, a wolf, and the real Serpent who intends to unleash ultimate destruction and revenge on those who wronged it. Johnny and Cerise need to defeat the Serpent, and release the captive archangels. Oh, and stop what could mean the ultimate destruction of pretty much everything.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.A. Kropp
• Release date: Jun 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370335152

M.A. Kropp

M.A. Kropp is a writer and blogger. She writes fantasy and urban fantasy, with the occasional foray into science fiction. She has always loved myths and magic, fairy tales and folklore. She enjoys taking bits and pieces of folk tales and myths and braiding them together into a new idea. Sometimes, she bends the edges of the myth to push or pull it in a new direction. People are the linchpin of it all. She enjoys creating characters that come to life and may become friends (or enemies!) of yours. Most of all, she tries to tell a good story that all readers can enjoy.She also blogs several times a week at makropp.com. When not writing she is often found serving as Chief Scorekeeper for International Chili Society chili competitions, where she cooked competitively for a number of years. She has also been accused of reading anything and everything that comes in front of her eyes: books, old newspapers, cereal boxes, and, yes, even the instruction manuals that come with things. Most of all she enjoys eating good food, drinking good wine and other spirits, and spending time with good people. She is married, has three grown daughters, four awesome grandchildren, one dog, and three cats. She lives in southern NY.

Book preview

Snakes Alive

Yo-Yo Files #2

by

M.A. Kropp

Cover Design by Kream of the Kropp Techworks

Some artwork components sourced from pixabay.com

Copyright © 2017 by M.A. Kropp

Smashwords edition

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment. It may not be sold or given away to anyone. If you would like to share this ebook, please purchase a copy for each recipient. If you are reading this ebook and did not purchase it or it was not purchased for you, please go to Smashwords and purchase a copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

About the Author

More by the Author

Chapter One

It doesn’t bother you that it’s been too quiet lately? Cerise looked up from the newspaper spread on the table in front of her.

Are you complaining? Johnny was standing in the center of the room, a tablet computer propped on the arm of the chair next to him. His long, dirty blond hair and thin frame made him look taller than his just under six-foot height. He was holding a silver yo-yo in his hand. He glanced at the tablet, and snapped the yo-yo out and back on its string a few times. He threw it out and lifted his upper arm so the toy was behind his arm. He gave a hard tug on the string, and it swung forward, wrapping the string around his arm. Johnny frowned and unwound it. This is harder than it looks. It’s supposed to jump over my shoulder and down in front of me.

Cerise was watching him, her chin propped on her palm, elbow resting on the paper. What’s that one called?

Around the Corner.

More like Around the Biceps.

Johnny made a face at her. So, you were complaining about what, again?

No, not really complaining. Just, I don’t know, I worry when the demon world gets too calm. Like something’s about to blow up. She shrugged her thin shoulders. Probably just paranoid. She went back to reading. Johnny tried the new yo-yo trick a few more times, getting it right more often now, then pulled the toy up into one of his favorites: Rock the Baby. The small silver disk was rocking slowly in its triangular cradle of string, light from the room’s lamps reflecting rainbow colors on its metallic surface. He was staring at it, watching the silver flash as it swung.

Uh, Johnny? Cerise slid down from the stool she was perched on and came across the room. Johnny didn’t appear to hear her. She grabbed his hand and pulled. Johnny!

Johnny’s eyes focused on Cerise when her grab caused the yo-yo trick to collapse. When he started to say something, she pointed behind him. Johnny turned to see a funnel of black whirling on the stone hearth in front of the fireplace. He snapped the yo-yo back into his hand as the funnel collapsed, leaving behind a faint smell of brimstone.

And a man, several inches taller than Johnny, with silver-blond hair and pale blue eyes. He was dressed in an expensive-looking dark suit, crisp white shirt, and red-and-blue striped tie. A red pocket square was folded neatly in the jacket’s chest pocket. A red trident was pinned to his lapel.

So, when I said it bothered me that it was quiet, I didn’t mean you had to go and conjure up trouble. Standing next to Johnny, Cerise’s head was at his waist. She tipped her head up to look at him.

I didn’t. He turned his head back to their visitor. The blond man smiled.

No, he didn’t. I found you on my own. His voice was quiet and deep. I know we’re not always on the best of terms. Cerise snorted. Johnny put a hand on her shoulder.

Yes, well, be that as it may, the blond man continued. I need your help. Cerise laughed openly at that.

Not a chance. Whatever your scheme is, we’re not interested. Get lost. Again, Johnny’s hand dropped to her shoulder. He squeezed it gently. Johnny was watching their visitor. The other man smiled again. Cerise looked from one to the other.

You’re not seriously thinking of- Come on, Johnny! You know who this is! Lucifer doesn’t need help from anyone. And, even if he did, it couldn’t be a good thing. Don’t.

Cerise. Johnny’s glance flicked down to her face, turned up to look at him, green eyes wide. She stopped talking. Johnny gave her a half-smile and turned his attention back to the man by the fireplace.

What do you need, Luc?

The blond man took a step forward.

Do you think we could sit and discuss this? It seems so uncivilized to stand. More confrontational, don’t you think?

Johnny tipped his chin and sat on the tan leather sofa. Cerise sat next to him. Lucifer settled into