Bloodlines: The Chosen Chronicles

By Christine James

Witness the rise of a new evil . . .

For centuries, Angie has kept people at arm's length, including Blaze. Her twin brother Josh was the only one she let get close.  However, she's growing restless and can't explain why.

A new threat is looming on the horizon, and it's one that makes Lucifer look like child's play. This time, stakes are higher and the game much deadlier. Something is coming, and it will shatter everything they have ever known.  Lives will be lost, and betrayal is heavy in the air. Pain and loss flow thicker than blood when bloodlines get crossed. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: BGP Publishing
• Release date: Apr 4, 2018
• ISBN: 9781943490035

Christine James

Christine lives in rural Missouri with her husband two sons, cats, dogs, birds, and fish. When she’s not creating fantastical worlds, or bringing stories to life, she bakes specialty cakes. In 2013, when her youngest son was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum disorder) she became an advocate for Autism awareness.  

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my beloved grandfather who lost his battle with leukemia in May 2013.

You’re home now with the one you belong with! I miss you every day!

Also to my own angels, my sons! I love you, boys!

You’re my reason for living.

Acknowledgments

To my mentor, Leroy, for his time, patience and guidance. Without him, I don’t think I could have come this far.

Babs, for her patience and her stellar ability to help me focus and see what I needed to see, and always having my back and pushing me when I wanted to give up.

My mother and father, for always loving me, and believing in me. The host of people that have worked on this series at one point or another. And last but not least, my amazing husband. The man that has put up with my ramblings and my tunnel vision for the past several years. My cheerleader, my best friend, my biggest fan and my most honest critic. I love you.

Chapter 1

You have got to be freaking kidding me! Angie somersaulted over the demon. I thought we were finished with all this B.S. when Erin went all angel-like and beat ole Lucy back to hell.

Angie flicked her wrist, the leather whip striking out like a snake. The braided end struck its target with immaculate precision, severing the head from the shoulders of the scaly, fork-tongued demon. She stepped quickly to the side as the head rolled and bounced toward her feet, leaving a trail of black, oozing tar behind it.

I mean, really, this is getting ridiculous. She slung the whip over her shoulder, and it coiled around her waist. With hands on hips, she looked around, a slow smile creeping across her ruby-colored lips. She watched as Blaze sprang into the night sky, his silvery wings snapping out behind him. He glided in lazy circles over the demon he’d been fighting. With the grace of an eagle, he folded in his wings and dove towards the beast.

Are you going to answer me or are you ignoring me? She shifted from one foot to the other impatiently.

Kind of busy here, he said as he tackled the demon.

She rolled her eyes and checked her fingernails. Seriously, Blaze, you’re just toying with the thing. Kill it already. We need to figure out what’s going on.

Fine. He jumped to his feet and held out his palm. He tossed a flaming orange ball towards the middle of the demon’s chest, immediately engulfing him. The loud hissing and shrill cries filled the cool night air as the beast collapsed to the ground. She fought the urge to cover her ears. The city below was oblivious to what was happening on the roof of the forty-story building.

Angie wrinkled her nose in disgust. Okay, that’s just gross. The demon bubbled, sending the putrid odor of burning flesh into the breeze.

Aw, c’mon Angie. Let the man have his fun, Eli laughed. He knelt and wiped the black blood of the dead demon off the bottom of his jeans.

It’s nasty. Burnt demon is worse than rotting dog meat.

And just how many rotting dogs have you smelled?

Shut up, Eli. You know what I mean, she said punching him lightly in the arm.

Blaze landed beside them, wide smile splitting his face. What, you don’t like demon flambé?

Couldn’t you have just stabbed him or something?

And miss all the fun? Not likely.

He stooped, picked up his forgotten knife, and slid it into the sheath secured at his calf. After wiping his hands on his pants, he walked over to where Angie stood. For a moment, she allowed herself to openly admire the broad expanse of his chest and narrow tapering waist. He wore the standard black tank top he considered his fighting uniform, revealing the black tribal tattoos curling their way up his arms and the side of his neck. Instead of pants, he wore a pair of khaki cargo shorts and flip-flops.

You know, those aren’t the greatest shoes for fighting demons, she said nodding toward his feet.

Like those are? he retorted, gesturing to her heels.

What? They can come in useful.

He strutted towards her. She had to admit, the man was sexy as hell. Even before he reached her, she could smell his scent, the scent that was only for her. Instantly, she knew her eyes were shifting colors, and judging by the strength of his fragrance, he was feeling much the same way.

As Blaze stared at Angie, his heart tripped in his chest. She looked like a leather-clad angel. Her breasts were pushed up so high they nearly spilled over the top of her black leather corset. It wasn’t exactly the most practical fighting outfit, but she rocked it nonetheless. The shining buckles and clasps shimmered in the weak glow of the building’s security light.

He stopped and pulled her into the circle of his arms, but she gently pushed him away, as she had for the past six months. Regardless, he planted a firm kiss on her full lips.

Eli coughed. Get a room already.

She turned her gaze away, unable to bear the pain she knew was in Blaze’s face as she pushed him back.

So, what’s the deal? Why are all the creepy crawlies deciding to climb from the pits of hell? she asked as she stepped around him. The leather of her pants squeaked as she knelt to examine the severed head. The eyes of the demon were wholly black and stared blankly up at her.

Well, it’s said that Legion is not one, but many, Blaze said with a shrug.

Legion and his Multiple Personality Disorder is really starting to piss me off. I mean, why are they starting to come out in the open like this? With Lucifer. . . .

Satan, Blaze corrected. Angie threw him an ice-cold glare, and he backed away with his hands up. Hey, I’m just sayin’.

"With Satan, she enunciated, back in the pit, how are all these demons getting out? I mean, these aren’t like the ones who followed Daemon. These are—"

Different, another voice said suddenly. Angie and Blaze turned as Angelo appeared beside the now smoldering demon.

Where have you been? Blaze asked, staring at Angelo’s shredded t-shirt.

Erin and I ran into some nasty demons in China, he said as he came and stood beside Angie.

Where is Erin? Blaze asked.

Angie felt a twinge of jealousy deep in her chest at Blaze’s concern for the other girl. Even though six months had passed, the image of Erin and Blaze pressed against one another was still burned into her mind. She pushed her irritation down and tried to focus on the situation at hand instead.

She went back to the house to shower. She’s still trying to get the hang of her powers. The thing exploded.

Poor baby, Angie muttered sarcastically.

Really? That’s totally badass. Angie slugged Blaze in the arm, and he winced. What?

Would you, please, focus? I swear you’re worse than an effing child, she grumbled.

Sorry, he shrugged.

How about Josh? Is he okay? Because Josh was her twin, she would know if something was wrong with him, but that didn’t stop her from worrying.

He’s fine. He checked in a little while ago, Angelo said absently, staring down at the corpse. His dark brows drew together in a worried frown. Anxiety rose in Angie’s chest at the serious look on his face.

Have you seen this before?

Angelo slowly shook his head. I’ve always thought it was a myth, he muttered.

Thought what was a myth? she pressed.

What are they? Are they demons? Blaze asked.

Angelo was silent for a long moment, and then slowly he lifted his head. They are demons, but not ones like we’re used to. The ones we’ve dealt with in the past were members of the Fallen; angels turned demon. These . . . he said kicking the head with the toes of his scuffed boot, these are purebloods.

This isn’t gonna end well, is it? Blaze said crossing his arms.

No. Purebloods were here long before the angels fell.

But how? God didn’t create demons. I thought Satan did after he fell.

The Fallen became demons by their own choice. Lucifer didn’t create them.

If God didn’t create them, then who did? Angie asked.

He just shrugged. It’s said that Satan himself locked these demons away in the deepest pits of Hell. It’s also said he feared them because they wouldn’t bow to his control. Ones like these and the ones Erin and I fought earlier are just newborns.

Angie’s throat went dry. These had been some of the hardest demons she’d ever come across. She bit the inside of her cheek, focusing on the pain instead of the fear she felt.

These were newborns? I’d hate to see the momma, Blaze said.

I don’t understand. If they were locked away in the furthest reaches of Hell, then how in the frilly heck did they get out? Angie asked.

Angelo looked from Blaze back to Angie.

Someone has found a way to control them. They have opened the gate.

Blaze and Angie both groaned.

Ah, hell, Blaze grumbled.

I need a long, hot shower, Angie said tiredly as they walked up the steps to their house. Technically it was Angelo’s house, but since the first battle, they’d all pretty much become roommates; something she was not used to, nor was she overly sure she liked.

Want me to wash your back? Blaze teased.

Want to lose your hands? she snapped. She regretted it when she saw hurt flash across his face and softened her tone. Sorry, I’m tired and just want to crawl into bed. It wasn’t a complete lie. She did want to crawl into bed, but she was the furthest thing from being tired, and he knew it. After a battle, she was usually wound extremely tight and chose to burn all the extra energy by training. Tonight, was different, though.

She turned and faced him. They were standing in the doorway, completely alone. She placed a hand on his chest, and her heart skipped as the corded muscles rippled beneath her palm. Standing on her tiptoes, she gently brushed her lips against his. He snaked his arm around her waist and pulled her into the wall of his chest. She sighed against him and allowed him to deepen the kiss.

As quickly as it began, however, she pulled away.

Good night, she whispered.

Night, he sighed in response.

Love you, he said with his mind. His whispered declaration ricocheted around in her head like one of those twenty-five cent bouncy balls from a vending machine.

Goodnight was all she could say as she climbed the steps. She heard Blaze take off into the night, and because his mind was open, she could see what he was seeing. She could feel the breeze on his face as he flew through the sky, circling their hidden island. She could hear the steady whooshing beat of his wings. Slowly, she slipped the door between their minds closed, but not before she felt his overwhelming sadness.

As Angie walked down the hall toward her room, she met Erin, who was coming out of the bathroom. Her golden hair fell in wet ringlets around her face, touching her shoulders. Was it possible that a slip of a girl had gotten more beautiful after her run-in with the Archangel Michael? Mentally, she groaned as Erin greeted her with a smile.

Heard you had quite a night, Erin said warmly.

Ugh, was she always so damn sweet? Yeah. We ran into some nasties, but took care of them easily enough, Angie replied with a shrug. Okay, it was an outright lie. They hadn’t been easy, but she didn’t want to give Erin the satisfaction of knowing they were hard to defeat.

We got the nasty end of some ourselves. A deep frowned etched her face, and Angie briefly wished it would give the girl wrinkles. A stab of guilt hit her. Erin truly was a sweet girl, but her brief interlude with Blaze was still raw in Angie’s mind. For the first time, she noticed the slightly bluish mark marring Erin’s right cheek.

Reaching up, she grasped Erin’s chin with her thumb and index finger. You need to get ice on that.

Thanks, I will. Erin brushed past her and walked down the hall. Before Angie could escape to the confines of her room, she was stopped by Erin’s voice.

I’m getting something to eat. Do you want me to make you something?

Damn her for being so blasted nice. Angie turned to face her. I’m good, she replied.

Okay. Erin began to turn and walk away.

Thanks though, Angie called after her. Erin flashed a warm smile and disappeared down the steps.

Slipping into the welcoming darkness of her room, she leaned heavily against the door and expelled a long sigh. Alone at last.

Erin made her way to the kitchen and rummaged through the meager contents of the refrigerator. Blaze, you were supposed to get groceries.

A few minutes later came his reply. Sorry, I’ve been a little distracted lately.

Erin didn’t miss the sadness in his thoughts. For the past several weeks, he’d been confiding in her about his situation with Angie.

Things still aren’t any better?

I just can’t get her to open up to me. In fact, she seems to be shutting down more and more lately. I thought things had changed after that night, but she refuses to acknowledge her feelings for me. I mean, I know she has them, for Pete’s sake. Her eyes change colors the instant we’re together, and her smell is like. . . .

Ugh, okay enough of that. I really don’t need you to show me how you’re feeling. Erin’s cheeks flushed.

You’re still cute when you blush. His laughter echoed in her mind.

Blaze, stop that! Did you ever stop to think that maybe your flirting is her problem? There was a long silence, and Erin rolled her eyes. Really?

What? It’s not like I can read her mind.

And why can’t you?

She’s got that sucker locked up tighter than a nun’s—

Don’t you dare finish that sentence! You men are such pigs sometimes. Seriously, don’t you think that she still may be a bit uneasy about what happened between us?

Another long pause.

Blaze? What aren’t you telling me? Erin sat at the kitchen table and thumbed through a magazine.

Angie is a complicated creature. She doesn’t get jealous, per se.

Then what?

She gets threatened, and when she’s threatened, it’s bad.

Should I talk to her?

I don’t know if that would be a good idea. She’d know we’ve been discussing this, and it would only make things worse. Erin could feel the cautious tone in his thoughts.

I’ll be careful.

Whatever, it’s your life. Erin heard the shrug in his words, and she rolled her eyes.

Go get some food.

But it’s two in the morning, he whined.

Not my problem. If you had done it earlier, then you wouldn’t have to be doing it now.

You really do sound like a mother hen.

Well, living in a house with four overgrown man-children will do that to a girl. Now go.

Yes, Momma.

Erin felt Blaze withdraw from her mind and she closed the barriers once more. She pushed out and found Angelo in his study. She wanted to go to him, but something inside her wanted to reach out to Angie more.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed her mind out and felt the steel barriers surrounding the other girl’s mind. Blaze hadn’t been kidding. She pushed a little harder and waited. It wasn’t long before she felt the barrier soften, but only by a fraction.

What? Angie snapped. In another secure part of her mind, Erin tried to think of an excuse to talk to her but was coming up blank.

Angie moved around the room without turning on the lights. It was handy, but Angelo had told her that sometimes powers came as Nephilim grew older. She figured that since she was one hundred and twenty, her powers would be more advanced. Instead, her lack of powers left her feeling inadequate. One of her gifts—a recently developed one—was the ability to see in the darkness just as well as she could see in the light. It was handy while training or fighting in the dark but otherwise it was lame in the way of powers. She didn’t have as many abilities as the others, and it only added to her frustrations, especially where Erin was concerned.

Angie sat heavily on the edge of the bed and unzipped her boots. Sighing with relief, she rotated her ankles and wiggled her toes in the plush carpet. Then she set to work unfastening the clasps and hooks and buckles on her corset. Five minutes later, she heaved the garment to the floor and arched her back. As she was removing her pants, she felt pressure behind her eyes; it was a pressure that told her someone was trying to get into her mind. Her hands stopped before unzipping her pants. The other presence lingered on the outside of her mind’s barrier the same way someone would wait after ringing a doorbell.

She closed her eyes and saw that the other presence was Erin. She groaned. What? She sounded a bit harsher than she intended.

I was wondering if we could talk.

Angie was instantly suspicious. Talk about what?

Well, anything. I realize I don’t know much about you, and I know we didn’t start off on the right foot, so I thought we could kind of have, like, a girl’s night.

Like what? Paint each other’s nails and braid our hair? No, thanks. I think I’ll pass.

That’s not really what I had in mind. I just thought it’d be nice to have another girl to talk to. There’s way too much testosterone in this house. Erin sounded a little hurt.

Angie thought about her offer. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, it sounded like a nice idea. Being able to talk to another woman would be refreshing, even if she were nearly a century older than the girl.

Okay, I guess. But can we do it some other night? I just really want a shower and sleep.

Sure. Just let me know when.

Okay. She felt Erin withdrawing, then stop at the entrance of her mind.

Angie, I’m here if you ever need someone to talk to. You know, girl talk.

Um, thanks, she replied, and to her surprise, she meant it.

Anytime, was all she heard in response.

Chapter 2

Oh, mamma noi ti lodiamo. Oh, mamma si rivolgono a noi. Noi siamo tuoi servi. Siamo qui per servire.

Angie bolted upright, her nightshirt clinging to her sweat-dampened body. The sun was shining cheerfully through the sheer black curtains, but her heart raced in her chest. What the hell? She leapt from the bed and pulled on a pair of boxers and a tight, black tank top. Her body trembled as she hurried from her room, the chant still ringing through her mind.

Erin had been looking for Angelo when Angie came hurdling from her bedroom. They collided and toppled to the floor. Erin took in Angie’s appearance and realized that without the makeup and leather, she looked closer to her own age. Her hair was wadded into a messy knot on top of her head. Some of the strands had escaped, brushing against her face.

Watch it, Angie growled as she climbed back to her feet.

Hey, you’re the one who plowed into me. Once on her feet as well, she looked at Angie again.

What’s wrong? She reached out and placed a hand on her arm.

Angie glanced down at her hand and then at Erin. Nothing. Where’s Angelo?

I was just going to find him. Hey, you’re shaking. What happened?

Don’t worry about it. I just need to find him. Angie pushed her way past Erin, marched down the hall, and pushed the door to Josh’s room open. She just stared at the bed a moment. Josh was leaning back against the head of his bed, a blond sitting on his lap.

What the hell? Angie, get out of here! he yelled. The startled girl slid from Josh’s lap and pulled a blanket over her nude body.

Something’s wrong. Get rid of your little friend, Angie hissed as she slammed the door behind her. She made a mental note to rip her brother a new one for bringing a stranger home, and a human one at that. Opening her mind, she sent a message out to the others.

Meet me in the training fields in five minutes. Something isn’t right.

She waited until she had replies from everyone before closing her mind. Hurrying back to her room, she quickly changed clothes. Then with a single thought, she went to the training field to wait.

She paced back and forth until everyone finally started to show up. Blaze was the first to arrive, followed by Erin, which annoyed her. Angelo and Eli followed minutes later, and then Josh showed up. Angie glared at him. I trust you took care of her memory? she snapped at him.

I’m not stupid, he muttered.

You must be to bring a human home.

You brought a girl home? Eli asked. Josh nodded, and he and Eli pounded fists.

You’re not my mother, Angelica.

Angelica? Blaze smirked. Angie whipped around and pinned him with a sharp glare.

You ever call me that, and your wings will be clipped. Permanently.

Blaze backed away, faking a cough. Angelo stepped forward and grabbed her gently by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him.

Angie, what’s wrong? She stared up into his cool gray eyes and relaxed. He always could calm her nerves. He was still as sexy as the first time they’d met: jet-black hair pulled tightly back, strong jaw dusted with a shadow of a beard, hint of a perfect smile.

I heard chanting, she said loudly.

Are you sure it wasn’t panting? Eli snickered, shouldering Josh.

Eli, Erin frowned at him. She stepped towards Angie. What kind of chanting?

Angie searched her memory, and as the words came back to her, she slowly repeated them. "Oh, mamma noi ti lodiamo. Oh mamma si rivolgono a noi. Noi siamo tuoi servi. Siamo qui per servire." She looked up at Angelo, expecting him to answer her, but she was surprised when it was Blaze that spoke.

" ‘Oh mother, we