Price of the Infernal Device

By Jonathan Evan Hudson

For the most amazing search and retrieval services, who better to hire than Arch-devil Mephisto and Arch-Angel Michael?!

Yet they hit rock bottom. Again. Until a gig comes along.

With consequences bigger than anyone imagined.

Grab this spellbinding paranormal short story and enjoy the case of a lifetime!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Swordpulp Studios
• Release date: Nov 25, 2018
• ISBN: 9781386920274

Jonathan Evan Hudson

Widely traveled, Jonathan Evan Hudson spends as much time studying life as he does writing gripping tales of fantastic adventures. From the giant redwoods of California to the deserts of Israel, his thrilling stories all draw on first-hand experiences and expand them with the fantastic and his acclaimed creativity.

Book preview

CHAPTER ONE

The giant plastic soda machine of neon green and ruby swirls hummed more smug glee than any snotty choir of screeching angels. Its glow brighter than that damn sparkly Lord Celestial and mopey Lucifer fuming together. Teasing any corporeal being with its dress of sweet clear dew across its curved front panel.

And a choice of four bottled treasures for a mere dollar.

Each filled with bubbling sugary nectar darkened with a rich bite. Promising cool crisp relief from the sun above. Despite the sun's best efforts to out burn the deepest lava pits of hell. The flat treacherous concrete aiding and abetting the fiery bastard of an orb. The black pavement nearby even worse.

As horrible as the rickety shack beside it.

Bad enough its griddle belched noxious tofu burgers and steamed broccoli fries. Its buff bald bodybuilder cook tossed those plant-based atrocities at his scrawny customers on paper plates. All five of those Hawaii-shirted weeds slouched eagerly for their grub. Their stools so wobbly the poor seats squealed in pain.

It all made Mephisto's empty growling stomach a hundred times worse. Tempted him to rent his soggy nest of black hair to any crow willing to pay a few bucks for the honor.

Except crows didn't go paying for stuff. Especially not with mortal currency.

One might think the sweltering heat would divert the birds from the blank blue sky. Since it did keep the few cars zooming by from opening their windows. Prevented more than the occasional pedestrian from strutting down the sidewalks.

But pigeons lined the patios of the jagged apartments rises. On every balcony. The white painted rails now