Miracle of Hope: Miracle Trilogy, #3

By Linda Mooney

My name is Casi Clarity and I draw demons to me like flies to honey. They want me dead. Again. If only to see if I am resurrected a second time, and how. All I want to know is why me?

The road to Texas has been a hard one. I've seen some ghosts from my past that I thought were long gone, but learning secrets that were kept from me could explain why I was chosen.

I know it's already been written. Coheed knows, Gilly knows, but apparently I have to figure it out on my own.

According to Coheed, though, what's not written is exactly where, when, or who will triumph, but I know everything happens for a reason. I was resurrected for a reason. Coheed was sent to me for a reason. I just have to trust in God's plan, and I do. I also know that if I die this time, I probably won't be allowed another chance.

It's time for the final showdown. I don't know if I will survive, or if any of us will. But it's God's will, and we must fight regardless of the outcome.

My name is Casi.

The undead call me their angel mouse.

Coheed calls me Earth's last miracle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Linda Mooney
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9781941321966

Linda Mooney

Linda loves to write sensuously erotic romance with a fantasy, paranormal, or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel. A wife, mother, grandmother, and retired Kindergarten and music teacher, she lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast where she delves into other worlds filled with daring exploits, adventure, and intense love. She has numerous best sellers, including 10 consecutive #1s. In 2009, she was named Whiskey Creek Press Torrid's Author of the Year, and her book My Strength, My Power, My Love was named the 2009 WCPT Book of the Year. In 2011, her book Lord of Thunder was named the Epic Ebook "Eppie" Award Winner for Best Erotic Sci-Fi Romance. In addition, she write naughty erotic romances under the name of Carolyn Gregg, and horror under the pseudonym of Gail Smith. For more information about Linda Mooney books and titles, and to sign up for her newsletter, please visit her website. http://www.LindaMooney.com

Book preview

Chapter 1

Texas

Casi Clarity was halfway through her hamburger when she stopped and stared at it. Gilly noticed her hesitation. Something wrong? He was stuffing French fries into his mouth. She wondered how he could eat them without catsup.

I just thought of something.

What?

"How are we paying for all this? Our meals, our motel room, gas for the car. I don’t have any money. And I know Coheed doesn’t carry a wallet or a credit card, either." She glanced over at where the angel was standing in front of the diner’s jukebox, perusing the titles.

The former priest chuckled. Don’t worry about it, Casi. We’re well taken care of.

Remembering how she’d been fed in the past, she leaned over the table. Coheed didn’t steal this, did he? she whispered.

No, he didn’t steal it, Gilly assured her. His grin widened. "At least, not this meal."

She shot another look at the angel. Other than herself, Gilly, and a very select few people, no one else knew that the tall black man dressed in black chinos and a white Polo shirt wasn’t human. Neither could they tell. And they would never find out unless Coheed believed it was important enough to reveal his true nature.

That he was, in truth, an angel.

But he’s not a regular angel, she mentally reminded herself as she resumed her meal. He was an archangel, one of God’s most revered and powerful. And he was her personal protector.

Gilly, how far are we from Renoir?

If we drive straight through, we’ll get there sometime around midnight. But I strongly suggest we don’t go in search of your graves until daylight.

Casi started to ask him why, but caught herself. She already knew the reason behind the older man’s warning. Don’t go out after dark or the demons’ll get me, she murmured. She took a long sip of her chocolate milkshake as Coheed returned to their booth and slid in next to her.

They’re still following us, he informed them.

Doesn’t surprise me, Gilly commented. Bet they’re picking up a friend or two along the way, too. The older man raised an eyebrow at Coheed. How many can you detect?

At least fifteen, but a couple of those are possessed souls.

Which means they won’t last much longer. They’ll have to possess another body before long.

Coheed placed his hands on the table and laced his long fingers together. Demons never seem to understand that taking a human’s soul only slows them down.

I guess they’re willing to make that compromise, Casi observed. Without those souls, they can’t enter or walk on consecrated ground.

Will that be all for you today? a voice broke into their conversation. The middle-aged waitress flashed them a tired smile. How about some pie?

We’re fine, thank you, Gilly responded.

The woman motioned toward Casi’s plate. Would you like a to-go container for that?

Yes, please.

How about you, sir? The woman hovered over Coheed’s shoulder. Are you sure you don’t want anything? A glass of water?

Coheed smiled as he shook his head. I’m fasting, but thank you.

Casi was able to contain her laughter until the woman left. Fasting. I gotta remember that next time.

Gilly grunted. Back to what we were talking about. I called Father Basil after you went to bed last night. He’ll be waiting for us at the church when we arrive.

Does he know about the Book of Daviel? Casi asked.

Gilly shook his head. No, but he’s been notified by his bishop that we’re on a pilgrimage, and that we have the full backing of the Vatican.

I bet that put him in a tizzy, Coheed remarked with a grin.

The former priest chuckled in reply. The man is absolutely in a tizzy. I could tell he wanted to ask me a hundred questions about our intent, but protocol doesn’t allow him to.

Will you tell him? Eventually? asked Casi.

Eventually? Yes. I’ll have to.

In case something should happen to us, Coheed added.

She glanced over to see him intently staring at her. Nodding, she went back to her burger, but she no longer had an appetite. She didn’t know what would occur once she met the demons. Once they had their final showdown. She didn’t know if she would survive, or if any of them would survive, including Coheed.

So, basically, Father Basil would be responsible for taking care of our remains if worse came to worse, she murmured.

Pretty much, yes, Gilly confirmed.

A song started up in the jukebox. It was a country western tune she hadn’t heard in ages, and she sat up straighter just as the waitress laid a to-go container next to her plate. Gilly took the check, and the woman left.

I love that song. Daddy owned every album by that singer, Casi remarked, and glanced around the room. I wonder why people don’t wear cowboy hats like they used to? You’d never know, just by looking, that you were in Texas.

The baseball cap has taken its place, Gilly remarked. I don’t need to tell you how much things have changed since the last time you were alive. Are you ready to go?

I need to visit the little girl’s room first, Casi admitted, closing the lid on the box.

Coheed held out a hand. Go. I’ll take this to the car.

And I’ll pay the tab, Gilly announced, slowing getting to his feet before shrugging on his jacket.

Casi slid out of the booth to go to the restroom as the three of them parted. Her mind remained on the task still ahead of them as she entered the first empty stall. During the ride from New Orleans, they hadn’t spoken much about what they’d have to face in the coming days. Not that they couldn’t, but because none of them had any idea of what was to happen.

No. Correction. They know a little more than me because they were able to read more of the Book of Daviel than I was. They were allowed to view its secrets.

In a way, she remained bitter about not being made privy to all of the truth. She’d argued that, if she was the one sole person who’d be responsible for taking down all the demons of Hell, why couldn’t she at least be allowed to read the entire document?

There isn’t a general in any army out there who was ordered to go into battle without knowing what the commander in chief had up his sleeve! she had hotly debated him earlier.

To which Coheed had calmly replied in that warm English accent she loved to hear, Casi, luv, our commander in chief is God, and He has a reason for keeping us from knowing all things until He’s ready to reveal them…or not.

What do you mean, or not? You got to read the testament.

True. He’d nodded his head, a tiny smile creasing the corners of his mouth. But you’re assuming the testament reveals everything. It doesn’t, cookie. It doesn’t tell us three very important, and in my opinion, crucial details. He held up a finger. It doesn’t tell us where this monumental battle will take place. Another finger. It doesn’t tell us when. A third finger. And it doesn’t tell us who, if any of us, survives.

So why are we going to Texas?

Because you want to, luv. Because you need to. In here. He tapped his chest. Because you need that closure. Because you have questions you want answered.

Like, if my body is inside the casket where I was buried?

Precisely.

Is it possible the final battle will be there?

It’s possible. It’s also possible it’ll take place somewhere else.

But the testament isn’t clear about exactly where?

The angel chuckled. If you’re wondering if it mentions the name of a town, no, it doesn’t. It just says that the battle will take place on a wide and open plain.

She snorted. Texas has plenty of those.

The person in the stall next to her flushed and exited, letting the door slam behind her. Casi finished and left the stall to wash her hands.

She stopped, her feet suddenly adhered to the floor, as she stared at the ghastly hole where the woman’s face should be. Pointed teeth ringed inside as saliva oozed down the corners of the chin. The demon stood in front of the sinks, facing her, bouncing on the balls of her feet as it prepared to take her down.

Casi managed to break her temporary paralysis and took a step back. The restroom door was to her left, but the demon could intercept her before she got that far.

The door opened. Casi reacted without thinking, and raced for the opening, when something hard slammed into her. It knocked the air out of her as she dropped to the floor. Luckily, her down jacket helped to cushion her fall.

The restroom door quietly closed, and a dark voice laughed. The prize is ours!

Can it, the open-mouthed demon snarled. Grab her! We have to get out of here before they come looking for her!

The one standing over her reached down with bare bones for arms and wrapped skeletal fingers around one of Casi’s wrists. When it made contact with her flesh, there was loud hiss and the noxious smell of something burning. The bony demon shrieked and jerked away.

Take her by the clothes! the open-mouthed demon ordered. At the same time, it lunged for her.

Casi threw herself forward, head-butting the bony demon in the midsection. The creature let out a shriek and reached down. Casi felt its hands snag her hair, and there was a second burst of burning stench.

Throwing her arms up to bat away at the thing, she was unprepared for the other demon to tackle her from behind. With its arms hugging her jeans-clad legs, Casi fell hard onto her knees. The bony demon immediately dropped across her back. Her face hit the tile floor, and her body went limp as the world went black.

Chapter 2

Taken

Coheed was standing beside the car when Gilly left the diner. The former priest smiled to himself to see the angel patiently standing by the rear passenger-side door, when he was capable of bypassing the locks and taking a seat. Unlike mortals, Coheed was unaffected by the wintry weather, and didn’t huddle inside a jacket the way Gilly was forced to do.

You do know you’re attracting attention to yourself by not having a coat on, Gilly remarked.

Not if no one else can see me, the angel replied nonchalantly.

Gilly nodded. Touché.

Hitting the unlock button on the key fob, he noticed the take-home box of food already sitting on the front passenger seat as he opened the driver’s side door. He slid under the steering wheel while Coheed remained outside. For an angel, the man appeared apprehensive.

Gill got out of the car and leaned against the door frame. What’s on your mind? The question was rhetorical. He knew very well what the angel was thinking about. Well, maybe not exactly, but he’d bet