The Brimstone Journals: The Brimstone Journals, #3

By Angel Martinez

The Brimstone.

Cargo hauler, brigand ship, privateer. Crewed by the exiled, the misplaced, the uniquely strange and even a certain government assassin. Together, they've faced interstellar criminals, the wrath of archangels, the threat of frogs, their own terrors, nearly deadly buttercopters, and government paperwork. Through it all, as Brimstone's inhabitants expanded from two demons on the run to a complement of eleven various and sundry beings, they've become more than crew. They've evolved into family. Join us now for some snippets from the characters' timelines, flash fiction shorts between the stories from Shax and Verin as kids in Hell all the way to events after The Hunt for Red Fluffy.

The Brimstone Journals, Collection Three also includes a novelette in which the crew discovers that sometimes the simple task of holiday shopping is much more dangerous than it should be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mischief Corner Books
• Release date: Feb 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393992479

Angel Martinez

The unlikely black sheep of an ivory tower intellectual family, Angel Martinez has managed to make her way through life reasonably unscathed. Despite a wildly misspent youth, she snagged a degree in English Lit, married once and did it right the first time, (same husband for almost twenty-four years) gave birth to one amazing son, (now in college) and realized at some point that she could get paid for writing. Published since 2006, Angel's cynical heart cloaks a desperate romantic. You'll find drama and humor given equal weight in her writing and don't expect sad endings. Life is sad enough. She currently lives in Delaware in a drinking town with a college problem and writes Science Fiction and Fantasy centered around gay heroes.

Book preview

Part I

The Early Days

Introduction Part I

These are the journals of the Brimstone crew—a day-to-day accounting of the ship and her passengers. They do go in chronological order, but don't worry, the journal entries still have that lived in journal feel.

Of course, the Brimstone didn't always exist. There were early days, before Shax and Verin left for space & time travel adventures.

These are those stories.

Birthday Breakfast

Time: An Incredibly Long Time Ago

Location: Palace of Princess Ashtaroth, Hell

---

Prince Shax, your shoes!

For a fleeting instant, Shax nearly obeyed the call of his attendants, the ones who dressed him every morning so he could be presentable for breakfast with Mum. She was a princess and wanted him to look perfect at her table. Normally, he sat quiet and still while the goblin dressers bathed him, fussed with his hair and nails, and picked out the perfect clothes. But today was special and he couldn't wait any longer.

Today was his birthday.

He raced down the stairs from his tower and only slowed as he got close to his mother's breakfast room. Running in the palace wasn't allowed. It wasn't dignified and messed up your hair, Mum said. Shax tried to look dignified as he marched past the servants, but he wasn't sure what that looked like. He would get better at it. At least this year, he didn't have an attendant leading him by the hand as if he didn't know the way.

Mum already sat in her throne-like chair in her breakfast room of black velvet and obsidian. She shone like a star against the dark background and the notion hit Shax for the first time that it was probably the point to all the black furniture and drapery.

Carefully so he didn't fall over, Shax gave her a proper bow since he knew how to do that now. Good morning, Royal Mum.

One perfect white eyebrow arched at him. Where are your shoes, my princeling?

Upstairs. Mummy, I was too excited…

I suppose since your feet are perfectly shaped, they won't disturb the aesthetics of the room. Though I do hope you won't be barefoot all day. Calloused feet are so unattractive. She waved to his smaller chair beside her and waited for him to clamber up. There were only two cushions now instead of three to bring him up to the height of the table. So my own little demonling, what would you ask of your mother for your birthday this year? You must consider carefully since your sixth birthday is an auspicious one.

Considering carefully had taken up most of his thoughts the last month. For his fifth birthday, he'd asked for his own nightmare. Mum had given him a spark pony instead, and told him he must learn to ride first. The pony was wonderful, but made him think about how his mother might react to this request or that.

I would like my own minion, Mummy. You have lots of minions. I'd like just one because I'm still a demonling.

Mum broke the top of her egg and took a dainty bite before she answered. I see. This is an admirable wish in a young prince, to want vassals of your own. But minions are a heavy responsibility. Their appearance, their words and actions all reflect upon their liege. You must be able to control them and to discipline them. For that, I'm afraid you're still too young, my own.

Oh. Shax tried not to let his disappointment show, but a shaky sigh still got away from him. Always too young, too small. When would he be big and have beautiful wings like Mum?

Someday, I will choose minions for you. Mum raised her hand and with an elegant wave, ordered one of the imps forward. Today, I have a more appropriate present for you. One I know will please you.

The imp staggered under the weight of a strange stone box. Fancy holes were carved into the lid and the box seemed to be…squeaking.

You may open it. Mum sounded amused, though Shax didn't know why.

He eased the lid back on its hinges to reveal a ball of glossy fur crouched at the bottom of the box. Shax gasped and bounced in his chair. A hell kitten! Really for me?

For you, my darling prince. We will start with smaller responsibilities before we talk about minions, yes? She leaned down so Shax could plant a careful kiss on her cheek.

The kitten uncurled to stare up at him with its gorgeous glowing red eyes. Shining black fur covered most of it, but its ear tufts, tail tip and paws were scarlet.

What will you call your kitten? Mum asked in that same amused tone.

Shax lifted the kitten from its box to set on his lap and feed little bits of egg. He considered the question seriously, before answering, I will call her Mittens.

---

(Author's note: Shax would continue to name his hellcats absurdly inappropriate things like Fluffy and Socks and Spot his entire life.)

A Voice from the Ocean

Time: A Terribly Long Time Ago

Location: Earth, An Atlantic coastline

---

It's an ocean, Ver. Shax spread his arms toward the crash and retreat of the waves, the cool salt spray exciting and new.

Yeah? Where's the magma? Where's the sulfur mist? How the fuck is this an ocean? Verin scowled hard enough to scare away a group of nearby birds.

Shax patted his companion on the shoulder. It's a water ocean. It's all salted water. Amazing, don't you think?

It's stupid. And colder than ice dragon balls. And who had the shitty idea to pour salt into it?

Pour…? I don't think anyone did, you know. I think they simply come that way. Oceans. Shax frowned at a creature with huge claws scuttling sideways past his toes. Though some of the wildlife looks much like home.

Why're we here, genius?

Shax gave a one-shouldered shrug and wandered closer to the waves with his boots in one hand. I'm not certain. I wanted to see it, I suppose. Auntie Lilith talks about the sea. It always sounded unbelievable. A story.

Tons of better places we could've gone if you wanted something fucking unbelievable.

I think it's quite lovely, in a melancholy way. Shax dug his toes into the sand, relishing the soft spread of it as he pressed down. Besides, pearls are said to come from oceans. Pearls are so pretty.

Whatever. Some hell-boar flank would be a lot prettier right now.

Shax shot him a startled glance. You can't be hungry again already.

Always fucking hungry. Verin crouched, drawing angry lines in the sand with a stick. Stupid body needs to stop the stupid growing already.

Since they'd hit puberty it had been like this, and had only gotten worse. As Verin outstripped Shax in height and breadth of shoulder, his constant gnawing hunger only increased with his size. He hoped that Ver would stop growing soon. Mum said he was to be Shax's bodyguard and would receive the proper training and, granted, while it was good to have a sizeable personal guard of impressive strength, Shax didn't want to have to look up too far to speak to him.

Psst. Hey. Demon kids.

Shax peered up and down the beach, frowning when he didn't spot anyone.

Down here, dummy, the voice went on. By the waves.

A glance down and to the left revealed a fascinating being. They, for gender was difficult to determine with an unknown species, were built something like a fish, though with sleek watertight skin rather than scales, and a breathing opening atop the head.

Well, hello there, Shax smiled tentatively. Who might you be?

The being emitted a series of high-pitched whistles and chirps. But my name's not important right now. You kids shouldn't be on topside land. Didn't anyone tell you humans live there?

Shax blinked at that. Well…yes? We've met quite a few humans. They're rather fun.

Filthy, greedy, violent, the being with the whistle-chirp name went on heatedly. No sense of proportion and their singing is terrible. Not to mention, they think dolphins are fish! Idiots. Look, you boys be careful. All I'm saying. Humans are trouble and they're multiplying. It'll only get worse from here.

Thank you, Mr. um…Dolphin. Shax swept the ocean being an elegant bow. We'll be as careful as we can. It will be part of our jobs when we're older to seed chaos in among the humans. We can't really avoid them, I'm afraid.

The dolphin, since they didn't object to the name, snorted through the hole atop their head. Sucks to be you, then.

With a flip of their tail that soaked Shax, the dolphin used their flippers to turn, hump back into the water and swim away.

Can we go home now, your dripping highness? Verin muttered. The water ocean is fucking ridiculous.

Shax shoved his sodden hair out of his eyes. Yes. To both those things. And I'm going to have some sharp words for Auntie Lilith when we get there.

The Hammer

Time: Directly after The Big Reveal

Location: Undisclosed large city, Earth

---

They really didn't waste any time, did they? Shax stood on the sidewalk staring at the Demon Prizefighting sign with mixed interest and jaundiced dismay. A mere three years after the Powers That Be had decided to reveal the physical reality of demons and angels, and humans had discovered ways to exploit it.

You're sure? Shax tore his attention far enough from the lurid poster of battling 'demons'—the artist had obviously never seen one in person—to give Verin a hard side-eye.

Easy money, Shaxy. Verin gave him a little shove. You saying you don't fucking believe I can win?

I have every confidence in your pugilistic prowess. It's the fighting for the entertainment of humans I find…questionable. Shax wrinkled his nose. Undignified. Exploitative.

Just another way to take their money, your royal pain in the ass. Come on. Verin took his arm and gave him no choice but