Ripping Realms: EZ Taylor, Demon Slayer, #5

By VJ Dunn

Fighting demons is tough work! Especially when you're battling in the physical realm where humans can easily become casualties...

Trying to rescue an angel from demons seemed like a hard enough job, but when those demons are actually supposed to be your foster parents, it's... complicated.

EZ is thankful to have the help of his friends, even though one his helpers is actually a giant wolf-like creature from another realm. But since Finn is now stuck in the human realm, he is determined to help EZ and Marcus battle their demonic parents and rescue Zach before the angel... well, not dies, because Zach is immortal after all.

But immortality doesn't mean the angel can't be hurt... and Zach is seriously bad off.

In a race to get the angel back to the right realm, EZ and his friends will have to fight off fearsome creatures while making sure they avoid Samael, the demon prince (Satan's own son!) who really, REALLY hates EZ!


Will EZ and company be able to win the battle to save Zach? Will they be able to travel through The Fade and avoid Samael? Get your copy today of the most exciting story yet in the EZ Taylor, Demon Slayer series!

EZ Taylor, Demon Slayer is a thrilling and inspiring series of tales about one boy's journey to discover his true identity and purpose in life. Biblically based Christian action for young fans of L.B. Anne and Andrew Peterson, this will be your next favorite read.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HEA Publishers LLC
• Release date: Apr 13, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224156351

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Hairy Problems

EZ THOUGHT living at his foster home was difficult before he’d discovered he was a demon slayer. Finding out there were spiritual realms filled with actual demons and other terrifying creatures made him realize living at the Eastons’ might not have been so bad after all.

Until he found out the Eastons were actually demons themselves.

What are we supposed to do? Marcus whispered as they climbed the stairs, following Mr. and Mrs. Easton out of the basement. EZ glanced at him and Finn over Marcus’s shoulder. Their new friend looked very much out of his element.

And no duh, EZ thought to himself. Finn was an amarok, a wolf-like creature from another realm. But in the physical, human realm, Finn looked like a regular teenage boy. One with huge green eyes, but still, looked pretty much like any other teen boy.

EZ sighed. I dunno, he whispered back. He wanted to say, act normal, but there had never been anything normal about the Eastons. EZ had only lived with them for a few months, but it hadn’t taken more than a day to find out they were mean. Really mean. And now that he knew they were demon-possessed—or maybe even demons in disguise—well, it explained a lot of things.

I suggest we do what we can to free your friend, Finn said in his formal, stilted way. EZ craned his neck to see around the amarok to where they’d left Zach, their angel friend, tied to a chair and seemingly unconscious. EZ didn’t know it was possible to knock an angel out, but apparently there were a lot of things he didn’t know.

Wish Friar had filled me in on stuff, he grumbled. Finn looked at him in question and EZ shook his head.

Guess we find out what they— he pointed toward the Eastons, who had reached the basement door that led into the kitchen —want with us and then we’ll go from there.

Finn lifted an eyebrow, which EZ thought was pretty impressive, since until just half an hour before, he hadn’t even had eyebrows.

I believe what they want is for you to take them into The Fade like you had Samael.

EZ frowned, wondering how Finn had known about that. His accidental release of the demon prince into the place they used to quickly travel between realms wasn’t one of his prouder moments, and knowing Samael was lurking in The Fade made it impossible to go back there to reach the other angels.

His reply to Finn about how it had been an accident was cut short by Mr. Easton, who EZ knew was really a huge, snarly, disgusting-looking creature.

Go to your room, he spit as he glanced at Finn. He grinned and EZ wanted to shrink back, away from the evil look. But then he stiffened his spine, reminding himself he was a demon slayer, for crying out loud, and didn’t need to be so afraid all the time.

But that required shoving the memory of what Mr. Easton truly looked like in his demonic form out of his head.

The new addition to our little family will have to share the room with you and the others, Mr. Easton added. EZ winced; he and Marcus already shared the room with Chubs and Wheezer. Adding one more into the tiny room was going to be a real pain.

Mrs. Easton made a sound that seemed more growl than anything. He’s older, she said, motioning toward Finn. He should be in with Jamal and Chuck. She smirked and waved her finger between the three boys.

I would rather keep them separated anyway.

The foster parents turned and walked into the kitchen as Marcus and EZ glanced at each other with matching worried expressions.

Is there something I should be made aware of? Finn asked and they turned back to look at him. Standing on the step below him, EZ realized Finn was almost at eye level with him. Of course, in his real form, the top of EZ’s head barely reached the amarok’s chest.

Just… don’t tick the guys off, Marcus hedged. EZ nodded.

Yeah, especially Psycho… he’s the really big dude. EZ hoped Jamal, aka Psycho, wouldn’t try to beat Finn into the ground. EZ had been told the big guy had done that once with another foster kid who’d been moved into their room. Psycho thought the guy was staring at the picture of his girlfriend too much. The poor kid had spent a few days in the hospital after that and had then gotten transferred to another foster home.

Psycho’s nickname was pretty accurate, EZ figured.

Tick them off? Finn asked, looking between the two of them.

EZ sighed, knowing Finn was going to be hard to explain to the others since he didn’t know American expressions and talked kind of funny. He started to explain what the expression meant, but Marcus spoke before he could.

Maybe we oughta just tell everyone you’re from Germany.

A foreigner would explain a lot, EZ thought, but shook his head. Nah, someone around here probably speaks German.

"In this house? Marcus scoffed. Not likely."

EZ tipped his head to stare at him over the top of his glasses, before remembering he wasn’t wearing them any longer. Something else they were going to have to figure out a way to explain.

We need to figure out a country that Finn could be from that hardly anyone would know about or speak the language.

Marcus nodded, agreeing. How ‘bout Turkmenistan?

EZ scowled at him. You just made that up. But Marcus shook his head.

Nope, that’s a real place. I know that, cuz Mrs. Gilbert said if I hadn’t gotten that one right on the extra point question on our geography midterm, I woulda failed the whole test.

There wasn’t any way EZ could argue since he had no idea himself, but he sighed again. Wish Allison was here. She’d know somewhere Finn could be from.

How ‘bout Finland? Marcus grinned and EZ rolled his eyes.

That’s stup… actually, not a bad idea, he said, stopping himself from blurting out what he’d been going to say. We could just say ‘Finn’ is a nickname. EZ didn’t know much about Finland, other than it was a northern country and he figured with Finn’s light skin and green eyes, it would work.

Marcus grinned, looking pleased that he’d come up with an answer for once. EZ was actually a little impressed himself. While he’d never been great in school himself, especially with all his issues that required IEPs every school he’d ever gone to, he had to admit that he was the smarter one of the two of them. Maybe Marcus isn’t as dumb as he acts.

I bet no one around here speaks Finlandese, his friend added, sounding proud he’d come up with a great idea. EZ blinked a few times.

Nope, he really is that dumb.

Finn huffed. I am standing right here, he said, and I do not appreciate you conversing with each other about me as if I were not present.

Sheesh, Marcus laughed, then clapped his hand atop Finn’s shoulder. Dude, you’re gonna have to chill, cuz even if you’re gonna be from Finland, you’re way too tense.

Finn stared at Marcus for a moment and EZ knew it was because he had no idea what he’d just said. C’mon, EZ said, blowing out a breath, let’s introduce him to Rip and Psycho, and just hope those two won’t gang up on a foreign exchange student.

The amarok bared his teeth. I would like to see them make the effort. EZ laughed.

Those teeth aren’t nearly as impressive as your real ones, he told his friend, shaking his head. They started to step into the kitchen, but a noise stopped them.

Woof!

They spun back around and Marcus laughed. I forgot all about Peter, he admitted.

The dog—really an anansi, who was also from another realm and in reality was something that looked like a giant spider—lunged up the stairs, his long hair flowing behind him like a model on a beach with the ocean breeze blowing. EZ frowned at his thoughts.

I’m turning into a girl…

How are we gonna explain him? Marcus asked as Finn stepped aside to allow Peter to shove into Marcus’s legs. EZ would never understand how his friend could have befriended the giant spider creature, but Peter seemed to really like Marcus. He proved that point when he stood on his back paws and planted his feet on the kid’s shoulders, then licked his face.

Ew! Marcus laughed as he pushed on Peter. He then held his hands out, long strands clinging to his fingers. Marcus winced. Forgot about that sticky hair thing. He shook his hand, but the hair just clung.

Wonder if it’s as strong as his webbing? Marcus asked, then plucked a strand off and pulled it. It didn’t snap. Yep, guess it is.

That reminded EZ that they had a mission to find the anansi claw they were sure Mr. Easton had to have hidden somewhere in the house. The claw was the only thing that could cut through the webbing, and since that was what was tying Zach to the chair in the basement, they were going to have to find it.

Too bad Peter’s dog claws don’t work like his anansi ones, he grumbled. They’d discovered that unfortunate fact too late after they’d come through the realm portal and couldn’t rescue Zach. And now we’re stuck here…

Boys! Mrs. Easton’s grating voice screeched from somewhere in the house. Get in here now, or else you’ll be going hungry for dinner!

They all cringed and lifted their shoulders as if they could cover their ears before hurrying to obey. EZ snorted as they stepped into the kitchen.

You know your family’s bad when you’d rather be in a demon realm.

CHAPTER 2

The Bigger They Are

SHOCKINGLY, PSYCHO and Rip took to Finn right away. They didn’t even make fun of his stilted way of speaking, which left Marcus and EZ staring at one another.

Are we still in another realm? Marcus whispered out of the side of his mouth where they stood in the doorway of the older boys’ room. EZ wondered where Finn was going to sleep, since there were only two beds.

Starting to wonder, EZ replied. It was just… weird.

Relieved that their new friend wasn’t going to be attacked, they made their way to their own bedroom. EZ wasn’t looking forward to it—he’d rather sleep in the tree he and Finn had shared in the other realm. The worst part of sharing the room with Wheezer and Chubs was the smell, since Chubs was apparently gas-powered.

The pair wasn’t in the bedroom, which EZ thought was weird. He wanted to ask where they were, but the last thing he wanted to do was voluntarily engage either of the Eastons’ in conversation.

Peter was still in the closet where they’d left him, curled up in the corner. Marcus chuckled. Guess he likes small spaces, since he is a cave dweller and all.

EZ just shook his head. Hopefully, he doesn’t get that sticky hair all over our clothes. There was enough reason for him to be picked on; he didn’t need to add covered in long blond hair to the list.

They sat on Marcus’s bed shoulder to shoulder so they could talk quietly without being overheard, since they couldn’t close their bedroom door. Mr. Easton had gotten mad when Chubs had slammed the door and now it was in the basement, next to the hot water heater.

Speaking of basements… What are we gonna do about Zach? EZ whispered. We gotta get him outta here as soon as we can.

Marcus sighed. I dunno. We gotta find that stupid claw, but where? I mean, there’s like a million places Mr. Easton could’ve hidden it.

EZ nodded. Yeah, for sure. I would think he’d put it somewhere safe… He turned to look at Marcus, whose eyes widened.

The safe! they both exclaimed, then