Savior (The Keepers of Hell Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

hard about that. He knew there was no putting it off. If he didn’t get his ass moving and find Rashaan, the demon would be back. He would return and irritate the fuck out of Ash until he did his job.
         He pushed out of his chair and opened his weapon cabinet. Of course, his favorite blade was already at his hip, but he added a few more just for good measure. Then he looped the amulet around his neck and held it tight in his fist while he chanted the incantation that would take him to Hell.
         He felt the familiar nothing wrap around him like a warm blanket, and for that single moment in time, he knew peace again. Yeah, he realized that it was all kinds of fucked up that the only real peace he knew was in between Earth and Hell, but he would take it any way he could get it. When he was himself again, he found he was in the same place where he always entered Hell. The walls were a deep black, with the bones of the fallen molded into them, creating an unsettling design. It never failed to give him the creeps. The ceiling was high and the stench of blood and death were heavy in the air. The floor was sticky and hot, making his boots adhere to it with every step. Every pair of boots he owned had extra thick soles, but still he could not remain in this place too long or else the bottoms of his shoes would melt away, leaving his feet vulnerable to the burning rock beneath them. If he were to find a word to describe this place, he would say it reminded him of a cave, only there was no entrance and no exit.
         He forced his feet to move with every step as he set out on his search for Rashaan. He could hear the scurrying little feet of the minions nearby and that prompted him to move more quickly. There was no doubt in Ash’s mind that he could easily take out a minion, but with sheer numbers they could overpower him. He would make a tasty snack for them and he wasn’t all about being dinner.
         Minions were just another part of Hell. Each division had different minions. Each division had a leader of sorts. There was a separate Hell for murderers than for thieves, with each one tailored to fit the crime. These were things that Ash discovered on his own. When he had begun to work for the Boss, he was given no information about Hell. The demon only told him not to get himself killed.
         Ash had researched Hell on the internet, but he soon discovered that most of the information out there available to humans was wrong. He learned as he went. After ten years of transporting back and forth, he knew who he could mess with and who to leave alone. While minions were weak individuals, as a group they were a force to be reckoned with. They were short, slimy creatures that scampered about Hell waiting for their next meal. Their job was simple–observe and devour. They reported back to their leader any and everything they saw, and ate anything or anyone that was unlucky enough to be caught in their path.
         Ash rounded a corner and breathed a sigh of relief as the pattering footsteps became further away. He needed to find Rashaan and get this over with. He had issues that had to be dealt with at home. He heard a scraping noise just to his right and on instinct, he drew his blade. He thrust his arm to the side just in time to spear the demon minion through the heart. It had been alone and was waiting for him in the shadows. Ash jerked his knife back and wiped the goo from the little bastard on his thigh. “Stupid fucker,” he muttered as he continued on his way.
    Sweat soaked his brow and was making his hair stick to his neck. He tried to shove it out of the way, but it was no use. He made a mental note to get it cut when he got home. He wondered if Elizabeth would like his hair short and then mentally slapped himself. What the fuck did he care what she thought? And why the fuck was he thinking about that now?
         “You don’t belong here,” a deep rumbling voice said from in front of him.