Introducing the Devil... Infernal (Dance on Fire 3)

Greetings and salutations, Fire Enthusiasts. It has been a while, hasn’t it? I hope you and yours are well. I am doing fine, thank you very much. In fact, I am better than fine. As you can probably guess, I am quite ecstatic…because at long last my latest novel has been released.

If you have yet to read Dance on Fire, it is the crossover horror story of the vampire Nathaniel who saves a woman and her twin infants from another vampire. Not just any vampire, but the one who killed his family, kidnapped and ultimately turned him into one as well. Although he knows the Bible front to back, and knows all too well that he has no place in the Kingdom of God. The woman he saves in not so convinced. This starts him on a journey of self-discovery, as well as making him the family's protector. You can get it here on Amazon or on Smashwords for 99 cents.

In the sequel Flash Point (Dance on Fire Book 2), Nathaniel lives in a monastery with monks. He has not yet heard God speak, but he seeks Him nonetheless. Unbeknownst to him, one of the vampires that escaped in book one has returned with four others. She seeks revenge upon him and his extended family for a wrong done to her. When he races back to town he will find it is too late to do much but enact some revenge himself. At the end of that chapter, the Devil himself steps out of the shadows and proclaims that it is he that has been after Nathaniel all along. Flash Point is also available at Amazon or Smashwords.

In this third book, Satan has returned, armed with over 100 vampires and an Infernal plot to destroy Nathaniel and his extended family once and for all.

Teaser:

Nathaniel looked down at his hands and closed his eyes.

“Don’t tell me you’re praying now?” Satan asked. “Why do you even bother? Look what it’s got you! Before this next act is through, there will be many more bodies under many more sheets. And you will be among them.”

“Do your worst, Devil,” Nathaniel said calmly, his eyes still closed.

Satan relented and laughed. The sound reverberated off the walls as if a multitude of devils were celebrating their dark deeds. “Remember you said that.” Satan was delighted to see Nathaniel open his eyes once again and look upon him. He went to say something more but turned, distracted by a presence. He glanced behind him as if he could see down the hall and through the closed front door. He heard the hum of a motor as it powered itself up the lane. “It seems you have visitors. Good. I enjoyed a fantastic barbeque on one of my last visits. Perhaps it’s time for another.”

Nathaniel leapt to his feet and jumped into his face, surprising him, albeit only momentarily. His expression twisted into a hard grimace and he noted spittle on his mouth. “Get thee behind me, Satan!” he roared.

“Ah, you do care,” Satan said. He reached up and made a move to wipe the spittle from Nathaniel’s mouth, but the vampire caught his arm.

“Do not touch me!”

Satan allowed himself to be held, and simply stared at the grip on his wrist, the wrinkled fabric of his suit. He glanced up and looked deeply into Nathaniel’s eyes as if he could now crawl inside them and up into his mind to read his thoughts.

Nathaniel pulled his arm down and released it. He backed away slowly, like someone retreating from a venomous snake, and then moved back near the chair he had graced, but didn’t sit down.

“Go, Satan,” Nathaniel said. His voice was calm again. “You are not welcome here.”

“You’d be surprised,” Satan replied. He put his hands back into his pockets and turned to retrace his steps. At the doorway, he stopped and turned back. “The next time we meet, you will beg for mercy.”

“There is no mercy in you,” Nathaniel said. “I learned that lesson long ago in an old dilapidated castle in Romania.”

“Oh, yes.” Satan smiled. “I remember it well. Your mother was there. Nasty business, matricide.”

“My mother died at home,” Nathaniel said. “What I met that night upon my escape was not her.”

“Yes,” Satan cooed. “Dogs, was it?” He shook his head. “Hilarious.”

Footfalls echoed loudly in the corridor as someone came running toward them. Satan turned, as did Nathaniel.

“My God!” Luis cried.

“Good guess, but no,” Satan said. He looked down upon the monk and touched the brim of his fedora. “Hello, Luis. You’re looking well. Must be all the exercise. Hiking up mountain sides, long walks, running from a legion of vampires…?”

Luis said nothing. He merely glanced Nathaniel’s way as if looking for direction. Satan followed his gaze and held it as he heard the sound of many others entering the hallway.

“Wonderful,” Satan said and stared the vampire down. “I just love an audience.”

“Satan!” Nathaniel shouted. He took two steps forward.

Raising his left hand, he held it in the air between them. “I’m leaving. And I was only kidding about barbequing your friends. These are not the friends I am interested in. Go to California. I believe Marie is outside, waiting to usher you away from the sleeping vampire horde.” He spun on Luis. “Isn’t she?”

Luis’ face dropped in shock at the revelation. Satan frowned. “Please!” he said and turned back to Nathaniel. His look was a serious one. “I have written this entire play. The monks are safe. I will make sure the vampires know exactly where you have gone. Don’t doubt that for a moment.”

Satan adjusted his fedora, turned, and walked through the doorway. The hall was lined with monks. Some respectfully moved away and allowed the stranger some space to navigate; others held their ground as if suddenly troubled for reasons they couldn’t readily explain. Satan stood before them.

“Nathaniel,” he called without turning. “Would you have the men step aside, or shall I do it?”

Nathaniel entered the corridor. “My brothers,” he began. “’Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.’”

“That’s cute,” Satan replied. “James: four, seven. I have a scripture for you,” he said, staring into the faces of those standing before him. “Second Corinthians: six, fourteen. ‘For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?’”

“You left a part out, Satan,” Nathaniel said calmly. It begins: ‘Do not be bound together with unbelievers.’ I believe in God, my Savior.”

“You are the only one here who doesn’t believe,” Luis added.

          “Oh, I believe,” Satan replied. “I simply choose to disagree.”

Just like all of my novels, Infernal: (Dance on Fire Book 3) is available at Amazon, Smashwords and all other outlets. For the locals who live in Kingsburg, California - my hometown and the setting for the novels - the paperback will be available here in two weeks. We'll be having a release event at the Trinkets & Treasures store. Details will be forthcoming. A heartfelt thanks for all of you who have supported me, encouraged me and have eagerly awaited this next chapter in the saga. You rock!

We'll talk soon.