Swallow the Moon Read online

  He hoped the truck would slam into the cars. He heard brakes and tires on the pavement.

  June yelled something that he couldn't hear over the screaming engine. The truck barreled up behind them, also running down the center line.

  Eric couldn't slow down; the truck was too close. The bike was screaming, with plenty of throttle to play out. Could he take an exit ramp at this speed? Would that be enough to lose them? Could he make the turn at the end of the ramp?

  If he missed the exit ramp, how much road would he need to make a U-turn? Could he make the near-suicidal cut? He had to be farther ahead to get room to slow down.

  He barely missed another slow moving car. He heard the squeal of brakes behind him.

  He let off the throttle, downshifting when the RPMs were right. Taking the far right lane, he barely saw the turn-around before he took it.

  The truck tried to cut him off. Instinctively, Eric leaned away as the bike left the pavement, airborne with a twist that put them heading north in the south bound lane. The bike skidded as Eric touched the back brakes. There was no time to turn – he'd have to survive oncoming traffic.

  Eric saw more lights, wove around two cars before he eased off the throttle. The bike coughed. He eased off the gas, trying to find another place to cross over.

  He swore as the truck lights loomed behind them.

  The truck wove left and right as the driver tried to clip the rear tire. Eric kicked down a gear, shooting forward, the engine shuddered. The bike couldn't keep this up. The engine would blow or they would run out of gas.

  The truck lost ground.

  The gaping blackness of the ravine loomed, a dark hole that swallowed the fog.

  Eric swore.

  On the other side of the bridge, headlights appeared out of the fog.

  He had to beat the truck across the bridge. He hit the higher gear.

  A semi-truck blasted its horn, the air brakes screamed, the rear end of the trailer swung forward.

  June screamed as she buried her face in his back.

  They barely made it.

  Eric leaned right, then left, missing the trailer by a hair. They were off the bridge. He heard the scream of air brakes and shredding tires as the semi jackknifed. The trailer connected with the SUV like a baseball bat.

  The SUV blasted through the guard rails, teetered on the smashed concrete abutment of the bridge. The men inside screamed as the SUV tilted, then slid into the vast darkness.

  Cora shrieked with mad laughter.

  The impact shook the bridge and the freeway, like an earthquake. The ravine glowed bloody red as the SUV burned.

  Eric let the shuddering bike coast. He made the turn that put them on the correct side of the road. He needed to get the bike off the road, quickly.

  This area would be crawling with cops soon.

  He found an overpass, coasted up the ramp and eased the bike to a halt. It shuddered, like it had thrown a rod. Then reaction hit him – left him sick and gasping for breath.

  They'd made it.

  ~^~

  Chapter Seventeen

  They were alive.

  Eric lay over the tank of the motorcycle. Wrapped around him, June felt his body heave. The engine was running rough, out of sync. June's body shuddered with chills. Her sweatshirt had done nothing to protect her from the cold air, made colder yet by the speed they had traveled.

  The hell-ride would haunt her nightmares for the rest of her life.

  Ryan Phillips and Tony Avon were dead.

  Eric killed the knocking engine. The motorcycle shuddered under them as it died. Shivering, June reluctantly let go of Eric so she could claw her tangled hair from her face.

  "Are you all right?"

  She couldn't answer; her jaw was clenched against the chills that wracked her.

  He rocked the bike to the right so he could put the kickstand down, nearly unseating her. The bike rocked again as he set it on the stand.

  "June?" He couldn't turn to face her, though he tried. "You have to get down."

  "'K-k-kay." Her teeth chattered. She barely had the strength to swing her leg over. Once off the bike, she sank to her knees on the damp pavement.

  The next moment, Eric was beside her. She heard the zipper of his jacket.

  "Take this." He helped her into the warm leather jacket.

  "D-don't e-ever a-ask t-t-to b-borrow my c-car."

  "Ha! That was awesome." The exhilaration in his voice made June shiver harder.

  "F-fuck you." June burrowed deeper into his jacket.

  Eric walked over to the side of the bridge. The glow of flames lighted the ravine.

  "They're dead."

  "Th-that w-was Ph-Phillips from the p-plant."

  June felt increasingly out of touch, like there was a veil between her and Eric. She lurched to her feet, aiming for Eric, leaning on the guard rail.

  We've run out of time. Jake stood between her and Eric. We take her now.

  Something hit her from behind. June staggered forward, into the guard rail. She grabbed the metal pipe to keep from toppling over the side. She cracked her head on the metal railing.

  "Help!"

  Eric turned.

  June saw the horrified look on Eric's face as Cora grabbed her by the hair and Jake grabbed her legs. The two of them threw her, screaming, over the side of the bridge.

  On impact, June heard the ceramic ping of breaking bones – heard a distant scream of anguish – the voice too throaty to be her own. June rolled down the hill into an abutment.

  They are both mine. Cora's throaty purr wafted through her mind. Now, so are you.

  "Goddess, help me." June whimpered as Cora's ghostly fingers coiled around her throat. Above, she could hear Eric swearing. June reached for the light, felt the faint stutter, pulsing like her heartbeat; fading like her heartbeat.

  Cold – like falling into icy water – then she was elsewhere, watching her body die.

  She wasn't alone.

  "Fear not. Thy soul is safe from Darkness." He was winged with fire, rose and gold. He had a black mane like the hackle feathers of a rooster and blazing eyes.

  "Archangel Michael?"

  "Great is the need that summons this One." He held her hand, a gentle gesture for the primal Messenger of God. "Behold, the tricks of the damned will lead to their destruction. The gates of Hell shall be closed this Hallowed Eve."

  "June!" Eric screamed her name, stumbling down the hill.

  Cora tried to force her way into June's injured body, but the faint glow of white light kept her at bay.

  "June!" Eric went down in the gravel, sliding to her on a bed of rocks bigger than his fist. He crawled to her body, touching her carefully, rolled her to her back, checking her airway.

  There was a death-rattle in June's breathing. Looking down at her body, June felt detached when she should have felt afraid.

  "Stay with me, baby." Eric brushed the hair from her pale face.

  How badly do you want her back, lover? Cora faced him across June's body. I can keep her alive, for a price.

  "Go to hell!" Eric snapped, checking the extent of June's injuries.

  She's already gone.

  "No."

  I can be her. Cora whispered. No one would ever know.

  "I've heard that before." Eric fished in the jacket pocket. He held his closed fist to his heart. Then slowly, Eric repeated the words from the ritual to summon the angels.

  They don't give a shit.

  "Shut up, bitch!" Eric hit Cora with his closed fist. There was a flare of white light; Cora popped like a balloon.

  To June's surprise, the Archangel gave a bark of laughter. His blazing eyes glinted with amusement and approval.

  "I call upon you, Archangel Michael, Guardian of the East." Eric raised his face upwards. "Are you out there, Michael? Don’t let them win. Help us."

  "Behold," the Archangel said. "Thy prayer is answered."

  Eric focused on the Archangel. He didn't seem to notice June,
who was only an arm's length from the Archangel. Her heart was breaking to see Eric so stricken.

  "Don't let them take her." Tears ran down Eric's face. "Take me instead."

  "The soul of this Daughter of Eve will not fall into Darkness."

  "You said that before, at the pool." Eric frowned. "You said you wouldn't let me fall into darkness."

  "Thee does remember."

  "Is she there? Is this my test?" Eric looked up – his hands shook. "Heal her, don't let her die."

  "Love heals all wounds."

  Eric looked blank for a moment. Then he looked back at June's body. He opened his hand, revealing the red stone heart. He put it in the palm of June's hand, then covered it with both of his.

  "Come back to me, baby." He bent to gently kiss her cold lips.

  At the touch of his lips, there was a flare of light – the white light pooled around them.

  June was yanked back into her body – the pain was horrendous. She felt it all, the kiss, the pain, the stone burning hot in her hand.

  "Hi." She opened her eyes. Her face was wet with his tears.

  He kissed her again. Much like he'd kissed her the night at the pool. As he breathed, June breathed, tasting his kiss like the sweet flare of cider – heady, potent and warm with the promise of life. The light rose within her, between them, until the pain faded.

  "Redemption demands a sacrifice." Michael glowed in a pillar of rose and gold flame.

  "I'll go with you, willingly."

  Michael smiled down at Eric; he extended his hand in a salute.

  "This battle is yours, Son of Adam. Darkness will triumph only in the face of selfishness."

  Then the Archangel was gone.

  June rubbed her arms, gently testing herself. She was very stiff and sore, but she was breathing and moving freely.

  "They are still here," she whispered. "I feel them watching us." She could hear sirens in the fog. "What are we going to do?"

  Eric looked up at the bridge. There was savage fury on his face.

  "We've got to get back on the bridge. Can you walk?" He got up, held his hand to June.

  "I think so," June said, getting to her feet with Eric's help. The feeling of being watched grew stronger. "What just happened? I thought I was dying."

  Eric flashed a brief smile.

  "There's magic when we kiss."

  "Really?" June leaned on him. "I thought that I was imagining things."

  "No. The first time we kissed, I healed from the motorcycle accident." He picked his way through the stones, helping her walk up the treacherous slope. "The second time we kissed, I was healed from the fight. Three times is the charm."

  "Awesome," June murmured.

  "Almost there,." Eric scrambled up the last few feet then held his hand out for her.

  "Help!" June teetered, unable to get her balance. Something hissed and writhed at her feet, tangling them. "She's back."

  "I've got you." Eric grabbed her wrist, using his strength to haul her up the rest of the way. "This is going to be over in a few minutes."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Pretty sure." Eric kept his hold on her as they made their way back to the bridge. "Don't let go of me. I don't want a repeat of their last trick."

  "Me either."

  They heard sirens in the distance, behind them, where the SUV had gone over the side of the ravine. They were almost to the motorcycle when Cora and Jake appeared out of the fog.

  What? Cora faced them.

  Eric kept walking, sweeping through Cora's form like so much mist. She re-formed next to the motorcycle.

  "Move aside."

  Cora laughed.

  "You can't stop me."

  "Eric?" June tugged at him. She could hear the faint throb of bass music as he faced Cora.

  "You're making her stronger by talking to her."

  Eric nodded. He looked beyond Cora into the fog for a long moment. He turned to June, bringing her hand to his lips.

  "Stand back," he said. "Protect yourself from them."

  June pressed the stone to her chest, calling the light. The light came strong to her call, encircling her. Eric shooed her backwards, until she was standing on solid ground. He gave her one last smoldering look before he faced Cora.

  ~^~

  Eric walked over to the motorcycle. He took the key from the ignition, used it in a second lock to remove the seat. He took a set of tools from its niche by the battery.

  What are you doing? Cora and Jake both appeared, one at either side.

  Eric watched frost spread over the metal as they sucked all the heat from the air. Eric took a breath as the cold bit deep into his fingers. The cold got worse as he loosened the battery cables. He stayed focused, ignoring the pain in his hands as the skin reddened, cracked and bled. His breath plumed thick frost and he swore.

  What is he doing? Cora demanded.

  Stop him! Jake grabbed Eric's wrist to make him drop the wrench. Cora grabbed his other hand.

  Every movement was agony as he rigged the battery cable to arc.

  Stop!

  The wrench slipped from Eric's grasp, taking skin with it as it dropped to the pavement. He didn't need it to get the top off the gas tank. Shivering, he slid the key into the gas cap lock.

  Stop! Jake grabbed the key in Eric's hand.

  Eric swore at the freezing touch. The blood on his hands froze – his heart pounded in his frostbitten fingers. Every throb was agony. Cora swiped at Eric's face, leaving a stinging brand of cold. He popped the gas cap, pulled the key out. There was a faint sloshing from inside.

  Eric grabbed the handlebars and flipped the kickstand up; he eased the bike to its side. Gasoline splashed from the tank, onto the pavement. Good thing he didn't need much.

  He upended the bike, so it balanced on the handle bars, wheels up like a caricature of a dead animal. Both ghosts grabbed his bare arms as he put the key back in the ignition. The cold bit deep in his flesh, turning it white.

  "God help me!" Eric prayed between clenched teeth. "Come on, just – this – one – time!"

  The key slid home in the switch.

  "Damn you both!" Eric hit the starter.

  The battery cables sparked.

  The gas caught fire with the force of an explosion.

  Eric reeled backward to land on the pavement. Jake grabbed Eric by the throat. The world spun as Jake pitted his will against Eric's. Eric felt himself losing the battle as his air was cut off.

  You're coming with us, you son of a bitch!

  We'll both take him. Cora appeared beside Jake. Then we go for her.

  Eric didn't have the strength to fight them both.

  ~^~

  When the gas exploded, June shrieked, Eric went down next to the burning motorcycle. He clutched his throat, thrashing as Jack and Cora choked him.

  The outer edge of flames wove a thin line, slowly forming a huge star and circle pattern, with Eric and the burning bike in the center. The smoke that billowed up was sulfurous and foul with the taint of rotting meat. June heard a thousand voices, chanting, screaming and laughing under the roar of fire.

  It was a gateway into Hell.

  June ran to Eric, forgetting her shield of light.

  "Come on!" She tugged at his wrist, intent on getting him out before the circle closed.

  He sat up, caught her arms. She realized her mistake, too late.

  That was easy.

  "No!" June threw herself backwards, unable to break the punishing grip. June could see the flames reflected in his eyes. One of his hands slid from her arm to her throat. His thumb traced her cheekbone, a soft, gentle caress that scared her more than violence.

  "Let me go."

  They were almost completely surrounded by the circle of fire. The flames in the center licked the motorcycle tires; they deflated with a shriek.

  Now! Do it now!

  Eric closed his hands on her throat, cutting off her air. June's knees buckled under her even as she fought to get free. The wor
ld darkened. Eric forced her on her back. With the last of her strength, June pressed the red stone heart against Eric's chest and called the light.

  The moon inside her flared bright and strong.

  She heard Eric scream as Cora and Jake were blasted from his body. His hands relaxed their deadly grip to cup her face. June shuddered as she gasped for air.

  Eric kissed her, a swift, hard press of his lips to hers.

  It was a stupid time to kiss, while the Gate to Hell itself opened around them.

  The fog parted overhead, a sliver of moonlight found them.

  The line of fire flickered, the pattern stopped spreading.

  Cold shadows flew around them, come to take two fools who had thought to cheat the devil of his due.

  Cora and Jake screamed as the shadows took them through the Gate.

  ~^~

  Chapter Eighteen

  It was like waking up in the middle of a firefight. One minute he was fighting Jake and Cora, the next he was choking June to death. He kissed her, silently praying for the magic to heal her. He felt it, cool and sweet as it flowed between them.

  Jake and Cora's screaming faded. The flames surged higher and hotter, black smoke enveloped them. Eric heaved June over his shoulder as he surged to his feet. He staggered, looking for a way out. There was fire all around them, only a narrow corridor remained.

  Eric stumbled through the flames, across the highway. He set June down on a patch of grass near the bridge. She sank to her knees, gasping for air. He eased himself behind her, letting her lean on him.

  "It's all right," he told her. "I've got you."

  "The bike – I'm sorry."

  Eric winced; there wasn't much left of the bike. The plastic parts, faring and all, was melting slag that dripped and sizzled in flaming drops. Black smoke billowed into the air – the stench of sulfur, rotting meat and smoldering asphalt made his eyes burn.

  Apparently the road to Hell was paved with good intentions.

  "It was just a motorcycle." Eric dismissed the un-holy mess.

  June laughed, threw her arms around him and squeezed until his sore ribs threatened to break.

  "Easy, baby, I've got a cracked rib."

  A semi-truck was rumbling to a stop under the bridge, breaks hissing and groaning. Through the open window, they heard the driver report the burning motorcycle.