Celia yells to me over the din of our power generators. “So sorry to drag you in here again.”

I shout back my reply. “No worries.”

Total Lie. In truth, there’s a ton to worry about. The Towers have had nine code-orange failures in the last week alone.

“The Carriers are unstable again,” explains Celia quickly. “It’s never been this bad.”

“How do the reports look?”

“Fine.” Celia pulls an electronic tablet from her pocket. “Perfect, even.” Her features turn wide-eyed and pleading. “Are you sure you won’t follow the ghoul-rules? Our old Masters were often very wise. Maybe the ghouls left the Orb here for a reason.”

At the very mention of Lucifer’s Orb, my hands ball into angry fists. I kick the ghouls out of Purgatory and what do they do? Hide the ultimate source of demonic magic in my homeland so I can only send souls to Hell. Screw them.

“We’ve been through this before,” I reply. Celia opens her mouth, but I shut off her standard speech before she starts. “I know what you’re about to say. A million new souls enter Purgatory each month. We’re running out of places to put them, and that’s why the Towers are ready to burst. But once I send a soul somewhere, even I can’t take it back.” I fold my arms over my chest. “I won’t send innocents to Hell.”

—End of Sample—

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Appendix

If You Enjoyed This Book…

…Please consider leaving a review, even if it’s just a line or two. Every bit truly helps, especially for those of us who don’t write by the numbers, if you know what I mean.

Plus I have it on good authority that every time you review an indie author, somewhere an angel gets a mocha latte. For reals.

And angels need their caffeine, too.

Acknowledgments

If you’re reading my freaking acknowledgements, chances are, I should thank you for something. So, for the record: you are awesome, dear reader.

That said, huge and heartfelt thanks must go out to my husband and son for their rock-solid support. Being an author means a lot of early mornings, late nights, long weekends, and never-ending patience. You two are the best guys in the universe, period.

After that, I must thank the extensive network of reviewers, friends and colleagues who helped me build my writing chops in general. Gracias.

Finally, deep affection goes out to my late, much loved, and dearly missed Aunt Sandy and Uncle Henry. You saw the writer in me, always. Thank you, first and last.

About Christina Bauer