your sneak peek at "before she sees tomorroW

PROLOGUE

In the greatest recesses of Hell, a gathering of demons formed in a dimly lit cave. The cold, black walls and floor were but a reflection of the dark and sinister schemes being discussed. Whispering amongst themselves, their voices full of hatred and greed, they discussed Lucifer’s leadership. Many felt he had grown complacent and was not as powerful as he had been in millennia long past. Marduk, Satan’s advisor, stood before the group, encouraging the dissension.

“Lucifer is no longer as strong as he once was. He has grown complacent. It is time. Time for us to rise up and seize control of the underworld,” he said. “I have learned much over these past centuries, and I believe that if we get enough demons to join our cause, he can be overthrown.”

“Yes,” his fellow demons cried out in unison. 

“And you shall lead us,” Belphegor said, turning to the group. “Hail Marduk,” he cried out, raising his hand in the air. “Hail Marduk.”

“Hail Marduk,” they chanted.

“Quiet,” Marduk said. “I thank you all for your support, but we must be careful. We do not yet have the numbers to overthrow Lucifer. We must be careful—and quiet.”

As the demons continued their machinations, Marduk stood quietly watching them. This is good, he thought.

Suddenly, he stiffened, hearing a voice inside of his mind.

“Marduk,” the voice thundered. “Come to me.”

“I must go,” Marduk interrupted his cohorts. “Lucifer beckons me.”

“You don’t think he suspects, do you?” Astarte asked.

“No,” Marduk reassured her. “He can only enter our minds to speak, not to listen.”

Pressing his way through the group, Marduk left to see his master.

“Go now,” he said as he walked away. “Go about your duties and consider the things we have discussed. We will meet again soon.”

***

Marduk entered the freezing hall, his breath turning to visible steam in the frigid air. The mist curled around his deeply scarred blue face, revealing the jagged horns that protruded from his skull. Icicles hung from the ceiling like silver daggers. As he approached the throne, the distant screams of tortured souls sent a chill down his spine. Despite millennia in Hell, and his imposing stature and strength, standing well over six feet tall with the power to crush a man with one hand, the sound always unnerved him. He shrugged off the chill and stopped before Lucifer’s throne, bowing low.

Befitting the king of Hell, the throne was impressive. Ebony in color, it rested high on a pedestal, its hand rests were formed from the skulls of lost souls, and its high, arched back was adorned with a blackened skull wearing a jagged crown. Still, it was not the throne that captured Marduk’s attention, but the ring that rested on his master’s left hand. In all his time in the underworld, he had never seen Lucifer without it. On the few occasions he had asked Lucifer about the ring, his inquiries had gone without response. 

However, he had recently discovered his master’s secret vault, which served as a repository for all the knowledge of the underworld. Aware he was risking destruction by even entering the vault, his curiosity and ambition overpowered any reticence or instincts of self-preservation he might possess. There, through diligent and covert research, he had learned much about the ring and its powers. 

“My lord,” he said. “You summoned me?”

“Marduk, my friend,” Lucifer replied. “Please stand.”

Marduk straightened up and looked at his master. Lucifer’s eyes glowed red against his dark gray skin and ebony horns. Unlike Marduk’s vertical horns, Lucifer’s curved upwards like a ram’s, extending high above his head and curving slowly towards his shoulders.

“We have a problem,” Lucifer began, producing a vellum scroll and handing it to Marduk. He watched closely, stroking his black goatee, as Marduk read from the parchment.

“Is this supposed to scare me?” Marduk growled, throwing the scroll to the ground.

“It should,” Lucifer replied. “Those prophecies have a nasty tendency of coming true.”

Pointing his finger at the scroll, Lucifer summoned it back into his hand.

“And it will come to pass,” he read aloud the words Marduk had dismissed so casually. “…that in the latter half of the twentieth century, a human girl of angelic origin will rise up and bring about the destruction of Marduk; he who lies in wait; the ambusher, the destroyer of truth.”

Marduk waved his hand dismissively. “There are no humans of angelic origin. That prophecy is idiotic.”

“Who are we to know if God hasn’t planted angelic seed into humans? He has done many things we weren’t expecting since he created Earth and populated it.”

“Everything except allow us to inhabit his little project,” Marduk sneered.

“I also seem to recall a certain demon under your control who laid with a human during a possession many years ago. Have you forgotten that?”

“And nothing came of that,” Marduk countered.

“That we know of,” Lucifer said. “And have we been cast out so long that you forget we, too, were once angels?”

“No, I haven’t, but I still think the prophecy is ridiculous.”  

“Marduk,” Lucifer warned. “You are my friend and closest advisor, but you are also my servant. Do not forget your place.”

“I apologize, Master, but seriously, how could a human girl possibly hurt me?”

“I don’t know. That is why I have called you here. I am making this your responsibility,” Lucifer stated.

“You don’t think I have better things to do?” Marduk questioned.

“This prophecy concerns you and cannot be allowed to happen. I want you to handle it. Who better to task with this responsibility than the one who would be most affected by it? Find the girl and deal with her accordingly. Either recruit her or eliminate her.”

“Recruit her?”

“A human with enough power to destroy you could be useful, but only if they are on our side. If not, they are a threat.”

“How am I supposed to locate her?”

“I have given you an army of demons—use them. Figure it out. Just get it done.” Lucifer’s voice boomed, causing icicles to fall from the ceiling and shatter upon impact with the floor. He got up from his throne and approached Marduk, handing him the vellum scroll. 

“Read the rest of the prophecy; it will give you some clues to narrow your search.” After a brief pause, Lucifer continued. “And Marduk, I am counting on you to take care of this. Do not let me down. There are others who would be more than happy to see you fail and take your place by my side.”

“You are suggesting you would allow that?” Marduk asked incredulously.

“Don’t get too cocky, my friend. I have trained you and taught you many things. And while I have no desire to train another, you are replaceable.”

“Yes, Master.” As are you, Marduk thought. 

“Also, I am well aware of your recent penchant for seeking forbidden knowledge here in the underworld…”

“What do you mean?” Marduk said, shaking his head.

“You know what I mean,” Lucifer replied. “I’ve turned a blind eye because we are friends. But show me that your efforts have yielded something helpful for this task, and I will continue to overlook your forbidden pursuits.” Lucifer turned from Marduk and left the room, leaving Marduk alone with his thoughts. Frustrated, confused, angry, and perhaps a little guilty, the thoughts in his mind competed for attention. Lucifer knows I’ve been in his vault of knowledge. Does he know how much I have learned? Does he know it is only a matter of time before I know enough to overthrow him and rule Hell in his stead?  

Marduk shook his head, clearing his thoughts, and sat at the long table in the center of the hall. Unrolling the scroll which Lucifer had given to him, he again read the prophecy inscribed on it. As he finished reading, he realized he would need assistance from his minions. Using the clues found in the prophecy, he enlisted them to scour every corner of the globe in search of the one who would destroy him. It took over a decade, but eventually, she was found and Marduk’s mission was set in motion.

***

Lilitu and Marduk lay on the cold stone block in the center of her living quarters. The room was sparse, with nothing but the gray stone block in the center, yet compared to the quarters of lesser demons, it was luxurious. Most demons shared quarters with at least a hundred others, and there was no stone block to lie on. Not Lilitu, however. Through her seductive prowess and ambition, she had gained the respect and trust of Marduk, and she was now one of his highest ranking demons. 

Steam permeated the darkened room as their heavy breathing filled the air. He had spent most of the evening in the vault of knowledge and his mind was tired. Laying with Lilitu was, in his mind, a much-needed respite.

Their coupling had been intense, and he now lay next to her, admiring the way her three horns were tinted with the most subtle shade of red, matching the highlights in her otherwise raven-black hair. 

“What more have you learned, my lord?” she asked as she stroked his chest with her razor-sharp, black fingernails.

“Learned?” he asked. “Learned of what?”

“You know of what I speak,” she said. “The ring. What more have you learned about the ring and its powers?”

“Ah, my seductive Lilitu,” he began. “I wonder sometimes if I should have told you about my visits to Lucifer’s vault.”

“My dearest demon,” she purred. “If there is any demon you can trust—not to say there is—you know it is me.”

“This is true, and while I cannot, and will not, tell you all I have learned, I can tell you this. The ring has more power than Lucifer himself realizes. There are powers it can manifest on Earth that can not be manifested here in the underworld.”

“Really?” Lilitu propped herself up on one elbow and looked into Marduk’s blazing red eyes. “Like what?”

“Well, for starters …” Marduk began. He stopped himself, looked at Lilitu, and laughed. 

“You didn’t think you could trick me that easily, did you?”

“You can’t blame a demon for trying,” she purred.

“Anyway,” he continued. “I believe there are still more powers to be had, should the ring ever fall into the possession of a human.”

“Surely that will never happen.”

“I can’t see how,” Marduk said. “The old man never removes it from his hand.”

“You said you don’t think Lucifer realizes the powers the ring holds. Why do you think that?”

“Because, despite all his power, or perhaps because of it, Lucifer is lazy. He admitted once, many years ago, that he hadn’t been to the vault in millennia, and found its contents to be mundane and things he already knew.”

“Interesting,” Lilitu said, rolling onto her back.

“Yes,” Marduk said, his eyes staring at the ceiling of the dark room. “Very interesting.”

***

Ten years passed as Marduk’s minions searched the earth for the prophesied girl. While they searched, Marduk built alliances with other demons, currying favor with some of Lucifer’s most trusted allies. His support was growing, as was his knowledge. He had visited the vault of knowledge only once a year for the last ten years. When Lucifer indicated he was aware of Marduk’s visits there, he knew he would need to be more cautious in his visits. Still, he was determined to learn all he could of the ring and its powers. And he had learned a great deal. A great deal more than he ever shared with Lilitu or any other demon.

Once again, sitting at the head of a table occupied by some of the highest-ranking demons in hell, Marduk spoke of Lucifer’s complacency and lack of leadership. Suddenly, a young demon entered the darkened cavern. Standing almost seven feet in height, long, barbed horns protruded from his head, adding at least another foot to his stature. He had to duck to clear the entrance. His pale, green skin glistened in the dim light as he approached Marduk.

“We have found her,” he exclaimed.

Marduk stood and approached the breathless demon. “This is excellent news, Barbatos! Where is she? Who is she?”

Barbatos excitedly told Marduk the young woman’s name and location on Earth.

“And you are certain this is the girl we are looking for?” Marduk asked him.

“Yes, Master. We have been watching her, and while she is young, her powers are evident and appear to be growing stronger. Although …” Barbatos hesitated.

“Although, what?” Marduk asked, his voice rising.

“It appears she is still discovering her powers and is struggling to gain control of and understand them.”

“Perfect.”

“I don’t understand how she can be such a threat if her powers are still untapped.”

“That’s the point,” Marduk said. “We must take care of her before she grows any stronger.”

“You may leave now, Barbatos,” Marduk said as Barbatos nodded in understanding. “You have served me well and will be rewarded.”

Barbatos turned from the table and left.

Returning to his seat, Marduk addressed the gathering. He was pleased to have so many of his high-ranking friends there to support his quest for power. Astarte, Mammon, Belphegor, Behaemoth, Amon, Orobas, Pruflas, Cerberus, and the lovely, seductive Lilitu were all present. Altogether, they commanded one hundred and forty armies, and Marduk knew every one of them would be needed if they were to succeed.

“Where were we?” he asked.

“Not so fast, Marduk,” Astarte replied. “Are you going to tell us what your plans are for this young girl? Surely you are not planning on going to Earth yourself to handle this, not while we are still formulating our plans.”

“No, I am not going to Earth,” Marduk said. “I have the perfect demon in mind to send to handle her.” Marduk paused, scanning the scarred and hideous faces of the demons seated around the table. “For now, we need to lay out our strategy for conquering Lucifer.”

In hushed voices, the demons resumed their conversations and thoughts on how best to set their plans in motion.

CHAPTER ONE

Three days shy of summer break at three o’clock in the afternoon, you could hear the final school bell ring out at East Texas Middle School. Having been built in the 1950s when class sizes were much smaller, the large brick building had only two exits and entrances. Now the educational home to over eight hundred students, the mass exodus of bodies every afternoon was just short of mayhem. 

Samantha and Amber, best friends since the fifth grade, artfully dodged the swarm of their fellow students as they walked arm-in-arm down the sidewalk looking for their bus in the long row of buses parked at the curb. Watching them from behind, it was difficult to tell them apart. Both girls were slender, standing about five feet four inches in height, and had shoulder-length dirty blonde hair. As had become their ritual, they recited each bus’s number in a sing-song manner as they passed them in search of their assigned bus. 

Finally, their recitation ended as they located bus number nine. Long and yellow with a black stripe down the side, the door stood open as dozens of teenagers climbed aboard. Jostling with the swarm of other kids trying to find two seats next to each other, Amber pointed quickly when she spotted a pair of empty seats near the back of the bus. 

“Quick,” she said, grabbing Samantha by the arm and steering her toward the empty spots. “We don’t want someone else to beat us to them.” Wiggling past another girl, Amber reached her target, plopped down by the window, and pulled Samantha down next to her in the adjacent seat. Samantha winced slightly as the back of her knees landed on the hot vinyl.

“Take it easy on my arm,” Samantha laughed. “I might need it again.”

“Sorry,” Amber said, her cheeks reddening. “I just didn’t want to end up twenty million rows apart again. It’s like I’m trying to talk to you from another zip code.”

“It’s fine,” Samantha laughed. “I’m okay. Besides,” she paused, taking a deep breath before continuing excitedly. “It’s fun to watch you just take charge and push people out of the way. I wish I had that kind of confidence.”

“Well, you should,” Amber said. “You’re pretty, cool, and probably one of the smartest kids in school.”

“I’m just shy,” Samantha whispered and shifted in her seat. “Hey,” she declared. “Just three more days!” 

“Changing the subject again?” Amber asked.

“Three more days,” Samantha repeated as she nodded her head and grinned.

“Yes,” Amber responded, sighing. “Then it’s summer!” 

“And in September, we’ll be freshmen,” Samantha said. “Can you believe it? In four more years, we’ll be graduating. I’m soooo ready. Class of 1980! I can’t wait to start high school. It will be nice to have a fresh start at a new school.”

“Slow down,” Amber said. “Let’s enjoy the summer first.”

“You’re right. It’s gonna be a great summer. I just know it.”

“And I have some big news for you,” Amber said.

“What?”

“Mom and Dad got season passes to the water park again this year, and they got one for you, too.”

Samantha gasped and grabbed her friend’s arm. “Really?” she asked, her voice rising in pitch.

Amber grinned, bringing rise to the deep dimples in her cheeks. It pleased her to see her best friend so happy at the news. “Yes, really,” she said.

“Thank you so much! This is amazing!”

“Don’t thank me. Thank my folks.”

“I will for sure next time I see them.”

“Everybody in their seats!” the bus driver called out, interrupting the girls’ conversation, as she pulled away from the curb.

As the bus left the parking lot, Samantha glanced out her window briefly, glimpsing a blue Ford Econoline van parked across the street from the school. Behind the wheel, watching the kids emerge from the school grounds, sat the middle-aged man who had become a frequent fixture in the area and the subject of many whispered conversations among the students.

“I know one thing I’m not gonna miss for sure about middle school,” she said.

“What’s that?”

“That old guy in the blue van,” Samantha said, shivering and contorting her face. “He gives me the creeps.”

“Me too. Yuck,” Amber grimaced. “Was he still parked in the same spot? I wasn’t paying attention.”

“Yeah,” Samantha said. “Do you think we should tell the principal, like my mom suggested?” 

“There’s just three more days of school. I don’t see the point.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” Samantha agreed.

***

The blazing Texas sun beat down on Samantha’s back as she and Amber walked home from the bus stop, not quite a mile from their street. The sky was a deep blue without a sign of a single cloud to ease, albeit temporarily, the heat from the sun’s rays. As they walked down the suburban street, they passed several houses with neatly manicured lawns and decorated porches, both commenting on how they looked forward to having homes of their own someday. As they approached a white ranch-style home with turquoise shutters, Samantha stopped abruptly, almost bumping into Amber. On the porch sat a young man, about seventeen years old, with short brown hair and startling blue eyes.

“Hi, Sam,” he called out.

“Hi, Chris,” Amber replied before Samantha had a chance to return his greeting.

“Hi, Chris,” Samantha said as she started walking again—at a much faster pace than before.

Amber rushed to catch up with her.

“Seriously, Sam,” Amber sighed. “If you like him that much, stop and talk to him. Ask him out.”

“I can’t do that,” Samantha said. “Chris is handsome, and a sophomore. He would just 

laugh at me.”

“Jeez, Sam. You’ve got to get over yourself. Yes, he’s cute. Yes, he’s a sophomore. But I’ve seen how he smiles when you wave at him every afternoon. Hell, he’s the one who said hi first. It’s obvious he likes you.”

“I don’t think it’s so obvious,” Samantha replied. “Can we change the subject, please?”

“Sure,” Amber replied sarcastically. “Some weather we’re having, isn’t it?”

“What?”

“You said to change the subject,” Amber said with a smile. “Seriously though. Can you believe how hot it is already, and it’s just the end of May?”

“Think how hot it’s gonna be in July!” 

“It makes me even more glad Mom and Dad got those season passes.”

“Me too,” Samantha said. “It’s gonna be great!”

“They know I have a better time when you’re there, and then they can just relax in their chairs and not have to worry so much about keeping me entertained,” Amber laughed. “It’s like they think I’m still five and have to have someone with me all the time.”

Samantha joined in the laughter and the two girls fell into amiable silence as they continued their walk home. Turning onto their street, Amber stopped suddenly and turned to Samantha.

“Oh,” she said. “I almost forgot to tell you—Keith McCall asked me if I’d be his girlfriend.”

“Keith McCall?” Samantha squealed. “You mean the cutest boy in school, Keith McCall?”

“Yes,” Amber sighed. “That Keith McCall.”

“When did he ask you? What did he say? What did you tell him?” Samantha blurted out the words so rapidly, she had to stop to catch her breath. Amber smiled at her friend as she waited for her to finish and start breathing normally again. 

“I didn’t tell him anything, really,” she answered. “It’s only three days ‘til the end of the school year. It’s not like I’m gonna see him for three months. What’s the point?”

“Maybe he figures he can come see you over the summer.”

“He lives at the other end of the school district. I don’t see how he could do it very much.”

“Still, it is Keith McCall,” Samantha said.

“I don’t know. I told him I’d think about it and tell him tomorrow.”

“You’re so lucky. I wish a boy would ask me to be his girlfriend.”

“I keep telling you,” Amber began. “Ask Chris out. Or if not Chris, just talk to people at school. You’re so much fun to be around. You’re funny, smart, and pretty. But when we’re at school, you’re so quiet. No boys, heck, nobody, gets a chance to know you like I do.”

“I’m scared to get to know anyone. If they find out about me, they’ll hate me. Just like at my old school.” Amber looked straight ahead as Samantha spoke and didn’t notice her swiping at the tears forming in her eyes.

“The kids at your old school were a bunch of jerks,” Amber said. “They didn’t understand and appreciate your special gift.”

“Special gift?” Samantha snorted. “I call it a curse.”

“How can you say that? Some of the visions you’ve had are amazing and beautiful. How can you call that a curse?”

“Because, when you see a teacher getting shot, and then try to warn her, people think you’re crazy. It just gets worse when it ends up happening, and they think you’re evil or they’re scared of you.”

“I’ll never tell anyone. You know that, don’t you?” Amber asked.

“I do, but what about when it happens again?”

“Then you tell me, and we figure it out.” Amber stopped to give Samantha a quick hug. 

“That’s what friends are for.”

“Okay,” Samantha said. “Can we drop the subject now?”

“Man,” Amber said. “That’s your favorite thing to do; change the subject. Okay, but only because we’re at your house.”

Samantha’s eyes widened as she shook her head and looked around. “Oh my god, that was fast. I didn’t even realize we were already here.” Sighing, she reached out to embrace her friend. “I guess I’d better go on in.”

“Hey,” Amber said, hearing the reluctance in Samantha’s voice. “Why don’t you ask your mom if you can come hang out for a while?”

“I will. Thanks.” Samantha headed up the sidewalk to her home and turned to wave goodbye. “See ya later, alligator.”

“After a while, crocodile,” Amber replied and turned to walk the rest of the way to her house.

***

Enjoying the book so far? Finish reading 

Before She Sees Tomorrow.