Reaper Mine: A Reaper Novel by Christie Palmer Page A

twenty-four hours; she had to sleep off the horror of the rage and pain.
    “Bloody balls of Satan.” Victor swore. “Fragile, freaking…” he didn’t get to finish as there was another knock on the door followed by a jiggling of the handle.
    “Won’t you feel stupid if it’s really housekeeping?” Elle asked with a nervous laugh she eyeballed the hotel door.
    “I’m not the one hiding under the bed,” he glared at her, she was about to tell him what she thought about him when the door flew open slamming so hard into the wall behind it embedded partially into the soft wall.
    Elle sucked in a gasp, and stared out the doorway into the dark night. She forgot to breathe as she peeked around the end of the bed.
    Victor looked at her and she shrugged and leaned forward so she could see out the door. Her breath caught deep in her chest as shadows coalesced, and Elle was pretty sure her eyes were going to bug out of her skull at what she saw.
    A burnt orange arm reached through the shadows, a gold cuff encircling the wrist. The hand turned into an arm and a bare chest. A cloven hoof stamped into the room and this time her eyes did bug out. The Freak, stomped and looked around making eye contact with Elle who backed tracked behind the bed.
    “What the hell?” she felt the words tumble from her mouth. And she pressed herself into the wall and slid against it she backed as far away from the massive Freak as she could get.
    ****
     
    “Fuck.” Victor looked down at the cloven hooves and the burnt orange legs it was attached to, a loin cloth covered the crotch and besides the gold bands at wrists, and ankles it wore nothing else.
    Victor trailed his eyes to the face, and just stared unable to believe what he was seeing, harsh lines and cheek bones. But it took a backseat to the huge horns, the size of his forearms the protruded from the things head.
    “What the hell are you supposed to be?” Victor asked in shock.
    “Your worst nightmare,” It spat between its sharp and pointy teeth. “I want the girl.”
    The Freak looked over to Elle, its black eyes gleaming unnaturally.
    “Why don’t you tell me why you want her so bad and we can make a deal,” Victor offered.
    Elle made a very unlady like noise from behind him.
    “No deals, I want the girl. Give her to me.”
    “Okay then. No deal?” Victor asked. When the thing shook his head, Victor shrugged. “Why don’t you try and take her.”
    The thing threw his head back and laughed. “I am going to tear you limb from limb and enjoy it,” it snarled.
    Victor wondered what exactly the Tribunal was working at, first the Freak with puck green skin, now this thing. “Let me guess you have no soul.”
    The thing shook its head and swung one meaty paw at Victor’s head. It was surprisingly fast considering it was 300 pounds of muscle. Victor swung his scythe and was gratified when it sliced through the upper arm, black goo oozed from the wound. Victor shook his head.
    “What are you?” Victor asked again.
    Blood red eyes surrounded in black glared at him just before it barreled at Victor driving a massive shoulder into Victor’s stomach. All the air was pushed from his lungs just milliseconds before he was driven into the wall. The flimsy plasterboard gave way and they tumbled out into the parking lot. Victor saw stars as he drove his elbow into the thing’s shoulder and neck.
    The giant fell to his knees unfortunately he didn’t release Victor as he fell. And Victor felt ribs break as he was crushed. Victor raised his arm holding his scythe and drove the blade down making contact with one of the things horns. The beast bellowed in pain making Victor’s ears ring, but it also got it to release Victor who took his scythe with it, as he jerked out of Victor’s hold. The Freak stood shooting fire at Victor. He obviously hadn’t expected this much resistance.
    Victor rolled to his feet taking several pained breaths, and motioned for the Freak to come forward. He