Art © Nicc Balce

Heirs is a partially written YA urban fantasy with an estimated word count of about 75000. Although the novel stands on its own, it’s the first in a projected trilogy. See my blog for (unedited) excerpts.

Three months ago, seventeen-year-old Roy Caruso saved the President’s life from a demon on national television — an event that simultaneously outed demons to the world and made Roy a target. Within days, his house blows up, putting him in the hospital for weeks and taking his hearing. His power to copycat nearby supernatural abilities zaps out his cochlear implants, and being deaf kills all hope of spending the rest of his powered years playing the government-employed hero he so much loves being. Because when people turn twenty, that’s it. No more powers. And, as far as workaholic Roy is concerned, no more life.

When the organization takes him back under its wing in order to keep him safe from the people who blew up his house — who might want to finish the job — Roy is reunited with his telepathic ex-girlfriend Nina, and sees a chance to prove himself. With his abilities, he can read her mind as surely as she can read his; besides bringing a heap of unresolved relationship issues to the foreground, it tells him the organization has a lead on the people who blew up his house. Even a handful of medals and a healthy retirement fund won’t keep him from sticking his nose where it no longer belongs — a move that doesn’t earn him credit with either Nina or the organization. Let alone the demon-worshipping cult he finds himself on the trail of. A cult that’s ever-so-interested to find out he’s still alive…

Excerpt

There was a demon in the church.
Distant enough not to draw any attention to itself, but powerful enough to draw mine. At least half-grown. The hairs on my back rose, and I glimpsed from left to right, past cheery singing faces, eyes fixated on the band on-stage. Lyrics scrolled past on screens on both sides of the stage.
Good. The sound probably masked whatever noise the demon made.
And if I noticed it at this range—it had to be big enough to make noise.
I slinked to the left, where I sensed the demon the strongest, and smiled tightly at the couple blocking my way of the aisle. “Sorry,” I said, hoping the music didn’t drown out my voice. “I need to go to the bathroom.”
They smiled back, said something, and let me pass.
Three months without demons, and the first one I ran into was in a church. Figured. If I had any sense at all, I’d call the Perry and let him send in the troops. Until my doctor’s appointment Friday, I had no business fighting demons. Especially without my knives or body armor.
On the other hand – calling the Perry meant waiting at least ten minutes for said troops to show up. A church full of people, a half-grown demon on the loose… I’d just have to take my chances.
Besides, I’d never fought a demon in my church suit before.