A Demon Made Me Do It Demonblood Series 1

8/12/2019 A Demon Made Me Do It Demonblood Series 1

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A Demon Made Me Do It

Demonblood Series #1

A novel

by

Penelope King

Copyright 2011 Penelope King

Smashwords Edition

http!!a"thorpenelopeing$blogspot$%om!
http://authorpenelopeking.blogspot.com/http://authorpenelopeking.blogspot.com/


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&his boo is a wor o' 'i%tion$ &he names( %hara%ters( pla%es( and events are prod"%ts o' the

writer)s imagination or have been "sed 'i%titio"sly and are not to be %onstr"ed as real$ Any

resemblan%e to persons( living or dead( a%t"al events( lo%ales or organi*ations is entirely

%oin%idental$

All rights are reserved$ +o part o' this boo may be "sed or reprod"%ed in any manner

whatsoever witho"t written permission 'rom the a"thor$

&he poems o' ,ord -yron( .illiam -lae( and Pa"l ,a"ren%e D"nbar are "sed "nder the 'air

"se a%t and are in the p"bli% domain$

Cover art by Cla"dia /%Kinney at Phatp"ppyArt$Com

ont Design by Catie Crehan at the'ontdiva$%om


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Chapter 1. Liora

.hoever says ell is the worst pla%e imaginable obvio"sly never spent a day at Dove Cree

igh S%hool$ &here needs to be an ins%ription on its 'ront gates reading( Abandon all hope( ye

who enter here$3

Somewhere in the ba% o' my mind is the so't h"m o' my tea%her)s voi%e( b"t 4 pay no

attention to his words$ &he %lo% on the wall ti%s by so slowly 4 swear it a%t"ally stops a 'ew

times$ 4 %lose my eyes and try to imagine a happier pla%e5anywhere b"t here( doing anything

b"t wasting my li'e pretending to belong in a world that hates me$

A%%ording to Dante( the eighth %ir%le is reserved 'or those who have %ommitted trea%hero"s

a%ts o' 'ra"d and de%eit63 /r$ Sodenberg drones$ 4 love how he has the ability to mae a

7o"rney thro"gh ell seem less interesting than a trip to the dentist$

&o be 'air( 4)d already readInfernowhen 4 was eight years old as part o' my early

demonhood ed"%ation$ Altho"gh that was nearly nine years ago( 4 still have per'e%t re%all o' ea%h

and every word( as with anything else 4)ve ever read$ ,istening to it being dis%"ssed in %lass is as

e8%iting as re9learning the alphabet witho"t all the '"n o' singing the %at%hy t"ne that goes along

with it$

4 hal'9open one eye to pee o"tside the window$ -are bones o' tree bran%hes tremble in the

wind$ Soon it will be winter$ Soon the snow will %ome$ &hen( not only will 4 be st"% inside a%lassroom 'or most o' the day( my la*y a'ternoons in the woods will be limited even more$ 4)ll be

trapped in the small %abin 4 share with &atiana( my g"ardian$

&rapped$ Story o' my li'e$

&rapped in this %lassroom( trapped in my body( trapped in the daylight( trapped in this 'alse

world$ &rapped in limbo with no es%ape in sight$

4t)s %old o"tside( so when my sin starts s"ddenly warming "p( 4 now something)s wrong$

As the s"n9b"rning sensation slowly spreads "p my ne%( 4 begin to pani%$

:h( no$No, no, please no.

,iora ;reyson


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e s%owls at me 'rom behind his reading glasses$ 4)m sorry i' o"r dis%"ssion on Dante)s

Infernois inter'ering with yo"r naptime$3 &he rest o' the %lass titters( e8%ept 'or my 'riend

Corrine .ilson( who loos at me with %on%ern$

>eah( mind eeping it down= Whah Whah Whah$ &hat)s what yo" so"nd lie$3 4 %an)t stop

the words %oming o"t$ /y heart sins and 4 %lose my eyes$ ?eali*ing 4 still havesome%ontrol

over my own body( 4 pla%e a hand over my mo"th$ -"t it)s too late@ the damage has already been

done$

Again$

Sho%ed gasps mi8 with nervo"s la"ghs and disapproving sneers$ /r$ Sodenberg)s 'a%e

p"''s "p and t"rns red( and his normally s"inty eyes loo lie they)re abo"t to pop o"t o' their

so%ets$

Prin%ipal)s o''i%e$Now$3

;reat$ .hat else is new=

6and yo" tell him that yo" are no longer wel%ome in my %lassroom$ 4 will not tolerate this

type o' behavior$3

>es(sir$3 /y hand rises to my head and gives a snappy sal"te be'ore 4)m able to 'or%e it

ba% down$ 4 grab my boo bag( ignoring the s"perior loos 'rom my %lassmates$ &hey en7oy

seeing me get in tro"ble( as i' wat%hing the weird9'rea9girl getting p"nished 'or being a weird9

'rea9girl maes them 'eel better abo"t their simple( ordinary lives$ -"t no matter how strange

they thin 4 might be( they)d be terrifiedi' they new the real tr"th$

As they sho"ld be$

A %ool blast o' air stings my 'a%e as 4 tr"dge down the s%hool)s bree*eway$ 4 *ip "p my

7a%et and debate waling right past the prin%ipal)s o''i%e and right o'' %amp"s$

4 lean against a r"sted lo%er and weigh my options$ Either deal with a smart9mo"thed

demon hi7a%ing my body and getting me in tro"ble( or( 'a%e an angry wit%h waiting 'or me at

home i' 4 dit%h again$

Awesome$

Dante never %overed this part in his g"ideboo thro"gh the nine %ir%les o' ell$ e only

wrote o' going to a pla%e where demons p"nished sinners aftertheir deaths$ +owhere does he

mention the personal hell o' having to share a body with a living demon who %an torment at will(


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b"t 4)m s"re he wo"ld have appre%iated the %r"el irony$ Perhaps this %o"ld have been his Btenth

%ir%le)$

A'ter a 'ew moments 4 de%ide to tae my %han%es with the prin%ipal$ /y body temperat"re

'eels ba% to normal( so 4 thin 4)m sa'e 'or now$ 4 %an only pray$ &he se%retary( /s$ leming(

doesn)t even as why 4)m in here( she 7"st gives me her "s"al hate'"l glare$ 4 tae a seat on an

"gly orange %hair( stare at the old Civil .ar photographs on the wall( and ignore her dirty loos$

Prin%ipal .inters opens his door and %lears his throat$ /iss ;reyson( %ome in$3 e

de'initely isn)t happy to see me$ -"t that)s the rea%tion o' most people$ Some( lie /s$ leming(

openly despise me$ :thers try to a%t ni%e( b"t 4 %an always tell they 'eel "n%om'ortable$ 4t)s all

abo"t the eye %onta%t5or la% thereo'$ People tend to loo o'' to the side when speaing to me(

or 7"st glan%e 'or a nanose%ond be'ore averting their ga*e$ /aybe eyes really are the windows to

the so"l( and they don)t want to see how "gly mine is$

So( ,iora( what brings yo" here today=3 e rela8es in his %hair as i' we)re going to have a

ni%e %hat abo"t the weather( his eyes 'o%"sing on the wall behind me$

4 a%t"ally lie /r$ .inters$ e sort o' reminds me o' Santa Cla"s( and "nlie his rep"lsive

se%retary( he gen"inely seems to %are abo"t the st"dents$ 4 even give him some %redit 'or trying

to be ni%e to me$

4 may have nodded o'' in English %lass$ /r$ Sodenberg wasn)t happy abo"t it$3

Ahh( yes$3 e nods as i' he "nderstands %ompletely$ Are yo" 'eeling all right=3

ine$3

ow are things at home=3

Per'e%t$3

is smile 'ades$ ow is yo"r grandmother these days= 4 now yo" tae %are o' her by

yo"rsel' and that m"st be "ite a b"rden 'or yo"$3

She)s great$ Absol"tely no tro"ble at all$3

e 'rowns( determined to solve me6to 'i8 me$ Yeah, good luck with that.

Are yo" bored in yo"r %lasses( ,iora=3

Why, yes. Yes I am, Principal Winters. I am bored out of my freakin mind !his place

makes me stupider by the minute

+o( 4)m 'ine$ A%ademi%ally %hallenged$ 4ntelle%t"ally stim"lated$3


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e ignores my sar%asm$ 4)m going to be straight with yo"( ,iora$ 4)m be%oming very

%on%erned with yo"r behavior lately63

!hat makes two of us"

6this is the 'o"rth time yo")ve been sent here in the last two wees$ Sipping %lasses( the

in%ident in gym63

4 told yo"( that 'ight wasn)t my 'a"lt(3 4 interr"pt( b"t there)s no point in arg"ing$ 4)m pretty

s"re he won)t b"y my Ba9demon9made9me9do9it) e8%"se( b"t 4)m hal'9tempted to say it anyway$

-"t then he)ll 7"st send me to the s%hool g"idan%e %o"nselor again,and she)ll tell &atiana she)s

%on%erned with my mental health again$ &atiana will have to smooth things over againand get

mad at me again$ Pass$

e leans 'orward in his %hair and sh"''les some papers on his des$ &here is no "estion

yo" are a%ademi%ally gi'ted$ >o"r test s%ores are %onsistently the highest in yo"r %lass and yo"r

grades impe%%able( despite yo"r apparent la% o' e''ort$ >o"r '"t"re is wide open 'or any n"mber

o' in%redible ed"%ational and pro'essional opport"nities( i' yo" so desired$ >et yo" don)t appear

to %are at all( and this %on%erns me$ >o" seem to en7oy mo%ing anyone who tries to help yo"$ 4

7"st wish 4 new where this poor attit"de o' yo"rs %omes 'rom$3

!rust me, you dont want to know$ 4)m sorry$ 4)ll try to do better$ /ore %aring( less

mo%ing$ 4 promise$3 4 'or%e a smile and hope that)s the end o' it$

-"t my optimism "i%ly t"rns into dread when the 'amiliar stinging %reeps "p 'rom my

stoma%h( over my %hest( and down my arms and legs$ She)s ba%$

4 need to get away 'rom here$ n'ort"nately( Prin%ipal .inters still wants to %hat$ e opens

a 'ile and %are'"lly per"ses its %ontents$ 4 shi't "n%om'ortably in my seat and tae several deep

breaths( 'o%"sing all o' my energy on remaining present and in %ontrol$

I am #iora $reyson" I am #iora $reyson" I am #iora $reyson.

-"t er ele%tri% threads o' 'ire spread thro"gho"t my body lie a swarm o' army ants

mar%hing to battle$ A battle 4 will lose$

ave yo" given any more tho"ght to yo"r plans a'ter grad"ation= /rs$ Collins has reported

yo")ve sipped all o' yo"r %ollege prep %o"nseling appointments$ As a senior( yo" don)t have

m"%h time le't to get yo"r appli%ations in$ 4 have taen the liberty o' 'inding some s%hools63

I am #iora $reyson. I am human. I am here. !his is my time, not yours6


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/y silent %hant goes "nheeded$ 4t)s '"tile to ever try to 'ight er$ er energy overtaes me

and again 4)m nothing more than a mere spe%tator5a silent( powerless passenger in my own

body$ She 'i8es my ga*e hypnoti%ally on /r$ .inters( who instantly 'ree*es and stares ba%$

/ister .inters( e8%"se me(Principal.inters( than yo" 'or yo"r %on%ern( b"t there)s no

need to worry abo"t me anymore$ 4 have things 'ig"red o"t and will be 7"st 'ine$ 4)m leaving

now( and yo" won)t stop me$ 4n 'a%t( yo")ll 'orget yo" even saw me today$ Everything)s %ool as

'ar as ,iora ;reyson is %on%erned$ She)s yo"r 'avorite st"dent$ >o" adoreher$3 /y voi%e so"nds

sweeter than s"gar dren%hed in honey$

Still holding the 'ile in midair( /r$ .inters nods roboti%ally$

>o" may spea$3

&h9th9than yo"6th9th9than yo" 'or %9%oming in$ P9please let me now i' 4 %an h9h9help

yo" with anything6anything at all63

&han yo"( ind sir( 4)ll be s"re to do that$ >o" have a ni%e day( now$ &a ta(3 4 sing and e8it

his o''i%e$ :ne loo at /s$ leming silen%es her into s"bmission( and she stares at me lie a

petri'ied toad$

Somewhere between the dried9"p 'lower beds o"tside the o''i%es and the %ra%ed sidewal(

er invading 'or%e re%edes( allowing me to regain %ontrol$ -"t there is no way4)m staying in

s%hool 'or the rest o' the day with er a%ting "p( regardless o' the %onse"en%es waiting 'or me

at home$

ighting ba% tears o' 'r"stration( 4 weave my way thro"gh the %olle%tion o' old pi%9"p

tr"%s and r"sty hand9me9downs pop"lating the st"dent paring lot( my mind a m"ddled mess$

.hy is She showing "p when it)s not her t"rn= +ighttime belongs to her( b"t the day belongs to

me.And why is &atiana 'or%ing me to parti%ipate in this ridi%"lo"s %harade o' being a normal

teenage girl anyway= Clearly it)s impossible$ 4 am anything butnormal and trying to a%t as i' 4

am is nothing more than a maso%histi% e8er%ise in '"tility$

-"t despite everything 4)m 'eeling at this moment( it)s the helplessness that bothers me the

most$ +ot having %ontrol over my own li'e$ Always being at the mer%y o' others with powers

greater than mine$

4 am so 'reaing o%er it.


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.hy wo"ld yo" %ome here=3 :h( yeah$ &hat was smooth$ 4 sho"ld)ve signed "p to be the

town greeter$

e la"ghs again$ Sorry= &his isDove Cree igh S%hool( isn)t it= ome o' the ighting

Spartans=3 is eyes move to the large bl"e and white sign behind me( b"t never lose any o' their

a''ability$

.ell( yeah64 mean6did yo" 7"st move to town or something= ,ie( onpurpose+3 .ow(

am 4 really one o' those girls who t"rns into a total idiot when taling to a %"te g"y=

>eah( a 'ew wees ago$ 4 %ame to live with my "n%le$ e wors o"t at the lintridge mines$

>o" seem so s"rprised$ Don)t new people ever move here=3

4 a%t"ally have to thin abo"t this 'or a moment$ /aybe( 4 g"ess$ /ost people 7"st %an)t

wait to get o"t( is all$ Small town$ Smaller people$ +ot a lot going on( no reason to be here i' yo"

don)t have to be63

:ay( 4 amo''i%ially one o' those idiot girls$ .hatever happened to Bi( wel%ome to Dove

Cree< .e)re so happy yo")re here$ /y name is ,iora ;reyson and 4)ll be yo"r 'riendly

g"ide6)=

4)m s"re 4)ll 'ind something to eep me o%%"pied(3 he says( the twinle ba% in his eyes$ 4

lie his eyes$ +ot 7"st be%a"se o' their %obalt %olor( b"t be%a"se they aren)t a'raid o' mine$

-esides( 4 lie small towns$ 4)ve lived in big %ities my whole li'e$ 4t)s ni%e o"t here$ Pea%e'"l6

"iet$ >o" %an hear yo"rsel' thin$3

4 s%r"n%h my 'a%e$ .hy does he say that lie it)s agoodthing= 4)d do anything not to hear

the tho"ghts that roam thro"gh myhead$ Espe%ially lately( with er being so psy%hoti%ally

obsessed with s"i%idal vengean%e$

4nstead o' giving him a reply that will really%onvin%e him 4)m a %omplete 'rea 7ob( 4 tae a

deep breath and point to the s%ene o' my earlier %rime$ &he administration o''i%e is over there(

"nder the ar%hway by the 'lowerbeds$ ;o down that little path and it)s the 'irst door on yo"r

right$ Don)t pay any attention to the se%retary$ She)s a nasty troll with a sti% "p her b"tt$3

;ot it( thans$3 e s"ints as he s"rveys the "ni"e ar%hite%t"re$ &hat s"re is a strange

looing b"ilding$ 4t doesn)t even loo lie a s%hool$3

:h( 4 got this one$ :nly heard the story a million and a hal' times$ &hat)s be%a"se it "sed to

be a es"it /onastery$ 4t)s almost two h"ndred years old$ -elieve it or not( those are the original


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stained9glass windows$3 4 indi%ate the rot"nda where broen %olors %at%h the s"n)s rays$ 4t was

"sed as a hospital d"ring the %ivil war( and a'terwards they %onverted it into a s%hool$3

S"rprise %olors his 'a%e$ >o" mean to tell me yo" go to a s%hool that "sed to be a %h"r%h=3

4 don)t thin a monastery is eactlythe same thing as a %h"r%h$ -esides( it)s not lie it)s a

religio"s s%hool now or anything63

Still63

is rea%tion is %on'"sing so 4 shr"g again( my de'a"lt response when 4 don)t now what to

say or do$ &he history o' Dove Cree igh is a so"r%e o' pride 'or the town9'ol@ 4)ve never seen

anyone bothered by it be'ore$ And that was my only small9tal a%e "p my sleeve$ ;reat$

4s there a pla%e o' worship in there= An altar or a prayer room=3

And now he)s 'reaed$ ;ood going( ,iora$

m6well( the b"ilding with all the stained glass windows "sed to be a %hapel$ -"t now we

7"st "se it as the a"ditori"m$ +o one a%t"allypraysthere$3 /aybe)s he)s some sort o' religio"s

n"t= ig"res$ All hot g"ys have a ma7or 'law somewhere$

e %onsiders this 'or a moment$ as%inating(3 he 'inally m"rm"rs$ .hen he %at%hes my

"i**i%al glan%e he "i%ly adds( 4 7"st didn)t e8pe%t s"%h a small town to have s"%h an

interesting landmar is all$3

Shr"g n"mber 'ive$ 4t)s abo"t the only interesting thing abo"t this pla%e$ 4t)s all downhill

'rom here$3 >"p$ 4)m nothing i' not %onsistent$

e t"rns his attention ba% to me and gives a small smile$ Somehow( 4 do"bt that(3 he says

"nder his breath$

4 blin$ "h=3

4' yo" don)t mind me asing( why are yo" dit%hing=3 he %ontin"es witho"t missing a beat$

m6what maes yo" thin 4 am=3 /y ga*e darts aro"nd the paring lot again$ ow long

have we been standing here= 4t 'eels lie less than a se%ond and 'orever at the same time$

.ell( be%a"se s%hool is that way(3 he says pointing ba% toward the bri% b"ildings( b"t

yo" were headed thatway$3 e points to the line o' trees on the other side o' the road( the

%orners o' his eyes %rinling in am"sement$

:h( right$ >eah( "m64)m not 'eeling very well$ 4 was 7"st going to go home and get some

rest$3 4 hope the lie doesn)t show in my voi%e$ &atiana always says 4)m a terrible liar$ :' %o"rse(

she)s not e8a%tly the most "nbiased so"r%e$


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e leans against a r"sty bl"e pi%9"p tr"%$ Sorry to hear that$ 4 hope yo" 'eel better soon$

4t)d be ni%e to have at least one 'amiliar person here$ 4t)s not easy being the new g"y and not

nowing anybody$3

4 nod sympatheti%ally while thining how notat allsorry 'or him 4 'eel$ &his is one boy who

won)t be lonely 'or long$ Even i' the other g"ys in the %lass have a hard time a%%epting this big9

%ity new%omer( the girls will swarm to him lie horny bees to a very se8y honey pot$ 4 reali*e

this tho"ght dist"rbs me$

4)m s"re yo")ll do 7"st 'ine(3 4 m"mble( my mo"th s"ddenly dry$

is eyes lo% on mine( and 'or a split se%ond he sees right thro"gh me@ his 'o%"sed attention

maes me 'eel as i' 4)m standing alone on a stage "nder a do*en bright spotlights( v"lnerable and

e8posed$ 4 g"lp and my heart beats 'aster$

Do yo" need a ride home( or do yo" have yo"r own %ar=3 is voi%e is so't( and 4)m taen

aba% at his "estion5by the way he ass it$ Almost intimately( as i' we)re already old 'riends$

/any people 4)ve nown 'oryearsdon)t tal to me with the e''ortless ease this strange boy does$

+o6thans$ 4 mean( yeah( 4 have a %ar( b"t it)s at home$ 4 pre'er to wal$ &he 'resh air does

me good$ -"t thans anyways$3

All right( then$ &hat way( yo" say=3 e motions ba% toward the b"ildings$ irst door on

the right and beware o' nasty trolls=3

>eah6and i' yo" %o"ld do me a 'avor and not mention that yo" saw me( that)d be great$3 4

grima%e as 4 thin o' the tro"ble waiting 'or me tomorrow( let alone what)s waiting 'or me at

home later today$

e ar%hes a dar eyebrow( and his eyes twinle again$ Don)t worry@ yo"r se%ret is sa'e with

me$ -esides( 4 wo"ldn)t even now who4 was ratting o"t(3 he adds pointedly$

:h( sorry6/y name is ,iora$ ,iora ;reyson$3 >es$ /anners$ 4 new 4 had some

somewhere$

4t)s ni%e to meet yo"( ,iora$ 4)m Kieron Ambrose$3 e holds o"t his hand and 4

a"tomati%ally tae it@ his large( warm palm maes mine seem %old and tiny$ e gives it a gentle

s"ee*e and every %ell in my body waes "p on 'ire$ 4 "i%ly p"ll away( not wanting to dist"rb

the real 'ire sl"mbering inside me$


12/244

+i%e to meet yo"( too$ .el%ome to Dove Cree64 hope yo" lie it here$3 4 'inally

remember my wel%ome pit%h and wish 4 hadn)t$ 4t so"nds even %heesier o"t lo"d than in my

mind$

4)m de'initely liing it so 'ar(3 he says$ is eyes never leave mine$

&here)s a rolling 7ostle in my stoma%h( b"t 4)m not a'raid$ &his strange 'l"ttering isn)t being

%a"sed by-er$ +ervo"sly( 4 t"% a stray lo% o' hair behind my ears and smile at my new 'riend$

;ood l"% in there64)ll see yo" tomorrow$3

&omorrow$3

******

ello( ,iora$ 4 was wondering when yo")d de%ide to %ome home$3 &atiana is h"n%hed over

the stove 'i8ing dinner as 4 wal in$ .hen she t"rns to 'a%e me( 4)m relieved to see there)s nosign o' anger in her 'a%e or disapproval in her mily9white eyes$

4)d spent the rest o' the day in the 'orest( reading by my 'avorite tree and thining o' Kieron$

4 new it was st"pid to get all e8%ited over some g"y 4 didn)t even now( b"t 4 %o"ldn)t help it$

&here was something di''erent abo"t him$ And the way he spoe to me and looed at me6as i' 4

was normal6as i' he a%t"ally lied me6as a person6

4t had 'elt ni%e$ ?eally ni%e$ A girl %o"ld get "sed to it( that)s 'or s"re$

Any girl b"t me( that is$

i( &atiana$ Sorry( 4 lost tra% o' the time$3 4 bra%e mysel' 'or her s%olding$ She easily

senses my presen%e within a one h"ndred mile radi"s and nows eactlywhere 4)ve been all day$

-"t she says nothing$ 4nstead( she %ontin"es with the 'ood prep and h"ms so'tly to hersel'$

4 tae a seat at the table and wat%h her %"rio"sly$ Altho"gh she)s %ompletely blind( &atiana

moves aro"nd with the %on'ident agility o' someone with twenty9twenty vision$ She per%eives

ob7e%ts aro"nd her with an inh"man %larity( her Binner eyes) as she %alls it$ -"t that)s not why

4)m mysti'ied$

Do not apologi*e to me$ &he s"n is nearly set$ 4t is yo" who m"st h"rry i' yo" do not wish

to 'eel ill tomorrow(3 she says as she %arries over two plates o' steaming 'ood$

4 "i%ly s%ar' down some o' the bee' and potato stew( and try to 'ig"re o"t a way to tell her

abo"t what happened$ 4 need answers( even i' she)ll be irritated with me$

ow was yo"r day today=3 she ass right on %"e$


13/244

4 swallow and try to read her 'a%e$ She %o"ld)ve been a pro'essional poer player$

&r"th'"lly( not great$ She showed "p again today and got me in tro"ble in %lass$3

&atiana nods$ .as it a '"ll trans'ormation=3

4 shae my head$ +o( it wasn)t lie what happens at night$ &his was more lie6an o"t9o'9

body9e8perien%e( b"t while 4 was still in it$ 4 was aware o' everything She said and did6She

made me say things64 thin her powers wored too( 7"dging 'rom how the people a%ted$ .hy is

she doing that= ow is she even ableto= Can yo" mae her stop=3

&atiana slowly %hews her 'ood( and 'or a moment 4 thin she might not answer me$ 4 now

how m"%h it bothers her to always be st"% in the middle o' the two o' "s$ inally( she dabs at

the %orners o' her mo"th with a napin$ 4 will spea with er( b"t 4 believe she is 7"st rea%ting

to the re%ent events and heightened danger$ Perhaps she is staying %lose to the s"r'a%e as a

prote%tive meas"re$3

She)s notprotectingme@ she)s getting me in tro"bleo" now She has di''i%"lty disting"ishing the di''eren%e$ .hat is right 'or her may be

entirely wrong 'or yo"$3

4 mae a noise that)s something between a %o"gh and a snort$ &hat( right there( is the

"nderstatement o' the century( &atiana$3

4 will have a word with her$$$3

>es( please tell her to b"tt o"t o' my li'e$ 4' she does it one more time( 4)ll 'ind a way to

wae "p d"ring hertime and mae her say and do something really st"pid$ See how m"%h she

lies it$3 /y threat is hollow and &atiana nows it$ She nows 4 do everything in my power not

to wae "p at night and witness the world my demon hal' inhabits$ &he only thing that eeps me

'rom going completelyinsane is not nowing anything that happens 'rom d"s to dawn$ -liss'"l

ignoran%e being my only saving gra%e in this twisted sit"ation$

4 ret"rn to my meal( b"t &atiana 'i8ates her %ompelling ga*e on me$ ;reat$

.hat=3 4 m"tter$ 4' she)s still going to give me a hard time abo"t leaving even a'ter 4

e8plained what had happened6

>o"r energy is %on'li%ted6yo" spea with anger and 'r"stration( yet there is a happy glow

deep within yo" that was not there be'ore$ 4 am %"rio"s as to what %a"sed it$3

4 g"lp( %lose my eyes( and pray &atiana %an)t sense how hot my 'a%e 'l"shes$


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4t)s nothing( really(3 4 m"mble$ :h( please$ .ho am 4 trying to 'ool= /ight as well spill it$

&here was a new boy there today$ ;"ess his "n%le wors o"t at the mines( so he)s going to go to

s%hool here$ e)s ni%e( is all$ Sorta %"te( too$3 4 shove a heaping spoon'"l o' stew into my mo"th

and lower my head$

She nods and tilts "p her %hin$ Ahh( yes$ &he new arrival$ 4 sensed him several days ago$

owever( 4 was "ns"re as to his e8a%t p"rpose( and i'( in 'a%t( yo"r paths wo"ld meet$ Destinies

have yet to be written( and he is only a hal'( bo"nd by the dar and embra%ed by the light$ ree

will is his( 'or he shan)t be at the mer%y o' any master i' liberty is within his grasp$3

4 let o"t an e8asperated sigh$ &hat)s the thing abo"t &atiana$ She)ll be per'e%tly normal one

min"te( b"t start speaing in nonsensi%al riddles the ne8t$ 4 tae a swig o' some apple 7"i%e and

glan%e o"t the window$

Do yo" now what She)s doing tonight=3 4 as( eager to %hange the s"b7e%t$

&a8es(3 &atiana replies$ Sho"ld be "nevent'"l$ "mans only$3

She)s not going to be happy abo"t that$ >o" m"st now she)s %ompletely obsessed with

h"nting the Ama*Fa demons ever sin%e she heard they were in the area$ Even when She)s not

s"r'a%ing 4 %an sometimes hear her tho"ghts6she)s serio"sly g"nning 'or a battle$ 4 don)t thin

she)ll stop 7"st to %olle%t some money$3

She will( be%a"se her sear%h is '"tile 'or now$ &he Ama*Fa have already le't o"r

territory63

er words 'ade away as the 'irst waves o' 'iery tingles 'l"sh thro"gh my weaening body$

/y time is over$ 4 try to p"sh my remaining 'ood away 'rom me( b"t it)s too late$ /y arms have

already gone limp$ &hey are no longer mine$

/y 'or %lans on the 'loor$ Everything goes dar$

.hen 4 open my eyes 4)m sitting at the table a%ross 'rom &atiana$ She gives me a small

smile$

ello( ,"%y$3


15/244

Chapter 2. Lucky

A p"ngent odor assa"lts my senses( and 4 loo down in disg"st$ Even when 4 could%ons"me

h"man 'ood 4)d always been a stri%t vegetarian( "nlie ,iora( who insists on '"eling o"r body

with animal %ar%asses$ 4t)s one thing to try to ignore this revolting 'a%t5"ite another to wae "p

to it staring me in the 'a%e$

Ele%tri% 'ire ra%es thro"gh my veins as 4 raise my arms to obliterate the o''ensive sight$ -"t

&atiana)s words stop me %old$

Please don)t( dear$ 4)m parti%"larly 'ond o' those dishes$3

4 s%owl at my g"ardian( b"t allow the swirling 'lames on my palm to e8ting"ish$ 4 now she

did that on p"rpose$ She nows this garbage maes me si%$ >o")d thin she)d be a little more

appre%iative a'ter what 4 did 'or her today$3 4 i% my %hair ba% with more 'or%e than ne%essary

and move to the other side o' the room$

And what was that=3 &atiana ass as she %lears away the plates$

Some idiots were giving her a hard time in s%hool$ 4 too %are o' it$ And 4 was niceabo"t it$

All smiles and sweetness6 mostly$ .hy do yo" insist on maing her go to that horrid prison(

anyway=3

&atiana says nothing and taes the dish towel 'rom her sho"lder( "sing it to wipe the

%o"nter$ 4 glan%e down at the %lothes %overing my body and moan$ And 'or the love o' ,"%i'er(please tell me why she has to wear these trash bags e%ery day. ;ah, it)s a good thing oneo' "s

has some taste$3

4 thin ,iora has been more depressed lately$3 &atiana dries her hands and 'ollows me into

my room$ She per%hes on the %orner o' the bed and smoothes her i%torian9styled dress over her

dainty nees$ ,"%y( why have yo" been taing over when it)s not yo"r t"rn=3

4)d be depressed too( i' every time 4 looed in a mirror 4 saw a ridi%"lo"s emo goth moping

ba% at me$ 4 mean( the bla% nail polish is %ool( b"tseriously6that girl needs to add some %olor

to her wardrobe and lay o'' the ra%%oon eyeliner$ Please tell her thatfuneral chicis over$3 4

remove her mae"p and reapply my own$

>o" didn)t answer my "estion$3

4 h"nt thro"gh the %loset and retrieve my sele%tion be'ore responding$


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.ell( someone has to be on point( espe%ially now$ 4 %an)t let my g"ard down 'or one

se%ond with the Ama*Fa ba% in town$ And ,iora( she)s so wea$ 4' they wanted to get me( what

better way than to go thro"gh her when 4)d be "nprote%ted and "tterly helpless= &han'"lly(

she)s been maing it m"%h easier 'or me to pop in6 she 7"st sorta mentally checks outand

wantsme to tae over( even i' she won)t admit it$3

,eave it to ,iora to blame me 'or everything$ 4' she hadn)t really wanted me there( 4

wo"ldn)t have been able to brea thro"gh$ -"t as "s"al she 'ailed to a%nowledge this tiny little

detail$

&atiana taes a moment to %onsider this$ Perhaps yo" 'eel that to be tr"e( b"t it has an

"nwel%ome e''e%t on her well9being$ 4)m going to re"est yo" not inter'ere in her li'e "nless it)s

an e8treme emergen%y$ A matter o' li'e or death$3

.hy= 4 don)t h"rt anyone6not really"$well( nothing permanent( "s"ally$ And 4 need to

mae s"re 4)m sa'e53

>o" now per'e%tly well yo"r vessel is sa'e while ,iora has possession$ Demons dare not

%ross over the sa%red land where her s%hool resides( and ,ight9angels %annot sense her tr"e

nat"re as long as she is in her p"re h"man 'orm$ .hen yo" arrive "ninvited( espe%ially a'ter she

has le't o"r realm and entered the domain o' /an( yo" p"t her5and yo"rsel'5at ris$ And it

bothers her$ ow wo"ld yo" lie it i' she showed "p and too over while yo" were on a h"nt=3

4 sti'le a la"gh$ &hat wo"ld almost be '"nny i' it wo"ldn)t get "s both illed$ 4 %an pi%t"re

her now6 BAhh( a s%ary demon( help< Eees( a smelly vampire( somebody %all G11


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ow long have 4 dreamed o' this night=

A'ter throwing on my 'avorite bla% riding %loa( 4 'asten it se%"rely at the base o' my throat

with my -o"mea"85the sa%red 7ewel o' my tribe that 4 wear with pride$ :nly those o' "s

belonging to the royal order o' demonia angelis %an bear having the stone in o"r possession@

imposters will instantly b"rn to ash i' they so m"%h as to"%h it$ 4t also allows me to enter the

,and o' &hibero"8( the mysti%al realm o' the Dar9angels$ /ost importantly( however( the bla%

diamond broa%h serves as a warning bea%on to the presen%e o' ,ight9angels( even %leverly

disg"ised$ &he en%hanted 7ewel will glow brightly( alerting me mortal danger is nearby$

ort"nately( 4)ve never had mine light "p( b"t 4 now others who have$ 4t allowed them to barely

es%ape with their lives$

A 'inal %oat o' %herry red lip gloss and a "i% br"sh thro"gh my ebony hair and 4)m ready

to go$ &onight is the night64 %an 'eel it in my bones$ 4 was so%lose to %at%hing the Ama*Fa last

night( b"t they el"ded me 7"st as dawn approa%hed$ &onight those bastards are all mine$

Altho"gh it)s my sa%red d"ty to deliver "sti%e( and 4 do it nightly( this mission is di''erent$ &his

is revenge$

&his ispersonal$

&atiana is in her room( elbow deep in her %ast9iron %a"ldron$ She per'orms this rit"al every

night( whether it)s 'inding me demons to h"nt( h"mans to torment( or simply eeping a wat%h'"l

eye on the s"rro"nding lands$

.here are they=3 4 demand$ +o need to say who Bthey) are@ she nows e8a%tly who 4)m

taling abo"t$

She swirls her hands thro"gh the pot)s m"ry waters$ A %ool steam rises "p over her serene(

ageless 'a%e$ &he Ama*Fa have le't o"r realm and are now sa'ely within the territory o' the

-elith tribe$ As yo" are stri%tly 'orbidden to %ross over to their lands( tonight yo" have another

tas53

.ait6old "p$ What+.hat do yo" mean they left=3 4 'eel lie someone 7"st wha%ed me

in the g"t with a troll9hammer$ &hey 7"st got here a 'ew wees ago63

4 do not now6Perhaps they new they were being 'ollowed$ Perhaps they were %alled

away$ +evertheless( yo" now yo" %annot h"nt o"tside the territory( espe%ially in one prote%ted

by s"%h a hostile %lan$ >o" m"st bide yo"r time "ntil the Ama*Fa ret"rn$ or now( there are two

h"mans in need o' a visit$ &hey both agreed to e8%hange 'avor with an liminiti demon 'or


18/244

power and ri%hes$ :ne man will soon be ele%ted a state senator( and the other is an a%tor who will

win a ma7or award$ -oth are home and alone( so there will be minimal %on'li%t$3

4 stare at &atiana( my mo"th agape$ S"rely( she)s not serio"s$ 4)m gearing "p 'or slaying and

demon %arnage and she wants me to go toll collecting= And not even 'rom some low9level

demons( b"t piti'"l Sapies= So not%ool( and not even in my 7ob9des%ription$ As an Ae"itas

demon( it)s my d"ty to torment and in'li%t "sti%e on those who deserve it$ 4)m good at my 7ob$ 4

like my 7ob$ E8torting money 'rom greedy Sapies is &atiana)s deal@ she 7"st "ses me as the

m"s%le$ 4 admit( 4 en7oy it sometimes$ 4 get a i% o"t o' seeing the Sapie)s 'a%es when 4

anno"n%e who 4 am and why 4)m here6

-"t not tonight$ &onight the only %reat"res 4)m interested in tormenting are the evil monsters

who m"rdered my best 'riends5right be'ore they %ast their wi%ed spell that split my pre%io"s

so"l in two$

4)ve been so patient$ +ot that 4)ve really had m"%h o' a %hoi%e$ 4)ve tho"ght o' little besides

revenge every night 'or the past 'ive years$ ive years( 'o"r months( si8 days and two ho"rs to be

e8a%t$ -"t the %reat"res 4 so"ght have always been o"t o' my rea%h( 'or 4)m restrained by the

7"risdi%tion o' my tribe)s in'l"en%e and the "nnat"ral limitations on my time$

-"t 'inally( a'ter all this time5a'ter years o' training( plotting( waiting( seething6finally(

the Ama*Fa had ret"rned to my h"nting gro"nds$ &he end to my nightmare was in sight$ 4 wo"ld

ill them on%e and 'or all( li't the %"rse that binds me to the night( and deliver "sti%e 'or my

'allen 'riends$

+ow &atiana is telling me the Ama*Fa have 7"st "p and left+

4 don)t believe yo"$3 /y voi%e shaes with thinly restrained '"ry$ >o" 7"st don)t want me

h"nting them$ >o")re 7"st a'raid that53

4 never lie( ,"%y(3 she says "ietly$ >o"( o' all beings( now that$ 4 admit 4 disapprove o'

yo"r perilo"s "est( b"t 4 will not try to stop yo"$ "sti%e is the essen%e o' yo"r e8isten%e( and 4

%annot deny that$ &his path is yo"rs and yo"rs alone( and yo" are well aware o' the

%onse"en%es$ -"t 'or now( 4 %an ass"re yo" the Ama*Fa are no longer within yo"r range$3

4 %len%h my teeth and glare at her$ Whats that epression about not killing the messenger+

-"t 4 now she)s not lying$ 4' she says they)re gone5they)re gone$ And there)s nothing 4

%an do abo"t it$ or now$


19/244

&his is all ,iora)s 'a"lt$ 4' she didn)t t"rn into a st"pid Sapie( rendering me impotent 'rom

dawn to d"s( 4)d have %a"ght the Ama*Fa by now$ 4n bitter silen%e 4 '"me while &atiana gives

me the details 'or the night)s assignment( only hal'9hearing what she)s saying$ .hen she)s done(

4 storm o"t o' o"r %abin and into the bris night air$ P"lling my hood over my head( 4 let o"t a

sharp whistle$

&he %lomping o' hooves so"nd as the Arabian stallion emerges 'rom his pla%e in the

shadows$ e n"**les his nose into my %hest and gives a low gr"nt$ 4 stroe his long sable ne%

and press my %hee to his$ &hen( 4 grab a %h"n o' his sily mane and swi'tly mo"nt the smooth

sway o' his ba%$

ly( Diablo(3 4 whisper and lean 'orward$ e taes o'' lie a shot and we strea toward the

'orest$ Diablo nows the s"rro"nding woods even better than 4 do( and as he ra%es along the

narrow paths 4 eep my head down to avoid the low9hanging tree bran%hes( my rage growing

steadily with ea%h beat o' his hooves$

Another night o' being trapped$

4 hadn)t always been lie this$ p "ntil 'ive years ago( when 4 was twelve( 4 was a reg"lar

demion( a demi9demon with a per'e%tly bea"ti'"l blend o' the An%ient Powers o' Darness

inherited 'rom my demon sire( %ombined with the gentle %apabilities and goodness o' my h"man

mother$ 4 had the best o' both worlds5 a viable %onne%tion to the Powers along with all o' the

bene'its o' being a h"man( a apie, we %all them$ Sapies don)t now we e8ist( b"t we)re

everywhere$ .e loo lie them( tal lie them( and a%t lie them$ -"t we)re better than them in

almost every way$ At least( 4 thin so$

4 served a p"rpose in this world$ 4 new my pla%e$ &hat is( "ntil the Ama*Fa %ast a spell in an

attempt to separate me 'rom my Powers$ &hey s"%%eeded( sort o'$ 4 still have my Powers( b"t

they split my so"l in hal'5shattered me right down the middle$ +ow( 4)m only alive at night$ /y

h"man hal'( ,iora( lives d"ring the day( %omplete with her own personality( memories( 'ree will$

.hen the Ama*Fa separated my demon hal' 'rom my h"man hal'( it was 'ar worse than i' 4

had died$ or so long a'terwards 4 wished it hadbeen me who died$ 4nstead( it had been my best

'riends( Kayla and /i%hael ?oberts( who paid the "ltimate pri%e while 4 was 'or%ed to wat%h

them s"''er$

4)ve never 'orgiven mysel' 'or being "nable to help them$


20/244

4)ve never 'orgotten the vows 4 made beside their %r"mpled( li'eless bodies as 4 swore to

avenge their m"rders to my last dying breath$

4)ll never stop trying to li't the %"rse and restore my broen so"l( whatever the %ost$

Killing the Ama*Fa is my only option$ &here is no plan -$

n'ort"nately( this isn)t as easy as slaying a r"n9o'9the9mill parasite demon or even a lower

,ight9angel$ 4t)s stri%tly 'orbidden by Demoni% ,aw 'or any demon or demion to atta% another

raned higher in the hierar%hy$ As 'ar as the %hain o' %ommand goes( the Ama*Fa ran near the

top while 4 rest somewhere in the middle$

4 don)t %are$ 4 only %are abo"t revenge 'or Kayla and /i%hael$

4 only %are abo"t getting my li'e ba%$

.hatever the %ost$

Diablo gallops "s %loser to o"r destination( and 4 'or%e away the ang"ish that threatens to

swallow my heart whole$ Soon we)ll rea%h a Portal to &hibero"8$ 4n order to pass thro"gh its

prote%tive seal( 4 need to 'o%"s$As the %old 'og s"ddenly appears( enveloping "s in %omplete

darness( 4 wrap my hand aro"nd my -o"mea"8$ Diablo( "n'a*ed by the blinding barrier all

aro"nd "s( %ontin"es ra%ing 'orward$

4 %lose my eyes$ 4 'eel my palm smolder@ the stone vibrates in my grasp$ Silently( 4 re%ite the

se%ret %ommand

-asish /uria, permissum mihi obduco.



&he dense 'og "i%ly li'ts( and 4 wel%ome my new s"rro"ndings$ /y realworld H not the

one ,iora lives in$ &here( 4 am an o"tsider$ nwanted$ ere is where 4 belong$

&he three '"ll moons o' the goddess 4llyria glow brightly in the eternally s"nless sy(

ill"minating the lands%ape$ A%res o' l"sh 'oliage paint the hillsides vibrant green and gold(

"nto"%hed by /an)s seasons whi%h t"rn their trees into seletons$ &here is no death here$ :nly

li'e$ And limbo$ -"t never death$

&he ,and o' &hibero"8$ ome o' the royal des%endants o' the 'irst Dar9angels( the

en%hanted realm o' demonia.Sa'ely hidden 'rom the naIve eyes o' the h"man world$

:n%e( a'ter one o' my 'irst visits to &hibero"8 as a yo"ng demion( 4 looed 'or its lo%ation

on a Sapie map$ 4 was s"rprised to see that instead o' the laes o' 'ire and o%eans o' i%e(


21/244

vol%anoes e8ploding with th"nder and lightning( magi%al 'orests '"ll o' sprites and elves( and the

pits o' swirling vorte8es %onne%ting vario"s dimensions( there were %ities( 'reeways( two

airports( and 'o"r ma7or "niversities$ &wo separate and opposite worlds e8isting in the e8a%t

same spa%e$ 4 "sed to wonder how that %o"ld be possible$

+ow 4 totally "nderstand$

Diablo gr"nts( his power'"l m"s%les p"sh and strain as we head "p the mo"ntainside$ 4 b"ry

my 'a%e in his mane and s"ee*e my legs tight$ e)s never thrown me( b"t the %"rves here are

wi%ed( the %li''s trea%hero"s( and he barrels aro"nd them with terri'ying agility$

e eases to a trot as we approa%h the ?iver o' Kings$ &he stream o' %h"rning 'ire 'lows 'or

miles in either dire%tion and %reates a per'e%t %ir%le aro"nd the inner san%t"m o' Dryndara( my

tribe)s territory o' &hibero"8$ A massive beast( nearly invisible in the night save 'or his pier%ing

yellow eyes( growls mena%ingly at "s 'rom the base o' the 'ootbridge$

4 eye the %reat"re with %a"tion and dismo"nt$ A light tap on his hind"arters sends Diablo

%antering into the shadows to await '"rther %ommands$ A'ter d"sting o'' my %loa and lowering

my hood( 4 approa%h the sentry$ &he hellho"nd growls again and bares his ra*or9sharp teeth$

.hat)s yo"r problem=3 4 as good9nat"redly and give him an a''e%tionate pat on the head$

4 tae several steps ba% as the %anine begins to tremble violently$ e rises on his ha"n%hes(

twisting and %onv"lsing "ntil his new shape is 'ormed$ 4t is that o' a yo"ng man( sin stret%hed

tight over rippling m"s%les5his 'ormerly beastly body now a vision o' smooth and s%"lpted

per'e%tion$ e r"ns his hands thro"gh his bron*e hair and loos at me thro"gh the l"shest o'

lashes$ ire mi8ed with desire smolders in his %o''ee9%olored eyes$ is sens"o"s mo"th( one

designed to render h"man 'emales "tterly helpless( t"rns slightly down in a heartbreaing po"t$

:n%e again( 4 %o"nt my l"%y stars 4)m not a Sapie$ 4t is so not fairthat he is so m"%h more

bea"ti'"l than me$ As a demion( 4 have a hard eno"gh time resisting him$ As a Sapie( 4)d be toast$

4)m mad at yo"$3 e r"ns his ga*e "p and down my body and lets o"t a so't( l"st'"l moan$

4 roll my eyes$ -ones is my best 'riend( and 4 now he %an)t help himsel'( -& S&4,,6

"st once it)d be ni%e 'or him to not greet me with his Jber se8y( B%ome9hither9and9do9me)

persona$ A demion %an only tae so m"%h( yo" now= :h well( what did 4 really e8pe%t 'rom

something that)s also hal' in%"b"s=

>eah= .hat)d 4 do this time=3 Despite my bad mood( 4 smile$ Seeing -ones always maes

me 'eel better$


22/244

>o" were s"pposed to meet me by Cyler)s Point last night so we %o"ld go into the %ity

together( remember= >o" were going to torment some o' yo"r reg"lars while 4 'o"nd a 'ew

virgins to mate with$ -"t yo" totally blew me o''$ Any o' this ringing a bell=3

;"ilty$ 4 hadtotally 'orgotten$

4)m sorry64 overheard something last night and had to %he% it o"t$ C)mon( let)s go get

some drins$ 4)m losing my mind and need someone to tal to$3

-ones gives me his very best se8y smile and shi'ts %loser$ >o" now 4 %an)t leave my post

while 4)m on d"ty$ -"t 4 %an help yo" rela8 and tae yo"r mind o'' things 'or a while i' yo"

lie$3 e pla%es his hands lightly on my hips and p"lls me to him$

Altho"gh -ones is per'e%tly well aware that 4)m imm"ne to his hypnoti*ing powers o'

sed"%tion( he never stops trying$ s"ally 4 love it$ +ot tonight$

4 p"sh his hands away$

.hat)s "p=3 he ass( still staring at my body longingly$ 4 'eel the lightest ti%le o' warm

rays where his ga*e 'alls and groan with gen"ine annoyan%e$

-ones(stop it$ >o" now it %reeps me o"t when yo" try yo"r powers on me$ a%e it( they

don)t wor$ +ever have( never will$ 4t)s nothing personal(3 4 add when he gives a h"rt9p"ppy

po"t$ >o" now how m"%h the Sapie girls looove yo"$3

>eah( b"t it)s not the same$ &hey)re all so powerless and wea( it gets a little boring$ +ow

youon the other hand63 e steps %loser again( rea%hes inside the opening o' my %loa( and

lightly tra%es his 'ingers over my bare abdomen$

4 p"sh him away( stronger this time$ gh( stop< Don)t makeme have to h"rt yo"$ .hat is

withyo" tonight=3

Sorry63 he says( as i' he isn)t remorse'"l in the slightest$ "st in the mood 'or some '"n$

4)m a little %harged "p$ Didn)t mae as many %on"ests as 4 needed last night( and tonight they

p"t me on patrol when 4 needto be o"t mating$ 4t)s been so slow o"t here( and then along %omes

the se8iest 'ireball 'or a tho"sand miles and yo" e8pe%t me to beha%e=3 e la"ghs as i' it)s the

'"nniest idea he)s ever heard$ And they say Sapie men have one9tra% minds@ they have nothing

on in%"bi$ &heir sole reason 'or e8isting is sed"%tion( mating( pro%reating5that)s it$

4 give him the dirtiest loo 4 %an and stomp toward the bridge( b"t he rea%hes o"t 'or my

hand and gently p"lls me ba%$


23/244

ey( ,"%y( 4)m sorry( hon64)m only playing$ +o more$ 4)ll behave( 4 promise$ .hat)s

wrong( are yo" oay= &al to me$3 &his time his voi%e is noti%eably so'ter and his sed"%tive a"ra

m"ted$

inally$ !hisis the -ones 4 want to tal to$ /y 'riend$ 4 slin over to a tree st"mp and plop

down( %overing my 'a%e with my hands$

&hey)re gone(3 4 say( 'ighting ba% the tears threatening to 'orm$ &hey got away while

st"pid ,iora played s%hool girl$3 At these words a s"rge o' rage 'loods thro"gh me$ 4 have to sit

on my hands so as not to "proot the massive st"mp and heave it into the pile o' ro%s behind

me6only be%a"se 4 don)t want to have to sit on the gro"nd$

-ones sits beside me on the grass$ e pla%es a %om'orting hand on my ba%( and 4 'eel its

'ire$

4 now how m"%h yo" wanted to get them$ -"t 4 %an)t say that 4)m sorry yo" didn)t$ 4)m

glad they)re gone(3 he says "ietly$

-ones( do not start53 4 7"mp to my 'eet and glare down at him$

4)m sorry( ,"%y( b"t yo" now how 4 'eel$ +o good will %ome o' this vendetta$ Even i'

somehow yo" domanage to ill them yo")ll liely be banished$ &hat is( i' the ,egionare doesn)t

ill yo" 'irst$ :r worse63

-ones( yo" knowwhy 4 have to53

e p"ts "p his hand( %"tting me o''$ +o( 4 don)t now$ 4)ve heard yo"r reasons 'or years(

b"t 4)ve never on%e agreed with yo"( have 4= Killing the Ama*Fa will not bring yo"r 'riends

ba%@ they are long gone$ >o" don)t even now with all %ertainty that yo"r %"rse wo"ld be

broen "pon their deaths$ All yo" will a%%omplish by h"nting them is getting yo"rsel' illed$

And maybe others yo" %are abo"t( i' yo" start a war and we)re 'or%ed to tae sides$3

iery rage boils "p inside me as 4 stare him down$ 4' -ones had been even the slightest bit

h"man( he)d be dead by now "nder my vi%io"s glare$ -"t as m"%h as 4 hate what he)s saying( 4

now he)s right$

4 don)t %are$

>o")re my 'riend$ /y best'riend$ >o")re s"pposed to s"pport me no matter what53

An "rgent howling in the distan%e diverts -ones) attention 'rom my '"tile arg"ment$ &he

same one we)ve been having 'or over 'ive years$ &hat so"nds important$ Sorry( 4 gotta go6yo"

gonna be oay=3 e loos at me with %on%ern$ e is so sweet when he wants to be$ Damn him$


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4 nod$ 4)ll be 'ine$ -oring night( %olle%ting ta8es$ +ot gonna start any demon wars( 4

promise$3 4 give him a shay smile and a "i% a pe% on his %hee be'ore stepping away$

is body %onv"lses violently 'or a 'ew se%onds "ntil he 'alls 'orward on his two large paws$

e gently n"dges my leg with his long nose( and then taes o'' r"nning$

4 %ross the river o' 'ire to 7oin my 'amily$

******

&he entran%e to Demon -ar loos lie an ordinary bo"lder to anyone who doesn)t now

better$ ,o%ated deep inside the inner 'orests o' Dryndara( dire%tly above the ne8"s o' the So"r%e

o' Energy( it)s the one pla%e where all the demons( demions( and %reat"res in the territory %ome

to replenish$

&he ro% prote%ts those who enter it( and as 4 press down on the hidden lever 4 tae several

deep breaths to %alm mysel'$ iolent demons looing 'or a 'ight aren)t allowed inside the

en%lave( and even tho"gh my anger isn)t dire%ted at anyone there( the g"ard won)t %are$ :nly

passive demons are allowed in$ And 4 need to drin( badly$

A small door opens( and 4 pass on thro"gh$ 4 des%end a 'light o' steps to another door( this

one g"arded by a yo"ng demion named 4vy$

4vy loos sweet eno"gh@ her petite b"ild and pale blonde hair give the impression o' a

helpless ingn"e t"rned %heerleader$ -"t she has the power to st"n her vi%tims into s"bmission

with one pain'"l glare o' her baby9bl"es$ And i' she)s in a less9than9genero"s mood( she)ll leave

them in a permanent vegetative state$

ey( ,"%y$ Damn girl( yo" loo hot(3 4vy says with an approving grin$ 4)m s"rprised

-ones even let yo" past him$3

ey( sweetie6thans$3 4 lean against the doorway and %as"ally glan%e inside the smoy

room$ -ones had to bail on me63

4vy 'lips her golden mane over one sho"lder and leans %loser$ .ell( i' yo" are looing 'or

some '"n( o"r mystery g"y 'rom the other night is inside playing %ards with the Deveni brothers$

;o %he% him o"t and give me the s%oop$3

4 raise an eyebrow$ .hat abo"t Cody=3 4vy and Cody have been an item 'or as long as 4

%an remember$ .ith the e8%eption o' their o%%asional n"%lear battles( they)re per'e%t 'or ea%h

other$ She shr"gs to hide the wry smile spreading a%ross her lips$ 4 grin at her$ Someone)s being

na"ghty$3


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+o harm in living vi%ario"sly thro"gh my single 'riends( is there= -esides( 4)m %"rio"s

abo"t him$ e shows "p 'rom o"t o' nowhere6no one really nows anything abo"t him( and he

always seems lie he)s looing 'or something or someone$ e tries to a%t all non%halant( b"t 4

%an tell he)s doing it$3

4 have to la"gh at her s"spi%io"s tone$ Despite the 'a%t that the -ar is swarming with

demons( it)s probably one o' the sa'est pla%es in the realm$ -"t 4 'ig"re she m"st get so bored

standing o"t here 7"st wat%hing all o' "s all night$ +othing lie a good mystery to '"el the 'ires$

mm$ -etter not let Cody now yo")re spying on a se8y stranger( and with him standing

7"st twenty 'eet away$3

4vy shr"gs$ Can 4 help it i' these eyes see everything=3 she ass inno%ently( as they t"rn a

startling shade o' sapphire$

4 "i%ly avert my ga*e 'rom her %her"bi% 'a%e$ S"re we)re 'riends( b"t with demions yo"

%an never be too %are'"l$

/aybe he)s a vamp=3 4 s%r"n%h my nose$ ampires are the lowest o' the low in o"r %"lt"re$

/any %ent"ries ago( some rog"e demons had tried to %reate an army by reprod"%ing with %orpses

o' Sapies$ &he res"lt was a living9dead %reat"re that %o"ld only s"rvive o'' the energy o' living

beings( as they %o"ldn)t prod"%e any o' their own$ &hey)re wea( st"pid( and %ontrib"te nothing

other than stining "p the 7oint 'or all eternity$

+o( he)s de'initely a demion$ e)s 7"st playing %ards with them( 'or whatever reason$

&here)s no a%%o"nting 'or taste$3

Cool( 4)ll have to go %he% him o"t(3 4 say( even tho"gh the absol"te lastthing on my mind

at the moment is s%amming on some new demion$ 4 don)t want to be r"de$

e''erson Airplane)s White 0abbitblares 'rom the 7"ebo8$ Cody smiles as 4 tae a seat in

'ront o' him$ e)s probably the 'riendliest demion in here( and one o' the 'ew in the room who

isn)t openly gawing at me$ e wo"ldn)t dare$ +ot with the pair o' deadly eyes trained on him

'rom the other side o' the door$

.hat)s yo"r poison( ,"%y ,ady=3

Any o' my three 'avorite men will do$3

e nods and po"rs me a tall glass o' whisy on the ro%s$ 4 always start my evenings with

im -eam( a% Daniels or ose C"ervo$ 4 g"lp down the 'irst glass( b"t sip the se%ond one$ P"re

demons %an ingest their Energy "ndil"ted( b"t as a demion 4 need mine in'"sed with al%ohol$ 4t)s


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the only way my modi'ied body %an pro%ess the magi%al eli8ir$ .itho"t my daily 'i8( my blood

thi%ens and 'eels "n%om'ortably %old@ my m"s%les get sti'' and a%hy and my powers weaen$

4t)s even worse when 4)m agitated( lie now$

>o" oay( ,"%y= >o" seem6tense$3 Cody %hooses his words %are'"lly$ >ears o' dealing

with "npredi%table demons has ta"ght him well$

4)m 'ine$ "st need a pi%9me9"p$ -een a ro"gh %o"ple o' nights$3 4 swivel my barstool and

s"rvey the s%ene$ &he "s"al %rowd mingles aro"nd$ All o' them( lie me( 'or%ed to %ome here and

drin 'rom the So"r%e$

4)ve always 'o"nd it mildly am"sing that even in Demon -ar( the o%%"pants tend to %l"ster

a%%ording to type( ran( and stat"s$ A gro"p o' p"re( highest9level demons are playing pool in the

ba% %orner( swigging their beers$ Altho"gh they loo h"man( "nlie the demions who age and

event"ally die( demons never do either$ 4mmortals( all o' them( they loo e8a%tly the same as

they always have 'or many millennia$

A table o' demions 5do%tors( lawyers( CE:)s o' ma7or international %orporations( several

'amo"s movie stars and even a 'ormer President and i%e President o' the nited States5sit on

the other side o' the room sipping %hampagne and eeping to themselves$ &he %reat"res5

demons and demions blended with animal D+A5h"ddle by the 'ire pit telling ea%h other

ra"%o"s tales o' mayhem and m"rder$ And as "s"al( the vamps are gathered in the ba%( away

'rom the rest o' "s$

All o' them my tribe$ /y 'amily$

Cody says something( b"t my attention is 'i8ated on 4vy)s mystery man who is staring at me

intently$ She noti%ed him a 'ew nights ago and has been %"rio"s abo"t him ever sin%e( b"t 4)d

been too b"sy with the Ama*Fa to give him m"%h tho"ght$ +ow that 4)m looing at him 4 thin

it)s time to re%onsider my indi''eren%e$ &his g"y is hot( even by demion standards where bea"ty

and per'e%tion are the norm$ 4 %o"ld "se a distra%tion$$$

6And yo")re not even listening to me( are yo"=3 Cody lightly swats my arm$ Something

interesting over there=3 is eyes have a mis%hievo"s gleam$

4 ret"rn my attention to him and tae another drin$ +othing thatinteresting$ .hat)s "p=3

4 was 7"st saying how there)s something going on aro"nd here that has some o' "s on edge

lately$3


27/244

.hat do yo" mean=3 4 glan%e over my sho"lder to give the se8y stranger a small smile( b"t

his ba% is already t"rned$

Cody leans %loser and drops his voi%e$ 4 don)t want to be spreading stories( b"t 4 want yo"

to be e8tra %are'"l o"t there$ 4)ve been hearing whispers o' some tro"ble$3

,ie what=3 e has my '"ll attention now$ 4' anyone has gotten wind o' my h"nting the

Ama*Fa( 4)m in "nspeaable danger$ :ther than &atiana( only -ones nows what 4)ve been "p

to$ -"t 4 tr"st him with my li'e$

Some '"nny st"''6some things that no one %an p"t their 'inger on e8a%tly$ ne8plained

disappearan%es o' a 'ew demions( some Sapies 'o"nd m"rdered in Pine Canyon$ And there were

three border battles in the last wee alone$ 4 d"nno$ 4t 7"st seems lie something)s "p6and

nothing good$3

4 rela8 slightly and tae a 'ew more sips$ Cody is so sweet( b"t he has a tenden%y to

overrea%t( "s"ally o"t o' 'ear$ e)s one o' the 'ew demions in e8isten%e who( 'or whatever

reason( never re%eived a%tive physi%al powers$ -ones and 4 both agree that this 'law maes him

more 7ittery than the rest o' "s$

Doesn)t so"nd lie m"%h to be alarmed at$ Demions are "npredi%table and o'ten go

"ndergro"nd 'or one reason or another$ Pine Canyon is thirty miles away 'rom Dove Cree( and

Sapies m"rder ea%h other all the time$ And 4)m not s"rprised at the border sirmishes64)m only

s"rprised it was as "iet as it was 'or so long$ -esides( i' there was any real danger( -ones wo"ld

have said something to me$ 4n 'a%t( he was %omplaining abo"t being bored$3

Cody rel"%tantly nods and po"rs himsel' a drin$ S)pose yo")re right$ 4 d"nno$ &hings were

7"st ind o' "iet Bro"nd here 'or so long( then all o' a s"dden things started happening$ 4t 7"st

doesn)t sit well with me( is all$3 e taes a 'ew nervo"s g"lps$

Poor Cody$ 4t m"st be aw'"l being so helpless$ e may as well be a p"re Sapie$ 4)m s"re

it)s nothing$ -esides( isn)t it a little weirder that we werent'ighting with the border tribes= 4

mean( %ome on( we)re demons.4t)s ama*ing the pea%e agreements lasted as long as they have$1

or %ent"ries( vario"s demon 'a%tions had been at war with one another( ea%h 'or their own

reasons$ .hether it was 'or %ontrol over a territory( personal slights( or 7"st to 'ight( the tribes

had been battling it o"t 'or years$ -"t a'ter de%ades o' %arnage with no end in sight( the

,egionare5the highly silled militia "nit 'or the Demon Empire5separated the %lans into


28/244

territories$ +ow ea%h is 'orbidden to %ross over into another)s land witho"t e8press permission$

-"t only in &hibero"86the world o' /an is still 'air game and open to all$

4t has wored s"rprisingly well( with 'ew sirmishes in re%ent memory$ Anyone violating

the treaty is dealt with by the ,egionare( a p"nishment no demon wants to end"re$

Still( 4)m not bothered by Cody)s %on%ern$ /ost demons agree the treaty is an "nnat"ral a%t

and it)s only a matter o' time be'ore it)s broen$ /any o' "s( mysel' in%l"ded( long 'or war@ it)s

in o"r blood$ aving the ,egionare %ome a'ter a 'ew o' "s is one thing( b"t when entire %lans are

involved it)ll be a whole lot harder 'or them to single o"t a 'ew tro"blemaers$

4 t"rn to the 'resh glass o' whisy Cody has pla%ed beside me$ :ne last drin and 4)ll be

ready to get my game on$ :"t o' %o"rtesy 'or-er5well( more lie &atiana)s stri%t orders54

have to limit my drins to three( maybe 'o"r i' 4)m really 'ired "p$ And 4 always drin early in

the evening so it has time to metaboli*e by the timesheawaens$ -"t 4 wish 4 %o"ld drin all

night( lie other demions do$ n'ort"nately 'or me( as soon as ,iora t"rns h"man again the

al%ohol in o"r system will a''e%t her the same way it wo"ld a''e%t any other girl who is 'ive 'oot

seven and weighs one h"ndred and ten po"nds$

?eason n"mber ten tho"sand( eight h"ndred and thirty three why it)ssoannoying having to

share my body with a Sapie$

4 let o"t a long s"''ering sigh$ 4 %o"ldn)t be any lessamped abo"t my evening$ +o Ama*Fa

to h"nt( and &atiana didn)t even bother to point me in the dire%tion o' any other demons 4 %o"ld

slay instead$ 4 need to destroy something tonight( i' only to tae the edge o''$ :therwise( i' one o'

the d"mb Sapies 4 %olle%t the tolls 'rom even so m"%h as looks at me wrong he)ll be%ome nothing

more than a messy stain on a wall$ And 4 try not to ill h"mans$ A%t"ally( &atiana has 'orbidden

it6says it wo"ld mae st"pid ,iora go %ra*y or something$

0eason number ten thousand, eight hundred and thirty four"

Cody leaves to tend to some other patrons and 4 remember my mystery man in the ba%$ 4

spin my seat aro"nd to get another loo and my nees b"mp into something( stopping me mid9

t"rn$ A 'ew drops o' a% splash in my lap( b"t 4 don)t %are$

4 don)t %are be%a"se 4)m looing into the most bea"ti'"l eyes 4)ve ever seen in my li'e$

******


29/244

4 have to h"rry$ &he three moons o' 4llyria have nearly be%ome one( signaling 'irst dawn in

Sapie world$ 4 s"ee*e my legs tightly( "rging Diablo on$ e gr"nts and presses his head down$

A'ter %olle%ting the trib"tes( 4)d managed to 'ind some '"n a'ter all( illing a 'ew rog"e

paranoia9demons woring the streets o' +ew >or City$ A'terward( 4)d hit "p an "ndergro"nd

rave party to dan%e away some o' my remaining aggressions$ 4t hadn)t wored( b"t 4 love

dan%ing and lost tra% o' time$

4' there)s one thing ,iora and 4 agree "pon( it)s to leave o"r body in a sa'e pla%e 'or the other

to tae over$ :' %o"rse( this is m"%h more important 'or me to do than it is 'or her$ 4 don)t really

%are where 4 wae "p@I %an tae %are o' mysel'$ -"t i' 4 leave her somewhere "nprote%ted( her

'rail h"man state %o"ld spell tro"ble 'or both o' "s$

-"t mostly( 4 7"st don)t want her wearing my %lothes$ All o' my o"t'its are %"stom made 'or

me( and there)s no way 4)m letting her get her gr"bby paws on them$

4 b"rst thro"gh the %abin door with se%onds to spare$ &atiana sits on the 'loor with her eyes

%losed$ ello( dear( how was yo"r evening=3 she ass witho"t opening them$

S"per(3 4 say( still mi''ed at my r"dimentary %hore$ 4 toss the sa% o' money on the table

and r"sh to the bedroom( the 'irst waves o' %oldness already 'looding thro"gh me$ .ith no time

to hang them "p( my %lothes lie on the 'loor beside the bed$ +aed( 4 toss mysel' on it 7"st as

everything goes bla%$


30/244

Chapter 3. Liora

4 eep my head low as 4 mane"ver down the %rowded hallway toward my lo%er$ 4t)s a

%ons%io"s de%ision( one designed to prevent me 'rom r"bberne%ing lie an idiot hoping to %at%h

a glimpse o' Kieron somewhere$ -"t 4 reali*e it)s not the smartest idea as soon as 4 %rash sma%

into the ba%side o' Cade ohnston( one o' the s%hool)s +eanderthal 'ootball players$

Sorry(3 4 m"mble and s%oot aro"nd him$

is 'riends sni%er@ one dramati%ally re%oils in mo% horror$ 4 roll my eyes and ignore their

immat"re anti%s( b"t hear one o' them say( -etter b"rn that 7a%et( d"de$ 4t)s probably 7in8ed

now$3

What)e%)er.

Corrine stands by my lo%er looing lie she)s ready to b"rst 'rom her sin$ She and 4)ve

h"ng o"t 'or a 'ew years$ She doesn)t as me too many personal "estions and isn)t nosy abo"t

my private li'e$ &hat)s why 4 lie her5her preo%%"pation with her own drama prevents her 'rom

'o%"sing too m"%h on mine$ er 'ather is %"rrently serving a li'e senten%e 'or illing a man

d"ring a dr"nen bar 'ight( so she lives with her mom$ -"t her mom is no pri*e( either$

Perpet"ally "nemployed and permanently dr"n( she barely manages to eep "p the rent on the

trailer they share on the o"tsirts o' town( a pla%e inhabited by the trashiest o' the trash5poor

even by Dove Cree standards$ -"t she)s the %losest thing 4 have to a 'riend here( and 4)mgrate'"l 'or her %ompanionship$

,ee9:?9aa


31/244

4 loo to where a gaggle o' girls has %l"stered in the hallway$ Corre%tion( a gaggle o' girls

pl"s Kieron standing in the middle( %learly loving the attention being plied on him by hal' the

%heerleading s"ad$ "st as 4 e8pe%ted$

4 loo ba% at Corrine and roll my eyes$ ?eally= &hat)s what)s got yo" so wored "p6

some g"y=3 4 7"st hope my 'a%e isn)t as pin as hers$ "st seeing Kieron again( in the 'lesh(

a''irming that he is real and not a 'igment o' my overa%tive and "nreliable imagination maes my

blood p"mp '"rio"sly$ 4 'o%"s on lining "p the n"mbers on my %ombination lo%( whi%h is

e8%eedingly di''i%"lt with shay hands$

She leans beside me and %ranes her ne% to wat%h him$ Serio"sly( ,iora( are yo" blind=

ave yo" notseen o"r sele%tion o' g"ys here( or sho"ld 4 say( la% o'=3

So he)s %"te$ -ig whoop$ or all yo" now he %o"ld be a world9%lass 7er$3 4 '"mble

thro"gh my lo%er and try to remember what boos 4)ll need 'or 'irst period English$ Altho"gh

a'ter what happened yesterday( 4)m not s"re it will even matter$ /r$ Sodenberg will probably

i% me o"t the se%ond he sees me$

Despite my best e''orts( 4 %an)t help b"t pee in Kieron)s dire%tion again$ is da**ling

smile lights "p the hallway and two more girls have 7oined his swarm o' admirers$ e seems

lie a total player(3 4 say and slam my lo%er sh"t.

Damn$ 4 have to wal right past him.4 move to Corrine)s other side so she %an be a b"''er as

we head toward Kieron and his e8panding harem$

e)s the hottest thing that)s ever stepped 'oot in this town( i' yo" as me$ And he)s nota

7er$ e)ssuperpolite64 a%%identally b"mped into him leaving %hemistry yesterday( and he

a%t"ally said Becuse meand ased i' 4 was oay


32/244


33/244

4 silently re%ite my earlier vows to mysel'$ 4 m"st 'orget abo"t Kieron$ ?ight now( my

n"mber one priority is getting thro"gh the day witho"t er showing "p$ &hat means absol"tely

no*oning o"t$ 4 have to stay alert( 'o%"sed$ &atiana had told me over brea'ast that she)d spoen

with ,"%y( b"t 4 wasn)t satis'ied that she wo"ldn)t 7"st pop in again i' it s"ited her p"rposes$ So

4)d taen the e8tra pre%a"tion o' wearing a %r"%i'i8 ne%la%e@ hope'"lly this will dis%o"rage her

or ens"re her "i% depart"re i' she does de%ide to mae a %ameo$

4 openInfernoand pra%ti%e translating the words into ren%h( a lang"age 4)m tea%hing

mysel'$ 4t)s the only way it will hold my attention$

.hen a body br"shes past me( 4 loo "p and am s"rprised to see Kieron smiling down at me$

i( again(3 he says so'tly$

i$3 /y heart po"nds wildly( and 4 "i%ly ret"rn my ga*e to Canto MM4$ -"t the words

be%ome a bl"r as Kieron %ontin"es to hover$

Do yo" mind i' 4 sit here=3 he ass$

4 shr"g non%ommittally( still staring at my boo lie it holds the answer to the meaning o'

li'e$ S"it yo"rsel'$3

e %h"%les$ 4s this yo"r bag=3

?ight( sorry$3 4 lean over to snat%h it "p and pla%e it on the other side o' me$ Kieron

gra%e'"lly mane"vers into the seat and smiles$

Doing better today=3

>es$3 And 4)m re9reading the same senten%e 'or the 'i'th time$ /y ga*e li'ts slightly to see

several st"dents t"rned aro"nd in their seats( gawing at "s$

4)m happy to hear that$ Sorry to interr"pt yo"6is that a good boo=3

4t)s 'as%inating(3 4 respond dryly$

/aybe yo" wo"ldn)t mind 'illing me in( help me get "p to speed53 &he rest o' his

"estion is %"t o'' as /r$ Sodenberg %alls the %lass to order$

4' someone had o''ered me ten million dollars to re%all even onesenten%e /r$ Sodenberg

"ttered d"ring his entire le%t"re( 4 %o"ldn)t do it$ Even tho"gh 4)m trying with all my might to

%on%entrate on what the tea%her is saying( it)s impossible with Kieron sitting less than two 'eet

away$ i'ty min"tes pass in a bl"r( and be'ore 4 now it the bell is ringing$

.hat)s yo"r ne8t %lass=3 Kieron ass as we both stand "p$

istory with a%son$3


34/244

.hat a happy %oin%iden%e$ So)s mine$ .e %an wal there together$3 4t)s more o' a

%ommand than a re"est$ e)s so %lose behind me 4 %an smell the m"sy s%ent o' his a'tershave$

.e mae o"r way to the door and 4 noti%e several girls( in%l"ding Corrine( wat%hing "s lie

blood9thirsty haws$ 4 give her what 4 hope is a reass"ring smile b"t 4 %an tell she)s not b"ying it$

Even tho"gh her ne8t %lass is in the opposite dire%tion( she 'alls into step beside "s$

Kieron( have yo" met my 'riend Corrine :lsen=3 4 as( hoping to di''"se any awwardness$

She stares at him in awe and 4 groan inwardly$ 4)m trying not to be embarrassed 'or her( b"t she)s

7"st a%ting soswoony$ 4)ve never seen her lie this be'ore$

-"t i' Kieron noti%es anything odd abo"t her behavior( he maes no indi%ation o' it$ >es( 4

believe we "ite literally ran into ea%h other the other day( b"t weren)t properly introd"%ed$

ello( Corrine( my name is Kieron Ambrose$ ow do yo" do=3

9'ine(3 Corrine st"tters$ er 'a%e is beet red$ She gapes at both o' "s 'or a moment be'ore

abr"ptly t"rning and r"shing in the other dire%tion$ Kieron smiles down at me$

riendly people here(3 he says$

>eah( a little too'riendly(3 4 m"tter as Dr"silla swoops in and to"%hes his arm$

:h( Kieron( there y)ar(3 she says( e8aggerating her so"thern drawl$ 4)ve noti%ed she does

this whenever she tals to %"te g"ys$ She m"st)ve heard somewhere they lie it$ &ramp$ 4 was

hopin) to have ya es%ort me to biology$ ;ive "s a %han%e to %hat$3 She prono"n%es it bah)awl)gy,

bats her 'alse eyelashes( and smiles %oyly$ ;reat$ +ow she)s morphed into S%arlett :)ara$

Can we do it later= 4 need to tal with ,iora 'or a moment(3 he says( mat%hing her phony

smile( eye9bat and all$ S%ore one 'or ?hett -"tler$

Dr"silla is not"sed to boys saying no to her$ er 'a%e 'ree*es and at 'irst she)s %on'"sed$

&hen her ga*e 'li%ers over to me$ or the 'irst hal'9se%ond( it seems lie she)s never seen me

be'ore@ 'or the se%ond( lie 4)m a 'ly in her non'at yog"rt$ -"t she "i%ly re%overs$ .hy(

%ertainly( 4 "nderstand(3 she says as i' she)s never heard o' anything more l"di%ro"s$ ind me at

l"n%h$ 4)ll save "s a seat by the 'o"ntains where we %an have some priva%y6and not be

bothered$3

Kieron nods$ So"nds good(3 he says$ 4 want to p"n%h him$ And her$ Dr"silla spins on an

inappropriately high heel and stals away( b"t not be'ore 'lashing me a death9ray glare$

.aling down a hallway with Kieron is an entirely new e8perien%e 'or me$ Even when it)s

'illed with b"stling bodies s%"rrying between %lassrooms and lo%ers( 4)m "s"ally given a pretty


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wide berth$ -"t Kieron seems to have the e8a%t opposite e''e%t on people$ &hey)re all moving

%loser( trying to be as near him as possible( hoping to meet his ga*e( or( i' really l"%y(

Ba%%identally) to"%h him on their way past$ 4t)s sort o' lie being with a %elebrity$ 4)m thining

how the only thing missing is the 'lashing light b"lbs o' papara**i when 4 %at%h Carrie Stevens

snapping a pi%t"re o' him with her %ell phone$ And now 4)m embarrassed 'or my entire gender$

So( 4 don)t want to impose mysel' on yo"( b"t 4 was serio"s when 4 ased i' yo" wo"ldn)t

mind helping me %at%h "p to speed on the reading$ /r$ Sodenberg e8%"sed me 'rom the paper

d"e ne8t wee( b"t 4)m not a d"mb g"y( and 4)d really lie to p"ll my own weight$ ;et started o''

on the right 'oot( i' yo" now what 4 mean$3

4' yo" want to get started o'' on the right 'oot 4 don)t really re%ommend hanging aro"nd

me(3 4 say "ietly$ ?ight now the only thing o"tn"mbering the desiro"s loos sent Kieron)s way

are the hate'"l ones being sent toward me$

e stops and pla%es his hand lightly on my arm$ /y stoma%h threatens to leap into my %hest(

and 4 have to avert my eyes 'rom his intense stare$ .hy wo"ld yo" say that= 4 ased several

people who the smartest person in o"r %lass was and they all said yo"$3

4)m s"re that)s not all they said(3 4 m"mble( very aware o' his hand still resting on my arm$

&hat)s the only part 4 listened to(3 he replies with a small smile$ :"r eyes lo%$

4 tae a deep breath$ :ay( i' yo")re really desperate( 4 g"ess 4 %an help yo" o"t$ -"t i' yo"

%hange yo"r mind( 4)ll "nderstand$3

4 won)t$3 is eyes are sparling again$ .hen)s a good time 'or yo"= /y a'ternoons and

evenings are 'ree 'or yo"53

A'ternoons only(3 4 say h"rriedly$ Evenings are o"t$ &otally$3 e gives a "i**i%al glan%e

b"t 7"st nods$

4 "nderstand$ ey( thans a lot$ 4 really appre%iate it$3

+o problem6today)s no good( tho"gh(3 4 add as 4 remember a spe%ial errand 4 have to do

later$

&omorrow( then=3

4 nod$

&he warning bell rings( and we enter %lass together$ &his time( 4)m not s"rprised when he

taes the empty seat beside me$

So( we meet again$3 e raises an eyebrow and wins$


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or the 'irst time in a long time( 4 la"gh$

******

&atiana is sitting in the lot"s9position levitating dried rose petals when 4 get home$ 4 now

better than to bother her when she)s B'eeling the 'lowers)5her version o' reading tea leaves5so

4 retreat to my room to start my homewor and do some la"ndry$

4 plop on my bed and set "p my laptop$ irst "p A ten page paper on the %a"ses and e''e%ts

o' the ren%h ?evol"tion$ &hrill me now$ 4 deliberate 'or abo"t thirty se%onds be'ore my 'ingers

'ly a%ross the eyboard( and less than twenty min"tes later 4)m done( 'ootnotes and all$ 4 spend

'ive more min"tes on &rig( an assignment that)ll tae even the brightest o' my %lassmates over an

ho"r to %omplete$

igh.4 %an)t even %o"nt on s%hoolwor to distra%t me 'or very long$ Again( my tho"ghtsret"rn to Kieron$ +ot that they)re ever really 'ar away 'rom him$ e)s always there6l"ring in

the ba% o' my mind( patiently waiting 'or me to ind"lge in the 'antasy$ &he one where 4 dont

t"rn into a monster at d"s$ &he one where someday 4)ll be able to 'ind happiness with him( or

maybe even someone else$ &he one where 4 %an 'all in love and live happily ever a'ter$

>eah( that 'antasy$ &he %ompletely insane( ridi%"lo"s( and impossibleone$

4 de%ide to s"r' the web 'or a bit and %li% on the page 'or lo%al news$ .hen 4 see the

headline 4 gasp6si%ened

LOCAL MURDERS HAVE CITIZENS ON EDGE

-eneath the headline are three pi%t"res an adorable little girl who loos to be aro"nd 'ive or

si8( a teenage boy with pimples and a h"ge smile( and a middle9aged bla% man$ All o' them

loo so happy$

4 s%an the arti%le$ ew %l"es and no apparent %onne%tion between the vi%tims$ All were

br"tally m"rdered( either at home( or in the %ase o' the little girl( right o"tside$ 4t says she was

illed playing on her 'ront por%h as her mom ran inside to answer the phone$ She)d been gone

less than three min"tes and ret"rned to 'ind her da"ghter)s head twisted %lean o''$

.hat ind o' monsters %o"ld be %apable o' doing something so horri'i%=3 the mother is

"oted as saying$ 4 %lose my %omp"ter and taste the bile in my throat$

4 now eactlywhat ind o' monsters are %apable o' s"%h horrors$


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4 was twelve years old when my two best 'riends were vi%io"sly m"rdered right in 'ront o'

me$ &he memory o' wat%hing them die is the last thing that ,"%y and 4 e8perien%ed as a

sing"lar being$ A'ter that( she went her way and 4 went mine$ 4t still maes me na"seo"s to thin

that te%hni%ally 4)m part o' a breed o' monsters that are %apable o' %ommitting s"%h atro%ities$

&atiana has told me 4 sho"ldn)t hate mysel' 'or the a%tions o' a 'ew bad elements3$ "mans

ill one another "ite reg"larly( and they don)t despise themselves 'or the %rimes o' others$

&hat)s 'ine$ She %an say what she wants$ She didn)t see what 4 saw$ She doesn)t now what 4

now$ 4t)s impossible to 'orget6or 'orgive6the hideo"s %r"elty that 4 now 'lows thro"gh my

veins$

top it, stop it, stop it

4 'or%e mysel' to p"sh away the aw'"l memory and to thin o' something else$ &all$ +i%e

body$ -la% hair$ Ele%tri% bl"e eyes$ Se8y smile6

/ugh

4 'lip on the radio and start gathering "p some %lothes to r"n a wash$ 4 a%%identally pi% "p

some sl"tty red leather ensemble that ,"%y wore last night and angrily throw it ba% in the

%loset$ Even i' 4 wanted to do her la"ndry5whi%h 4 most de'initely donot54 wo"ldn)t even

now how to wash something lie that$ 4 swear she shops at Strippers9?9s$

&he tantali*ing aroma wa'ting in 'rom the it%hen tells me &atiana has beg"n maing dinner$

4 throw the last o' my %lothes in the washer and 7oin her$

/mm( 'ried %hi%en$ /y 'avorite(3 4 say( peeing over her sho"lder$ A leather sat%hel rests

on the table( and 4 open it "p@ it)s 'illed with money and 7ewels$ 4 p"ll o"t a diamond ne%la%e

and admire it$ Can 4 eep this=3 4t)s a ridi%"lo"s "estion$ &atiana wo"ld never allow it( and

besides( when wo"ld 4 ever wear something lie this=

She gives me a loo as she sets a plate o' 'resh %hi%en beside me( and 4 rel"%tantly ret"rn

the ne%la%e to the bag$ ?emove the 7ewels@ 4)ll p"t them in my sa'e$ ,"%y already has her

instr"%tions abo"t how to divide the %ash$3

Even tho"gh it)s me who is going to the ban( 4 %an)t do it all by mysel'$ /y 7ob is to be

there waiting so ,"%y %an tae over and handle the tellers$ :therwise( they might grow

s"spi%io"s o' a teenage girl %oming in with large sa%s o' %ash re"esting %ashier)s %he%s 'or

vario"s %harities$ -"t "nder her hypnoti*ing ga*e they do as they)re told( as no "estions( and


38/244

soon 'orget they ever saw "s$ .e have to time it per'e%tly be%a"se the ban "s"ally %loses right

aro"nd the time it gets dar$

Are yo" planning on waling or driving into town=3 &atiana ass$

4t loos lie it might rain soon6=3 4 loo at her 'or %on'irmation$ She presses her lips

together and nods$

"st a light sprinling( b"t not 'or several ho"rs6yo" will miss it$3

s"ally( 4 m"%h pre'er to wal$ -"t it)s late a'ternoon already( and that wo"ld be %"tting it

too %lose$ And 4 don)t want to p"t it o'' "ntil tomorrow@ 4 already have plans to see Kieron$ &he

tho"ght stirs "p the b"tter'lies in my stoma%h$

;"ess 4)ll drive$ 4 wish 4 %o"ld r"n lie She %an(3 4 m"mble thro"gh a mo"th'"l o' 'ood$

Co"rse 4 g"ess it doesn)t really matter anyway( seeing as how 4 have to go thro"gh the middle

o' town and people wo"ld see$3

&atiana maes a %l"%ing noise and s%oops "p some mashed potatoes$ She has her talents

and yo" have yo"rs$ So tell me( how was yo"r day= -etter than yesterday=3 She has an odd smile

on her 'a%e$

Sometimes 4 wonder 7"st how m"%h &atiana nows that she doesn)t let on$ 4 now she has

the 'reay ability to sense anything that moves( h"man or not( and %an read the energies o'

%lothes( even down to nowing what %olor and material they are$ 4 s"ppose it sho"ldn)t s"rprise

me i' she nows 4)m obsessing on something$

&oday was6oay(3 4 say$ +o hostile taeovers$3

ow are %lasses going=3

ine$ Same$ -oring$3 As m"%h as 4 want to not thin abo"t the horri'ying news arti%le( 4

%an)t shae it 'rom my mind$ Sighing( 4 p"t down my dr"msti%$ &at( what do yo" now abo"t

the m"rders in Pine Canyon= 4 read abo"t them online and it)s 7"st aw'"l$ 4s it anything6

s"pernat"ral=3

She lets o"t a long breath and stands "p$ .aling over to the window she wrings her hands

nervo"sly$ +ow 4 wish 4 hadn)t ased$

4( too( have seen the death$ 4 wish 4 %o"ld say it was a random a%t o' h"man on h"man

violen%e( b"t 4 'ear it)s not$ &here is a bla%ness s"rro"nding the poor so"ls( and 4 am "nable to

de%ipher the meaning or motivations behind the a%tions$ 4 do not now what %a"sed it( nor why$ 4

only see an impenetrable darness$3


39/244

/y heart starts ra%ing$ &atiana "s"ally tries to eep me in the dar abo"t demoni% a%tivity(

or at least "se gentle e"phemisms5lie re'erring to /i%hael and Kayla)s m"rders as the

"n'ort"nate in%ident3$

Am 4 in danger=3 4 as( not s"re 4 want to hear her answer$ -"t( really( when am 4 notin

danger= ,"%y riss o"r lives with alarming reg"larity$

4 do not see this as a threat to yo" at this time$ Perhaps it will be an isolated "n'ort"nate

event$ :' %o"rse( i' anything %hanges yo" will be the 'irst to now and 4 will implement

sa'eg"ards$3

:ay( s"re( whatever yo" say$3 4 %an)t eat anything more so 4 %lear away the plates and

give her a iss on the %hee$ 4 better get going$ See yo" tomorrow$3 4 grab the bag o' money and

the eys to my /"stang$

&he a'ternoon s"n is beginning its 'inal des%ent on the hori*on$ 4 7"mp in my %ar( %ran "p

the stereo( and speed o'' down the dirt road$

******

&his main stret%h winding thro"gh the heart o' Dove Cree is the only so"r%e o' %ommer%e

'or miles$ -esides the ban( there)s a movie rental pla%e( a pi**a parlor and i%e %ream shop( and a

'ew novelty stores that spe%iali*e in h"nting and 'ishing$

Several people are milling along the sidewal( so 4 lean ba% in the driver)s seat and mae

mysel' %om'ortable$ 4 still have a 'ew more min"tes( b"t 4 really hope the dinner %rowd disperses

be'ore it)s time 'or me to %hange$ 4 %an)t do it in the %ar6hewon)t bother to lo% it "p or leave

the eys in a sa'e pla%e$ s"ally 4 go to the alley behind the ban to trans'orm( b"t right now

there are too many people$ DamnPi**a Pete)s and their &"esday night spe%ial.

A'ter a 'ew min"tes the %rowd thins$ /y plan is to sit on the ben%h "ntil 4 'eel er approa%h(

then move into the alley way$ +o problem$

4 lo% the %ar and mae my way a%ross the street$ &hen( 4 spot Kieron waling down the

sidewal$

:h( no$No no no

e hasn)t seen me yet6at least 4 don)t thin so$ -"t 4 have to get away@ 4 %an)t let him see

me this %lose to a trans'ormation$ .ho nows what ,"%y will say or do= Espe%ially i' Kieron


40/244


41/244


42/244

-"t 4 now i' 4 don)t get the %he%s( &atiana will be mad$ And 4 mae it a point ne%erto get

&atiana mad5at least not on p"rpose$ -"t ,iora will pay dearly 'or her "tter la% o' respe%t o'

me( that)s 'or damns"re$

******

4 throw open the door( nearly taing it o'' its hinges$ &atiana is sitting on the %o"%h waiting

'or me$ 4 angrily toss the ban %he%s on the table and storm into my bedroom$

Do not be mad at her( dear(3 &atiana %alls to me$ She was a'raid o' e8pos"re and had to

%on%eal hersel' to avoid a problem$ She 'elt she had no %hoi%e$ 4)m s"re she is very sorry to do

that to yo"$3

.hatever$3

i'teen min"tes later 4 emerge 'rom the shower$ 4 r"n my hands thro"gh my wet hair( and theheat emanating 'rom my palms rapidly dries the long lo%s$ 4 p"ll them ba% in a low ponytail

and my 'ingers brie'ly to"%h my /ar$ &o ,iora and other Sapies( the /ar b"rns hot to the

to"%h$ or me( it 'eels %ool6lie i%e$

&his /ar on the ba% o' o"r ne% is the reason ,iora won)t ever wear her hair "p@ she

doesn)t want anyone to see it$ Personally 4 don)t see what the big deal is$ 4t 7"st loos lie an

ordinary tattoo5a simple red star$ Something anyone %o"ld get at any tattoo parlor$ 4t)s not lie

it spells o"t( 4 am hal'9demon(3 or anything$ 4 swear( she)ssucha demon bigot$

A'ter %hanging into an all9bla% leather o"t'it5per'e%tly s"ited 'or my all9bla% mood54

%harge into &atiana)s room$ She)s stirring her %a"ldron( the %ool steam %"rling ghostly ribbons

aro"nd her serene visage$

ind me some demons to slay$ &ormenting won)t %"t it tonight$3

Sin%e 4)m 'orbidden to ill Sapies( and 'ighting with other demons in &hibero"8 is o"tlawed

by Demoni% De%ree( 4 have to 'ind my '"n elsewhere &he world o' /an$

+at"rally( 4 never 'ight with any 'rom my own tribe( b"t there are others6manyothers( who

en%roa%h on the s"rro"nding towns and "se the Sapies as playthings$ 4t)s these %reat"res that

provide me with an o"tlet 'or my nat"ral desires$ And right now5with the Ama*Fa o"t o' rea%h

again54 have a very big it%h to s%rat%h$ And long( per'e%tly9mani%"red bla% nails to s%rat%h it

with$


43/244

4 'eel yo"r 'ire and now yo" m"st h"nt$ 4' yo" want to stay %lose by( in ?i%hmond there

are two Paraste demons woring o"t o' the ;ala8y +ight%l"b$ :r( yo" %o"ld go ba% to +ew

>or( where there are several53

4)ll tae the Parastes$3 4)d 7"st been to +ew >or last night to %olle%t the trib"tes( and

besides( 4 detest these parti%"lar demons$ &hey aren)t good 'or anything "se'"l$ nless yo"

%onsider easing my it%h "se'"l$ .hi%h 4 do$ :n%e they atta%h themselves to a h"man body( they

ass"me total %ontrol and 'or%e their vi%tims to do harm'"l things to themselves and others$ &he

host never s"rvives 'or very long$

4t)s not lie my "est to destroy other demons stems 'rom the goodness o' my heart$ 4' it

wasn)t 'or the 'a%t that ,iora spends time in the Sapie world( leaving my vessel wea and

v"lnerable( 4 wo"ldn)t %are less what other demons did$

-"t many demons o"t there %an p"t her6meaning me6at ris$ Some Paraste demon %o"ld

atta%h to one o' the ids at her s%hool and mae him go all Col"mbine or something and ,iora

%o"ld get %a"ght in the %ross'ire$ -esides( 4 need to stay sharp$ :n top o' my game$ &he Ama*Fa

may be gone 'or now( b"t one day they will ret"rn$ And when they do( 4)ll be ready$

&atiana nods$ ery well$ 4 have prepared the revealing powder 'or yo"$3 She motions to the

small sat%hel on the table$ 4 %an)t help b"t smile$ She nows me so well$ &he spe%ial d"st allows

me to disting"ish Parastes 'rom reg"lar Sapies and taes several ho"rs to %reate$

4 grab the po"%h( bid 'arewell to &atiana( and s"mmon Diablo$ At the -ridge o' Kings 4 tae

a "i% loo 'or -ones( b"t there)s no sentry in sight$ -ones=3 4 %all o"t$ &he night is eerily

"iet$ 4 try again( lo"der this time$ -oneses( he)s been here 'or abo"t an ho"r$ 4 thin he)s waiting 'or yo"$3

>eah( 4 got held "p a bit$-er63 4 roll my eyes$

4vy gives me a sympatheti% smile and motions with her %hin to the g"y sitting in the %orner$

:"r se8y stranger is ba% again$ Did yo" get the s%oop on him or what= 4 saw yo" g"ys taling

at the bar last night$3 She so"nds a%%"satory( as i' 4)m holding o"t on her$

4 avoid her ga*e$ >es( he)d approa%hed where 4 was sitting( b"t only to order another drin

'rom Cody$ .e)d e8%hanged hello3s( and he)d %om

Documents

A Demon Made Me Do It Demonblood Series 1