Marked For Death: A Dark Urban Fantasy Novel Becca Blake (fiction novels to read .txt) 📖

“This is a waste of time,” Jacob said.

As frustrating as it was, I had to agree with him. We’d spent the entire day there, had searched through every old room and scrapped car, and we had nothing to show for it. The golden glow of early evening was setting in, and we didn’t have much daylight left.

“We should get back to Haygrove before Orion decides to come back to your place to check on you.”

“He won’t be around anytime soon. He’s too angry with me,” I said.

“Was that your plan, then? Piss him off enough that he’d leave us alone?” Jacob asked.

“No, but it’s good that it worked out that way, isn’t it?”

“Look, I spent the day backing you up on this, but it’s getting ridiculous. There’s nothing to find here. We’re going to get caught, and we’re going to get into a ton of trouble for it. We’re going home. Now.” Jacob stormed out of the warehouse and got into his car, slamming the door shut behind him.

I took one last look around the empty warehouse before heading out to join him. He was right. We never should have returned to Omaha because a crusty old note had given me a misplaced sense of hope. What had I even expected to find? My dad alive and waiting for me? Even if we found whatever hidden truth the note hinted at, it wouldn’t change anything. Dad was gone. He wasn’t coming back.

Tears blurred my vision as I leaned forward on the dashboard, burying my face in my arms. “I really thought we’d find something here. I’m sorry.”

Jacob uncrossed his arms and leaned back in the chair with a sigh. “I’m sorry about your dad. I should have said something earlier. This has been really hard for you.”

The gravel crunched beneath the tires as he pulled away from the empty back road.

“You won’t say anything about this, will you?” I asked.

An uncomfortably long silence followed the question. The empty road stretched on far ahead of us, so I stole a glance at Jacob as he drove. Either he hadn’t heard me, or he knew I wouldn’t like his answer.

As I turned my head away, a woman stumbled out of the cornfield to our right. She clutched her arm as she ran into the street, looking over her shoulder.

“Watch out!” I yelled, grabbing the handle above the window.

Jacob yelled out a curse and slammed on the breaks, swerving the car to the side. The tires screeched, and stalks of corn snapped around the car as we plowed into the cornfield. I retrieved my sheathed sword from the back seat, then kicked the door open.

I followed the path the car left out to the street. The woman who caused the accident lay in the middle of the road, sprawled out on her stomach. She took ragged breaths as she tried to get to her feet, using only her right arm to push herself up.

A sea of blonde curls masked her face, but I didn’t need to see her clearly to recognize her.

“Alexis?” I asked.

She turned her head to look at me, her mouth open in surprise. Her hair fell away from her face to reveal her honey brown eyes, wide with fear as she looked from the sword, back up to my face. “Who are you?”

Alexis let me help her to her feet. She leaned all of her weight onto me, as though she might crumple back to the ground again the second I let go.

“I’ve been looking for you,” I said. “I had some questions—”

I froze as a crackling screech came from the cornfield.

“What’s that?” Jacob stepped out from the cornfield and drew his sword.

“We need to leave—it’s coming.” Her voice rose with panic, and she pulled away from my grip.

Before I could ask what she meant, a figure stepped out from the ruined corn stalks near Jacob’s car.

This demon’s cracked, yellow skin and red eyes had haunted my nightmares for weeks. His hellhound leaped out of the field and stood beside him in the road.

My sword was in my hands before I could even form a coherent thought. “You!”

The demon’s brow furrowed until recognition reached his glowing eyes. “I don’t have time to play around with you again tonight. I’m on a tight schedule. So, run along.”

“Why are you here?” My sword hummed beneath my tightening grip, as though it were just as eager as I was to tear this creature apart.

“My business is with the girl. She is a deserter, and I’m here to collect her death sentence on behalf of Lord Raxael.” The demon let out a wheezing laugh as he raised a single twisted finger to point at Alexis. “Now, step aside, Arbiters.”

I stepped in front of her and took a defensive stance. This demon had already taken away my best friend. I wouldn’t let him take my only lead, too.

Jacob lunged for the demon, who sent a stream of flame flying in his direction. He lifted his sword and put up a quick ward to deflect the magical attack. The demon’s fire bounced off of the barrier and flew across the street, setting the cornfield alight.

While my partner kept the demon occupied, the hellhound turned its attention to Alexis. Crouching next to her, I cloaked us both in invisibility. I helped her to her feet and pulled her out of the way just in time to avoid the lunging hellhound.

The creature let out a howl as it sniffed the air, searching for us.

I took advantage of its distraction to lead Alexis back to Jacob’s car.

“Stay here. We’ll take care of this,” I said.

I hurried back out to the road just as the demon sidestepped Jacob’s attack and kicked his feet out from under him.

Still shrouded by the invisibility spell, I rushed the demon from behind.

He screeched as my blade tore through his back with little resistance. Rotten flesh fell away and clung to my sword. The