Demon Day Penelope Fletcher (which ebook reader TXT) 📖

For what seemed like the millionthtime, I struggled with the chain at my throat. I was naked, filthy,and covered in bruises, but if I could get this damn thing off, Icould try to get past them. Maybe Samuel had come back to talk.Perhaps, I could tell him everything and convince him to help me,to show me how to escape.

The door opened and a faint lightspilled in, lighting a patch of the cold floor.

Helpless, I curled into the corner,and rested my forehead on my knees, refusing to look up. I wouldnot give them the satisfaction of seeing me cry or wail. I felt theperson step closer, but the pent up anger inside me threatened tolash out, so I shied away, hugging the wall. My chains clinked. Iwould show no emotion.

A blanket was draped over myshoulders. The manacle around my neck fell to the floor.

I started then curled myself tighter.It was a trick. They were trying to show me kindness to learnsomething. I would not be fooled. I was wrapped up tightly, scoopedup, and carried away.

We moved from the room of nothing intothe narrow passage that was lit with candlelight.

Gah, I bet I looked likehell.

I did not recognize the scent of theperson carrying me, nor his bouncy gait.

My eyes were still closed and with ameasure of terrible hope, I processed I was no longer bound withiron. My feet and hands were free and my senses were alreadystretching. Slowly, my body was repairing itself, though I knew itwould be sometime before I was ready to exert any realstrain.

My eyes flickered open and Igasped.

Ro only faltered one step when he sawI was awake and watching him. I had not spoken, or made any othernoise, but possibly because I had stopped breathing and my face wasturning blue might be the reason why he lookedconcerned.

Gently, he set me down on the floorand quickly turned to drag an unconscious Cleric by the dirty bootheels on his back into the dungeon. He shouldered the door closed,bolted it, and breathed out in a breathy rush with a hollowchuckle.

He picked me back up and continuedon.

After a minute of heavy silence, heasked, “You right, Rae?” He did not look at me, just kept his eyeson the tunnel up ahead. Twice he looked over his shoulder into theshadowy passage behind.

I did not say a word. I wanted to, ofcourse, but more than likely, my mouth would get me into trouble.It seemed – from his shifty eyes, uneasy disposition, and Clericstashing escapade – Ro was in the middle of some kind of rescueattempt. But how would he know where I was being hidden? Why was herescuing me in the first place? I was a demon, and to him thatmeant I was bad. The enemy. When I had tried to reach out to himbefore he’d called me a freak.

“I won’t hurt you. I’m hereto help, read me?” He patted my back soothingly.

I tried hard to be sensible, but mymouth won. “Why are you doing this?” I asked in barely a whisper.My throat was raw and my mouth parched.

“Because it’s the rightthing to do. And I always liked you, Rae. You freaky, and that’snothing but truth, but Lex is right when she say you have a goodheart.”

Gods be dammed. He had said her name,and my tears were instant.

“Don’t cry,” Ro said,panicked. “You be safe now. I hate when a female cries. Tears at myinsides, eh.”

I sobbed in heaving gasps, and thegods knew I did not need to waste any more body fluids, but couldnot stop. Hearing the way he spoke had thoughts of Lex hammering atmy heart. It was too much. I had not saved her, I had not avengedher, and now I was putting the boy she loved in danger. There couldnot be a worse friend than me.

Ro kicked the metal door ahead of usfully open. It was already bent back and swinging off its hinges,and we came out into the forest. Who had done that to the door?There was more than one exit to the passageway? It was sunset, yetthe fading light was enough to have my nature wiggle injoy.

I breathed in deeply, enjoying thesmell of earth and green things. Ro trotted forward and fell into abrisk jog.

I closed my eyes and looked forBreandan. He was still far away, closer than before, but still far.I could not understand it. Why had he not come for me?

There was no point trying to feel formy vampire-boy. The darkness and blood tie we shared seemed to worka lot differently to the bond I had going with Breandan. When wewere close I could perceive him better, understand him. When Idreamed the darkness took me too him, allowed me to be with himeven as I rested, but once he had died for the day the connectionwas almost totally silent. Dead, like he was, unless he sought meout. I had two demon-boys who claimed to want me, yet neither ofthem had come to save me.

The steady of my best friend who diedby my foolish actions was the only one who had risked itall.

Clearly, the gods were laughing atme.

“Do you want me to takeher?” asked a hushed voice at Ro’s side.

“I’m cool.”

“Say-so,” she whispered. Apause. “What happened to her skin, why is she coveredin–”

Heartbeat kicking into overdrive, myeyes popped open and darted to where the recognizable voicespoke.

My heart stopped.

Shrieking in fear, I launched myselfout of Ro’s arms and landed crouched in front of them, unable toprocess what I saw. Scuttling back I dropped my glamour, and mywings jackknifed out. I blinked rapidly and shook my head, my handsout in front of me to warn them back. The world had a slight purplehue, and some things were difficult for me to see but I knew myeyesight was not deceiving me.

I could smell Ro, a boyish mixture ofsweat and cotton. The she-being watching me with a steady,unblinking gaze was scentless. Seeing a look he did not like on myface, Ro drifted in front of her protectively.

Rolling her eyes, she pushed him outthe way, and he