Demon Day by Penelope Fletcher (best novels in english .TXT) 📕

My hands fisted in anger. “If I had wanted tokill you you’d be dead. I’m looking forward to rectifying thatmistake.”

My words were nothing but the truth. Ihad never meant to hurt anybody. I wanted to protectthem.

His hands beat on his chest. “Even nowshe stands there and threatens me.”

“Because you’re a fool.You’re trying to brainwash them into thinking they have no choicebut to be murders.”

“Who are you going tobelieve? The lies of a demon, one of them? Or me, your teacher,your protector.”

“More like you’re arambling, mad man,” I snapped trying to get my point across. “Gods,can’t you see you don’t have to listen to him.”

The Disciples barring Ro swelledback.

I realized then what they saw. Wildhair, talons for fingers, the wings of a dragonfly fluttering at myback as my tail thrashed from side to side in agitation. They werenot seeing me, Rae. They saw a demon, something to fear andmistrust. I pulled on my glamour, making myself look human, but itwas a foolish thing to do. They had already seen the trueme.

“See!” Cleric Tu screechedand pointed at me. “See how they deceive us.”

Uneasy murmurs rippled through thecrowd.

A Disciple I recognized, Jono, steppedforward aggressively pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose,but Ro’s beefy arm shot out to halt him.

His expression was cold, hard. “I’lldo it,” he said quietly.

With slow deliberate steps, he walkedup to Cleric Tu. His tee shirt was hitched up over one shoulder,exposing his chest marks. His low slung jeans showed a strip ofboxer. Ro always had been ripped, big, but the idea of him goingagainst a were-cougar was ridiculous. He passed by me, and Iclasped his upper arm. I felt a prick of disgust; after all he wasa human and I had no connection to him other than I knew my bestfriend had once loved him. And there was something else, somethingdarker lurking beneath the surface.

“You’re making a mistake.”I looked him in the eye, pleading with him to see reason. “Thiswon’t end well.”

Ro tugged his hand from my grasp andgot up in my face. “You need to keep your hands off me,freak.”

Shocked, I stepped back, truly takenaback by the hate in his gaze.

Turning his head he spat in disgustthen turned away to look at Cleric Tu, who offered him a baton anda gun. “The demon is chained with silver. End thisthreat.”

I blanched.

Ro pushed the weapons aside. “Don’tneed them to put the hurt on her.”

He flexed, rolling his head round. Hewalked round the glass box, checking Amelia out. Still chained bythe neck she did nothing but sit silent and still, her eyes filledwith crisp intelligence, watching him as he watched her.

Was there a way I could stop this? Iwas outnumbered and to be honest, I was afraid. The crowd looked atme with open fear and distrust. I had never been popular, hadalways been the oddball but never had such loathing been directedmy way. My being was sensitive to the hostile vibe pulsing from thecrowd. The smell of fear was pungent, upsetting. My nature criedout, nudged me to make it right even as my mind sought out Breandanagain, seeking the comfort of him. He was still far away, stillclosed from me though I knew he was unharmed, wherever he was. Ipulled myself back to the now.

I had to do something, not just forAmelia but for Ro too. He may not want my help but he was going toget it. I owed Lex that much at least. I may die a prisoner, unableto avenge her life, but I could at least ensure someone she caredabout was kept safe.

Ro was led into the box. Amelia didnot move though I saw a tightening of her muscles. Ro bent hisknees, slid around, keeping himself on the balls of his feet, gazelocked on the demon before him. Ro was not a small boy. Easilytopping six foot, he was built and probably weighed four of me. Heknew how to handle himself. Not only did the Disciples naturallyhave stronger, faster, and more resilient bodies and minds,training at the Temple was designed to hone these skills. To turnthem into Hunters, and stalkers that could go toe to toe withdemons in a fair fight.

But the simple fact of the matter wasthe Sect had not seen the true might of the demons they sofeared.

In reality, I knew if I were in afight with Ro, I would eviscerate him by hand, or simply end himwith magic, should I be so inclined. I snorted. If I could touchthe Source of focus for long enough that is. In my iron poisonedstate it would be a fair fight, just like now with Amelia beingdrained with silver her reactions would be sluggish, slower thannormal.

Shifters possessed the same strengthand mental capabilities as a human, and they had the same power intheir changed form as that animal. I had no doubt that Amelia orNimah could meet other cougars in the wild and beat them, but itwould be a case of higher intelligence than strength. If they evercame head to head with a bear, say, they may have a hard time ofit.

What I was looking at was a young girlwho had been beaten, humiliated, publicly flogged, poisoned, andnow was being forced to fight a boy who was blinded byhate.

“Stop this.” It was acommand. I was done being nice. “Now.”

Cleric Tu smirked. “And what are yougoing to do?”

“You have no idea what I amcapable of.”

“We captured you easyenough.” His eyes flicked over my circlet thoughtfully. “You’reimportant to them, aren’t you? They’ll come for you.”

Knowing he was after information, Igritted my teeth and said nothing.

He sneered, crossed his hands over hischest. “I’ll take your silence as a yes, shall I? Good. I want themto come. It is long past time we rid ourselves of yourkind.”

“It’s people like you thatmake it difficult to defend the human race,” I spat. “You’repathetic. Let them out of that cage, now.”

Tu paced forward and pressed his noseto mine. “Or what?” His eyes were wild, glazed. His hand snaked outgrab my throat and tug me closer. My entire body shuddered indisgust and I jerked my head