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

did not like this at all. Thespace around me felt wrong, unnatural. I turned to Ro accusingly.“Why did you bring us here? This isn’t how it’s meant tobe.”

“And how is it meant to be,child?” The voice made me jump a mile, and I blushed, feeling heatcreep up my neck and spill into my cheeks.

My vampire snarled and he reachedforward to wrap his fingers tightly around my wrist.

“Ah, well, I mean, it’sjust that I….” I was having serious difficulty stringing asentence together, intimidated by the person in front ofus.

The man in front of me was not youngnor was he particularly beautiful, but power radiated off him inwaves. His face was nut brown and his hair a shock of white,eyebrows a slash of gray and his beard neatly shaved to cover hischin and upper lip. He was dressed in a ratty black tunic andtattered jeans. His feet were bare. He was old yet had a spritelybearing. In one hand, he clutched what looked like a cane of humanbone, but I could not be sure.

“I am a Houngan.” He shookhis open palms at the sky and the beaded bracelets on his wristsclinked and jangled together. “I serve the Loa with both handsgirl. One must walk the path of light and dark to find balance. Itmay feel wrong to you but that is because you hold strongly to thelight and see the dark as something wicked to defeat.” He looked atTomas. “Though I suspect you know something of darkness and itsattractions.”

My lips pressed together and I ignoredthat loaded observation. “The Loa?” I asked. “You speak as if thereis more than one god of this name.”

He made a strange clicking sound, histongue hitting the roof of his mouth once that gave an impressionof annoyance. “Even the oldest beings forget the old ways. Youthink in straight lines and disregard that many commune and servethe Creator in their own way. The Loa are our link to the greatdeity girl. All have sacred symbols and rituals that we follow.” Hepointed at me. “You fairies used to have one who was marked withthe symbols of all races and creeds. Does such a one no longerexist?”

I thought of Breandan and his marks. Ihad always wondered why he had so many and what they meant. He hadtold me they helped him see the truth and were protection … fromwitchcraft and black magics.

The Houngan focused on me then smiledtoothily. “But I see you claimed some of what was lost.” His eyeswere on my chest, but then he cocked his head, as if someone spokenin his ear. “But you have misplaced it again … oh … it has beentaken?”

I touched my neck, missing the heavyweight that was the amulets. “The amulets are mine now, yes. I knowwhere they are and I’ll get them back.”

“And the grimoire is safewith the High Lord?”

It could not have surprised me more ifhe had sprouted wings. I sucked in a breath. “You know about thegrimoire?”

He leaned forward face kindly now. “Ofcourse. You fairies needed a way to keep it out of the witches’hands. My ancestor and the Mambo of that time gave you thesolution, and gave it gladly. The Grand Bois – Loa of the forest –helped us craft the key and fine work it was. The power of mypeople is effective against witchcraft because we dabble in thedarkness they feed from and use it against them. Who you think makethe grimoire key? Fairy magics come from your connection to nature,by drawing from the Source created by the gods in the name of theCreator. You cannot hold that power indefinitely or store ittalismans. That is not how your power works.” He held a hand to hischest where many chains and baubles hung. Some were pretty andothers looked simply odd. Animal feet and bones wound together withtwine and leather. “I use magic too, child, magic gifted to me bythe Loa. But unlike you I cannot hold it. I must transfer it toobjects or into spells. I am merely a conduit. That is how my powerworks.” His head turned to Ro, and he held out his arms. “Boy, comehere and greet me.”

Ro broke out into a grin and slouchedforward. Skipping up the steps he slung his arms around the man andthumped him on the back. “Hai, Papa Obe.”

The man hugged him back and smiledbroadly showing pink gums. “My boy, what you bring to me door,eh?”

Ro stood back and looked the older manin the face. “I need help.” He stopped and looked over hisshoulder. “And I need you to swear you won’t hurt mysteady.”

Papa Obe rubbed his chin and eyes himthoughtfully. Though his expression was serious there was a wickedgleam in his milky orbs. “No good, Ro. There be no future with thisone. Her time has come and gone. What remains belongs to that fairythere.” He pointed his stick at me and I jolted as if he’d poked mewith it. “It was you who call on the Loa, was it not?”

I bit my lip, nodded. “I didn’trealize it was a them. I just … I’d heard a rumor that Lex’sMother–”

“Mama Odette,” the Houngansupplied. “She was a friend of mine. A mighty Mambo and a greatforce against the witches.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know about any ofthat. She was dying and I knew my magic couldn’t save her … so I– I… looked elsewhere.”

The Houngan tapped his stick onto theground; hand tight around the knobby top. “I know, child. And theLoa answered you – a rare thing indeed. Her ancestral blood is nodoubt the reason why. I hear whispers from the other side it was agift to her mother.” He looked past me into the alleyway beyond.“Won’t you come out and greet an old man, girl?”

Ro started and shot Papa Obe afrustrated look. He jumped down off the porch and shuffled along tothe alleyway, disappearing into the shadows. He and Lex had a shortheated conversation before he appeared again, her pale hand in hisdark one. Her head was tucked into her chest, long hair coveringher face, and her movement wooden. I frowned. Usually