Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87185 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“There’s something wrong with his eyes,” one of the cops says. “He’s on drugs!” The same cop raises his gun and the man angles his body toward him. Demons can possess bodies of the dying and the dead, and a bullet to the head isn’t going to slow it down. I throw out my hand, creating a telekinetic shield just in the nick of time. The cops give the man another warning before a shot rings out. It hits the wall of energy and falls to the ground.
“You,” the demon growls, black eyes locking with mine. It jumps out of the body, black mist rising into the air. Humans can’t see demon mist like I can. Even if they could, I have no idea how you’d keep a demon from possessing you.
The man, who I think was the security guard for this place, drops to the ground like a sack of potatoes. His head hits a chair on the way down, and the thud is sickening. Heart hammering, I drop the shield and direct my energy at the demon that’s hovering in the air, looking for the next body.
Bringing both hands up, I shove the wall of energy at the demon. It pushes against it and then dissipates into the air, thinning out so I can’t see where it’s going. Heart in my throat, I inch closer. A lot of people in the crowd need medical attention, and right now they’re all being looked at like suspects.
The security guard groans and blood drips down his forehead. I cross the street, looking for the demon. Judging by the way it’s jumping bodies, it’s a mid-level demon, capable of human possession but lacking active powers of its own.
The cops yell for the security guard to put his hands up, and two cops move closer, guns drawn. I feel it right before I see it, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up, prickling right along with the little wound on my hand.
I turn, throwing my right hand out in front of me, but I’m too late. The demon goes right into the body of one of the police officers.
Chapter
Sixteen
Oh, shit.
The cop’s body stiffens as the demon takes over. He almost drops his gun and stumbles a few paces back, shaking his head. Then the demon gets its footing, having fully taken control of the officer and looks at the gun in his hand.
“Johnson,” the officer next to him says, looking at his partner. Johnson, the possessed cop, raises his gun, bringing it to his own head. His eyes are black and he slowly grins.
Fuck, no. This isn’t happening on my time.
“Hey!” I shout, throwing a hand out in front of me, pushing the cop’s hand back. Energy hit his hand hard, bending his wrist back almost unnaturally. The gun falls from his hand, clattering to the ground next to his partner, who’s just standing there looking stunned. Using my other hand, I flick my fingers to the side, moving the gun several feet away from Johnson. A demon with a gun in a crowd is a fucking disaster waiting to happen.
“I heard you’re looking for me,” I go on. “Vaelric sent you, I’m guessing?”
The demon presses against my magical hold and I bring my other hand up, straining to hold up the invisible shield. Using this kind of magic is becoming more natural but still takes a fair amount of concentration.
The demon pats the utility belt around his waist, contemplating using another weapon but then turns at the last second and runs, going behind the bar into a dark alley. Okay, then. I guess this demon isn’t powerful enough to take me on. I should be flattered, but I really don’t feel like going on a wild goose chase in a dress—again.
“Dammit, I’m in heels,” I huff and take off, going the other way to try and head it off, leaving the cops and everyone on the patio looking at me incredulously. Water splashes up from a puddle as I run, jumping over a bench. There’s another bar next to this one, hosting a drag show. The main theme from Phantom of The Opera plays inside, music echoing into the alley.
“You know,” I say once the demon comes into view. He’s run into a corner, stuck between two buildings and a tall chainlink fence. “I’m starting to take it personally that you went through all this trouble to get my attention only to run away like a little bitch.”
I slow, holding both hands out at my side, summoning energy around my fingers. “If Ricky sent you, then we should talk like civilized people. You know, at a bar or a restaurant. Hell, we could even go for a romantic moonlight walk through Uptown. But no, you have to go and cause a scene.”