Between the Bleeding Willows (The Demon Hunters Series Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

most welcoming guy and seemed to want to be rid of me as soon as possible. I walked up beside him. “I’m here.”
    He looked me up and down then turned to the redhead. “Thanks, sis.” Killian led the way to the dining hall I remembered passing earlier. It was a room double the size of the medical area.
    Several of Killian’s Clan sat around tables chatting and sipping drinks. Their skin was as white as Killian’s. He motioned for me to take a seat while he walked around the displays of food in search of something in particular. He returned to the table and placed a bowl of trail mix and a mug of juice that smelled sweet like peaches in front of me.
    “Are all of these people your relatives?”
    “In a way, but only a handful are close relatives…like cousins and siblings. The rest are a bit further out on the family lineage but share a similar goal and chose to join us.”
    “So what are you? Angels or warriors of God?”
    He chuckled at my question.
    “Angels…no, but close. We are not pure like angels, though we did descend from an angel many generations ago. Long ago, an angel came down and mated with a few mortal women. Their children, the first of the Clan, grew up and mated with mortals. Then those babies grew up and became part of the Clan. Over the years, our Clan has grown, but the angelic bloodline dilutes with each generation.” His story was intriguing. “I guess if you had to classify us, we’re more like gifted mortals. Just enough angel to give us little extra power and extra abilities, such as strength, foresight, healing, or binding for instance. But we bleed like mortals and can be killed like mortals.”
    “So what about Jace?”
    He looked up at me with an intensity in his eyes, “What about him?”
    “Can he be saved? I mean, I know there is good in him. There’s got to be a way to help him. He deserves a better afterlife. He was a good guy!”
    “Don’t hold your breath. If I catch him, I gotta bind him. Nothin’ against him or you. It’s just business.”
    “Just business? Bull. You’ve never made an exception?” He looked at me silently, letting me finish. “Look, I know you don’t know him…but I do, and he’s a good guy.” His expression didn’t change. I needed him to consider this, for Jace’s sake. “What would you do if your sister got hurt and became possessed by a demon? Would you try to help her or would you bind her because ‘it’s just business’?”
    “Enough.” His voice was stern. “You don’t get to come in here and question me.”
    Did I dare say anything more? “Killian, if there is any chance of saving him from being a demon, we have to help him.”
    “I’m not making any promises…but I’ll keep it in mind.” It wasn’t the answer I wanted, but it was progress. “Can we talk about something else?”
    “Okay.” I looked around the room. “Why the cave? That’s why your skin is so white, isn’t it? From living away from the sun?”
    “Yes, I suppose our fair complexion is due to the lack of sunlight. This ‘cave,’ as you call it, is actually deep in the earth—a mountain sits atop it. Being closer to the Earth’s center is better for our magic Casters and healers. Their magic is more potent down here. And it’s the Clan’s duty to protect them, so we all live down here. The mountain acts as an extra barrier from intruders.”
    “So how do we get out of here? I didn’t see any doors that were obvious.”
    “We’ll use magic.” He chugged the rest of his juice. “Finish up, and we’ll visit Angeline and get you home.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
     
    Killian escorted me to a large room that had a very serene vibe to it. The room was very dim; lit candles set upon cutouts in the stone wall provided the only illumination. The floor was covered in what looked like an old and well-made Persian rug. Floor pillows of various colors and designs lined the edges of it. We walked along the perimeter to a