Demon Revealed (High Demon Series #2) Read Online Free Page A

from the last, except too many things had happened since
then.
    I didn't need assistance, as much as I might want Gavril or
Tory to go with me. I shivered at the mention of Lendill Schaff's name. At
least my strength was returning and my shoulder wound was much better. Lendill
couldn't hurt me as badly this time. Karzac kept reassuring me that the scar from
the ranos pistol wound would disappear completely in a few weeks. Tory's
claiming marks would be with me forever.
    "Re, don't worry," Gavril whispered as I slid off
his bed. While most boys his age might have coverlets depicting sports teams or
musicians or some such, Gavril's was a studious deep green with matching
pillows. He'd picked it out himself—I'd asked about it.
    "Thanks, Chash." I gave him a quick hug before
walking past Lissa and out Gavril's door.
    * * *
    "Reah, we'll be sending you to Pheslik—drakus seed is
showing up there," Vice-Director Schaff got right to business. He had such
a handsome face and it covered the demeanor and cruelty of a viper. I did my
best not to shiver in his presence, or give myself away when all I wanted to do
was weep. I also wanted to ask him about Bel, Hish and Max, but that might
bring about more abuse.
    Gavril might know if the wizards from Mandil were still being held
in the palace dungeons. I hoped so—I wanted to see them. Alone. I had my doubts,
somehow, that Bel was in this as deeply as Director Keef seemed to think. I
worried about Bel and the others—were they being mistreated? Vice-Director
Schaff had certainly done his best to mistreat me. I'd never had a seizure in
my life, even when Edan was doing his worst.
    "You'll be going out again with Rylend and Torevik, but
under an assumed name this time. I'll have your new ID and credit chip waiting when
the healer releases you." That was my dismissal so I rose, gave the best
respectful dip of my head I could and walked out, my legs feeling like rubber.
    * * *
    "How did it go?" Norian Keef walked in only moments
after Reah had gone.
    "She'll never trust us again," Lendill sighed.
    * * *
    Aurelius was leaping from one tree to the next, using vampire
speed. Spawn were littered throughout the jungle, but he couldn't take all of
them at once. He couldn't risk folding away from them, either—that could
attract the attention of a hidden Ra'Ak. He also couldn't fold away from the
planet—a Ra'Ak could track him by the use of that power, which in turn would place
others in immediate danger.
    Aurelius was glad these spawn were easily confused—they were
young, having been taken from the local population not long before. Aurelius
figured they were less than a month old—barely having sloughed away their human
appearance. A concentrated effort had been made to take over this portion of
the planet; Birimeran technology was in its infancy but it was there, in the
highly populated areas in the north. In the southern jungles, the native
population was less educated and more superstitious. Those still retaining
their humanity spoke of the spawn as gods or godlike, with the speed and
agility that any Ra'Ak spawn gained when turned. Aurelius had already sent
mindspeech, asking for help. It was scheduled to come soon. He hoped it came— now .
    * * *
    Something didn't feel right on the way back to Gavril's room. It
wasn't just the discomfort I felt after listening to Vice-Director Schaff. This
was wrong, somehow. Really wrong. As in, someone was in trouble or something. It
only got worse as I walked along until it had my stomach cramping. I'd never
felt anything like this before, unless it had been—well—on Mandil. I had to
think back; it seemed a lifetime ago, although it hadn't been very long at all.
People I cared for had been in danger, and then, "Aurelius!" I was
shouting his name as something happened that I never expected to happen. Not
without help or instruction.
    * * *
    Aurelius was backed against the bare cliff face—he realized
that the spawn had only been herding him