Demon Warriors 4: Takeo Read Online Free Page B

houseguest. As he set the teakettle back on the stove, a sharp pain shot through his skull, making Takeo grip the counter tightly. He tried to breathe through the pain, but it was hard. His skull felt like it was being split in half, and then a memory surfaced. It was a memory of his captivity.
    A memory he didn’t remember.
    “Takeo?”
    Takeo heard Kamiko’s voice, but the memory seized hold of him and made him watch as he hung there, suspended in midair, a needle being injected into his foot. As the vision played out, a low throb began to pulse in his foot as the needle slid out of his skin.
    His breathing became labored as Takeo looked down at his bare feet, but he didn’t see any markings. He wasn’t even sure if the memory was real. The pain was.
    “Takeo?”
    He spun around to see Kamiko and Wayland staring at him.
    “I…uh.”
    Wayland frowned. “What’s wrong?”
    Takeo looked at his feet again. The skin was unblemished, but the memory had been so real. Takeo wondered if he was losing his mind, if he could trust his memories at this point. Maybe he was more fucked up than he thought.
    “Nothing.” Takeo couldn’t confess something so horrible when he didn’t know if it came strictly from his nightmares or if there was truth in the memories in his head. “I’m just tired.” Takeo knew Wayland didn’t buy his words when he looked up and Wayland was just staring at him. Takeo shrugged. What else could he do? He wasn’t ready to discuss what had happened to him.
    Hell, he wasn’t even sure he knew what happened.
    “Drink your tea.”
    Wayland arched an eyebrow but took his cup and carried it to the small table just off of the kitchen. Takeo was grateful the man didn’t say anything. Besides the fact that he didn’t want Kamiko to know too much, he didn’t want to explain his nightmare to everyone. He knew he would have to as soon as Panahasi came back. But he could wait. It would give him time to gather his thoughts.
    Takeo sat down across from Wayland. He hid his smirk behind his teacup when Kamiko quickly skirted past Wayland, making sure they didn’t touch, then scurried over to sit down next to Takeo.
    “Have you two introduced yourselves?” he asked as he looked between the two men, noting the scowls on both their faces.
    It was almost comical. Kamiko looked like he wanted to rip Wayland’s entrails out and dance on them as he glared across the table. Wayland looked disgruntled as if he couldn’t quite figure out why there was a human in the demon realm. Humans did live there, a handful, but to bring one here when times were in chaos wasn’t the smartest move a man could make.
    When both men shook their heads, Takeo sighed deeply. He could feel a headache building at the base of his skull. “Kamiko, this is one of my friends, Wayland. We work together. Wayland, this Kamiko.
    He’s a friend.”
    If Wayland’s eyebrow arched any more at those words, it would have skimmed right off his face. Takeo felt a growl start in his chest.
    He didn’t like to be questioned, even if it was just a brow rising. Ever since he escaped Baku, Takeo took his position as a warrior seriously.
    To be questioned rankled his nerves. “Panahasi knows he’s here.”
    “Yeah, but why is he here?”
    “’Cause that guy was freaky,” Kamiko snapped. “I’d pretty much prefer being anywhere he isn’t.”
    Takeo groaned. He knew what was coming, and he had been trying to avoid it for just a few more minutes.
    “What guy?” Wayland asked.
    Takeo could feel his pulse begin to throb in his temple as he glared at Wayland. Kamiko had seen enough already. He didn’t need to know the details. But he knew the only way to end this conversation quickly was to answer Wayland.
    “Constantine,” Takeo answered for Kamiko. “He went after Kamiko.”
    “Constantine!” Wayland shouted as he jumped to his feet.
    “Constantine Malone?”
    Takeo nodded.
    Wayland rubbed his hand down over his face. “Fuck me