Demons: A Hunter's Novel, Book 1 Read Online Free Page B

thrown against the wall.
    Once
I was further away from the glamour, its spells and Az, I could feel the excess
energy. I could feel all the things following me that I hadn’t felt before. All
the things I had blocked out because I was trying to numb the pain that leaving
Az had brought.
    Now
that the pain was back, so were all of my other senses. And they were telling
me to run. Why fight it? I ran all the way home. Let the fuckers keep up.

~III~
    “This is a place where I don’t feel lost, this is a place where I feel
at home. I built a home for you, for me…”
    – The Cinematic Orchestra, To Build a Home
    I
settled in at home with my hoard of supes setting up camp outside, which was
weird in and of itself. I couldn’t figure out how they weren’t trying to kill
each other. Supes were known for not getting along and they couldn’t have been
more than a mile away from one another. Which just ratcheted up my tension. Apparently,
I was more interesting than the fight they presented each other.
    I
etched Azrael’s symbol on the wall as I had promised. I started my nighttime
routine by feeding my plant, Bob. He probably hadn’t been watered in a couple
weeks. Exhibit A, the brown leaves. I was neglectful of pets. Hence the reason
I didn’t have any besides Bob. Bob was enough for a black thumb like to me to
keep alive.
     I
laid down on the couch afterward, pulling my hair into a messy bun. I heaved my
homemade quilt off the back of the couch. I had made the “quilt” after one too
many shots of tequila. It was a quilt of t-shirts and extra fabric I had
around. The t-shirts were the ones I had accumulated while Az and I had been
together. I called it a quilt loosely since it had uneven cuts and stitching. I
pulled it up over my legs and laid back, staring at the ceiling.
    I
should have gone to the Hunter Council or, at least, to Cade to find out what
was going on, but I was procrastinating. I was Queen of Procrastination. Thus,
the staring at the ceiling. Was I trying to work anything out? I may have
looked like I was, but no. Just staring and letting my mind ease. As I said,
Q.P.
    I
heard my front door open and didn’t move, because I already knew who it was by
the incessant whistling coming from the doorway. Well, there went my procrastination
plan.
    Cade
sat down on my windowsill sideways with one leg propped up in it and looked out
the window longingly. I wondered if the Council let him out to play or if he
had snuck out. I knew once you were on the Council you stopped doing the actual
hunting and were kept on a very tight leash. I thought it was the stupidest
rule because the Council contained the best of our members, and that is why I
wasn’t on the Council. That and I couldn’t be trusted.
    “How
is life with the Council? How is dear old Dad?” I asked sarcastically, sitting
up.
    I
missed my friend. The one that used to fight at my side, not the one who was
this politician sitting in front of me.
    “Everything
is going well. Your Father has made strides in many of the supernatural
communities –”
    “Oh
please! I don’t want your political tagline. I guess I deserve it for asking.”
    I
lay back down on the couch, throwing my arm over my face. I was already exhausted.
Cade cleared his throat.
    “Procrastinating
Delaney?” He knew me well.
    Cade
was an imposing Hunter. He was a giant, standing at 6’8” and lanky. Muscular
his body looked as though his height had stretched his muscles thin. He had shaggy
brown hair and brown eyes that lit up when anyone told a stupid joke. What
do you call a two kneed fish? A Tuny fish! These were the things that
friends knew about each other. Cade knew me well, but not as well as Azrael.
    I
didn’t feel right calling him Az anymore. Not with his position. But I wasn’t
sure I could break myself of it, either. I had still seen glimpses of my Az in
Azrael.
    While
Cade knew my personality and my strengths and weaknesses, Azrael knew all of me
– every nook and