Fear the Darkness (Guardians of Eternity) Read Online Free Page B

among the natives.
    “Sally Grace.”
    His gaze narrowed as he studied the intruder. She might have been cute in a childish manner, with her dark hair pulled into two braids on each side of her pale, pretty face. But her brown eyes were heavily lined with makeup and her full lips painted a shocking shade of black and pierced with a gold hoop. There was a matching hoop in one brow and a dozen more along the shell of her ear.
    Worse was her strange costume.
    The scarlet corset was all that covered her tiny bosom and a tiny leather skirt was plastered to her hips. She had on leggings and high-heeled boots, but they did little more than emphasize her slender curves. She clearly had no males in her life to forbid such a shocking display of her body.
    “Why are you in my home?”
    She propped her shoulder against the doorjamb, looking far too comfortable. “Our master sent me to make sure you had everything you need for your return.”
    So, she was sent by the Dark Lord.
    Not that it made her presence any more welcome.
    “You are a housekeeper?”
    “Housekeeper?” The female straightened, her hands slapping on her hips in outrage. “Do I look like a freaking housekeeper?”
    His jaw tightened at her shrill tone. “Do not test me, female.”
    She gave a toss of her head. “I happen to be a very powerful witch. One who is favored above all of the Dark Lord’s disciples . ..”
    “A witch.” His power blasted through the air, sending the female slamming into the wall of the attached dining room. He stalked forward, his fangs exposed as he prepared to put an end to the bitch. It had been a witch who had held him powerless as his beloved mate was burned at the stake. “I detest witches.”
    Reaching the female, he wrapped his fingers around her throat and began to squeeze. He sure as hell wasn’t going to soil his tongue with her tainted blood.
    Intent on choking the life from his companion, Gaius was unprepared when her dark eyes abruptly flashed with a crimson fire.
    “Stop,” she commanded, her voice low and filled with a power that made Gaius pause in astonishment.
    Staring at her suddenly blank face, Gaius felt alarm flicker down his spine. “What’s wrong with your eyes?”
    Sally’s lips parted, but it wasn’t her voice coming out of her mouth. “Gaius.”
    He frowned, realizing that the power choking the air had nothing to do with the witch and everything to do with the strange being invading her body.
    “Who is here?”
    “It is your master, my beloved son.”
    Gaius narrowed his gaze, his fingers maintaining their tight grip on Sally’s neck. “Is this a trick?”
    “No trick,” the deep voice assured him. “Sally is a conduit.”
    “Conduit?”
    “Through her I am capable of speaking directly with my servants.”
    Was that supposed to be reassuring?
    Gaius grimaced. It’d been bad enough to have the Dark Lord whispering in his mind when he was meditating. To have his voice coming out of the witch’s lips was . . . what were the words used today?
    Freaking him out?
    Yeah, that was it.
    Totally freaking him out.
    Not that he was about to reveal his weakness. The Dark Lord was a pitiless monster who would destroy him the moment he suspected Gaius might not be of use to him.
    “I have no love for magic,” he rasped.
    The black lips twisted in a mocking smile. “Then we will make this swift.”
    “Very well.” Grudgingly loosening his grip on the witch, he hid his shaking hands in the folds of his black robe. “I am here as you wished.”
    “You have acquired the skills that I requested?”
    Gaius gave a dip of his head. “I am capable of altering my shape, although only for short periods of time.”
    “And the other?”
    “I was able to travel through the Veil with the medallion you left hidden on the other side.”
    “Good.” The crimson fire flickered in the female’s dark eyes. “The medallion will also allow you to enter the mists where I am trapped.”
    “Is that what you desire