Read Demon From the Dark for Free Online Page A

shared.
                In that instant, Carrow became witch plus one .
                But she couldn't even get herself out of this shithole, much less a child!
                "Action and reaction," Chase said. "You get us our target, and the two of you will go free." Though tension thrummed off him, his voice was monotone, his accent barely perceptible. "Otherwise, she dies."
                Carrow stiffened. Against Ruby's hair, she murmured, "I'm going to take you home soon, baby." She turned to Chase. "I'll have the use of my powers?"
                "Your torque will be deactivated for the mission," he said.
                Not that Carrow would be able to spellcast even without her torque. She needed crowds and laughter for power to fuel her spells. Here she'd been tapped out, as useless as an empty keg.
                "You'll depart tomorrow, remaining in Oblivion for six days." Dixon continued over Carrow's sputtering, "Tonight I'll assist you in collecting your gear. You'll be allowed a shower, and we'll provide you with a dossier on your target."
                "Nearly a week in hell? How am I even supposed to get to Oblivion?"
                Dixon answered, "Your sorceress cellmate, Melanthe, the Queen of Persuasion, can create a portal."
                That's right. Lanthe could open thresholds to anywhere.
                "We'll briefly deactivate her torque--under SWAT supervision. And of course, we'll keep Ruby here to make sure all goes according to our plans."
                There went that idea. "I want Lanthe and Regin released as well."
                The doctor shook her head. "Impossible."
                If they truly set Carrow free, then she'd come back for the two of them soon enough. "I want the Order's word about releasing me and Ruby."
                The woman said, "You have it."
                "Don't want yours," Carrow said in a scoffing tone. "I want his ."
                Chase turned to her once more. After a hesitation, he gave a nod.
                "Then we have a deal," Carrow said.
                He narrowed his eyes, as if she'd just proven a point. "Not even a qualm about betraying one of your own species?"
                "A demon is not one of my own species," Carrow snapped. "You make us sound like animals."
                Without another look at her or the girl in her arms, he strode out of the room, saying in a chilling tone, "Because that's all you are."

     

Chapter 3

     

     

     
                "She's not coming back, is she?" Ruby whispered as Carrow held her, rocking her in the bottom bunk. She'd awakened just a couple of hours ago, immediately bursting into tears.
                "Amanda's gone to Hekate, sweetheart."
                "Can we bring her back?"
                " No . You know that's forbidden." At times, Carrow forgot the magics stored in Ruby's trembling little form. The girl had exceeded even Mariketa's abilities until Mari had recently come into her powers.
                Apparently, the last time Ruby had cast a spell, she'd tortured and killed twenty men.
                "Don't go tomorrow, Crow."
                Carrow had explained that she was setting out to hunt a demon. In exchange, these mortals would free Carrow and Ruby. "I don't want to leave, but I don't really have a choice. Hey, in a way, this is just a mercenary mission. I go out and do some magic, and I get something in return." The girl would understand an arrangement like this. The witches were mercenaries, taught at an early age to sell their magic. "And the sorceress will take good care of you."
                From the top bunk, Lanthe gave a feigned pissy exhalation.
                Earlier, with a clipped "Oh, very well," she'd