Afterworld (The Orion Rezner Chronicles Book 1) Read Free Page A

looked down and was shocked to see the boy’s hand begin to smoke on contact. He quickly retracted it with a hiss. Puzzling over what had just happened, I connected the last of the lines and hopped quickly off the bed. With a wave of my hand I said the incantation and the ward pulsed to life. The effect was immediate. The demon, who had previously acted lethargic and slow, snapped to right quick. His body floated high above the bed until it nearly touched the ceiling. I looked nervously to Old Ben as the demon began his own chant in a variety of voices, all of which gave me an uncontrollable case of the heebie-jeebies.
    Father Killroy began to pray louder and the demon’s voices rose to match. Back and forth they went like auctioneers selling heaven and hell. The demon’s voice eventually drowned out that of the good father, and to my horror, the ward dissipated in a shower of sparks.
    The possessed boy fell like a stone onto the bed and came bouncing at me like a demented doll. I ducked out of the way but managed to catch a glancing knee to the forehead. He landed on the wall like a spider and looked back at me with eyes of pure black.
    Father Killroy hit him with holy water, which sizzled and smoked on contact.
    The demon screamed and fell to the floor, writhing in agony, and the father doused it repeatedly as he bellowed scripture in Latin. The demon convulsed and then lay still as stone. The boy began to cry, and I hoped beyond hope that it was over. Killroy, however, was not convinced. He looked to me and shook his head, never skipping a beat in his chanting.
    “What happened? Where am I?” the boy asked, looking up terrified at the priest.
    Trevor was no more than seven years old and not big for his age. He curled up on the floor and covered his ears from Father Killroy’s loud preaching, and looked to me with tear-filled eyes.
    “Mama, Mama!” he cried, so pathetically that I couldn’t help but feel bad for him.
    The father bore down with cross in hand and touched it to his head.
    “Help me!” Trevor cried. “Please.”
    I looked on horrified as the boy’s short black hair sprang forth and became long, red ringlets. His face contorted, and I reeled back as I looked upon my little sister.
    “Please, Owion, help me,” came my sister’s voice. The mispronunciation of my name ground my guts and threatened to rip my heart out.
    “Mary,” I heard myself gasp and took a step closer. “Father!” I yelled over the priest’s chanting. He simply shook his head “no” and pressed the cross to my sister’s forehead.
    She let out a mournful cry and reached for me, her little hand trembling. Tears streamed down my face, and I took another step across the bedroom toward her. The stain of blood crept across her quivering lips, and her beautiful blue eyes filled with tears.
    “Why won’t you help me, Owion? Why did you let them take me?” she pleaded, and I let out an animalistic mewling.
    Father Killroy pushed her head back against the wall with the tip of the cross and doused her with holy water once again. Mary cried in pain as the water hit her skin like lashes of a whip.
    “Help me, Owion!” she cried, and it was more than I could bear. A part of me knew this wasn’t my sister, that it was only the demon impersonating her. But that part wasn’t the one in control. With a scream of rage I leapt the short distance, grabbed Father Killroy by the throat, and tackled him to the floor. My increased strength helped me to subdue the bigger man easily.
    “Leave her alone, you son of a bitch!” I screamed, banging his head on the floor repeatedly as I choked him.
    “Resne…” Father Killroy croaked in a strangled voice.
    “He hurt me, Owion.” Mary’s voice came from behind me. “He is still hurting me!”
    “Leave her alone!” I screamed.
    Father Killroy’s face turned white and his eyes danced wildly as his mouth desperately formed silent words.
    “Trust thyself, and another shall not betray