Dead Angels Read Free Page B

said, standing firm.
    “If that thing lives, then we will die,” Potter shouted, going toe to toe with Isidor.
    Kayla cut in between them. “It is Sam. It’s the wolf that tried to match with him that we can see...”
    “Help me, please,” the wolf-boy on the bed murmured.
    Ignoring the others, I went to the side of the bed and looked down at him. “Who are you?”
    “I’m Sam Brook,” he whispered, his voice deep, yet soft. “I know you fear me, but I’m not going to harm you.”
    “How many times has a wolf told us that?” Potter reminded me.
    “He won’t hurt us,” Kayla pleaded, standing at the foot of the bed where Sam’s feet hung.
    “He could turn on us at any moment,” Potter told her.
    “Until that happens, I don’t think we have the right to kill him,” Isidor said.
    There was a pause as they looked at me for the answer. In that silence I could hear the sound of Sam’s laboured breathing, the wind screaming outside, and the boom of fast approaching thunder. Looking at Potter, I eventually said, “Isidor is right. We can’t kill Sam. We don’t have the right – not until he becomes a threat at least.”
    “He’s a wolf, Kiera, that makes him threat number one,” Potter snapped back.
    “Half wolf,” Kayla said from the foot of the bed.
    “I think we should help him,” Isidor said, going to stand beside his sister.
    Then, staring me straight in the eye, Potter said, “You’re making a mistake. How many times has a wolf got to betray us before you learn we can’t trust them?”
    Potter’s voice sounded cold, but I knew he wouldn’t harm Sam – not yet, anyhow. But I felt Potter was wrong – I once knew a wolf that could be trusted. He had been a true friend and had died trying to help me.
    “What about Nik?” I asked Potter.
    “What about him?”
    “He helped me – he was true to his word,” I said.
    “After years of killing,” Potter said. “But what about the others? Eloisa, Sparky, and do I have to remind you of our dear friend, Jack Seth? Wolves can’t be trusted.”
    “You can trust me,” Sam suddenly murmured from the bed, where he lay curled in pain.
    “I’ve heard that before,” Potter hissed.
    “And there were plenty of Vampyrus that deceived us too,” I reminded him gently.
    “Yeah, there was Taylor, Phillips, Mrs. Payne” Isidor said, counting them off on his fingers. “And need I mention Lu –”
    “Okay, wise arse,” Potter spoke before Isidor could finish. “But let’s see how smart you are when the wolf-boy rips your head clean off.” Then Potter was gone, striding out of the room.
    “Mind the statue,” Isidor called out.
    “Fuck the statues,” Potter shouted back over his shoulder.
    “What statue?” I asked, staring at Isidor.
    “I’m sure there was a statue in here with Sam,” he told me.
    “Where is it now?” I peered into the shadows of the corner of the room.
    “It disappeared real quick down the landing when Kayla and I came in.”
    “I didn’t pass it on the stairs,” I said thoughtfully, as I wondered about the statues that suddenly kept reappearing and disappearing again.
    “Why do you think we keep seeing them?” Kayla asked me.
    But before I’d had the chance to answer, Sam howled in pain again and gripped his sides.
    “We don’t have time to worry about those statues now,” I said, reaching out and touching Sam’s arm. His skin was burning up and I pulled my hand away. “We need to get him some help, and fast.”
    “Are we going to take him to the Fountain of Souls?” Kayla asked.
    “I guess,” I breathed. Then, looking at Kayla and Isidor, I added, “Pack some stuff, we’re leaving tonight.”

 
     
    Chapter Five
     
    Kiera
     
    “You know I think you’re wrong about this,” Potter said, as I threw a rucksack into the boot of the car. The bottles of Lot 13 hidden within it made a clinking sound.
    “So why are you tagging along?” I half-smiled at him, cocking an eyebrow.
    “You know why