Demon Hunters 3: Tainted (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) Read Free Page A

Sylvia Wells, has Alzheimer’s. I want her cured and healthy so she can live a long life. In exchange I offer myself as the sacrifice you need.”
    “No.” Something finally made sense. Cassidy tugged at her father’s arm. “No. Mum’d never accept that. Not your life for hers. Don’t. Please, Dad, don’t.” Fear raced through her making her feel like her heart would explode from her body. “Please.” He couldn’t do this. She wouldn’t let him. Her grip tightened on his arm. “Please, Dad.”
    Tony stared down at her. “You are never to tell her. This is between the three of us.”
    The demon’s skin rippled and lightened in colour, his face became fully human, but his wings remained. “Between four of us. You forget the one who told you how to call me.” The winged man nodded towards the paper scattered around Tony’s feet. His eyes were still dark with flickering flames, but his narrow face and dark hair now looked human.
    “Four? Is that what he meant? Caught? Is that some kind of agreement?” Tony patted Cassidy’s hand that was still on his arm, his eyes on the demon. “Ib… Ibae… ahh.” He stared at the papers scattered at his feet.
    “Call me Remedy. That’s what you want me to be, isn’t it?”
    Tony nodded.
    Remedy gestured towards the paper. “Is that the only copy of the ritual?”
    Again Tony nodded.
    “Don’t tell him anything,” Cassidy whispered. “Please, Dad. Tell him to go. This is crazy.” No, it was worse than crazy. But she couldn’t think of any other word to describe it.
    “Pick them up and give them to me. And hand over the knife.”
    Tony pulled away from Cassidy, who made a sound of protest. He gathered the scattered paper and keeping his hand within the circle, held them and the knife beyond it.
    Remedy laughed as he took the items. The paper flared into flames the moment he took them and he let the ash scatter around him. “So you do know something after all. You can’t stay in there forever. Not if you want to make a deal. You’ll have to come out here if you’re going to give yourself to me.”
    “You haven’t accepted my offer,” Tony said.
    Remedy looked at the blade. He ran his finger across the side. Tony’s blood coated his finger and he brought it to his mouth.
    Tony gasped, staggering back from the edge of the circle. Cassidy reached for him, wanting to hold him in the circle and not let him go.
    Flames leapt in Remedy’s eyes and he nodded slowly. “You. Every last cell of yours will be mine to consume.” He pointed at Tony. “In exchange your wife, Sylvia Wells, will be cured of her Alzheimer’s. And it won’t be an easy death. You had the insolence to use my name. The only reason I agree is you had the impatience to begin the ritual early. But she will never be cured unless you fulfil this bargain.”
    “It’s a deal.”
    “Then step out of your circle and give me what I want.”
    Tony hesitated.
    “Dad, please. Don’t do this.” Cassidy tightened her grip on him, pulling him into the middle of the circle. “Please, Dad.”
    “I love you, baby. Tell your mother-” he broke off, taking a deep breath. “Tell her I love her.” He pulled away from Cassidy and stepped outside the circle.
    She reached for him. But it was too late. Remedy drove the knife into Tony’s stomach. He dropped to the ground, his eyes round, his hands reaching for the knife as a scream tore from him.
    She echoed his scream, wanting to rush to his side.
    Remedy’s eyes fell on Cassidy. “Now you.”
    “No,” Tony gasped, trying to struggle to his feet. “She wasn’t the deal. You only said me.” His hand tightened around the handle of the knife protruding from his stomach.
    “I said every last cell of you. She comes from you. There are cells of yours that went into making her.”
    Tony tried to tug the knife from his stomach. He gasped at the pain. His eyes found those of his daughter’s, tears streaking his face. He wiped the back of his hand