Demon Warriors 1: Hondo Read Free Page A

looked over at Hondo between his fingers. “’Cause it’s good.”
    Hondo smiled. The guy made no sense. He grabbed a throw pillow and held it to his chest, slouching down to watch the movie.
    The acting was terrible and the slasher scenes were comical, but Chris stayed balled up with his knees to his chest and his hands half covering his eyes as he watched it.
    The timer buzzed, and Hondo got up to take the garlic bread out.
    “Don’t let the killer find you while I’m gone,” he teased.
    Chris shot off the couch and ran behind him as Hondo entered the kitchen. The little shit ran into his back when Hondo stopped at the oven.
    “Sorry,” he squeaked and looked over his shoulder. The guy was making this too easy.
    “I’ll be right back.” Hondo set the sheet on the stove, walking out of the kitchen. He hid in the closet, keeping it cracked open until he saw Chris wandering in slowly, looking around for him. He bit his bottom lip to stop the laughter trying to force its way out and ruin his prank.
    “H–Hondo?”
    Hondo jumped from the closet, watching Chris shriek and jump ten feet in the air. “You asshole.” Chris punched him in the stomach.
    Hondo barely feeling it. “That wasn’t nice!” Hondo held his side as he laughed. “I thought it was funny as hell.” He dodged another of Chris’s fists, running into the kitchen, letting the little demon think he was getting even. Chris’s lips were pursed, his eyes narrowed, as he chased Hondo around the four seat table.
    “Okay, I give.” Hondo laughed and grabbed the pasta from the sink, Chris pulling a chair to the cupboard and getting two plates and two glasses down. He balanced them precariously while trying to step down.
    Hondo leased one of the apartments made especially for warriors.
    All the Demon Warriors were occupants here. The counters and cupboards were at his height, which was perfect for him, but not so much for beings under six feet, like Chris. His buddy scraped a chair around the kitchen every time he came over.
    “How much?” Hondo asked as he scooped the spaghetti from the pot and began to pile it on Chris’s plate.
    “Stop.” Chris waved his hands in front of him. “That’s too much.” Hondo took some away, dumping the rest onto his plate and then pouring the sauce over both.
    He was just turning to set the pot back on the stove when the building vibrated. Shit, not again. “Get in the closet, Chris.” The little demon shot from the table as Hondo stormed to the hallway, the other warriors rushing out of their apartments.
    “Where’s Chris?” the warrior Kane asked.
    “I told him to get into the closet,” Hondo shouted over his shoulder as the warriors ran from the hallway and down to the street.
    Shit, it was the demon that had been with Gammy. He was projecting energy blasts into the building, making the bricks crumble slightly, fine dust hit the ground, and a few windows shattered. They weren’t strong enough to do structural damage. The demon must be a young adult, and his powers weren’t fully developed. Lucky for them.
    “Damn, that was my bedroom window.” Kane growled.
    Hondo held his arms out, palms up, as he called forth the demon inside. His skin began to heat up, a glow became visible, and then he caught fire. Hondo’s entire body was engulfed in the inferno. He pulled his right arm back, aiming and throwing the fireball at the attacking demon, but the jackass jumped away in time to avoid the heated missile.
    Kane focused and then everything stilled. Time no longer mattered. He walked over to the demon, Hondo following. They only had a twenty second window before everything morphed back to real time.
    “Who’s got a pair of neutralizing cuffs?” Hondo shouted, reached his hand up, and then caught the flying set. “Thanks, Einarr.” Hondo gave them to Kane, not wanting to set the scumbag on fire. Kane pulled the demon’s hands behind his back, ready to cuff him when time started again, Chris came