Red Angel Read Free Page B

broadcast, or playing games until late into
the night. I stood just as three of the oldest boys entered the room, smiling.
    They surrounded me, blocking the way to the door. The
oldest, Donar, blocked my way, a sneer on his bulldog face as Mannus and Sher
each grabbed one of my arms.
    "Well, snake-bitch, it's time we taught you your
place. You don't belong here with real children." He nodded to Mannus.
"Let go of her arm." He looked at me. "Vermin," he spat
out.
    I tried to jerk away at the evil look he gave me, but
Sher still gripped my other arm.
    "Reach in and get your pet, or I'll have Sher
break your arm. Or maybe I'll rip your clothes off you."
    I couldn't fight them; they were bigger and stronger.
Besides, I hated even the thought of fighting, but I wouldn't help them hurt
Red.
    Donar drew back his fist and punched me. My face
exploded in pain as my head snapped back. Coppery tasting blood ran down my
lips. Donar held up his bloody fist. "Get that snake out or I'll break
more than your nose." Before I could say anything, he punched me in the
stomach.
    I doubled over, spitting blood into his face as my
breath exploded out of me.
    He jumped back and swiped the blood out of his eyes.
"Bitch! Sher, break her arm."
    "We can't claim she attacked us if she looks beat
up. We'll get in trouble," Sher whined.
    "What can they do to us? Besides, it's her word
against ours. Break it, damn it! Mannus, get her other arm."
    I writhed as Mannus took hold of my arm and was shoved
into Sher. Donar grabbed me by my throat but let go suddenly, jerkinh back to nurse his hand against his chest. "Damn
you!"
    Sher clutched me closer and Red struck.
    "Ouch," Sher shouted.
    Red slid toward Mannus who let go and hurriedly backed
up. Everyone now stood several steps away from me.
    Donar clutched his hand with the other as it swelled,
already twice its size. He collapsed to his knees, bent over, and puked. Sher
moaned as his face puffed out and began turning colors: red and maroon and
purple. He bent over,gagging on his vomit.
    "Mannus, run for Mira. Tell her to bring the
antivenin. They’ll die if you don't hurry," I shouted, and pointed to the
door.
    He hesitated, open mouthed, before running off.
    I kissed Red and held him to my cheek and felt his
tongue licking ... me or my blood , I
wondered? I laughed and felt my nose throbbing with waves of pain. Mira and
Mannus ran in several minutes later.
    "I knew you'd be trouble," she said, looking
down at Donar and Sher.
    I said nothing. Over the years, I had gotten used to
being blamed as the cause of most
conflicts, although it wasn't in my nature to cause trouble. I watched as she
filled the syringe and injected first Donar, then Sher. Then she called the
police.
    "I want you gone," she shouted, her face
twisted in anger. I sat quietly stroking Red under my shirt. He probably didn't
care, but it made me feel better. The police arrived an hour later. I listened
as the boys claimed I attacked them with my snake. After recording their versions
of the incident, the officer walked over to me and stared at me for a minute
before speaking.
    "Give me that snake, young lady."
      "No.
If you take my snake, I'll die, and you'll be a murderer. I held out my hand
with the medical bracelet they had given me at the Mercy Hospital.
    "Take it off," he said, eyeing me like I was
a krait.
    "Can't. It doesn't have a release, so I can't
lose it. My life depends on it." I stretched my arm out and turned
sideways to make him feel safer. He turned it slowly as he read, his eyes
darting up frequently to check on the krait. Then he dialed the number on the
bracelet.
    "This is Sergeant Pilate. I have an Anna Paulus
in custody. Her snake bit two boys. She will be charged with murder if they
die." He listened and then turned to me. "All right. A senior
Advocate will be here within the hour. You sit. No more trouble, or I'll shoot
you and that snake," he said loudly while pointing at me. Nothing had
changed. No one wanted my