Sacrifice: The Demontouched Saga (Book 5) Read Free Page B

says.
    I shake my head. “I don’t think an exorcism works on an object.”
    “It won’t,” Azrael says, looking the orb over. “But there might be another option.”
    “I’m game for anything at this point,” I say.
    “Well south, near the Bootheel, there is a woman who has the power to remove spirits from objects. I don’t know if it will work on the orbs, but it’s worth a try.”
    “The Witch,” Nancy says, stomping into the room. From the scowl on her face I can tell she doesn’t like the person Az is talking about.
    “Wiccan,” Az says, shaking his head. “She is a rather pleasant woman if you would give her a chance, Malachi.”
    “Pleasant or not, she does not follow the ways.”
    “And that is why she is still here!” Az says, stepping into her face. “Is that not punishment enough?”
    Nal stands up and gets between the two angels. If the trio wouldn’t give me dirty looks for trying, I would do the same thing. The last thing we can afford right now is to have fighting in the ranks.
    “Azrael is on our side, like it or not,” I say. “And if he says this woman might be able to free the souls, then I think we need to give it a shot.”
    Nal nods his head. “We don’t have a better plan. I’d be all for destroying them if it would work.” A fact we learned the hard way when one shattered in my fight against Duncan. A few days later the demons charged the compound to free the demon trapped inside.
    “I take it you know how to get to her,” I say to Az as I sit up on the bed.
    “I do,” he says, walking to the door. “The trip won’t be easy. So you should get some rest.”
    “What’s so hard about a three hour trip down 55?”
    “She lives on a farm just outside Caruthersville. There is a force of demons in the Bootheel using the city to ship construction materials upriver.”
    “To the riverfront?” Nal asks.
    “I believe so though I don’t know for certain.”
    “So if she is outside of the city, how bad could it get?” I ask, getting antsy to leave.
    “She is the type of person they would love to get their hands on,” Nancy says. “I would be surprised if they haven’t already.”
    “I saw her about two months ago,” Az says, glaring at Nancy. “She has a strong will.”
    She folds her hands under her breasts. “If they can break the girl,” she says looking at me. “They can break her too.”
    “Then we settle this the easy way. I go talk to Stevens and get us a unit or two to go down there with you,” Nal says.
    Azrael shakes his head. “It would generate too much attention. We would need to go alone.”
    I shrug. I would feel a lot more comfortable with a few more people, but my track record with help isn’t too good recently. Besides, having an angel as powerful as Azrael around means a lot more to me than a few random soldiers.
    “How long do I have until that window to save Sara opens?” I ask, looking over at Nancy.
    “Four days,” she says. “After that, there are no promises.”
    “Plenty of time,” I say, leaning back in the bed. “We’ll only need two.”
    “I wish I had your confidence,” Nal says, laughing.
    “You are better served with your planning and patience,” Nancy says to Nal before walking out the door.
    “The world needs men of every type,” Azrael says. “You all have an important part to play in the coming days.”
    With those words I close my eyes and let myself drift off to sleep. She may not be the answer, but with a few days to kill, it is worth the shot. Even if it means coming inches away from a hornet’s nest.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
    - 4 -
     
     
     
     
     
    “You try to bring him back in one piece,” Nal says leaning into the driver’s side of my Ford Expedition. “You know how he likes to try getting himself killed.”
    “I’ve noticed,” Az laughs. “He will be fine. Just try to leave something for me to fight when we get back.”
    “No promises there,” Nal says. He walks around the car,