A Demon in the Dark Read Online Free PDF Page A

that’s a lot of exorcisms. Must have hurt like a bitch.” The Judge was successfully distracting him, Thorn realized. He prepared to move, and strained to see Vucion inside his human host. Dimwitted demons like Vucion sometimes viewed humans as safe places to hide, since spirits could not easily see another of their kind while he possessed a human. Some demons had hidden in humans for decades before they were discovered, outed, and executed.
    In truth, humans were unable to exorcise demons from other humans. Only the victim himself or another spirit could remove the possessing devil—an act which Thorn and the Judge were about to attempt. Demons really are the best exorcists. Better than angels, even. We know how to manipulate each other.
    “I remember when they made the Second Rule,” Shane said as his eyes followed the Judge. “Fifth century, remember? Christianity was spreading, and we were taking over bodies, freaking people out, too busy with our infighting to care what the Enemy was doing. Those were the good times, you fool! So what, if humans were so afraid of demons like me that they fled to Him? Better that we—Better that we all disappear, you leaders said. Better to keep the humans ignorant of the Enemy than to keep them afraid of us.” Shane clawed through his shirt with his fingernails, drawing his own blood. “Well I never agreed to hide myself for the cause. Something had to be done, yes, but I—I never personally agreed to the Second Rule.”
    Thorn had dissented as well, but over the centuries he had come to realize there was another, better reason for the Second Rule: if you tried possession, or revealed yourself to a human, you ran the risk of being overpowered by the human, and cast aside. Wrestling directly with a human will was extremely difficult; even the weak ones were remarkably strong. They must not be allowed to realize how strong their own wills actually are, lest they start to use them , Thorn had eventually understood. No, let them think they’re slaves to their bodies, to their environment, to their past, to whatever temporary fancies pop into their heads. Mere whispers were a far better means of control than outright possession.
    “Well guess what, Your Honor?” the Judge said to his fellow justice. “I never agreed to chase down your sorry ass. So let’s call it even. You leave this Shane kid alone, and we’ll leave you alone.”
    Thorn inched closer behind Shane’s back. While Vucion resided in the boy’s mind, he could see only through Shane’s eyes. He would not see Thorn’s approach.
    “You just want him for yourself,” Shane accused.
    The Judge raised his hands. “You caught me. I have a hundred and five charges: politicians, celebrities, religious leaders, and a few regular folks so challenging to control that someone like you couldn’t begin to handle them. I’m the most important demon in Atlanta next to Thorn, but yeah, I thought it’d be a blast to come to the ghetto and fight the Cedartown Judge for a high school kid.”
    “Shane is my favorite and you cannot have him. We’re close. How many humans have you been with long enough that you can possess them? Not one, I’d guess.”
    “Nope, and I really don’t care.”
    “So you couldn’t possess Shane even if you stole him from me. Not firmly, at least. And not for long.”
    Thorn arrived at Shane’s body and reached for his head, but stopped short. Even if Vucion did deserve to die, Thorn had not killed another being—much less one of his own kind—since before the Christmas Eve shooting. The thought disturbed him.
    The Judge stuttered and tried to stall. He must have been expecting the kill before he needed to respond to Vucion. “Uh, well, I don’t want to possess him. I just want another charge for, uh, whispering and stuff.” His gaze flickered between Shane and Thorn. Shane noticed, and turned.
    And screamed.
    The sudden piercing cry sent Thorn back a step, and before he was aware of