Demonicus (Overworld Underground Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

name." He pressed a button and the car's exterior faded to near invisibility.
    "It's a very strange last name." I peered out the window as the ground receded below. "Why doesn't he talk?"
    George steered the car to the east and accelerated. "He prefers not to."
    "How do you know what he's saying—telepathy?"
    "Excellent guess, Miss Glass." He veered around a flock of birds and resumed course. "Mr. Sticks could talk anytime he likes, but he prefers nonverbal communication."
    "He's a bit of a condescending ass, isn't he?"
    George chuckled. "Yes, he is. You must admit, however, that he's very good at what he does."
    "Sure, he's amazing at fighting, but he really needs to work on human relations." I ran a hand along the smooth wood trim on the dash. "Well, I suppose you should tell me what I need to know about these vampires I'm to see."
    "Of course." He tapped a large glass screen on the dash. "Display dossier, subject Franco."
    The image of a man with black hair, long sideburns, and a goatee filled the screen. "Subject Franco, Colombian drug lord, vampire, illegal weapons seller," a monotone voice said. "Captured by Templars two weeks ago while in pursuit of rogue Daemos Justin Slade."
    George frowned. "They still haven't corrected his status."
    "Whose?" I asked.
    "Justin Slade's. Apparently, he helped capture Franco, his right-hand man, Marcel, and Vadaemos Slade." He stared at the rainy sky. "I'd say that means he's not a rogue Daemos."
    "Daemos are the human-demon mixes, right?"
    He nodded. "Something like that. They're a secretive bunch." George nodded at the dossier. "We've found evidence linking Franco to the blood bank. We think he was using it to smuggle illegal weapons into Atlanta for a vampire named Maximus. Unfortunately, he's not talking."
    "How am I supposed to make him talk?"
    His lips curled up. "Because you can take away that one thing he values the most."
    "And that is?"
    "His vampirism."
     

Chapter 4
     
    My strange ability was still so new to me, I hadn't even thought of the possibility.
    I swallowed a lump of fear. "I don't have to face him alone, do I?"
    George shook his head. "Mr. Sticks will meet us there. He and I will accompany you."
    "Can Sticks read minds with his brain?"
    "I don't believe so, though he's never told me otherwise."
    I felt a blush warm my face. Goodness, I hope not! I didn't like the idea of anyone peering into my thoughts, especially where Tyler was concerned.
    George landed the car on the driveway of a large ranch. I didn't recognize the area since I was still new to Atlanta. "Where are we?"
    "The Templar compound near Decatur." He drove into a large barn and down a ramp into a vast underground garage and parked. Other vehicles and objects sat nearby. Some appeared mundane while others were as exotic as George's car. Large metal boxes sat in neat rows. I thought they might be storage containers, but they had no doors.
    We rode a lift down several levels and stepped into a corridor hewn into the bedrock and lined steel doors and large blacked-out windows.
    "This is amazing." I ran a hand along the wall. "How large is this place?"
    "Fairly extensive. The Templars use this complex to temporarily house criminals until they're transported to a prison to await trial." He motioned ahead where Sticks stood next to a window. "That's the interrogation room. I'd like you to stand behind us until I tell you otherwise."
    My heart beat a little faster. "Of course."
    Sticks opened the door without so much as greeting me and followed us inside. A tall man stood on the other side of the table. It was the man—no, the vampire—from the dossier. Franco.
    "Who's that?" he said in a precise British accent.
    "Someone who's here to ensure you cooperate," George replied in an even tone.
    The vampire slashed his hand through the air. "I've nothing more to say to you, Templar."
    "Technically, we're Custodians." George activated a tablet computer on the table. "We have a series of documents tying you to