Hounacier (Valducan Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

corner, averting her eyes.
    "Look at it," he ordered.
    Tiffany's blue eyes slowly lifted. She looked at Malcolm then at his palm. No reaction.
    Malcolm sheathed Hounacier and knelt. "You're going to be okay, Tiffany. We're here to help."
    The girl's dry lips quivered. "Are…they gone?"
    "No," Malcolm said. "We'll take care of them. We just need you to stay here for a minute—"
    "No!" she screamed. "No! It's a monst—"
    Malcolm dove in and clamped a hand over Tiffany's mouth. "Shh! Quiet."
    The girl froze save a terrified tremble.
    Malcolm wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her close. “It’s all right,” he whispered. “You’re safe now.”
    "Sam," Orlovski hissed. "Any movement?"
    "Negative."
    Malcolm let out a sigh. "Tiffany, I need you to stay quiet, okay?"
    She nodded.
    Slowly, he released her mouth. "Monsters. How many are there?"
    Tiffany didn't say anything for several breaths. Finally, "One."
    "One," he repeated for Sam to hear. "What does it look like?"
    She swallowed and cinched her eyes. "It's…big. Claws. Teeth like…nails. Green eyes."
    Malcolm nodded. "What color is it?"
    "Gray, like…smoke."
    "Smokey? Its head," he said. "Is it feline, like a tiger?"
    She nodded.
    "That's a yes."
    "Looks like we found one of Allan's mist cats," Sam said.
    Orlovski frowned, his low growl resonating in Malcolm's earpiece. A year before, Tiamat, the Mother of Demons, had been summoned in Tuscany. Before they'd killed her, the beast had hatched at least half a dozen new demon breeds onto the Earth. Allan and Luc had encountered one in Naples only two months later. Allan, who loved naming the new species, had dubbed it mist cat. Arguably, it was one of his better names. All they knew about them was that they were fast, could leap incredible spans, and silver did fuck-all against them.
    The Russian drew his pistol and ejected a magazine. "Switching to brass jacket, amethyst tips." He slapped the new mag in place and racked the slide.
    "Tiffany," Malcolm said, his voice calm. How many men are there aside from the monster?"
    She swallowed then shook her head. "I don't know."
    "It's important, Tiffany. Try to remember."
    "Two," she said uneasily.
    "Two? Are you sure?"
    "Movement!" Sam snapped. "Back door."
    Malcolm and Orlovski shared a look. "Tiffany," he said. "We need you to stay here, all right?"
    She grabbed his arm. "No! No!"
    He stood. "You'll be safe."
    "Coming out the upper front window," Sam said. "Shit, it's big."
    Malcolm hurried out of the crawlspace. "We'll be back. Stay here." Squeezing Hounacier, he followed Orlovski to the open door way.
    Orlovski pressed himself against the wall, Amballwa gripped tight in his hand. "Sam, where are they?" he whispered.
    "Man headed your way. Has a gun. Can't see the demon."
    "Keep watching." Malcolm replied, voice low.
    Leaves crunched outside, drawing closer. Malcolm held his breath.
    A long shadow, cast from the house above, grew in the doorway, sealing out even more of the light. The footsteps slowed then stopped.
    A bead of sweat trickled past the corner of Malcolm's eye. Slowly, he let out his breath. Through the cinderblocks, his enemy was only three feet away.
    The shadow swayed. Leaves crunched, and the tip of a black pistol cautiously poked through the open doorway. It inched further until a hand became visible.
    In a blur, Orlovski grabbed the shooter's wrist and yanked. A portly man yelped as he fell through the doorway, his cry cut off as the kukri slashed his throat to the bone. Blood sprayed out in a fan, hitting Malcolm's cheek. Gurgling, Arnold Hobb crumpled to the floor, blood pooling beneath him.
    Without a word, Orlovski charged through the open doorway and out into the yard.
    Malcolm ran out behind him, cutting wide in case of a shooter. "Sam, where is it?" He scanned the darkened woods for movement.
    "Not sure. It looked like it jumped into the trees."
    He craned his neck, searching the tangled canopy. Beyond the house, above the drive, a flash of