Immortal Rider (LD2) Read Online Free PDF

pants—black, as Arik requested—to replace the ones the demons destroyed during their torture sessions. Tavin had even presented an argument to his captors; the clothing protected Arik’s skin from infection that could kill him.
    And, if Arik played his cards right, the pants would get him out of this hellhole.
    Heat burned through Arik’s body, a byproduct of the Seminus healing ability, which allowed the demons to either repair injuries, affect bodily function, or tweak the mind. After a few seconds, Tavin’s energy had repaired damaged tissue and zapped Arik’s throat back into working order. It was still sore—hell, his entire body was sore—but at least now the pain was bearable.
    “Thanks.” Arik rubbed his neck, mapping out the new scars. The demon had done an adequate job, and even the mental damage, the horrific memories, seemed to have faded. As always, after Tav was done with him, Arik felt whole again, not just physically, but mentally. “You’ve been patching my mind, haven’t you?”
    Tavin’s expression was a whole lot of blank. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
    “Bullshit. I should be a head case by now. Fuck, I’m so damaged after a torture session that I don’t even know my own name. But when you’re finished with me… I dunno. You’re doing something.” Arik narrowed his eyes. “And don’t lie to me. I fucking hate liars, and I kinda think you’re all right for a demon. Don’t disappoint me.”
    There was a heartbeat of hesitation… two… three… and then the pathetic moan of some nearby creature seemed to break the lock on Tavin’s silence.
    “Seminus demons have only one of the three abilities.” His brisk tone made it clear that the discussion was over as he handed Arik a clay cup containing a few tablespoons of muddy liquid. Tasted like piss and mold, which it probably was, but it was wet, and he’d learned to take everything he could get.
    Well, not everything. Sometimes the demons tempted him with things like fluffy, moist slabs of cake; thick, juicy, char-grilled steaks; and frosty mugs of beer. But he’d learned to never, ever touch the offerings, no matter how much his mouth watered and his stomach ached. Doing so earned him hot pokers in places not meant to handle molten iron rods.
    Tav’s green eyes flashed with pity, and great, how pathetic were you when a demon pitied your sorry ass?
    “Do you know why the demons want me to say the Horseman’s name, Tav?”
    “Nope.” Bitterness dripped from Tavin’s normally level voice. “I’m just the hired help.”
    “Why’d you take the job?”
    Tavin took the cup from Arik and tucked it into his duffle of medical supplies. “No choice.”
    “There’s always a choice.”
    “Not when you’re an assassin locked into a contract.”
    “Assassin, huh?” Arik’s rusty wheels started turning. “Don’t suppose you know a couple of half-breed Sems named Sin and Lore? They’re sort of extended family. They were assassins not long ago.” Lore was now Underworld General’s chief medical examiner, and Sin had taken a position in the demon hospital’s infectious disease department, since her mutated Seminus gift had given her the unique ability to cause disease. Apparently, there was hope that she could also learn how to destroy it.
    Tavin reached into his medical bag for a tube of ointment. “I used to work with them.”
    A sickly little flame of hope flared. “Can you get them a message?”
    “Not until the demons who hired me no longer need me.”
    At which point, Arik would probably be dead. “Come on… the R-XR and Aegis will compensate you nicely if you do this.” He couldn’t believe he was trying to make a deal with a demon. But then, it wouldn’t be the first time. At least in this case, his soul wasn’t on the table.
    Just his life.
    “I can’t risk it.”
    “If you’re an assassin, you’ve got to be all sneaky and shit.”
    “I am. But the answer is still no.” He