Immortals After Dark 12 - Lothaire Read Online Free PDF

families. How many children were fatherless because of this demon?
    Because I’ve been doggedly clinging to hope?
    Ellie passed her own bedroom, shuddering at the sight of the chains at the ends of her bed, coiled like rattlesnakes.
    Then she stared bitterly at the Middle State University pennants she’d tacked to her room’s vinyl walls just before all this had begun.
    How excited she’d been about college! To afford the tuition and dorm, she’d worked at her uncle’s outfitter shop each day after school and as a guide during every holiday for years.
    Ellie had been in classes just long enough to comprehend with wonder, Holy shit, I can . . . I can actually do this! Coursework had come surprisingly easy to her.
    Then she’d started losing time, waking in strange places. They’d sent her packing back home before the semester was over.
    She would’ve been the first one in the family to get a college degree.
    When she reached the back bedroom, she spied her reflection in the mirrored closet door. Blood covered her—her long brown hair was wet with it. Her eyes were as flinty gray and hard as Peirce Mountain.
    Her sodden T-shirt read: EPHRAIM’S OUTFITTERS: rafting, fishing, hunting supplies & guides.
    What would Uncle Eph say about this?
    She pictured his weathered face and earnest expression, so like her late father’s. You go on now and take care of your business, Ellie. Ain’t nobody gonna do it for you.
    She slid the closet door open, reaching past her father’s old work gear—a mining helmet, locksmith tools, a handyman belt. Before he’d died in the mine, her adoring pa had never held fewer than three jobs at a time.
    With a knot in her throat, she collected his favorite shotgun: a Remington double-barrel twelve-gauge. It was empty, no slugs to be found; Uncle Eph had long since come round and gathered up all the shells—just in case the demon got any ideas with the scattergun.
    The familiar heft of the weapon was reassuring. Soon all this would be over forever. At the thought, she felt a strange sense of relief .
    When she returned to the living room, Mama rushed forward. “Please, baby, couldn’t you just try prison?”
    I’m doomed anyway. An injection later, or a bullet now.
    Ellie would die on her terms—bleeding out in the snow, atop her beloved mountain.
    “No, jail’s out of the question. Now you need to think about Josh. About the family.” Ellie forced a smile. “I love you, Mama. Tell Josh I loved him, too. You know I’ll be lookin’ down, watchin’ out for everyone.”
    As her mother began to bawl, muttering jumbled words, Ellie pointedto the back room. “You go on in the back and stay in there! You hear? Don’t come out till they make you, no matter what happens. Promise me!” At last, Mama nodded. Ellie gave her a shove, and she dragged her feet away, softly closing her bedroom door behind her.
    Before Ellie lost her nerve, she turned to the front door, Remington in hand. She began to reach for her hand-me-down coat, then made a fist instead. Fool. You won’t be cold long.
    On the count of three . Ellie took several deep breaths, her thoughts racing. I’m just nineteen—too young.
    One.
    I got no choice. Soon, nothing’ll be left of me.
    Two.
    Imagine waking up to Mama and Josh, dead, their eyes glassy and sightless.
    Never! With a shriek, she threw open the door, raising the gun.
    “Shooter!” the sheriff yelled. Bullets went flying.
    She felt none of them; a towering man had appeared out of thin air, standing between her and the officers.
    With a furious growl, he shoved her to the ground, knocking the gun from her hands as he took the bullets in his back. She stared up in disbelief. His irises were . . . red. At least five shots hit him, but his monstrous gaze never wavered from her eyes.
    —“Hold your fire!”
    —“Where’d he come from?”
    —“What the hell’s goin’ on?”
    The man’s skin was like perfect marble, stark against the black shirt and trench