Shepherd Hunted Read Online Free PDF Page B

but if Satan could create them…No. Such thoughts were blasphemy.
    “There are no demons, Sister. The only demons are those we make. But it doesn’t matter.” He looked behind him. “After what I did, she won’t want anything to do with me.”
    He trudged away, shoulders slumped.
    Tera gathered her stricken thoughts and her habit before jogging after him. He looked so lost. What had happened? Did he see the truth despite not accepting the fox as a demon? Tera had to help him. Breaking the fox’s hold on him would weaken the demon. “You could go back to the abbey. Mother Mae misses you, I’m sure. Where is the demon?”
    Timothy skirted a muddy puddle. A single leaf broke the amber mirror. He paused. Tera bumped into him and almost lost her balance. “If I go with you, will you leave Kit alone?”
    “I can’t promise—”
    “She is not a demon. Will you leave her alone?”
    Tera said nothing.
    “Meet me here in a few days.” He gestured at the burned out festival castle. Tera didn’t realize they were already in the square. “I need time to think and to say good-bye.”
    “Tell me where it is, and I can help you.”
    Timothy shook his head. “She is likely with him now. Better if she is.”
    Him? So he doesn’t know where the demon is? That might be for the better, but I will need to get back to my search.
    “Getting away from this filthy town will do us both good,” Tera said. She sounded like Evelyn! Tera would not abandon the town to the fox. With the depravity she’d witnessed at the so-called festival, the fox had many souls to coerce. Evelyn and Timothy could go home without Tera.
    “Sister Tera?”
    Tera molted her thoughts and smiled. “Certainly, Timothy. I will be here every morning until you are ready. We can all go home.”
    “Home.” Timothy stared downed the street. “Not everyone has a home to go back to.”
    She hesitated, feeling awkward. She never knew what to say. She lightly touched his shoulder. “You do…with us.”
    He shrugged her off. “A few days.”
    Tera resisted the urge to tackle him and drag him back with her immediately. But judging by the look on his face, she decided she might regret it if she tried. Not for the first time, she wished she was stronger. She left him standing there, a war raging on his face. Whatever happened looked to have freed Timothy from the fox—at least partially. She needed to find Evelyn. Perhaps together they could convince Timothy to join them against the demon.
    Tera passed few other people on her way back to the inn. She rounded the corner and saw Evelyn sitting on the front steps of the inn holding a small girl. A woman dressed in a blue smock wrung her hands and paced. As Tera neared, she saw the girl’s small body spasm. Evelyn rocked the child. Tera was a poor judge of age, but she guessed the girl was four years old. The wet cough sounded bad to Tera.
    “Thank you for this. No one would help us. What doctor would leave a poor, sick child?” the woman asked.
    “Promise breakers. Filth.” Evelyn’s gaze focused on Tera. Her hand continued to smooth the girl’s straw hair.
    “Sister, fetch me willow bark and hot water. A cup. Clean!”
    Tera hesitated.
    “Go!” Evelyn said. “And bring a packet of it.”
    “Evelyn, I found Timothy. We need to—”
    “I found Timothy.” Evelyn rocked the girl. “Now go! Willow bark and hot water.”
    I can’t take her to Timothy like this.
    “Where, Evelyn?” Tera asked. How could tree bark help this girl? The mother wrung her hands. She glanced between Tera and Evelyn.
    “This dirty inn has it. Go!” Evelyn said.
    Tera shook her head. People started to gather.
    “Who would talk to a nun like that?” A man backhanded the air in Evelyn’s direction.
    “Look at the kid. Poor thing,” an old woman said.
    “The doctors are leaving town. Isn’t that odd? Right after the festival too.”
    “Good riddance. They take your every copper and then tell the coffin maker you are