Betrayed by Ednah Walters Read Free Book Online Page B

to have you back,” she added before disappearing into her changing room.
    Kim didn’t say anything, but she gave me a thumbs-up sign, the white tips of her manicured nails catching the light, blonde hair bouncing.
    “Perfect timing, Red. We’re about to face the peskiest of al demons,” Sykes added in a sing-song voice and did some fancy footwork while he punched the air. He tugged at my ponytail as he walked past.
    “Did you get some holy water?”
    “She doesn’t need it. And quit cal ing it holy water.” Remy paused long enough to ask, “How are you holding up, kiddo?”
    you holding up, kiddo?”
    “Good,” I lied. He’d taken to cal ing me kiddo despite being only two years older than me. I had no idea why. “Are we using holy water now?”
    “No. He means piacol. Go on to the office and see if you can get us a point of entry.” I shook my head at Sykes’ twisted sense of humor. Humans performed exorcism by using water sanctified by their religious leaders. We used piacol, special juice from a sacred tree grown in Xenith. It contained a concentrated amount of jadeite, the same special element used in our weapons and the Kris Dagger. The two liquids were completely different, yet they had the same effect on demons—
    forcing them out of a person.
    Back in the office, a smal group of Civilians gathered around the holographic image of the building I saw in Celeste’s vision.
    “It’s Westlake Plaza in downtown Seattle,” Mrs. D explained when I joined them. “We believe the Cardinal and his brother are somewhere between the twenty-fifth and the top floor. Damien Corporation leased these floors three months ago.” She pointed at the upper stories as I moved closer for a better look.
    Damien Corporation was one of the companies owned by Damien, a powerful dark Lord the Cardinals had never been able to corner and vanquish. He always managed to slip away just as they closed in on him. I could see Gavyn associating with Damien. He hadn’t stopped his evil ways. But Bran’s presence there made no sense. The darkened windows made it impossible to see inside despite the image being clearer than the one from Celeste’s memories. The building kept shifting to show different angles and sides.
    “Is this a live feed?” I asked, already looking for a way in.
    Mrs. D nodded. “From West Coast CP team.
    The other floors are empty except the lower four. The fourth floor has a gym,” Mrs. D pointed at a few men and women on treadmil s, “a few conference rooms, and a terrace.”
    It was the same terrace from Celeste’s memory. People were seated around the tables eating lunch, making it an unsuitable point of entry.
    The garage underneath seemed equal y crowded. A bunch of children were visible through the glass wal s on the second floor.
    The thought of a horde of Lazarus demons so close to children sent a shiver up my spine. Demons possessing children was against the law set forth in the beginning of time. But from what the trainees and Bran had told me, there was a breed of Lazari out there that didn’t seem to care.
    I squinted at the first floor, studied the layout. It was busy with the lunch crowd in and around a restaurant. Mistral Kitchen, a sign read. Teleporting to the first floor was also out of the question. The garages, which the building appeared to have underground, might work, but chances of bumping into a car or ending up inside one packed with a family were high. Been there, done that. It wasn’t fun dealing with spooked people.
    “Can you zoom in on the twenty-fourth floor?” I asked.
    The image enlarged until I could see inside the rooms. It was empty and closer to the action.
    We’d also bypass the heavy security in the lobby.
    “It’s perfect.”
    The other trainees joined us, packing more black metal spray bottles of piacol than heavy-duty hunting weapons.
    “Let’s rol ,” Remy said. “You know the dril . Lil fol ows me. Sykes, you take the rear.”

    ***
    As usual, my