Bitter Demons by Sarra Cannon Read Free Book Online

zipping
sound was so familiar to me now, it brought some comfort.
    "When a demon gate is first created, the
witches of the Order use a special stone. It isn't always a
sapphire. Sometimes they use emeralds or topaz or even diamonds. I
don't know the exact reason behind the different stones, but I
think it has something to do with the specific energy of the
location." He stood and began to pace the ground under the branches
of the pecan trees. "The stone is used to create the portal, and a
part of the connection between the first demon and the first witch
is trapped inside the stone. A piece of the stone is chipped off to
create a necklace like yours."
    "What does it do?"
    "It connects you to the demon. To Aerden," he
said. "Whenever someone tries to use magic against you, he'll
always come to help. It's especially important when it's worn by a
Future, like you. Before she's been combined with the demon in the
initiation ceremony. After the initiation, the necklace takes on
different powers. Like allowing you to teleport to the ritual room.
Every Prima in your family has worn that necklace before you."
    I pictured the stone around my mother's neck.
And her mother before her. It was the only solid connection I had
to my family, and it was precious to me. I never knew that to
Jackson it symbolized the day he lost his brother to the Order of
Shadows.
    "One day, we were a family," he said. His
fist was balled up by his side. "And the next, he was gone. At
first, I didn't understand where he'd gone. It was like he just
disappeared into thin air. It took me nearly fifty years to find
him."
    "So you came through the portal," I said. "To
Peachville. Fifty years ago?"
    Jackson nodded. "1962. Once I came through
the portal, there was no way back," he said. "I was stuck here, and
so was Aerden."
    "So, how did you become human instead of
being forced into the body of another witch like the others?" I
asked.
    "A curse," he said. He turned his face away
from me. "The Order cursed me and turned me into this human
form."
    I stood and ran my hand down his back. I had
a feeling he wasn't telling me the whole truth, but I was scared to
ask. I wasn't sure I wanted to know what he might have done back
then.
    "I came here thinking I could save him and
bring him home, but I was too late," he said. "He's bound to your
family for eternity, and there's nothing I can do about it." He
turned to me. "And if your family dies out, my brother dies with
you."
    I could hear the anguish in his voice. It was
obvious how much he loved his brother, but did he care about me at
all? Or did he only spend time with me and try to protect me
because he wanted to protect his brother? It was all so
confusing.
    I took a step backward and tripped over a
plate full of fruit. I fell to the ground and cursed. My eyes
watered.
    "Harper." Jackson rushed to my side. He
picked up my hands and wiped the dirt from my palms. "Are you
okay?"
    I avoided his eyes. I didn't want him to see
the tears in mine, so I kept my head down. Wasn't I the one who'd
pushed him to tell me the truth? I needed to stop being such a
baby. I knew as well as anyone that the truth could be painful.
    And that when it came down to it, most people
had a hidden agenda. Why did I expect Jackson to be any different?
Hadn't I learned my lesson by now?
    "I'm fine," I said. "It just stings." I
rubbed my hands along the side of my jeans, then held them up to
him. "Help me up."
    Jackson gripped my hands in his and tugged me
upward. For a moment, our faces were dangerously close. I opened my
mouth slightly so I could draw in a deep, calming breath. Anything
to slow the beating of my heart.
    "Thanks," I said. I tore my gaze from his,
feeling sad and confused.
    I sat back down on the flannel blanket and
picked up all the fruit that had spilled. I tried to act like
nothing was wrong, but I had a feeling he could see right through
me.
    He sat down and helped me pack the food and
wine into the picnic basket. We worked in