Clutch of the Demon by A. P. Jensen Read Free Book Online Page A

dragon and Luc knew one another. Hmm. The dragon would relinquish his protection from her family if she reneged on her end of the deal. All her life she'd been fighting to change her fate and this time she couldn't. Live or die, this was it. She couldn't quite release the fear that the dragon would eat her and use her bones for toothpicks. Whispering spells over the backpack, she waded out into the waves.  
    It took her twice as long to make her way out to sea since there was no strength behind her kicks. She stared up at the Cliffs of Moher, which stretched out for five miles. She clutched the compass in one hand and struggled to keep her head above the choppy waves. She took a deep breath and duck dived before she headed towards the cliffs. The same spell made her drop like a stone and pulled her deeper and deeper. Knowing she had a ways to go before she reached the hollow tunnel, she tilted her head back and watched weak light play over the water before everything darkened.  
    The light on her hands was dim and she knew that wasn't good, but she would save what was left of her magic for air. She slipped the compass into her wetsuit. When she saw the rectangular opening, she kicked off the invisible weights and entered the tunnel. She ignored the claustrophobia pressing in on her senses and used the last of her magic for the last breath she needed. There was an opening at the end of the tunnel, but she was weaker this time and she lacked the desperation that caused her to claw her way to the end. The light died from her hands and cold panic filled her. She kicked with all her might. One hand reached out into the darkness, but didn't hit the dead end she expected. Her lungs screamed and with every inch she advanced, her hands reached out for the rock wall that signaled the end, but it wasn't there.  
    Cara swallowed a mouthful of water and this time when her hands pressed on the stone above her, there was no pool. She kicked and flailed but this time, she hadn't made it. Water filled her lungs and she blindly reached ahead, but there was only emptiness. She couldn't tell if her eyes were open or closed and the last image in her mind was of her sister and mom. She took another mouthful of water and felt something sharp cut into her side. She stopped fighting and let go.  

    You are a foolish human.
    Eyes watery with pain, she cracked one eye open and let it flutter shut. She was in the cavern with the dragon and his blazing turquoise eyes. She licked her lips and tasted something sweet. Heat rushed through her and the blinding pain in her chest vanished along with the bruises on her throat and ribs. The constant, nagging pain from her head wound slipped away. The dragon crouched over her, wings unfurled. She knew that wasn't a good sign, especially with the addition of his exposed fangs.  
    "What happened?" she gasped.
    She remained prone even though she had that superpower feeling again. It seemed safer to lie as close to the ground as possible. Razor sharp teeth snapped so close to her face that her skin vibrated. She didn't breathe for fear of inciting him further.  
    You drowned!
    The mental shout made her writhe on the smooth stone.  
    If you were so weak that you wouldn't make it, you should have told me.  
    "You said I was procrastinating!" she protested.
    And if you died, how would I be paid in full?
    She snapped her mouth shut as the dragon turned from her. His tail whipped over her and the resulting gust of wind moved her two feet. The dragon let out a roar and blew streams of fire on the walls, which were unfazed by his wrath. She ran a hand over the shredded sides of her wetsuit.
    You were five feet from the pool. I nearly ran you through with my talons when I tried to get you out.  
    Cara sat up. The pain was gone, but the poison the demon infected her with couldn't be healed by dragon blood. Although she felt energized, her heart felt as if it weighed one hundred pounds. Rage's spirit was still alive and