Demons (Eirik Book 1) by Ednah Walters Read Free Book Online Page A

her. “You are seventeen, right? Because I’m not seeing gray hair or wrinkles on you.”
    She laughed. “Very funny. Remember I told you my father was a professor?”
    “Yes.”
    “I’d sit in his classes when I was young and get bored out of my skull. I came to the conclusion that college is not for me. Mom needs me to help run the store.”
    “Does she know?”
    “Oh yeah. She’s not happy about it, but she respects my choice.”
    “Damn, I wish she could talk to my dad. He has lofty ideas about my future. Can you imagine him without me? He’d be lost. Probably live on pizza and beer and do laundry once a month.” He just wanted me far away at some fancy college in case Mom returned.
    “I’m sure he will be fine. He is a competent officer.”
    “Competent?” I turned to face her. “He is an awesome chief. Since he took over, the department has become internationally accredited and crime has dropped exponentially.” Hayden started to laugh. “Shut up! I’m his number one fan. He came up with cop camps for kids, the Booz ’N Cruise & You Lose program for teen drivers, and this summer…” The car swayed as she lost control because she was laughing so hard. “This summer, Movies in the Park is reopening. Yay! My best memories are of me and Dad stuffing our faces at those outdoor movies.”
    “Dad and me,” she corrected.
    I stuck my tongue at her and faced forward. “Competent, my ass. He’s the best chief Windfall has ever had.”
    “Yeah, he’s pretty cool. Some kids were vandalizing our shop, and Mom talked to him. The next thing we knew, he had officers patrolling the block and a camera installed. Stopped the pimply-faced snots.”
    Hayden indicated and turned onto the street that ran in front of Windfall High School. Buses were pulling away from the curb, their progress reduced to a crawl because of the sheer number of students also leaving in their cars.
    I couldn’t imagine attending this school. It was huge, and I’d be lost and miserable. Junior high had been awkward and hard. I’d attended public school, Riverside Junior High School. Between bodily changes, interest from boys, and visions I couldn’t do anything about prompting hysterical calls to Grams, I would not have made it without Zack.
    I recognized a few people from Riverside and smiled. No returned smiles. From the stares, followed by whispers and more stares, they’d heard about me being a Witch. Yeah, whatever. I hadn’t embraced my gifts until graduation from junior high when Giselle had texted a picture of me tranced with a caption under it. A Witch or a druggie? Bitch. So I’d come out. I was a proud Witch now.
    Hayden parked closer to the football field, and we got out. The scrimmage was in full swing. We sat on the lowest bench of the bleachers and waited. My phone dinged, and I looked at the message. Dad.
    “Dad,” I told Hayden when she glanced my way. I moved away from her and speed-dialed Dad’s number. “Hey, Dad.”
    “Hey, kiddo. Is Zack bringing you home, or should I send Davies?”
    Officer Davies had been my unofficial driver since Grams died and Dad became the police chief. I watched my cousin showboating. He must have seen Hayden. He was so into her it wasn’t funny. “Hayden is. We stopped by Zack’s school to tell him I’m catching a ride with her.”
    “Is pizza okay for dinner?”
    “Fine. I’m working at Tammy’s until seven. Can we fix my car sometime this week? Please?”
    “Once I get the spare parts.”
    I groaned. “We’re planning on going out on Friday and I need my car, Dad. We could check the shop in Slidell.”
    “Going where? I have a conference in New Orleans on Friday and Saturday and won’t be home until Sunday.”
    Yes! With him out of town, I wouldn’t worry about his officers shadowing me. “Hayden and I were thinking about going to Red Barn. Is that okay?”
    “Depends on who you are going with.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Really, Dad? Hayden and I can take care