Demons in My Driveway by R.L. Naquin Read Free Book Online

memories trickled in through dreams, at first, and then one day came back to her all at once. I’d have rather she never remembered anything, especially since she’d said herself that she didn’t want to remember. And I wouldn’t wish those memories on my worst enemy. But they
had
returned, and I did what I could for her, whenever she needed it—whether that meant listening to her talk it out, holding her when she cried or going to watch while she shot at a target at the gun range.
    The Board sent us a therapist from the Hidden world—an elf named Louise—who was trained to help rape victims but wouldn’t flinch at the supernatural aspects of Sara’s assault. Having Louise was a huge relief, because I never knew whether I was doing or saying the right thing for Sara. I knew how to be her friend—how to be supportive. I was not qualified to council her. Louise helped Sara in ways I couldn’t begin to understand.
    Some days were better than others for Sara. I doubted I’d ever stop checking on her or worrying, even with Louise helping her. Therapy is not a magic wand.
    But Sara’s smile was genuine. Today was a good day.
    Not all of them were.
    “So,” I said, glancing around the room. “I’m back early.” I told them about the portal, the impossible werewolf report and about how nearly all the Aegises in other countries had been murdered too.
    Mom sat forward, agitated. “Katy couldn’t have done all that.”
    I shook my head. “No, she couldn’t. Apparently, this ancient something that sent Katy after us let loose other psychos around the world too.”
    Darius rested a protective hand on my mother’s shoulder. “What about the governments? Surely ours was the only one nearly destroyed?”
    “No. The same everywhere,” I said.
    Kam got up from the couch and paced the room, her saddle shoes clunking on the hardwood floor.
    “So...” Riley hesitated. His intense gaze rested on me, then flicked away to my mom. It wasn’t lost on me that his jaw wasn’t as tight once his attention was on someone other than me. “That would mean you two remain in danger. Whatever sent Katy is probably still after you.”
    I nodded. “Well, yeah. But we already assumed that was the case.” Everything had been so quiet lately, it had been easy to forget I was a target. Hell, ever since I’d found out about the Hidden world, I’d been a target. I couldn’t live every second of my life on high alert. “I think my biggest concern right now is this damn Covenant thing. We need to find out what it is. I got the feeling nobody at the Gathering really knew for sure what they were talking about.”
    “Zoey?” Kam stood at the window, looking out at the front yard.
    Maurice wiped a trickle of lemonade off the coffee table. “Maybe Aggie’s got something in her library. You know, something really old.”
    “Zoey? Can you come here?” Kam’s tone was urgent, and her worry blew across the room with an acrid stench.
    “What’s wrong?” I joined her at window. “What the hell is that?”
    Kam swallowed hard. “It’s a portal.”
    We all piled through the door and stood gawking on my porch. A long oval, about eight feet high and four feet across, hovered in the air in the middle of my driveway. The surface shimmered like a lake in a gentle breeze. Nothing came out, and nothing shone through to give us any clues about where it came from or where it led.
    I made for the steps, and several hands reached to stop me.
    “What?” I scowled at my friends blocking my way.
    “It’s outside the fairy circle,” Mom whispered. Her face was pale, spooked. “Stay with me, honey. Let the others check it.”
    I sighed and tried not to look petulant at being told what I couldn’t do in my own damn yard, but I stayed put. Kam and Darius went straight toward the mysterious object. Darius stood in front of it, squinting to see in. Kam rounded to the back, then stepped away in surprise. “I can’t see it!” she said, loud enough