Elemental Havoc (Paranormal Public Book 11) by Maddy Edwards Read Free Book Online Page A

threatening behavior.”
    Clearly he had said something to set Herio off. The leader of the militia turned around slowly. “Threatening behavior, is it?” he said menacingly. “Did President Malle show threatening behavior when she lured Charlotte Rollins to near certain death? What about Premier Erikson, who took young Keller under her dark wing! And now Lisabelle Verlans . . .”
    “I’m rather certain, point of order, that Lisabelle shows lots of threatening behavior,” Keegan muttered to me, but I was sure that Herio didn’t want to hear reasonable arguments. He just wanted to yell wildly and confront all strangers, which of course was what he was doing. It was clear from the expressions on the faces of many of those standing behind him that they agreed with the second paranormal who had spoken up, but didn’t dare say so.
    For a split second another of the militiamen caught my eye; something in the way he paid attention to us made me uneasy. He was small, with a red hat and bright blue eyes. The second he noticed me looking at him he melted back into the anonymity of the group.
    Given that Herio held a bayonet-style weapon, I didn’t really blame them.
    “We must always be prepared for any and all eventualities,” he cried. “Who are these ruffians coming into our town! Walking on our streets!”
    “I dare say they’re students,” ventured the paranormal who had stolen Santa’s beard.
    “You know who I am,” said Rake dryly. “And this one too.” He pointed at Bertrum.
    “Now see here,” said Herio, bustling forward with his pot belly stuck out importantly. “You can’t just wander around town without supervision or permission. Besides, I have a lot to say to your boss” – he pointed at Bertrum – “and yet she won’t return Contacts. There’s a whole lot she needs to know around here and I’m the only paranormal who can tell her!”
    “I’m Bertrum and this is Rake, if you’ll remember,” interjected another voice. Sip’s secretary had clearly tired of listening to these paranormals, who were so obviously below his considerable intelligence, and he had stepped forward to put a stop to it.
    Sadly for Bertrum, he was slight of stature, pale, bespectacled, and just generally not very intimidating. Unlike his employer, who didn’t need height, or a tan, to make it clear how important she was, or to convey that she must be listened to or else, Bertrum couldn’t muster intimidation. He probably couldn’t even have bought it on the open market, if anyone had been willing to sell it. In short, Cumpertrumpet paid him no attention whatsoever.
    When the Surround militia continued to stand directly in our path, arguing vociferously with each other and completely ignoring Bertrum and the rest of us, Rake stepped forward. Rake, unlike Bertrum, was intimidating: he was a vampire, and he was huge. In fact, his size was his single clearest characteristic. When he decided to speak with authority, his voice was well suited to his size; in short, he put Herio’s booming shouts to shame. Keegan was so delighted when Rake took over that he was practically dancing.
    “MOVE! NOW!” Rake’s voice carried down the makeshift street and reverberated off the walls. Bertrum’s shoulders came up so high he looked uncomfortable. I had never heard a paranormal yell that loudly before.
    Not only did the militia stop in its tracks, but so did all the other paranormals in the street. Jaws were slack and many eyes went wide with shock. Even Keegan was shaking a bit, and Rake was his second favorite paranormal after Lisabelle Verlans.
    Rake barely appeared to notice. Herio, giving Rake an angry and narrow-eyed glare that was half furious and wholly intimidated, stepped aside to let us pass.
    No one’s eyes left the massive vampire as he lumbered forward, then glanced around at the rest of us. “Well, let’s get on with it!” he said. Any wisps of patience he had left were gone now that he’d had to force the