Hotblood by Juliann Whicker Read Free Book Online Page A

hearse. He looked unnaturally tall as he walked towards the house.
    “ Hi, Grim.” I said.
    “ Dariana, good morning. Very early morning, isn’t it,” he said squinting at the sky. “Your dad says hello.”
    “ You got through to him? Thank you. What did he say?” my mother asked.
    “ Alex thinks Dariana might like to spend the summer at his house,” Grim said. My mother looked relieved while Satan snarled.
    “ So that’s what you were doing while I was in the woods trying to see a foot in front of me, without my coat? I thought you were doing something useful, something…”
    “ Big brother,” Grim said coolly. “You like to work alone. I was in the position serving as Helen’s emissary to Alex regarding the boy’s death. Dariana’s condition was a natural extension of that. Look at you; you don’t need a flimsy coat to protect you. What in the world could hurt you?”
    Everyone looked at me, and I swallowed. “So my dad wants me for the summer? Where does he live? What does Nether mean? What do you mean by calling me soulless?”
    “ Good questions,” my mother broke in. She sounded like she was trying to be soothing but there was a hysterical strain behind it. “Those are the kinds of questions a father should talk to his daughter about.” She turned to Grim. “Did he say when he would come to get her? I think sooner would be better than later.”
    “ He suggested that you bring her,” Grim said apologetically. My mother winced.
    “ What, Helen, don’t want to leave your safe little world? What are you afraid of?” Satan asked.
    Grim put a hand on my uncle’s shoulder. “Alex is the girl’s father. I think that you’d agree that if anyone can explain things clearly to our niece, it would be him.”
    Satan looked down at Grim’s hand and then snorted. It was not a gentle sound. “Of course. Why not? But how will she get there? Oh, I know. She’s what, seventeen? So she has a license and can drive there herself.” He grinned at me, but it wasn’t a friendly smile. He looked like he wanted to eat me. I took a step towards him and found myself smiling right back at him.
    “ Satan,” Grim said as he jerked on the back of his shirt collar. “I’ll drive. We’ll take your car. Behave. She’s family.”
    Satan made another revolting sound and shook Grim off. “Yeah. That sounds like fun. Why don’t we drive right through the gates of Alex’s little compound to deliver his cute daughter? I’m sure we’ll be welcomed with open arms.”
    Grim sighed. “He expects us. You’re already insane so you don’t have anything to lose.”
    Satan glared at Grim. “You sound like Helen. What’s up with you anyway? I haven’t heard you say more than two words in a row for years; now you won’t shut up.”
    “ I can hardly compete with your fascinating conversation, Satan. I gave up trying years ago. Unfortunately, you seem to have lost the edge of your dazzling wit along with your coat.”
    Satan growled and shuffled off to his car. “Are we going then? No time like the present. Helen, you owe me.”
    My mother nodded, and Grim leaned closer to her and whispered. “I’ll see you soon little sister,” before he gave me an odd smile and ushered me out the door to Satan’s hulking monster of a car.

2 Driving Me Crazy

    It was Satan’s car but Grim was driving.
    “ You shouldn’t drive so fast in this weather,” I said holding tightly to the door handle. “Where are the seatbelts?” I asked searching the seat with my other hand. At the speed we flew over the wet pavement, it was suicide to go without seatbelts.
    “ Seatbelts?” Uncle Satan asked then laughed, a sound that made me cringe. I wasn’t certain if it was me, the cigars, or if he’d always sounded like he was gargling gravel. “This car doesn’t need seatbelts honey. If we crash, nothing’s gonna save you.”
    His words made me feel much better. The hulking piece of scrap metal that barreled through the misty