Redemption of the Dead by A.P. Fuchs Read Free Book Online

through.”
    “The master will not
tolerate another failed experiment. You have had over six hundred
years to get it right.”
    Bethrez wished to explain that to enable his fellow demons
access to the Earth en masse and in the manner of which mass
possession was possible, was not an easy feat as safeguards from
the battle long ago had been put in place to prevent such a thing.
It took over two centuries alone to thoroughly study each and every
safeguard and realm-lock before even an attempt at a means to
disarm them was possible. Construction on a single prototype portal
took anywhere between eighty to one hundred and thirteen years. Yet
Vingros wasn’t interested in such things, he knew. He was also
aware their master was on a clock himself, one that couldn’t be
outrun unless such a device was constructed.
    “Depart now, Bethrez. I
will call when I have need of you.”
    “Thank you,” Bethrez said
with a bow then left the cave.
     
     
    * * * *
     
     
    5
    Hang Ups
     
    T racy slapped
Joe in the face, sending a hot
sting across his cheek.
    “You’re
unbelievable,” she said. She was stunned he’d lock her out of the
basement, and what for? So he could play hero and take out a rotter
all by himself? Yeah, that’s real impressive, not to mention stupid
and dangerous. She knew he’d killed many undead creatures on his
own before, but what she didn’t get was why he’d suddenly cut her
out and take one on with her right there. It’d be one thing if she
couldn’t handle herself, or had been severely hurt, or even had
simply not been present—but when she stood right there beside him
when the creature emerged? What gives?
    “What’s your problem?” he
said.
    “What’s yours? Why did you lock me out
of the basement?”
    “I . . .
didn’t want you to get hurt.”
    “Don’t feed me that crap,” she said.
“We might not be best friends, but I know you well enough to know
there was another reason.”
    “Honestly, there wasn’t. I saw the
thing, you were by the door, I pushed you out in case the worst
happened.”
    She threw up her arms and shook her hands by her head,
frustrated. “Are you listening to yourself? You’re the
one who backed me up the stairs by the door. You’re the
one who thought that somehow the worst would happen when we were
together versus the worst happening when you handled that on your
own. And without a gun!”
    “I knew what I was doing.”
    “That
doesn’t matter. You willingly went head first into death and shut
me out. What’s going on, Joe? Did something else happen? Is it me?
Seriously, what’s going on?”
    H e looked at her, eyes
empty of emotion or concern, just . . . lost.
    Is he over the edge? Did it finally happen and just came
out of nowhere? she
thought. I understand his
pain and his battle against the undead. I get all that, probably
better than anyone else he’s ever met. Just don’t get how he could
suddenly snap. Thought there’d be a progression, if that was going
to happen. Thought there’d be signs.
    She loudly
exhaled and shook her head. “I-I don’t know what to say. Just think
it was a stupid move on your part.”
    “Think what you want. The thing is . .
.” He didn’t finish.
    “What?”
    He simply folded his arms.
    “No, no, come on. Don’t start to say
something then cut yourself off. Give me a break. I hated that
before the world fell apart and I hate it now. Spit it
out!”
    He turned around and headed toward the
kitchen. “Going to go look for something to eat. Sorry,
Tracy.”
    She gritted
her teeth and stared after him with squinted eyes. “Stupid
idiot.”
    “Heard that,” he said from the other
room.
    “I don’t care,” she
shouted.
    The house went quiet. She ran her hands over her hair,
smoothing it back. Quietly, she said, “Maybe you should ask
yourself why you’re so upset.” But she already knew the
answer.
    It was so simple, so
obvious.
    She’d grown to care for
him.
    * * * *
    There was
nothing food-wise in the