The Damned by Nancy Holder, Debbie Viguié Read Free Book Online Page A

to reach her when she had passed through this phase. At the moment it was like trying to converse with a rabid lion and hoping it understood you.
    “Jenn is eager to see you. She misses you,” he said.
    Squinting her crimson eyes and showing her fangs, Heather whined as she stretched her hand toward the goblet. He consented, handing it to her. She snatched it with a victorious scream, then splashed the contents over her face.
    “Ay,” Father Juan said, as he moved his hands and began to chant in Latin. It was not a prayer to God but a magick spell to calm and soothe her. Antonio prayed that this time it worked. He always prayed, every time.
    As Father Juan performed his incantation, Antonio crouched in front of the cell. Heather retreated back into her corner, busily trying to lap up the blood on her face and hands as she plopped down on the blanket and pillow they had given her. Her gray teddy bear was oozing stuffing from two puncture marks in its neck. Beside the bear lay the inhaler that she had needed in life for her asthma. She would never need it again, but Antonio was hopeful that, like the bear, it would serve to remind her of the girl she had been.
    “Heather, we can give you more blood, if you’ll only speak to us,” Antonio said. “Please, bonita. We all miss you so much.”
    He heard steps behind him. There were few who came down here. Antonio turned and saw Jenn approaching in near panic.
    “Father Juan,” she managed. “My father was on TV with Solomon.”
    “What?” Father Juan and Antonio said in unison. They stared in horror at each other. Jenn tried to push past him to Heather, but Antonio blocked her. He didn’t want Jenn to see her sister with the blood smeared all over her face. His mind raced. Could Solomon have killed their nemesis? Had Jenn’s father escaped Aurora and sought sanctuary with Solomon? They needed to find out more immediately.
    “What did they say?” Father Juan asked Jenn.
    “They said there’s evidence linking me to Brooke and Simon’s murder. And that I vandalized their monument last night.” She held back tears and tried to move around Antonio, but he stood firm.
    “First one sister, then the other,” Father Juan said. “It must be a ploy to get to you, my son. This settles it. I’ll contact those other resistance groups and see if anyone knows anything.”
    Oh, Jenn, Jenn , Antonio thought, feeling the net tightening around them but caring nothing for his own safety. Only for hers.
    “Antonio, please, stand aside,” Jenn said, face white. “I need my family.”
    Antonio looked into her eyes and saw only pain there. She had had a terrible shock, and he feared seeing Heather would only make it all worse. He started to shake his head, but she put her hand on his arm. He could feel her warmth, and he closed his eyes briefly, savoring the sensation.
    From behind them there was a sudden high-pitched shriek from Heather. She was throwing herself at the bars.
    “Heather, it’s me,” Jenn called.
    Jenn and Antonio turned around, facing Heather. Heather’s eyes were glowing, her arms were flailing wildly, and she slammed herself against the bars in her attempt to get out.
    “She knows me!” Jenn cried.
    “Stay away, Jenn,” Father Juan ordered her.
    As Jenn darted toward Heather, Antonio wrapped his arms around her waist to stop her. Heather shrieked, thrusting her arms toward Jenn. Blood flowed from Heather’s scalp where she had split it against the bars. She clawed at the air.
    In her attempt to get to Jenn.
    Not because she loves her.
    Because she knows she’s prey.
    “Heather!” Jenn yelled again.
    Far from calming the creature in the cage, Jenn’s voice infuriated her further, and she began pounding on the bars and floor, screaming louder and louder, foam beginning to fleck on the corners of her mouth.
    “Jenn, let me take you out of here,” Antonio said.
    “Let go of me,” she shouted at him, raising her hand as if to strike him. “You . . .