The Demon's Game by Rain Oxford Read Free Book Online Page A

stalking a woman in Cardiff. I’m
going to speak with Janus about why his demons are getting out. What about
you?”
    “I’m going to figure out how to use a computer. Dylan
showed me to the library yesterday and I’m going to get online to find an open
field or something.”
    “You can’t read English. I think the best you’re
going to find is a forest.”
    “I can’t shift in a forest. And actually, I’ve
learned to use Dylan’s magic to translate, even literature. We are so used to
combining and swapping energy that it has become instinctive any time we touch.
I touched his arm on his way out, so we are able to use each other’s magic for
a few hours. That should give me a little time to do research.”
    “Wait, you two have to touch to---?”
    I slapped my hand over my brother’s mouth to stop
him. “You have to let them discover their abilities on their own.”
    “But they didn’t grow up together like we did. We
should help them.”
    “Not with this. Especially if there is something
we can do that they can’t. We’re both part god, but they’re not. Mordon is part
dragon and we don’t know what Dad is. Maybe their bond is different.”
    “That’s so sad,” he said.
    I nodded and retracted my hand. “We have to get ready
for school,” I said. He scrunched up his face and pointed to his Batman t-shirt
and Scooby-Doo shorts. “You’re not wearing that to school.”
    “Dad didn’t say I had to change. Mom, can I wear
this?”
    She considered his clothes and shrugged. “I don’t see
anything wrong with that.”
    He grinned brightly. I glared. “No way. If you wear
that, I’m avoiding you. I will not be seen with you wearing that!”
    His grin dropped like a rock in the water. In fact,
he looked devastated. “You can’t do that. Do I embarrass you?”
    I sighed and considered my next words carefully. Mom
could make Dad do anything she wanted without upsetting him. Why couldn’t Hail
just be reasonable? I took his hand in both of mine and looked him in the eyes.
“You could never embarrass me, but you need to trust me that I know what I’m
talking about.” There. I think that’s how Mom would handle it.
    Hail stared at me until I was sure it didn’t work,
before finally nodding. “Okay.” He got up and left the kitchen.
    “You shouldn’t manipulate your brother,” Mordon
advised.
    “I just did what Mom would have done with Dad. I
couldn’t let him go to school like that. Oh, no, I’ve got to go pick out his
clothes before he finds something equally ridiculous.” I ran to our bedroom.
Hail was holding up a bright red t-shirt and dark green cargo shorts. “Oh, god,
no.” I picked out a dark green button-up shirt and blue jeans. “Wear these.”
    He didn’t argue with me, so I picked out a dark blue
t-shirt and jeans for myself.
    “These jeans don’t fit,” Hail complained.
    My brother was big for his age and grew quickly,
probably because he was half dile. I, on the other hand, was very small and
couldn’t seem to grow no matter what I ate. “Do they button?” I asked.
    “Yeah… barely.”
    “Then they’re fine. Ask Dad for new clothes when he
gets home tonight.”
    We got dressed and grabbed our bags and schedules on
the way out. Mordon, after putting on a very thick black sweater, took us to
the apartment one door over and knocked on the door. A pretty woman with
shoulder-length, light blond hair and celadon green eyes opened the door
wearing a tight black skirt, bright blue blouse, and black heels. She glanced
between us and Mordon before smiling. “Are you Dylan?”
    “No, Dylan has already left for work. I’m his
brother, Mordon.” He held out his hand, which she shook.
    “I’m Stacy. Drake is getting ready, so he’ll be just
a minute. Come on in, boys,” she said to Hail and me.
    “I’m Hail,” my brother said. “This is Ron. Your shirt
is pretty.”
    “Hail,” Mordon growled in warning.
    “What?” Hail asked, confused. I was confused,