AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Brooks bent across the table and spoke in a low voice. “Sure wish someone had thought to pick up my flashlights.”
“I was busy saving your life!”
Brooks rolled her eyes. “There’s another exit over there. Let’s get up slowly and carefully.”
“What’s with you two?” Hondo glanced over his shoulder. “You’re scared of a few flabby Harley dudes?”
My neck was sweating. “Er… what if I told you they were… more like demons?”
Hondo stuffed a few fries into his mouth and tossed his napkin onto the tray. “I’d say let’s blow this joint.”
The cashier leaned over the counter and asked the demon bikers, “You guys going to order or what? No bathroom if you don’t pay for something.”
The three ignored him, keeping their glares on us.
Brooks inched toward the edge of her seat. The bikers headed our way. Their belt and boot chains jingled as they stomped
across the linoleum.
“NOW!” I hollered, and the three of us raced toward the opposite door and out into the parking lot. But when we got to the truck, the trio was blocking our way. I did a double take, not believing my eyes—the bikers were us!
“Are you seeing what I’m seeing?” I asked, frozen in my tracks.
“Dude,” Hondo groaned. “Am I really that short?”
Brooks grabbed my hand. Her thoughts came at me full force.
It’s shadow magic. A war tactic to confuse your opponent. No one wants to pummel their own face.
What do we do?
I don’t know. I’ve only read about it, never actually seen it. But there’s always a weakness, if you know where to look.
Hondo growled, “We can take these guys.”
“They’re not guys,” I mumbled. “They’re demons.”
“WIIICKED!” Hondo let out a low whistle. “Demons that ride motorcycles?”
“It’s an illusion,” I told him. Then to the monsters, I said, “I had a deal with your boss. And I’ve still got two nights!”
The one that looked like me, down to the chin freckle and messy hair, popped his knuckles. “Not our boss. The master of the underworld sent us.”
The fake Hondo and Brooks grunted in agreement.
Okay, these weren’t your average demon runners. They could string together whole sentences. And what did they mean, master of the underworld?
“You mean Ixtab?” I ventured.
My head went into overdrive. If they were working for her, she must want to rip me a new one for releasing her mortal enemy. Maybe I could reason with them, impress them enough that they wouldn’t chop off our heads. I clenched my fists at my sides. “Tell your boss that Ah-Puch’s out to destroy the whole world, and I’m—we’re going to stop him.”
“We’re not here for you, boy,” my look-alike said.
Wait. What? Did they say they weren’t here for me? Didn’t they know who I was?
He snorted. “Ixtab doesn’t care what happens to this world, you little fool. A new world will always rise, and where there is a world, there is always death.”
Hondo whispered in my ear, “I’ll take the one that looks like me.”
