Rival Demons

by Sarra Cannon

  "I'll destroy you," I said. "Give it to me."

  Shaking, she removed the ring and placed it into my hand. I closed my fist around it, tears of joy stinging my eyes. The hunter seized the moment and fled off into the distance. I didn't bother following her.

  Instead, I slipped the ring onto my finger and rushed over to where the little boy had dropped in the field. He lay still, but his eyes were open and he was breathing. Carefully, I picked him up and carried him over he hill to where I'd last seen Jackson. His domed prison was gone, no doubt destroyed when I'd killed the hunter who created it. I set the boy down near him, then touched his face with my hand.

  Jackson opened his eyes, blinking against the sun that now shined down on us. "Are we alive?" he asked. His question brought a smile to my face. Hadn't I asked nearly the same question just a few months ago when he brought me to this world?

  "Yes," I said. "We're alive."

  "How?" he asked, his voice cracking.

  I still didn't understand it myself. Somehow I had tapped into some unknown power. But where had it come from? Had I connected to Aerden's power somehow? I couldn't figure it out. All I knew was that I had survived.

  Jackson struggled to sit up, then as his eyes looked around, a new panic seized him.

  My stomach turned. I followed his gaze, expecting to see a new group of hunters waiting for us.

  Instead, the entire hill above us was lined with uniformed soldiers. They stared down at us with no expression. The glint of silver at the waist betrayed their weapons, and I had a feeling their magical skills were nothing to laugh at.

  I was almost numb to the sight. There had to be at least two dozen of them. I wasn't sure I had the strength left to face them all.

  But I promised I would never give up.

  I struggled to my feet and lifted my palms, ready to fight.

  To my surprise, a tall demon stepped forward from the small army. His laughter boomed throughout the quarry.

  Confused, I stared at him, not dropping my stance.

  He walked down the side of the hill toward me, a crooked smile on his face. He shook his head. "It's uncanny," he said. "You're just like your father."

  Welcome Home

  I struggled to stay on my feet.

  "I don't know what you're talking about," I said.

  "My name is Gregory," he said. He held his hand out to me, but I was so disoriented and confused, I didn't know whether to trust him or fight him.

  "What are you doing here?" I asked, looking up at the soldiers.

  "My men and I patrol the lands on the outskirts of the Center," he said. "We'd been tracking this group of hunters when they suddenly disappeared. It took us a while to find them again, and believe me, we were shocked to see that they'd been taken care of."

  Gregory leaned down to examine the block of ice and rocks that still encased the third hunter.

  "Do you think she's dead?" I asked.

  "I doubt it," he said. "These things are extremely difficult to kill. Especially when it's three against two. You're lucky to be alive."

  "We know," Jackson said. "Too bad you guys didn't come along a little sooner."

  "We only caught the tail end of the fight," Gregory said, looking at me with one raised eyebrow.

  I ducked my head, wondering if he'd seen what happened to me. I still didn't understand it myself.

  "What did you mean about my father?" I asked. "How could you possibly know who my father is?"

  Gregory smiled. "Your father is a dear friend of mine," he said. "I can take you to him if you'd like to meet him. I know he'll be very happy to see you."

  For the second time in ten minutes, I felt the breath knocked from my chest. How could this be? My father was here? In the shadow world? What was he doing here? Had he been here my whole life?

  "Does he know I'm here?" I asked, not sure what else to say.

  "I sent a runner back to the Center," he said. "I imagine by now everyone knows you're here. Word spreads fast in the city."

  Jackson took my hand. "Do you think he could be telling the truth?" he whispered in my ear. "Could your father really be here?"

  "I don't know," I said. My mind was spinning. I turned back to Gregory. "How do we know we won't be in any danger in your city?"

  He smiled and laughed, shaking his head. "I promise, Harper."

  My mouth opened in surprise. "How do you know my name?"

  "A lot of demons in this area know your name," he said. "You're kind of famous around here, actually."

  None of this made sense. I wondered just how hard I had hit my head back there.

  "I promise once you get to the city, your wounds will be looked after," he said. "As will the wounds of your small friend there. He needs immediate medical attention. You'll be completely free to come and go, and I can assure you you'll be much safer there than you will be out here alone. Especially now that the hunters can track your magic to this spot."

  Jackson nodded. "I think we should go," he said.

  I had no idea if this soldier really knew who my father was, but after wondering about my father for my whole life, I had to know one way or the other. And I needed to get the boy to safety.

  "Okay," I said. "We'll come with you. How far is it to the Center?"

  "We can get there almost instantly," Gregory said. "Just take my hand."

  I hesitated. Jackson picked up the child, took one of my hands and nodded. I reached out and grabbed Gregory's hand. The feeling of falling and rushing forward at the same time took over. We shifted into smoke and flew through the air at amazing speeds. Before I even had even gotten used to the feeling of being light and fast, we came to a halt just outside an arched gate made of pure silver.

  It took a moment for me to get my breath, but once I did, I gasped at the beauty of this place. We stood on the outskirts of a gigantic domed city. I took a step back, trying to take it all in. I turned and saw that behind us was the same beautiful scenery we'd been walking through for two days. The domed city seemed out of place here.

  A soldier stepped forward and took the boy from Jackson's arms. "We'll get him to our shamans right away," the soldier said.

  "You'll find us when he's better?" I asked.

  The soldier nodded, then disappeared inside the dome.

  "What is this place?" Jackson asked.

  "This is the one remaining city in the Southern Kingdom," Gregory explained. "Years ago, the King of the South started an initiative to move all citizens into one central location where everyone could be guarded and safe. Over time, the entire country moved into the safety of what we call the Center."

  "And the dome?" I asked. "What's that for?"

  "The dome is a special kind of barrier that keeps anyone inside from casting human magic," he said. "Pure demon magic still works, but human magic simply doesn't work. If a hunter were to enter through this archway, they would be completely powerless."

  "Amazing," Jackson said.

  I was actually grateful for the conversation. The thought of possibly meeting my father after all these years scared me to death. It had already been one of the most emotional weeks of my entire life. How much more could my heart take at this point?

  "We'd better get inside," Gregory said. He motioned for us to go ahead.

  Jackson and I passed through the archway and into the streets of the Center. The city sat on a long hillside with a large, ornate castle at the very top of the hill.

  Gregory led us up through the main path and as we walked, a crowd began to gather on both sides of the street. Everyone stared at me, whispering. Had word about my battle with the hunters spread this far already?

  "What's going on here?" I whispered to Jackson.

  "I'm not sure," he said. "But Harper, there are both humans and demons living here. I know everyone looks the same to you, but it's amazing. I've never seen this kind of community before. The Southern Kingdom is nothing like we thought."

  We continued up the hill, the streets becoming more and
more crowded. Several people bowed their heads down low as I passed. Confused, I nodded to them, unsure what exactly was going on. "How much farther?" I asked.

  Gregory looked up toward the castle. "Not much farther now," he said.

  In minutes, we had reached the steps of the castle. With shaky legs, I walked to the top. Gregory led us through an enormous entryway, then straight up a beautiful crystal staircase to the second floor. We followed him down a long corridor, my heart beating so fast in my chest.

  As we approached a set of tall double doors, servants on either side opened them to reveal a large open room. With tentative steps, I walked inside, my eyes fixing on the golden throne at the far end. I turned back to question Gregory, but he had bowed down, his knees touching the ground.

  Confused, I glanced back to the throne room. Then I saw him. There, standing in a strip of sunlight, his back turned, was the King of the South.

  I took a step toward him, feeling strangely drawn in his direction.

  When he heard my footsteps, he turned slowly, his silver eyes lighting from within.

  I gasped. I recognized this man from my dream. From the vision I had when I touched the shaman. His cheerful face broke out in a wide smile and he opened his arms to me.

  "Welcome home, daughter."

  Only The Beginning

  I stood frozen in the moment.

  I stared at this familiar yet foreign face and instantly knew he was telling the truth. I didn't know how or when, but I knew in that instant that this demon, this king, was my father.

  He moved toward me, tears shimmering in his eyes despite his smile. My feet broke free of the floor's hold on them, and I ran forward to meet him, letting his arms wrap around me.

  "Oh Harper," he said, his tears falling like diamonds into my hair. "You have no idea how long I have longed for this moment. Let me look at you."

  He held me at arm's length and studied my face. He picked up one of my curls and his smile grew sad. "You look so much like your mother."

  "I have so many questions," I said, not knowing where to begin. It was as if a whole new life had just opened up to me. I thought of the strange white smoke. "Am I a demon?"

  The king laughed. "Half," he said. "Actually a little more than half, but we'll get to all that in time, I promise."

  Jackson joined us, and I reached out to take his hand.

  "And this must be Jackson," the king said. He extended a hand and the two shook.

  "It's an honor to meet you sir," he said, putting his arm around me. "It sounds like you know a lot more about us than we know about you. I think we all have a lot to talk about."

  "Yes, yes," the king said, wiping the tears from his bearded face. "There will be plenty of time for your questions. But come. Harper, the people of the kingdom have waited so long to meet you. I'm sure they've all heard of your victory today, too. Your inner strength never ceases to amaze me. I have never felt so proud in my life."

  Hot tears filled my eyes. My father was proud of me. Those were words I never thought I'd hear in my life. In all my years, I had never met a single soul that belonged to me. I had never known anyone that could truly be called family.

  Until now.

  At his urging, I stepped out onto the large stone balcony. Cheers rang out as the crowds below came into view. Fireworks soared into the air and burst into various colors. I stared out, not believing this could be real.

  Someone down below shouted out, "Welcome home, Princess Harper."

  I gasped, my hand flying to my chest. Princess? Me? Now I knew I must be dreaming.

  "Can this be real?" I asked.

  Jackson took my hand and gave it a hard squeeze.

  On my other side, my father put his arm around me, then thrust his other fist high into the air. A roaring cheer went up from the people below, filling my ears with sounds of joyful celebration.

  "It's real," my father said, hugging me tight. "And I promise you, it's only the beginning."

  For more information on the upcoming release of the final book in the Peachville High Demons series,

  DEMONS FOREVER

  sign up for my mailing list through my website or blog!

  Dear Reader,

  Words cannot express my gratitude to all of you. Your faithful support of this series has truly change my life. Thank you for always having faith in me and in Harper!

  Please stay in touch. You can follow news on my release dates, new books, and upcoming series by signing up for my mailing list through my website or blog.

  I hope you're as excited about the last book as I am! I can't wait to share how Harper's story ends.

  XOXO,

  Sarra

  About the Author

  Sarra Cannon grew up in a small town in Georgia where she learned that being popular always comes at a price. Now, she lives in North Carolina with her amazing husband and her teeny tiny Pomeranian, Snickerdoodle. Books and music are her greatest passions. She has never been a cheerleader, but it's possible she knows a few things about casting spells.

  Connect with Me Online:

  Website: www.sarracannon.com

  Twitter: www.twitter.com/sarramaria

  Facebook: www.facebook.com/sarracannon

  Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/sarra_cannon

  My Blog: thesweetiechronicles.blogspot.com

  An excerpt from

  Fairy Metal Thunder

  (Songs of Magic Book I)

  by J.L. Bryan

  Fairy Metal Thunder is the story of a teenage garage band who steals magical instruments from the fairy world and uses them to become rock stars.

  Chapter 4

  Saturday night, Jason sat at home in his living room, his guitar in his lap, trying to pick out the music for "Angel Sky," the song he'd written for Erin. He was having trouble getting the music and lyrics to flow together.

  His mother had dragged his father to a collectible ceramics convention in Minneapolis, an hour away, and they still weren't back.

  "Jason?" Katie asked. His little sister stood in the doorway of the living room in her Bert and Ernie pajamas.

  "What is it, Katie?"

  "Um..." She fidgeted, looking nervous.

  "What's wrong? You should be sleeping."

  "I know, but...there's a monster."

  Jason sighed and put his guitar down. "Did you have a bad dream?"

  "It's not a dream! I saw it go into Mom and Dad's room."

  "If it's not in your room, you don't have anything to worry about."

  "But I could be next!" Katie looked terrified.

  "You're completely safe, Katie. There's no monster."

  "Is too!"

  "Okay." Jason stood up and stretched. "Let's go check it out. I’ll show you there's nothing to be scared of."

  "Thanks, Jason." She took his hand as he walked toward the steps, something she hadn't done in a couple of years. She really was frightened.

  They walked upstairs and to the end of the short hall in their split-level house. Katie stayed back, clinging to the frame of her bedroom door, while Jason approached the master bedroom.

  "See, Katie?" he said. "Mom and Dad’s door is still closed. How could a monster get into their room?"

  "He just went puff," Katie said.

  "He went puff, huh?" Jason said. He had no idea what that meant, but Katie had a very busy imagination.

  Jason pushed open the door to his parents' room and glanced inside. "See, Katie, there's no...."

  But Jason had seen something. He looked again.

  There it was—a small creature, about two feet high, standing on his parents' dresser. It looked like a tiny person, dressed in a ratty, dirty wool overcoat, with a woolen cap pulled low over its eyes. Its pudgy green hands pawed through his mother's jewelry box. Jason watched the creature drop a pair of ruby earrings into a pocket of its coat.

  "Hey!" Jason said.

  The little creature jumped and spun around to face him. Its face was green and ugly, with an underbite, its eyes bi
g and yellow under the low bill of the cap.

  "What are you?" Jason asked.

  The thing growled a little, then disappeared in a puff of green smoke. It reappeared in the space in front of the dresser, near the bottom drawer, and landed on its feet, which were clad in small, badly cracked leather shoes. It ran across the carpet to the window. It disappeared in another green puff, then reappeared standing on the windowsill.

  "Stop!" Jason yelled. "Give that back!"

  The little creature stuck out its dark green tongue at Jason, then disappeared with another puff of smoke. It reappeared on the little ledge outside the window, waved at Jason with a smile full of yellow, crooked teeth, and then hopped out of sight.

  "Hey!" Jason ran to the window and opened it. He saw the creature blink in and out of visibility as it tumbled to the back yard, leaving a trail of green smoke fading in the air.

  Jason hurried out of his parents' room, past Katie, who was crouching behind her door, poking out her head.

  "Did you see the monster?" she whispered.

  "Don't worry, I chased it away." Jason started down the steps. "But it stole some jewelry from Mom. I'll go get it back."

  Katie stepped out of her room and walked to the top stair.

  "Can I come?" she asked.

  "No, Katie! Wait here. I'll be right back."

  "But I want to come with!" Katie crossed her arms and pouted.

  "No! I'm serious, Katie."

  Jason ran through the living room and out onto their concrete slab of a patio. He saw the little green man trampling through a flower bed at the edge of the yard. The creature reached the neighbor's split-rail fence and puffed through it.

  Jason raced to the fence and leaped over. When his shoes hit the ground, the creature turned its green face to look back at him, snarled, and put on speed. It puffed in and out of sight, jumping forward about a foot each time.

  Jason hurried to keep up as the creature shot forward across his neighbor's lawns. The little thing could move fast, but Jason had much longer legs than it did, and he gained on the creature.