Read Reaper: The Demontouched Saga (Book 3) for Free Online Page B

says something I can’t make out to someone outside the door. I watch him close the door and turn around holding an orb.
    How many of these things exist? I was tickled to know that one shattered in my fight with Duncan, but seeing another has me worried. Why would they need to collect souls?
    He sets the orb on the nightstand near the bed and sits back down on the mattress.
    Tears are running down Zeke’s face. I’ve never seen an angel cry. Shit, I’d be surprised if anyone has. He has to be scared like hell if he is crying now.
    “What’s with the orbs?” I ask.
    “Do you take me for your Saturday morning cartoon villain, Mitch? Some secrets are best kept closed.” He wipes a tear from Zeke’s eye before it is allowed to cascade down his face. “There is, however, one thing I have always wondered.” He tilts his head sideways at Zeke. “Do you have a soul?”
    I watch in horror as Rick takes the angel blade and sticks it into Zeke’s chest. My attempt to stand up thwarted when a blast of bright white energy shoots out from the angel, knocking me into the wall. The chair shatters upon impact, sending me to the ground. I watch as the white light leaves his eyes, floating in the air for a few seconds before being pulled into the orb.
    “Well, well. Angels do have souls,” Rick says smiling.
    I try to get back to my feet, but my body won’t cooperate. I feel the tears form in my eyes right before my eyelids go heavy.
    For the first time in my life I welcome sleep.

 
     
     
     
     
     
    - 7 -
     
     
     
     
     
     
    I wake up to the sensation of being carried over someone’s shoulders. The rocking motion would be soothing if my mind didn’t immediately go right to Zeke. I open my eyes and get welcomed by darkness. Whoever is carrying me obviously doesn’t want me to know where I’m going. Normally, this would send me straight into freak-out mode, but instead I welcome the chance to let the tears loose.
    Zeke was a good man, a solid friend. We might not have met in the best circumstances, but he wasn’t one to leave a friend behind. It makes me feel like shit to know he died trying to help me. When I get out of here I’ll make sure he didn’t die in vain.
    I hear a door open and then feel the weight of my body crash on the floor. I’m itching to talk a huge amount of shit right now. It’s probably a good thing it knocked the wind out of me.
    “We’ll be back for you soon, princess.” The man kicks me in the gut before slamming the door behind him. Apparently this whole place wants to piss me off today.
    It takes a minute, but I twist my body around and manage to plant my butt firmly on the ground.
    “It’s been a while since I had company.” I hear from across the room. “Does the princess have a name?”
    “Nal, is that you?”
    “Holy shit!” Nal says. “Out of all the unlucky fuckers they could have thrown in the room with me, they choose the esteemed Mitchell Butler.”
    “Not the smartest move they could make,” I say. “I take it they have you tied up too?”
    “I have been for a while now. Bastards made me miss my own display.”
    Guilt hits me like a ton of bricks. Ever since the night the convention center was demolished, I’ve been looking to blame Nal.
    It was hard not to. Even he would tell you that the evidence is pointed squarely at him. That leaves only one person to blame.
    “Did Rick get you too?” I ask.
    “Yep. I came back here to pick up a camera before the show. No sooner than I walked into my room he hit me in the back of the head and knocked me out,” he says. “Been in here since.”
    “Got a plan?” I ask. It was worth asking. Every plan I have come up with today has been a complete failure. Maybe it is time to get some fresh insights.
    “I didn’t until you got here,” he says. “Hard to do much of anything when you are alone in an empty room.” He scoots on the ground towards me. “This way, princess. Follow the wall.”
    I follow his lead and