Read Online Risen: The Demontouched Saga (Book 6) by Douglas Wayne - Free Book Online Page B

stone to block her view of me.
    I make it to the altar about ten seconds before her, but opt to stay hidden behind the large piece of stone. Quietly, I lean against the stone, waiting for her to make another trip to the car before I strike.
    She is talking to herself in Demonic when she walks onto the platform, stopping only when the orbs are in place. When I no longer hear the footsteps on the stone, I give her to the count of five until I strike.
    One. I take a deep breath in.
    Two. Peeking around the stone, I see she is unaware of my presence.
    Three. I envision the combat and how it is going to happen in my mind’s eye.
    Four. I exhale slowly while mentally preparing for my move.
    Five. I run out from behind the stone pillar silently, sword poised to strike.
    The seconds drag on while I close the distance. Five meager yards is all the room she has. I let a smile creep onto my lips knowing this will all be over soon. I raise my sword to strike the woman down, only to slam into an invisible barrier a few feet away. Before I move, the barrier shifts around me. As I struggle to move away, the barrier wraps itself around my body, halting my escape.
    “Demontouched,” she says. “So we meet again.” Her long black hair flies in the air when she faces me. On first appearance, she isn’t much to look at with her pock-marked face, but I find her deep red eyes drawing me in. “Did you think you would be able to strike me down from behind?”
    “That was the plan,” I say, struggling to move as the barrier wraps itself around me.
    “Foolish.” She continues her trip to the car, leaving me restrained.
    Lightning strikes, brightening the sky ahead of the approaching storm. As Abaddon walks back with two more glowing orbs, the wind picks up, sending her hair flying to the side. She grins as she passes by, apparently pleased at her small victory.
    “They won’t be able to save you from the orbs when I kill you again.”
    “I underestimated your power last time, Demontouched. A mistake I won’t be making again.”
    “Then let me out of your little trap and let’s find out.”
    She tilts her lead back to laugh. “How about I make you watch instead.”
    As promised, she leaves me in the barrier while she makes one final trip to her car to retrieve the last pair of orbs. The rumble of thunder gets louder as the sky continues to grow dark. I shield my eyes to protect them from a gust of wind that sends a dust cloud over the riverfront nearly three stories high.
    I push and poke the barrier as she carefully places the orbs around the altar. Behind me, I hear the sounds of the battle getting louder, like it is pushing this way. I force my head to turn to the side to get a better view.
    Near the remnants of the tree line, I see a group of people wearing the same blue on blue clothing falling back near the southern pillar of the portal. Once they get out in the open, the people in the unit drop one at a time. The last falling a few feet from the base.
    “Imbeciles,” Abaddon says.
    Azrael leads the charge into the clearing with nearly two dozen of our soldiers falling in behind him.
    “Looks like your playtime is up,” I say with a wide grin on my face.
    “Hardly.”
    The barrier around me fades out of existence, sending me falling into the ground. As I get up I notice Az and the soldiers coming to a complete stop as a new barrier forms about fifty yards away.
    “Now I just have to deal with you,” she says, cracking her knuckles.
    Not bothering with a response, I grip the handle of my sword tightly before charging in to the fray.
    I see the tips of her fingers sparkle with electricity as I get close. With a grunt, she shoots a bolt of lighting, forcing me to twist out of the way.
    “Same old tricks.” I swing the blade at the demon, slicing the fabric of her shirt as she leaps back.
    As I approach the center of the alter, I can almost feel the souls in the orbs. It reminds me of the ritual down on the farm, but much