Read Online Dark Wings Descending by Lesley Davis - Free Book Online
Authors: Lesley Davis
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It’s a wonder a scratch is all you got from him. I’m surprised he didn’t tear your damn fool head off.”
Rafe let out a shaky breath. “He tried hard enough.” Her hand shook as she raised it to her forehead, and she fought against a wave of dizziness that threatened to engulf her.
“Now look at what you’re doing. You’re getting yourself all worked up, and it’s not doing you a bit of good. You need to rest. You’ve just had poison drained from your system; you’re bound to feel strange for a while.” Ashley got to her knees, dislodging the disgruntled cat, who stalked off toward the kitchen in a huff.
“What have you done to me?” Rafe asked, finally afraid for herself.
“Healed you; nothing more. But I couldn’t take the other pains away, so you still need to watch your side. And I can’t make your hair grow back any quicker. I could only help with the one thing.”
“Just the magic,” Rafe said. “I think I’m going crazy, and you’re helping me right along that path.”
“You’re not crazy, but you’re damn lucky to be alive. Not many face down a demon and live to tell.”
“I’m not telling. He was just a man,” Rafe said.
Ashley smiled at Rafe as if placating a child. “When you looked into his eyes, did it feel like you were falling down an endless ravine of red fire? And that on your way down your skin was burned off piece by piece?”
Rafe tried not to react, but she knew her face gave her away.
“Two horns, either side of his temples, thick and banded. His face distorted until he no longer resembled a mortal man, and when he spoke it was with a voice so deep it rattled through your bones until you thought they would shatter into splinters.”
Rafe’s whole body twitched at the memory of how his words had vibrated through to her very core. “Now I put an end to your misery on earth.” She felt bile rise to her throat. A numbing dread at what Ashley was revealing to her made Rafe search desperately for another answer, terrified that what Ashley was suggesting was truly real and hadn’t just been her mind conjuring up terrifying images as she prepared to die. “Please just tell me you’re from Internal Affairs.”
Ashley laughed once, a short, sharp sound. “No. I’m not here to trick you into saying what you really saw that night. Your badge is safe, Detective. I’m here in the hope that what you saw will leave your mind open for what I need you to consider.”
“What’s that?”
“That the killer you’re seeking may not be entirely human himself.”
Chapter Seven
Ashley couldn’t stifle her groan at the inconvenient timing of her cell phone ringing just as she’d delivered her bombshell. She checked the screen and saw it was Eli. “Damn it,” she grumbled and answered it. The conversation was short and sweet. Ashley hung up and looked over her shoulder at Rafe, who had barely moved since Ashley’s revelation.
“I have to go. Will you be okay?”
Rafe just nodded.
“I know I’ve kind of given you a lot to process, but we seriously need to work together on this. It’s not going to stop any time soon.”
“What could you possibly bring to this investigation that we don’t already know?”
Ashley slipped into her jacket. “The fact that I have been at the last two crime scenes while the body was still warm.” She was satisfied by Rafe’s gasp. “I believe that’s quicker than you managed to get to them.” She saw the intended barb bring some spark back into Rafe’s eyes. “You want to talk, call me. I took the liberty of programming my number into your cell.” She headed toward the front door. “You might want to shield your eyes, Detective. I’m about to get my glamour on.” She shifted and Rafe immediately began to squint.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Because I came into your house as one person, I can’t really leave as another. What kind of reputation do you want in this neighborhood, Rafe?” Rafe’s face was so
Rafe let out a shaky breath. “He tried hard enough.” Her hand shook as she raised it to her forehead, and she fought against a wave of dizziness that threatened to engulf her.
“Now look at what you’re doing. You’re getting yourself all worked up, and it’s not doing you a bit of good. You need to rest. You’ve just had poison drained from your system; you’re bound to feel strange for a while.” Ashley got to her knees, dislodging the disgruntled cat, who stalked off toward the kitchen in a huff.
“What have you done to me?” Rafe asked, finally afraid for herself.
“Healed you; nothing more. But I couldn’t take the other pains away, so you still need to watch your side. And I can’t make your hair grow back any quicker. I could only help with the one thing.”
“Just the magic,” Rafe said. “I think I’m going crazy, and you’re helping me right along that path.”
“You’re not crazy, but you’re damn lucky to be alive. Not many face down a demon and live to tell.”
“I’m not telling. He was just a man,” Rafe said.
Ashley smiled at Rafe as if placating a child. “When you looked into his eyes, did it feel like you were falling down an endless ravine of red fire? And that on your way down your skin was burned off piece by piece?”
Rafe tried not to react, but she knew her face gave her away.
“Two horns, either side of his temples, thick and banded. His face distorted until he no longer resembled a mortal man, and when he spoke it was with a voice so deep it rattled through your bones until you thought they would shatter into splinters.”
Rafe’s whole body twitched at the memory of how his words had vibrated through to her very core. “Now I put an end to your misery on earth.” She felt bile rise to her throat. A numbing dread at what Ashley was revealing to her made Rafe search desperately for another answer, terrified that what Ashley was suggesting was truly real and hadn’t just been her mind conjuring up terrifying images as she prepared to die. “Please just tell me you’re from Internal Affairs.”
Ashley laughed once, a short, sharp sound. “No. I’m not here to trick you into saying what you really saw that night. Your badge is safe, Detective. I’m here in the hope that what you saw will leave your mind open for what I need you to consider.”
“What’s that?”
“That the killer you’re seeking may not be entirely human himself.”
Chapter Seven
Ashley couldn’t stifle her groan at the inconvenient timing of her cell phone ringing just as she’d delivered her bombshell. She checked the screen and saw it was Eli. “Damn it,” she grumbled and answered it. The conversation was short and sweet. Ashley hung up and looked over her shoulder at Rafe, who had barely moved since Ashley’s revelation.
“I have to go. Will you be okay?”
Rafe just nodded.
“I know I’ve kind of given you a lot to process, but we seriously need to work together on this. It’s not going to stop any time soon.”
“What could you possibly bring to this investigation that we don’t already know?”
Ashley slipped into her jacket. “The fact that I have been at the last two crime scenes while the body was still warm.” She was satisfied by Rafe’s gasp. “I believe that’s quicker than you managed to get to them.” She saw the intended barb bring some spark back into Rafe’s eyes. “You want to talk, call me. I took the liberty of programming my number into your cell.” She headed toward the front door. “You might want to shield your eyes, Detective. I’m about to get my glamour on.” She shifted and Rafe immediately began to squint.
“Why are you doing that?”
“Because I came into your house as one person, I can’t really leave as another. What kind of reputation do you want in this neighborhood, Rafe?” Rafe’s face was so
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