Read Online Darkness Fair (The Dark Cycle Book 2) by Rachel A. Marks - Free Book Online

I’m fine,” Sid says, patting Kara on the arm like an old man would. Except he’s twenty-four.
    “You’re supposed to be checking the camera feed from the hospital with Connor,” I say.
    She rolls her eyes. “We finished. Stop being a spaz. I can take care of myself.”
    I bite my tongue until I can say, “I’m sorry, Kara, but this is bad.”
    “Just explain what happened,” Sid says.
    I turn back to the cave and they follow. “The wall is cracked and the same black goop, like in your shed, is seeping out. The demon seems to be attempting to cast a spell.” We go around the altar and I motion to the floor, at the sand-coated massacre.
    “My God,” Kara breathes. She covers her nose with her hand and points at the leg.
    “Yes, that part’s human,” I say, my stomach rising again. “Like I said, I think it all must be for some sort of spell.”
    Sid sighs and runs a hand over his face. “They were probably attempting to look for the key their leader promised them. Demons are a gossipy bunch.”
    I stare at Ava, my throat tightening. “But why would they be looking when the key is right here?”
    “They don’t know that, obviously.”
    “They’re seriously that stupid?” I ask, doubtful. “They can’t figure out the thing they’re looking for is right in front of them?”
    “Not if they can’t see her.” He shrugs, like it’s all so obvious. “The spell I did is still fairly solid, from what I can tell.”
    “The spell? Obviously the cave isn’t hidden, Sid. The demon waltzed into this place like it lived here. It killed a dog and possibly some woman! Ripped it to shreds right there!” I point at the pile of remains.
    “The spell is on Ava alone, not the cave, Aidan,” Sid says. “No one would believe a cave suddenly just up and disappeared. It’s been here far too long for a spell to trick the minds of those who know right where it is.”
    Relief floods through me. And annoyance. “This would have been great information to know an hour ago when I called you in a panic! My fucking grandma could be in danger, but I didn’t want to leave Ava because I was worried the demon would come back.”
    “Well, perhaps we should check on Mrs. O’Linn, too, then.”
    “Ya think?” I brush past him and rush up the beach, yelling behind me, “Wait there.”

    I reach the front door of my great-grandmother’s house and pause before knocking, trying to catch my breath. I can’t let it show that I’m upset; the woman has no idea what’s going on, and I have no plans to tell her. What was I thinking, not secretly placing wards around this place, too? I should’ve realized this could happen, that this area would be a hub of activity, even with Ava being invisible. Thank God she’s still hidden, at least.
    The door opens before I can knock and my grandma’s nurse, Fa’auma, is there in the entry. Both legs intact.
    “Are you just going to stand out there, sweating?” she asks. She smiles wide and in my relief to see her safe, I answer with my own goofy grin. “I can get you some lemonade, you know.”
    “Sorry, I was just looking for Mrs. O’Linn to ask her a question,” I say, then sputter, “I found this spot in the garden, off to the side, that seems to be dying, and I just wondered if Mrs. O’Linn wanted me to take the bushes out altogether, or something . . . Maybe water it by hand?”
    Fa’auma waves me inside the house. “You are just too helpful, young man. I’m going to have to try and convince her to start paying you for all your help.”
    I begin following her into the entry, but as I step over the threshold an odd sense of the ground tipping makes me hesitate. I know that feeling. I haven’t felt it in a while, but I recognize it instantly. An angel is close.
    And as I walk into the living room, I can’t help saying his name in surprise. “Eric!”
    Mrs. O’Linn looks up from a TV Guide crossword puzzle and frowns at me. “What? Did you just call me a