Read Online Finding Midnight by T. Lynne Tolles - Free Book Online

it stops growing back and voila . I’m guessing the
pup has not been down to Hell since he was born or his hair would
be singed too,” Hunter told her.
    “What should we do about this little guy’s
mother?”
    “Her body will be taken at dawn,” he said
matter-of-factly.
    “Taken at dawn? What do you mean? Who will
take her? And where will they take her?”
    “The reaper will come and dispose of her as
he does all of Hell’s creatures when they die,” Hunter said,
watching her and the pup.
    “Where will he take her?”
    “To the lake of fire to return her to that
from which all Hell’s creatures are born,” Hunter explained.
    “What was she doing here with her pup?”
    “What all hellhounds do—she was protecting
the gates to Hell,” Hunter said, kneeling down to give the pup a
pet. The pup growled and looked to Summer. She nodded her head and
the pup allowed Hunter to pet him.
    “But there’s no gate here,” Summer said,
looking around.
    “The gates move around; that’s why a
hellhound is never seen in any one place and it makes it almost
impossible for someone to find the location of a gate,” Hunter
said.
    “But why did she attack you?”
    “I don’t know, maybe she thought I was after
her pup,” Hunter surmised.
    “What were you doing in the woods?” Summer
asked.
    “Nothing. Just out for a stroll,” he
said.
    “Out for a stroll? At three o’clock in the
morning?” she said.
    “What? You don’t think demons get insomnia?”
he said. “I was just out getting some fresh air.”
    “What is it that demons do, anyway? Were you
out looking to take someone’s soul? Make a deal for your master?
Kill an innocent hellhound,” she said, hugging the pup.
    “Now wait one minute. Hellhounds are not
innocent in any way, shape, or form. As for demons—we don’t take
souls; that’s all a bunch of lies. We’re more like vampires in that
we feed on a human’s essence or emotions. Some are mischief makers
and love to stir up a riot, but most live their lives like any
living being.”
    “What do you feed on?”
    “We all have our preferences, and mine tends
to be selfishness. There’s plenty of it around and even the perfect
human will allow a little selfishness once in a while. I don’t even
have to instigate selfishness; it’s everywhere, so I’ll never
starve. Now if you run across a demon that prefers fear or anger?
Hightail it out of there. Those guys are bad news,” Hunter informed
her.
    She thought for a few seconds then asked,
“What will happen to this little guy?”
    “He’ll probably follow the reaper into
Hell.”
    “Then what?”
    “He’ll find his way or another hellhound
will care for him. Hellhounds are very resilient.”
    “But he’s just a baby. He won’t survive on
his own.”
    “Sure he will, won’t you, big fella?” Hunter
said, patting the pup on the head. The pup growled and smoke came
out of his nose, making everything reek of sulphur. Hunter pulled
back his hand.
    “What if I raise him?” Summer asked.
    “You can’t raise a hellhound.”
    “Why not?”
    “Humans are too fragile. He’ll accidentally
cut you to threads or sneeze and burn your house down,” Hunter
informed her.
    “Well…I’ll just buy a few fire extinguishers
and keep them around for accidents and maybe buy a Kevlar coat,”
she said.
    “You’re not seriously considering this, are
you? Look how big its mother is,” he said, waving his hand towards
the unmoving body. “A male will be much larger. How are you going
to control something like that?”
    “I don’t know, but I’ll figure something
out,” she proclaimed.
    “You’re either the most charitable human
I’ve ever met, or absolutely insane, and I’m leaning towards the
insane side,” Hunter said, shaking his head.
    She gathered the heavy pup in her arms and
marched towards the cottage. Hunter didn’t know if he should leave
or follow her so he opted to leave.

 
     
    Chapter 7
     
    Back at the cottage, Summer