Read Online Number of the Beast (Paladin Cycle, Book One) by Lita Stone - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Lita Stone
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and be grateful.” When Amy
only glared at her, she added, “Probably worried about leaving you
alone so much.”
Watching Amy’s face
redden, Carmen struggled with an uncontrollable urge to laugh her
fuckin’ head off. Again, she dug into her giant purse and grabbed
her cosmetic bag. She forced it into Amy’s hand. “Put some war
paint on that pretty face and loosen up, girl.”
“ Why?”
The urge to laughter
faded, replaced by frustration. “Because the mopey-pouty, woe-is-me
is tiresome and I refuse to babysit. Besides, I need to dance, get
drunk and maybe even score myself a man, but your negative nancy
vibes are going to be a super buzzkill.” She lifted her chin,
gesturing to the ladies room. “Bury the damn rat already. Forego
the mournful widow, Plain Jane look and put some damn makeup
on.”
When Amy’s posture drooped and her
frown deepened, Carmen wanted a do-over. If only she could take
back all the shit she had just yammered.
Amy took the cosmetic bag.
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a downer.”
Relieved and shocked Amy
took her run-down so well, Carmen shrugged. “If you keep thinking
bad things are going to happen then they will.”
Chapter Twelve
Isaac knelt at the marble
foundation which served as an altar to Galmoria. Violet glow misted
off the purified water, rising and dissipating. Onyx statues carved
to depict three images of Galmoria, The Winged Priestess, guarded
the fountain. One pose was of her squatting, her delicate hands
flat on the ground between her bent legs; the second depicted her
about to leap, black fangs over stone seductive lips and curved
talons on her long fingertips. The third statue captured his
demigod-mother in mid-flight with a giant scorpion draped along her
back between raven wings; the scorpion’s curled tail appeared as if
it belonged to both insect and demoness.
“ Mother, I demand to know
why I have been sent here.” Pacing, he waited as dew from the humid
air covered his skin.
From the third statue flashed emerald
green eyes, entrancing Isaac.
“ Answer now! Why have I
been sent to this wretched world?” Isaac peered into the glowing
orbs. Galmoria’s seductive lips and deadly fangs were a breath away
from his own. “Damn you, Mother!”
Two green streaks shot
from the eyes and struck his face like iron balls. Isaac collapsed
backwards onto the stone patio.
“ How dare you speak to me
with such a vile tongue.” Galmoria’s voice pierced the quiet
courtyard.
Isaac gathered himself up
and shook dirt from his bare chest and slacks. “I offer no
apologies. Now, tell me why I am here.”
“ To fetch a Paladin child
who will serve as a great general for you and your queen’s armies.”
His Mother’s voice was distant, but clear.
“ My queen?” Isaac knelt
before the statue. “Am I to be a king?”
“ You will be King of the
Tribes, and Lord of the Beasts.”
“ If that is your
wish.”
“ I have knowledge of an
ultimate power; a power of such rarity that it cannot be neglected.
But it shall not remain hidden from our enemies. We must move
quickly. You are to seek out The Beloved in Buckeye for she is the
vessel of the child.”
“ Am I to kill this
‘Beloved’?”
“ Do not harm her. She is
the future of our race.”
” As you
wish.”
Chapter Fourteen
A bang on the first-floor door
startled Shane awake. Fisting his eyes open, he shoved the thin
sheet aside and staggered down the metal stairs. Akron Oil had
upgraded their shitty rundown FEMA trailers from Katrina to brand
new stackable modular buildings. Too bad, only four months later
they looked and smelled like a boys’ high school locker
room.
Shane kicked a pair of whitey-tighties
from the bottom stair before opening the door.
“ Mornin’ shithead,” the
shift supervisor, Lawdry said. Wearing a navy dress jacket and
matching slacks, he looked ready for Easter Sunday service, if only
Easter could fall on a Wednesday.
Shane
looked at the blue LCD clock on the
only glared at her, she added, “Probably worried about leaving you
alone so much.”
Watching Amy’s face
redden, Carmen struggled with an uncontrollable urge to laugh her
fuckin’ head off. Again, she dug into her giant purse and grabbed
her cosmetic bag. She forced it into Amy’s hand. “Put some war
paint on that pretty face and loosen up, girl.”
“ Why?”
The urge to laughter
faded, replaced by frustration. “Because the mopey-pouty, woe-is-me
is tiresome and I refuse to babysit. Besides, I need to dance, get
drunk and maybe even score myself a man, but your negative nancy
vibes are going to be a super buzzkill.” She lifted her chin,
gesturing to the ladies room. “Bury the damn rat already. Forego
the mournful widow, Plain Jane look and put some damn makeup
on.”
When Amy’s posture drooped and her
frown deepened, Carmen wanted a do-over. If only she could take
back all the shit she had just yammered.
Amy took the cosmetic bag.
“I’m sorry I’ve been such a downer.”
Relieved and shocked Amy
took her run-down so well, Carmen shrugged. “If you keep thinking
bad things are going to happen then they will.”
Chapter Twelve
Isaac knelt at the marble
foundation which served as an altar to Galmoria. Violet glow misted
off the purified water, rising and dissipating. Onyx statues carved
to depict three images of Galmoria, The Winged Priestess, guarded
the fountain. One pose was of her squatting, her delicate hands
flat on the ground between her bent legs; the second depicted her
about to leap, black fangs over stone seductive lips and curved
talons on her long fingertips. The third statue captured his
demigod-mother in mid-flight with a giant scorpion draped along her
back between raven wings; the scorpion’s curled tail appeared as if
it belonged to both insect and demoness.
“ Mother, I demand to know
why I have been sent here.” Pacing, he waited as dew from the humid
air covered his skin.
From the third statue flashed emerald
green eyes, entrancing Isaac.
“ Answer now! Why have I
been sent to this wretched world?” Isaac peered into the glowing
orbs. Galmoria’s seductive lips and deadly fangs were a breath away
from his own. “Damn you, Mother!”
Two green streaks shot
from the eyes and struck his face like iron balls. Isaac collapsed
backwards onto the stone patio.
“ How dare you speak to me
with such a vile tongue.” Galmoria’s voice pierced the quiet
courtyard.
Isaac gathered himself up
and shook dirt from his bare chest and slacks. “I offer no
apologies. Now, tell me why I am here.”
“ To fetch a Paladin child
who will serve as a great general for you and your queen’s armies.”
His Mother’s voice was distant, but clear.
“ My queen?” Isaac knelt
before the statue. “Am I to be a king?”
“ You will be King of the
Tribes, and Lord of the Beasts.”
“ If that is your
wish.”
“ I have knowledge of an
ultimate power; a power of such rarity that it cannot be neglected.
But it shall not remain hidden from our enemies. We must move
quickly. You are to seek out The Beloved in Buckeye for she is the
vessel of the child.”
“ Am I to kill this
‘Beloved’?”
“ Do not harm her. She is
the future of our race.”
” As you
wish.”
Chapter Fourteen
A bang on the first-floor door
startled Shane awake. Fisting his eyes open, he shoved the thin
sheet aside and staggered down the metal stairs. Akron Oil had
upgraded their shitty rundown FEMA trailers from Katrina to brand
new stackable modular buildings. Too bad, only four months later
they looked and smelled like a boys’ high school locker
room.
Shane kicked a pair of whitey-tighties
from the bottom stair before opening the door.
“ Mornin’ shithead,” the
shift supervisor, Lawdry said. Wearing a navy dress jacket and
matching slacks, he looked ready for Easter Sunday service, if only
Easter could fall on a Wednesday.
Shane
looked at the blue LCD clock on the
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