Read Online The Brotherhood of the Snake (Return of the Ancients Book 2) by Carmen Caine, Madison Adler - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carmen Caine, Madison Adler
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the road, headlights of oncoming traffic suddenly appeared.
Instinctively, I slammed the brakes, nearly sending Rafael through the windshield.
He didn’t say anything as he straightened, took a deep breath, and braced his hands on the dashboard.
"I don't think this is a good idea," I mumbled, clearing my throat.
"You're doing fine," he inserted quickly, bestowing an encouraging smile my way.
He didn’t look directly into my eyes. I knew that was a sign of lying.
"You'll get used to it,” he continued, waving a hand for me to resume. “It won't take long."
Not sharing his optimism, I slowly tapped the gas and inched the car forward.
We drove in fits and starts, for the most part slower than your average turtle, but then punctuated with random bouts of speed. It seemed like the Bentley's gas pedal functioned more like an on-off switch than anything else.
By the time I turned onto our neighborhood road, we were all seasick and wanting nothing more than to get out of the car.
Finally, I pulled into our cul-de-sac and slowed down, searching the driveway and surrounding area for Al's truck.
It was nowhere to be found.
I was just about to ask Rafael if he knew where Jareth had taken Al when Ajax snarled, and I automatically slammed the brakes.
But this time Ajax didn't care. The Doberman's dark eyes had riveted on Mrs. Patton's menagerie of lawn ornaments.
"What is it?" I squeaked, grabbing Rafael's arm.
His head snapped around. "Get out of the car, Sydney." His voice was low and calm, but urgent. "Just leave it here. Run to Al's house. I'll be right behind you."
He didn't need to tell me twice.
I bolted out of the Bentley and ran.
And as he promised, he was right behind me.
We were almost on the porch when I heard the chilling, high-pitched squeal I'd heard before, followed by a crash of falling masonry as Ajax began barking wildly.
I wasn't even aware that I'd turned around to look until Rafael slipped his arm around my waist and half-carried me into the house.
Betty and Grace glanced up in surprise as we burst through the front door.
"What's up?" Grace asked, holding a half-eaten apple in one hand.
I couldn't answer. I just stood there holding tightly onto Rafael's arm. My palms were sweating and my nails bit deeply into his skin, but he pretended not to notice.
Giving my hands a gentle pat, he smiled warmly at Grace. "Sydney drove home," was all he said.
They all laughed.
I attempted a weak, fake smile, but it was hard when I wanted nothing more than to run shrieking through the house that the lizard people were here.
"Al won't be home for a bit," Betty informed us cheerfully, holding out a large bowl of popcorn. "We’re going to watch TV. Want to join us?"
"Certainly." Rafael dipped his head gracefully as he pried my fingers loose from his arm. Encompassing my cold hands in his, he squeezed them gently before turning to Betty. "Please take your seats. Sydney and I will bring drinks for everyone."
“You’re such a sweetheart.” Betty smiled broadly at him, giving his shoulder an affectionate pat as she passed by.
"I want a Coke!" Grace shouted over her shoulder as she disappeared behind Betty into the family room.
I just stood there, still caught in the clutches of terror, gripping Rafael's hands so hard that I must have cut off his circulation, but he didn't seem to mind.
As soon as we heard the TV blaring from the other room, he pulled me into the kitchen.
"The Mesmers were hiding in Mrs. Patton’s yard, weren’t they?" I gulped. "What are we going to do? Why are they here?"
"They must be looking for the Tulpa, too," he murmured softly, his jaw clenched tightly. “It’s the only thing that makes sense."
I shuddered. First, the Tulpa had appeared, though letting that one loose had largely been my fault. Now, I’d brought the Mesmers here too. “It’s all my fault,” I choked.
His response was immediate. Cupping my chin in his hands, he forced me to look at him. “Absolutely
Instinctively, I slammed the brakes, nearly sending Rafael through the windshield.
He didn’t say anything as he straightened, took a deep breath, and braced his hands on the dashboard.
"I don't think this is a good idea," I mumbled, clearing my throat.
"You're doing fine," he inserted quickly, bestowing an encouraging smile my way.
He didn’t look directly into my eyes. I knew that was a sign of lying.
"You'll get used to it,” he continued, waving a hand for me to resume. “It won't take long."
Not sharing his optimism, I slowly tapped the gas and inched the car forward.
We drove in fits and starts, for the most part slower than your average turtle, but then punctuated with random bouts of speed. It seemed like the Bentley's gas pedal functioned more like an on-off switch than anything else.
By the time I turned onto our neighborhood road, we were all seasick and wanting nothing more than to get out of the car.
Finally, I pulled into our cul-de-sac and slowed down, searching the driveway and surrounding area for Al's truck.
It was nowhere to be found.
I was just about to ask Rafael if he knew where Jareth had taken Al when Ajax snarled, and I automatically slammed the brakes.
But this time Ajax didn't care. The Doberman's dark eyes had riveted on Mrs. Patton's menagerie of lawn ornaments.
"What is it?" I squeaked, grabbing Rafael's arm.
His head snapped around. "Get out of the car, Sydney." His voice was low and calm, but urgent. "Just leave it here. Run to Al's house. I'll be right behind you."
He didn't need to tell me twice.
I bolted out of the Bentley and ran.
And as he promised, he was right behind me.
We were almost on the porch when I heard the chilling, high-pitched squeal I'd heard before, followed by a crash of falling masonry as Ajax began barking wildly.
I wasn't even aware that I'd turned around to look until Rafael slipped his arm around my waist and half-carried me into the house.
Betty and Grace glanced up in surprise as we burst through the front door.
"What's up?" Grace asked, holding a half-eaten apple in one hand.
I couldn't answer. I just stood there holding tightly onto Rafael's arm. My palms were sweating and my nails bit deeply into his skin, but he pretended not to notice.
Giving my hands a gentle pat, he smiled warmly at Grace. "Sydney drove home," was all he said.
They all laughed.
I attempted a weak, fake smile, but it was hard when I wanted nothing more than to run shrieking through the house that the lizard people were here.
"Al won't be home for a bit," Betty informed us cheerfully, holding out a large bowl of popcorn. "We’re going to watch TV. Want to join us?"
"Certainly." Rafael dipped his head gracefully as he pried my fingers loose from his arm. Encompassing my cold hands in his, he squeezed them gently before turning to Betty. "Please take your seats. Sydney and I will bring drinks for everyone."
“You’re such a sweetheart.” Betty smiled broadly at him, giving his shoulder an affectionate pat as she passed by.
"I want a Coke!" Grace shouted over her shoulder as she disappeared behind Betty into the family room.
I just stood there, still caught in the clutches of terror, gripping Rafael's hands so hard that I must have cut off his circulation, but he didn't seem to mind.
As soon as we heard the TV blaring from the other room, he pulled me into the kitchen.
"The Mesmers were hiding in Mrs. Patton’s yard, weren’t they?" I gulped. "What are we going to do? Why are they here?"
"They must be looking for the Tulpa, too," he murmured softly, his jaw clenched tightly. “It’s the only thing that makes sense."
I shuddered. First, the Tulpa had appeared, though letting that one loose had largely been my fault. Now, I’d brought the Mesmers here too. “It’s all my fault,” I choked.
His response was immediate. Cupping my chin in his hands, he forced me to look at him. “Absolutely
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