Read Online The Human Side (The Demon Side Series) by Heaven Liegh Eldeen - Free Book Online

cheerful Gabriel. “Morning. I take it you got out before she saw you?”
    “She is showering, so John came up and got me. He asked that I find you and bring you back to the house under the pretense of us helping him with yard work. I brought you a change of clothes so we can keep up appearances.”
    “I can’t go back.”
    “And why not? Rene is making sausage gravy and biscuits, and it smells delicious.”
    “Etta’s asking a lot of questions.”
    “So, answer them.”
    “And lie?”
    “We are supposed to be living a sinful life, Rahovart. Lying is a part of that. If she truly loves you, she will understand your plight and forgive you. Now we must go. I don’t want to miss breakfast.” Gabriel tossed me a bundle of clothing.
    After changing, we walked back to the Divad home. As we approached the front door, we heard a fight going on in the house. Gabriel and I exchanged a look before barging in. On the upper landing of the stairs stood an angry Etta, in nothing more than a towel, yelling at John, who yelled right back. By his side, Rene remained silent.
    “I’m not taking them!”
    “You are taking them, even I have to shove them down your throat myself!”
    “I’m not twelve anymore. You can’t boss me around like one of your Marines, Dad.”
    “I’m not playing games here with you, missy. Take them!”
    “No!” Etta smacked John’s hand, hurling four pills on to the floor.
    “Pick them up right now!”
    “I don’t have to take them!”
    John pulled a pill bottle from his pocket. As he opened it, Etta slapped his hand again, scattering the bottle’s contents. A small pink pellet came to a stop at the toe of my boot.
    “I am not crazy! Ask him. He saw it, too! Ramen, tell him what we saw.”
    I picked up the pill. “Huh?” I asked, trying to buy time to think. Getting caught between father and daughter is never a good way to start the day. Make that father a High Templar and that daughter the woman I want to spend all eternity with, it made it worse. John had good reasons for wanting to keep her on her pills. They numbed her to the world beyond the veil, blocking out the Demons that tormented her.
    If I agreed with her, it would convince Etta she no longer needed her medication. Lie, and who knows what would happen. Etta might turn away from me permanently, leaving me no chance to gain her love and return home.
    “Tell him, Ramen! Tell him what we saw.”
    Gabriel leaned over and whispered, “Crush her and get the hard part over with
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said, turning my gaze to Etta. The color drained from her skin, and if I didn’t know better, I’d swear I saw her soul shatter in her eyes as tears welled up inside. Unable to bear it, I shifted my gaze back to John and tried to leave.
    “Why are you doing this? Tell him. Please. You have to tell him the truth. You saw it. I know you did.” Etta sobbed as she tugged at my arm. The scene seemed all too familiar. The memory of when I left her to save my position in Lucifer’s ranks played in mind. I hurt her then just as I was now. Maybe that would be the Demon I needed to be to keep my end of the deal with Father.
    “Let go of me! I saw nothing. It’s all in your head, you psycho bitch!” I roared as I ripped my arm from her. Instead of turning into a ball of tears, Etta pulled back, delivering a right hook to my jaw hard enough to rattle my teeth. John came up behind her, putting her in a full nelson and dragged her kicking up the stairs.
    “C’mon.” Gabriel slung his arm around me, leading me into the backyard. After what I had just said, I knew Etta would never love me. I had gone too far, just as I knew I would. By the time I reached the bottom step, my legs gave way. My chest tightened as I fought for a breath. Knots the size of softballs formed in my abdomen. Collapsing onto my hands and knees as streams of tears ran down my cheeks, I wanted nothing more than to not be me. With that thought, I