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I should have knoa would be listening toto spend any time on this island

"There was a demon"

I didn’t knohat to say Dehteningly intelligent, and literally hell-bent on the absolute destruction of humanity I’ve run into thein this world that is worse Then again, they’re not from this world--they have their own dih here and wreak havoc when invited And still, bad as they are, dangerous and evil as they are, there are idiots ill call theht protections, they can so wrong … I shuddered, oose bumps

Emma had been captured and abused with the aid of a demon Her father and brother had betrayed ly We saved her, got her out But she’d had to have the ically wiped to stay sane

"I’m so sorry" I was More than I could say Because Okalani wasn’t just in physical jeopardy She’d done things that could da was done, she could be the de for all eternity I didn’t know if hell was real, but soulsthe body an empty shell I’ve been told by priests that it’s worse than death

"So a her hands "Laka is … not right It’s as if she’s lost her mind The doctors have her sedated"

I could see that How bad would it be, knowing the child that you loved was in such danger and that there was absolutely nothing you could do to save her? Worse, Laka probably blah there was no way she could’ve stopped this froavethe de They said that you had been captured, that they were going to use ca and broadcast it on the Internet"

I ed to make it to the bathroom before I threw up

I took a few hts together It was hard to do My e the breaths I could do this There were no demons here, noas fine The future isn’t set in stone Every choice we es, ripples in time and reality Visions show probabilities, not facts Even Vicki, who had been one of the most powerful clairvoyants born, had ade it So event

When I etroo out at the ocean

She spoke without turning around "I’m sorry for my indiscretion, Princess I shouldn’t have upset you You won’t be able to save her No one can Her body is broken She will … die" Her voice broke on the last word She gave a harsh gasp "But she repented what she did She was trying to ht If you kill her … her soul…" Hia couldn’t finish the sentence

Her soul ious I’ve had exorcisms performed on me to remove demon taint I’ve received last rites froh I’m not Catholic I’ve had rabbis, imans, and monks pray over ht Rede But I believe in God I believe he/she forgives us if we truly regret our sins and try to make amends I believe But I don’t know

"Please, Princess If you get the chance, please" I tried to stop her, but Hia actually dropped to her knees, begging "You have to kill Okalani"

How could I say this without insulting her? "Hia, I wasn’t raised here I’m not a siren by birth I was raised in California, to As are still murder there Suicide is a crime in many states, no matter the reason Please understand that because of my beliefs, which are every bit as important to me as your beliefs are to you and Laka, I cannot … will not intentionally take a life unless I’ to saveti the pain I knew she was feeling, both at Okalani’s situation and the choice I had to make Finally, she stood, smoothed her lavalava, bowed her head as she’d been trained to do when in the presence of royalty, and backed away until she could turn and leave Not a as spoken, but I could hear heart-breaking sobs erupt from her on the other side of the door after it had closed

Crap

I sat and got er I was alone After nearly an hour of ing, since I was already depressed, I tried calling ood and kind--but hardheaded as hell Whenaround, Gran was the one who roceries in the house, that Ivy and I made it to school She’s been a font of love and wisdom my whole life But at the sa It was her carthe last two ti Now my mom was in prison on Serenity, and she’d ain She cut me out of her life, and I’m all for it But that destroyed my relationship with Gran, who blames me

But Gran isn’t the only one who is stubborn in the fa out Besides, ith the press coverage of all the bullets and bombs, she had to be worried Maybe this time she’d take my call

"Hello?" The voice on the line sounded both older and feebler than I rerandy for two people twice her size Not today That, htened me

"Gran, it’s ht? I’ve been watching the news They said you were all right, but…"