Free Nephilim (Academy of the Fallen #2) by Daniele Lanzarotta Page B

Kayla either.
    “Just worry about us getting out of here first,” said Ethan.
    That was when they heard the screaming coming from outside.
    ***
    Kim
    Kim was having one of her practice sessions that night.  They started those sessions after midnight; right after the faculty members did their last rounds and left their dorm.
    Two of the haunted hadn’t made it, so she kept the practice session with the three haunted who did show up.
    Kim knew that there were ghosts surrounding the academy that night, and she also knew that their leader, the Demon, was not around, which made for a perfect night to test how far they could push their powers.  She knew exactly how close they were to the Academy and when she should put the wards back up.
    Ever since she started those practice runs, she got faster at taking the wards down and putting them back up.  Doing so didn’t even faze her anymore.
    It all happened so fast.  She put the wards down and quickly felt it go back up as the others replaced her.  She heard the screaming and quickly turned to the three haunted that were holding the wards up.  They all looked as if they were in shock.  She just then realized that being short two people led them to make the mistake on how much power they should have used.  She was fast in putting the wards back up, but it was too late.  She was able to keep the ghosts out, but there had been another Demon wandering around the gates of the Academy and that Demon, was now trapped inside.
    Kim turned to her ’students’.  They felt it too.  She knew it because they looked even more terrified.  “Not a word about this to anyone,” she said.  “I will take the blame.  Just get out of here.  Go back to your rooms.”
    “But—“ one of them said.
    “You will be able to sense if the demon is near you.  Just hurry and don’t let ANYONE see you.”
    They all nodded and rushed out of there, with Kim following right behind them.
    Kim did the right thing.  She ran straight to the faculty dorms.
    Most of them heard the screaming and were already walking out of the door. 
    Kim ran straight to Daniels.  “I’m sorry.  I’m so sorry.  I don’t know how this happened,” she said crying.
    He could already sense the Demon.  Daniels ordered a few of the faculty members to keep the haunted children in their dorms and guard it, and to send the Fallen ones out to help find and secure the Demon.
    Daniels turned to Kim and said that everything would be okay.  He told her they would figure out what happened once everything calmed down. 
    He spoke to her in a soft tone.  Kim had been there the longest and even though he forced so much responsibility on her, with Kayla’s absence in his life, he treated Kim like a daughter.
    “Kayla!”  Daniels thought of Kayla, unprotected, and quickly turned to Kim.  “I want you to go into the faculty building.”  He gave her a key.  “Go to the third floor.  I know there are some still in there.  Tell them what happened and tell them that I ordered at least two to stay with you and DO NOT leave this building.”
    By the time Daniels turned around, he could see Hunter and Ethan going toward Kayla’s building.
    For the first time, he was glad to have Hunter around.
    He looked puzzled when he saw that Ethan kept going.  That was when he spotted the Demon girl, running into the building where Ashley was staying.
    Daniels immediately took off in that direction. 
    ***
    The Demon girl was already in Ashley’s room when Ethan got to the second floor, only he couldn’t get past the stairs.  There was some kind of spell keeping him out. 
    Doors down the hallway, Ember had put herself in between Ashley and the Demon.  The Demon looked at Ember and laughed.
    “Do you think you can stop me, little girl?”
    Ember stared right back at her.  “Without a doubt.”
    That was when Ashley screamed.  It wasn’t because she was scared, but because it was time.  It was time for the child to be