Free Demon Hunters 1: Blood Sacrifice (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) by Avril Sabine Page A

sweet at the moment either.”

Chapter Nine
    Alyssa turned away, ignoring the soft laughter from the front of the car. She took her phone out and sent one of her saved messages to Erin. She wanted to ring her and warn her. But how could she explain a demon was out for her blood and a lunatic would be trying to use Erin as an incentive to let the demon kill her. The only people she had to turn to for help were those in the car with her. She glanced out the window. The houses they drove past were a blur. She really had no choice. Erin’s life was in danger. Even her parents were at risk. She looked over to Scarlett who was scribbling in a notebook. Next she pulled a small laptop from her backpack and turned it on.
    “Scarlett?” Alyssa waited for Scarlett to twist in her seat to face her. “Can you have someone look out for my friend and parents?”
    “Of course. I just need to know details.” Scarlett opened up her email account and quickly typed up an email with the details Alyssa gave her. Within minutes she had a reply. “Done.”
    “Just like that?” Alyssa stared at Scarlett, her eyes drawn momentarily to the computer screen.
    Scarlett laughed. “Yeah, just like that.”
    “We’ve been doing this for centuries. Don’t you think we’d be at least a little organised?” Riley asked.
    “We?” Alyssa asked hesitantly.
    “Our family. Some people tend to have doctors or lawyers in the family. We have demon hunters.” Riley grinned. “A much more interesting career choice.”
    “I can’t think it’d be a very profitable business to be in,” Alyssa said.
    The three demon hunters laughed. It was Alex who answered. “It’s a good thing we don’t rely on it for an income then.”
    Alyssa wanted to ask what they did rely on for an income, but couldn’t bring herself to. She cast around for another topic to discuss, but could think of nothing. So she sat in silence and stared out the window. She didn’t have a clue where she was. None of the streets seemed familiar. It looked like an upmarket suburb, with large houses, spacious blocks of land and many of the driveways had more than one vehicle in them. She saw families pile into vans and four-wheel-drives to head out for the day. She imagined they were going to the beach before the workweek started tomorrow. Work! She was meant to be at work on Monday from nine o’clock until midday. And each day until Friday. She didn’t know how she could accomplish that. All she wanted to do was hide away from the world and forget every second that had occurred since she’d left Erin standing on the side of the road.
    “Home sweet home.” Riley interrupted Alyssa’s thoughts.
    She looked at the spacious house nestled in a riot of flowering gardens. It was made of timber painted in neutral creams and browns and white backed curtains hung at the windows. They pulled up in front of closed double garage doors.
    Riley bounded out of the car with his sword and backpack and called over his shoulder, “I’ll see about breakfast.”
    “It’s nearly ten. How about brunch?” Scarlett said, only a few steps behind him.
    Alyssa continued to sit in the car, as Alex climbed out of the driver’s seat and walked around to her door and opened it. He leaned forward, one arm braced on the door pillar and the other held the door. His sword and backpack sat at his feet. He solemnly watched her.
    Alyssa looked up at him and then away. She pulled her handbag closer, glanced up at Alex again and then looked straight ahead. Words and phrases drifted through her mind. She finally settled on one she could speak. “Why am I here?”
    “To regroup and plan our next step.”
    Alyssa, startled by his answer, met his eyes. She found it hard to believe he was her age. He seemed far older. Even his eyes looked like they should belong to a man a good ten to fifteen years older. She wondered what experiences had given him that look. “But… didn’t… the demon-” A shudder coursed through