Free Welsh Road (The Depravity Chronicles) by Joshua Grove

somewhat simple minded. They
are utilized primarily for their speed and their discretion. It’s also
important to point out, I might add, that the Mantis demon is a “guns for hire”
sort.”
    “So they work
for other demons and are kind of like their assassins or whatever,” Simon said.
    “Indeed.”
    “Then our target
is this demon’s boss?” Simon asked.
    “Yes,” Anish
said flatly.
    “That could be
anyone,” Simon said, frustrated. “Demon or human.”
    “Trevor, what
are you doing?” Anish asked. Neither of them had noticed Trevor being quiet.
    “This thing is
awesome,” Trevor exclaimed as he scrutinized the device in his hand. It was
black and in the shape of a sphere, about the size of a baseball.
    “Trevor!” Anish
said, his voice slightly raised.
    “What?” Trevor
asked, startled. He dropped the sphere onto the floor.
    “Take cover!”
Anish yelled, sliding from his chair and crawling under the desk. Trevor and
Simon quickly joined him.
    Just then,
someone knocked on the office door.
    “What was that
thing?” Trevor asked loudly, though his face only inches from Anish’s ear.
    “It is a weapon
against certain creatures of the night,” Anish said, sounding irritated.
    “What kind of
creatures?” Trevor asked, trying to extend his cramped legs. “God, it’s tight
under here.”
    “Well this is
the safest place,” Anish answered.
    “Are we hiding
from whoever’s at the door, or are we hiding from some explosion? Wouldn’t we
have had time to get out…” Simon started, but the consequences of dropping the
sphere grabbed his undivided attention.
    WHISH!
    The white light
that was produced from the sphere lit up the office for three seconds. It was
blinding and forced Trevor and Simon to cover their eyes.
    BOOM!
    That was the
part they had all been expecting. The desk was forced back a few inches,
alarming the teenagers. Books landed on Anish’s desk chair.
    “Thank God,”
Anish said as he used the chair to help him stand.
    “Whoa,” Simon
said as he joined him. There were papers still drifting through the office,
waving back and forth like falling feathers.
    “Uh, that was
dramatic,” Trevor said, his shoulders slumped and his voice soft. “I’m guessing
that the light is to confuse werewolves. Or maybe ultraviolet light to kill
vampires. But why the explosion?”
    “There are times
when you are beyond your age in wisdom,” Anish said. “And then there are times
when you are a child.”
    “So is that a no
to both werewolves and vampires?” Trevor pushed.
    Anish just shook
his head.
    “Should we
answer the door?” Simon asked, diverting attention from Trevor’s latest feat of
destruction.
    “The door is
open!” Anish called.
    The door opened
and a strikingly beautiful girl stood on the other side of it. Her dark hair
was clumsily tied up behind her head, which helped to emphasize her high cheek
bones and round face.
    “Ah, Jena,”
Anish said as he walked toward her.
    “So this is
Jena,” Trevor whispered to Simon as they watched Anish greet her. They stayed
behind the desk.
    “Jena,” Simon
repeated.
    “Hello?” Trevor
asked, knocking on Simon’s head. “Anyone home?”
    “Jena,” Simon
said again.
    “Oh, Jesus,”
Trevor moaned. “Okay, Romeo. How about we meet this girl?”
    “Jena,” Simon
whispered.
     
    * * * * * *
    3
     
    Anna and Sam
spent their afternoon studying the immediate area surrounding the crime scene.
    “It feels good,”
Anna said.
    “What feels
good?” Sam asked, curious as to how Anna could feel good in their current
environment.
    “Not having to
worry about being in charge,” Anna said.
    “I hear you,”
Sam laughed. “I wonder how involved we’re going to be in this case.”
    Anna sighed.
“Probably more than we want to be.”
    “I’m going to
take some of our own photos,” Sam said, pulling a pen from his pocket.
    “Is that a
camera pen?” Anna asked, grinning.
    “Why, Sheriff, I
haven’t the slightest idea what