Free Fall From Grace by Ciara Knight Page A

question.
    “Well, on the internet, but—”
    “The internet? You think demons are going to
share their secrets with everyone?”
    Alexander slapped his palms against his
thighs before he shot up from the chair. “Not just any site, a
hunter site. Bruce told me about it before he left.”
    Boon rubbed his jaw and drew a blank stare.
“Hunters? Did you run this information by Bruce?”
    Alexander hesitated. “Do you think he’s
strong enough? I mean, I don’t want to put too much on him. It
would destroy Gaby if he started drinking again.”
    “Listen, we all need to be able to rely on
each other. If we don’t, this will never work. Stop trying to
protect Gaby, it will only drive her away.”
    A car rolled down the drive crunching fallen
limbs from the last good rain, the old engine sputtered, announcing
Grace’s arrival. “I guess you’re right. I’ll talk to Grace about
it. She has a way with keeping Bruce calm.”
    A car door slammed, and Grace made her way
to the front porch.
    Alexander gave Boon a sideways glance. “Even
if she isn’t demon, something strange is going on with that
principal.”
    “I’m afraid I’d have to agree.” Grace
grabbed the railing and hoisted herself up the steps. Alexander and
Boon rose and offered a hand, but she shooed them away. “I’m not
decrepit yet. Actually, I’m feeling a little more limber today.
Guess there won’t be a storm.”
    Alexander offered her the seat and relaxed
in the swing. The rhythmic rocking provided comfort when his human
body was on edge. “What happened at school?”
    Grace sat on the edge of the chair. Boon
hopped up on the railing facing them both.
    “Well, I’m not sure. The conversation was
short and, well, condescending. You were right about one thing, I
didn’t feel anything.”
    Grace tapped her finger against the arm of
the chair. . “Alexander, you said master demon. What makes you
think that?”
    “Bruce told me about a hunter’s website, and
on there I read about master demons and their ability to hide their
true identity.” A zing of electricity shot through Alexander’s body
at the thought of a master demon being so close to Gaby. If it was
true, they had to get her out of there, but where would they go to
hide?
    “I see.” Grace pushed from the chair and
opened the screen door to the house. “Guess I’ll go call Bruce. We
need to discuss a few things.”
    A surge of helplessness poured over
Alexander. If it was true and a master demon was in Kemp, he could
lose Gaby forever.
    “Boon, if it’s true what do you think will
happen? I mean, will Gaby go to Heaven if she is killed?” Alexander
gripped the edge of the swing to steady himself, the rhythmic
lulling turned to nauseating movement.
    “No. I don’t believe she will.” Boon leaned
against the railing. “None of us will, not if we lose this war.
Something has bothered me since the day Forras died.”
    Alexander stayed the emotions threatening to
rip him apart. “What?” The one word could barely form on his lips.
He didn’t want to know, not really. All he wanted was for Boon to
promise he’d be together with Gaby forever.
    Boon’s nostrils flared. “The war that we are
to prepare for, where will Hell get its army? I mean, in the last
war the gate was opened by Herak, but he wouldn’t be able to open
it again. Not that he would.”
    “Aren’t there plenty of demons here on
Earth? I mean it seems like every time we turn around another one
is popping up.” Alexander gave a nervous huff.
    Boon shook his head. “No, not enough to
fight all the warrior angels. Plus, Heaven said Gaby was the key to
stopping the war before it starts.”
    “So?”
    “Only a being with great power, a power that
has been to Hell, can open the gate. Gaby is a product of all
worlds: Heaven, Hell, and Earth. The only one ever born from an
angel and a hunter, yet branded by a demon. She could be the
key.”
    The world spun in a typhoon of blue ocean
and white beach. No, it