Free Daniel Taylor and the Scepter of Power by Monica Davis

his promise? Marla cursed — she had forgotten to make him take an oath! Perhaps … is what he had said. Mike was lost, she was lost. Was this the end, here and now? Please forgive me, Mike! I love you so much!
    Metistakles had heard her thoughts and dealt her a mental blow that actually stopped her heart for a beat or two. Then he pressed his taloned hand to her stomach again.
    No, please, no! she begged him mentally, but all she could hear in response was Metistakles’ evil laughter ringing through her head.
    Marla only wanted it to end quickly. However, she knew Metistakles well, and she sensed that he would delight in her misery for as long as he could.
    Suddenly the door flung open, crashing against the wall so hard that it splintered into pieces. It had almost hit Mike. Out of the corner of her eye, Marla saw Obron storming into the room. Even in her paralyzed state, she could feel the rage emanating from him.
    “What are you doing to my daughter?!” he cried, tearing Metistakles off of her.
    The demon scrambled to his feel and faced Obron. “Only what I’ve done so often before!”
    Her father seemed to have been rendered speechless for a moment. He merely stared at Metistakles.
    The other demon grinned slyly. “I’ve tortured her so many times, and it never bothered you before!”
    Obron’s brow furrowed. The astonishment and confusion on his face transformed into boundless anger. His eyes glowed. “I thought you were merely giving her lessons! I had no idea that you were abusing her! Why did I never hear of this?”
    Marla was amazed. Her father had a heart? Why had he never come to her aid before? But Marla thought she knew the answer. She had retreated into her mental world, detached herself from her body in order not to endure the pain and humiliation. Therefore, Obron had never been able to sense what Metistakles was doing to her through the mental connection! The demon had likely also shielded her mind from others.
    Marla saw Obron glance over at Mike. “I heard humans in my head,” Obron said mentally, in response to the question he sensed as to why he should show up here now.
    Mike had saved her! Marla was so happy!
    “You’re not the powerful demon you think you are!” Metistakles sputtered at him, spittle flying. “Believe me, Obron, I could have killed the little bitch long ago. That’s something that you could never do!”
    Marla recalled her dream. Obron had sworn an oath to Kitana that he would never harm Marla, and her mother had enforced that with a powerful spell.
    Sparks were crackling across Metistakles’ palms.
    “Do you really think you can kill her?” Obron yelled.
    Metistakles laughed. “Maybe you can fool the others, but not me!”
    What was he talking about? Obron seemed taken aback, but Metistakles went on, undeterred. “Now that Silvan has failed, all is lost, and she’s of no further use to us!”
    “Quite the opposite!” Energy was also collecting in Obron’s hands. “In addition, Silvan is here, you fool! In your fit of lust, you didn’t even notice! He’s here, and Xandros has sensed another presence as well!”
    Oh, no, they knew about Silvan! Marla had almost forgotten her pain. What if they tracked him down — or James! And she was just lying here useless, unable to move or warn the others! She couldn’t even communicate mentally with Silvan, since he was wearing the amulet!
    Marla saw Metistakles dart a quick glance in her direction. She could literally see what he was thinking. Suddenly, she had become useful again. The scepter … she heard someone think, but she didn’t know which one of them it had been. They weren’t bothering to shield their thoughts.
    Obron and Metistakles stared at each other. A lively exchange of thoughts was taking place between the two demons. They were so engrossed in their discussion that Marla was able to follow most of it.
    You were about to kill her? My daughter? Obron’s energy sphere began to coalesce. The two high