Free Oceans of Red Volume One by Willow Cross Page A

exhausted too, but they’d have time to sleep when this was over.  The sound of a tin can rolling across pavement echoed off the walls of the surrounding buildings.  She turned with lightning speed and raised just enough of her head over the wall to search the area. 
    A loud thunk drew her eyes to a dumpster sitting at the left corner of the opposing building as a small shadow slipped around the side.  Raccoon?  Of all the things that have disappeared you’d think they could have gotten rid of those.  She squinted.  Scanning the darkness for any sign of movement, she held her breath and waited. 
    Another small shadow skittered across the front of the building and slid around the side.  Certain that they were indeed rodents searching for food, she turned and relaxed against the wall.  This plan was strategically sound.  As long as he could be filled, and no questions arose, Greg should return to them as ordered.  The demons wouldn’t leave a group of unfilled humans on their own.  Why couldn’t she be filled?  Not that she was upset about it, but she’d never heard of anyone else having that issue.
    Daelen made reference to her being one of them.  But one of what?  What was he?  And how was it her siblings didn’t have the same condition?  Remy had always been good at reading people, and he certainly hadn’t seemed like someone she should be afraid of.  However, she hadn’t been afraid of her mother either, until she saw her eyes.
    A loud screech , followed directly by another, startled her.  Peering over the edge, she searched the shadows around the dumpster.  No movement.  An unearthly quiet settled throughout the buildings.  Even the insects stopped buzzing.
    Remy’s eyes darted back and forth.  She felt the presence of something, but couldn’t see anything out of place.  She jumped as a hand grabbed her ankle. 
    “ Shhh.  He’s here.  I can feel him.  The one he carries is very strong.  This may be a little more difficult than I thought,” Shane whispered in her mind as she crawled up beside her.
    Remy’s hands moved quickly miming: Can he feel you?
    Shane’s head cocked to the side for a moment before she answered, “ I don’t think so.  I think this is a one way kinda deal.”
    Giving her sister a quick nod, she moved along the side of the abutment keeping her eyes locked on the pavement below.  Taking her lead, Shane moved in the opposite direction to the other corner and waited.
    Below, nestled deep within the shadows, a darker silhouette moved with a speed that only a demon infested human could attain.  Within seconds they heard the squeak of the heavy metal door as it opened. 
    Hoping she wouldn’t need to use it, Remy’s hands trembled as she pulled her sword from its sheath.  A loud bang resounded through the building as if a door had been thrown open.  “ He’s coming up the stairs.  Stay back until I give you the go ahead,” Shane said.
    Pulling a syringe from her jacket pocket, she popped the plastic cover off the needle and held it ready in her free hand.   She kept her eyes on the only entrance to the rooftop and waited.  Her ears nearly twitched as she strained to hear any sound that would give away his location.  She leaned forward in anticipation.  Shane might not be able to hold him for more than a few seconds.  She’d have to be fast. 
    Muffled footfalls echoed up the stairs before coming to a complete stop. 
    Remy’s chest tightened as breath she hadn’t realized she was holding clamored for escape.  She exhaled with great care.  The slightest noise could give them away.
    “No!” Shane screamed.  “Behind you!”
    A powerful hand grabbed her neck and threw her body across the roof like a rag doll.  Her body slid as she landed before finally slamming against a cooling unit.   Immediately leaping to her feet, too late she realized both of her hands were now empty.
    Several feet away from her, Greg stood maliciously grinning at