Free Demon Warriors 1: Hondo by Lynn Hagen Page B

likes long walks down to the detention cells, setting things on fire, and driving everyone around him insane.” Snooke’s laugh was deep, warm, and rich. He’d be perfect for Kane, Chris thought. Snooke and Kane both liked to laugh. That was one thing they had in common so far.
    “Ah, hell.” Snooke’s laughter died as he dropped his paper boat, his eyes filled with fear. “Run, Chris, now.” Chris didn’t ask any questions. In the blink of an eye his food was on the ground and he was running next to Snooke. He could use his super speed, but didn’t want to leave Snooke behind. Chris hadn’t learned how to use his supernatural powers while carrying someone.
    “Why are we running?” Chris cried out as they rounded the corner and took off down Broadview Avenue. This was no way to end a nice evening.
    “Just keep going. Whatever you do, don’t stop.” Snooke grabbed Chris’s shirt and pulled him around the corner, passing Trenton’s Dry Cleaning. “This way.”
    They were almost to Chris’s street when Snooke went flying through the air, tackling Chris, both hitting the concrete. “Snooke!” Chris screamed when the slim man’s body didn’t move.

    He pushed him off of him and rolled to his feet, grabbing Snooke’s arm, when he heard a loud crackle behind him. Chris would know that sound anywhere. It was the sound of someone using supernatural powers. Taking a chance, Chris looked over his shoulder to see an unfamiliar face contorted with rage and heading their way.
    “We have to get out of here.” Chris pulled Snooke’s half-conscious body up and draped the limp arm over his shoulder. “Come on, Snooke, you have to help me,” Chris cried as he struggled to get his friend moving. “Please be okay. You’re not supposed to get hit, remember? You can neutralize it.” Chris sobbed as he pulled Snooke along.
    Chris heard the crackling again, looking over his shoulder in time to see a charge coming right at him.

    * * * *
    “I can’t believe Panahasi wants those two imbeciles to guard the river. It’s like sending a dog to babysit a cat. No good can come of that situation,” Hondo griped as he and Kane made their way down Broadview Avenue.
    Once again Hondo started thinking of Chris. He was trying his best not to run to the movie house and yank his mate out of there. If he couldn’t trust Chris, then neither of them had a leg to stand on.
    And if Snooke tried anything, he wouldn’t have any legs to stand on.
    “I think I’ll hang out in the shadows and watch the two imbeciles.
    It should be good for a laugh.” Kane chuckled beside him.
    “That’s if you can understand them. Have you noticed that when those two get together, they have a language of their own?” Kane held his side as he laughed. “You mean you can’t understand them?”
    “Don’t even try that with me. You can’t either.” The side of Hondo’s mouth pulled up into a smile.
    “You’re right, I can’t.”

    Hondo slowed to a stop when he heard the crackling in the distance. “Someone’s at it again.”
    “Do you want to go check it out or go find Torky and Ace Boogey?” Kane asked.
    “I think finding the brothers is more important right now. We’ll take care of that quickly and then go see who is fighting,” Hondo said just as his cell phone began to ring. “Hondo, here.”
    “People are calling in to complain about a fight.”
    “I know, we can hear it.” Hondo picked up his pace. “Kane and I are near the area. As soon as we talk with the brothers we’re going to head over there.”
    “I sent someone else to handle those two. You need to go stop the fight.” Panahasi’s voice sounded strained, making Hondo’s hairs stand on end. “I don’t know how accurate the information is, but the callers are saying Chris is invol—” Hondo hung up, racing down the street toward the commotion. If Leam came after him again, he was going to dedicate every waking hour to finding that fucker.
    “What’s