Forgotten in Darkness Read Online Free Page B

pain. For most daemons summoned into the human world, the murder craze usually ended only when a magus showed up, and executed him with a neck three-sixty and a chest stab, jettisoning him back to the Middle Realm. Drugs suppressed the murder drive. But made him slow.
    How he hated those sanctimonious magi.
    Kiersted’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He wiped the beads of sweat from his forehead.
    Based on the renewed terror on Kiersted’s face, Terek knew his eyes must’ve blacked over from pupil to sclera, evidence of his true inner being. Historically, it meant he was within seconds of killing. Little did Kiersted know that his brain was well on its way to pentobarbital la-la land.
    Terek said softly, “I’ve allowed Rishi seven days with this child. That’s more than enough time. The brat was thrown from a derailed train through a glass window as the car rolled over him, and wasn’t even scratched. There was but one other survivor of the incident and she was a mangled mess. The child fits the prophecy.” He paused to pour a new cup of tea. “Perhaps it is time I met this one. I guarantee I can give him incentive to remember.” He smiled.
    “ If he is the one. I mean, how many kids have we been through that fit the prophecy in the past three years? Thirty or so? Cy is only thirteen or fourteen. We all know Rishi is an artist when it comes to extracting info, but there’s only so far he can push before breaking the boy. The kid doesn’t heal like a magus. He’s got bruises from head to toe. His pale skin is thin as tissue paper.”
    “Obviously, he hasn’t been converted to a magus, yet. The soul is there, meaning the memory of past lives is in there too. If he is the one, then he can remember the past. He must, since his brain is the library for magi spells. When is Rishi starting today?”
    Kiersted rolled his wrist to consult his watch. “In about twenty minutes.”
    “Let him know I want to speak with the boy before he does anything today.”
    “Of course, sir.” Kiersted executed a one-eighty and scurried from the room.
    “Why do you tolerate him?” Zimeri’s thick Turkish-accented voice projected from the dark corner beside the door. He peeled his tall, bisht -robed frame from the wall. His face was hard and centered. Zimeri’s dark left eye met his gaze dead-on. No fear. The right eye, eerily white from an uncorrected cataract, most would consider a hindrance. Not Zimeri. He considered it a badge of honor since this represented the only occasion he’d pitted his Fedavis skills against his master. What a spectacular pupil.
    Terek had considered summoning his right-hand, Imotep, from the Middle Realm and allowing him to possess Zimeri, but held back. Zimeri was a useful human. Worthy.
    “Kiersted serves a purpose.”
    Zimeri executed a slight head bow. “I beg you forgive my disrespect of eavesdropping.”
    “Forgiveness depends on why you are here.”
    “Since you entrusted me with security and our biggest threat is the magi, I have a new angle to suggest.”
    “Please, enlighten me.” He waved at the chair in front of his desk and scooted around to take his chair. He sipped at the tea.
    Zimeri glided to the chair and perched upon its edge. The guy never liked being grounded, cornered. He was prepared. Terek knew if he sent Anena after him, his pet would end up diced into unrecognizable bits within seconds.
    Terek widened his eyes in a clear get-on-with-it.
    Zimeri continued, “Magi have two weaknesses. First is their need to stay under the radar of American society…well, any governmental organization. Second, are their women. To weaken them we need to take out their women. But we have to do this stepwise. Find them. Track them. Take out their women. If that doesn’t work, then put them on the government’s radar. We’ve got enough contacts in the NSA and FBI now.”
    “Did you question Marelena?” After his bas kadin miraculously spent a few months as the magi’s housekeeper before