Plain Fear: Forgiven: A Novel Read Online Free Page B

carts, looking for something, but behind him Brydon straightened to his full, imposing height.
    Would he toy with Samuel first? Or would he attack quickly? It was only a matter of heartbeats before Brydon struck.
    Anger fired inside Jacob, and he launched himself at Brydon. But instead of slamming into flesh, he fell right through Brydon’s body, as if blood and flesh didn’t exist, and rolled across the floor, chest skidding, arms flailing. Samuel stepped straight through Jacob’s abdomen, but Jacob felt nothing—and he accomplished less.
    Brydon and Samuel didn’t notice Jacob lying on the ground as they continued their casual conversation.
    “Have you known Julie long?” Samuel trained his gaze on the stacks of books on shelves and carts, not paying attention to Brydon, who crept closer and closer.
    He had his prey so close, his body rigid with the coiled posture Jacob recognized all too well. “I’ve known Julie a fairly short time,” Brydon answered, his tone mild. “She’s nice.” His voice lilted, as if dulling Samuel’s senses. “And she’s quite beautiful.”
    Scrambling to his feet, Jacob growled deep in his throat and threw himself at Brydon’s back. But again, he tumbled through the vampire as if he were vapor and sprawled across the floor.
    Which is when he saw it—the toe of a shoe. Where the room curved sharply to the left, a discarded shoe protruded from behind a cart. Jacob scurried around the metal shelves and came face to face with a young woman. Actually a corpse.
    Her blond hair fell around her shoulders in tangled waves. Her neck gaped—a bloody, mangled mass. Her eyes remained open. This was Julie.
    If Jacob didn’t do something quickly, Samuel would soon be lying beside her. Equally dead.
    A roar of frustration and fear reared up inside him, and he swung around.
    Brydon was watching Samuel with that hungry look. Jacob’s hands fisted. What could he do? How could he stop Brydon?
    “Hey!” Jacob called.
    Remiel stood in that typical stance, with his sword planted. His wings were drawn back and relaxed. But even tranquil, he had a ready-for-action posture, his features hard.
    Jacob ran toward him. “Do something! He’s going to kill Samuel! You have to stop him.”
    “He is not my responsibility.”
    “What do you mean by that? Aren’t you supposed to help people?”
    “My job is to secure you. That is all.”
    “Secure me? What does that mean?” Jacob shook off the question. “It doesn’t matter. Just do something. Save my brother!”
    “I cannot interfere.”
    “But I can?”
    Remiel shrugged. “That is to be seen.”
    Jacob swung around, his body taut. Brydon chatted amiably with Samuel, toying with his dinner.
    “How?” Jacob pleaded with Remiel. “I tried to stop him.”
    “Physically.”
    “So? What am I supposed to do? Pray?”
    “You are not of the physical world anymore.”
    “But—”
    “Talk to him.”
    “Him? Samuel? Isn’t hearing physical?”
    “There are many ways to hear.”
    Jacob scowled. He didn’t understand, and he didn’t have time to waste.
    “Sounds like you might be interested in Julie,” Samuel said to Brydon, bending over to read the titles of the books crammed into the shelves.
    Behind him, Brydon removed his glasses, and his black gaze glinted with anticipation. “In some ways, I suppose I am interested. Or was. She was…is,” he corrected himself and licked his lips, “sweet.”
    Samuel checked a square piece of paper bound to a book by a rubber band. “What changed your mind?”
    Jacob rushed toward his brother and squatted beside him. He cleared his throat. “Samuel!”
    Samuel didn’t blink, turn, or respond in any way. Instead, he listened to Brydon talk about the virtues of some girl. Some dead girl.
    Desperate, Jacob snapped his fingers in Samuel’s face.
    No response.
    “Hey, Samuel! Are you listening? Hey! Get out of here. This guy is no good. He’s dangerous.” Jacob planted himself in front of Samuel,