Page 55 of Demons & Damnation

At the bottom of the hill they’d just descended was a narrow stream, now dried up, its bed nothing but a muddy, leafy mess and the only sign it had ever existed. Sam picked her way through it before heading up the hill the other side.

Just as she neared the top of the hill, a loud bark echoed through the air. Sam turned her head to locate the source of the sound, wondering what furry friend would rush to greet her. As she looked to her left, a huge white Alsatian launched itself at her, its eyes hard and fixed on her. Sam screamed and stumbled back on instinct, forgetting she was at the top of a hill.

The dog locked onto her left forearm, snarling and grinding its teeth into her flesh. Its swinging weight toppled Sam from her feet, sending them both sprawling down the hill. As they hit the bottom, Sam fell on her back, hitting a tree stump, all the air being knocked from her body. The dog jumped straight back up and hurled itself at her, aiming for her neck.

With not even enough air to scream, she could do nothing but watch as the menacing form of the dog loomed over her. She squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the final bite, when out of nowhere, a blur of Ben’s bulky body rushed over the top of her, rugby tackling the dog away from her.

The dog growled, then whimpered and squealed before falling silent. Sam turned her head to the left, seeing Ben kneeling over the dog’s limp body.

As Ben turned to look back at Sam, to check on her, he forgot himself. Seeing her emerald eyes fill with panic and confusion snapped him back to reality.

But it was too late.

Sam had seen him.

In all his demonic glory.

Chapter 23

Ben scrambled over to Sam, his concern for her being ok overtaking his fear of her discovering his truth.

“Are you ok?” he asked, bending down at her side.

Sam sucked in a deep breath and with shaking hands, pushed herself into a sitting position. “What the...” she said, all but breathless. “What did I...” she waited a second to catch her breath “...just see?”

The image of Ben’s handsome face twisted and contorted into something so evil stuck in the forefront of her mind as if she’d been staring at the sun for too long, leaving an imprint burned in her eyes that wouldn’t go away no matter how many times she blinked.

Ben took her hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb. “I...” He looked away, staring at the leaves beneath him “...I have no explanation.”

Sam, still dazed by images of Ben’s face darkened by purple veins, jet black eyes, and a mouthful of razor-sharp teeth, stared at him as if he’d just introduced her to running water.

“Are you hurt anywhere?” Ben asked, picking her left arm up and examining where the dog had bitten her. He twisted her arm over, looking for bite marks, but he found none. “I swear that dog bit you,” he said, dropping her left arm and reaching over for her right, looking again for any marks. “But there’s not a scratch on you.”

Sam jumped to her feet, her breath back, and feeling rather like a rabbit in headlights. She settled her hands on her hips and cocked her head to one side as she looked down at Ben. “I guess I’m not the only one keeping secrets, huh?”

Ben stood up, eyeing her with curiosity. “What do you mean?”

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