Page 66 of Demons & Damnation

As she drove along a side street, she spotted a huge park, lush green grass stretching for what looked like miles. Parking the car under a thick oak tree, she turned it off and hopped out, grateful to stretch her legs.

Picnic tables were scattered around the vast expanse along with dog waste bins and normal rubbish bins. Every blade of grass looked as if it had been carefully preened, cared for, and grown. The rich, vibrant grass underneath a clear, bright blue sky almost painted the perfect scene of tranquillity.

The fresh air and warm spring breeze skimming over her skin helped settle part of the turbulence careering around inside her.

Until she heard the excited yaps of a playful dog.

Kyla loved animals, so to hear one happy brought a smile to her face. However, what she saw beyond the black and tan muscled bundle of a Dobermann stole her brief moment of bliss.

Two figures so close together it was initially difficult to determine where one started and the next began.

But the bright red hair gave it away.

It was her mother.

With Tony.

And two young girls.

Chapter 28

Azazel ran down the stairs to his brother, his mind racing at a hundred miles an hour. As he ran into the living room, he saw his brother sat on the red velvet sofa, whiskey tumbler in hand and a pensive look across his dark features.

“We need to talk,” Azazel said. He gave a quick look over his shoulder, checking Mildred wasn’t hovering behind him, then turned back to his brother. “But not here.”

Balthazar blinked several times, slowly coming back to reality, then turned his attention to his sibling. Downing the remainder of his alcohol, he gave a single nod, stood up, and marched towards the front door.

Following Balthazar outside, Azazel stopped for a second on the threshold, squinting his eyes at the bright sunlight. “It’s daytime?”

Balthazar, several metres ahead, stopped and looked back at his brother. “Yes, Azazel. You’ve been asleep for nearly fifteen hours. It’s not just daytime, it’s early afternoon.”

“That was a good sleep,” he said, jogging out to meet Balthazar. “I think I could have slept some more.”

“Please,” Balthazar said, gesturing towards the house. “Don’t let our impending doom stop you, feel free.”

Azazel narrowed his eyes at him. “Since when do you do petty sarcasm?”

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