DEATH (The Justice Cycle Book 1) by J Kiefer (best classic books to read TXT) 📗

yet another attack from the second demon. Before landing, the Shogun kicked the attacking demon’s face, but his foot passed through the shadowy figure.

The demons fell upon the Shogun as soon as his feet hit the ground. Red flames sparked from the clashing weapons as the battle continued. Strike after strike, counterstrike after counterstrike, neither side gained the advantage.

The Shogun could feel the Stalker getting farther and farther away, and he feared that this delay might prove more costly than he had anticipated. If he did not end this confrontation quickly, his chance of catching the murderer would slip away from him.

The Shogun gritted his teeth and kicked one of the demons, managing to hit its leg. The demon howled in pain and fury, and the Shogun turned on the other attacker.

Despite its strength and cunning, without its partner to complement it, the demon was at a severe disadvantage. It was no match for the full power of the Shogun, who attacked it mercilessly. The demon met the Shogun’s attack with an intensity of its own that caused it to surpass its usual skill, and it somehow managed to hold him at bay long enough for the other demon to reenter the conflict.

Outnumbered and once again on the defensive, the Shogun realized that he had underestimated these demons. Damn! He felt so weary. Perhaps it was not the demons but rather his own waning power that was the problem. Either way, if he did not finish this confrontation soon, the murderer would escape him yet again. With renewed determination, he gritted his teeth and continued fighting, each moment allowing the Stalker to slip farther and farther away.

Ten

Dana Campbell peered through the curtains into the dark of night. She thought she’d heard a car pull up, and the noise had awoken her instantly. The events of the previous day had disturbed her, and in response, she’d decided to keep her nine-millimeter pistol loaded and ready in her nightstand.

Holding her gun at arm’s length, she pulled the curtains back to get a better look. A black Jaguar was parked directly in front of her house where there had not been one earlier. She tried to recall if she knew anyone who drove a Jag but came up empty.

A handsome man with long black hair popped out of the driver’s side. He looked familiar, but she couldn’t place him. When the second man opened the passenger side door and practically fell out of the car, she knew instantly he was.

Jared. Her heart leaped in her chest. She closed the curtain so he would not see her, then dashed to her dresser to grab a brush. With a few quick swipes, she smoothed her tangled locks into a ponytail. She knew Jared probably wouldn’t notice her hair, he never did, but she wasn’t going to take the risk.

When she was finished, she examined her handy work in the mirror and scowled. Her hair was passable, but the dark circles under her brown eyes had to go. With a few quick dabs, she smoothed makeup over her classically beautiful face and flawless olive skin.

A beautiful young woman, Dana had a body most women would kill for. But even though she was beautiful, she never really dressed the part. Dana just wanted to fit in with the rest of the guys. Except, of course, when it came to Jared.

The doorbell rang and she fumbled with her mascara, dropping it to the ground. To her horror, it bounced twice and then rolled underneath her dresser and out of reach. She frantically dropped to the ground in a desperate attempt at catching it and slammed her head painfully into a slightly open drawer.

The doorbell rang again, and she instantly scrambled to her feet to examine her injured head. A large knot was already starting to form directly in the middle of her forehead and she almost cried when she saw it.

“Great, how do I explain this one?” she whined. “I look like some sort of deranged Hindu!”

The loud persistent knocking interrupted her sulking, and she dabbed more foundation on her mark. After a few more minutes of primping, she decided it was time to answer the door.

It did not take her long to reach the front door and she swung it open just as Steve was about to begin another symphony of knocking.

He stumbled forward off balance when his fist hit only air. She ignored him, even though she had not seen him for some time and locked her gaze on Jared.

“What’s the matter? You look awful,” she asked, concerned.

“Well, it’s nice to see you too,” Steve said sarcastically. “I’ve been good. How have you been?”

“Can we come in?” Jared asked, trying not to smirk.

“What’s the matter?” she demanded, checking herself again. It was then that she realized she had neglected to change out of her baby blue cotton nightshirt with the little pink bunnies on it, and her face flushed red.

“Nice shirt,” Steve snickered. “Isn’t that the same nightshirt you wore to Sandra Hamperton’s sleepover party in fourth grade?”

“Leave her alone, Steve,” Jared scolded.

Dana ducked behind the door so only her head was visible and waved them both in. “You two make yourselves at home while I go change.”

She dashed down the hall to her room as the two brothers made their way to the living room. Dana rented a two-bedroom house in the nice section of town. She liked her privacy and could afford to not have a roommate. Plus, being a single woman alone in such a big house was a good excuse to have Jared over often.

“If you are thirsty, I have some soda in the fridge,” she called out. “Help yourselves to whatever you like.”

Dana’s room was clean and organized, with all the typical things you would expect to find in a young woman’s room. A nice bed with a matching dresser and hutch mirror, and a hope chest that was given to her by her father.