Queen of the Damned (Imp Series Book 9) by Debra Dunbar

Author:Debra Dunbar [Dunbar, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-01-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Tasma brought dinner himself, then stood outside the doorway and smiled benevolently as we ate hot dogs that had been cut into tiny little pieces, tater tots, and a healthy serving of soft carrots and peas. We had milk to drink. The entire time, the demon encouraged us repeatedly to clean our plates, while instructing us on proper usage of the utensils as well as constant entreaties to wipe our hands and mouths on the supplied paper napkins and not our own arms, or legs, or the arms and legs of our neighbors.

That weirdo stood there the entire time with that creepy smile on his face, eyes glowing as he watched us. Then when all the plates and utensils were collected, he still stood there. The other Lows froze. I felt their unease and wonder what they expected to happen next. I doubted it was cake and ice cream from the fear I felt rolling off them.

“You.” Tasma pointed. “You with the stuffed rabbit. What is your name?”

Swivle stuffed the bunny’s ear in his mouth and sucked on it, mumbling. The rest of the Lows shifted away from him, like the waters parting.

Tasma’s smile widened. “There is no need to be afraid, little one. I will teach you to be strong and brave. What is your name?”

The question this time carried enough compulsion to send a shudder through the rest of the room. The rabbit ear popped out of Swivle’s mouth, bedraggled and soggy with spit.

“Swivle.” His voice was hushed. Then I felt the power from Tasma shift, and the Low got to his feet, walking as if transfixed over to the doorway. The others sighed, obviously relieved that they were not the ones being selected this time. Tasma beckoned, that creepy smile still on his face.

“Let him go.” I stood, and now the Lows edged away from me. I saw the purple one try to hide behind a toy fire truck.

“It’s a good little Low who is concerned about her friends,” Tasma told me. “And I admire both your courage, and that you’re using your words. Our friend Swivle will not be hurt. He wants to come with me, don’t you?”

“Yes.” The word was hard and jagged, as if it had been forced from the Low’s lips. He began to shake, and with a whimper, stuck the rabbit’s ear back into his mouth.

I took a step forward, then another, feeling as if I were walking against a hurricane gale. The other Lows watched me in horror.

“Don’t be bad,” Puck told me. “Sit down and let him go.”

And be grateful it wasn’t me, was the subtext.

“I don’t know where you’re keeping the other Lows, but you need to let them go. And you need to let these ones go as well.”

I finally managed to stand before Tasma, who was regarding me with mild surprise, still smiling.

“They’re safe here with me. Out there, they are preyed upon and killed. Out there, no one loves them or takes care of them. Here with me they are safe.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.