Inner Demons (Book Eight of the Silver Society)

Chapter Three

CHAPTER THREE

The first thing Austin realized as he regained consciousness was that his right eye was swollen shut. He struggled to sit up and tried to ignore the pain. His mother's latest boyfriend had really done a number on him.

His head hurt and he'd lost a lot of blood. His bloodlust was powerful. If someone got too close, he'd probably tear out their throat. Austin took a deep breath and realized that even that hurt.

Mom sure knows how to pick 'em, he thought.

He didn't know where he was at first, but he soon recognized the man standing next to him. "Good morning, Austin," EJ said pleasantly.

I bet his initials stand for Evil Jackass, Austin thought. "What do you want?" He asked with more courage than he felt.

"I'm back in town as a favor to my father. He's off to the Cape."

"It's a little early for that." The devil worshippers of New York had summer homes in Cape Cod, but they rarely visited them before June. It was the very end of April.

"He has business to attend to," EJ replied. "You don't rank high enough to question it."

"That's right. I'm the insignificant illegitimate son of a dead devil worshipper. I'm also a vampire. I shouldn't rank at all with my father dead, but you idiots won't leave me the hell alone."

EJ struck him hard, but Austin barely felt it. His mind could only process so much pain at once. "You are here because we require your sister, Austin. Do not give me a reason to kill you before she arrives."

Austin tensed. Oh no... It's a trap! I called out for her... If they get to her, it's going to be all my fault, he thought.

Knock it off, Half Breed, Jade suddenly said in his mind. I make my own choices. Don't you dare blame yourself.

Jade, it's a trap!

I know. I heard you. Don't worry. I'm not coming alone.

Beth? Or Joey?

Neither. I went with a scarier choice.

EJ pulled out a whip. He looked at Austin sadistically.

Don't let him see you cry, Austin scolded himself. You've been through worse. You can handle EJ.

As EJ raised the whip and brought it down across Austin's back, Austin struggled not to scream in pain. Apparently, he could still feel some things.

Suddenly, the door to the room was blown off its hinges. Darkness filled the room despite the sun being up. "EJ Thomas... What exactly are you doing?" Alestair demanded.

Austin shrank. Alestair was terrifying, and he wasn't happy to be stuck in a room with him.

"Just following orders, Alestair," EJ replied with too much confidence.

"Whose orders?" Alestair asked sharply.

"My father's."

"He ordered you to terrorize and beat this boy?"

"My eldest son, Duncan, beat him."

Alestair looked at the whip in EJ's hands. He ripped it out of them and used it on EJ. "Do not lie to me, EJ!" He snapped.

"I only hit him now! Duncan took the kid's mother on a date, got her drunk, and assaulted the boy before bringing him to me..." EJ looked appropriately terrified now.