Demon Hunters 1: Blood Sacrifice (Stand Alone Series) (Demon Hunters.) by Avril Sabine Page B

various methods and they’re all asked to do something different for each person who summons them. We need to know everything you can recall about the summoning. And anything else Nathan might have said that can help us. Do you mind if I bring Gran in here to listen. She’s been fighting demons her entire life.”
    “You said she’s your great-grandmother.” At Alex’s nod, Alyssa asked, “Then how old does that make her?”
    Alex laughed. “Relatively young if you ask her. She swears she’s a long way off one hundred. We all tell her it’s a sin to lie and she says time is in the eye of the one experiencing it.”
    “So she’s nearly a hundred?” Alyssa’s eyes widened.
    Alex shrugged. “She’s not saying. And anyone who knows for certain won’t tell those of us who don’t. You mind if I get her now?”
    “I guess not.”
    Alex took the tray from her as he left the room and Alyssa turned back to the book. She opened to the first page and began to read, determined to know her enemy. She hadn’t gotten far into the book before Alex returned. With him was his gran.
    Alyssa’s eyes were drawn to the elderly woman’s left arm and were unable to move from there. The demon mark wound all the way up to nearly her shoulder. The same thin line evenly spaced, even with the wrinkles and skin that sagged in places. It took effort, but she finally managed to drag her eyes away to meet the hazel stare of the old woman. Her grey hair was pulled back from her lined face and plaited. She wore a cross on a thin gold chain and seemed both the oldest woman Alyssa had ever seen as well as completely ageless. Alyssa rose belatedly to her feet, clutching the book in her hands.
    “So child, who are you?” The voice was surprisingly strong.
    “Alyssa Evans.”
    “Do you prefer Alyssa or Allie, child?”
    Alyssa shrugged.
    “Good. Alyssa is too pretty a name to shorten.” She sent a thin-lipped look towards Alex who shrugged. She turned back to Alyssa. “Call me Gran. Sit down, child. You look like a strong breeze would blow you over.”
    And you look like you could stand against a cyclone. Alyssa wished she had the courage to voice her thought.
    Gran sat down and waved Alex to a seat, her eyes on Alyssa. “Now, start at the beginning and tell me everything.”
    Alyssa’s cheeks grew hot and she sent a quick glance towards Alex.
    “Never you mind him. He’s done his share of stupid things,” Gran said.
    Alyssa looked towards Alex again. He winked at her and his mouth curved into a fleeting smile. She quickly looked away, her gaze going to her hands that gripped the book. Surely they didn’t expect her to start with the argument she had with her parents and hopping in Nathan’s car. She glanced up at Gran. She sighed. She guessed they did.
    Alyssa started hesitantly with frequent glances at Alex to see how he reacted. But he didn’t. When neither Gran nor Alex interrupted with questions, she grew more confident. The only reaction she noticed Alex have was one of his fleeting smiles when she spoke of telling Nathan she’d come back and haunt him. When she reached the end, she fell silent. And waited. She looked down at the book in her hands. And continued to wait. She looked at Alex who leaned back in the armchair he sat in and quietly watched her. Her gaze was then drawn to Gran, who nodded thoughtfully.
    Alyssa wanted to demand Gran tell her what she thought. She wanted to shake Alex and ask how he could be so relaxed when the daylight hours were rapidly disappearing. A demon waited for her. She gripped the book tighter.
    Gran rose to her feet. “Have a sleep while you can, child. It’ll be a long night.”
    When Gran turned to walk from the room, Alyssa leapt to her feet. “That’s it? That’s all you can say? There’s a bloody demon out there waiting for me, and you tell me to sleep. Forget it. I’d be better off on my own.” She strode from the room, the book clutched to her chest. She perched on the