Ordained by Devon Ashley Page A

through the back door as the sky behind him lightened. His attention was immediately drawn to the red smears along the wall and floor. Concerned, he lightly slid his fingers through the liquid and smelled it. Abby .
    His eyes widened in fear. He hurried through the blood-smeared corridors, fearing the inevitable.
    He rounded the third corner. Abby’s body was lying face down on the floor, lifeless. The pool of blood beside her body rippled as his footsteps neared.
    “Abby?” Noel called in shock, rolling her over. She was bruised and had several deep scratches in her arms, neck and chest. Her blood was smeared everywhere across her skin.
    “Noel,” she whispered. Her eyes barely fluttered.
    “I’ve got you.”
    Noel gently picked her up off the floor and carried her further down the corridor.

Chapter Thirteen

    Emily didn’t sleep much that night. The burning in her chest and stomach could have been from the excess alcohol or even her nerves. She couldn’t stop thinking about how she left Abby alone in the woods. Rightfully so; and that annoyed her most. Had she not gotten herself drunk she could have been more helpful. Noel could have been more helpful. Instead, he had to baby-sit her drunk-ass back up to the manor. So stupid .
    Emily had long given up on sleep by the time the sun crept over the horizon. Morning practice was due to start shortly. She figured after last night, the least she could do was attend and burn the alcohol out of her system.
    “Darby?”
    Emily rolled her back and forth but she stubbornly moaned and hid underneath the covers.
    “Fine. You leave me no choice.”
    She picked up the clock and blared the music into Darby’s ear. Her body jolted to life.
    “Oh, you witch!” she cried out. Suddenly sick, she added, “Oh, God. What the hell did I drink last night?”
    “I think the better question is what didn’t you drink last night.” She threw Darby’s covers to the floor as she tried to bury herself again. Still freezing after curling into the fetal position, Darby determined it wasn’t worth fighting and reluctantly sat herself up in bed.
    A few minutes later they entered the arena. The Chancellor, along with a few advisors and hunters, had made their way there before them. Mira and her roommate Calley were amongst them.
    Calley was stretching on the floor. Once a natural brunette, her bleached hair looked odd with her dark brown eyebrows. All the trips to the tanning beds made her skin look raw and older than she really was. Emily had always found her prissy but had honestly never bothered to know her.
    “Morning,” Calley offered, but more out of habit than caring.
    “Good morning, Calley,” Darby answered while yawning.
    Mira was lying on her stomach trying desperately to catch a few more minutes of sleep. Emily playfully nudged her in the side with her foot. Mira moaned.
    “Mira?”
    She mumbled, “Too early. Need sleep.”
    “Oh, come on. Abby goes out every night, all night and still trains with me in the morning.”
    “Yeah, well, she can. She doesn’t get hurt as easily as we do. She’s indestructible.”
    Emily didn’t answer. Her attention was drawn to the double doors in the back, to the fair skinned body draped limply in Noel’s arms. A red stain was smeared all over her body.
    “My God! What happened?” cried the Chancellor.
    Noel didn’t stop but coolly responded as he passed, “She just hit her head. Most of this was the demon’s blood.”
    “But she’s cut!” he cried, following behind.
    “They’re superficial.”
    “We have an in-house doctor. I’ll send for him.”
    “No!” exclaimed Noel. “I’ll take care of it. It’s just a few scratches.”
    The Chancellor fell back. His mouth ajar, his eyes stricken with worry for his last line of defense. “What demon?!” he yelled out.
    Noel paused by Emily and quietly asked her what her blood type was.
    “O-negative.”
    “Come with me.”

    Abby’s frail and tired body sank heavily into the