Sarra Cannon - Bitter Demons

by

Sarra Cannon

Published by Dead River Books

This book is dedicated to my amazing husband.

George, you are my heart. <3

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters,places, and incidents either are products of the author'simagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actualevents or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirelycoincidental.

Copyright 2011 by Sarra Cannon Bittmann

All rights reserved, including the right to reproducethis book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoymentonly. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people.If you would like to share this book with another person, pleasepurchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're readingthis book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for youruse only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase yourown copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of thisauthor.

Find Sarra Cannon on the web!

http://www.sarracannon.com/

www.twitter.com/sarramaria

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Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design, inc.

http://rldprint.com/

I can't say thank you enough to my critiquegroup and best friends, J.D. Robinson, Erica Reeder, and AlokBaikadi. You guys are a treasure to me, and I don't know if I couldhave written these books without your support, willingness to read,and insightful critiques. Thank you from the bottom of myheart.

Thank you to my good friend Lori Hayes whoinvited me to Crystal Coast for a writing weekend. I'm not sure Icould have finished this book without that mini-vacation, so thankyou. Plus, your friendship means a lot to me!

And always, to my soul mate. For allowing meto follow my dreams. I love you.

Peachville High Demons Series:

Beautiful Demons

Inner Demons

Bitter Demons

Outside, a gentle mist coated the windshield.Dread pooled deep in my stomach as I stared out at the Ashworthmansion.

"Hurry along," Ella Mae said. "You shouldn'tkeep them waiting."

"Aren't you coming?" I asked.

She tightened her jaw and shook her head."You'll find them in the living room."

I pulled the handle on the door and slippedout into the rain. My damp blonde curls hung limp against my coat.I shivered and raised my hand to knock just as the door swungopen.

"The ladies have been expecting you." A shortman in a black suit took my coat, then ushered me toward the livingroom.

The members of the council of the Order ofShadows sat around the Ashworth's living room. They were dressed insuits and skirts and held china teacups in their hands. My fadedjeans and t-shirt seemed dingy and way too casual for the occasion.I shifted awkwardly and cleared my throat. All eyes turned tome.

"Harper," Mrs. Ashworth said with a smile."We're so happy you could join us."

As if I'd had a choice. My jawclenched tight, but I tried to keep my face expressionless. I'dgotten in trouble enough times in my life to know when someone wasabout to lecture me. This room had that sort of tension in the air,and I braced myself for what was coming.

In most foster homes, this was the momentwhen a family decided they wanted to get rid of me. But this wasn'tjust some foster home. In Peachville, the stakes were muchhigher.

I glanced around the room and felt gratefulfor the few familiar faces. Sheriff Hollingsworth. Mayor Chen. Mrs.King. The rest of the women were strangers. From the way they werelooking at me, I gathered they all already knew who I was.

"Why don't you have a seat over here," shesaid. She pointed to an uncomfortable looking chair next to Mrs.King, and I sat down.

I was grateful to be able to sit by the oneperson in the room I knew best. Someone I felt I could trust. Mrs.King gave me a closed-lipped smile. Her worried eyes made mystomach twist into knots. I didn't typically do well in these typesof situations. I pressed my lips tight, determined not to lose mycool.

Mrs. Ashworth stood by my side with her handon my shoulder, as though she were claiming me. Either that orshowing her power over me. I forced myself not to pull away, nomatter how badly I wanted to.

"Ladies, this is Harper Madison," shesaid.

Everyone looked at me and nodded, smiling andmouthing "hello" as our eyes met.

"Harper, I'm sure you're wondering why webrought you here tonight." She walked into the center of themakeshift circle, her palms pressed together tight. "We wanted totalk to you about some of our concerns."

I raised my eyebrows, my heart pounding. Icould already feel myself growing defensive and tense. Here itcomes.

"The incident at Brighton Hospital wasextremely dangerous and quite frankly, it was reckless." She pacedin front of my chair. All eyes followed her. "We're very concernedthat you are not taking your training seriously."

Mrs. Ashworth chose her words carefully, butI could tell what she really wanted to say was that by risking myown life, I was risking the lives of everyone in this room. Whydidn't she just come out and say it, then? Why keep tiptoeingaround these secrets? My hands tightened into fists.

"What I mean to say is that being a traineefor the Order of Shadows is a very serious responsibility," shesaid. "We can't have our girls throwing themselves into dangeroussituations like that. You should have come to us for help."

"Especially when it comes to saving peoplelike that Hunt boy," an elderly woman said. The disgust in hervoice brought a sour taste to my tongue. I fought to control mytemper. My face burned with the effort. That Hunt boy hadspent every afternoon by my side when I was in the hospital lastweek. Hotness aside, he was definitely someone I wanted in my life.And I would have been with him tonight, too, if I hadn't beencalled to this stupid meeting.

Mrs. Ashworth turned quickly and gave thewoman a strange wide-eyed look. Then, she looked back my way with ahesitant smile. "I'm afraid your behavior that night has us allmore than a little bit upset," she said. "The incident came up fordiscussion at the council meeting, which is why we asked you tocome here tonight."

"So you could tell me to be careful?" Iasked.

The women shifted in their seats at the soundof my voice. I guess they weren't used to people talking back totheir leader. In the back of my mind, I was aware that I needed towatch my tone, but I could feel myself losing control. I was justso tired of the secrets and the lies in this town. Why didn't theysimply say what they meant instead of tap-dancing around it?

"Yes," Mrs. Ashworth said with a curt nod."We brought you before the council hoping it would help youunderstand just how serious we take your actions when you fail tofollow the rules. I would hate to have to remove you from thecheerleading squad."

I snorted. Loud. It was kind of an accident.An immediate reaction to the thought that I was in danger of beingtaken off the squad. I knew they would never take me off the squad.I was the Prima and would eventually be in charge of this town. Herempty threat made me laugh, but as soon as the sound left my body,I knew I'd made a big mistake. I felt Mrs. King tense in the chairbeside me.

"Sorry," I muttered, sitting up straightagain.

Mrs. Ashworth cleared her throat and adjustedthe hem of her blouse. "I don't think you understand the situationyou're in here," she said. "It's only because of your spot on thecheerleading squad that you avoided another visit from your socialworker."