Death's Mantle: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Revelations Book 1) by J.A. Cipriano Page A

drugs right?” Ian asked, half-jokingly.
    “Not drugs.” Malcom got up and took the Coke Ian held out to him. “I hate to say it, but something feels really wrong with me.” He shook his head again. “I don’t know how to explain it exactly, but it’s sort of like something inside me cracked and as it breaks apart, I’m becoming more…” he trailed off and took a sip of his Coke before frowning at it. “I don’t know how you drink this stuff. It’s so bitter. Pepsi is a lot better. It’s sweet and doesn’t bite your throat nearly as much…”
    “You’re so wrong. There aren’t even words!” Ian sighed like a music student trying to explain the beauty of a flute solo to a chemistry student. The microwave beeped, and Ian swung it open to be blasted in the face by steam. He took a step backward waving his hand as the scent of chicken broth filled his nostrils. “Want one?” Ian asked over his shoulder.
    “No, I need to be getting to work soon,” Malcom said, shouldering his little black backpack. “Thanks for letting me hang out here while you were out.” He looked down at his beaten up skater shoes. “I appreciate it.”
    “No problem.” Ian blew on his cup of soup. “But one thing is bothering me.”
    “What?” Malcom asked, one hand on the doorknob.
    “If Polyphemus came to our school looking to capture Kim and trade her for his wife, what is stopping him from trying again?” Ian took a careful sip of his soup, but it was so hot it scalded him. Malcom’s face paled, and his hand slipped off the knob.
    “You don’t think she’s in trouble, do you?” Malcom asked, worry lacing his words. “Should I go over there and check on her?”
    “Maybe.” Ian shrugged as a bad feeling settled in his stomach along with his first bite of ramen. “Amy and Jesse are already missing. It would make sense to try again when she’s home alone and not surrounded by tons of people.” Ian paused to take a bite of ramen. “But I was thinking about something else, the words the guy said before vanishing with our friends.”
    “What’d he say?” Malcom asked, dropping his backpack onto the floor. Guess he wasn’t heading to work after all…
    “Something about it being a trap and Polyphemus going to get the others. I don’t know who the others were because when I opened the door, everyone was gone, and the room was a burned out husk.” Ian finished his soup and tossed the empty foam container into the trash. “But it seems like Kim would be a pretty good guess.”
    Malcom’s face fell. “When I went to save Kim, it felt like I had to get to her no matter what. The urge was overpowering. If that hadn’t happened or I’d gotten there just a few moments later…”
    “She’d be gone too.” Ian tried to sip his Coke and was surprised to find it nearly empty. He tipped the last of it into his mouth before tossing it in a separate bin overflowing with red soda cans.
    “I think you might be right. If Polyphemus was going to trade Kim for his wife, there’s no reason why he wouldn’t try again. I think I should head over there.” His face set in a hard line of determination as the words left his mouth. “Then I can protect her if something happens.”
    “I know you think that’s a good idea, but let’s say we go there and there is a giant cyclops. What do you plan on doing, exactly ?” Ian reached out and snagged Malcom’s barely touched soda from the counter where he’d left it. No sense letting it go to waste.
    “You’re so not helping. You’re supposed to be helping. You’re at this very moment doing the opposite of what you should be doing.” Malcom crossed his arms over his chest.
    Ian inwardly sighed. This was going to be a long, particularly crazy, day. Taking Malcom to Kim’s house did not seem like it would be a fun time. He especially didn’t want to be there if that Polyphemus character did show up. “I guess I could go with you, but I’m not sure how she’s going to