The Demon Within by Stacey Brutger Page B

the faces she’d once fought alongside. Only to have their glances shy away from hers. She’d spent most of her life keeping her distance from them as Oscar ordered, whatever it took to protect her secret. But it didn’t lessen the impact of their rejection.
    “They blame you for his death.” Henry spoke solemnly, but the gleam in his eyes said he wasn’t above using that information to his advantage. Even if he had to fan the flames a bit.
    “Ass.” David’s shoulder struck Henry when he walked past. Kelly wasn’t so polite.
    Her stubborn chin pointed high, Kelly snarled in an overly sweet voice. “What do you think will happen when the truth comes out? You’re no leader. The group is already falling apart. Who’ll stand by you when the demons sense weakness and attack?” She jabbed viciously at his chest and walked away with a tsk of disgust.
    Jarred didn’t say a word. Not even bothering to acknowledge Henry, he took his seat at the front with the others. Anger brewed in Henry’s eyes. One didn’t have to be psychic to know it only meant more trouble for her. The cutthroat game of one-upmanship he’d played just kicked up the stakes. With a narrow glance, Henry turned on his heel and marched to the podium. The room fell quiet.
    “Oscar was a hard man, the cornerstone of this organization. A brute who ruled harshly but for a reason. He wanted the best warriors. He wanted to save the world or at least his part of it. A man who lived for the cause and ultimately gave his life for it.” Henry took a sip of water. “Oscar was not a man to forgive or forget. He didn’t start this war, nor will he see the end of it, but I can guarantee we’ll continue the fight as he would’ve wanted.”
    Charisma oozed from his pores as he spoke. But when Henry’s gaze snapped to hers, dread blossomed in her chest. She braced herself for an assault, knowing a fair fight would be too much to ask.
    “This man was our leader, equal to none in a fight. By some miracle, Caly returned from battle to share the sad tale of his demise. We mourn both his loss and her decision to leave the compound.” With a last pointed glance, Henry focused on his audience, his voice and actions captivating in a way that drew a person in and made them believe whatever smoke he blew up their ass. His rhetoric had her half convinced she’d planned to rid herself of Oscar in order to be free.
    No wonder everyone had given her the stink eye when she’d entered. His defensive of her magnified all the questions he no doubt had planted since their return. This was the perfect venue for his attack. Anger seared her gut at the inability to voice a rebuttal without sounding defensive. Not only did he hammer the final nails into her coffin, he buried her as well.
    The mention of her name snapped her to attention.
    “To ensure fairness, a ballot will be cast, granting each member one vote. Rumors will be settled. A leader will be chosen. We must preserve the group and create a united front. Demons cannot be allowed to win because we’ve lost focus on what’s important.”
    It took less than twenty minutes to decide her fate. To protest that she didn’t want the leadership would get her nowhere. Even so, it hurt to know the people she grew up with preferred Henry’s lackadaisical leadership to her. But what confused her the most was why a vote had been called at all. She studied the back of her friends’ heads and thought she knew the answer.
    Caly barely managed to mask her expression when Henry descended to crow about his victory.
    “Aren’t you going to congratulate me?” A smug smile twisted Henry’s lips into a caricature of politeness, pride puffing up his chest.
    “I know you don’t believe me, but I never wanted the group. So I hope you’ll take my words seriously. You don’t have the tactical training to hold the group. You and I both know it. Find someone and fast before you ruin the team Oscar spent his life perfecting.”
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