The Sacrifice (The Alexandra Denton Chronicles Book 4) by Amanda K. Dudley-Penn

asked, glancing at each of us before her eyes landed back on Gloria. 
                  “There is,” Gloria said, staring deeply into her face, letting Cleo take in that knowledge before she continued, “But it’s going to be very hard to explain so please be patient.”
                  “Okay,” Cleo said, touching her hair nervously and then, returning her gaze to Gloria, “I’ll be patient.  I promise” 
                  I glanced at Gloria who stayed in front of the door.  I placed myself between Cleo and the other door in case she tried to run before we finished explaining.  Jonathon gripped her hand in his. 
                  “There is something about us…It’s something you don’t know,” Gloria said, shifting, “But it’s not just Alex, Jonathon and I.  It’s other people too and you do know all of the people who I’m talking about.”
                  “Okay,” Cleo said as her eyes widened in curiosity.  When Gloria didn’t speak any further, Cleo spoke again, “What are you…serial killers…a part of a cult…What?”
                  “No,” Gloria said and then, sighed, “The truth is that we all have gifts which allow us to fight the evils of the world.”
                  “Gifts?” Cleo asked with a raised brow.  I sighed.  Already this wasn’t going well.
                  “Yes,” Gloria replied, determined to tell her everything, even if she didn’t believe us, “Gifts.  Alex can see the future.  Jonathon can control water and I can tell everything about a person by touching them.  There are others too.  Lynne can fly.  Kelly can heal any living thing with a touch.  Jeremy controls fire and there are so many more.”
                  Cleo tilted her head as she studied us, fighting a smile, “And you fight evils as in?”
                  “Demons,” I said and Cleo’s gaze moved to me. 
                  She gave a short laugh, “And you’re telling me this huge secret because you trust me?”
                  “No,” Jonathon said, “Once we die, someone in our family takes our place…In Gloria’s case…It’s you.  Because of that, demons want to kill you.  They want to prevent the line from going any further.”
                  Cleo frowned and then, started to laugh, “That’s funny,” she said, still laughing hard, “But you didn’t get me.  What is this...Late April Fools?”
                  Gloria turned to me, “She’s not ever going to believe us without you showing her.”
                  “Why can’t Jonathon?” I asked, frowning.
                  “Because she’ll think it’s just a magic trick or something,” Gloria said, “Your gift actually shows her.  Though she doubts us…She won’t doubt herself.  She’ll believe what she sees.”
                  I sighed, annoyed, “Fine,” I whispered, “It’s always got to be me.”
                  I placed my hand beneath my mouth with my memories firmly in my mind and blew out.  Cleo stopped laughing as the mist escaped from between my lips and moved toward her.  She tried to run but Jonathon pulled her by the hand he held.  She inhaled sharply ready to scream as the mist reached her drifting up her nostrils and into her mouth. 
                  The light shined brightly through her eyes for minutes until slowly it began to fade.  More minutes passed in silence as Cleo sat absorbing what she had just seen.  Finally, she blinked and two tears fell from her eyes.
                  “This is true,” she whispered brokenly, gazing up at me.  I nodded and she dissolved into tears. 
                  Jonathon pulled her to him.  His eyes were darkened in sadness and fear as he rocked her.  Gloria rose.  Her blue eyes were