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CHAPTER 1

MY EYES SNAPPED OPEN AS THE FREAKISH SIXTH

sense kicked ia hu the floor made it hard to breathe Since I’d fled Miami, no place had been safe This abandoned factory had proved no different

The daimons were here

I could hear the each roo theo, when I’d pushed open the door to Mom’s bedroom She’d been in the arms of one of those monsters, beside a broken pot of hibiscus flowers Purple petals had spil ed across the floor, ut into a raw ache, but I couldn’t think about her right now

I ju to hear how many daimons were here Three?

More? My fingers jerked around the sliers over the sharp edges plated in titanium The act reminded me of what needed to be done Daimons loathed titanium

Besides decapitation—which ay too gross—titaniu that would kil them Named after the Titans, the precious metal was poisonous to those addicted to aether

Soave way A deep howl broke the silence, starting as a lohine before hitting an intense shril pitch The screa in this world sounded like a dairy daimon

And it was close

I darted down the hal way, ainst the worn-out boards Speed was in , dirty hair strea I had only seconds—

A whoosh of stale air whirled aroundme into the wal

Dust and plaster floated through the air Black starbursts dotted my vision as I scrambled to my feet Those soul ess, pitch black holes where eyes should have been seemed to stare at me like I was his next meal ticket

The dairasped my shoulder, and I let instinct take over I twisted around, catching the surprise flickering across his pale face a split second before I kicked My foot connected with the side of his head The i into the opposite walI spun around, sla my hand into him Surprise turned to horror as the daiarden spade buried deep in his stomach It didn’t matter where we aimed Titanium always kil ed a daimon

A guttural sound escaped his gaping mouth before he exploded into a shimmery blue dust

With the spade stil in hand, I whirled around and took the steps two at a tinored the ache into make it—I had to in in this craphole

“Little half-blood, where are you running to?”

I stue steel press

Twisting around, ainst my ribs The daimon appeared a few feet behind me Like the one upstairs, he looked like a freak Hissharp, serrated teeth and those al -black holes sent chil s overdeath His cheeks were sunken, skin unearthly pale Veins popped out, etching over his face like inky snakes He truly looked like so delaic took over, revealing what he used to look like Adonis ca man

“What are you doing al alone?” he asked, voice deep and al uring

I took a step back,the room for an exit Wannabe Adonis blockedDaimons could stil wield control over the eleoner

He laughed, the sound lacking hu—I’l let your death be a fast one Frankly, half-bloods don’t real y do it for me Pure-bloods on the other hand,” he let out a sound of pleasure,

“they’re like fine dining Half-bloods? You’re more like fast food”

“Come one step closer, and you’l end up like your buddy upstairs” I hoped I sounded threatening enough Not likely

“Try me”

His brows rose “Now you’re starting to upset me That’s two of us you’ve kil ed”

“You keeping a tal y or so?” My heart stopped when the floor behinda fe me toward the other daimon

They were cagingno opportunity to escape

Another one shrieked somewhere in the pile of crap Panic and fear choked ers trearden spade Gods, I wanted to puke

The ringleader advanced onto do to you?”

I sed and fixed a smirk on my face “Blah Blah

You’re gonna kil me Blah I know”

The female’s ravenous shriek cut off his response