Silver Demon

By Caron Rider

Plunged into a demon filled world, Diana must come to terms with an existence geared toward defending humans. Diana’s dreams have shown her the way to destroy them with silver. But her dreams have also shown her Alexander—a demon she has hated...and loved...through the ages. Now Alex has followed her to Springfield and people are dying. Dare she trust him and let him into her life?

An aggravating vice principal, Internet dating, and stalking demons are just a few of the challenges facing Diana, Sam, and Maggie their senior year. Join them for another adventure that will ultimately lead them back to Rome.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Caron Rider
• Release date: Apr 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311508393

Caron Rider

My first writing adventure is the Silver Series. It is three books following the life and times of Diana, a reincarnated warrior who fights against demons trying to destroy the world and who manages to fall in love with one a few times. The first book in the series is Silver Knight, which is free to download from Smashwords as an epub. To get a mobi or pdf version of Silver Knight for free go to my website: http://www.caronrider.comInitially I started teaching computer software, hardware, and networking in the 1990s. After some years that morphed into tutoring high school dropouts for the GED. I found working with at-risk teenagers so rewarding that I changed my undergraduate major to Education. Upon graduating from the University of South Alabama with a B.S., I began teaching high school history. History doesn't have to be boring and I tend to tuck fun and interesting information into my stories. I now live in rural Missouri with my two kids, two dogs, two cats, and several chickens.

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Dedication

As always, my work is dedicated to my brother, Lance, without whom none of this would have been possible. My love and thanks!

Acknowledgements

My thanks go out to Will and Cade, basketball players extraordinaire, for my new favorite slang word: chongo. A versatile word, it can be used as either a noun or a verb with a meaning dependent on how it is used. I hope you approve of the use I put it to.

I also want to thank the students of John Boise Middle School for their love and support! You gave me encouragement when I needed it most, and I can never express how much I appreciated it!

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Something for Everyone

by

Caron Rider

This volume is a short collection of eclectic poems and limericks for the young at heart. Inspiration was a wild wind that blew the author hither and yon to write about love, cats, parents, pirates, magic, and much, much more (often with tongue in cheek).

Sign up for the author's New Releases mailing list and get a free copy of Something for Everyone.

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Don't miss the other two books in The Silver Series

By Caron Rider

Silver Knight

Silver Dreamer

Apophis

Is it the end of all we know or a new beginning?

The asteroid, Apophis, hurtles toward Earth at an astonishing 56,000mph. When it strikes, it will rain destruction and chaos down on our world. Two groups are created to save mankind, our culture, and our technology.

One group goes into stasis while the other heads to Mars. Centuries later, those in stasis wake to find the Martians have invaded!

Coming 2016:

Far Away Kingdom

A story about a girl, a boy, and a few goblins.

In a wild, mountainous kingdom, a princess and a miner face off against goblins and a poisonous traitor. With the help of a mystical figure who watches over the royal family, along with a pack of Uglies, the two must rely on each other to save king and country.

CONTENTS

Preface

1: Murder Most Foul

2: The Legend of Bridal Cave

3: Alliance

4: The Oracle

5: Chicago

6: Chicago Hunt

7: School Days

8: The Inn of the Crescent Moon

9: Travel Plans

10: The Treasure Hunt

11: Camping in the Woods

12: New York

13: Alex’s Journals

14: The Fortune Teller

15: The Pizza Guy

16: Demon Forms

17: About Daniel

18: The Death of Reynolds

19: The Ghost Subway

20: The Date—As told by Bathsheba

21: Back at the Ranch—As told by Helen

22: Diana Returns to the Light House

23: Ghost Tunnels 2

Epilogue

Excerpt from Silver Dreamer

Note from the Author

Preface

Sometimes our fears are without visible cause, sometimes not. But everyone, everyone is afraid of the dark. You leave a person long enough without any source of light, in complete and utter darkness, and you leave a person who will slowly lose his sanity. The person might know intellectually that he is in a room by himself with only one door and no windows. He knows—he knows that nothing could have gotten into the room with him without his knowledge, but eventually, he will begin to hear a scrabbling, a light scratching, maybe the softest cough of sound. His heart rate will increase and then it’s impossible to hear anything over the thudding, which only increases the anxiety.

Scientists feel that our dread of the dark is genetically hardwired—evolution at work. In the dark, there were, and still are, predators. Our terror gave us the edge to survive they think. No disagreement here, the Dark is real and we should fear it. But most disagree and term it ‘imagination.’ Little do they know.

The very Dark itself is our enemy. It tries to crush the pinpricks of light spread throughout its domain, but nothing seems to eradicate it! Where one is snuffed out, another begins. The battle lines were drawn eons ago as creatures of the Dark defend themselves against those of the Light.

1 Murder Most Foul

1068 CE

The castle of Black Oaks squatted atop the cliff as if it were a vulture waiting to swoop down and devour the dead below. An icy wind howled its way around the sharp stone corners. Its thick walls would be difficult to breach during a battle, not impossible, but extremely difficult. Opponents could try to dig under it and trigger the wall to collapse, thereby granting access.

However, its location on the cliff face left only three sides to attack, and the ground appeared to be solid rock once you reached a certain depth. So maybe that wasn’t even an option. The only thing left would be to starve the population out…siege, a long and drawn out process. But there was no battle and no siege at the moment, though others had tried and failed in the past.

I rubbed my thin arms as the bitter cold from outside blasted in with the opening of the door. I had been fortunate last night. As a reward for recovering a pig from a narrow, rocky crevice, I had been allowed to sleep next to the fire on the stone floor of the kitchen. It was the warmest place in the castle. Usually I was in the barn with the sheep or up in a hayloft.

I preferred to sleep alone because if I woke up screaming when the demons killed me in my dreams, people were frightened and thought that maybe the devil had his evil eye upon me. I learned early that I could lose my life if they thought the devil influenced me.

Later in the day, I took kitchen scraps out to the barn for the pigs. While I was there, crouched down in one of the stalls along a wall, teasing a little kitten with a bit of straw, I smelled it! A demon was in the barn with me! While I’d never met with a demon in this life, there was no mistaking the smell. Although, as I sniffed, I realized the odor was sort of faint. So perhaps it was outside the barn.

Just then Baron Chadwick spoke from the other side of the wall. I had been around the Baron all my life, all twelve summers of it. He was the one who gave me permission to sleep in the kitchen. The cook called me a scamp and others a rascal but usually with a smile, so I had had the run of the castle my entire life. The master would have been surprised at my knowledge of the passageways and rooms within his fortress.

When I was younger, one of my first chores had been to clean the fireplace in his study. It was where he conducted his business with the tenants and visitors. One day when I was alone with my task, I noticed a silver knife on his desk. I had seen him use it to remove wax seals from documents. I am ashamed to say I stole it, nevertheless I did. I would never find another silver weapon, and while it might mean my death if anyone discovered it on me, it would also mean my death if I did not have it should I meet with a demon.

So I hid it in the bundle of rags I wore for warmth. I never heard an alarm sound over the theft. Could it be that he never noticed something so valuable go missing? What must it be like to be so wealthy that a costly item could be lost and easily exchanged for something else equally expensive?

I clutched at the handle through my clothing. I wanted desperately to pull it out and jab it into the master’s friend, for that is where the smell came from. But if I attacked in front of witnesses, it would mean my certain death even if I triumphed. They would see it as some evil sorcery should he explode into a cloud of inky, black smoke.

I knew which room he had been given to sleep in. He had been placed in a chamber designated for high-ranking guests furnished with the best to create the most comfort. The room was special in one other way as well. When cleaning the massive fireplace, I discovered a hidden compartment. I had stood within the fireplace to scrub off the black soot as high as I could reach up the chimney.

When facing the bedroom, my hand passed over a slightly larger bump on one of the bricks. Thinking that something was stuck to it, I pushed with all my might trying to remove it. Instead, it pushed inward, and I heard a sharp clicking noise to the side. A brick swung loose almost out of my reach.

It took only a moment to pull a footstool within the fireplace so that I could see within the hidden niche. It contained a tiny leather bag tied closed with a thong. I pried the knot loose with the tip of my dagger to reveal a square-cut emerald ring surrounded on the sides by tiny pear shaped diamonds. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

I took it to the window to look at it in the sunlight and watched the radiance glisten around the ring as I moved it. A noise sounded from the hallway, and I almost dropped it! Quickly I put it back in its bag, tied it up, and returned it to the compartment. I often thought of the ring throughout day, but never would I pull it out again for fear of being caught.

I knew I must wait until everyone slept in order to attack the demon. When the time came, I quietly made my way out of the barn, so no one saw me. Hopefully, he would not require one of the maids to sleep with him. That would be awkward.

The darkness of night could not stop me, though I was cold to the bone. I crept up one of the back staircases and slipped down the hall to his bedroom, taking cover wherever it was offered—behind a table, a dresser, even once behind a tapestry. At his door, I listened. Nothing. I gently eased it open and stepped into the room, closing the door quietly.

A fire barely crackled in the grate but gave off enough light to see the furnishings dimly. The bed had the hangings closed except on the side facing the fire. From my position, it was just a shadow darkened cave. I tiptoed over to the foot of the bed and paused, allowing my eyes to adjust to the murky interior. I could hear him breathing! Slow, steady breaths. It sounded as if he was alone, close to my side of the bed.

As I moved toward the head of the bed along its edge, I could see a glimmer of reflected firelight on the skin of his arm above the blankets. It was odd. Even with the fire, bitter cold permeated the room. I would have thought he would keep his arms under the blankets. Getting ready to pounce, I grasped the knife handle with a firmer grip. As I lifted the dagger above my head, his long arm reached out to grab me by my other arm. He hauled me across his body to the other side of the bed as he sat up.

Without thinking, I jabbed the knife into his midriff, feeling it sink in several inches. There was a sharp hissing sound of in drawn breath and then an explosive oath. He released me long enough to grab the hilt of the knife and wrench it from his side before flinging it across the room. I heard it clatter against the stone hearth. I struggled to free myself, trying to slither off the far side of the bed, but he grabbed hold of my ankle and pulled me back. Then he was upon me with his forearm across my throat, crushing the life out of me. And without ever speaking to me, Alexander had killed me again.

* * * *

The Present

I was unconsciously clutching at my throat when I entered the library at the end of the first day of school. My heart began to beat frantically in anticipation of what was to come. A mere hour and a half earlier, I had discovered that Detectives Reynolds and Black would be meeting with our book club, Authors Abound, today. They had questions about the fatal auto accident of our assistant principal and book club sponsor, Mr. Jakes, which happened this past July.

However, Detective Black was actually the demon, Alexander, who through the centuries had killed me more times than I cared to think about, but who had also saved my life at the beginning of the past summer. Along with other warriors for the Light, Solomon, David, Helen, and Jarret, and my friends Maggie and Sam, I had gone to Rome at the request of Bishop Soratino to fight demons in the catacombs. Mission accomplished, sort of.

I had survived that meeting with him. Would I survive this one? I just couldn’t think straight, and when I looked at my hands, they were still shaking. What was he doing here?

The AA club was meeting to learn the outcome of our email vote taken during the summer to determine what we would read first for the year. The chairs were already in a circle with the gang all there: Sam and Maggie good-naturedly arguing; Vera looking at her phone with Rob watching her; Gabby laughing along with Amy at something Manning said.

"Okay, guys, hands down The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien was the winner of the summer vote," I said as I came up. As she’d voted for Percy Jackson, Vera looked a little aggravated at the outcome. I’d have to make sure we read something other than Tolkien all year long, or she might flip out. I saw Rob reach out and touch her shoulder, causing her to give him a small smile.

Hey, where were you at lunch today? Maggie asked.

I was talking with Fredrickson and two detectives. Fortunately my voice was pretty steady, unlike my hands. I’d missed lunch so maybe it was a case of low blood sugar causing my shaky hands. No…probably not.

Detectives? Maggie raised her eyebrows. I had gained everyone’s attention.

Yes. They are coming to talk with all of us today. They should be here any minute. Detectives Reynolds and Black…Alexander Black, I added quietly with a meaningful look at Sam and Maggie as the others burst out talking at once. Their eyes widened, and when Maggie drew in a breath to ask another question, I shook my head slightly.

About what? Rob asked.

They are investigating the death of Mr. Jakes. As I finished the statement, the detectives walked in with Principal Fredrickson.

Afternoon students. These are Detectives Black and Reynolds. Mr. Fredrickson introduced them to us. Alex’s eyes flicked around the circle, finally resting back on me. I didn’t want to keep looking at him but was afraid not to watch him to see what he was going to do. After one quick look at his face, I focused on his blue and white striped tie. I was afraid that I might have a ‘deer in the headlights’ look on my face and tried to regulate my heartbeat.

Det. Reynolds’ eyes seemed to hold the suspicion that all adults hold for teenagers as she looked around the circle. Hi, everyone. We are conducting a routine investigation regarding Mr. Jakes’ accident. As she assumed the lead, Alex stood behind her shoulder. Sam started to smile at him, but he shook his head at him.

Investigation? Is this involving those murders? Manning asked her and she narrowed her eyes, glancing back at Alex. There had been a rash of unsolved murders lately that had been causing some concern among parents. The PTA had created a Best Practices guidelines form and prominently posted it throughout the school for our first day back.

Alex smiled and quietly said, I told you.

With a nod of her head, she answered, We think that’s a possibility. Can any of you think of anyone who might have wanted to hurt Mr. Jakes? We all looked around the circle at each other and then shook our heads.

But I thought he was in a car accident. How could that be related to those other murders? Gabby asked. Our newest and youngest member of AA seemed pretty sharp. I found myself liking her more and more by the minute. She was a petite little blonde, barely topping five feet.

Yeah, I thought the other bodies were all slashed apart, added Rob. He was our other new member, but unlike Gabby who was a sophomore, he was a senior like the rest of us.

Well, some of Mr. Jakes’ injuries appear consistent with those of the murdered victims, Alex responded. We think perhaps that Mr. Jakes stumbled upon something.

So you think maybe he saw something and didn’t realize the significance of it, Sam said. There spoke a fan of CSI, NCIS, and Criminal Minds.

Alex nodded. We hoped by talking with you that we could retrace his movements and possibly uncover something. The tiniest detail could be significant.

Thirty minutes later Reynolds passed out a few business cards and said, Thank you for your time. Just give us a call if you have any information you think might be helpful with our investigation. Of course, we had not thought of anything remotely helpful, though we did try, listing the known bullies and troublemakers that Mr. Jakes had had run-ins with.

I began to calm down as soon as Alex left the building. But still I wondered what he was doing in Springfield. How in the world had he become a detective? And now with all these murders, the last one happening just a week ago, I was definitely freaked. As soon as they were gone, there was one moment of stillness as we looked at each other, then as one we ran to the pile of back issues of the Sun Times near the stacks in the middle section of the library and began looking up articles regarding the murders. Rob located the first one:

Murder in Springfield

By Butch Svenson

Monday, July 4, 2011

Police confirmed today that the mutilated body of a young woman was discovered along a lonely stretch of road just south of Springfield near Cloverdale Lake. The body had been ‘ripped and torn’ according to a police spokesperson. However, medical examiners say a sharp object had first cut the body. Then it appeared pieces were roughly torn away as if by animals. Identification of the remains has not yet been made.

A railroad worker conducting a routine inspection in the early morning hours yesterday found the corpse. Although the body was severely mutilated, little blood was present at the scene leading police to believe the murder may have occurred elsewhere. The body was then dumped near the abandoned railway station. Police are asking residents to call the State Police if they have any information regarding this homicide or know of any recent missing persons. The investigation is continuing, and police hope to release more details later today.

July 4th…just two weeks after I had turned eighteen on the summer solstice. I had been celebrating life since my return from Rome, but now I tasted a faint hint of ash as I swallowed.

Manning rustled his paper and said, "Here’s another one:

Murder Rampage

By Butch Svenson

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Another grisly murder in Springfield! As they reported for work early this morning, sanitation workers at the new landfill west of the city discovered the mutilated body of a young man. Police would not comment when asked if the injuries were similar to those observed on the remains of a young woman found on July 4th.

Neither victim has been identified. Both murders are described as vicious with no apparent motive or connection. An ambulance driver described the body as looking like a wild animal had savaged it. Police said they could not comment regarding an on-going investigation. Both murders took place late at night or in the early morning hours, and police are warning residents who have to be out to be cautious of anyone they don’t know.

When he finished, Sam read the last one out loud to us:

Serial Killer in Springfield

By Butch Svenson

Monday, August 8, 2011

Police have confirmed that another brutally mutilated body was found this morning. The injuries appear to be consistent with two other murdered victims from this past July. A tourist near Bridal Cave, a local attraction, discovered the unidentified corpse of a young woman. Police would not comment on the progress of the investigation but did warn citizens to stay indoors during the hours of darkness. No curfew has been announced, but police say all three murders took place during the night and were not caused by a wild animal.

There is a briefing by State Police officials scheduled for 6pm tonight. It is thought they will