Releasing the Hunter

Chapter 24

Ronan stayed hidden behind the silo in the field about one hundred yards from the farmhouse. He wouldn’t do Ivy any good by prematurely jumping out and revealing his position. He had the element of surprise on his side and he was going to use it to his advantage.

Earlier, he’d lost the second demon through the town streets, but it had brought him closer to the demon rendezvous. Because of his superior hearing and vision he’d been able to overhear exactly what was going on from his spot. He knew they were planning an attack on the human compound. He also knew they had an inside man. Someone close to Quinn who’d been feeding them vital information this whole time.

And because of their misplaced confidence in their strength and cunningness, Ronan had been able to follow them to the farmhouse.

They’d known he’d been kicked out of the camp but they’d misjudged his willingness to return and help the humans. To save Ivy. He supposed the demons had no concept of loyalty, friendship or love.

Yeah, he had to admit it to himself. He was in love with her. It probably wouldn’t change her mind about him, though. And he didn’t blame her. Despite everything, despite how he felt about her, he still needed the key. He wished she could understand that. His need to be fully human again. And if this was the only way, he’d do it.

Through the binoculars he’d procured from one of Ivy’s bags that he’d gone back to their busted-up car to retrieve, he watched as the demons herded Ivy, Quinn and all the others into the farmhouse. He imagined they would secure them in the basement. Now he just needed to get close enough to use the other goodies Ivy had in her gear.

Some of the things that she’d invented for demon hunting were inspired to be sure.

Once they were all inside, leaving two sentries out front, the possessed he assumed, Ronan hefted the pack over his shoulder and crawled his way across the field. He was wearing black so he knew he was somewhat camouflaged in the waning light. He just had to keep his patience and go slowly and carefully. Although everything inside him screamed at him to run and attack and kill everyone standing in the way between him and Ivy, he took in a few deep breaths and tried to stay calm and levelheaded.

There was a thick copse of trees on the east side of the house. He would get there, and then plan the best way to get in without killing any of the possessed. And save Ivy. He knew it was going to be damn near impossible on all fronts, but he had to try.

It was a long, arduous crawl, but Ronan finally made it to the edge of the trees. Cast in shadow among the tall oaks, he could get around easier. He crept along the tree line and crouched behind a large oak directly opposite one of the guards.

He knew there were two guards at the front of the house; he suspected there would be at least two more in the back. Unzipping the duffel bag, Ronan took out a modified rifle. He screwed on a front piece that looked like a silencer. It was, in fact, a housing for plastic bullets. He didn’t know where Ivy got them, probably an army surplus store somewhere, but it was ingenious for taking out those you didn’t want to kill—just incapacitate.

Once he took out the side guard, he had to be on the run toward the house to take out the others. He wanted to go in as silently as possible. If the demons knew he was coming, they might panic and kill everyone inside. He had some time, he knew. Quinn wouldn’t give the key up easily. Ronan suspected they’d have to torture him for a while first.

He lined up the sights on the rifle. He had to hit the guard in the head to knock him unconscious. Anywhere else would just be damaging but not enough to incapacitate. The guard could still cry out to the others.

Ronan was cautious about using the plastic bullets. He knew there had been deaths in the past from precisely this—hits to the head. But there was no other way of taking the guy out from a distance. He’d get in closer for the others. But this first one had to be done this way. Muttering a prayer under his breath, he put his finger on the trigger and pulled.

The bullet hit the guard right in the temple, exactly where Ronan had aimed. He went down like a ton of bricks, sinking to the ground without a word. One down.

Ronan picked up the bag and ran to the corner of the house. He grabbed the fallen guard’s feet and dragged him to the porch, rolling him under it. He then hopped over the railing and onto the porch. He crept along the wall to the other corner and peered over. The guard was there, a woman this time, holding a shotgun. He reached into the bag and grabbed something for close encounters. A stun gun.

He set down the bag, then walked to the end of the porch and leaned over the railing. “Hey.” He ducked back around so she couldn’t shoot him outright. Crouching, he watched through the porch rails for her to appear. He only had to wait ten seconds.

Her eyes widened when she spotted him and she raised her weapon, but Ronan was faster. He had the stun gun through the rails and pressed the button. The two wires sprang out and attached to her cheek. Electricity zipped through the lines and into the woman’s body. She was down on the ground in seconds.

Grabbing the bag, he jumped over the railing, landing softly by the downed guard’s body. He rolled her under the porch, then picked up her shotgun and shoved it into the duffel bag. As quick as he could, he ran along the side of the house to the back. He did a quick peek around the corner. He’d assumed right. There were two guards manning the back.

Before he could consider how he was going to dispatch them, the guard closest to him came around the corner, unzipping his jeans to relieve himself. Ronan snuck up behind him, put his arm around his neck and choked him out. He dragged him to the side and laid him up against the wall. One more to go before he could get into the house and get Ivy out.

Pressed against the side wall, Ronan waited until the perfect opportunity to take out the other guard. It came about five minutes later when he wandered over to find out what happened to his buddy.

“Joe,” the guard called, “where you at?”

Ronan waited until he was right in front of him, then he sprang into action. But he made a vital error. The guard wasn’t one of the possessed, but a demon.

He swatted away Ronan’s arm and smiled. “Hello, sunshine.”