The Human Side (The Demon Side Series) by Heaven Liegh Eldeen

staying with her.”
    “Benjamin, get him out of here.”
    “Ambulance is on its way, and she’s in good hands.” Gabriel pulled me up by my arm. As we took off on our search, he kept calling out Tristan’s name. I knew I should have been looking for him, but I kept glancing back to Etta.
    “She said a light hit him,” I said once we were out of earshot of the girls.
    “That would explain why John’s not here.”
    “Does it? Why wouldn’t he just flash here instead of calling us for help? And if he hit Tristan, we’re not going to find him either.”
    “We at least have to try to find him.”
    “Do you think he hit Tristan on purpose?”
    “Why would he do that?”
    “Maybe he’s not who he says he is?”
    “They trust him. He’s practically a member of the family.”
    “They may trust him, but do you?”
    “You must stop with the jealousy and accept the fact Etta loves another.”
    His comment stopped me dead in my tracks. “So, she does love him?”
    “I don’t know what she feels for him. I’m not with them every moment they spend together.” Gabriel stopped and turned to me.
    “Wouldn’t she have said something to Amy, and with as close as you two have become, Amy is all but bound to say something to you.”
    “Look, Etta is a confused girl right now. A lot has happened since you left, and the veil is all but wide open for her now. But she’s twisted the memories. She has delusions of this grand Angelic Demon and savior who is going to show up one day and prove to everyone she’s not insane. And when she’s not in the attic waiting for him to magically appear, she’s at Tristan’s house helping him with a psychology paper he’s writing about her delirium. He’s been trying to help her.”
    “If the veil is as open as you say it is, then wouldn’t Lucifer have made a move for her?” If what Gabriel said held true, then her growing knowledge of our worlds would leave her open to a full frontal attack. Lucifer would have no need to hide behind Vetis. Why he even sent him, I had yet to figure out.
    “Like I said, she’s twisting everything. She hasn’t quite figured it all out, but she’s not far from doing so.”
    “Then why doesn’t Father just close it?”
    “Something is keeping it open. John and I have been trying to figure out what, but have found nothing.”
    My thoughts flooded back to the pieces of my feathers. Were they what drew out her memories, and in turn, her Demons? If that were the case, Father should have closed the veil the moment she no longer held possession of them. Is simply knowing about them holding the veil open? Or possibly their existence on Earth? I would have to go back to the motel and destroy them the first chance I had.
    “Hey, guys.” Tristan suddenly appeared behind Gabriel, startling us both.
    “Tristan! Are you okay?” Gabriel rushed to his side inspecting a small cut on his neck.
    “I’m fine.”
    I didn’t give a damn about his welfare. Having done my job finding him, I ran back toward Etta. As I approached, Amy stood up, blocking me from Etta. Her worried expression sent off the alarms in my head.
    “We need to get her to a hospital ASAP. She has too many injuries, and she’s losing a lot of blood, fast.”
    Without a word, I shoved past Amy and knelt beside Etta. She had been rolled to her stomach. Dropping to both my knees in shock, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Sticking from her back were countless shards of glass, as if a glass window exploded behind her. My hand trembled above, wanting to rip them out as tears welled up.
    “Don’t. They may be the only thing slowing the bleeding, and I don’t know how deep they are.” Amy grabbed my wrist. Gabriel and Tristan walked toward the road, now filled with the yellow and red lights of emergency vehicles. Gabriel pointed our way and four men hopped out of a small red fire truck.
    The men in black overalls ran across the field and pushed Amy and me to the side. Two of the firemen