Curse of Shadows and Light Read Online Free PDF Page A

Wouldn’t want any demon babies popping out, would we. Or maybe MTV could make up a new show: Teen Demon Mom. It’d be a hit.”
    Between Anastasia’s cruel welcome and Kieron’s sudden indifference, I finally reach the end of my patience. “Do you ever shut up?!” I snap at Corrine. “God, could Liora have picked a more ANNOYING sidekick?!”
    I grab my things and storm off. If Kieron wants to be by himself, fine. So be it. I pick the larger of the two rooms on the north side and slam the door shut, throwing my bags on the floor. I flop myself down on the bed and stare up at the ceiling, and try to regain some composure. But even the sound of the ocean crashing along the shore below does little to soothe my frayed nerves. Everyone has their breaking point, and I fear mine is getting dangerously close.
    I ponder my circumstances and realize I have absolutely no idea what to do next, or even where to go. Normally at this time I’d be discussing with Tatiana my plans for the evening, whether it be demon hunting, toll collecting, or finding humans that deserved my services as a Justice Demon. Then I’d dress accordingly, find Diablo, go to Dryndara where I’d see Bones, and more recently Kieron, and go about my night. That had been my life and my routine for years.
    But now I have no place to go to. Bones is dead. Dryndara and Demon Bar are off limits to me. I’ve been reduced to hiding out at the home of a witch who would probably rather kill me than help me, and my powers feel as reliable and strong as a dead battery. I have no friends or allies other than Kieron. And even he seems to be pulling away.
    How did I get here? What have I done to deserve this?
    Hours pass as I lie on the bed, just thinking about everything. Trying to make sense of it all. Finally, as I feel my time drawing to an end, I force myself up and make my way to the hallway, trying to be quiet as I open the door to the room next to mine.
    Corrine is snoring gently with her comforter wrapped around her like a cocoon. I gently shake her back and forth.
    “ Hey… hey, Corrine. Wake up a minute. I need to talk to you.”
    “ Liora?” she murmurs groggily.
    “ It’s Lucky. I need to talk—”
    “ Oh!” Her eyes fly open, and she immediately props herself up with her hands and scoots away. I let out a deep sigh and remind myself to stay cool.
    “ I need to talk to you. I only have a minute.” I glance over to the window where the dark sky is beginning to turn a light grey.
    Corrine rubs her eyes. “What’s up?”
    “ I need you to give Liora a message for me. I need you to talk to her the second she wakes up. You need to tell her something for me, okay? It’s very important.”
    “ Sure… yeah. What is it?” She reaches for her glasses on the nightstand and puts them on. I’m not sure why she needs to see better in order to listen to what I have to say, but whatever.
    I sit down on the side of her bed, and she inches away some more. “I need you to tell her that Tatiana is okay. That she’s fine and well. It was all a trick.”
    She frowns. “What happened to Tatiana?”
    I roll my eyes. “Nothing! Don’t you understand English? She’s fine! It’s important you tell Liora that the second she wakes up. Can you do that?”
    She nods. “Yeah… of course.”
    “ And there’s another thing.” I stand up and make my way over to the window. Pulling back the curtains, I peek outside, where the lights of the mansion glow in the distance.
    “ Tell her… tell her not to trust Anastasia. Even though she might want to, tell her to keep her guard up. I’m not sure she’s on our side.”
    Corrine’s eyes widen, and she pushes up her glasses. “What do you mean not on our side? Is she bad? Are we in danger?”
    I shake my head and walk over to the door. “No… you’re fine. Just tell Liora exactly what I told you. Nothing more, nothing less. Tell her the moment she awakens. Got it?”
    Corrine nods enthusiastically. “Tatiana is