Dark Heart Rising Read Online Free PDF Page B

The other part felt it was too hopeless. This was beyond my power.
    Or was it?
    ‘I had an interesting time,’ I said, ‘meeting you. But now I just want to forget. I need to forget. Don’t you understand?’
    Soren looked at the clock above the studio door.
    ‘I’d better get you back to your grandmother,’ he said. He picked up his jacket and put it round my shoulders. ‘I am glad to have met you too.’ He gave me a wan smile. ‘I don’t feel as alone somehow.’
    ‘No,’ I took his hand. ‘Me neither.’

CHAPTER FOUR
     
    ‘H ow are you feeling about college?’ Mum put a chicken in the oven and moved towards the kettle.
    ‘OK.’ I shrugged, leaning closer to the radio.
    Mum filled the kettle and switched it on. ‘Good to see you’re feeling better. Must be your grandmother’s magic touch.’ She smiled, glancing through the doorway then pulling out a chair to sit opposite me.
    I could tell she was trying to get me to talk, but I didn’t feel like it. I closed my eyes and hummed along to the track playing.
    Eventually I opened them again. My mother was staring at me, affectionately. It bugged me for some reason.
    ‘What?’ I said, trying to keep the annoyance out of my voice.
    ‘Nothing.’ She gave a light little shrug. ‘I’m just glad all that stuff is over.’ She lowered her voice. ‘I hate to say this, because I know how strongly you felt for Luca … but it would never have worked. Not in the conventional way.’
    ‘Well, maybe I’m not conventional,’ I snapped.
    ‘OK!’ Mum held her palms out, defensively. ‘No need to bite my head off.’
    ‘Sorry.’ I sighed. ‘I’m just feeling a bit … you know …’
    ‘Yes. I do know. But you’re on the brink of such an exciting time. You’re going to meet so many new people. New boys …’ She reached out and took hold of my fingertips. ‘Boys who live in this world.’
    I sniffed. ‘Yeah. I know that …’
    ‘You’re a special girl. You’re right. Not conventional in the least. But, believe me, there are plenty of unconventional men out there. Flesh and blood, non shape-shifting, Earthly boys … Your father is one of them.’
    I laughed. ‘Dad?’
    ‘Yeah, your dad.’ Mum scratched at the vinyl tablecloth. ‘He’s uniquely reliable, and patient, and good. He’ll never let us down. He would never leave us.’ She paused. ‘I just know.’
    ‘Even if he found out about you and Gabriel?’
    She didn’t flinch. ‘He just wouldn’t understand … it would be too much. And none of that matters any more.’
    ‘But it means he doesn’t properly know you,’ I said. I knew I was being unfair to her but it was true.
    ‘Sweetheart. I’ll let you into a little secret. Sometimes it’s better that your husband doesn’t know everything about you. Sometimes, you need to keep some things to yourself. Things that have no bearing on your relationship.’
    I wrinkled my nose. ‘Sounds like dishonesty to me.’
    She got up, properly ruffled now. ‘You’re young, you’re an idealist. And you’re a romantic.’
    ‘I’m not!’ I was horrified at the idea.
    ‘Yes, you are. And that’s wonderful. As long as you’re realistic too. There are some things you’re better off not knowing about a person, and vice versa.’ She picked up the boiled kettle, poured the water into a pan and put it on the hob.
    ‘Maybe you’re right.’ I switched off the radio. ‘I certainly didn’t like what I found out about Evan … Or Luca. But I still would rather have known than not known.’
    Mum came over and put her hands on my shoulders. ‘I know,’ she said softly. ‘And that was awful. Really awful. But Evan was a psychopath and Luca … Luca has just proved what I told you.’
    ‘I know. That the laws of Nissilum are beyond mortal understanding.’
    Behind me, I knew she was nodding. Her fingers gave me a small squeeze.
    ‘So, you see. Better to stick to mortal boys from now on. Infuriating they might be, but at least they’re