In Darkness Lost Read Online Free PDF Page A

people to get your way.” I defended myself, face going pale, fists clenched.
    She laughed again. “Listen to you, witch boy. So naïve. No, if you cooperate with us, your beloved sister won’t be hurt. She’ll be left with the elderly woman who’s sponsoring her education in magic, and nothing bad will happen.” She gave me a sly smile. “But, should you mess up, there are a dozen ways to arrange her death or a terrible accident to make sure she’ll never be sane again if she survives. We wouldn’t want that, would we now?”  She purred.
    I glared at her, “You’re monsters; you know that?”
    “Not me, Crypt, darling. My master, yes, but not me.”
    “Yet you would threaten to hurt my sister to force me to do as you will, and you follow the man who does such horrid things,” I said. “I’m not stupid. You obviously have the skills to do anything you want to her if I don’t obey your king. And you would. I hate you for being willing to harm children.” I immediately wished I hadn’t said it.
    I didn’t even have time to respond defensively. Her hand shot out, and struck me before I knew what was going on.
    Then I was on the ground, stunned, and she was kneeling on top of my chest.
    The snow beneath me was cold against my back. A piece of ice bit into my shoulder, and I could hardly draw in a breath due to her weight on my chest.
    Her silvery blond hair whipped in the wind, and a cold smile adorned her face. She stroked the side of my face with a cold, bare hand.
    I flinched.
    She laughed. “I’m not going to kill you yet, witch boy. Next time, don’t equate me with what happened to your sister. That was my king’s decision. I do not harm children.” Her voice was firm and cold. “But you aren’t a child anymore, and if you aren’t careful, you’ll end up with a knife in your back. Keep in mind; I’m not the only person who might kill you.”
    My stomach knotted with dread. Her hand withdrew, and she stood up, removing her weight from my chest.
    I gasped for breath, relieved that she was off my chest. I had made a mistake in saying what I had, and she’d certainly made sure I knew and wouldn’t forget soon.
    “I’m sorry,” I muttered sullenly.
    “You aren’t. Just like every other teenage boy, you don’t think you’re to blame. It’s not your fault; it’s mine or someone else’s. But it’s never yours,” she purred, her voice sarcastic and biting.
    I winced under the blow. It was a low blow, but it was somewhat true.
    “That’s the problem with your kind, mage boy. They’re all so arrogant. And,” she fixed me with a cold, predatory stare. “I hate arrogant, snobbish mages. In fact, I hate all mages, so you’d better watch your back. Upset my king, and I’ll gladly kill you.”
    I suppressed the urge to be snappish. I knew my sarcasm would probably earn me another slap like the last one, and I didn’t want to risk it. The place she’d slapped me before still stung.
    She must have sensed I was holding back because she laughed shortly. “Smart boy, aren’t you? You’re right, though. Saying anything smart will earn you another slap, and I will slap a lot harder this time.” She warned.
    I nodded, and turned around to go. “I heard what you had to say. I'm leaving now.” That at least, I believed, should be a safe, respectful enough statement. The last thing I wanted was to earn another slap like the last one.
    She moved so quickly I hardly had time to respond. I had taken only a few steps when she was behind me. She grabbed my arm, intending to spin me back around.
    I surprised her by trying to counter her by pulling away. I thought I was so smart, until she let go of me. I lost my balance in the struggle, and I went down into the snow again.
    This time, I fell into it face first. I was grateful that the snow was fluffy and soft, but it still knocked the wind out of me. Her foot came down on my back as I tried to flip over and rise.
    I stopped resisting then, because