My Tethered Soul: Volume 2 (Reaper's Rite) Read Online Free PDF Page A

“I had a glass of water, and after I drank it, I set the glass on the counter. I kept thinking about my powers. And wondering. So, I tried to lift it off the counter.”
    My eyes darted to the broken glass and back to Mara. “Didn’t work?”
    “It did at first. But then…I don’t know. It’s just frustrating. It used to come so easily to me. You saw that book. I stopped it mid-air without even thinking about it. I mean, what the hell?”
    “I guess it’s kind of like after you stop using a certain muscle for a while? Atrophy?”
    She scoffed. “Magical atrophy?”
    I smiled. “Probably. I’m still kind of new to this whole thing, you know.”
    “Figures. I’m almost done with school, but I’ve got to retrain my powers. Great.”
    “You’ve already got a great teacher.”
    Mara raised her brow, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
    “Lilura will train you,” I said. “It’s safer to do it her way anyway. Besides, I don’t think anyone will mind too much if her things break.”
    Both our heads turned toward the door as Dad walked in. I immediately fetched the broom to clean up the glass.
    “Hey, Dad,” Mara said. She didn’t look back at me, probably so she wouldn’t draw attention to me. But her intentions didn’t pay off.
    “What happened?” He set his briefcase and a full plastic bag on the table, looking between us.
    “I’m just feeling clumsy today,” I said. “Knocked the glass off the counter.”
    Mara got to her feet and came over to me. “I’ll help you, Zadie.”
    She grabbed the dustpan and gave me a thankful smile.
    “Feeling clumsy on your birthday?” Dad asked. “You know what that means: you’ll be clumsy all year.”
    “Oh, great. Why couldn’t I feel smart or, I don’t know, rich?”
    Mara dumped the broken glass in the garbage. “What’s in the bag, Dad?”
    Dad smiled. “Zadie’s birthday dinner. I picked up Chinese on the way home.”
    “Aw, cool.” I gave Dad a hug, and he placed a kiss on the top of my head.
    “Got you a present too.”
    I smiled up at him as he handed me a wrapped gift that he’d hidden behind the bag of Chinese food. It was heavier than I expected. I tore the flowered paper away, exposing a mahogany and copper jewelry box.
    “Wow. It’s beautiful.”
    Dad sat down, looking relieved. “You like it? I found it in Vancouver. It plays music when it’s opened.”
    I pushed back the lid to find a twirling ballerina inside. She danced on her tiptoe to the tinny sound of a classical tune.
    “I know it’s not exactly something a teenager would want.” Dad rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s just that, you had one when you were little. Do you remember? You loved that thing. Constantly played the song, over and over. Drove your mother and me cr—… Well, anyway. I saw this and thought of you right away. Mostly because I can’t stand the thought of you growing up so fast.”
    “Aw, Dad,” Mara and I said at the same time.
    I leaned down and gave him another hug. “I love it. Thanks.”
    We dived right into dinner, failing miserably at using chopsticks, and Mara and I indulged in answering questions Dad threw at us about school. Soon, our bellies were full and darkness filled the windows. Mara cleared the table while I slipped my phone into my jeans pocket so I could text Gavin when I got to my room.
    “I’m gonna turn in, Dad.” I picked up the music box and gave it a hug. “Thanks again for my present.”
    “Goodnight, Zadie.”
    After a quick kiss on the cheek, I ran upstairs, kicked off my jeans, and threw on an oversized T-shirt to sleep in. Not knowing what to do with the switchblade Chase gave me, I slid it under my pillow. Probably not the best place for a sharp weapon, but it would have to do until I figured out a better—and safer—hiding place.
    I had just sent a text off to Gavin when Mara came into my room and closed the door. I sat up in bed, worried about the expression on her face. She sat down beside me and put her