Of Light and Darkness Read Online Free PDF Page A

of the satchel slung over her shoulder, as she walked down the dirt road, passing fields of wildflowers and crops.
    The glorious sun beat down on the greenness of the grass, causing her entire world to explode with colors that contrasted with her normal night habits. Her eyes stung, but she realized how much she missed it. There were a few farmers harvesting in one of the fields and they nodded at her as she passed. She smiled back politely, but dared not utter a single word. It was always best for her to remain as invisible as possible.
    She often thought about what it would be like to be normal, like them—to go to school with kids her age, to have parents. But every time she thought about this, she thought about a life without Valek, and instantly remembered it wasn’t worth it.
    Looking up, Charlotte let the warmth of the day soak her face. It had been such a long time since she felt natural warmth on her skin. Her world always seemed to be cool and quiet. She didn’t complain, but a change was nice every now and again.
    A little ways down the road, a small car slowly puttered past her as the people inside smiled at the day outside. A family outing. Charlotte looked down at the dirt as she walked and thought of Valek again.
    Finally, she reached the familiar spot where the road rambled all the way to Prague and a rickety, old, wooden sign pointed solemnly toward a clump of trees. The beginning of a dense forest that was home to the quietest, most peaceful place Charlotte could think of. She peered around, making sure she had no followers, and disappeared into the thick blades of grass that grew all the way to the top of her head. Swimming through a sea of overwhelming green, she came out on the other side into the clearing, where the tall blades ended and the evergreen forest began.
    She’d made this trek periodically since she was around ten or so, and she knew exactly which trees marked the trail. The first time she had done it, she tied little pieces of red ribbon on branches to find her way back. There were still a few pieces hanging ragged among the winding twigs, claiming this trail was still hers.
    She grabbed onto the low-growing branches to steady herself over the boulders and surprising dips in the earth. It wasn’t so much a clear path, as it was a winding maze of twigs and leaves she carefully had to push her way through. But there was no threat of falling—she knew this forest too well. She eyed the break in the overgrowth a few feet ahead.
    Once she finally reached her favorite clearing, by a waterfall she’d lovingly adopted as her own personal hideaway, she sat down on the large, flat boulder face that loomed like a shelf over the pond surface. She took off her shoes and carefully slipped her feet in the cool water. Reaching deep into her satchel, she pulled out the shiny, red apple and bit into its ruby skin. The juices exploded over her lips and dripped in rivulets down her chin.
    The forest was a symphony that day. The breeze through the nooks of rock faces and tree branches were the woodwinds, the birdsong high above in the canopy, the strings, and the water plummeting into the pond, the percussion. Charlotte listened contently as she took another bite of her apple and swung her feet around, causing ripples in the water’s surface.
    Muggy warmth entrapped under the forest canopy made her eyes heavy. She looked at her watch. It was only two o’clock. This happened every time she decided to stay awake for the day. But she fought falling asleep here, where she could be caught by some wondering human or rogue monster. As she leaned back against a thick tree trunk, the heat and the lullaby of the woods made napping seem more and more appealing. An enormous yawn unleashed itself as she stretched her arms wide. She couldn’t help it; her eyes began to close.
    A low, booming noise sounded. Charlotte opened her eyes to find her golden sun gone, replaced by big, ominous storm clouds. So much for her