Overworld Chronicles Books 1-2: Sweet Blood of Mine & Dark Light of Mine Read Online Free PDF Page A

later, Case." He and the others laughed as they went down the hall.
    A strong hand gripped me by the bicep and helped me up. I turned, expecting to see Mr. Turpin's large hands on my arm and yelped as I came face to face with Goth Girl and all the metallic horrors piercing her face. She drew in a deep breath through her nose. I could swear the girl was sniffing me. I pulled away from her, slightly so as not to be too rude.
    "Thanks," I said.
    She smiled, showing me neat rows of white teeth. The rest of her face was a mess of dark eyeliner, white powder, and piercings all over the place. I tried not to shudder or imagine what other places on her body might be pierced.
    "Never give up," she said in a low voice and walked away without looking back.
    "Kids these days," Mr. Turpin said, shaking his head. "They never stay on task."
    I had a feeling Mr. Turpin had been hit in the head a lot during his boxing days. He was a nice, soft-spoken guy, but he repeated, "Stay on task" like it was holy mantra even if it didn't fit the occasion. Then again, who was I to talk?
    On the way home from school, Katie texted me, asking if I could study tonight. I told her I would after dinner.
    As I approached home, a shout from inside grabbed my attention. I paused at the front door and pressed an ear against it. I heard indistinct voices but nothing loud enough to understand. I sneaked through the garage, past Mom's burgundy Volvo, and around the pile of rakes and other yard implements that still looked new as the day Dad had bought them. The garage door didn't offer any better eavesdropping so I twisted the doorknob slowly and eased the door open into the kitchen. I peeked through the crack and caught a glimpse of my parents standing just inside the den.
    "…won't happen to him," Dad said. "We would know for sure by now."
    Mom sighed. "And I told you it doesn't matter. Everything depends on this. Everything. You need to keep it together or dear old Daddy Slade might—"
    "Wait," Dad said, holding out a hand and sniffing the air. He motioned Mom further into the den and out of sight. "Do we need groceries for tonight?"
    "Nope. Dinner is in the freezer."
    "Not again."
    "Yes, again."
    A few seconds later, a door slammed shut. Something was seriously wrong with my parents. Arguments, microwaved dinners, and Dad sniffing the air like a coonhound. Maybe Aunt Petunia's death was screwing with their minds. And who was Daddy Slade? It sounded like the name of a trumpet player for a swing-dance band. I didn't know what to think. I entered the door, acting all casual and nonchalant.
    "Hey, son," Dad said in a tone tinged with false enthusiasm. He reached into the fridge and grabbed a six-pack of beer.
    "When did you start drinking?"
    Dad popped open a beer bottle and took a swallow. He made a face. "I've always enjoyed a beer or two."
    "Or six?" I asked, looking at the container in his hand.
    "Justin, I know you don't like to tell us everything. I was the same way when I was your age."
    "I think keeping secrets goes for people of all ages." I gave him a pointed look.
    He chuckled. "What I'm getting at is—"
    "Sorry, Dad, but I've got a study date with a girl tonight and I really need to get a move on."
    Dad took another swig of beer and winked. "That's great." He looked as though he wanted to say something else but instead took his beer into the den and tuned into a reality show featuring a bunch of women screaming at each other.
    I nuked a meal in the microwave and gussied myself up before heading over to Katie's.
    "Hey Justin," she said, giving me a quick hug when I arrived.
    I tried to say something witty but my brain failed me. "Hi." Where was all my bravado from last night? Apparently it was taking an extended vacation because we actually studied Calculus until nine. We didn't say a thing about Brad or our kiss. It was like it never happened. Or maybe I was supposed to man up and kiss her again. Why couldn't she just tell me what she wanted?
    Katie