Paranormalcy Read Online Free PDF Page A

to kill me?”

HAVE A BLEEP BLEEP DAY
    I —no, that’s not what IPCA does,” I said. “They don’t kill paranormals, they—”
    Lend raised a hand to stop me and sat up, large eyes narrowing. “Are you going to kill me?”
    â€œWhy would I kill you?”
    After a moment he let out a deep breath. “I don’t think it’s you.”
    â€œWhat’s not me?”
    Standing, he stretched. Did I mention how weird it was watching my body do this stuff? He even had the hair right—a little messy this morning, since I hadn’tbothered to brush it yet.
    â€œCan you please go back to normal?” I wanted to look at him more now that I could see him better.
    He smiled, flashing my perfect teeth at me. I had to go through three years of braces for that smile; no fair that he could copy it in a second. “Normal? What’s that?”
    â€œHow you really look.”
    â€œCan you take off all your clothes?”
    Okay, weirdest thing ever—I just asked myself to take off all my clothes. It doesn’t get much creepier. “Why on earth would I do that?”
    â€œYou asked me to be naked; I thought it was only fair.”
    â€œI just meant stop wearing me. Be yourself. But yourself with clothes.”
    â€œThese are my clothes. But, if it bothers you.” I melted off him and he grew a few inches. In my place was a teenage guy. Black hair, dark brown eyes, olive skin, and, oh yeah, absolutely gorgeous. Like, belonged on one of the shows I loved so much gorgeous. “Better?” His voice had changed, deepened, and I wished I was talking with an actual teenage guy.
    â€œDefinitely.” I looked closer. Still Lend under there. Even the dark eyes didn’t hide his water-colored ones; I could see him shimmering through.
    â€œThis seems to be a popular one.”
    â€œYeah, I can imagine.” Then I frowned, curious. “What does your real voice sound like?”
    â€œWhat makes you think this isn’t it?”
    â€œI think it would sound different. Softer. Like water.” I realized how stupid that sounded, but his smile dropped off and he gave me a considering look.
    â€œIf you didn’t come here to kill me, why are you here, Evie?”
    Awkward. Here I was, no makeup, ratty hair, in front of the hottest teenage guy I’d ever seen, fake or not. Why was I here? “It’s my job.”
    His smile returned, this time with the usual ironic twist to his lips. “Oh. Your job. Quite the career for someone your age.”
    â€œYou’re not much older than me.” Now that I’d seen him better, I was sure of it. Corrupted mortals like vampires show their real bodies’ ages—old and nasty—underneath. True immortals, like faeries, have eternal youth, but there’s something different in their faces. All those years don’t add lines; they smooth, like a piece of glass turned around forever on the ocean floor. No mortal has that polish. His face was neither old nor ageless.
    The shift in his expression confirmed it. “Ha!” I smiled smugly. “I’m guessing…fifteen.” I went low on purpose.
    He looked indignant. “Seventeen.”
    â€œSee? You told the truth. That wasn’t so bad, now, was it?”
    Lend shook his head, then sighed. “Trouble.”
    â€œYou bet I’m trouble,” I countered with a smile. Sure,maybe I was flirting, a little. Could you blame me? The only guys I ever met were too old, half monsters, living corpses, or immortal creeps. At least Lend was close to my age, whatever else he was.
    â€œNo, you’re in trouble.” He looked and I followed his eyes right to Raquel, who was not happy. At all. She finished crossing the hall and fixed a steely glare on me.
    I was about to apologize, but then I rolled my eyes. “What are you going to do, ground me?” Maybe I shouldn’t have been so flip about it, but