Sora's Quest Read Online Free PDF Page A

jumped off her. A hand grabbed her braid and yanked her to her feet. Sora screeched, but her cry was cut off by a smart slap to the face that stunned her to silence.
    She looked at the man holding her—by her standards quite tall, around six feet. She was stunned by green eyes so vibrant that for a moment she thought they glowed.
    Then she blinked and brought the rest of the man's features into focus. Black hair darker than a raven's wing swept across his brow in a short cut, exposing two neat ears. His skin was lightly tanned, but she could make out very little of his face. Most of his lower features were hidden behind a black veil. Once again, her eyes were riveted to his gaze, sharper than a knife, his expression terrifying.
    Suddenly she felt her throat close. Dear Goddess.... Was this the man who had destroyed the skylight? With eyes like that, I wouldn't put it past him!
    Before her imagination could run away with her, he whipped out a knife and pressed it against her throat. "Make a noise and it'll be your last," he hissed. His voice was quiet and smooth, like a snake.
    With a shudder, Sora thought it must be the voice of Death. She licked her dry lips, shaking with terror, her fingers curling up like dried leaves.
    Somehow she found the will to speak. "Who are you?" she asked.
    "No questions." The knife bit deeper.
    "Please...." she shuddered, and the words slipped out like water. "Don't kill me. I-I won't tell anyone!"
    "Tongues talk. I should take yours."
    "N-no!" Sora's thoughts spun helplessly, trying to think of a way to stall him. "If you don't trust me, then...t-take me with you!"
    Saying that shocked her. Her lips stayed parted, as though expecting more, her breath wheezing out in a hollow gasp. He gazed at her with those calculating serpentine eyes, traveling over her hair, her face, across her shoulders. Then his eyes lingered at her throat, close to where the knife pressed against her skin. Slowly he frowned, staring at the base of her neck. No reply.
    At that moment, a commotion broke out down the hall. There was a distant flicker of light. His eyes looked up and focused behind her.
    He grabbed her hand, turned and ran.
    Sora was so stunned, she couldn't make her legs move. She found herself half-dragged, half-carried down the hallway. Then, with a surge of willpower, she forced her legs to work and launched into a sprint. Despite her fit condition, it was almost impossible to keep up with him.
    Dear Goddess, have I gone mad? Was she actually running next to this man? She had no answer to that. His hand on her wrist was like solid steel, but the rest of him was a shadow, a ghost flickering in and out of the lantern light, existing between two worlds. He could have been a dream, a nightmare, some corporeal spirit...she almost half-believed it. Who is he?
    They burst through a side door, one of the servants' entrances, and plunged into the freezing night. Sora felt that she'd been doused with ice water, suddenly awake. The stables were in the opposite direction and she still had her satchel. She could run for her horse...if this person would only let go of her hand.
    "Enough," she grunted. She had joined him willingly, but she didn't intend to travel with him, not at all! When she tried to pull her hand away, his grip tightened.
    Her fighting instincts kicked in. With a jerk, she yanked hard, trying to free her arm. His fingers clamped down like iron, shocking her with their strength. She winced. That's going to bruise.
    "Hey! Let go!" she demanded, still pulling away from him, though it wasn't very effective. He moved her along at a rapid pace, half-lifting her from the ground, hardly sparing her a glance. "Where are you taking me?" She dug her feet into the gravel driveway, skidding across the loose shale.
    His fingers gripped a little tighter, but other than that, he ignored her. There was no one around; no servants, no lawn workers, no maids. Everyone had gone to the ballroom. She was caught,