The Violet Awakening (The Elementum Trinity Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

consider them to be unrespectable resources. Human ignorance, as frustrating as it may be at times, has kept us well hidden.”
    “The thing is,” Al whispered, as Lily went off to gather another group of strangers, “most of the people who’re thought of as crazy... are actually right.”

Chapter Six
Presents
     
     
     
     
    “Oh, wow… Uh… Thank you,” I said, holding the jar of mushy greenish-yellow stuff up to the light for examination.
    Lily and Al had neglected to mention that the other Elementums would be giving us gifts. It was uncomfortable enough accepting presents from total strangers, but even more so when we didn’t know what half of the things were.
    “It’s dandelion jelly,” a woman I remembered as Karen said, seemingly unoffended by my lack of knowledge on homemade canned goods.
    At least the majority of the gifts were hand-made. It wasn’t like accepting a beautiful necklace from someone you’d just met. They’d put the gathering together so quickly, it was pretty obvious that most had grabbed something random out of their cupboards. Still, I would have been perfectly happy with handshakes and the odd hug.
    “You can make jelly from dandelions?” I questioned, spinning the top off the jar to take a whiff. It actually smelled pretty good, not at all like a lawn.
    Karen chuckled and waved her hand at me, as if she were brushing off a silly joke. I wish I’d been joking. I knew very little about preparing even the simplest of foods, let alone ones made from weeds.
    “Has everyone given their gifts?” Lily asked, hair nearly glowing in the dimming sunlight.
    “Wait!” a squeaky voice called from somewhere in the crowd.
    I recognized the girl, coppery hair bouncing as she led her young generation toward us. She’d given me a dandelion on the day before, when I’d first set foot in the Eden. My heart ached as I thought of Jenny.
    “We made these for you,” the girl said, as she and another young girl held out rings of little white flowers.
    “They’re lovely,” I smiled, kneeling down so she could place the band on my head. A snicker escaped as Lakin did the same, returning upright with a lopsided crown of foliage.
    “You’re a princess, now,” the girl cheered as she threw her arms around me in a hug.
    “Thank you,” I chuckled.
    “Do I get to be a princess, too?” Lakin asked with excitement. I’d never seen him interact with kids before. It was kind of adorable.
    Laughs rang out from the crowd as the girl nodded with certainty.
    “Thank you, Amelia,” Lily said sweetly, as the girl led her generation back to their parents. “Roland, if you would?”
    The old man stepped forward, braids swinging elegantly behind him. In front of us, branches and logs had been stacked into a massive pile, nearly as tall as Lakin. I felt a tinge of anticipation as I finally realized what the wood was for. The closest I’d ever come to seeing a bonfire in real life was when Eddie had accidentally turned the gas up too high on his grill.
    Roland took hold of one of the many torches that lined the field. One by one, others met him, igniting flames in their palms. Soon, everyone was gathered around the wood pile in a circle, hands blazing in a scene that could have easily been mistaken for a cult ritual.
    “Angie? Lakin? Will you join us?” Roland asked politely, reaching out his torch.
    I began stretching my arm toward the flame, when Al’s voice resonated in my mind.
    ‘Better not…’ His words of caution reminded me of the incident in the bathroom, and I quickly withdrew my hand.
    “I’ll just watch, thanks,” I said quietly, slightly disappointed by my inability to participate.
    “Lakin, then?” Roland prodded.
    “I… I can’t,” Lakin admitted shamefully, looking down to his feet.
    “Sure you can,” the old man said, grinning as he took Lakin’s hand into his own and held it above the flame.
    Lakin struggled for a moment, trying to pull away so as not to be burned, but