Zara's Curse (Empire of Fangs) Read Online Free PDF

err…Micah?”  
     
    Zara smiled at him—he just couldn’t help himself.   “Tis’ my knight in shining armor.   Who is apparently having a party tonight.” She felt a quiver of excitement run up her spine.   Did he really like her?
     
    They went out together to the Scout, moving slowly across the hot parking lot.   Zara wondered how to answer Micah’s invitation.   She always had a hell of a time coming up with a response to people she liked.   She overanalyzed every possible angle of how a reply could be interpreted. She typed a few potential responses before deleting each one.
     
    Twig started up the car and looked over at Zara.   He looked a bit like an old-timey pilot, the lost third Wright Brother.   “I’m like, totally free tonight,” he said.   I would be honored to squire you to your fancy-pants party.”  
     
    Zara smiled and texted Micah back.   Can I bring a friend?  
     
    She immediately worried after sending it that Micah would think this friend was really a boyfriend .   A text came back with lightning speed.
     
    Of course.   My address is 1327 Pearl Street.   The big stone house .  
     
    Zara knew exactly which house was “The big stone house,” on Pearl Street.   She walked by it every day on her way to her bus stop and often fantasized about it being her house.   She’d even constructed an elaborate fantasy about how she would explain exactly what color drapes she wanted to an interior decorator, and how when someone noticed the million-dollar Cezanne hanging in the living room she would very casually say “Oh, that thing?   Pretty neat, huh?” The house looked like a small castle and it dwarfed the other big houses around it.   Built out of big blocks of grey stone and about three stories tall, with a balcony that jutted from the second floor, it always seemed to have a few people on it living out their carefree lives, sipping on fancy micro-brew beers and laughing loudly.   On the outside gate there was a sign that said:   “This is a residence. We don’t offer tours, sorry.”  
     
    She told Twig where the party was.
     
    “I know that house.   Hmm.   Well.   Interesting,” he said.   She waited for him to make a joke, but he just kept quiet and drove, seemingly lost in what he found so interesting.
     

6.
     

     
    Twig dropped Zara off at home, and told her he would be back at nine to pick her up for the party.   She told him not to wear that shirt and he laughed and drove off.
     
    Zara had started to worry about Abby.   Zara had called her several times and gotten her voicemail again.   After she had paced her apartment a few dozen times, she finally broke down and called Abby’s mother’s number, which she kept only for emergencies.   Norah Winters.   Zara let out a long sigh while she dialed.   Even Abby seemed warm and downright friendly compared to her rigid mother.   After a few rings a very tired-sounding Norah answered.  
     
    “Yes, what is it, who is this?” Norah asked.
     
    “Hi, um…it’s Zara.   I was just checking on Abby, I haven’t seen her lately and—”
     
    The voice cut like a cleaver.   “Yes, she is fine.   She is in her room.   A very nice young man brought her home after you left her at some bar downtown, which by the way, was very thoughtful of you.”
     
    Zara began to protest, but Norah was not one to be told she was wrong or misinformed.
     
    “I think it’s best for all parties if you leave Abby alone.   She needs to spend time with people who are more goal-orientated, not…party girls.   It’s about time you two part ways.”
     
    Before Zara could even give Norah a piece of her mind the call was ended.   Zara stormed to her room and flopped down on her bed.  
     
    I left her at the bar?   I ran off with some strange guy? The nerve of that girl!
     
    Zara decided right there and then that she didn’t need Abby Winters in her life.   Abby had enough footstools to stand on.   But it