Read Online Black City by Elizabeth Richards - Free Book Online

me.
    “Show some respect, nipper.”
    I dig my fingers into the edge of the desk, crushing the wood. “Why? All his death meant to me was one less Sentry in this world. That can only ever be a good thing.”
    Natalie flinches and quickly turns her back on me, but not before I’ve seen the tears glistening in her eyes.
    “Just ignore him. He’s a jerk,” Day whispers to Natalie.
    Gregory smirks at me and skulks back to his desk.
    Natalie wipes her eyes, and guilt crawls through me. I immediately force that emotion aside. Why should I care if she’s upset? She’s just a fragging Sentry.
    “I don’t know how I’m going to get through the rest of the year with her here,” I say to Beetle through gritted teeth.
    “Just avoid her, man,” Beetle says.
    “I swear, we’ll be lucky to make it to the end of the term without killing each other,” I say.
    I mean it as a joke, but part of me wonders if I’m right.

8
    NATALIE
    I HURRY OUT of the classroom with Day, eager to get away from Ash, still hurt by what he said about my father. Yet again I’m reminded why Father was wrong to defend the Darklings; they’re rude and cruel and don’t care about anyone’s feelings but their own.
    Ash exits the classroom and follows us down the corridor, hatred emanating off him. Rattled, I grab Day’s arm and drag her into the girls’ restroom. Ash shoots me a loathing look as the door swings shut.
    “You okay?” Day asks.
    I nod, but my hands are trembling. How am I going to survive being around Ash all year, when one glance from him turns my blood to ice?
    “Is Ash such a jerk to everyone?” I say.
    “Pretty much,” she says. “Just avoid him. That’s what I do.”
    I sigh. That sounds like a good plan. “What’s up with that short guy?”
    “Gregory Thompson?”
    “Yeah. Could he be more of a suck-up?”
    Day laughs. “He’s a power-hungry troll. He thinks he’s so special just because he’s Head Prefect. Thanks for defending me earlier. He’s really got it in for me.”
    “Why doesn’t he like you?”
    “Oh, let me see,” she says, tapping her lip thoughtfully. “He hates girls, he particularly hates ones who are much smarter than he is, he hates the fact I live in the Rise, he—”
    “Basically just hates everything?”
    “Pretty much. So I heard you were living in Centrum this past year—is it as amazing as everyone says?” Day asks.
    “It’s even better. You wouldn’t believe it, the place is huge. It must be twenty times bigger than Black City, and so cosmopolitan. Absolutely everyone wears the latest fashions, and there’s so much to do.”
    “What about the buildings? Are they really as high as a mountain?”
    “Not quite, but close enough.”
    “And are the streets really paved with gold coins?”
    I laugh. “No, but the stones they use do have a metallic sheen to them, so when it’s sunny, they sparkle and the whole city turns brilliant gold.”
    “It sounds wonderful; it’s my dream to live there, but I’d never be able to afford it on a typical Workboot salary.” Day pushes her glasses up her nose. “So I’ve applied for the Fast-Track Political program to work for the Sentry government. I really hope I get on it.”
    I feel a pinch of resentment at the fact I only got on the Science program.
    “I’m sure you’ll get on it,” I lie. The truth is, very few Workboots ever get on the Fast-Track program. The only ones who do are the children of businessmen who’ve been able to scrape up enough money to bribe the application committee.
    “Do you think it’s safe to leave yet?” I ask.
    She nods, and we head to first period. I’m relieved to see Ash is nowhere in sight. The day goes by in a blur, and by the end of last period, my head is swimming with all the new names and faces I have to remember.
    Day walks me to the main entrance, her arms laden with books. I was disappointed to discover we only have four lessons together: art, drama, history and advanced combined