Read Online Bones of Faerie by Janni Lee Simner - Free Book Online

lit by moonlight from below. Yet I was listening, too, so when I heard footsteps, I brushed my tears away and looked up.
    Two small figures approached the Wall, several yards away. They didn't seem to notice me.
    “Come on,” a girl said in the sort of worried whisper that always carries. Kimi, who'd been angry about her brother's magic. “You're the one who always said you wanted to see Outside.”
    “I do.” Allie's voice, fiercer and quieter. “But not now. Not until the healing's through.”
    “The stranger is fine. Even I can see that. Come
on.”
    Allie drew her arms around herself. “You don't understand. Maybe when your magic—”
    “Magic!” Kimi shouted. “I am so tired of hearing about magic!” She whirled away from Allie and darted through the hedge. Vines and branches parted, letting her go.
    “Kimi, no!” Allie ran after her and the Wall let her through as well. Maybe the Wall cared only whom it let in, not out, or maybe it already knew Allie and Kimi. Or maybe it was magic and didn't much care who died. I scrambled to my feet, pushing thoughts of Rebecca aside, knowing I needed to drag Kimi and Allie back before they got hurt.
    As I stood I heard a scream beyond the Wall. I plunged forward, barely noticing as the vines parted to let me through.

Chapter 8
    W hat'd you have to touch it for?” Allie yelled. I ran toward her voice.
    Kimi lay on the ground, shivering violently. Allie ran hands over Kimi's arms, legs, chest. A few yards away, a small dark shadow lay puddled beneath the moonlit clouds, the same shadow that had followed us from the mulberry trees. Without knowing why, I reached for it. The shadow rose and surged toward me. I jerked my hands back.
    “Go away!” I shouted in panic. “Go
away.”
The shadow flowed swiftly back, disappearing among the trees. I thought I heard a low wail, then there was no sound save for Kimi's chattering voice.
    “It was just a shadow!” Kimi whimpered, as if she didn't know the danger shadows could hold. I knelt by her side.
    Allie looked up. Relief flooded her features, as if somehow I could make everything all right.
    I rubbed Kimi's hands, trying to get warmth into her, and realized those hands weren't even cold. Yet she kept shivering.
    “Not f-f-f-fair,” Kimi chattered. “Didn't kn-n-n-n-ow!”
    “Know what?”
    “The shadow,” Allie said. “I tried to warn Kimi it was magic, but she didn't listen. She couldn't feel it the way I could, because she doesn't have her own magic yet. So she
touched
it. Put her hand right through.” Allie scowled, but she looked more scared than when she'd seen me clutching my knife.
    “Thought you were making it up,” Kimi said. “Ab-b-b-out the magic. But it was so c-c-c-cold.”
    I helped Kimi to her feet, guilt washing over me. That shadow wanted me—had followed me. When I reached a hand out, it was drawn to me.
    Kimi shivered harder. “Come on,” I said, urging her back toward the Wall. Allie moved to the girl's other side even as Kimi stumbled. Kimi fell to her kneesand hunched over, rocking back and forth, refusing to stand when Allie tugged her arm. I picked up the girl instead, staggering a little under her weight, and carried her to the Wall. Vines and branches parted for us once more.
    Alan met us on the other side, panting as if he'd been running. He took his daughter from my arms. Samuel was there, too. Allie ran to him, sobbing. “Don't blame Kimi, she didn't know, it's not her fault—”
    Samuel drew her close. “You're all right?” he said.
    “Yes, I'm fine, but Kimi—”
    “Get Caleb,” Samuel told her. “We'll discuss blame later.” As Allie ran for help, he shook his head. “I told her she wasn't allowed Outside.” He seemed more scared than angry. Alan rocked his daughter, telling her over and over again that everything was all right, even though he couldn't possibly know that. Allie returned several paces behind Caleb, who strode to Alan's side. Caleb took Kimi in his