Read Online Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon - Free Book Online Page B

last night?” Caitlin asked as soon as we sat down on the bus.
    “Okay. Nothing too riveting.”
    “Weren’t Killian’s parents there?”
    “Yep. How did you know?”
    “I have my sources. Next time, try to get me an invite. It wouldn’t hurt to get some insider info, you know.” She smirked and raised her eyebrows.
    I smacked her arm, laughing. “You have it so bad! We have to sort that out soon before you injure yourself. So … I bumped into Adam last night.”
    “No! Tell me all the sordid details.”
    “Nothing sordid, unfortunately, but I think you might be right about him liking me! I’m pretty sure we came close to a kiss.”
    “Agh!”
    “I know. It was all very intense.”
    “Details, please.”
    I gave her a rundown of the previous night’s events, and then paused.
    “Are you keeping juicy bits from me?”
    “Not juicy bits, but, well … there was all this weird stuff happening with the water when Adam was around. It started to shimmer and bulge up.”
    “Agh! Just like when you fell in. Holy crap, now you’ve seen it too. I’m telling you—there’s something up with them!”
    “But that’s crazy!”
    “I’ve been doing a little digging. I only came up with the usual tales of witchcraft blah, blah, blah, but do you know what’s really strange? These are old stories. There’s been nothing new in ages. All this strange stuff has only been happening since you’ve been here.”
    We went quiet, lost in thought as the bus pulled into the city station and we jumped off and started walking toward the main shopping area around Patrick Street.
    “Do you think it’s you? You know, with Adam fancying the pants off you?” Caitlin asked after a few minutes.
    “Don’t be ridiculous. How could it be me? This was all going on long before I arrived. I think Adam just got caught out when I fell into the water.”
    “Then how do you explain Áine?”
    “Oh, I don’t know. Honestly, Cait, is it possible we are adding one and one and getting three? I sort of mentioned it to Adam and I felt really stupid afterward. He told me I was imagining things.”
    “Well, he would say that, wouldn’t he?”
    “I guess.”
    “Wouldn’t it be cool if they were, like … magic? Hey! You should ask him to the Halloween party.” Caitlin looked at me with excited eyes.
    “What Halloween party?”
    “Oh, yeah … breaking news; the social event of the year is happening next Saturday night. Jennifer has all the details. Look, there she is,” Caitlin said, waving across the road.
    Jennifer was standing in the doorway of a department store, talking into her cell phone.
    “Hey, Jennifer! What’s the story? Any news on the party?” Caitlin asked as Jennifer ended her call.
    “Yep. We are ‘G’ for go. My dad is throwing a huge Halloween bash at the yacht club, so while all of our parents are getting their groove on at that party, we will have free rein to have some serious fun at our party. It looks like there’s going to be a full student-body turnout, so, girls, we’d better get shopping.” She grabbed our arms and marched us in through the brass doors of the store. Jennifer led us right to the very expensive floors full of designer clothes, far beyond anything I could afford. Jennifer, however, made several purchases.
    “This place is great for getting ideas before we hit the more affordable shops,” Caitlin explained as we stepped onto the escalator. She winked. “Now, here’s the main reason for hitting this store first.”
    We were greeted by the smell of perfume.
    “The makeup department.” I sighed.
    We proceeded to work the entire floor. By the time we reached the doors at the other side, we were creamed, preened, and perfumed within an inch of our lives. We looked and smelled fantastic. The doorman in his top hat and tails opened the door with a flourish and we walked out of there feeling like royalty.
    We crossed the vast street, completely ignoring the crosswalks, just like everyone