Read Online Darkness Brutal (The Dark Cycle Book 1) by Rachel A. Marks - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Rachel A. Marks
Ads: Link
the dark places, keeping us connected to the spiritual world like beacons, and earning a living helping others.”
Connor clears his throat. “It’s true.”
Sid moves over to Connor’s side and pats him on the shoulder in a way that looks like he truly admires the young man. “Connor was once on the streets,” Sid says quietly, “selling drugs and living in a very dark place. Now he’s able to use his gift to help others, to help himself out of the dark. Just by seeing the places an object has been. Very useful. He’s already reunited a family with their lost child since he’s been with us. He’s a hero now.”
Jax pipes in, pointing to the Hispanic girl, “Holly dreams about dead people. Like that kid in The Sixth Sense .”
Holly spins her head, her ponytail whacking against her cheek, and glares a hole through Jax’s head, obviously not happy about the revelation of her gift. “And all you can do is tell if it’s gonna rain, dumbass.”
Sid holds out a hand to Jax as if trying to calm the waters. “Every gift is important in its own right. From Kara’s sensory skills to Lester’s very useful ability to channel spirits, or Connor’s object reading, Jax’s sky predictions, and Holly’s budding dreams.”
I glance at Finger. He’s the only one who hasn’t been mentioned. Maybe his gift is focusing, because the kid hasn’t looked away from the TV since we all gathered in his domain.
Sid taps his cane again and points it at me. “And now you’ve come to me. I’ll ask again: Do you need help?”
I take a deep breath, then plunge. “I need a job. I need a place to stay. Not just for me, for my little sister, too. Someplace safe.”
Sid frowns at that. “Your sister.” Eric must not have mentioned Ava. Of course, I barely ever say anything about her. Maybe he forgot I have a sister.
“She’s with a foster family right now, but they don’t take good care of her, and she’s getting scared. I can’t leave her with them.” Can’t tell him too much, or there’s no way I’ll get what I need from these people. No one wants a girl living under their roof who’s the target of demons.
Sid takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, then says, “No, I suppose not. But you and your sister must each bring something to the table if you’re going to earn your way. Food and shelter aren’t free.”
“My sister’s just a kid.”
“So are you. What can she contribute?”
I sigh. There’s no way I can tell them the truth about that. “She can’t do anything.”
“His sister’s just a blank,” Connor says. “Can we really afford the dead weight right now?”
Sid eyes me, ignoring Connor’s comment. “Well, what can you do with us to provide for her?”
I consider my options. Hanna seemed to think I could trust this guy. I can at least tell him what Eric knows, since Eric probably already spilled the beans on that score. “I can see things. Ghosts and demons and shit.”
Jax whistles low. “Nice.”
The others gape. Except Kara. She’s got a terrified expression on her face.
Sid frowns. “You see them?”
“That’s what I said, isn’t it?” I don’t know why, but I’m suddenly getting irritated. Why is Kara looking at me like that? Her hands clench into fists.
Sid has his car salesman face on again. “What else?”
“What, that’s not enough?” I laugh. Then I realize Eric probably told him about my talent with languages. “I know Latin and Hebrew. And a little Ancient Greek.” I shrug. And Aramaic and Anglo-Saxon and a bunch of others I have no clue what they are .
He’s frowning at my hand again. “You can see them. With your human eyes . . .” He hesitates then asks quickly, “Are they a blur? Shadows?”
I shake my head. “Living color.”
He stares at me with such intensity that my pulse begins to race.
“Do you know what that means?” he asks.
The growing excitement in his voice sets a warning off in my gut.
I swallow and say no. And
Connor clears his throat. “It’s true.”
Sid moves over to Connor’s side and pats him on the shoulder in a way that looks like he truly admires the young man. “Connor was once on the streets,” Sid says quietly, “selling drugs and living in a very dark place. Now he’s able to use his gift to help others, to help himself out of the dark. Just by seeing the places an object has been. Very useful. He’s already reunited a family with their lost child since he’s been with us. He’s a hero now.”
Jax pipes in, pointing to the Hispanic girl, “Holly dreams about dead people. Like that kid in The Sixth Sense .”
Holly spins her head, her ponytail whacking against her cheek, and glares a hole through Jax’s head, obviously not happy about the revelation of her gift. “And all you can do is tell if it’s gonna rain, dumbass.”
Sid holds out a hand to Jax as if trying to calm the waters. “Every gift is important in its own right. From Kara’s sensory skills to Lester’s very useful ability to channel spirits, or Connor’s object reading, Jax’s sky predictions, and Holly’s budding dreams.”
I glance at Finger. He’s the only one who hasn’t been mentioned. Maybe his gift is focusing, because the kid hasn’t looked away from the TV since we all gathered in his domain.
Sid taps his cane again and points it at me. “And now you’ve come to me. I’ll ask again: Do you need help?”
I take a deep breath, then plunge. “I need a job. I need a place to stay. Not just for me, for my little sister, too. Someplace safe.”
Sid frowns at that. “Your sister.” Eric must not have mentioned Ava. Of course, I barely ever say anything about her. Maybe he forgot I have a sister.
“She’s with a foster family right now, but they don’t take good care of her, and she’s getting scared. I can’t leave her with them.” Can’t tell him too much, or there’s no way I’ll get what I need from these people. No one wants a girl living under their roof who’s the target of demons.
Sid takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly, then says, “No, I suppose not. But you and your sister must each bring something to the table if you’re going to earn your way. Food and shelter aren’t free.”
“My sister’s just a kid.”
“So are you. What can she contribute?”
I sigh. There’s no way I can tell them the truth about that. “She can’t do anything.”
“His sister’s just a blank,” Connor says. “Can we really afford the dead weight right now?”
Sid eyes me, ignoring Connor’s comment. “Well, what can you do with us to provide for her?”
I consider my options. Hanna seemed to think I could trust this guy. I can at least tell him what Eric knows, since Eric probably already spilled the beans on that score. “I can see things. Ghosts and demons and shit.”
Jax whistles low. “Nice.”
The others gape. Except Kara. She’s got a terrified expression on her face.
Sid frowns. “You see them?”
“That’s what I said, isn’t it?” I don’t know why, but I’m suddenly getting irritated. Why is Kara looking at me like that? Her hands clench into fists.
Sid has his car salesman face on again. “What else?”
“What, that’s not enough?” I laugh. Then I realize Eric probably told him about my talent with languages. “I know Latin and Hebrew. And a little Ancient Greek.” I shrug. And Aramaic and Anglo-Saxon and a bunch of others I have no clue what they are .
He’s frowning at my hand again. “You can see them. With your human eyes . . .” He hesitates then asks quickly, “Are they a blur? Shadows?”
I shake my head. “Living color.”
He stares at me with such intensity that my pulse begins to race.
“Do you know what that means?” he asks.
The growing excitement in his voice sets a warning off in my gut.
I swallow and say no. And
Similar Books
