Read Online In the Shadows by Erica Cope - Free Book Online Page B

I’ve lived here my whole life and I’ve only ever called it the Manhattan Hill because, well, it’s a hill with the word Manhattan spelled out in large white letters. I guess the real name doesn’t really matter since if you just say the Manhattan Hill to anyone here, they know exactly what you are talking about.
                  We walk down the narrow path leading to the giant letter H and stare out into the town. The city lights glitter in the distance like millions of lightening bugs.
                  “What are we doing here?”
                  “I have a surprise for you.”
                  He leads me down a little further to a more secluded area hidden by the trees. I see the flickering of candle lights as we approach and eye him curiously, but he just smirks like a giddy schoolgirl--in a completely masculine way of course.
                  We get closer and I notice a red and white checkered picnic blanket with a bottle of sparkling grape juice and two champagne flutes as well as a tray of strawberries, chocolate, cheese and crackers. Beside the picnic is the word “PROM?” spelled out in twinkling white tea lights.
                  The smile that was already forming on my lips at the sight of the little picnic widens when I realize just how romantic my boyfriend is.
                  “Yes!” I answer the unspoken question as I throw my arms around his neck.
                  And for a moment, it’s easy to forget that I'm a part of this strange mythological world full of magic and darkness and good and evil. Tonight I'm not the Light Elf princess, I’m just a perfectly normal teenage girl who has just been asked to go to the prom.
     

             
    Chapter Nine
     
     
                  M y phone buzzes and I jerk upright, disoriented. I stayed up way too late last night reading a new book. It feels like I just fell asleep. I clumsily reach for the phone on my night stand and open up a new text message.
     
    Jacoby: R U awake?
     
                  I check the time—3AM. I type out a quick reply but have to clear it and start over a couple of times since my sleepy fingers keep missing the right key and I don’t like to misspell words even in text message. I don’t even like to use the normal text slang, preferring to type out the entire word.
     
    Me: No. What’s up?
    Jacoby: Meet me in the courtyard
    Me: Okay... when?
    Jacoby: Now
     
                  I decide to brush my teeth and attempt to brush through the tangled mess of my usually perfectly straight hair. That’ll teach me to fall asleep with wet hair. After working at the theater last night, I didn’t want to go to bed with the stale butter-smelling greasiness that was the state of my hair after cleaning the popcorn machine.
                  I quickly give it up as lost cause and just pull it to the side in a braid. I’m going to need some coffee.
                  Since I’m in the habit of looking the part of a princess whenever I’m in Álfheimr, I decide I’ll transport myself to my room at the castle and change into something a little more princess-y than my current Hello Kitty pajamas.  I toss my phone in my purse and throw the strap around my chest.
                  I stand in the middle of the room, rubbing my thumb carefully over the amulet that I never take off. Alberico gave it to me to help me transport back and forth easily between Álfheimr and the human world. I close my eyes and prepare for the tummy-flipping sensation that always accompanies the trip. It’s not nearly as overwhelming as it once was.
                  These days transporting comes naturally, almost like breathing. One minute I’m engulfed in the warm bright light and the next moment the familiar honey-suckle and cinnamon scent wafts up my nose. I toss my purse on to one of the