Read Online Merlin's Children (The Children and the Blood) by Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Skye Malone, Megan Joel Peterson
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travelers returned to their books and mp3 players, albeit with expressions that hinted they didn’t want to be caught staring at the crazy kid.
He swallowed, trying to calm down. No one in the room had even the faintest hint of a glow, and he couldn’t feel any suggestion of magic either. Which, on the latter account at least, meant absolutely nothing and he hated the fact. Slowing his steps, he drew a breath and worked to appear casual as he walked over to the ticket counter. An approximation of a smile pulled at his mouth as the attendant glanced up, but from the tired look on her face, his effort was wasted. Radiating boredom, she sold him a ticket for the only bus leaving for Croftsburg, and then raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to go away. Burying a grimace, he took the ticket and headed for the metal seats arrayed in rows down the length of the room.
The clock on the wall seemed to be moving backward and when the call finally rang out to board the bus, he was fairly certain the world itself had come to a screeching halt. Around the room, a motley collection of people stood and gathered their bags before making their way toward the bus. Running a hand over his face in a futile attempt to bring focus back to his bloodshot eyes, Cole rose and followed them out the door.
Brilliant colors lit the clouds as the sun sank behind the city skyline and to the east, darkness was already setting in. Headlights glared from cars hurrying home for the evening and in the deepening twilight, pedestrians faded into the shadows of the buildings.
He wondered if Lily was doing alright.
The thought hurt. Brutally shoving it down, he climbed aboard the bus.
*****
Lights played over the Savannah River and swayed gently above the decks of the boats tethered to the shore. From the street below the apartment, someone laughed before continuing along the sidewalk with their friends.
Sitting in the shadows beside the balcony window, Ashe watched the late night crowd. It’d only been a few hours since she and the others arrived in the riverside apartment, and they couldn’t stay long. Halfway through renovations, the apartment would again be filled with construction crews bright and early the next morning.
But it was safe for now.
Ten more calls had come in over the course of the day, though only three had been to report additional attacks. But the surviving Merlin were scared, and as a result, some had begun cutting ties with every other refugee and going to ground in places no one else knew. As a people, they were fragmenting on their own, in addition to being picked apart by the Blood and, try as she might, on some level the diaspora was starting to make her feel like Jamison had already won.
She looked over as the hardwood floor squeaked. In the archway entry to the living room, Cornelius paused, catching sight of her in the darkness. With a glance to Nathaniel by the window on the other side of the room, he crossed to her side.
“I thought you were sleeping,” he said quietly.
She didn’t answer, returning her gaze to the street.
“We will be leaving early. You would benefit from a few–”
“I know.”
Cornelius paused, and then sank down beside her and leaned back against the wall.
“Cole will not find her.”
Ashe swallowed and said nothing.
“Lily will always trust you more than him. You are her sister. You cannot–”
“She’s scared I’ll get hurt,” Ashe interrupted. “She’s scared I’ll die like Dad.”
“We will not let that happen.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“My lady–”
She glanced at him. His brow flickered down almost imperceptibly, and he looked away.
Silence fell between them. Somewhere down the street, a jazz band began to play.
“I didn’t know what I was doing at the factory, Cornelius,” she confessed. “I just…”
She trailed off. Over the past few hours, she’d had to admit it to herself. Taking Lily to the factory had been stupid. Emotional and
He swallowed, trying to calm down. No one in the room had even the faintest hint of a glow, and he couldn’t feel any suggestion of magic either. Which, on the latter account at least, meant absolutely nothing and he hated the fact. Slowing his steps, he drew a breath and worked to appear casual as he walked over to the ticket counter. An approximation of a smile pulled at his mouth as the attendant glanced up, but from the tired look on her face, his effort was wasted. Radiating boredom, she sold him a ticket for the only bus leaving for Croftsburg, and then raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to go away. Burying a grimace, he took the ticket and headed for the metal seats arrayed in rows down the length of the room.
The clock on the wall seemed to be moving backward and when the call finally rang out to board the bus, he was fairly certain the world itself had come to a screeching halt. Around the room, a motley collection of people stood and gathered their bags before making their way toward the bus. Running a hand over his face in a futile attempt to bring focus back to his bloodshot eyes, Cole rose and followed them out the door.
Brilliant colors lit the clouds as the sun sank behind the city skyline and to the east, darkness was already setting in. Headlights glared from cars hurrying home for the evening and in the deepening twilight, pedestrians faded into the shadows of the buildings.
He wondered if Lily was doing alright.
The thought hurt. Brutally shoving it down, he climbed aboard the bus.
*****
Lights played over the Savannah River and swayed gently above the decks of the boats tethered to the shore. From the street below the apartment, someone laughed before continuing along the sidewalk with their friends.
Sitting in the shadows beside the balcony window, Ashe watched the late night crowd. It’d only been a few hours since she and the others arrived in the riverside apartment, and they couldn’t stay long. Halfway through renovations, the apartment would again be filled with construction crews bright and early the next morning.
But it was safe for now.
Ten more calls had come in over the course of the day, though only three had been to report additional attacks. But the surviving Merlin were scared, and as a result, some had begun cutting ties with every other refugee and going to ground in places no one else knew. As a people, they were fragmenting on their own, in addition to being picked apart by the Blood and, try as she might, on some level the diaspora was starting to make her feel like Jamison had already won.
She looked over as the hardwood floor squeaked. In the archway entry to the living room, Cornelius paused, catching sight of her in the darkness. With a glance to Nathaniel by the window on the other side of the room, he crossed to her side.
“I thought you were sleeping,” he said quietly.
She didn’t answer, returning her gaze to the street.
“We will be leaving early. You would benefit from a few–”
“I know.”
Cornelius paused, and then sank down beside her and leaned back against the wall.
“Cole will not find her.”
Ashe swallowed and said nothing.
“Lily will always trust you more than him. You are her sister. You cannot–”
“She’s scared I’ll get hurt,” Ashe interrupted. “She’s scared I’ll die like Dad.”
“We will not let that happen.”
“You can’t promise that.”
“My lady–”
She glanced at him. His brow flickered down almost imperceptibly, and he looked away.
Silence fell between them. Somewhere down the street, a jazz band began to play.
“I didn’t know what I was doing at the factory, Cornelius,” she confessed. “I just…”
She trailed off. Over the past few hours, she’d had to admit it to herself. Taking Lily to the factory had been stupid. Emotional and
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