Read Online Minutes Before Sunset by Shannon A. Thompson - Free Book Online Page A

“Come on, boys,” he said, forcing an awkward, chipper tone. “Let’s start.”
    We followed our fathers down the hallway to the office. George opened the door, ushering us inside, and then he spun around, surveying the golden room. “They should be here any second,” he said, locking the door.
    Without a word, my father laid his hand on the wall, and we watched as a thick layer of shadows spewed over the room. Gliding around the room from the floor to the ceiling, they twisted into oblivion and the room spun in a tight circle. He’d used a silencing spell.
    George smiled. “That should help,” he said, enveloping his body in blackness. When he reappeared, his long black hair was shortened, and thick bristles grew along his formerly smooth chin. His black eyes burned green, and I recognized him for who he was after transformation, Urte—my father’s guard and fellow elder.
    In seconds, my father morphed as well. In his shade form, he was taller, thinner, and had a lot more hair. “You two stay human,” he said, shaking his limbs as he solidified. “I don’t want these elders pushing you around.”
    “I’d like to see that,” I said, and Urte glared.
    “Don’t be ignorant, Eric.”
    I shrugged, and my arm hair spiked up. I tensed, watching the office floor unfold into a whirlpool. Jonathon and I stepped back, and two men sizzled to the surface. Luthicer’s patchy white beard stretched to his collarbone, while his blond hair curled at the nape of his neck. His pitch black eyes wavered from side to side, but Eu stared right at us.
    He had silver irises and the whitest pupils I’d ever seen, and they contrasted harshly against his thick, mangled black hair. He was three feet shorter than Luthicer, making him about a foot shorter than me. I had only met him once before, but he always seemed to be out of place. He hovered behind Luthicer like—well—a shadow, and Luthicer shined like he was more of a light than a half-breed.
    “Will Camille be joining us tonight?” Urte asked, and Luthicer’s forehead wrinkled.
    “She’s resting,” he said, dragging his dark eyes over Jonathon and I. “Her training has been rigorous, but it’ll help our descendant.”
    I hid my fist behind my back. What’d he do to Camille? I didn’t care if he was her trainer or not. He didn’t have the right.
    “Which one is he?” Eu asked, and I raised my hand as he stepped forward. His white eyes flickered. “It’s hard to recognize you in this form.”
    I raised my brow. “Isn’t that the point?”
    “Eric.” My father’s tone dropped. “You must excuse my son. He’s very—”
    “Nervous,” Luthicer finished, dragging his eyes over me.
    I smirked. “That’s your opinion.”
    “And it’s right,” he said, tilting his head. “If you aren’t nervous, why would you still be a human right now?”
    “Luthicer.” Urte stood between us. “This meeting is strictly going to be a conversation.”
    “A conversation won’t get Eric anywhere,” Luthicer said, stepping around Urte.
    “No,” my father said, sitting on the edge of his desk. “It’s up to Eric.”
    I changed before anyone even realized I had decided. I didn’t hesitate. I had to be Shoman, the first descendent, and hesitation was weakness.
    Luthicer smiled, slowly pushing Jonathon aside. “You’re weaker than I expected,” he said, waltzing around me as his fingers grazed my skin.
    A pain shot up my arm, through my shoulder, and my skin burned. I sucked in breath and grabbed my arm as the pain thundered through me. What was this? I felt hot and dizzy, like I’d collapse at any moment. Why can’t I move?
    “What are you doing?” Urte’s voice wavered through my foggy hearing.
    “Testing him,” Luthicer said, leaning in to stare at my pupils. His breath was hot against my cheek. “You can’t even handle a little Light energy.”
    Light? My body trembled. Is that what this was? Light energy could kill a shade—easily—but it could