Read Online Silvern (The Gilded Series) by Christina Farley - Free Book Online

strong. If I’m strong, I can survive.
    I pop open the door.
    “Hey, girl!” Michelle bops up to stand next to my locker. She’s wearing a sparkly pink shirt, jeans, and a cropped black jacket. Her hair is pulled into a low ponytail, and her lip gloss even matches her shirt. “You coming to NHS?”
    A twinge of guilt tugs at me. Once again I’m keeping secrets from Michelle. But the less Michelle knows, the better. I don’t want to drag anyone into this life of mine more than I have to.
    “I’m planning on it,” I tell her as I toss my books into my locker and take out the ones I’ll need for the rest of the day. I suck in a deep breath, trying to remember how Mr. Han suggested I broach the topic. “I have a great idea for our next NHS project.”
    “Excellent. I want to hear every detail,” Michelle says as we head to the cafeteria to pick up lunch. “But first, how are you doing? After everything that happened in your aunt’s bathroom on Saturday, I can hardly sleep.”
    “Tell me about it,” I mutter as I pick my usual, kimbap and bottled water. “My only consolation is that Komo is okay. She’s had no change, good or bad. The doctors said they’ll call me right away if there are irregularities.”
    Sunlight streams through the tall glass walls as we weave our way through the tables and head outside to the veranda, where the NHS is meeting today. The concrete-floored balcony is on the second floor of this five-story building. Since the school is halfway up Ansan Mountain, there’s a great view of the neighborhood, Yonhi-Dong, below. People say that Seoul’s really just a big city full of small neighborhoods. Yonhi-Dong is tucked full of tile-roofed houses and tiny alleys that have turned into tight roads.
    “I have a confession to make,” Michelle says.
    I stop midstride. “What is it?”
    “I followed you. To Yonsei University.”
    “What?”
    I think about when Marc and I stopped because he realized someone was following us. It must have been Michelle. I’m just glad we lost her in the woods. It would have made things far more complicated if she had found the actual entrance. I rub my forehead, unsure what to do with this information.
    “I know this supposed secret council meets at the Yonsei campus.” She’s whispering now. “And I know that whatever you’re planning with the NHS is about these mythological creatures.”
    I open my mouth to ask how, but she bats her hand through the air. “It’s not like you to wake up and announce that you want to organize an event. Girl, I’m not that moronic. Whatever you are planning, I’m in .” Then she bats her eyelashes and says in a mocking tone, “And if you say no, then I’m going to the police with a fun little story about the Council’s secret location.”
    “You’re blackmailing me?” I press my hand to my chest, pretending to be shocked. “My best friend?”
    “If that’s what it takes to help, you got that damn straight.”
    “I don’t—I can’t,” I moan, and close my eyes, because we can joke around about it, but it’s not a game. Not for a second. “Michelle, I told you to stay out of this. It’s not safe. Trust me.”
    “I don’t care. Because whatever you are doing, you need me, even if it’s just as your personal psychologist. So I’m in, and there’s nothing that’s going to stop you from saying yes.”
    I don’t know what to say, so I spin on my heels and head out onto the balcony. A light breeze brushes across my face, full of the first hints of spring, whipping my hair over my eyes. It smells of fresh-cut grass and cherry blossoms. I breathe it in, soaking in the freeness of the moment. It’s in these moments that I feel truly alive. I’m breathing and soaking in the sun, and I wish it was enough. That I could abandon the Council’s plan to sneak into North Korea in search of the orb.
    I want to believe that there is no such thing as magic and powerful creatures that are trying to control my life