Read Online The Dark by Marianne Curley - Free Book Online Page A

think your desire to meet the Goddess is about to come true.’
    She runs to Charlotte. ‘ What! No way! But how?’
    ‘I think Lathenia has been using one of her hounds to get close to Charlotte and trick us into thinking the Order had not arrived yet. It gave her time to study us.’
    ‘Do you think she’s worked out—’
    An ear-piercing squeal cuts off anything else she has to say. Grabbing Charlotte with a gentle but firm hold, Isabel pulls her to the side, turning the child’s face into her skirts.
    ‘Don’t turn around, whatever you hear,’ I tell her.
    The sight of Charlotte’s ‘pet’ standing on its hind paws and stretching into the air while howling as if in agonising pain, would terrify little Charlotte. Especially as the dog has started changing shape as well, right before our eyes! Its long limbs stretch out and grow longer, losing their dog form, and transforming into slender arms and legs – human ones.
    Only seconds later a fully-formed woman stands before us. A woman who would stand taller than most men, with ankle-length, bright red hair and eerie silver eyes.
    The Goddess of Chaos straightens her shoulders and points in my direction with one of her incredibly long fingers. ‘You’re not the one.’
    Isabel glances at me, while still hanging on to Charlotte, who keeps trying to peep out of Isabel’s skirts.
    Lathenia’s eyes narrow in concentration. Soon she’ll figure out exactly who I am. And while it’s Ethan she planned to eliminate today, she won’t be too disappointed to find me here instead.
    And yet how surprising to find Lathenia on this mission. Lorian must have suspected. So now I understand the reason for the late switch. In the years since my Initiation into the Guard, I’ve been taught the skills necessary to deal with an immortal. They can’t be killed – except by another immortal – but they can be temporarily harmed, and tricked, and ultimately theycould be trapped and locked away somewhere secure. Fire is Lathenia’s main enemy; it’s why she lives in a world of crystal, marble and ice.
    So fire is what I have to focus on. I’ll have to do it by using one of my skills. But Isabel and Charlotte have to be safe first. ‘Get the girl downstairs.’
    Isabel’s eyes shift to the doorway, but this is not going to be easy. Lathenia is in the way, and Isabel doesn’t know I have the skills – although untried – to deal with this immortal. She will want to stay and help. ‘Phillipa, you have to get Charlotte to safety.’ I try to enforce this message with my eyes.
    She makes for the doorway, but Lathenia shuts it in their faces. Isabel yanks on it, but now it’s stuck fast. And Charlotte is starting to whimper. ‘Where’s Charlie? Who is that awful woman? She’s scaring me. Make her go away, Gascon.’
    Isabel tells her to be calm, and all will be well. ‘Trust in Gascon, my pet.’
    She nods, but tears are starting, and her whimpers grow louder.
    Lathenia raises her hands and I know the power these hands hold – a power so strong it can’t be matched by any mortal. Her fingertips begin turning blue, and streaks of vivid light start sizzling within them, ready to dart towards me. Quickly I hold out my own hands and concentrate. Streaks of powerful current flash across the room into my open palms.
    Lathenia’s energy hits me and I feel my hands burn, but somehow I’m able to tolerate it. Soon my hands start glowing as her energy starts to gather in them. Concentrating hard, I split this power, thrusting half of it back at the Goddess, and half into the fireplace. Twothings happen: the fire erupts with so much force the whole room glows orange and fills with intense heat; and Lathenia shrieks, a hideous, ear-piercing sound, probably from surprise rather than pain, when her own energy blasts back through her.
    Collecting herself, Lathenia straightens, but her skin is charred red. I’ve burnt her with her own power. And now she’s furious. Staring at me,