Read Online Thorn Jack by Katherine Harbour - Free Book Online Page B

Finn’s hand. “Let’s go.”
    â€œBottle,” said the tall boy.
    The slight blond grabbed Finn by her coat. Astonished that someone had actually named him “Bottle,” she yanked away. The boy frowned at her.
    â€œTrip”—Christie stepped toward the tall boy—“knock it off.”
    â€œMake me.”
    Staring at the outrageously named trio, Finn felt apprehension turn her cold—they were facing down fashionable lunatics on a road that was pretty much deserted. She murmured, “Did we just time-travel back to high school?”
    â€œGo on, Finn,” Christie said, the wind pushing at his dark red hair. He didn’t look away from the three Rooks. “Go. I can deal with them.”
    â€œNo.” Her voice shook with anger. She met the chilly gaze of the tall boy, who stared at her. “They’re just bullies.”
    â€œGirl.” The diva with the face of a Victorian doll took one gliding step forward. “You should respect your elders.”
    â€œAre you serious ?” Finn looked at Christie, then back at Hip Hop, who bared her teeth and took a step toward them. For a hallucinatory second, Finn thought her eyes went the mercury-silver of a dead possum’s.
    â€œCar. Car! ” Trip’s voice halted the potential violence.
    The three drew back as a crimson Mercedes appeared on the road, slowing as it approached, pulling to one side.
    The Mercedes’s door opened and a girl slid out, auburn hair tumbling from beneath a chauffeur’s cap. She wore rock star jeans and a black T-shirt with a Rolling Stones decal. She leaned against the car as Reiko Fata emerged, willowy in a plaid kilt and red blouse.
    The older girl moved with an unsettling grace toward the Rooks, who had gone quiet. Gently, she said, “What are you doing?”
    Trip ducked his head. Hip Hop was white. Pale-haired Bottle hugged himself as if he was cold. When none of them answered, Reiko Fata turned her attention to Christie and Finn. Snow-skinned, her black hair in loops, she looked as if she’d stepped from a fairy tale. “I’m apologizing for them. My cousins are morons. Christie Hart, isn’t it? And Serafina Sullivan.”
    Finn was processing the information that the Rooks were, in fact, from the sterling Fata family, while Christie seemed to have lost his ability to charm and was mute.
    â€œWe were on our way home—” Finn spoke hesitantly, and the Fata girl’s electric-green gaze slid to her.
    Christie interrupted. “Actually, we were on our way to our jobs. See, we have to work for a living.”
    Reiko Fata was still studying Finn, who felt as if she stood before an empress—the Fatas, she decided, were like the descendants of some regal, electric-eyed race that hadn’t been discovered yet. When Reiko smiled, it made Finn feel even more inferior. Then the regal young woman addressed the three troublemakers. “Go home. Now.”
    The Rooks backed away, then turned and strode off down the road and didn’t glance back.
    Reiko Fata’s attention fell upon Christie, who looked as if he’d been hit. “They’re uncivilized, the Rooks. But they’re family. I apologize, Christie Hart.”
    Christie blushed and became wordless again.
    â€œAnd you, Serafina?” Reiko addressed Finn again and Finn felt uneasy that this glamorous girl knew her name. “Did they place hands on you?”
    Maybe that’s how rich people spoke in Fair Hollow. Finn murmured, “I’m fine.”
    â€œI’ll make this up to you. Phouka, get the invitations.” Reiko pronounced her companion’s name as a breathy fuua.
    The girl chauffeur ducked into the Mercedes.
    â€œThere’s another one of you.” Reiko turned to Christie. “A pretty girl with blue eyes and black hair.”
    â€œSylvie.” Christie suddenly found his dirt-smudged hands extremely interesting. Finn