Read Online Under the Moon by Natalie J. Damschroder - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Natalie J. Damschroder
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a few pounds.
“The usual. Holidays and stuff. We get together in the summer sometimes. You know, family vacations.”
“I can’t picture you with them.”
His smile was sad. “I don’t exactly fit. Six or eight families, all with spouses and kids. Even the divorced ones get along. Stepparents and real parents in one big, chaotic, mostly happy group.” He framed a space with his hands. “And then there’s me.” He stuck his fist out to the side. “The kids climb all over me, their parents braced to snatch them to safety. At night, once the kids are asleep, they want me to tell exciting stories, because I’m the freedom and adventure they want but will never risk.” His tone had gone bitter at the end, an edge of resentment at the burden he’d taken on but no one else would share.
Quinn hesitated over whether or not to pry open that crack. “Wow.” She eyed his beer. “I thought you only had one of those.”
He chuckled. “It’s not some big secret. I like my life. I love my family. It’s balanced.”
Her yawn caught up to her, and she tilted her head sideways against the back of the couch. “You don’t feel like something’s missing?” Like she did. It was harder and harder to keep it buried.
“Sometimes.” He shifted again, tugging her down so her head rested on the pillow behind her, her neck more comfortable. She lost the battle against her heavy eyelids.
“Do you?” he countered.
Quinn shook her head and tried to make her tongue work. “Rarely.” She didn’t have the energy to correct the lie, and somewhere in the very small part of her brain that was still awake, she knew she wasn’t ready to go down that road, with or without Nick. She let herself continue to drift until she fell asleep.
Only to wake a short time later with the world exploding around them.
Chapter Four
Each goddess has a specific source that serves as a conduit between her and the energy. She also has a unique combination of abilities that we like to compare to talents. Just as one child in a family might have an affinity for playing music while another can fix any mechanical item or perform complex mathematical equations in his or her head, so can each goddess have a unique combination of talents.
—The Society for Goddess Education and Defense, Goddess Source/Ability Catalog
…
Quinn shot off the couch so fast she nearly tumbled to the floor, her heart slamming in her chest, gushing aimless adrenaline through her. Nick caught her before she landed in the shards of glass that were all that remained of the coffee table next to them. The air vibrated with a ringing noise so loud she could see Nick’s mouth moving but couldn’t hear his voice. For a few seconds, the room swam and Quinn was barely capable of covering her ears to muffle the noise. He impatiently swung her up and over to a clear patch of floor, running his hands all over her, and she realized he was checking for glass. The noise must have shattered it, because no one else was in the room.
“I’m fine,” she tried to tell Nick, but she couldn’t hear her own voice, either. She tugged on his arm and he straightened, angling his body in front of hers.
Quinn couldn’t see the source of the sound, like a wet finger circling the rim of a crystal goblet, but far louder. Her chest heaved, and she searched the room wildly, desperate for a clue of what to do, how to act. Something black and hard flew toward them, propelled by nothing. Nick shoved her toward the floor, and it smashed against the wall over their heads before dropping a few inches away. A Bible. Someone had thrown a Bible at them. Telekinesis . The leech must have found them.
Nick grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the open bedroom door, away from attack. Quinn managed to grab her bag off the bed when Nick released her to sling his duffel across his body. He went straight to the window and began shoving it open.
Quinn slammed the door behind them, flinching as if something
“The usual. Holidays and stuff. We get together in the summer sometimes. You know, family vacations.”
“I can’t picture you with them.”
His smile was sad. “I don’t exactly fit. Six or eight families, all with spouses and kids. Even the divorced ones get along. Stepparents and real parents in one big, chaotic, mostly happy group.” He framed a space with his hands. “And then there’s me.” He stuck his fist out to the side. “The kids climb all over me, their parents braced to snatch them to safety. At night, once the kids are asleep, they want me to tell exciting stories, because I’m the freedom and adventure they want but will never risk.” His tone had gone bitter at the end, an edge of resentment at the burden he’d taken on but no one else would share.
Quinn hesitated over whether or not to pry open that crack. “Wow.” She eyed his beer. “I thought you only had one of those.”
He chuckled. “It’s not some big secret. I like my life. I love my family. It’s balanced.”
Her yawn caught up to her, and she tilted her head sideways against the back of the couch. “You don’t feel like something’s missing?” Like she did. It was harder and harder to keep it buried.
“Sometimes.” He shifted again, tugging her down so her head rested on the pillow behind her, her neck more comfortable. She lost the battle against her heavy eyelids.
“Do you?” he countered.
Quinn shook her head and tried to make her tongue work. “Rarely.” She didn’t have the energy to correct the lie, and somewhere in the very small part of her brain that was still awake, she knew she wasn’t ready to go down that road, with or without Nick. She let herself continue to drift until she fell asleep.
Only to wake a short time later with the world exploding around them.
Chapter Four
Each goddess has a specific source that serves as a conduit between her and the energy. She also has a unique combination of abilities that we like to compare to talents. Just as one child in a family might have an affinity for playing music while another can fix any mechanical item or perform complex mathematical equations in his or her head, so can each goddess have a unique combination of talents.
—The Society for Goddess Education and Defense, Goddess Source/Ability Catalog
…
Quinn shot off the couch so fast she nearly tumbled to the floor, her heart slamming in her chest, gushing aimless adrenaline through her. Nick caught her before she landed in the shards of glass that were all that remained of the coffee table next to them. The air vibrated with a ringing noise so loud she could see Nick’s mouth moving but couldn’t hear his voice. For a few seconds, the room swam and Quinn was barely capable of covering her ears to muffle the noise. He impatiently swung her up and over to a clear patch of floor, running his hands all over her, and she realized he was checking for glass. The noise must have shattered it, because no one else was in the room.
“I’m fine,” she tried to tell Nick, but she couldn’t hear her own voice, either. She tugged on his arm and he straightened, angling his body in front of hers.
Quinn couldn’t see the source of the sound, like a wet finger circling the rim of a crystal goblet, but far louder. Her chest heaved, and she searched the room wildly, desperate for a clue of what to do, how to act. Something black and hard flew toward them, propelled by nothing. Nick shoved her toward the floor, and it smashed against the wall over their heads before dropping a few inches away. A Bible. Someone had thrown a Bible at them. Telekinesis . The leech must have found them.
Nick grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the open bedroom door, away from attack. Quinn managed to grab her bag off the bed when Nick released her to sling his duffel across his body. He went straight to the window and began shoving it open.
Quinn slammed the door behind them, flinching as if something
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