A Dance with Darkness: An Angelfire Novella (HarperTeen Impulse) by Courtney Allison Moulton Read Free Book Online Page A

fury that had ignited in my heart. I had inherited my father’s strength, but none of his selflessness. I killed all who were responsible. I am Death.”
    I was silent, overwhelmed by the horror of the tragedy that was his origin. Nothing wicked should ever come from love, only hope and peace. But that was not the way of the world we lived in. “Are you afraid if anyone finds out about you and me, they will kill us?” I asked.
    “No,” Bastian said hollowly. “I would allow no one to kill either of us. When my death comes—and all things must end, even the ageless, even the world—it will not come by my enemies. They are always trying to kill me and I never let down my guard. If anything, love would be my undoing, because I would least expect it. I imagine the one to destroy me would have first loved me. The irony would be fitting.”
    I reached out and brushed my fingertips over his cheek. He closed his eyes at my touch and some of the tension in his body seemed to wash away. “Does anyone else know about your heritage? Where you come from?”
    “No one knows,” Bastian continued. “But I fear Evantia is suspicious. She was alive when it happened and she may have heard rumors. No one can ever know that I am half-angelic. You are the only one alive who knows. I killed the rest.”
    His words sent a chill up my spine. “Does Cadan know who he is descended from?” I asked. “Does he know what he is?”
    “No.”
    “Why not? He deserves to know.”
    Bastian gazed absently down at his hands, avoiding eye contact with me. He was quiet.
    “Don’t you trust him?” I asked. “If there is anyone you can trust, it would be your son.”
    He looked at me then, his cerulean eyes questioning. “Can I trust you?”
    I cupped his face with my hand and turned him to me. “You know you can. May I tell you a secret now?”
    “Anything.”
    “Aldebaran is my grandfather,” I said.
    The ghost of a smile passed over his beautiful lips. “That explains a lot.”
    “You may be afraid of what your angelic lineage means, but don’t be. It’s where the goodness in you comes from.”
    He shook his head, pulling away from me. “I have no goodness in me.”
    “You do,” I urged him. “If there was no goodness in you then you wouldn’t feel guilt for what you’ve done.”
    “I don’t want to feel the guilt anymore,” he said softly.
    I watched him carefully, unsure if he meant that he wanted to do the right thing, or that he wanted to do what he wanted without feeling remorse. I knew there was hope for him to abandon the demonic. He could if he wanted to, but it would be hard. There were conflicting natures within him, tempting him to yield to either his demonic or angelic side. But I believed in him. I believed he could do the right thing.

8

    THE MOMENT I WOKE UP, I WAS SICK IN THE WASHbowl by the bed. After the fright Bastian gave me last night, I’d slept poorly and my entire body ached. It seemed as if the stress only grew worse, because now I was sick with it. I couldn’t stop thinking of the state I’d found him in. The smell of blood still made me ill. Simply thinking about it made me throw up again.
    Bastian had already gone and I was alone in the room, but not in the house. I sensed the presence that I now recognized as Cadan. I wouldn’t mistake him for his father again. He was coming out of one of the studies when I descended the staircase. He looked up at me, concern furrowing his brow, watching how tightly I gripped the railing to keep my balance.
    “Are you well?” he asked, and took my hand to help me down the remaining couple of steps.
    I smiled gratefully at him. “I’m a little shaky this evening. Where is Bastian?”
    “He’s just gone out,” Cadan replied. “He should return soon.”
    “Why are you here and he is not?” I didn’t like the idea of Bastian instructing Cadan to stay here and guard me, and I hoped that was not the case.
    He opened his mouth and shut it quickly. He