A Touch Morbid by Leah Clifford Read Free Book Online Page B

before she could react. “She’s out of commission.”
    A tremor passed through Eden, phantom pains shooting up her arms, across her collarbones. A month ago she would have already been leading the three to the alley, ending them one by one and taking their Touch into herself. Saving them from an existence they couldn’t escape. But that was before. Now, death at her lips would send a soul Downstairs. To Luke. She hadn’t taken out a Sider since Gabe had Fallen.
    The pains in her arms sharpened. It’s happening again , she thought, trying not to panic, but the sensation faded.
    “We’re not leaving.” One guy came forward, his hand held out. In it was a fifty-dollar bill, the price she’d charged for her “talents.” “I have the money. She has to do it.”
    “No. She doesn’t.” Az’s voice rang with authority. “Spread the word. We’ll let you know when things change.”
    “I’m sorry.” Eden couldn’t keep the guilt from her voice. The ones who sought her out were desperate, but she wouldn’t send them Downstairs. Without her, no one was going anywhere. They’d have to learn to make the best of it.
    The guy reached in his pocket, digging frantically. “Look, take it all. I mean, I won’t need it, right?” Eden peeked over Az’s shoulder. The Sider’s eyes found hers. “Please?”
    “I can’t,” she managed, taking Az’s hand and pushing past.
    “Bitch!” one of them yelled out behind her.
    Az stiffened, but Eden kept walking. “They can call me whatever they want. It doesn’t matter.” She forced herself to smile. “And we’re not letting it ruin tonight.”
    They headed down the stairs to the subway station, swiping their MetroCards as they passed through the turnstiles. Eden was a step ahead, made it a few yards before she realized Az wasn’t following. Behind her, he walked slowly, looking intently at his hand. She watched as he lifted it to his nose and sniffed uncertainly.
    “Get something on you?”
    He glanced up and held out his hand. On his palm was a smear of black. “I think there was something on the turnstile. Was it on yours, too?”
    She turned her hand over. The entire center of her palm was covered in gray-black powder.
    “The turnstile,” she said absently, brushing her hands together. She scraped her nails against the powder. It flaked away, the skin underneath clean.
    Az shrugged, wiping his palms on the legs of his trouser pants, and started walking toward the train again.
    “Want to try to guess where we’re going yet?” Az asked.
    “No idea.” Eden forced a smile, trying to let herself get caught up in his excitement.
    Az grinned coyly, listing off on his fingers. “Someplace very public, where if anyone did see us, they wouldn’t dare make a scene. Free. Cheesy romantic.” He paused. “It’s December,” he prodded.
    She gave an amused shrug as they boarded the train.
    His smile widened. “Then you’ll have to wait.”
    She’d never seen anything so beautiful. The evergreen rose high above them, every branch twinkling with lights.
    Az stood behind her, snuggling close. “It’s your first Christmas in the city,” he said. “I wanted to be the one to show you the tree.”
    Eden laughed, giddy as she took in the nearly hundred-foot-tall Rockefeller Center tree. “I think you might have outdone yourself on the romance factor.”
    She turned into his arms, hugging him. Beside them, a busker played Christmas carols on a tattered violin, the soulful notes echoing through the still air. Eden dropped a dollar into the musician’s case as they passed.
    Az’s hand caught her waist suddenly, twirling her with the momentum. “Dance with me?” He smiled. “It’ll keep me out of trouble.”
    His hands flexed, pulling her closer to him, and everything else seemed to melt away. He spun her, whirled her out until the tips of their gloved fingers were the only thing connecting them. Then his fingers called her closer, leading her back to him.