Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton Read Free Book Online

Sorry it was ruined.”
    â€œRuined?”
    â€œIs there a problem, Miss Monroe?”
    I turned around to see one of the assistant principals, Mr. Abbot, standing behind me, looking from me to Will.
    â€œWho is this young man?” Mr. Abbot asked, clearly seeing that Will was not a high school student. His accusing gaze lingered on the tattoos covering Will’s arm. To him, the tattoos must have been a sure sign of delinquency.
    â€œA friend,” Will said. “I stopped by to bring some of Ellie’s homework she had forgotten at my house.”
    Mr. Abbot looked questioningly at me. “Is this true?”
    I nodded. “Yes, sir. It’s okay.” I didn’t know why I was covering for him. Maybe his craziness had rubbed off on me like a bad cold, or something worse.
    He turned to Will. “Young man, I’m going to have to askyou to leave campus. You’ve done Ellie a good service by bringing her homework. However, as you are not a student and have not signed for a visitor’s pass, you’ll need to be on your way.”
    Will nodded. “That’s fine. I’ll say my good-byes and go.” He stared intently at Mr. Abbot, refusing to budge. Strangely, my assistant principal made a peculiar face before he turned and left. “Ellie, will you talk to me after school?” Will asked me.
    â€œNo way,” I said, turning my back to him.
    He stepped around me so that we were face-to-face. “If you don’t, then you won’t know how to call your swords and you won’t be able to defend yourself.”
    I felt a shiver crawl up my spine as his eyes bored into mine, locking our gazes, his voice low and downright invasive. “Was that a threat?” I asked cautiously.
    His expression gave nothing away. “They’ll come for you.”
    That shiver turned into a brutal stab of fear straight into my gut. My pulse quickened and I pursed my lips together when I felt heat rushing into my face.
    â€œNow that I’ve woken your powers, you’re fair game to the reapers. You’re at your most vulnerable, and this is when they’ll strike.”
    I took a deep breath. “If you don’t leave me alone, I’m going to scream for security and they’re going to call the cops.”
    He watched me for a few moments. His jaw was clenchedtightly and he sucked in his upper lip in frustration. “It takes a while for your memory to return sometimes, but it’s never been this bad before. I know you’re having the nightmares. You’ve always had them when you’re ready to face who you are. Of course, the last time I saw you—the real you—well, that was more than forty years ago. You were gone for twenty-eight years.”
    My throat tightened.
    He flashed me that astonishing smile, only this time it held something different, something secretive. “Happy birthday, by the way. I’m sorry I didn’t say that last night, but I have a gift for you. You passed out before I could give it to you.”
    Will pulled something out of his pocket and held out his hand. On his palm lay a pendant shaped like a pair of white wings hanging on a gold chain. The necklace was gorgeous, ethereal, the wings so brightly white that they shimmered and appeared to glow in the light. When I blinked, the glow was gone.
    â€œWhat is this?” I asked, marveling at the winged pendant.
    â€œIt’s always been yours,” he said, lifting my hand and placing the necklace on my palm. “Since before I knew you. It never tarnishes or fades. Always the same. Always permanent even when fate takes so much away.” He gently closed my fingers around the pendant, his warm hands lingering a moment too long. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
    Will turned and left. I opened my hand to stare at thebeautiful necklace. Brushing my fingers across the wings, I couldn’t decide what it was made of. The pendant’s