Black City by Elizabeth Richards Read Free Book Online Page B

turn back to face the school. A bookish-looking girl with caramel-colored skin, wearing wire-rimmed spectacles and a pristine red beret, walks up the school steps, her long dark hair swishing around her shoulders. She stands beside four empty chairs, her hands held awkwardly in front of her.
    “What’s Day doing up there?” Beetle asks.
    I quirk an eyebrow. “Why do you care what she’s doing up there?”
    “No reason, just saying.” The tips of his ears turn pink.
    “Is it because you love her?”
    “Shut up.”
    “You want to kiss her.”
    Beetle punches my arm. “Oww!” he says, shaking his bruised fist.
    “Reinforced bones, my friend.” I laugh. There are a few perks to being a twin-blood.
    We stand at attention as the Headmaster steps up to the microphone beside Day. Behind him a Sentry flag flutters on the breeze. It has two horizontal stripes, one red, one black, and at its center is a rose emblem, a recent addition to the flag, symbolizing the Purity faith.
    “Good morning, school!” the Headmaster’s voice crackles across the town square. He raises his arm in the air, palm facing us, and we all follow suit.
    The school begins to chant. “I vow to serve the savior of our great state, Purian Rose—”
    I move my lips but don’t say the words. Beetle’s making up his own rude lyrics, and I try not to laugh. I remember Dad’s warning: act like them, don’t stand out, keep your head down. Yeah, easier said than done when you’re a foot taller than everyone else and have a set of deadly-looking fangs. I’ll never fit in.
    “I pledge my eternal devotion to the United Sentry States, to uphold the mighty Human Power! To create one state, one race under His Mighty,” the school continues, Gregory speaking loudest of all. “Long live the Sentry!”
    The sound of hooves reverberates around the town square, and a moment later, an ornate State carriage drawn by six Cremello horses enters the square from one of the side roads. It drives past the students, who crane their necks to see who the passengers are, although it’s impossible to tell behind the curtained windows. TV cameras pan around to face the carriage, which comes to a halt beside the school entrance. I feel a strange tugging in my chest as I wait to see who’s inside.
    The Headmaster beams. “I am delighted to announce that we have some very special guests visiting today. Please give them a warm welcome.”
    A footman opens the carriage door, and five people get out. They walk up the school steps.
    “I don’t believe it,” Beetle growls under his breath.
    The first person is a waspish woman, whom I recognize immediately as Emissary Buchanan, flanked by two older men. They’re dressed in long black robes with a red rose emblem on the chest—the uniform of the Sentry Council. The fourth is a teenage boy, a few years older than me, wearing a crimson military coatee, black trousers and boots—the uniform of the Trackers. On his sleeve are three black stripes indicating his high rank. The other visitor is a blond girl, her back to me, a familiar green jacket slung over her arm. She turns her head, nervously scanning the faces in the crowd, and her blue eyes snag on mine. Her mouth drops open into a perfect O, mirroring my own surprise.
    It can’t be her!

6
    NATALIE
    IT CAN’T BE HIM!
    A chilling coldness creeps over my skin as he stares at me across the plaza. What he’s doing here, of all places? He didn’t seem like the going-to-school type. His threat still lingers in my mind. Tell anyone about me, and you’re dead . . . That odd, yanking sensation pulls at my heart again, like it did the last time I saw him.
    “You okay?” Sebastian whispers to me.
    I nod and plaster a fake smile on my lips, knowing my image is being broadcast to every TV in Black City right now. Slung over my arm is the twin-blood boy’s jacket, and I wish more than anything I hadn’t brought it now, but how was I to know he’d be here?
    Across the