Only a Monster by Vanessa Len Read Free Book Online

Lucien without speaking. His posture was as arrogant as a king’s.
    â€œWe found them in the library,” Lucien said. He pushed Joan and Nick forward. “They say they’re volunteers here. But look.” He dragged up Joan’s wrist to show Edmund her bracelet with its silver-tongued fox charm. “The girl’s a Hunt.”
    The word Hunt rippled around the room in tones of distaste. As Joan followed the ripple, she saw a boy her own age, golden-haired and haughty. He was standing by one of thearched windows. Hunt , he mouthed at her with contempt.
    â€œA Hunt,” Edmund echoed. His family might have been roused, but his own voice was very cold. He examined Joan from his great height, as though examining a specimen. “Half-human, half-monster,” he said to her musingly. “If your mother were an Oliver, you’d have been voided in the womb. But the Hunts have such tolerance for abominations.”
    Joan stared up at him, shaken. People had said things all her life about her being half-Chinese and half-English. But Edmund’s flat tone and cold expression had somehow been as frightening as an overt threat. She had the feeling he wouldn’t blink before killing her.
    â€œWhat should we do with them?” Lucien said. “The boy saw us arrive.”
    He’d said that in the library too. As though Nick was a problem that would have to be dealt with. Joan scanned for an escape route, trying not to be too obvious.
    Edmund’s heavy hand landed on her shoulder, making her jump. He bent to examine her. “You traveled for the first time,” he said to her. “Recently, I think.” He bent closer—close enough that Joan could see the color of his eyes: the light gray of clouds on a gloomy day. For a long moment, she was caught in his gaze, like prey in the sights of a predator.
    In the dim light of the chandeliers, she might have been the only person close enough to see his eyes widen. “It’s true, then,” he murmured. “The Hunts have been keeping secrets.”
    â€œWhat do you mean?” Joan whispered. What secrets?
    â€œEdmund?” Lucien said. “The boy.”
    Edmund was still staring at Joan. He straightened slowly. To Joan’s dismay, his attention turned to Nick. “You saw us arrive, boy?” he said.
    â€œNo!” Joan blurted. Edmund’s expression was just like it had been in the painting: predatory. She thought about that image of the dead animal under his foot. “He didn’t!” Joan said.
    But Nick had already started to answer too. “I—I saw everyone appear out of the air.”
    Joan felt a sick swoop in the pit of her stomach. You must never tell anyone about monsters , Gran had said. But what happened to humans who found out?
    Exits. There were five doors leading out of the Gilt Room—two doors to the east, two to the west, and one directly ahead. But Olivers were blocking every one of them.
    â€œDear me,” Edmund said to Nick. “Everyone appearing from the air . . . That must have been awfully frightening.” The words were warm, but his eyes were still a predator’s. “You must be wondering who we are.” He lowered his voice, as if divulging a secret. “We’re monsters,” he whispered. “We steal life from humans like you.”
    â€œMonsters?” Nick whispered back.
    He was so vulnerable, and he didn’t know it. A human, in a room full of people who could steal his life from him with a touch. Joan couldn’t bear it.
    â€œI know what you’re thinking,” Edmund said to Nick. “You’re thinking that monsters don’t exist. But of course you’dthink that. Any human who learns the truth of our existence is killed.”
    Cold dread washed over Joan. She threw herself toward Nick, but Lucien wrenched her back. “No!” She fought Lucien desperately. “Let him go! You can’t