Shimmer by Jennifer McBride Read Free Book Online Page A

discarded top onto the bed. He turned and strode over to her globe.
    â€˜Can you see out of there?’
    She giggled but didn’t answer.
    â€˜Kora.’ He picked up her globe and gave it a shake. ‘Can you see me?’
    How dare he shake her globe! She used her magic to cushion Amurru and then shimmered out of her globe in an angry mist of gold.
    â€˜Stop that!’
    He blinked at her appearance but did stop shaking her globe. ‘I asked you a question.’
    She realised, now that she was looking at his face, that he was incredibly angry. ‘Do not take your petty fight with your mother out on Amurru.’
    He looked taken aback and immediately set her globe down. ‘Is he okay?’
    â€˜Only because I took care of him.’
    He turned back to his wardrobe and yanked a clean T-shirt over his head.
    â€˜You can see me.’
    She didn’t answer.
    â€˜Through your globe. You can see out from inside.’
    â€˜What does it matter? There is nothing worth looking out at.’
    He strode back to tower over her. ‘I’m not in the mood for your stuck up royal attitude today.’
    â€˜And I am not in the mood for your pathetic human whims.’
    â€˜Well, suck it up, Empress,’ he snarled. ‘Today we are doing things my way.’
    She shook her finger at him, the bangles on her arms jingling madly. ‘You fool. You have no idea who I am.’
    â€˜Actually,’ he said. ‘I know exactly who you are. You are my slave. And you will do precisely as I command.’

Getting warmer
    The front door slammed behind David’s mother as she left for work. Kora wondered how long it would take David to summon her. It was less than a second.
    â€˜Kora? I wish for you to come outside with me,’ he called.
    She felt the bands around her wrists and ankles tighten immediately at the command. ‘Have a good day, Amurru,’ she said. ‘I wish I could stay and keep you company.’
    Amurru’s yellow eyes blinked at her. ‘Perhaps today will not be so bad,’ he said. She could see compassion in his eyes. ‘I know you miss home, Empress.’
    She thought sadly of her family. Guilt pierced her heart as she remembered her parting words to her parents. Those few shameful words had played over and over again in her mind ever since. She had told them she hated them.
    Amurru seemed to read her thoughts. ‘Do not despair, Empress,’ he said gently. ‘Perhaps I will hear from your father again, soon.’
    She nodded. She didn’t trust herself to speak. Hopefully Amurru was right. At least then she would know that her family was safe. Her bands were glowing brightly now and dug painfully into her wrists and ankles. She had to go.
    â€˜Kora?’ David’s voice rose in demand. ‘Get out here, now!’
    She gave Amurru a parting smile and then shimmered gracefully down into David’s room. ‘You rang, master?’
    His eyes narrowed. ‘Follow me,’ he ordered.
    Anger stirred in her chest. How dare he speak to her that way! She stomped into the kitchen behind him.
    Cuddles, the ugly, fat ginger cat, lay curled up asleep on one of the kitchen chairs. When Kora entered the room his eyes flew open and, hissing and spitting, he sprang from the chair and fled outside through the cat flap in the back door.
    David smirked at her. ‘Cuddles really likes you, doesn’t he?’
    She narrowed her eyes at him. She hated his stupid, sarcastic comments. She folded her arms across her chest and waited.
    â€˜Clean up in here.’
    She pursed her lips and thought about not doing what he asked. After all, he hadn’t really wished for her to do it, but the command was in his voice and she felt her bands tighten. Sighing loudly, she gave in and did what he wanted. In less time than it took for David to blink, the kitchen was spotless.
    â€˜In fact,’ he said, ‘you might as well do the whole