Silver Mortal (The Gracen Chronicles) by Jenna Kay Read Free Book Online Page A

fireplaces—at least I think they're fireplaces. Rodents and all sorts of bugs are everywhere, and snakes slithered around my feet.
    “Usually when I have this dream I'm the spectator, like I'm sitting back and watching a movie on the big screen, though I've never seen a movie this horrific. The demons are maiming and doing disgusting things to some of the humans, like dismemberment, sexual acts, sacrificial ceremonies...” I shudder again, the sick images so vivid in my mind it causes my stomach to curl into a nauseated twist.
    Ever since moving to New York I'd been having the same dream of this white-headed Night Viper, feared by both demons and humans. There's something about him that screams he's extremely threatening. Yes, demons and Night Vipers are dangerous, but there's something even more sinister about this guy, something that I cannot grasp while I'm in sleep mode. He seems even darker and foreboding than Zavebe.
    Mom senses my discomfort and wraps me in a hug. I lay my head against her chest. She smells of spice and sweet perfume.
    “You'll feel better if you get it out, honey,” she whispers into my hair.
    After swallowing the rock hard lump jammed in my throat I start up again. “Anyway, like I said before, I'm always the spectator, the fly on the wall, but tonight I was actually part of the nightmare.”
    Mom's body tenses under me and she inquires, “What are you saying?”
    “The white-haired Viper is talking to me, ordering me around, yelling profanities at me, smacking me around... hurting me.” I lean up to gaze into mom's face, knowing my expression is pitiful. “It felt so real, mom. Like it wasn't a dream, but actually happening to me. It was horrible, disgusting, and...” I trail off, biting back a sob itching to spring forth.
    She pats my head sympathetically. “It was only a dream, Gracen.” I shake my head. “No, I think it means something more,” I argue, afraid to tell her the last part of the equation.
    Her forehead creases with worry. “What are you not telling me?”
    “In the dream I'm not myself.” I pause, feeling uncertain.
    “Keep going,” she urges strongly.
    “He called me Ashley,” I inform her in a rush of words. “And I think this Ashley is in deep trouble.”
    “Hmm,” she ponders. “Is Ashley an Untouched human, or a Touched human?”
    A Touched human—a much nicer way to say screwed-up mortal .
    I shake my head sadly and whisper, “I have no idea.”
    Mom gives me one last squeeze and stands up. I can tell that something is weighing heavy on her mind, and I also know she will not tell me what it is—at least, not yet, anyway. She paces the room a few times, her yellow robe swishing back and forth around her ankles. Suddenly she stops pacing and turns to me, offering me a forced, weak smile.
    “I'm going to rest a little,” she tells me, yawning and stretching her arms above her head. “Once Jude wakes up I'll get him to check out remote locations that best fits your descriptions. We'll also see if there's any missing Ashley's around the area. I know it will take a lot of searching, since we have no last name or description of the girl, but we've got to start trying.”
    “Um...Mom?”
    “Yeah?”
    “What if Jude's not up to working?” I question her, adding, “You know, since he was beaten to a pulp just a few hours ago.”
    OK, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but Jude's little venture had left him pretty bruised. Thankfully no broken bones like we'd expected, which was such a blessing since he didn't heal as fast as we do. With the blood of the Silver Eagle running through our veins my mother and I are able to heal faster than the average human. Yes, Jude is an Informant, but his physical human body is very much average.
    Though Jude may feel like roadkill later today I highly doubted that he would turn down mom's request. He'd push through the pain like always. After all, he's very dedicated to his job, which is lucky for my mother since she