Soul Thief by Majanka Verstraete Read Free Book Online

as well?” My voice sounded high and shrill, and I barely recognized it.
    Gran sighed. She folded her hands and rested her head on them. “This is a difficult story to tell so let me tell it to you in my own way, please. Don’t interrupt me.”
    I didn’t reply, and she seemed to take that as a sign to continue.
    â€œWhen you were born, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I first saw you. There was this strange, otherworldly glow around you, and I knew right away that you were different. I didn’t know why or how until I visited one of my friends, a voodoo doctor in New Orleans. She told me that you were half Angel, half human, and that if I loved you, I’d bind your powers. Because if the wrong people found out who you were, then your life would be at risk.”
    She paused and fumbled with her sleeves. “I dove into the world of the occult, desperate to know more about what you were and what it meant. I opened up this shop and filled it with all sorts of traps and potions so I could protect you when necessary. At first, whenever someone came into the shop, or whenever someone asked about you, my heart nearly jumped out of my chest. I was terrified they’d come to take you away. But when nobody came and the months turned into years, I hoped against all odds that they’d never find you. But now… well, you’re glowing like a neon light.”
    â€œMom and Dad never mentioned I was glowing.” I stared at my hands, unwilling to face her.
    â€œThat’s because they can’t see it. Only paranormal creatures can.”
    I blinked and pulled back a little. “You mean — you’re one too?” A wave of relief rolled over me. At least I wouldn’t be alone in all this madness.
    â€œNot like you. I’m a witch.” Gran snorted. “It should’ve been pretty obvious, given the store and the spells.”
    â€œI always thought that was fake. You told me it was fake!”
    â€œWell, of course I did. I had to keep you as far away from the paranormal world as possible. How did they find out about you anyway?”
    I told her the entire story from start to finish. It felt like a stone was lifted from my heart just telling her. She listened without a word. “But this whole being half an Angel, half a human thing. How does that work? Is it random? Do they pick humans to become Angels or something like that?”
    Gran sniffed and took a deep breath. “For a Halfling to be born, a human has to mate with an Angel.”
    I nearly choked. My breath got stuck in my throat, and I let out a dry cough. “You mean… my Mom… and an Angel?”
    â€œYes. I tried to ask her about it many times, but she always remained mute. Kept insisting she’d never been with anyone except your Dad.”
    â€œWould that be possible?” I wanted to hold on to that straw with all I had, but it slipped right out of my hands when Gran shook her head.
    â€œNo. But the Angel could’ve disguised himself somehow, so she could’ve thought it was your Dad.”
    I fought against the tears. “You mean that… my Dad isn’t my Dad?”
    The thought was impossible to understand. My Dad, who’d always been there for me, who played with me for hours on end, who built me a dollhouse when I kept nagging about it; the Dad who bandaged my knees when I scraped them, who read me bedtime stories when I was a little kid… Dad who was always there for me, no matter what happened.
    He wasn’t my real Dad.
    â€œWhy?” My voice broke. “I’m okay with being this, but not with… Dad.”
    Gran took my hands and rubbed them softly. “I don’t know how it happened, dear, but I’m sure your Mom never wanted this to happen. She doesn’t even know about it.”
    â€œSo she’s not a paranormal too?”
    â€œNo. She’s just human, like her father.”
    â€œWhy isn’t she a