Spring Rain by Lizzy Ford Read Free Book Online Page B

the
Light.”
    “Awesome,” Beck said sarcastically. “How
many?”
    “A couple dozen. I’m working on tracking
them down, but she’s managed to use Bartholomew’s magick to shield
a lot of them.”
    “I didn’t think crazy was contagious.”
    “I can’t say as though I blame them
entirely. Not a day goes by when I don’t wish I could be a normal
Light witchling, someone deserving of Summer,” Decker replied.
    “You wouldn’t try to destroy me and the
Light though.”
    Decker raised his eyebrows. “What part of a
homicidal Master of Dark barely in control on his best day makes
you think I wouldn’t?”
    “The part only a Master of Light can see,”
Beck retorted. “The part of you Summer sees.”
    “You people are more lost than I am.”
    “Whatever, Decker. Summer and I know the
truth, even if you refuse to admit it.”
    Decker shrugged. “Ever wished we’d paid more
attention in school? Like in knowing how Tranin trapped Bartholomew
in the soul stone a thousand years ago?”
    “Every damn day. I don’t think the problem
is us, though. I’ve been over every history book I could find about
that time period. The records are barely there. Nothing more than
the story we know now, that Tranin trapped Bartholomew with the
soul stone and banished his soul to the Dark where it belonged. Do
the souls buzzing around your head have more information?”
    “Not that I can find. Bartholomew is so
strong. I think the knowledge was lost on purpose sometimes.”
    Nothing’s easy. Beck sighed. “You want to take care of this?”
Beck motioned to the cave where the Dark crouched.
    “Yep.”
    “I’ll let Amber know. I’ve got a day of
admin crap ahead of me.”
    “Have fun.” Decker rolled his eyes. “If she
hears of any other pockets like this, have her call me
directly.”
    “Will do.” Sensing Decker’s Dark surge, Beck
stepped away and summoned his fog.
    He envied Decker’s seamless ability to wield
his Dark power. While the earth worked with him, the Light was
generally aloof, and Beck didn’t know if it was simply the way it
worked or if he was, as usual, doing less than he was supposed
to.
    “More paperwork!” Amber said cheerfully the
second he appeared in her office.
    There are days … Beck grimaced. “Hand it over. I’m here the rest
of the day.”
    “Oh, I found something you were asking me
about last month.” Amber added. “History books about Tranin and
other Light Masters.” She rifled through her drawer and pulled out
an antiquated book a foot and a half long that smelled musty. “This
one was recorded in the eighteenth century.”
    “Hmm.” Beck accepted the behemoth book.
“Might not be early enough.”
    “You never know. A lot of knowledge has been
lost over the years. This is a recording of oral traditions the
author recorded to try to preserve them. Maybe there’s something
we’ve forgotten over time.”
    “It’s possible.” He sat down at the small
table Amber used to prepare her lesson plans. Beck flipped the
cover of the book open and sneezed. “Where did you get this?”
    “In the basement. We have a lot of junk down
there. I was looking for equinox decorations and stumbled across a
few old books.”
    The elements wanted it
found. Coincidences didn’t happen in a
world where magick interwove with everyone and everything. Beck’s
attention went from the book to the administrative tasks Amber
needed. With some reluctance, he decided to tackle her tasks first
before hauling the large book home to read.
     

Chapter Five
     
    “Can, um, Red make my drink?”
    Morgan looked up from where she was washing
her hands at the end of her shift. The request came from a
college-aged girl, one of her usual customers, though she was about
two hours late today.
    Rosy twisted to face her and cocked one
eyebrow up in a silent question. The barista at the bar was already
stepping aside, accustomed to moving whenever one of Morgan’s
regulars came in.
    “Sure,” Morgan said