The Book of Bones by Natasha Narayan Read Free Book Online Page B

the waters of immortality had turned them into freaks of nature. They were fine, yes, almost beautiful, but only as a statue is beautiful. They were blond, clean, free of the marks of age, but it had somehow robbed them of life itself.
    â€œMy brother has convinced me of the wisdom of inviting you children to Hadden Castle. I took some persuading, I can tell you!” Cyril said, his voice even more papery than his brother’s.
    â€œYou’re very fortunate,” Cecil smirked. “My brother
does
have an unfortunate tendency to bear grudges.” In the look he gave his twin, I saw for the first time, some fondness.
    â€œThanks very much for the ‘invitation’—but none of us
asked
to come to Hades Castle,” Waldo said boldly.
    â€œHadden Castle,” Cyril snapped, then to his brother he murmured, “I believe some of the workmen took to calling it Hades.”
    â€œImpudent beasts,” said Cecil, and then he turned his blue gaze on me. “You were invited here, dear children, for a reason. I have in mind a task for you. A very special mission—which will test your intelligence, your nerve and, how shall I put it, your survival instinct—in equal proportion. I am convinced you have these qualities in some measure. You see, it is a rare person that can best
me
in a challenge.”
    Cecil was staring at me with something like admiration and I felt a glow of pride.
    â€œKit Salter, you reached Shambala. You made it to the temple of the oracle in Siwa. You are a very unusual girl.”
    My glowing feeling spread. Then abruptly I remembered who was flattering me and I felt hollow.
    â€œI’m not interested in your compliments,” I spat.
    Cyril eyed me like a cobra sizing up a mouse while Cecil shrugged. “I offer them freely. It is your qualities that made me choose you, Kit Salter—and your er … seconds … Waldo, Isaac and Rachel of course.”
    â€œWhat is this task?” Waldo asked wincing at the description of himself as a second. “Not that—”
    â€œWe take it for granted that you will protest,” Cyril interrupted—and Cecil flashed him a look of amusement. “We don’t expect you to do anything for us freely.”
    That word, “freely,” hung ominously in the air.
    Cecil pushed a gloved hand through his hair and then, leaning forward, steepled his hands on the table. I caught a merest glimpse of the wrist under the glove. It was a repulsive sight. The skin was wrinkled and browned, like that of a rotten apple. It reminded me of a monkey, or a very aged man. Somehow to see it side-by-side with smooth flesh was particularly revolting.
    â€œWhat’s wrong with your hands?” I blurted. “Is that why you wear those gloves?”
    The amiable expression on Cecil’s face was replaced in an instant by pure malice.
    â€œJust this once,” he said very, very slowly, “I will overlook your appalling manners.”
    â€œGet to the meat,” his twin murmured, who seemed a man of fewer words.
    Waldo said, “Give it to us straight. Why did you kidnap us?”
    â€œCards on the table.” Cecil leaned back in his chair and spread out his gloved hands. “We are sending you to China, in the care of our best captain and crew. There is something I need you to—how shall I put this—retrieve from a secret monastery in the Songshan mountains.”
    â€œYou want us to steal? From monks?”
    â€œExactly!” Cyril grinned briefly. He glanced at his brother, who bowed his head. “Let’s call a spade a spade.There is a book in that monastery that we want. You will bring it to us.”
    â€œWhy do you want this book?” Rachel asked.
    â€œIs it their business?” Cyril asked his brother.
    â€œI suppose they have a right to wonder,” Cecil replied.
    â€œVery well,” Cyril said. “I am talking of the legendary Book of Bones. It