The Elementals by Francesca Lia Block Read Free Book Online Page B

their voices.
    “Oh,” I said, trying to sound cheerful. “She’s going to be with her family. She has this huge family in Marin. I told you she’s from Marin, right? She invited me to join her if I wanted. Why?”
    My dad cleared his throat. “It’s just that, your mother isn’t feeling great. She has to go through some treatments.”
    Didn’t they want me there? I chewed at my lower lip; my mouth tasted like metal.
    “It’s really up to you,” my mother said. “We want you to know that. But I didn’t want you to see me like this, baby. I want to be stronger for you.”
    “I want to be strong for you,” I said, but I knew I wasn’t.
    “I know,” said my mom. “I know you do.”
    My dad went on. “Your mother and I do want you with us, Ariel. But when things are a little calmer so it’s easier for everyone.”
    I tried, unsuccessfully, to swallow the tinny taste away.
    “We were wondering if we could put the celebration off a little,” he said. “If you could maybe go with your friends for the holiday? Just this time.”
    I wanted to tell them I didn’t have friends, that I’d be spending the holiday looking for Jennifer Benson, but instead: “Sure,” I said. “I can see you at Christmas.” It wasn’t just a taste now; I could hear the metallic edge in my voice.
    “We’ll make it up to you, baby,” said my mom. “I promise. I’ll get well and make it up to you.”
    I wasn’t sure if this was true and even though she was still very much alive, I felt the change; a death had taken place.
    *   *   *
    The day was gray and bleak. The dorms were so quiet; almost everyone had left. I sat in my room reading and every now and then looking out over the empty streets. The tarot reader had said that Berkeley was built on sacred burial ground, some kind of power spot, but that day it just looked like a grim, deserted college town and when I finally went downstairs in the evening the lounge smelled like last night’s spilled beer and urine.
    I couldn’t face the pressed turkey and jellied cranberry they were serving in the dorm to the scattered few who remained. Maybe I’d take a walk outside.
    I noticed I had a text and checked the message. It was from a number I didn’t recognize.
    do u have plans 4 late txgiving dinner john graves
    My heart had never felt so full of blood. He had invited me to come to him.
    As I ran down the stairs I saw Coraline Grimm through an open door, standing on the bed in her dorm room tacking flyers on her wall.
    “I saw you at Halloween Hotel,” she said. “I’m all, that’s the girl from the dorms.”
    I made myself stop even though my body was still running downstairs. “Oh. Yeah.”
    “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.” She turned the rest of her body so she was facing me. Her shoulders stooped forward in her black vintage dress. “That guy you were with? I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
    “Why not?”
    “He’s a heartbreaker. Literally. They all are. You should be careful.”
    “Careful how?”
    “There’s some weird shit in that drink they serve.”
    I was going to ask more but she turned back to the wall behind her and I saw what was there: missing-person flyers, including the one I had given her.
    “What’s all that?” I asked.
    “Oh. It’s a project I’m working on. It’s called Missing. Do you want to come see?”
    Fucking weird. “No thanks,” I said, more sure than ever where I wanted to go now, in spite of Coraline’s interdiction.
    *   *   *
    I went among the trees, up the steps, onto the porch, to the door of the house, and knocked.
    My heart beat in my mouth like a piece of hot fruit as I waited. And then the door opened.
    It wasn’t John but another young man.
    “Sorry to bother you. I’m looking for John Graves,” I said.
    He grinned so the gap between his front teeth showed. I remembered reading somewhere that a gap between the teeth signified sensuality. He was wiry and shorter than