Veiled Innocence (Book One, The Soul Cycle) by Krystle Jones Read Free Book Online

said to Alastor at dinner. S he dropped her eyes to the floor. “I’m sorry.”
    He blinked. “For what?” Then so mething flashed across his eyes. H is lips pressed into a thin line , and she knew he remembered her crass remark.
    “Well,” Ana-Elise cut in, oblivious to the growing tension, “it seems it was nothing but a nightmare. We’d best be going so you can get back to sleep.” She grabbed Alastor’s arm and started pulling him toward the door when her eyes rested on the teardrop. Shadows settled over her face. “Where did you get that?” 
    The ice in Ana’s voice cut through Lian’s hazy mind like a knife. “Er, I, uh, found it.”
    Ana-Elise narrowed her eyes and stared at her for several long seconds. Lian bit her lip and stared at the teardrop. Was Ana-Elise mad at her ? Did she think Lian had stolen it or that their father had shown her favor over her for once?
    “ Darkness comes for you now . ”
    Lian reluctantly tore her eyes from the teardrop and lifted them to meet Ana’s gaze. Her skin crawled; Ana’s eyes were solid black.
    She blinked . The darkness lifted; Ana’s eyes ha d returned to normal, and she suddenly l ooked very tired. “Good night, S ister,” she said softly. “Try to dream a little less loudly.” Then she glided out of the room in one of her token graceful moves.
    Alastor gave her an awkward smile and left behind her, trailed by his guards.
    “Why, yes. I’m fine. Thank you for asking,” Lian muttered. 
    As the door latched shut, she collapsed onto the pillows. She sighed and closed her eyes but saw only the murky darkness she had walked through earlier, the same darkness she had seen on Ana’s face.
    She fingered the teardrop, wondering what it all meant. You’re just tired , she told herself, and e motio nally drained . You’ve probably imagined it all.
    Though her thoughts felt less troubled, she wasn’t ready to re-enter that dark abyss. She pried her eyes open , willing herself to stay awake. Eventually, she grew too exhausted and soon fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

CHAPTER 4
    Predator
     
     
    VISHKA DREW HER CLOAK tighter, stirring up mist as she glided down the deserted street.
    Having now spent a week in Accalia searching for her blood bounty, she had grown familiar with the country’s somewhat bizarre weather patterns. Though the sun rarely showed its face in Accalia, the moon always seemed to find a way through the thick cloud cover. Spots of starlight littered the sky. Tall buildings of black glass rose all around her, and the p ale light of the moon reflected off their broken windows. Wrought-iron gates covered in rust and moss loomed over her while monstrous carvings bared their fangs at her from rotting pedestals. She smiled. Accalia was beautiful in its decay, wearing its shadows like a cloak.
    Her thoughts shifted , and her mood darkened.
    After a century, the feelings remained, lurking beneath the surface of her collected exterior. The ache was familiar, a heady mixture of hatred and agony festering deep within her heart that continued eating away at her soul each day she continued the Calling. At Death’s feet, the bargain had seemed easy to accept , especially since H e wore the guise of Draxonus .
    She bit back a bitter laugh. Dying would have been so much more favorable . At least then she would have been free.
    In time, when the Calling was fulfilled, His blood would cleanse her of the lives she had claimed in His name. Then she would truly be free of her sins.
    For as long as she lived, however long that ma y be, she would never forget that night on the ship. She remembered taking his hand right before fire scorched her blood, burning out her soul until there was nothing there. Then all the colors of the destruction around her swirled, and she tumbled into darkness. When she awoke, she was greeted by the stars that had witnessed her damnation. They were no longer beautiful; they were vile, laughing at her folly, and she cursed