The Evanescence (Fallen Soul Series) - By Jessica Sorensen Page 0,18
rounds the corner and disappears down the side street.
I tread up the path that leads to Nalina’s front door, my worn sneakers scuffing against the gravel, noting that the next door neighbor has their curtains pulled back and is watching me. Their hair looks bright purple and their lips match. From over their shoulder, two clear shaped structures sparrow out from their shoulder blades. I look away when they smile, not wanting to believe it could be a Faerie, but knowing I’m probably in denial.
I hear every shout and every bark. It’s terrifying, yet it’s not because part of me has shut down. I’m only feeling half the things I normally do and it’s strangely kind of liberating. The curtain to Nalina’s front window of her home is pulled back and I can see that she is watching me through it, her dark eyes full of suspicion, probably wondering why I’m here.
She’ll most likely be apprehensive towards me because the last time I was here I became violent with her and smacked her in the side of the head, but it wasn’t entirely my fault, seeing as how I was possessed. She might not trust me because of the incident. Well, that and the fact that I stole the Cornu Lepore from her. I just hope she doesn’t try to sneak out the back door before I can talk to her. It doesn’t mean this will end. I’ll chase her down if I have to. I just don’t want to.
Lucky, Nalina opens the front door and steps out onto the front porch, making it easy. She’s dressed in a simple, floor-length, black dress, which seems to be her color of choice. Her eyes are unwelcoming as she looks me up and down, sizing me up.
“What do you want?” she asks coldly when her gaze arrives on my eyes. “Did you come back to finish me off?” Her grey hair blows in a breeze as I step onto the bottom stair.
“We need to talk.” I climb up the steps and onto the old wooden porch that sways unsteadily beneath my feet. I cautiously step over a broken board in my path, making sure my foot doesn’t fall through the hole, and then come to a stop in front of her.
She measures me up with her frail arms folded. “Who are you?”
“Gemma,” I answer. “Don’t you remember me?”
Her eyes squint as she examines my eyes closely. “What I remember is that the last time you were here, you hit me over the head and that I’m pretty sure you were possessed.”
“How did you know?”
“I know a lot of things. I’ve told you this.”
I sigh. “Well, I’m sorry, but I’m me now, and I’d like to chat with you about something… something important.”
She hesitates, then, I guess, decides that I’m me because she nods and steps back to let me walk in. “Come in then. We do have a lot to talk about.”
I follow her into the house and the floorboards creak below my feet as she shuts the door behind us. The living room looks the same as the last time I was here; a worn sofa is in the corner and there’s still dust covering most of the tables and shelves. Nalina walks through the living room towards the kitchen and takes a seat at the table stationed between the oven and the sink.
“Have a seat.” She motions for me to come in, then points to the empty chair across from her.
I pull out the chair and sit down, feeling uneasy. I usually don’t do things solo and I feel a little defenseless in the house, especially because there are lavender marbles scattered around the floor. Praesidium, which makes it so I can’t use my Foreseer power.
Nalina collects a yellow cup from the middle of the table and grips it in-between her hands. Steam rises over the brim as she blows on the liquid.
“I was just having some tea before you showed up. Would you like some?” A smile creeps across her lips.
The last time I had tea at her table she poisoned me so that Dyvinius could read my thoughts. He wanted to be able to get inside my mind to see if I was planning on saving my father from the Room of Forbidden, where he’s been trapped for ages. When he found out that I was, he ripped my Foreseer power from me.
“No, thank you,” I decline, frowning as I shake my head. “I remember the last tea