Conrad Edison and the Anchored World (Overworld Arcanum Book 2) Read Free

hallway and jumped back as the furious vampire stormed my way.
    "Where is it?" Sonia said in a low hiss.
    Ambria stepped into the hallway and leveled a glare at the woman. "If you really must know, I invited a werewolf to stay with us."
    Sonia's eyes flared angrily. "You invited a lycan to stay in my house?"
    Blue appeared behind Ambria, eyes wide.
    The vampire jabbed a finger toward her. "You"—she pointed a thumb over her shoulder—"out!"
    Ambria shook her head. "Absolutely not. We saved her from vampires last night and we're not about to put her back in the streets."
    "She has nowhere to go," I said.
    "Vampires? Hah!" Sonia looked from me to Ambria. "You couldn't rescue her from mice."
    "Conrad broke their arms and threw them around like rag dolls," Blue said. "He's the strongest Arcane I've ever seen."
    Sonia's eyebrows rose. "That puny boy whipped a gang of vampires?"
    Desmond appeared behind Sonia and put a hand on her shoulder. "Let's go to sleep and sort this out in the evening."
    Sonia's lips peeled back. "I refuse to live in the same house as a dog."
    Ambria shook her head sadly. "Do you really hate dogs so much?"
    "I'm not a dog," Blue said. "I'm a lycan."
    "You're a mongrel," Sonia shot back.
    "Well, you're a mean vampire!" Ambria shouted. "Why are you so angry all the time?"
    Desmond gripped his sister's arm. "That's enough, Sonia. We're going to bed."
    Sonia tried to jerk her arm free, but Desmond was too strong. She stabbed a finger at Ambria. "This isn't over, you little brat."
    "I'm sorry," Desmond said. "Your friend can stay as long as she likes."
    His sister hissed and turned away, finally freeing her arm, then stomped downstairs without another word.
    Ambria wiped her forehead and breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Desmond."
    He nodded. "We still need to discuss this. Having too many people coming and going from this house might alert the neighbors." He glanced downstairs. "Just remember, we're squatters. If someone alerted the authorities, they could kick us out."
    "I don't know who they'd tell," Ambria said. "I certainly haven't seen any police patrolling the streets."
    Desmond chuckled. "You may be right." He turned and walked downstairs.
    "Why would nom police be in Queens Gate?" Blue asked.
    "Well, I meant Templars, or whoever they use in the Overworld." Ambria slumped against the wall and put a hand to her chest. "Sonia frightens me."
    I nodded. "Me too."
    I returned to my room and tried to go back to sleep, but only tossed and turned for the next hour. I finally got up at eight, showered, and ate breakfast. The rubbish bag in the kitchen looked dangerously close to bursting, so I decided to take it outside.
    After dropping the bag at the curb, I retrieved my Elementary Magic textbook from upstairs and sat on the front porch to study in the fresh, cool morning air.
    The boy next door came outside, a large dartboard under one arm. He and his family had just moved in a week ago, but this was the first time I'd seen any of them since that day.
    He looked at me and I waved back. Deciding it might be nice to meet him, I set down the book and walked over to the stone wall separating our yard from his.
    "Hello," I said in the cheeriest voice I could manage.
    He set down the dartboard and walked over, a serious look on his face. "I can't be your friend."
    Considering that this was the first time I'd spoken with him, his statement came as something of a surprise. I took a step back. "Excuse me?"
    He leaned on the low wall. "Nothing personal, but I won't have time for new friends." He puffed out his chest. "I have to train to defeat a terrible evil."
    "Impressive." I didn't know how playing darts would prepare him, unless he planned to prick the enemy to death.
    He held out a hand. I hesitantly shook it and wondered if I should be offended that he didn't want to be my friend.
    "I'm Harris Ashmore," he said. "Perhaps you've heard of me."
    I had, in fact, never heard of such a person. "My name is Conrad