Daemons in the Mist (The Marked Ones Trilogy: Book One) Read Free

like a graceful dance. I don’t know why I hadn’t given up on her yet and gotten myself a real girlfriend. It was just…something in me just couldn’t seem to let it go. Like some piece of me knew something I didn’t. Though I did wish it would get over itself and let me in on the secret.
    “Are you staring at that Galathea girl again ?” Connor asked with a sigh as he folded his arms and leaned against the locker next to mine. His hair was a well-kept spray of dreads pulled neatly into a ponytail. His mother had probably gotten on his case again and threatened to cut it off if he didn’t keep it neat. Which—knowing Connor—would probably last for all of a few weeks before it started getting into disarray again.
    Connor looked over at Nualla before looking back at me and rolling his eyes. “I’m telling you man— never gonna happen.”
    “Yeah, I know,” I sighed as I turned back to my locker and tossed my bag in.
    Mr. Lucas had demanded we not bring bags to Chemistry, so no one would accidentally trip over them. He had said something to the effect of, “This is chemistry, not physics. We don’t need to see what happens when someone falls on their face.”
    “We need to get to class, you coming?”
    “You go ahead, I’ll catch up,” I replied, though I wasn’t really listening because I was still starting at Nualla without actually appearing to look at her—a skill in and of itself.
    “Well hurry up, I heard a rumor that Mr. Lucas is switching up our seats again,” Connor said and strode off toward our Chem II class.
    “‘Kay,” I said, but he probably hadn’t heard me, considering in a few seconds flat he was already halfway down the hall. But then again, he was a 6’4” black kid, and most of that was legs.
    I closed my locker with a sigh. I really couldn’t stand around staring anymore, and I would see her in Mr. Lucas’ class anyways. So tablet in hand I started walking toward class, my eyes fixed on Nualla under the pretense that I was looking at the hallways beyond her.
    After only a few steps, a sudden piercing headache flashed across my eyes. I stumbled and dropped my tablet on my shoe. It bounced off the white rubber tip of my black All Stars and skidded across the floor. As I bent down to get it I rubbed my temple. Things like this actually happened to me more than I wanted to admit. Though not enough that I’d ever bothered to mention it to my parents.
    When I stood up, Michael was standing next to Nualla, and they were having a heated argument. They both seemed fuzzy and out of focus, like they were much farther away than they should have been. And the more I concentrated on trying to look at them the fuzzier they got and the more my head hurt.
    I would have just gone to class and taken some Advil if it had not been for what I saw next.

    NUALLA
                           
    I knew what was going to happen a split second before it did. I always knew with Michael. As good as he was with his illusionary abilities, I could always feel the impact to the air as he prepared to release it.
    Michael grabbed my arm. “You’re going with me to the Winter Ball.”
    “No, I assure you, I’m not .” I jerked away from him, folded my arms and glared at him with contempt.
    “Then who are you going with?”
    Frak! I hadn’t actually asked anyone yet.
    I looked out at the nearly vacant hall; the students that were still there were shuffling to their lockers or dashing off to class completely unaware of us. Then again, Michael was using his influence to make them not notice us.
    “I don’t have to tell you,” I said, moving my hands to my hips to appear more solid. Michael was a good five inches taller than me, so I needed all the help I could get.
    “I can make you,” he said, lifting my chin with his finger so I was forced to look into his eyes.
    I pushed him away with all my strength and tried to step past him. “You wouldn’t dare .” Michal’s illusionary abilities