Death's Mantle: An Urban Fantasy Novel (Revelations Book 1) Read Free Page B

though it tore the group apart, neither would hang out with the other person after that. Ian had tried to talk to Malcom about it, tried to get them to remain friends, which admittedly was crazy because Kim had cheated on him so many times it was mind boggling as to why he would want them to stay together. Especially since, Malcom had already accepted so much…
    Then again, when they were together, the rightness of it was almost like a gravitational force. It was only when they were apart that they became truly destructive. It was like whatever bond they shared only made them sane when they were in close proximity to one another and without that closeness, all bets were off.
    Unfortunately, this time it really seemed like their relationship was over because Caden and Kim had gotten together a few days ago. Now he couldn’t do anything but watch his group of friends shatter into tiny, isolated groups.
    At first he tried not to let it bother him, tried to convince himself everyone would get over it, and they’d all go back to hanging out together. Yesterday though, Malcom had snapped. He’d walked into the bookstore where Caden worked, and screaming about betrayal, slugged him as hard as he could.
    Caden hit the ground, and Malcom continued to wail on him. Moments later, Malcom was smothered by a blanket of humanity while Caden escaped outside minus the piercing on his eyebrow. That same eyebrow ring was now on a thin piece of black wire around Malcom’s neck. It was sort of macabre, and when Ian tried to persuade Mal to get rid of it, well, it didn’t exactly go well.
    Despite all that, Ian had just witnessed Malcom kiss Kim, and if he had seen it, chances were good others had as well. Ian shook his head in disgust and walked away, trying to ignore it because sometimes it seemed like that pair had little choice when it came to each other. Watching them just now had been sort of like watching a train wreck in slow motion, and unfortunately, he’d seen this wreck a few too many times.
    Still, guilt crept up the back of his neck as he made his way toward biology. Maybe they would get back together and they could all go back to hanging out like normal. Stranger things had happened, right?
    Jesse stood outside biology class looking a bit more morose than usual in his long-sleeved forest green shirt and jeans. While mopey behavior was usual for Jesse, it still made Ian uncomfortable to see it in action. He wasn’t quite sure why, but emotion of any kind made him uneasy.
    Ian shook his head and sighed. Better to just come out and ask him about Amy or drop it, and as much as he wanted to just drop the whole thing, he knew he couldn’t. He couldn’t explain why, but he had to know, had to have information to dismiss the nagging voice in the back of his mind telling him something was wrong. Then again, maybe he was crazy. Perhaps he would call his shrink after all… his dad would like that.
    “Hey buddy, why the long face?” Ian called, waving his hand at Jesse.
    “No reason.” Jesse slumped his head even lower, burying it in the crook of his arms as he stared out at the yellowed baseball field below so all Ian could see of his head was his mop of black hair.
    “No reason or some reason?” Ian asked, poking his friend in the side with one slender finger.
    Jesse turned his head so one brown eye was staring up at Ian. “I said no reason.”
    “Jesse, we both know you’re upset because Amy didn’t come to school today. Care to tell me why?” Ian slapped his hand on Jesse’s back in some sort of attempt at a friendly gesture. Honestly, he wasn’t quite sure what the appropriate physical contact would be in this situation.
    “Not really…” Jesse turned back toward the baseball field. “We had a fight after school, yesterday. I’m worried that’s why she didn’t come to school today.”
    “Um… why? What did you guys fight about?” Ian asked, glancing behind him toward the open door. He wasn’t exactly sure