Elemental Darkness (Paranormal Public Series) Read Free Page B

sleeping bags everywhere. It looked like the Astra entryway had been turned into a campsite.
    “You too,” I said, and I meant it. But I also had no idea what was going on, so I took the most direct route and asked, “Um, what are you all doing here?”
    Trafton looked around. “Oh, you don’t usually have piles of sleeping bags in your walkway? Strange.”
    I shook my head. “No, I don’t.”
    “We’re staying with you in Astra,” said Vanni stoutly. “At least, most of us are. The pixies are staying in Volans. They’re seriously annoying. Camilla materialized just as we were returning to Public, but I swear no dragon gave her a ride. Lots of vampires are staying in Cruor, because of the coffins.”
    “We like our coffins,” Rake explained.
    “But most of the rest of us are here,” Vanni said, sweeping her hand behind her.
    I peered around and saw that most of the sleeping bags were filled with my classmates, who were now staring wide-eyed at me. There were also several freshmen, no longer Starters, whom I barely knew.
    I bristled. “I don’t need protection,” I said hotly. “I just need sleep.” Like I was going to be able to get any of that.
    Vanni shook her head. “We know you don’t need protection here. We just want to be together. Strength in numbers and all that.”
    “It’s not for you,” Lough whispered to me. “If Lisabelle were here she’d say it wasn’t about you. It’s about them.”
    I looked around at all the faces, really seeing them for the first time.
    “This is really scary,” said Vanni softly. “We feel better being around the only elemental. And together. Besides, the semester’s over. We can stay where we want until we go home.”
    I sighed heavily. “Alright,” I said. “Lanca is coming here. So is Vital. Make sure they don’t step on any of you.”
    Rake grinned. “Not likely, since you blew the door off.”
    I grinned sheepishly.
    “Any news about Sip?” Rake asked.
    As soon as the words were out of his mouth he could see that the question upset me; I couldn’t hide the pain on my face. They didn’t know about Lisabelle.
    “We should talk privately,” said Lough. “Maybe in the kitchen?”
    “Been hours since you ate?” I asked dryly. Lough shrugged. “Like two. Gotta keep my blood sugar up if we’re going to battle demons.”
    Rake, Vanni, and Trafton came with us as we headed for the kitchen, while most of the other paranormals, who had been awakened when I blew the door off its hinges, rolled back over in their sleeping bags.
    The kitchen had always been hub of the house, and now it felt even warmer than usual, as if the oven had been running. I smelled the sweet aroma of baking.
    “Oh yeah, there was a woman here earlier,” said Vanni, shaking her head. “We didn’t think you had a dorm mother, but when we questioned her she disappeared, muttering something about long-suffering and tolerating children.”
    “Yeah, she’s alright,” I said. Martha must have come by often while we were away. The kitchen was spotless.
    But the very first thing I noticed when I entered the room was Sigil, the ghost who haunted the Astra library. I had originally met him by accident, and ever since then I had gone to him for advice and information on the history of elementals.
    Sigil had thin, frail hands, large glasses that slid down his nose and covered his large eyes, and an even larger hat. At the moment he was standing defensively in front of the counter, which I could see was covered in Martha’s baked goods.
    “Sigil,” I cried in surprise. “What are you doing here?”
    He used one frail hand to push his glasses up and blinked at me. “Guarding the cookies. Obviously,” he muttered, peering at my companions.
    “Yessss, tarts!” Lough beamed as he hurried over to the island. “A ghost after my own heart.” As usual, Martha had left a table filled with treats for us.
    “Alright, out with it. Why is the trio separated?” Trafton asked. Instead