Elemental Dawn (Paranormal Public) Read Free Page A

die.”
    Lisabelle looked up, a smile
playing over her lips. “Yes, well, don’t go getting all mushy on me. All we’re
talking about is your death and the end of the paranormal races. Not serious or
anything.”
    I gave her a small smile. It was
all I could muster at her sarcasm. My heart still ached for my friend.
    “Lanca’s mother died young,
didn’t she?” I asked, thinking that now Lanca had no parent to turn to.
    “Yes,” said Lisabelle, nodding.
“Childbirth. King Daemon never got over it. He never married again.”
    “It just makes it all the more
important that we are there for her,” I mused. “Whatever she needs.”
    “I think right now she needs for
paranormal alliances to hold.”
    “Meaning?”
    “Meaning if the demons have
formed a Council while the paranormals are fighting, we’re in trouble.”
    I glanced out at the dark sky.
The blackness enveloping the street lights and the coldness inside of me grew.
    “If only we had seen the end of
it,” I murmured thoughtfully.
    Lisabelle carefully sipped her
coffee.
    “We haven’t seen the beginning.”
     
    Lisabelle stayed at my house that
night. Ricky was beside himself with shock and spent the evening walking around
and staring at my strange friend. Lisabelle was careful not to do any magic or
wear a short-sleeved shirt. My stepfather was away for the night, which was
just as well, because I hated to think what would have happened if he had met
Lisabelle. He planned on coming back just in time to miss my departure in the
morning, which was fine with me.
    Before we went to bed Lisabelle
showed me a proclamation she had brought with her. If I hadn’t known how
serious the situation was before this, I did now. Reading it turned my blood
cold.
    “All the Public students got
this,” she explained. “It’s from the Committee, but I told Oliva I’d deliver
yours so that your stepdad wouldn’t see it.”
    I snorted. “No one needed to
worry. He treats my mail like it’s a pile of burning coals. He would never read
it.”
    “Fine,” said Lisabelle. “Well,
here’s some bedtime reading for you.” She handed me a sheet of paper that she
pulled out of a black folder. It was a very deep green, with lettering in
blazing silver. The coloring was the mark of the pixies, which meant that Oliva
himself had sent it out.
     
    To Those
Whom it May Concern:
     
    It has
come to the attention of the Committee that outside the walls of Public there
is growing unrest. The Demons have formed their own Council, of which President
Malle is the head. If this is news to any of you, then you need to spend more
time with your Tabble.
    Times are
changing and the world is dangerous.
    As the
Committee in charge not only of your education, but also of your well-being, we
felt that it was our duty to send out this word of caution.
    The
Demons are attacking all small parties traveling alone. Public transportation
used by humans is no longer safe. We urge all paranormals to employ other
methods of getting around. Flying is obviously the best mode of travel at this
time. The broom is of course a favorite for those who are not pixies or
vampires or fallen angels and cannot fly on their own. Airlee students in
particular are urged to travel in groups, since in the air paranormals are less
vulnerable to attack.
    We beg
you to take care. You cannot assume your own safety, or that other paranormals
will come to your rescue. For your reading pleasure we are enclosing a diagram
of current governmental entities that you may contact in the event that you are
attacked by demons. Please contact such agencies with care. They are busy.
Senior paranormals are working around the clock for your safety.
    The
Paranormal Police are hiring, and several Public students have put their
education on hold to attend classes at the police academy. We applaud your
sacrifice.
    For those
of you returning to Public, we look forward to seeing you again soon. The usual
security precautions for entering